Why they’re important Saguaros are a key part of the desert ecosystem. Their fruit feeds animals like javelina, coyote, and tortoise. They provide nectar for pollinators like bees, bats, and butterflies. Their structure provides homes for various birds and rodents. The wildlife we enjoy in our urban areas is mainly thanks to the saguaro, which functions as the ‘tree’ of the desert food web.
Care & Keeping If you have a saguaro in your yard, there are many ways to ensure that it will live for years to come. One thing to be aware of is how much the cactus is watered. Saguaros are desert plants, they don’t need to be connected to irrigation, but they benefit from some supplemental water during drought. It is also important to ensure that water does not sit around the base of the cactus, as it can lead to it falling down. For instance, avoid planting a saguaro near a roof, where rain can runoff and collect. Cactus fertilizer or nutrients sprinkled around the base, while not necessary, can promote health and growth when used in moderation.
How can I help?
To help your community and scientists keep track of saguaro populations, submit photos with tagged locations of fallen saguaros in your area. Submissions can be added to saveoursaguarosaz.com, which is supported by Metro Phoenix EcoFlora, a program of the Desert Botanical Garden.
SAVE OUR SAGUAROS
Sources https://www.nps.gov/sagu/getinvolved/sag uaro-flower-power-project.htm https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/or namental/cacti-succulents/saguaro/sagua ro-cactus-care.htm https://dbg.org/
A Girl Scout Gold Award Project by
https://www.btarboretum.org/
Ella Werre
https://www.desertmuseum.org/
Saguaros in Phoenix Most, if not all, of the saguaros that you see in the Phoenix area have been replanted and moved to that location. Doing this is very difficult. Saguaros have a root system that stretches out as long as they are tall, with a taproot reaching five feet or more. When they are replanted, they are not as rooted to the ground as they would be if they grew from that spot. Factors like erosion and flooding can cause saguaros to become uprooted and fall over.
Saguaros can be killed from being struck by lightning, freezing temperatures, drought, and strong windstorms. An effect of the continual warming of our planet is more destructive storm fronts and increased drought and wildfires. Thus, as time progresses, the chance for a saguaro to be killed by weather events increases. It is important to do all we can to reduce our carbon emissions and personal waste, to protect not only our desert but the world.
Heat Islands
The Saguaro Struggle
If you live in the Phoenix area you might notice the abundance of saguaro cacti decorating our neighborhoods, our roads, and store-fronts. Undoubtedly, they are an iconic image of Arizona. In recent years I have noticed an increase in saguaros that have fallen over, lost arms, or died.
Climate Change and the Saguaro
The city of Phoenix is a heat island - which is an urban area that is warmer than its surrounding environment. Man-made structures like sidewalks, roads, and buildings absorb heat and keep it trapped in the city. Unlike the desert, where nighttime temperatures can drop to below freezing in the winter, urban areas retain their heat. Long periods of high temperature can weaken and eventually kill saguaros, especially when there is no cool night time temperature for balance.