Christmas Tree Farms In New Jersey

 Visiting a Christmas tree farm and buying a live tree grown in New Jersey can be a memorable holiday experience for the entire family? The process can be any where from an hour to a good part of the day, depending on what you and your family wants to gain from the experience.

The choices for selecting a New Jersey grown live tree are many. You can choose to cut your own tree, or pick a live tree and have it cut for you, or buy a live tree already cut, or buy a living tree you can plant.

To extend the experience to a family fun event, you can venture off to a Christmas tree farm that offers sleigh rides, hay rides and related winter events and fun.

A fresh-cut Christmas tree not only will bring warmth, beauty and the rich scents of the season to your home, but also will last throughout the holidays if given proper care.

Christmas trees are a renewable resource. They are grown as a crop; planted, sheared, and cultivated to be harvested for your enjoyment! Where each tree is cut, a new seedling will be planted. Christmas tree farms not only provide beautiful greenbelts throughout New Jersey, they also are environmentally sound. They consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide and reintroduce large quantities of oxygen into the atmosphere, thus cleansing the air that we breathe. One acre of Christmas trees produces the daily oxygen requirement for 18 people.

The selection of a live Christmas tree

When choosing a tree, select one that best suits your needs. Determine where will it be located in the home, and what type of ornaments you have - are they heavy or light? These considerations will help you select the species, the height, shape and density. Amongst the variety of species of Christmas trees grown in New Jersey, the best choices for needle retention are all the pines; Austrian, Scotch, White and Mexican Border. The Douglas-fir, Concolor, and Fraser Fir are also excellent. The Colorado Blue Spruce is very good, and the Norway and White Spruces are fair.

It is difficult to gauge the height of trees in the field. Check with the Christmas tree farm, they usually have measuring sticks available. Even though you cannot cut your tree exactly even with the ground and you will need to cut an additional bit off the bottom of your tree when you get home, your stand will add about four inches and your top piece another four inches to the final height of your tree. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose a tree that is somewhat shorter than the height of your ceiling.

The Care of the live Christmas tree

With a few simple steps, you can enjoy your tree throughout the holiday season!

A fresh cut tree, brought home in advance of bringing it indoors for decorating, should be placed in a container of water, in a cool shaded area, sheltered from the wind. If kept outside, make sure the water supply does not freeze. Before bringing it indoors, cut off an inch from the butt end. This fresh cut will enable the tree to soak up water. Put the tree in a stand, which can hold one to two gallons of water. Since fresh cut trees absorb a pint to a quart of water each day, check water level at least once daily and always keep water level above the cut end. Always keep the butt of the tree in water. If it has been out of water for more than a few hours, the sap will seal the cut trunk and it will no longer absorb water. Keeping a tree stand filled with water will prevent needle drop and prolong the tree's freshness and color.

Select a location inside your home that is not too close to a fireplace, heat duct or radiator. Place tree in tree stand with plastic netting on. This makes it easier to move and straighten tree. Netting can be removed once the tree is set up.

The tree will take a couple of hours to return to its natural shape once the netting is removed. Fill the stand with water. On the initial fill, warm or hot water is beneficial.

The care and planting of a balled & burlapped tree.

If you have selected a balled & burlapped (dug) Christmas tree, several days prior to being brought indoors, it needs to be placed in an unheated, protected enclosure (utility building, garage, carport, basement) or on the northeast side of the house. This conditioning process adjusts the tree to the effects of rapid temperature and humidity changes that occur indoors. Before bringing the tree indoors, place it in a washtub or similar waterproof container. To help stabilize it, sand or gravel may be filled in around the root ball. Keep root ball moist; approximately a pint to a quart of water, daily, will sustain a 5 to 6 ft. tree. Ideally, it's best to keep a dug tree in a 65 to 68 degree indoor environment and for no longer than seven days.

After tree is dismantled, do not bring it directly outdoors. If possible, gradually introduce it to the colder temperature by first placing it in a sheltered area, for several days. The hole, where the tree is to be planted, should be dug to an approximate depth of 18 inches, prior to the ground freezing and the soil from within placed where it cannot freeze. Fill the hole with leaves and cover it with plastic. Do not remove the burlap and strapping, before planting. After tree has been positioned (top of root ball should be even with original soil grade), fill hole halfway - with saved soil, cut strapping, roll down burlap and complete filling hole. A plastic covered root ball is handled in the same manner, except that before planting, slits should be cut in the plastic's bottom half - this facilitates water drainage and root penetration. Water thoroughly and mulch.

