The Wide World of Cacti for Desert Landscaping

Desert landscaping is a popular theme for Las Vegas and any place that wants to conserve water. You may have seen the more commonly used cactuses for gardens, but there many varieties that are beautiful and not common for desert landscaping in Las Vegas.

The Appearance of Cactuses

Cactuses vary in size, shape and color. They have different growing habits and may appear as spiny balls or tall trees. Some look like fans and some can be grown to spill over rocks or in a hanging basket. Many types also produce beautiful blossoms. Cactuses are used as landscaping features in just about every climate, but they are especially suited for desert landscaping because they require very little water.

Types of Cactus

The most popular types of cacti for desert landscaping are the:

• Pincushion cactus, which resembles a ball with tiny spines covering the surface and is low to the ground

• Prickly pear cactus, which has wide, flat stems with tips that turn orange if planted in the bright sun

• Barrel cactus, which looks like barrels covered with spines

• Cholla cactus, an attractive plant for the focal point of a desert landscape

• Organ pipe that resembles organ pipes and grows in clusters

• Totem pole cactus, which grows very tall as spineless columns

Some Tips for Desert Landscaping

Cactuses should be planted in a sloped area that gets plenty of sunlight. This allows for good drainage, which cactuses need. The bed should be from 6 to 12 inches deep and have a base of a mixture of two parts potting soil, two parts sand and one part gravel. You can also add rocks or pebbles as mulch. Cactuses should only be watered when the topsoil is dry in the summer and not at all in the winter.

Cactuses are often planted with succulents and each has individual growing requirements. You can choose plants that have the same basic growing needs but have different shapes to give variety to your garden. Once your cactuses start growing, you can enjoy them without much maintenance.