Cactus Garden

Selecting a Site

If you live in an area that is not a desert environment, picking the right place to position your cactus garden will be the primary factor in its success.

A slope or hilly area will provide the drainage that the plants require.

A sunny space on the south side of the house will provide the right amount of sun in even the coolest areas.

Avoid areas that stay moist after rain or watering, and those that don't receive enough sunlight.

Planting in raised beds surrounded by stones or brick is a good option in areas with higher rainfall amounts. Building up the beds to about two feet tall allows you to add additional sand.

A good mix for a cactus garden is two parts potting soil, two parts sand and one part gravel. This provides enough moisture retention and drainage for cactus plants to thrive.

The only limit to a site would be temperatures below freezing. The solution to this would be to grow your sensitive plants in pots and bring them indoors through the winter months. In areas that receive snow, consider growing cacti in a greenhouse.

Planting Cactus Plants

You can place your plants directly into the soil, or leave them in the pots and plant the pot as well.

If you choose the latter, simply cover the top of the pots with a layer of gravel. This method is often used to prevent damage to the sensitive root systems of cactus plants.

If you choose to plant them directly into the soil, be sure it is well tilled and all clumps of dirt are removed. Add some compost to the soil before planting and fertilizing won't be necessary until the next spring.

Once the plants are in the ground, add a layer of gravel. Do not water for at least two weeks to allow the delicate roots to settle in, then water thoroughly.

Plants to Grow

For hardy plants in even cold climates, grow prickly pear and yucca. Groundcovers like lampranthus, an annual, provide flowers through the summer. For perennial groundcover, add ivy. Aloe, golden barrel cacti and agave are favorites.

In addition to cactus plants, add some other drought-tolerant plants for a mix of color and texture. Include liatris, sedum, dianthus , coreopsis, yarrow and artemisia for a rainbow of seasonal colors. For additional texture add blue fescue grass to the landscape.

With a little planning and careful choice of plantings, you'll enjoy the beauty and informality of your cactus garden for many seasons.