Disposal and recycling your Christmas tree.

The disposal and recycling of Christmas trees can be coordinated with your local Municipal Government, who usually offer recycling programs. The trees are chipped into mulch and made available free of charge to homeowners. These trees may also be placed in your yard, where birds can make use of them either as a winter shelter or as a feeding station, if food is hung from the branches.

A Christmas tree is biodegradable, it's branches may be removed and used as mulch in the garden. For proper Christmas tree disposal, check with your local municipality.

Listing of New Jersey Christmas tree farms

Provided below is a listing of popular Christmas tree farms in New Jersey. While this listing is reasonably up to date as of this writing, last minute weather and business conditions at a tree farm may change and it is strongly recommended that you call the farm in advance to confirm their supply, their hours of operation, and whether they are continuing to allow choose-and-cut or just precut trees. Do not drive out there if you cannot reach them by phone!

Augusta

Holiday Tree Farm, Augusta

973-948-7488... 44 Augusta Hill Rd...Route 80 West to Exit 34B. Rte. 15 North to intersection with Rte. 206 at Ross' Corner/Skyland Park. Straight on Rte. 206N to first left onto Augusta Hill Road. Farm is ½ mi. on left.

Species...2,500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir Belvidere

Wyckoff's Tree Farm, Belvidere

908-475-4508...249 County Route 519...I-80, exit 12 to Rte 521S to 519S (10 miles from Rte 80), I-78, exit 17 to Rte 31N to Rte 46W to Rte 519S (mile marker 39).Species...600 trees; Douglas-fir

Open...8:30-4 (daily), Nov. 24 - To be determined

Blairstown

Glenview Farm, Blairstown

908-362-6904...2 Glenview Lane...I-80 Exit 12 N. - Rte. 521 - 4 mi. to Blairstown, left on Rte. 94 - 1 mi. to Mohican Rd.; From Newton - Rte. 94 S. 12 mi. to Mohican Rd. 4 mi. - rt. on Gaisler Rd. - farm 1 mi.

Species...500 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir Open...9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 - Dec. 17

Jolly Holly Christmas Tree Farm, Blairstown

908-362-6327... 56 Maple Lane...Exit 12 on Rte. 80 W to Blairstown. At traffic light, take Millbrook Rd up hill to Maple Lane. Left on Maple Lane. Farm is on left.

Species...200 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir

Open...12-4 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 - Dec. 17

Califon .

Alger Tree Farm, Califon

908-832-2298... 7 Beacon Light Rd...From Rte. 78 exit 24 (Oldwick) 7 mi. N or Rte. 517. Turn left on Beacon Light Rd. to first house on left.

Species...400 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir

Open...8:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Dec. 2 - 24

Chesterfield (near Bordentown)

Spruce Goose Christmas Tree Farm, Chesterfield

609-298-2498...194 Bordentown-Georgetown Rd.(Rte. 545 S)...NJ Tpk. Exit 7 or I-295N Exit 57A, take Rte. 206 N. or Rte. 130 N towards Bordentown, 1st right onto Rte. 545 S. Proceed 4 mi. Farm on right. Or from intersection of Rtes. 537 & 545, take Rte. 545 N 3.5 mi. Farm on left. From McGuire AFB, take Rte. 680 W.

Species...1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir, Serbian Spruce, all Fraser Fir are pre-cut.

Open...9-5 (daily), Nov. 24 - Dec. 24

Cranbury

Barclay's Tree Farm

35 Orchardside Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-799-1855; Hours: Weekends 9am-5pm, Nov 27 - Dec 19

Directions: NJTpke Exit 8A, Rt 32 W to Rt 130, So on Rt 130 for 1.5 mi to light at Dey Rd. Right on Dey Rd. 1.5 mi to 1st right - Orchardside Dr. From Rt 1 , East on Scudders Mill Rd 2 mi to left at 5th light onto Dey Rd. 2.3 mi to left onto Orchardside Dr.

Choose & Harvest: Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir, Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce

Features: One low price. Saws, netting, rope and assistance provided free.

Simonson Farms

Dey Road and George Davison Road, Cranbury, 609-799-0140

Hours: M-F 12-7, Sat & Sun 9-6.

Directions: From NJ Tpk to Exit 8A. Bear right out of the tolls toward Rte. 535. At traffic light, turn left onto Rte. 535 S. Follow to third traffic light, and turn right onto Rte. 614 ( Dey Rd.) west. Straight on 614W 1.9 mi. to U-cut field or 3 miles to retail lot.

