How To Turn Your Yard Into A Water Saving Paradise Part 4

Hi everybody, Use My Guy Here with another installment in my series on xeriscaping.  Over the last three weeks I have talked about shrubs, trees, vines and grasses that that need little to no supplemental watering.  This week I will cover Cacti and next week I will wrap it up with perennials and groundcover.

For those of you that have not been following xeriscaping is a landscaping method that was developed specifically for arid and semi-arid climates that utilizes water conserving techniques such as drought resistant plants and efficient irrigation techniques.  In my final article I will bring it all together with ideas for how to water efficiently and ways to ensure that the water you use goes to the plants it was intended for.  If you are reading this article then you are already on your way to helping Arizona conserve its natural resources and saving yourself a good deal of money in the process.

Now for the fun part, the plants of course.  Cacti have long been what many non-Arizonans have identified Arizona with.  The good news is that there is more to Arizona than the mighty saguaro and the prickly pear cactus but this article is going to be all about them.  Cactus is kind of the poster child for drought tolerant plants because that is exactly what they excel at.  They are basically storage units for water and when drought comes no plant is more prepared for it than the cactus.  Cacti have shallow root systems and can store water that will last some of them for up to two years.

Prickly Pear

First up is the Arizona favorite the Prickly Pear.  This cactus is named for its reddish, pink fruit that comes into maturity between early spring and summer.  This is a versatile cactus that has beautiful, showy, yellow flowers.  It also bears fruit that can be eaten raw, turned into jellies and jams and even used in the summer favorite lemonade.  A Prickly Pear only needs to be watered once a month in the summer if there is a drought going on and even then it doesn’t actually need it.  Watering it once a month will help it to thrive instead of just surviving.

Saguaro

Next we have what is perhaps the most iconic plant in Arizona, the Saguaro cactus.  This amazing plant is an integral part of the Sonoran desert ecosystem because it is host to many animals.  The Gila Woodpecker and the Gilded Flicker will excavate cavities in the Saguaro and when they leave many different species of birds will take up residence in the empty hole.  Additionally many different animals use the Saguaro as a food source.  The fruit that is dropped is nutritious and water dense and the flesh of the cactus is used as a source of water for many animals during periods of drought.  If you are looking for an iconic plant that will bring beauty and a wide variety of fauna into your yard then the Saguaro Cactus is a great choice.

Spruce Cone Cholla

Spruce Cones are a unique addition to any yard.  These conifer shaped cacti love full sun and only need to be watered once a month during a drought.  This cactus flowers in the spring and produces yellowish white, showy flowers that fade to a light pink before dropping.  One of the cool aspects of this cactus is that it needs no help propagating.  Its propagation is as simple as one of the branches falling off, no extra care is needed.

Mexican Fencepost

Last on my list for the day is the Mexican Fencepost.  This is an   This cactus has white spines and is ideal for fencing off property or planting in front of windows to keep teenagers in and burglars out.

interesting looking pipe cactus that can grow up to twenty feet tall by ten feet wide and has white flowers that appear in the spring.

Any of these cacti will add beauty and value to your home and when planted in conjunction with the other plants that have been introduced over the last few weeks will create a wonderful and varied landscape that will love and your neighbors will covet.  When looking for a landscaper we understand how hard it can be to find someone you trust that’s why we here at Use My Guy Services are on the Better Business Bureau where we have an A+ rating.  We are also on Angie’s List where we have a 5 star rating as well in addition to winning the Super Service Award for 2015.  You can also check us out on

yelp and Face book where we have dozens of 5 star reviews.  So look no further because we are your trusted source for all your handyman needs from plumbing and electrical to shelf hanging and irrigation maintenance, installation and repair.  Call us at (602)316-9187 to speak with a member of our friendly and helpful staff or check us out online for a complete list of services offered and for more information about our family and how you can be a part of it.

Thanks for reading.

Use My Guy