How do I kill it ?????

[walnutgrove]

Ive tried everything to kill the mesquite on my property, but NOTHING works. The stuff just comes back with a vengence. Now I have thick red clumps of baby mesquite in the place where I want to start my garden. Plz help.

[Raptor]

Remedy and diesel mix,basal sprayed.

[Cyngbaeld]

You really have to dig the roots out, though I've wondered if you could fertilize it to death like poison ivy. If you mow it or cut it down it just gets worse.

[walnutgrove]

Forgive my ignorance, as I'm new to every aspect of gardening, but will Remedy and diesel mix be harmful to the soil (garden)?

Gosh if I end up having to pull it out by the roots I just break down in tears. No matter how thick of gloves I buy those stinkin thorns find a way into my hand.

Thanx

[PlowGirl]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Remedy and diesel mix,basal sprayed.

This will do it. I've accidentally killed mature Hickory trees (over 24" diam.) with just overspray of diesel/Remedy. Must not spray anything that you don't want to actually kill. The only thing this mix won't kill is grassburrs or sandburrs.

[chamoisee]

Goats. Pasture them in the area for several years.

[chamoisee]

The thing is though, what about all the seeds that have been scattered over the soil? I wonder how long it would take before new seedlings quit emerging.

[lvshrs]

I've had very good luck burying it. Cut it down to the ground then follow the "lasagna" method for garden beds....layer wet newspaper, compost,manure, leaves and mulch etc. get it DEEP more than 6 inches closer to 12 or more inches deep. That way no light gets to the mequite and you will have a great prepared bed for planting-No tilling needed!

[Tricky Grama]

Originally Posted by Raptor

Remedy and diesel mix,basal sprayed.

This is SOOOO not good for the earth.

Patty

[Tricky Grama]

You could clip it off at the ground level then add a lot of food grade dry molasses that you can get at your feed store. Sometimes home despot or ordinary garden stores carry it. Can also push a soup can over it, down into the soil.

Patty

[walnutgrove]

Originally Posted by lvshrs

I've had very good luck burying it. Cut it down to the ground then follow the "lasagna" method for garden beds....layer wet newspaper, compost,manure, leaves and mulch etc. get it DEEP more than 6 inches closer to 12 or more inches deep. That way no light gets to the mequite and you will have a great prepared bed for planting-No tilling needed!

I luv you !!!! Hurray, I'll try that right away !!!!!!!!!!! TYTYTYTYTY

[doodlemom]

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

You really have to dig the roots out, though I've wondered if you could fertilize it to death like poison ivy. If you mow it or cut it down it just gets worse.

The title of this thread drew me in. Fertilizing poison ivy to death is something I've never heard of. One often hears the story of how the stupid hiker has occasionally used it as toilet paper. Perhaps returning to the scene of the crime is how this remedy was discovered :baby04:

[whiterock]

Got to remember, Mesquite roots are much deeper than the plant is tall. If you keep cutting the small top growth back it will kill it but it takes a lot of cutting.
Ed

[lvshrs]

Your welcome! Trust me I feel your pain when it comes to mesquite...well the little ones anyway! I must say I love the mature trees. Great bbq wood, drought resistent, hot burning firewood, absolutely stunning when carved and sealed with clear gloss, also the seed pods make a wonderful flour and sweetener.

[whiterock]

Have you ever had Mesquite honey, or Mesquite bean jelly? Now that is some good stuff.
Ed

[lvshrs]

Yup! MMMMMM MMMMMM!

[Ohiogal]

Why not just have someone come in with a dozer and clear them out? It will make the soil easier to work and you can amend it and rototill afterwards.

[deaconjim]

Find a market for it, it will die from some new disease or pest no one has ever heard of before now.

[whiterock]

Originally Posted by Ohiogal

Why not just have someone come in with a dozer and clear them out? It will make the soil easier to work and you can amend it and rototill afterwards.

As long as you keep the ground worked after that you are ok, let it go a year or two and the mesquite will come back with a vengance. Those seed are viable for a long time, and it will bud out from the roots also. It is a legume, so it does do some good, small leaves so grass will grow under it, but when it takes control, it takes over.

My dad leased the pasture to a neighbor about 18 years ago, the neighbor was afraid of getting thorns in his tractor tires so let it go. I now have a mesquite plantation. About 40 or 50 acres of mesquite in the lower pasture, from the hill, it looks almost solid, but if you get down in there and walk around it is like being in a park setting. If I had the resources I would fight it, however, if it is needed to sell this place as development is crowding me, the mesquite could be a landscape advantage, established trees, no watering required.
Ed

[deaconjim]

I had several acres once that was overrun with cockleburrs. I used the bottom plow to turn the soil, and then went over it with the harrow every time the weeds got up to about 2" tall. Eventually, the seed supply was used up, and the roots chopped up and composted enough to plant the garden. Every time I spotted a cockleburr coming up (I learned to spot them all the way across the field) I pulled it up by the roots before it had a chance to go to seed. Over a period of several years, I managed to completely erradicate them. Perhaps a similar tactic might work in your case (a tiller would work in smaller applications).