Species: 3,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir

They currently have harvestable Douglas-fir, blue spruce, Norway spruce, white pine, Concolor fir, and Canaan fir. We have two farms where you can cut your own tree. One is located on George Davison road in Cranbury and the other on Dey Road in Cranbury. Trees in these fields are U-cut... that means you have the pleasure of cutting down your own tree. Saws are available if needed. They supply twine and trees can be wrapped for ease of transport.

Cream Ridge

Bullock Farms, Cream Ridge

609-758-8726... 83 Emleys Hill Rd...From I-195, Exit 16, take Rte. 537 W past Great Adventure. Make 2nd right onto Emleys Hill Rd. Approx. 1 ½ mi., farm on right.

Species...250 trees; Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir

Open...9-5 (Wed - Sun), Nov. 24 - Dec. 23 East Brunswick

Giamarese Farms, East Brunswick

732-821-9494... 155 Fresh Pond Rd...From the New Brunswick Area - take Rte. 1 S to 2nd Milltown exit, which will be Main St. Exit will loop over Rte. 1. Once on Main St., Milltown, count 3 traffic lights from Rte. 1. Make right onto Khulthau Ave, which is 3rd light. Go ¼ mi to split in road. Bear rt. onto Fresh Pond Rd. Go about 2 mi. Farm on right on top of hill at #155. Large sign in front.

Species...300 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir

Open...10-5:00 (Tue - Sun), Nov. 24 - Dec. 24 (closed Mondays

Farmingdale

Meadowview Farm, Farmingdale

732-938-7181... 60 Birdsall Rd...½ mi. south of Farmingdale on Rte. 524. Left on Birdsall Road. First farm on left.

Species...200 trees; Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir

Open...9-4:00 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 25 - Dec. 24

Flemington

Cherryville Farms

14 Joe Ent Road , Flemington, NJ 08822 , 908-806-4580

Hours: Open 9:00 AM until dark, Saturdays & Sundays - starting Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Directions: Located one mile east of Quakertown on Route 616 ( Quakertown Road) Franklin Township, Hunterdon County.

Species: Canaan Fir, Concolor Fir, Douglas Fir, Blue Spruce & Norway Spruce

Features: Tagging, saws & treewheelers available. Wreaths, Crafts & Refreshments Cut your own, or they'll cut it for you. -----Tagging, saws & treewheelers available

Wreaths, Crafts & Refreshments.

Hillsdale

Demarest Farms

244 Werimus Road , Hillsdale 201-666-0472

Christmas trees, wreaths, all Christmas related items, featuring Santa's Enchanted Woods as featured on Good Day New York

Lebanon

The Evergreen Farm, Lebanon

908-236-9550... 4 Bass Lane...Rte. 78 W to Exit 20A ( Lebanon). Turn right at first light onto Rte. 22 W. Turn left (jughandle) at first light ( Round Valley). Go 3.3 mi. on Rte. 629 to Bass Lane OR Rte. 31 N from Flemington to Molasses Hill Rd. Take to end. Turn right onto Rte. 629 to Bass Lane.

Species...500 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Concolor Fir, Fraser Fir, Canaan Fir

Open...10-5 (Fri, Sat, Sun), Nov. 18 - Dec. 17. Closed Thanksgiving, but open for tagging by appt. Nov 1

Manalapan

Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm, Manalapan Twp.

732-786-9277... 114 Daum Rd. Manalapan...Garden State Pkwy Exit 123, Rte. 9 S. to Gordon Corner Rd. exit. Right on Tennent (5.4 mi.) to Daum Rd. NJ Tpk Exit 8, Rte. 33 E (7.9 mi.) left on Woodward Rd. (.4 mi.). First left onto Daum Rd.

Species...3,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir. Open...9-8 (daily), Nov. 20 - Dec. 23

Robbinsville

McLaughlin Tree Farm, Robbinsville

609-259-8122... 1312 Old York Road...Located on Rte. 539, 2.1 mi. north of Route I-195 (Exit 8). Across from Herbert Road. 3.5 mi north of Allentown and 4 mi. south of Hightstown. Easily accessible from Rtes. 195, 130 & NJ Turnpike via Exit 8.

