Mesquite tree spraying pains

[Bignoles]

How does everyone else get rid of these cursed things? We have 25 acres that needs cleared, trees up to about 15 ft tall. Can't afford a dozer, or I could have them all out in a couple days. I have read about spraying the live tree with Remedy and Reclaim mix (about $350 for a gallon of both), spraying Remedy/diesel mix on the stump, and other mixes. I'm sure both ways work well, but won't I still have to cut the dang thing out if I spray the live tree? Do they come out any easier with the tractor after they are dead? How long do I have to wait?
It anyone has any experience with getting the whole tree out let me know. I want them gone now, but if spraying will keep them from coming back it's worth the wait I guess, otherwise, out comes the chainsaw.

 

[Bird]

About all I can do is wish you luck. I've cut them off at the ground and they'll come back from the roots, but if it's a pasture, you can then just keep them mowed before they get too big. A neighbor spent a lot of money on Remedy and diesel spraying small ones. They appeared to die, but new ones sprout from the roots. The only real success I've seen involved dozers to take out the trees, then the dozers used the big rippers on the back to dig roots out, had crews who picked up the roots, then plowed with farm plows, and then kept that area under cultivation. Most folks thought I didn't have any in my pasture because I mowed the pasture 2 or 3 times a year. Actually I had several but they never had a chance to get waist high between mowing.

 

[Bignoles]

Thanks for the info Bird. That's kinda what I thought, but they make it sound so GOOD. I guess either way I'll have to cut out the trees with a chainsaw and keep it mowed or sprayed. I'm thinking about using the Remedy and diesel mix on the cut stump...maybe slow em down a little anyway. It's only 25 acres so the plan is to make alot of progress this summer. We already have 3 horses and plan on getting a couple of heifers to rotate since the horses can't keep it eaten down and it would be nice to see them every once in a while
Gas for the saw and diesel for the tractor would be alot cheaper than $$$ in chemical, and I still have to cut out the tree.
stinkin reckin freckin mesquites anyway

 

[Bird]

If you're going to spray very many, be sure you have a dye in the mixture so you can easily tell which ones you've sprayed and which yoiu haven't. And of course, it also lets you know how thoroughly you've coated the ones you've sprayed.

 

[Bignoles]

This is the site I have been looking at.
Cut Stumps
The guys at Texas A&M seem to have encountered mesquite before Now all that remains is alot of hard work and chainsaw time. I have enough leftover "stuff" to make a set of quick attach brush forks for the FEL, that gives me a welding project to mix with the brush cutting.

 

[Western]

In south and west Texas you can see 100's of acres of sprayed trees. They use a plane to spray the large areas. I don't like the spraying idea because you get all those thorns breaking off the dead tree when you push them.

I have had good results using a 140 hp tractor I used to have, she dug them up pretty quick, the tap root is the key objective.

In your situation I think a backhoe would do the job and it is cheaper than a dozer. You could probably rent one for the cost of the chemicals.

 

[J35]

Had a buddy that graduated from the U of A, AG major .

They did a bunch of trials (1984-85) and plain ole diesel applied to the cut stump worked as well as anything.

I had ten about 6 to 8 inches in diameter right on a fence line that I cut and applied the plain diesel to and it killed all of them the first try, no suckers, dead. I used two or three oz's per stump.

Also I rented a old D-4 and cleared ten acres, no problems.

Probably be money well spent in the long run, life's short.

I sure miss my mesquite wood.

good luck

 

[Bignoles]

Western, good point about the thorns breaking off..hadn't thought of that one. How long do they usually wait to push them over after spraying? Does that make them easier to push? Right now if I tried to push with just my tractor and FEL I would tear up stuff on the tractor.
J35, where are you located? It just so happens I know a guy who would let you come cut a couple hundred, FREE!

 

[J35]

After 45 years being a desert rat living S of Tucson I now live in E VA.

Plenty of hardwoods here, but I am spoiled on Mesquite for cooking.

I have a buddy that sends me a couple care packages every year.

In S AZ I have seen some of the rancher's use two D 8's with a huge chain hooked between them, one serves as a anchor and the other does a big circle for cedar and mesquite removal, unhook the chain pile up the carnage , repeat.

good luck with your tree removal.

 

[jayste]

Years ago I went on a hog hunt on the King Ranch down that way and noticed they also used two big dozers and a big chain. Probably went behind that with the rippers as well to get the roots. Do you folks down that way have any government programs to help with costs when in comes to getting rid of these types of trees and the such? Up here in Oklahoma we have programs through the Soil and Conservation district office along with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (Feds) to assist in situations like these. Here we have what they call "Eastern Red Cedar Eradication" programs. Basically, consists of a NRCS fellow coming out looking it over drawing up a plan of action and if all looks good they assist in the funding. It's a reimbursment type situation and you just have to agree to maintain it for so many years. I've taken advantage of it once for sprigging burmuda in my pastures. The "county agent" drew up the plan and we went for it. The programs may differ from year to year being decided by popular demand but they range from tree eradication, sprigging, pond (tank for you Texans!) building, etc. I realize that some folks aren't too keen on getting Big Brother involved in their business and I can sympathize with that but it can be helpful if you're willing. Also, don't forget that livestock have a real handy (or unhandy if your trying to get rid of something) way of spreading trees and weeds and the such by eating and re-seeding in other parts of the pasture. Further more, buying hay with "undesireable" seed in it will even further your problems. Good luck with the project and share some pics.

