How to Prune Mesquite Trees

Mesquite trees can grow into gorgeous, shady havens--or become a thorny mess in the middle of the yard. The key to keeping a fine mesquite tree is frequent and regular pruning before any of its thorny branches get too out of hand. Because of the thorns, you need to be very careful when you prune mesquite trees. Quality gloves and a few simple tips will help you in the process.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves
• Heavy-duty plastic drop cloth
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Start at the base. Mesquite trees are notorious for dropping lots of little seeds that grow into lots of little seedlings. While they may look cute at first, they will eventually turn annoying and suck too much life from your main tree. Pull them out of the ground as soon as you see them.

2. Trim any trunk sprouts. Mesquite trees like to grow small sprouts up and down the trunk. Left untouched, they will eventually grow into unruly branches shooting out from all angles. Nip them in the bud by simply pulling them off with a gloved hand.

3. Fully remove low branches. Take your pruning shears to the base of any low, crooked or overhanging branches. Because of the thorns, be especially on the lookout for branches that are about the height of people’s heads or eyeballs. Pile the pruned branches neatly on a spread-out plastic drop cloth.

4. Prune any offshoots drooping downward. Not all offshoots on branches will want to reach for the sky. Get rid of them. Any limbs that hang down waiting to scratch anyone who dares to walk underneath should be lopped of and discarded. Keep piling the debris neatly on the drop cloth.

5. Lop off any extras. This includes any branches at weird angles and any offshoots that are making branches droop. Your ideal finished product should be a smoothed trunk with longish branches around the top, not unlike a giant bonsai.

6. Carefully dispose of debris. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of pruning a mesquite is disposing of the thorny branches. You just made that part easy by piling all the debris on a drop cloth which you can simply fold around the branches and place in the trash.

Tips & Warnings

• If your mesquite is turning into several main trunks, you may want to pick the healthiest looking one and get rid of the rest.

• In addition to gloves, you may want to wear long sleeves to protect your arms. The thorns will scratch you.