There were a few of these green spikey critters that sprouted up in our property in Arizona but we let them grow and just prune them to keep them under control.
+Ann Blodgett Sorry, no I don't, but someone who hires out to mow might do it. He needs only to buy a rock rake--$400 investment and lots of time. It's not fast work. :-)
Nice video. The problem with eradicating prickle pear is that any small piece of the plant can grow a new plant. The red fruit that grows on top is full of seeds. Animals that eat the fruit end up planting cactus where they crap. I like to cut the fruit off with a machete while it is still green and the seeds haven't developed. If you can't reach the fruit with a machete, Shoot it with a twelve gauge. If you have cows on your land, use a pear burner to burn the thorns off and the cows will eat it. They love it. Sheep will even eat the roots out of the ground. If you get the cactus to the point where all that is left is the roots, you can remove them with a metal rake or pick ax and then hall them off into a burn barrel to prevent regrowth. If you get to the point where only the roots are left and you can not rake them out, you can put something on top of it to block sunlight to kill them, like a piece of old tin metal. If you don't have cows, goats, or sheep; there is a chemical solution to the problem. There is a herbicide called Tordon 22k. It will kill the cactus, but won't kill the grass around it.
Wow, that is an impressive rake! You are correct about the roots. Considering the wholesale value of these plants and all of their products, I hope that you save a few and set aside some space for them to grow naturally. Of course in Australia, this weed exists in a whole other realm of invasion control. I have been to Texas, but I am not sure of the name of your species. It looks like Opuntia engelmannii or Opuntia phaeacantha. Please let me know if you find it. Thanks
Charles Shumaker , did you find a solution to getting rid of a pile of dug up cactus? I live in the city and pile is bigger than my dumpster will hold. any way of decaying it quickly?
My neighbor said his springy rock rake would throw rocks at him. Maybe a horizontal plywood shield would make the rocks go under the tractor instead of hitting the driver.
Charles, I pile the cactus up, and let it decompose in one area of the property. I'm sure the landfill would take it, but I have it stacked out of view, and it should make good compost after it breaks down.
Not sure of the specie. But in non-drought conditions this cactus will form what we call prickly pears, a burgundy colored fruit, which is quite delicious, and good for your digestive system. I have spared a few beds. The area shown in this video is completely free of cactus, now hosting native grasses 8 months after it was cleared. Impossible for me to have removed all of the root system, the drought lending a helping hand.
Thanks for the video. I've tried using a skid steer with a bucket, but it leaves a lot of pads and you need a couple of other folks with pitchforks to get them. Have you used a bucket, and if so how does it compare with a rock rake? Any thoughts on spraying them? I have 90 acres in Burnet, pretty thick with cactus in some parts, so spraying may be my best option?
Tim, the bucket steals too much soil, really the rake is the best tool. The chemical used to kill cactus is very expensive from what I hear...wouldn't be an option for me. And chances are nothing will grow there for a long while after the cactus dies off. Sorry to take so long to reply.
Some desert plants are cool but I can understand why you got rid of the prickly pear it’s kinda spiky.
There were a few of these green spikey critters that sprouted up in our property in Arizona but we let them grow and just prune them to keep them under control.
can you recommend someone in the Mason area to do this type of work, we have 250 acres at least
+Ann Blodgett Sorry, no I don't, but someone who hires out to mow might do it. He needs only to buy a rock rake--$400 investment and lots of time. It's not fast work. :-)
Know a guy that removed cactus on alot of my land with his dozer. Did great work too. Alot of grass for my cows now!!!
Nice video. The problem with eradicating prickle pear is that any small piece of the plant can grow a new plant. The red fruit that grows on top is full of seeds. Animals that eat the fruit end up planting cactus where they crap. I like to cut the fruit off with a machete while it is still green and the seeds haven't developed. If you can't reach the fruit with a machete, Shoot it with a twelve gauge. If you have cows on your land, use a pear burner to burn the thorns off and the cows will eat it. They love it. Sheep will even eat the roots out of the ground. If you get the cactus to the point where all that is left is the roots, you can remove them with a metal rake or pick ax and then hall them off into a burn barrel to prevent regrowth. If you get to the point where only the roots are left and you can not rake them out, you can put something on top of it to block sunlight to kill them, like a piece of old tin metal. If you don't have cows, goats, or sheep; there is a chemical solution to the problem. There is a herbicide called Tordon 22k. It will kill the cactus, but won't kill the grass around it.
Wow, that is an impressive rake! You are correct about the roots.
Considering the wholesale value of these plants and all of their products, I hope that you save a few and set aside some space for them to grow naturally. Of course in Australia, this weed exists in a whole other realm of invasion control.
I have been to Texas, but I am not sure of the name of your species. It looks like Opuntia engelmannii or Opuntia phaeacantha. Please let me know if you find it. Thanks
Is there anywhere to buy this species of Opuntia? Ive been looking for it for a long time. You said its called PHAEACANTHA?
Cool. What do you do with the piles of Prickly Pear corpses that you wind up with? How do you get rid of that?
Charles Shumaker , did you find a solution to getting rid of a pile of dug up cactus? I live in the city and pile is bigger than my dumpster will hold. any way of decaying it quickly?
You pile it then burn it in winter time.
My neighbor said his springy rock rake would throw rocks at him. Maybe a horizontal plywood shield would make the rocks go under the tractor instead of hitting the driver.
+Frank Oldman He's moving too fast...crawling keeps the rocks from flying toward you.
Charles, I pile the cactus up, and let it decompose in one area of the property. I'm sure the landfill would take it, but I have it stacked out of view, and it should make good compost after it breaks down.
😂 that's just wrong...what species of prickly pear is it? I would like to own one like this.
They multiply so badly
Not sure of the specie. But in non-drought conditions this cactus will form what we call prickly pears, a burgundy colored fruit, which is quite delicious, and good for your digestive system. I have spared a few beds. The area shown in this video is completely free of cactus, now hosting native grasses 8 months after it was cleared. Impossible for me to have removed all of the root system, the drought lending a helping hand.
replace with a cactus fence to allow natural balance and a use for your land
Can you rent this?
If this works on jumping cholla cactus, I will name one of my children after you. I cannot STAND that stuff and my dad's property is full of it!
Thanks for the video. I've tried using a skid steer with a bucket, but it leaves a lot of pads and you need a couple of other folks with pitchforks to get them. Have you used a bucket, and if so how does it compare with a rock rake? Any thoughts on spraying them? I have 90 acres in Burnet, pretty thick with cactus in some parts, so spraying may be my best option?
Tim, the bucket steals too much soil, really the rake is the best tool. The chemical used to kill cactus is very expensive from what I hear...wouldn't be an option for me. And chances are nothing will grow there for a long while after the cactus dies off. Sorry to take so long to reply.
I could use the fibrous skeletons from those and Cholla too , to make ink pens :( such a waste . oh well........
Not really, there's so many of them everywhere that this doesn't make too much of a difference
Be careful for honey bees!!!!
Wat? Should I be concerned with digging em by hand?
Good idea, thanks sir.
PERFECT!