Species...1,000 trees; Douglas-fir, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine

Open...8-5 (Sat & Sun & by appt.) Nov. 25 - Dec. 24

Rosemont

Rosemont Tree Farm, Rosemont

609-397-1809...Route 519...From Flemington - Rte. 12 W to Rte. 523 right onto Rte. 604 to Rte. 519. Turn right onto Rte. 519. Farm 300 yards. From Trenton - Rte. 29N through Lambertville and Stockton. Right onto Rte. 519 1.5 mi. to farm.

Species...1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, White Pine, Canaan Fir, Scotch Pine Open...9-4:30 (Thu - Sun), Nov. 24 - Dec. 23

Sussex

Shale Hills Farm

98 Pond School Road, Sussex , 973-875-4231

Directions: At intersection of Rtes. 23 or 94 N.-take Rte. 23 N. - 1 1/2 mi. to Double S Diner on left - turn behind Diner on Pond School Rd. - 1.2 mi. to farm - sign.

Species: 700 trees; Blue Spruce, Norway Spruce, Scotch Pine, Douglas-fir

Hours: Open Weekends after Thanksgiving from 9:30 am until dark.

Trenton

Willard Christmas Tree Farms, Trenton

609-587-1776... 300 Basin Rd...Rte. 1 to Bakers Basin Rd. (.5 mi. South of I-295 overpass), 1 mi. to Basin Rd. on right. Farm 1 mi. on left.

Species...1,000 trees; Blue Spruce, Douglas-fir, Fraser Fir, Balsam Fir

Open...12-5 (Mon - Fri), 8-6 (Sat & Sun) Nov. 24 - Dec. 23 Enjoy a Hay wagon ride as you select your tree from our fields and cut it down yourself. We have available pre-cut trees that have been freshly cut from our fields. Christmas Trees we have available are Scotch Pine, White Pine, Douglas Fir, Norway, Colorado Blue and White Spruce. Also available are fresh dug balled and burlapped trees from our fields. You can enjoy indoors during the Holiday season and then plant outdoors to enjoy for a lifetime. All farms carry roping, wreaths and greens for all your Holiday Decorating needs.

Whitehouse Station

Holly Bough Plantation, Whitehouse Station

908-534-2622... 88 Cole Rd...I-78 or Rte. 22 to Rte. 523, two miles south to Rte. 620 (Dreahook Rd.), ¼ mi. to Holland Brook Rd. - Turn right, continue 1.5 mi. to split in road, turn right onto Cole Rd.

Species...200 trees; Blue Spruce, Canaan Fir, Black Hills Spruce

Open...9:30-5 (Sat & Sun), Nov. 24 - Dec. 23.

 Mesquite trees belong in Arizona. As Jay Sharp, editor and author for the website DesertUSA.com, expresses, "the mesquites symbolize our Southwestern deserts" as much as "the Coyote, the Black-tail Jackrabbit, the Western Diamondback, scorpions, the Saguaro and prickly pear cacti." Indeed, mesquite trees in Arizona are "as blended into the life of the land as cornbread and tortillas." (Lometa)

Perfectly Adapted to the Desert

Mesquites are very hardy desert trees, having adapted over the centuries to life in the desert landscapes in and around Arizona. All of their physical characteristics ensure their survival here, including their foliage, their bean pods, and their root systems. They grow well in full sun and high temperatures, but will also tolerate the cold during Arizona's winter (down to 0º Fahrenheit). They are sometimes found in rather high elevation and will adapt to shallow rocky soils. According to reports by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and Forest Service, a mesquite tree can live for more than two centuries. (Sharp)

Mesquite trees in Arizona can survive in areas that receive very little rainfall because of their expansive root system. The lateral roots of a mesquite tree reach out many times farther than its canopy. They also have very deep tap roots that can dig for a drink as deep as 175 feet below ground level, though a depth of 50 feet is more typical. So, they simultaneously have access to water both at the very top and bottom layers of the soil.

The tiny waxy leaflets of mesquite trees retain precious moisture by minimizing the moisture lost through transpiration. They are deciduous trees, meaning they offer excellent shade during the summer but drop their leaves and allow the sunshine through during the winter for warmth. During extreme drought, they will diminish transpiration even further by prematurely dropping their leaves.

The mesquite tree is a member of the legume family (relatives of beans and peas), which makes it especially adapted to an arid environment. Mesquite trees have the ability to fertilize themselves and surrounding plants through a symbiotic relationship with colonies of soil bacteria. The bacteria that inhabit mesquite tree roots convert or "fix" atmospheric nitrogen, making available in the soil this mineral that is essential for the growth and germination of plants. Many gardeners utilize this same process to enrich soil by planting nitrogen fixing cover crops. (Sharp, Schalau)

Mesquite trees in Arizona are amazingly prolific. Their beans, encased in protective pods, are very durable. In fact, "A seed left undisturbed in its pod can stay viable for up to 40 years." (Clayton) Animals play an important role in the scarification of the seeds (needed for germination) and dispersal through fecal matter.

