Hand-spraying can stop brush encroachment or extend the benefits of broadcast treatments.
Left alone, mesquite grows bigger and denser and robs more grass production. And the equipment to control it gets more expensive.
That’s why hand-spraying mesquite when it’s small and sparse is often the best money spent. Range & Pasture experts with Corteva Agriscience recommend two methods of spraying small, scattered mesquite by hand. One method treats the foliage and the other treats the stem.
For easy application in the summer, the experts suggest leaf spraying, also known as high-volume foliar application. Leaf spraying works well on mesquite that is less than 8 feet tall.
The recommended mix for hand-spraying mesquite foliage is 1% Sendero® herbicide in water with a surfactant. See the leaf-spray mixing table below.
Spot applications of Sendero are limited to 1.75 pints per acre per year, so you’ll need an idea of how much total volume you will apply as you hand-spray.
Adding a dye, such as Hi-Light blue dye, to the spray mix will help you see your coverage of the plant and mark the plants you’ve treated.
You can start leaf spraying in the spring after soil temperatures at a depth of 12 to 18 inches reach 75 F. Mesquite leaves should have changed from the light yellowish green to a uniform dark green of mature foliage. The hand-spraying period lasts through July for East and South Texas and through September for West Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico.
Pump-up sprayers, backpack sprayers, cattle sprayers or sprayers mounted on all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) will all work. Make sure your sprayer has an adjustable-cone nozzle capable of delivering coarse spray (large droplets).
You can control mesquite and many other species almost any time of year by spraying the stems with a mixture of Remedy® Ultra herbicide and basal oil. It works best on smooth-barked plants less than 6 inches in diameter. Susceptible species include mesquite, bois d’arc, oak, elm, huisache, locust, Chinese tallow, saltcedar and many others.
See the table below for mixing directions. Spray the mix all around the lower 12 to 15 inches of the trunk or stem. Spray until the bark is wet, but not to the point of runoff.
Use the same mix with Remedy Ultra to treat cut stumps to prevent resprouting. Soon after cutting, spray the entire cut surface until it’s wet, especially the outer edges. Spray the sides of the stump and root collar, almost to the point of runoff.
™ ® Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies. Tordon® 22K is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Sendero® is covered by U.S. Patent No. 10,412,964 and other pending U.S. patent applications, international patents, and pending international patent applications. Sendero is not registered for sale or use in all states. Contact your state pesticide regulatory agency to determine if a product is registered for sale or use in your state. State restrictions on the sale and use of Remedy® Ultra apply. Consult the label before purchase or use for full details. Always read and follow label directions.
