[Arid_gardener] Re: Mesquite Roots, Proximity to Structures

[olindmiller]

There are a number of mesquites grown in landscapes including the Chilean 
mesquite, Honey mesquite, Screwbean mesquite, Velvet mesquite and a few 
others that are less common.  Some are deciduous and some are 
semi-deciduous.  The native mesquites that grow randomly from seed in nature 
develop very large and deep tap roots.  Trees grown in containers tend to 
have a stunted , shallower tap root.  Surface roots are seldom a problem.

Recently, the most common mesquite planted in the Phoenix Area is the 
Chilean Mesquite.  It is semi evergreen in warm winters and is thornless. 
But many grown from seed tend to be somewhat thorny due to cross pollination 
with the natives so if you want a thornless tree you may need to buy one 
that was grown from a cutting.  Many of the Chilean trees are also trained 
to have distorted trunks that a few people find attractive..

Mesquites are relatively free from diseases.  But we have a velvet mesquite 
(Phoenix AZ) that grew in place from seed about 25 years ago and it has a 
wetwood exudate (slime flux) on the trunk and main limbs such that I plan to 
remove the tree before it leafs out this spring.

Our native mesquites are more cold tolerant than their South American 
relatives.  The cold hardiness of individual trees can be increased if they 
are allowed to go dry going into and through the winter months.  Your 
elevation at Vail is about 3,200 feet so you might want to consider a native 
that is more cold tolerant at the higher elevation.  For  a good description 
of the various mesquites, go to

http://cals.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/aridplant_index.html

and open the links to "Prosopis spp."

Most mesquite tress grow to a spread of 30 feet or more so the trunk should 
be 15 to 20 feet from a structure.

Olin

=======================================
> Nick Murphy,  85641,  nick at ag.arizona.edu
> We're beginning to landscape the backyard of our new home, and have 
> considered planting a mesquite tree.  One of our builder's representatives 
> recommended against it, however, saying that their large root systems can 
> cause problems with our fence, foundation, etc.  Has anybody heard of 
> this?  If so, is there a rule of thumb for how far to plant a mesquite 
> from the nearest structure?
>
> Thanks!
> Nick
>
>
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