Thorny-hugel?

We have these lovely but thorny trees here and that's pretty much all we have for miles, as far as trees go. I'm considering digging pits, filling with the branches that are littered all over, waiting to puncture the bottom of a foot, and covering with a bit of soil, then planting right into them. I'd probably mound the branches up several feet so that as they settle, whatever is planted in them won't be sunken into the ground. Who else has tried this madness? Success/failure reports?

Was also thinking of splitting my swale mounds long-ways and filling the middle with the thorns before planting them. Sorta like a hugle-taco?

lovely but thorny trees  

Bougainvillea?

Burl Smith wrote:

lovely but thorny trees  

Bougainvillea?

No. I do have some bougainvillea, but the trees we have are actual trees, not vines or shrubs. And they don't have prominent flowers. Just nice shade.