How to prune santa rita prickly pear

Spring for any maintenance pruning; damaged pads removed any time. Grip with long tongs and cut at the junction between pads using sterilised loppers. Never cut mid-pad. Dispose of removed pads carefully in a bag — do not leave them where pets or children play.

Rarely — as needed for damage or overcrowding. Santa Rita Prickly Pear needs minimal pruning. Its purple-blue pads are ornamental and should not be cut for aesthetics. Remove only dead, mushy, or pest-damaged pads by cutting cleanly at the pad joint in spring. Wear eye protection and thick gloves — spines are long and glochids are dense.

Grip with long tongs and cut at the junction between pads using sterilised loppers. Never cut mid-pad. Dispose of removed pads carefully in a bag — do not leave them where pets or children play.