From Ground: Prepare your santa rita prickly pear for removal by watering it the day before. The moisture helps to hold the roots together and makes the soil easier to work with. On the day of the removal, place a tarp or an old sheet next to the cactus to serve as a landing pad. Dig a wide trench around the cactus, ensuring you get as much of the root system as possible. Lever the cactus out carefully using the shovel, aiming to keep root damage to a minimum. Transfer the cactus to the tarp.
From Pot: If your santa rita prickly pear is in a pot, it can be carefully tipped out. Prior to this, water the cactus a day before for easier extraction. On removal day, spread out a tarp or old sheet, then gently turn the pot sideways and ease out the santa rita prickly pear, being careful not to damage its roots. Move the plant onto the tarp swiftly to avoid any injury.
From Seedling Tray: Very young santa rita prickly pear can be gently lifted out of a seedling tray using a trowel or your gloved hand. Be extremely careful not to damage the young roots or delicate stem. Place it immediately into a prepared pot or bucket with a small amount of damp soil.
