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Tom Treks Gear Addict
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347
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Posted: 7/26/2005, 5:51 pm Post subject: Any Mesquite tree know-it-alls out there? |
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For some reason this year the Mesquite in my front yard is shedding almost all it's leaves. I see a similar thing (but not as bad) happening to others on the block.
Is this just lack of Monsoon, or what? Wondering if I should get a tree specialist here. |
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paintninaz
Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 3515
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Posted: 7/26/2005, 6:24 pm Post subject: |
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Ummm ...Have you tried watering it? _________________ ~Tracy
“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.” |
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GTG Was lost but now am found
Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 2387 Location: Peoria, Arizona, originally from Rocket City, USA
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Posted: 7/26/2005, 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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For some reason this year the Mesquite in my front yard is shedding almost all it's leaves.
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Define that. Most mesquites will drop leaves all of the time. Were all of these trees in the neighborhood planted around the same time? What's your watering system? Is it drip? If not, I bet the poor devil needs a drink. Take the hose out about three feet from the trunk and turn it to Slow Trickle and let it run for five or six hours.
Don't do a broadcast watering job and soak the first few inches of dirt. If it's been watered improperly all of it's life, then it's got a shallow root system and the increased moisture in the ground may allow it to be blown over very easily in our recent storms.
Slow deep water.
How's that for a know-it-all?
GTG _________________ Good things come to those who walk. |
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evenstar
Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA
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Posted: 7/26/2005, 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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Aw hell, he's probably been feedin' it that Bud Light watered down panther piss. Give it six pack of MGD or, even better, Sam Adams and it'll perk right up! _________________ John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902 |
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Sande J Calamity J
Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 725 Location: Mesa, AZ
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Posted: 7/26/2005, 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like he might need to go on the WFW. _________________ And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stone, good in everything..
-William Shakespeare- |
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Tom Treks Gear Addict
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347
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Posted: 7/27/2005, 5:36 am Post subject: |
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GTG wrote: |
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For some reason this year the Mesquite in my front yard is shedding almost all it's leaves.
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Define that. Most mesquites will drop leaves all of the time. Were all of these trees in the neighborhood planted around the same time? What's your watering system? Is it drip? If not, I bet the poor devil needs a drink. Take the hose out about three feet from the trunk and turn it to Slow Trickle and let it run for five or six hours.
Don't do a broadcast watering job and soak the first few inches of dirt. If it's been watered improperly all of it's life, then it's got a shallow root system and the increased moisture in the ground may allow it to be blown over very easily in our recent storms. |
Well, I do know the thing drops leaves at certain times of the year, believe me. I have a drip system that runs 3 times a week for about 20 mins. The tree is about 6 years old, about 15 feet tall, and about 12 inches in diameter. I'd say it's pretty established. The way I understand it, they are pretty resilient with this kind of climate.
I read that family of trees dumps leaves when it gets hot and dry out, but this year seems out of hand. Sounds like I may need to get an expert out to have a look at it for peace of mind. We'll see. |
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Tom Treks Gear Addict
Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3347
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Posted: 7/27/2005, 5:38 am Post subject: |
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As for the rest of the comments....
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MikeInFHAZ
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 1401 Location: location location
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Posted: 7/27/2005, 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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try trimming the mesquite, not watering. These trees should not need a 3x a week drip system. They are resiliant as you stated, you can look at mesquites in the "wild" and view their ability to survive with the provided natural moisture-they do ok. While desert plants are experts at surviving droughts, you may not like how they look while they're doing it. This info taken from Arizona - Sonora Desert Museum's book: Book of Answers.
similar problems arise with Bird Of Paradise and Aloe.
Tom what worked for mine was minimal watering for each tree only once a week. Check the area around your mesquite to see if invading plant roots are stealing its water-plants with large, green leaves for instance. (like bouganvillia and oleander) Its possible to over water native desert plants and people often do it. Water logging your mesquites reduces oxygen availability-it literally drowns the roots. They need even less water during the winter months, when they are dormant. _________________ http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albwb18/BRIDGE.sized.jpg
bridge hammock, quilts and tarp (all DIY)
what i do |
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Daryl
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 1168 Location: Everett, Washington
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Posted: 7/28/2005, 11:23 am Post subject: |
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I never watered my mesquite once it was established (no one waters the onces in the desert) and the bastard would not stop growing. Due to shallow root patterns and me trimming it to look like a tree (in the wild they look more like bushes but HOA would not like that...) it fell over in a storm about once a year. And actually, every year around this time it would lose just about all it's leaves for me to clean up and would come back even stronger in the fall for me to trim some more.
I'll never put one in my yard again... _________________
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GTG Was lost but now am found
Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 2387 Location: Peoria, Arizona, originally from Rocket City, USA
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Posted: 7/28/2005, 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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Now that most of us know-it-alls have checked in;
Just cut it down and we'll use it for firewood on some outing I'm sure.
GTG _________________ Good things come to those who walk. |
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paintninaz
Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 3515
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Posted: 7/28/2005, 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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GTG wrote: |
Just cut it down and we'll use it for firewood on some outing I'm sure.
GTG |
That's what I did with mine (another one of those out of control ones like Daryl has ), I've got a 7 ft+ tall "stump" waiting to be removed...starting to sprout new branches! _________________ ~Tracy
“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.” |
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MikeInFHAZ
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 1401 Location: location location
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GTG Was lost but now am found
Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 2387 Location: Peoria, Arizona, originally from Rocket City, USA
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Posted: 7/28/2005, 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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I've read that in Texas and Oklahoma that mesquites are considered an invasive plant and a nuisance. They actually have developed eradication programs to remove them from rangelands there.
Another interesting bit of information; mesquites have provided a food source for Indians for thousands of years. The pods contain fructose and can also be ground up to make a flour.
GTG _________________ Good things come to those who walk. |
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paintninaz
Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 3515
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Posted: 7/28/2005, 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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GTG wrote: |
Another interesting bit of information; mesquites have provided a food source for Indians for thousands of years. The pods contain fructose and can also be ground up to make a flour.
GTG |
The Desert Botanical Garden use to accept donations of the pods, they use them in one of their hands-on exhibits showing how the flour is made. In case anyone is looking for something to do with all those fallen pods on the ground... _________________ ~Tracy
“Friends make the bad times good — and the good times unforgettable.” |
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Victor
Joined: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 11 Location: Phoenix
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Posted: 7/28/2005, 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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According to the U of A Master Gardener program... all native trees should be off irrigation systems after 5 years in the ground, cut em loose. |
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