Prickly Pear Control

Looking for input on herbicides to spot spray cactus. Would have to be available without applicators license. What has worked for you guys?

Thanks

I buy an off brand glyphosate from Tractor supply . I think it’s about 45%. I spray cactus, lots of poison oak and other stuff. Be sure to follow the mix directions. If you over load on chemical vs water, it can translocate back to the roots and reappear the next year. Been there, done that.

Tordon or Surmount. Both Dow products

If you are not doing a lot of pear, I have used Remedy with water to spray ever pad on the cactus. It will kill it over a few weeks. I mix the Remedy and water to foliliar spray brush and hit the cactus when I come across one.

There is a new herbicide for Cactus called MezaVue. It is supposed to kill the cactus faster then Surmount. I have had good results with Surmount but killing cactus is a SLOW process. Up to a year before you see the results. MezaVue is a little more expensive than Surmount but the kill rate is faster. Most of the good herbicides require an applicators license. It's not hard to get one. Contact your County Extension Office. They normally do classes several times a year and I believe you can do it online now also.

What ever you decide to use, be careful around desirable trees. Live Oaks, etc. Stay well away from the drip line of those trees. These herbicides will kill hard wood trees.

Going to try this product this spring. Have always used Tordon 22k and has done a good job for me as long as it gets a rain on it within 45 days of application. Seems this Mezavue doesn't need rain and has a faster kill rate.

I use Remedy for mesquite and have tried it on prickly pear with mixed results. Seems to get a good kill, but will get regrowth at times. Maybe just my process is wrong.

Used Tordon 22k and Surmount on Prickly pear both work with there issues stated above . Just started using MezaVue and see the out come. This does work on all sites but if get a wildfire or prescribed burn, it can cut cost in you get a better coating on the pads as they respout because there is no grass in the way to prevent coverage. The pads are smaller and it takes less to cover. The plant is already injured and stressed from the heat, thus get high rate of kill. May not work on all places but is cutting cost and easier walking on some west Texas ranches.

I think Tordon or Surmount will need a permit. Would Pasture Guard HL work, it has the triclopyr and fluroxypr combo. I have sporadic areas where I want to stop them before it gets spread by mowing or plowing etc.

The link below is a good read on the different herbicides above. I believe how you treat the cactus makes a big difference in the percentage of kill. I use a surfactant and dye with Surmount and liberally spray both sides of the pads in a cluster. I make sure it gets a good treatment. I would think Pasture Guard would do what you want it to do if you treat it liberally. Mist it down short of having it run off of the pads. Brush Busters for Cactus is a good resource;



agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/resultdemos/files/2015/03/2014-Individual-Plant-Treatments-of-Prickly-Pear-Accompanied-with-Sendero-Erath-Bosque-and-Parker-Counties.pdf