Weed Control in Prickly Pear Patches Without Killing Cacti

Ruth in Texas Hill Country wanted to eliminate grass/weeds in a prickly pear patch without harming the cacti.

Limited Options

Hand weeding is safest.
Spot-treat with diluted glyphosate (Roundup) on actively growing weeds—avoid contact with cactus pads.
Pre-emergent herbicides (e.g., pendimethalin) applied in early spring may reduce weed seeds.

Cacti can absorb herbicides through roots or drift. Shield plants with cardboard during spraying. Test on a small area first.

Cactus: Weed Control and Fertilizing New Ryegrass in Southern California; Roundup Burn Spots & Weeds: Topsoil + Seed for Patches; Reclaiming a Weed-Infested Sod Lawn Organically: Soil First, Seed Second; Crabgrass-Dominated Connecticut Lawn: Fall Renovation Plan; Weed Management in a New Pennsylvania Lawn: Mowing, Organic Fertilization, and Pre-Emergent Strategy; Thickening St. Augustine & Bermuda Grass Organically in Texas; Rescuing Bermuda Grass Overrun by Weeds; Permanently Killing Vegetation with Salt: The Scorched Earth Method; Total Lawn Renovation in Arizona: From Weeds to Grass; Dollarweed Control in Centipede Grass on the Gulf Coast

Garden Articles

Plants