Mesquite

We have about 170 acres here in West Texas and about half of our land is covered with mesquite. Now most people love mesquite because of the flavor it lends to barbecued meat. However, I could bet my last bippy that those people don't have mesquite growing on their land.

As mentioned previously, a mesquite tree--they are technically are bushes not trees--will drop it leaves in the fall. The leaves don't turn yellow or red then fall off. They just up and jump off of the tree while still green only to yellow on the ground in a thick mat. They have thorns that take the jump and invariably find their way into the tires on your vehicles and the soles of your shoes. They thrive in dry conditions and poor soil. Their tap root can go down 90' in search of water. Needless to say with a root like that, they are impossible to pull up. Even the tiniest of mesquite seedlings have roots four times their size. The lateral roots grow underground and pop up several feet away as a new mesquite tree. They are prolific to say the least.

I hate mesquite. I even have a file folder in my household filing cabinet called "Mesquite Massacre", which contains various methods of killing mesquite. Even if you cut the mesquite down and saturate the stump with napalm-like chemicals, the kill rate is only 80%. I am convinced if there ever is nuclear annihilation the two things that will survive are cockroaches and mesquite.