Full sun only. Deciduous, with a rambling, slow-growing form. Recognize it by the long compound leaflets, stout thorns, and wide-spreading, drooping branches. Mesquite flowers periodically during warm weather, and fruits even during drought; the beans were an important food source for early native Americans.
Mesquite is one of the most valuable American hardwoods and also popular in southern barbecue. It’s one of the better shade trees for sandy soils; no need to overwater. ‘Maverick’ is a thornless cultivar.
Even for mesquite, pruning is always optional. Cuts should only be made at a bud or branch; in general focus on minimizing dead damaged or rubbing branches. As with any tree remove no more than 25% of the total canopy during any five-year cycle. To maintain a healthy specimen leave the upper 2/3 of the trees height uncut and never remove more than the lowest third of the tree in a single pruning period — for example on a 12-foot tree stick to the lowest 4 feet.
Mulch with about 2″ of wood chips or pine bark wherever possible. In general, a tree’s mulched area should be six feet at minimum.
