Q: We have tons of mesquite pods and they are a huge pain. A yard guy we met said he could spray the tree next April and that would take care of it. Then I read that spraying doesn’t work well on Mesquites because the timing has to be accurate and the pods mature over too broad a time period. Also, our tree is huge and I worry about the spray harming nearby plants. What do you say?
A: The spraying doesn’t work well on most trees, it is costly and time consuming, and it could harm surrounding plants and other organisms, depending on the chemical used and if not done correctly.
There are many factors at play including timing, environmental conditions, and making thorough applications. Due to the gradual development you mentioned, it might take repeat sprays to do a sufficient job. It would likely be more environmentally sound and cheaper to hire someone to rake the pods. Another alternative is to harvest the pods before the monsoon begins and have them milled into mesquite flour. Mesquite flour is a popular alternative to wheat flour among local and heritage foodies and a nice gluten free alternative for those that require one in their diets. Milling events are available in various locations during the harvest season and they charge a nominal fee to grind them for you.Check out DesertHarvesters.org for one group that does this and instructions on how to harvest.
Peter L. Warren is the urban horticulture agent for the Pima County Cooperative Extension and the University of Arizona. Questions may be emailed to plwarren@cals.arizona.edu.
