SPECIAL FEATURE
Mesquite Guide for Next Spring “Fall is a good time to get maps established and be ready for next spring,” Stockett says.“LandVisor tells you when to spray and when not to spray.” It can arm producers with better means for controlling mesquite, a thorny headache for ranchers. AgriLife Extension says high-volume foliar herbicide spraying of mesquite typically begins in spring when leaves change color from light pea- green to a uniform dark green. Spraying usually continues through late summer in South Texas. Spraying in West Texas can start in June and continue into August. Before spraying, make sure the soil temperature reaches 75° F at 12 to 18 inches deep. Corteva specialists say it’s important to allow any mesquite that has been top killed by hand cutting, fire, mechanical methods or herbicide treatment to grow a minimum of two full growing seasons before using the leaf- spray method. Corteva’s Sendero (aminopyralid and clopyralid) is a proven herbicide for mesquite control. It can keep treated
mesquite plants under control for years if proper guidelines are followed, Stockett says. Good land sprayer options include small pump-up garden sprayers, backpack sprayers, cattle sprayers or sprayers mounted on all-terrain vehicles. Garden sprayers work well for small acreages. Backpack sprayers are usually more efficient in dense mesquite, and ATV sprayers are most efficient in large acreages or as the distance between plants increases. Make sure the sprayer has an adjustable-cone nozzle that can deliver a coarse spray of large droplets to the top of a 6- to 8-foot tree. To prepare the spray mix, add Sendero at 1 percent concentration to water. To ensure a thorough coating of the foliage, add a nonionic surfactant to the spray mix. For additional tree and brush control, consider using basal stem spray applications of Corteva’s Remedy Ultra (triclopyr). It can control relatively young mesquite trees that have smooth bark and
Broom snakeweed is a toxic weed that can harm the cow’s reproductive system. Fall control is important. Courtesy Texas A&M AgriLife
few basal stems, or slim trunks emerging from the ground. “For mesquite and other brush that can hamper grazing efficiency, it’s important to use the proper herbicide, the labeled application rate and the timing of application,” Stockett concludes. By following these and other range and pasture management tips, the value of rain received in 2023 and the grass it produced this summer can be carried forward for more effective grazing next year.
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