Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Wednesday - April 28, 2010
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Cacti and Succulents
Title: How can I eradicate 20 acres of cactus?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
Cactus eradication. I have about 20 acres that are covered to the point that it is not safe to walk on the property. What can I do? Are there classes out there for eradication?ANSWER:
There are lots of plants that are called cactus (see previous answer), but when Mr. Smarty Plants sees the word eradication in conjunction with it, he thinks of the genus Opuntia Opuntia engelmannii (cactus apple).
Yours is not an easy task, and my first suggestion is to contact the folks at the Travis County office of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. They can put you in touch with people who have had experience with this problem.
I found a website for a person who invented an implement used for cactus eradication that is called the "Kactus kicker". The site contains information explaining why cactus eradication is such a problem.
Another website from the "Kactus Krusher" offers his services for cactus eradication using an implement similar to the "Kactus Kicker".
From the Image Gallery
More Cacti and Succulents Questions
Dying cactus plants
December 16, 2007 - Two large cactus plants on the grounds of our condominium complex have begun to turn yellow and appear to be dying. A "staple" of our landscaping, this is the first year that they have developed th...
view the full question and answer
Transplanting yucca pups from Dallas
September 01, 2010 - Can I transplant Pup Yucca plants off of the main yucca and how do I cut them off?
view the full question and answer
Getting rid of yucca plants in Blanco, TX
May 12, 2009 - How does a person get rid of Yucca plants? We have four fig trees that do not bear figs, what do we need to do? We live in SE Blanco County, Texas.
view the full question and answer
Controlling agave pups from Galveston, TX
July 26, 2013 - I live in Galveston, Tx.I have several large 5ft tall century plants in my yard and the pups are coming up everywhere..how do I control these??? HELP!!
view the full question and answer
Smarty Plants on bio-security
June 11, 2005 - Hello,
My friend and I are summer interns at the Bryan Mound Strategic Petroleum Reserve Site in Freeport, Texas. Our jobs as the interns is to find a plant that is friendly to the animals around our...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |