Velvet Mesquite Seedling Care

Place a 2-inch layer of gravel in the bottom of a planter, ensuring the pieces are larger than the drainage holes. Fill the container 4 inches from the top with potting soil, and make a hole in the center of the planter large enough for the velvet mesquite seedling’s roots. Prepare the container during late spring or early summer, as this is the best time to plant the mesquite seedling in a pot.

Remove the velvet mesquite from its current container, and set its roots into the hole. Fill soil around the seedling’s roots and add water until it leaks from the drainage holes. Place the seedling in a warm area that receives sunlight in the morning and shade in the afternoon. Keep the soil moist, allowing its surface to dry between watering.

Dig a hole in the ground wide enough for the velvet mesquite’s root ball to fit into during early fall. Ensure this area receives between six and eight hours of full sunlight daily and is at least 20 feet from major structures. Tilt the velvet mesquite’s container on its side and gently remove it. Support the root ball and transfer it to the ground, filling the area around it with potting soil. Add a 3-inch layer of mulch on top of the soil around the velvet mesquite, stretching 5 feet away from the base of the tree to protect its roots.

Keep the soil moist if there's not enough rainfall to supply water to the tree. By early summer, the velvet mesquite will begin to produce new growth as it takes root in its location. Reapply mulch around the tree in fall, spanning 10 feet away from its base, to protect the larger root structure.