Appearance

Mesquite trees are easy to identify, looking almost like a giant fern bush. They can reach a height of 30 feet, but the average mesquite tree growing wild in the Arizona desert is about half that size. Many have multiple trunks. Under the harshest of conditions, the mesquite will resemble a bush more than a tree. Their branch structure is often very twisted and jointed, adding to their individual uniqueness. In the spring and early summer, they display clusters of finger-shaped protuberances covered in tiny delicate flowers. These are followed by the formation of the long, thin bean pods, which are usually a shade of brown but vary in appearance between species. Many types of mesquite trees have thorns of some kind, which can either be very short or monstrous in length (and all are horribly sharp!).

Three Arizona Mesquite Tree Natives & Their Cousins

There are about 40 mesquite varieties found worldwide, but three species are native to the state of Arizona. They grow not only in the Sonoran desert, but also in the Mojave and Chihuahuan deserts. Their range is astonishing, spanning tens of millions or acres from western Texas to California, from Mexico to southern parts of Utah. They can thrive in a great diversity of habitats as found within the range described. (Lometa, Sharp)

The three mesquite tree species native to Arizona are:

Prosopis glandulosa - known as the honey mesquite or Texas Mesquite. These usually have a weeping form, and can be quite pretty.

Prosopis velutina - known as the Arizona mesquite or native mesquite. Also called the velvet mesquite because of the soft hairs that cover young growth. They are rather shaggy and snarled in appearance. They are popular in nurseries, and will grow well on lawns and golf courses.

Prosopis pubescens - known as the screwbean mesquite, earning its name from the spiraled or coiled shape of their seed pods.

Besides these three, there are many other types of mesquite trees that grow in Arizona. Many are hybrids of the honey, velvet or screwbean mesquite, occurring mostly where the respective ranges of these native species overlap. Others are nonnative mesquite species, most originating from South America. There is the Argentine mesquite (Prosopis alba), the Chilean mesquite (Prosopis chilensis), and numerous other varieties and their hybrids. No nonnative species will be as suited to the climate here as the mesquites that are native to Arizona. For example, the Chilean mesquite does not seem as tolerant of the lower winter temperatures in Arizona.

Botanical Foes

Despite their many positive qualities, mesquite trees are considered by many as an invasive weed. In many countries outside of North and South America where they have been introduced they have been extremely invasive and troublesome, especially in Australia.

The mesquite tree is cursed by inhabitants of our own Arizona desert as well. Cattlemen especially dislike them, but the overgrazing of their herds over the past couple of centuries has exacerbated the very problem that they complain about, which is the mesquite tree's competition with grasses. In an area that is overgrazed, cattle not only threaten the populations of the natural grasses that compete with mesquite trees for water, but they also help the mesquites spread by eating and dispersing the seeds. As Frank Dobie puts it, "The white man sowed with over-grazing; he is now reaping thickets of mesquites that are stabbing millions of acres of land into non-productiveness." All efforts to thwart or control this stubborn native Arizona tree have all failed and been deemed impractical or ineffective. Whether by fire, herbicide use, or physical tree removal of various means, the costs and environmental side effects of trying to control the population and spread of the mesquite have made it a problem with no easy solution.

Sharp reminds us: "Uninvited guest or welcome neighbor, the mesquites belong to the desert.  They evolved in the desert.  They play a core role in the desert ecosystem." (Jay Sharp)

Historic Significance and Modern Uses

"Over the past several centuries, no one plant has probably played a greater and more vital role in the lives of humankind in the southwestern United States than the short stature, crooked mesquite." (excerpted from The Magnificent Mesquite by Ken E. Rogers.) Indeed, the mesquite trees strewn across the Southwest have literally saved numerous lives. They provided the "manna from heaven" for the suffering men of the 1841 Texas Santa Fe Expedition, as recorded in the journal of George W. Kendall (also quoted by Rogers). The beans are sweet and nutritious, and more protein-rich than the soybean. (Lometa)

Another food that comes from the mesquite trees in Arizona (though not directly) is honey. The swarms of bees that are strongly attracted to the mesquite flower's nectar do more than just fill their important role as pollinators, after all. This, however, does not complete the list of foods derived from the mesquite. Even their sap has been utilized as sweet gum or as black dye.