Jay

 

[Bignoles]

I've seen the dozers work together with the BIG chains before. Growing up in ranch country of New Mexico I watched some guys take out lots of cedar trees, but they didn't offer to let me operate one They could turn this little project into a one day job...too bad my wallet can't stand the strain Running the equipment myself would be a piece of cake, but again, not enough $$$ in the budget for rental. Looks like I'm stuck using the chainsaw a lot. As far as gvmt. money goes, they can mind their business and I'll mind mine. I'll get some pics to show what I'm up against later...it started raining this morning and I'm not gonna ask it to stop just for a picture
By the way, J35 is right. Mesquite smoked brisket is some goood eatin.

 

[Western]

what I have seen is they spray in early summer then doze'm out and burn them in the winter. I hunted on a place in west TX that still had the trees standing dead, but they appeared to have been there awhile, we couldn't keep air in any tires!

You may be able to sell the wood for something to one of the area BBQ joints. may at least get something for your time.

Thing about sawing them off though, is you'll have 25 acres of stumps

 

[Bignoles]

Thanks for all of the good advice and ideas guys. I want to get rid of these the best I can the first time

Some mesquites were in the way of my new gate so I cut them flush with the ground. Seems to have worked ok. I can go over them with the mower without the blades hitting.

What bad things could happen leaving the stumps cut off at ground level? I can see ruining a couple of chains on the saw. Sometimes it's hard to think of all the possibles. Could they affect my horses? What about a cow?

Hadn't really thought too much about it, planned in my mind to burn it all, but maybe I can find a market for the mesquite wood like you say.

 

[twarr1]

I've seen the dozers work together with the BIG chains before. Growing up in ranch country of New Mexico I watched some guys take out lots of cedar trees, but they didn't offer to let me operate one They could turn this little project into a one day job...too bad my wallet can't stand the strain Running the equipment myself would be a piece of cake, but again, not enough $$$ in the budget for rental. Looks like I'm stuck using the chainsaw a lot. As far as gvmt. money goes, they can mind their business and I'll mind mine. I'll get some pics to show what I'm up against later...it started raining this morning and I'm not gonna ask it to stop just for a picture
By the way, J35 is right. Mesquite smoked brisket is some goood eatin.

Just curious, If you did rent the dozers where would you get those huge chains? The ones I've seen are made of links that weigh around 40 lbs each. Where do they come from?

 

[Bignoles]

Good point Twarr1, I have no idea where they get the chain from My first thought was anchor chain from a big ship...not too many of those in New Mexico. Wherever they get it, I'll bet it's not too cheap. I have been cutting a little at a time with the saw, cutting out the BBQ wood, and piling the rest to burn. Renting equipment isn't in the cards for me right now. If you find anything out on the chain let us know.

 

[kossetx]

I did a big post about clearing mesquite a while back, so do a search. I can tell you this. I only use the remedy/recaim mix fnow for small, up to 2' trees. Cut stump is the most economical and can be accomplished with a 10% remedy mixture with an almost 100% kill but is a lot of work in the summertime and it is sometimes hard to find all the stems once they have been cut. Miss one and the tree lives. Basal stem spraying is easiest but more expensive and it takes 9-12 months before my tractor can knock out a 4" tree. It's years before a can get a 6"+ tree out, and the bush hog usually does that by accident. The wetter the better for stump removal.

Now the bad news. A mesquite bean can lie dormant for 50 years before germinating. I spray about 5000, under 10" trees a year on 35 acres.

 

[nancyb]

Hi Guys - I have a horse ranch in Central Texas and my worst enemy is mesquite. One of my hands and I have developed an attachment for our skid steer that works great - at least so far. I have not seen, nor heard of an attachment like this. Have any of you? It removes the brush and the entire root system. I have found many that cut it off at ground level, but that is just a bandaid for a short period of time. I have been getting a lot of negative respondes from non-rancher/farmer types as to the possible market for something like this. Any thought anyone? Thanks.

 

[txdon]

nancyb, will it work on a with a tractor skid steer like attachment (Kubota quick attach). Does it uses hydraulics pushing off the ground or just the weight of the tractor?

 

[Bignoles]

nancyb,
do you have pictures? I would be interested in an attachment like your talking about. No skid steer, maybe I could adapt it to my tractor. Pics please

 

[Mike120]

Growing up in S. Texas my grandfather had one solution..."cut them down and burn the stump". It worked pretty good. Once you get rid of them, Kotara Mfg in Stockdale Tx. sells a 3 pt root plow that will keep them gone.