Hybrid No Thorns Mesquite Tree Branch Rooted Well Underground, What To Do With The Branch Above Ground?

Question

Question about Hybrid Thornless Mesquite tree. My husband put a cut off healthy branch, 1/2″ thick, from a large healthy Mesquite tree into the ground. We water it every day. Two months later it will not pull out of the ground so we know it has grown roots (what we wanted). What do we do with the branch with dead leaves above the ground? How will the new tree grow from the roots? What if it is planted too deep, will the roots fix that themselves? Thank you! We live in the desert south of Phoenix, AZ

• 

Answer 1

Remove all the leaves and the lower two lateral branches and see if that promotes new leaves. Also, it's possible your branch only sent out a tap root and doesn't have the important feeder roots. These articles should help:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/mesquite/mesquite-tree-propagation.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/mesquite/rooting-mesquite-cuttings.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/planting-trees-from-twigs.htm