'Pinole' is made by grinding the pods, with or without the beans still inside. It can be used as four or, because of its sweetness, as a condiment or spice. This mesquite flour is said to be healthy for diabetics, because it is sweetened by fructose, which the body processes without insulin. This is just one example of the many digestive and nutritional advantages of the mesquite tree and other foods of the desert that has been discovered. (Lometa)

Various parts of the mesquite tree have also been used as remedies for many different ailments by the Indians and settlers of the frontier era. Examples of the ailments that the mesquite tree helped to ease or heal are: diarrhea, dysentery, colic, flesh wounds, headaches, ailing eyes, and sore throat.

The wood, bark and pods of mesquite trees are popularly used for barbecue and for other purposes. The dry wood burns slow, hot and with very little smoke. It has an unmistakable aroma. Some insist that burning the pods along with the charcoal and wood chips make the flavor even richer. (Lometa) Besides for heat and for cooking, the wood has been used for the construction of Spanish missions, colonial haciendas, ranch houses and fencing. (Sharp) The Native Americans used the hard mesquite wood for spears and arrowheads, and the bark of the mesquite tree for making baskets and fabrics. The thorns were used as needles. Today the wood is artistically valuable for making furniture or sculpture because of its sometimes dark colors and beautiful gnarled patterns.

Of course, mesquite trees in Arizona are beneficial not only to humans but also to our wildlife. Animals use the mesquite as shelter, habitat and food. In the late summer and fall, mesquite beans make up as much as 80 percent of the coyote's diet!  The bean pods also can serve as fodder for livestock when the grasses are inadequate.

Maintenance, Problems and Treatments

Though mesquite trees in Arizona do not require much maintenance, the specimens growing around our homes could benefit from a little extra care during unusually hot summers or times of extended drought. Sun-scorch is one of the very few problems that can plague mesquite trees planted as part of landscaping, though they are not as susceptible to this as are citrus and other fruit trees in Arizona. Infrequent but deep watering and occasional fertilizing will help ensure that the mesquites around our homes do not suffer a decline of health and beauty.

During years when Arizona receives plentiful rainfall, mesquite trees do not need extra watering. However, in times of drought, the leaves will become sparse and allow more sunlight through to the branches. This is exacerbated by the need in the city to keep mesquite trees thinned out to survive storms and heavy winds, so as not to cause damage to homes and other structures. If the bark is exposed to too much intense sun, sun-scorch may occur, especially where the sunlight is most direct (i.e. on the top of horizontal branches at midday). Sun-scorch causes permanent damage to the cambium, or the sapwood layer underneath the bark. The cracked bark and dead tissues resulting from severe sun-scorch can lead to secondary infections and infestations, such as bark beetles and a fungus called 'sooty canker'.

Sun-scorch on mesquite trees in Arizona can be prevented but not undone. Reflective paint on the most vulnerable branches will minimize a mesquite tree's chances of being sun-damaged. Branches already affected should be removed back to a branch with healthy tissues. The best way to prevent sun-scorch is to encourage leafy growth to protect the tree during the hotter part of the year by some watering and by light fertilizing. Give the mesquite trees ammonium sulfate once in the springtime. Unless already fed by drippers or sprinklers (whether in your own or in a neighboring yard), water them deeply every two months from early spring to early fall. If the monsoons bring adequate water, skip deep-watering during this period.

A mesquite tree that is planted in someone's yard may not be as hardy as the volunteer trees growing wild in the desert. Most likely, a nursery-grown mesquite tree planted for landscaping purposes has spent some time in a pot https://www.treefortwayne.com. The more time any tree spends in a pot, the more likely it is to become root-bound. An impaired root system makes for a mesquite tree that not only struggles to receive what little water they need to thrive, but also is more prone to falling over because their 'anchoring' is not as sturdy. John Begeman says, "Try as you may, it is impossible to get a wobbly tree to anchor in the ground. By putting up stronger stakes and wires, righting the tree when it falls over, [...] you are just prolonging the inevitable. [...] The best thing to do with an unstable tree is to get rid of it and start over with a healthy specimen." Please refer to his article entitled Remove Wobbly Mesquite Treesfor more information on the subject.

If nothing else, I hope that this article on mesquite trees in Arizona increases some Arizonans' appreciation for this native plant as something that undeniably belongs in this desert we call home.