|
Prosopis thornless
hybrid ‘AZT’, ‘AZT’
Thornless Hybrid
Mesquite.
These trees exhibit a
uniform appearance,
upright growth and
strong branch angles.
Leaflets give the canopy
a lush green look. The
characteristics that set
these ‘AZT’ clones apart
from seed selections are
the thornless, uniform
upright growth,
synchronous bud break
and, with sound
horticultural practices,
root mass growth that is
in proportion to canopy
growth.
Arid Zone Trees makes
selections from
thousands of trees
propagated from seed.
Only individual trees
having the most
desirable physical
qualities (branching
habits, leaf color, leaf
canopy, and flower
color) and sound
horticultural
characteristics
(rooting, cold hardiness
and growth rate) are
selected for further
study. These trees are
then cloned (vegetatively
propagated) and planted
at our nursery for
evaluation. The best of
these trees are placed
in our cloning
production and are
designated
Variety ‘AZT.’
Since no single
selection of any desert
tree species is best
adapted to all landscape
applications, we
continually search for
new additions to our
Variety ‘AZT.’
While its horticultural
characteristics and
taxonomy remains the
subject of sometimes
heated discussion,
Prosopis thornless
hybrid ‘AZT’
are among the most
popular and widely used
trees in the desert
landscape palette. It is
not difficult to
understand its
popularity among
landscape professionals
given the trees’
qualities. Trees are
thornless, making them
ideal for landscape
applications from
re-vegetation of
disturbed desert sites
to streetscapes, park
plantings and commercial
and residential
landscapes. The form and
texture of
Prosopis thornless
hybrid ‘AZT’
blend almost seamlessly
with surrounding native
Sonoran desert trees and
shrubs. They are used as
theme trees along
streets and commercial
projects, as screens,
wind breaks or barrier
plantings, as transition
trees back to native
species in re-vegetation
projects or any
landscape applications
where ample shade is
desired. At maturity,
Mesquites can be up to
30 feet tall and as wide
with symmetrical, dome-
shaped, spreading
canopies. The foliage is
lacy and fern-like with
compound leaves
consisting of anywhere
from 20 to 40 leaflets.
Cold hardy to 10 to
15 degrees F, they can
be planted throughout
most regions of the
desert southwest.
Trees are
semi-deciduous losing
only a portion of the
leaves in warmer winter
locations. Leaves
remaining through the
winter are shed rapidly
in spring just prior to
bud break. In late
spring Mesquites produce
yellow-green,
unremarkable,
catkin-like flowers. By
early summer curved and
sometimes curled tan
to brown seed pods
mature and are shed.
The shade produced by
Prosopis thornless
hybrid ‘AZT’
can range from filtered
to quite dense. Shade is
a welcome addition to
all desert landscapes
but may inhibit the
growth and flower
production of
under-story plantings.
Carefully consider the
ultimate shade that can
be produced by these
trees and the impact
of shade on the
growth and flowering of
under-story plants and
turf.
Prosopis
thornless hybrid ‘AZT’
will tolerate an array
of soil types and
growing conditions from
harsh, full sun to shady
bosque or grove-like
plantings. The first 2
to 3 years following
transplanting are
critical in establishing
a well distributed root
system. With
supplemental irrigation
and fertilization,
Prosopis thornless
hybrid ‘AZT’
grow at a rapid rate.
Mature, established
Mesquite trees can be
naturalized to survive
on annual rainfall in
desert soils with higher
water holding capacity.
Trees are most lush and
exhibit best growth
and appearance with
irrigation during the
hot, dry summer months.
In landscape settings
where water and nitrogen
are usually abundant,
Mesquites can produce
large dense leaf
canopies from limited
root systems. These
trees are often easily
damaged or completely
uprooted by the high
winds associated with
the summer rainy season.
Prosopis
thronless hybrid 'AZT'
is propagated and
available exclusively
from Arid Zone Trees.
Cultural Practices:
Foster the development
of a more dispersed root
system and reduce the
risk of wind throw by
arranging irrigation
emitters at varying
distances from the trunk
to encourage roots to
"seek out" water and
nutrients. Irrigation
emitter arrangement
along with other
information on
irrigations practices
for desert trees can be
found at
www.aridzonetrees.com
and click on the FAQ
link.
Prune as needed to
reinforce the structure
and form of the tree.
Periodic thinning is the
most desirable method of
pruning. Avoid hedging
or heading back desert
species, as this will
only stimulate excessive
branching. Do not remove
more than 30% of the
canopy during the summer
as this can lead to
sunburn injuries that
can later be invaded by
wood boring insects.
Always use clean, sharp
tools that are cleaned
regularly in a 10%
solution of bleach. For
detail pruning guide see
www.aridzonetrees.com
and click on the FAQ
interactive button.
Periodically
insect pests can be a
problem on some desert
trees. On young trees,
insect infestation can
slow typical seasonal
growth. Inspect trees
during the growing
season for common garden
sucking insects such as
aphids, thrip,
whiteflies or psyllids.
During dry months, (May
and June) in dusty
conditions, spider mites
can appear. Monitor for
infestation and apply
controls as needed.
Spray applications of
water or water and Safer
Soap give short-term
control (3 to 7 days)
for small insect
population. For heavy
infestation or longer
control use federally
registered insecticides.
A contact insecticide
application will kill
existing adults. An
application with a
systemic soil drench
will provide 8 to 12
weeks control for any
post application insect
hatchings or migration
of insects. Before using
pesticide for the first
time or on new plants or
cultivar, treat a few
plants and check for
phytotoxicty.
Always read label and
follow label instruction
before using pesticides.
For pesticide control
recommendations contact
a
licensed pest control
advisor.
|
