“Mesquite” refers to any of several tough, drought-resistant trees that are native to the Southwestern United States. While traditionally they have been used for a wide variety of purposes, from smoking food and making furniture to weaving baskets and curing toothaches, uncontrolled mesquite can pose significant problems to landowners. The following guide explains more about their risks and how some basic plant control measures can help contain them.

What Problems Does Mesquite Cause?

Many of the qualities that make mesquite trees impressive survivors in harsh environments make them a source of frustration for those who find them growing in their gardens and lawns. One of their most notable features is their root system, which can grow to depths of 200 feet and spread more than 50 feet away from the trunk in search of water. In the desert, this helps mesquite stay hydrated, but in more temperate regions, it can leave grasses and other plants without the water they need to survive.

Mesquite trees can cover large patches of soil in shade, further depriving smaller plants of essential sunlight. The pods, or fruit similar to peanuts and beans, are edible for humans when made into flour, but those of many mesquite species are toxic to livestock animals such as cows and goats and can cause gastrointestinal distress in dogs.

How to Prevent Mesquite Growth

Controlling mesquite populations requires intensive plant control measures, as the trees’ roots will quickly generate a new plant in place of one that has been chopped down. Further, mesquite seeds can lie dormant and survive for several years at a time in soil, occasionally emerging long after other plants seem to have been eliminated.

It’s possible to destroy invasive mesquite trees by plowing out the roots or burning juvenile trees. However, these methods are labor-intensive and sometimes ineffective. A more reliable solution for many people is to apply herbicide pellets. Unlike aerial sprays, these are easy to use and pose fewer hazards to animals and surrounding plants, and they spread throughout mesquite trees’ extensive root systems, ensuring that the plants don’t regenerate.

If you’re struggling with invasive mesquite trees on your property, get in touch with Pro-Serve in Memphis, TN. For more than 30 years, this family-owned business has provided a range of effective plant control measures that attack the roots of harmful plants and ensure they don’t grow back. Visit them online to learn more about their products, and call (877) 776-7375 with questions.