Clearing Prickly Pears

[DeeDubya]

I ordered this "debris fork" which clamps between pallet forks. I modified it by bolting on some sickle bar sections. I'm hoping to push it into a pear until it is cut off at the base or torn out by the roots, tip the bucket back and haul it to the prickly grave yard. This might help prevent dropping pieces which will grow back with the first rain. I lay out piece of thick polyvinyl and pile them up. Like this they will rot and finally dry up without taking root.

 

[RPW]

Looks interesting. Let us know how it works.

 

[Bird]

Yep, that's interesting, and it'll be even more interesting to learn how it works. My limited experience with prickly pear has been that almost nothing works.:laughing:

 

[DeeDubya]

Yep, that's interesting, and it'll be even more interesting to learn how it works. My limited experience with prickly pear has been that almost nothing works.:laughing:

Attempting to scoop them out with the FEL doesn't work. It just pushes them down and slides over the top (understand that this is on hill country bedrock). I'm hoping that the forks will slide onto the root and then either pull the root out or cut if off but still have the bucket to catch loose pears and leaves, either of which will grow on if left on the ground.

Here you go, no top soil. I don't see how they even grow, but they do it well.

 

[Wooddust]

ever spray for them?

 

[DeeDubya]

ever spray for them?

This is somewhat representative of 6 acres that I need to clear of trash, brush and pear. I want them gone so that I can work the area by this fall and cut it with a bush hog. Spraying would be an option if I had a year or two.

 

[jonyyuma]

Good luck, like you said they cannot touch the ground...Too bad they won't make something you could drink?

 

[Redbug]

Boy, those things can ruin your land for doing just about anything. Will glyphosphate kill them?

 

[fishfactor]

It's going to be tough if you want to work the land this fall. I would check to see if there is a herbicide that will kill them and not your grass. Clear them with a mulcher, keep it cut with a bush hog and as soon as you see them start to resprout spray with the selective herbicide that may or may not exist.

 

[koogala]

Du Pont makes a herbicide called SURMOUNT....it is the chemical of choice for prickly pear....kills very slow but very thoroughly...takes 3-6 months but it WILL DIE....mixes @ 2% & will need someone w/ applicators license to purchase.

 

[bcp]

Too bad they won't make something you could drink?

They will!

Prickly Pear Ale
http://bindlestiffbeer.blogspot.com/2008/06/prickly-pear-ale.html


and

From:
How to Cut and Prepare Prickly Pears | Simply Recipes

I myself prefer just the juice. To extract the juice, place the "husked" prickly pears into a blender or food processor and pulse until liquefied. Place the juice into a fine mesh sieve and push out the juice into a pitcher or bowl. Discard the remaining pulp and seeds.

Use the juice as you like. About four prickly pears will get you about 1 cup of juice. It's great mixed in with some fresh lemonade, just use equal parts of prickly pear juice to lemonade.

 

[The Dougster]

As another Texan fighting prickly pear, the following is my routine: I use the bucket of my tractor to damage the plant.. smash down and drag and then I spray with a combination of Tordon and Remedy (1 pint of each in a 25 g sprayer). It is fairly effective except that it take 2-3 years for a total kill. It is at this point that I must tell you that you will never win the battle. The best you can hope for is to control it.
The county agent tells me what 000gala relates about Surmount. Three to six months, which is incredible. When my current supply of chemicals is used up, I will switch to Surmount.
On that note, this same county agent contacted me recently and said he knows a re. of Dow Chemical that wants to come to my ranch and create test plots to use new (?) chemicals for the control of prickly pear and cedar trees. They are scheduled to come out on the 16th and 17th of this month to get started. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. lol

 

[missingstexas]

I think it's funny how these problems work. You guys are doing everything you can to get rid of the stuff, but when I was a kid I remember planting it on a friend's cattle ranch in McMullen County (South of San Antonio). Apparently in the early 1900's a significant drought creating terrible circumstances for ranchers lead then to burn all of the thorns off of the prickly pears so the cows and wildlife could have water and nutrients to survive. They've since dug several extremely deep wells that are handling the current drought fine, but we actually planted pears for 2 weeks one spring.

 

[DeeDubya]

I'm afraid if someone saw you using a pear burner in this area, there might be a lynching.

If a cigarette can start a fire, imagine what you could do with a pear burner. :ashamed:

 

[two_bit_score]

Make nopales and eat them with your huevos a la mexicana.

 

[RPW]

Dougster- Glad to hear you're getting some "free?" help with you pear problem. I'm no longer out in Lampasas but in Topsey. I've got some but not to bad. This year barn, next year land clearing

Good luck.

 

[lockhaven]

those are actually sold here as ornamental plants :laughing:

 

[DeeDubya]

those are actually sold here as ornamental plants :laughing:

I'm rich!

 

[The Dougster]

RPW, somehow I knew that you had relocated but wasn't sure just where. Good luck with your new digs...