Mesquite Tree – Planting Concerns in Arizona

Tucson_housenew

Hello Forum, Thanks in advance for any help. Yesterday I purchased a Thornless Hybrid Mesquite and am excited to plant it in my backyard in Tucson, AZ. It will provide some MUCH needed shade for my back patio. Two quick questions:

(1) I have the perfect spot picked out which is about 16 feet away from my house but only 9 feet from the edge of my cemented/covered back patio. I'm concern with long-term root growth affecting the foundation of the patio or house. My home was built in 2007 and was built on a post-tension slab.

Second question

(2) I dug the planting hole about two feet deep (for starters) to test the drainage. I filled it with some water yesterday afternoon. Today after work the water is pretty much exactly at the same level! In other words, I think there's NO drainage. How deep do I need to dig to assure the roots will be able to anchor in downward? Will the roots be able to penetrate downward if water can't? Some of my neighbors have really tall trees and I'm assuming their backyards have the same drainage issues that mine does.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Again, Thanks for all your help.

sdsester

You are going to have a problem and risk of root rot with such poor drainage. You could also find yourself with what looks like roots are pot bound. It is almost like you are going to be planting your tree in a non-draining clay pot. Enlarging the hole and amending the soil with a good planting mix appropriate to the mesquite. Ask your nursery and be prepared to make the mix yourself. Think of the early years as having planted the tree in a container. You have to be really careful watering. Obviously watering heavily just plugs up the clay you have and closes off any aeration.

I would consider a slow delivery watering method like drip irrigation. It will trickle water slowly in gallons per hour. Right now your garden hose is probably delivering 8 or more gallons per minute. Good news is drip components are cheap too.

By the way, that other tree looks like it is planted way to close to the concrete block wall to allow for its future growth. You might consider moving it while it is young and you can.

In hot climates or when planting trees and shrubs in the California summer heat, I used to spray them with something like wilt-pruf to help the leaves retain moisture until they got a foothold.

Good luck. Ask your nursery for advice or check with the neighbors with the large trees to see how they compensated for the drainage problem.

At least you are planting something close to native to your environment. You just need to give it a fighting chance.

Bud Cline

Of bigger concern is Mesquites require full-sun. Is that the case with this tree?