Re: Prickly Pear Cactus

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• To: Multiple recipients of list SQFT <S*@UMSLVMA.UMSL.EDU>
• Subject: Re: Prickly Pear Cactus
• From: C* H* <C*@ENG.SUN.COM>
• Date: Wed, 14 May 1997 13:30:01 -0700

----- Begin Included Message -----

From: Clark Womack <clarkw@KTC.COM>
Subject:      Prickly Pear Cactus

In the area that I want to put my square foot garden I have quite a bit of
prickly pear cactus. I have been told that it's impossible to dig it out
and if you try to chop it out it just spreads out to cover a larger area.
Does anyone know of a way to kill it?
Clark, Texas zone 8

----- End Included Message -----

Hi Clark,

Stuff and nonsense!  I've removed Prickly Pear Cactus from my area
where I now have my raised beds.  It is work, but it doesn't come
back from the roots.

Tools:  get a REALLY GOOD pair of leather gloves.  Those needles go
        through canvas and are REALLY annoying under your skin.

        Spading fork or pitch fork

        Ax

        wheel barrow

        shovel

        Some place to dispose of the parts - I threw mine along the
        creek to create "defensive landscaping".  You can also bury it.

Method:  Chop off the branch/leaves (?) in manageable hunks with the ax.
         Pick up the hunks with the fork and put them into the wheel
         barrow.
         Dispose of it along creek, bury it, whatever. :-)
         Dig up the major roots like you would any plant to "clean up".

What you don't want to do:

Put it through a chipper/shredder all by itself.  It is too wet!  Makes a mess.

Leave it lie on the ground - it will take root from the "leaves".

Use Round-up. It has a waxy coating and just wastes the Round-up.


Once you've chopped it to the ground, and dug up the area, you are set.

Carol Hatcher
carol.hatcher@sun.com
Fremont, Ca
USDA Zone 9, Sunset Zone 16

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