Cactus Control: How To Get Rid of Cactus

The Cactus and other similar species such as prickly pear are found throughout the United States and possess over 2,000 different species. The common characteristic of Cacti are their sharp prickly spines which, if touched, can easily pierce skin and be very painful.

Cactus plants are extremely tolerant of drought and harsh conditions and are protected from grazing animals to some extent by their spines. Not only are they a pest due to their potential to harm those who come in contact with it, but their presence can also hinder the growth of competing plants, choking them out if left untreated. On livestock ranches, Cacti are a serious problem by interfering with movement and forage space for cattle and other animals.

Cacti live in hot environments and they need to retain water for a very long time. The way they do that is by eliminating leaves which increases evapotranspiration. Instead of leaves, Cacti have a spongy material covered by a thin layer of skin that helps retain water. Water can also condense on the Cactus and drip onto the ground where the roots will absorb it. Cacti are so good at retaining water that 90% of the Cactus is water.

If you have Cactus growing on your lawn or in your pasture land and want it gone, our DIY Cactus treatment guide can assist you via step-by-step instructions on using our professional-grade control products that will quickly and effectively remove Cactus plants.

Identification

A Cactus can be pretty easily identified since, no matter what species of Cactus is present, they all prickly spines or ends of leaves which are sharp to the touch. Cacti grow in jungles and deserts as the temperature there is hot. Since they live in different environments, they're bound to be different in appearance and style.

We typically expect Cacti to have spikes, and they do, but the spikes are sometimes so different that we don't recognize them as such. For example, the peyote Cactus spikes look like shriveled up potato spuds but they're actually meant to be spikes.

Use our description and image above to help you to identify the Cactus on your landscape. If you are having trouble identifying the Cactus, contact us and we will properly ID the plant for you as well and offer herbicide product recommendations for control.

Inspection

After you have identified the invasive tree you are dealing with as Cactus, you can proceed with an inspection. Mainly, you want to see where the Cactus is gathered and how severe of an invasion there is so you know where to focus your treatment.

Where to Inspect

Cacti don't just grow in deserts, they can grow anywhere as long as the soil is fast-draining, they receive plenty of sun and the weather is particularly warm.

What To Look For

Scan your property to see where the Cacti are growing and how big of an issue it is. Knowing how severe of a problem you have is helpful so you know how much herbicide you may need to conduct treatment applications.

Treatment

Please be sure that when handling any type of herbicide, you are properly protecting your skin and eyes with safety equipment (goggles, gloves and long-sleeved clothing).

There are one of two methods that you can use to chemically control Cacti and prickly pear. You can either chemically spray the stem or the pads of the plant with an herbicide. Herbicides will be able to move through the plant and destroy it totally.

We recommend using a herbicide that contains picloram which has the potential to destroy 76 percent to 100 percent of prickly pear and certain other types of Cacti.

Step 1: Chop down the Cactus plant

Take an ax and damage the plant. This will help the herbicide to seep into the Cactus better.

Step 2: Mix Apply Picloram 22K

Prepare a herbicide spray mix of Picloram in a sprayer. For spot applications using a handheld sprayer, mix 0.75 fl. oz. of Picloram 22K in 0.5 to 2.5 gallons of water to treat a 1,000 sq. ft. area. For acreage applications, apply 4 quarts of Picloram. We also recommend adding a spray marking dye, to mark plants that have been sprayed and to tell if you are getting a sufficient amount of herbicide on the green pads or stems.

Once the Picloram solution is mixed, spray the solution on both sides of the pads and stems. There is no specific time of year that you can spray, however, the herbicide may not be as effective if it is too cold or if the Cacti are moist. Spray so the Cactus is wet, but the solution should not be dripping off the pads. Repeat applications are necessary to ensure the Cactus is totally eradicated.

Prevention

Once the offending Cacti have been neutralized from your property, you need to make sure the problem doesn't rear it's prickly head again. Monitor your property closely for any growth that is undesired. Pull young Cactus seedings early before they begin to grow and mature.

If you are diligent and keep up a regular monitoring and maintenance schedule with your landscape, you shouldn't have a problem with Cacti on your property again.

Key Takeaways

• Cactus plants can be an invasive species and also harmful due to their prickly spikes which can harm humans and animals who get close to it.
• Our top recommendation to treat Cacti is a post-emergent treatment of Picloram after damaging the Cactus with an ax.
• Prevent Cactus reestablishment by monitoring your property and pulling young Cactus seedlings if you find any. Keep up with a regular lawn maintenance schedule as well.