Transplanted mature Saguaros ..........

[James Pickering]

......... sometimes do not do well on their abbreviated root systems:

9CD92B29-BB19-4C82-BE58-A37B9A51FD59.jpeg (168.97 KiB) Viewed 3475 times

Questions, Comments anyone?

[Diane]

Shame on the perpetrators...

[James Pickering]

Shame on the perpetrators...

The fact is under current Arizona law you can legally buy a mature Saguaro from a landowner who has one growing (naturally) on his property and then contract with one of the many local businesses who have the equipment and qualified workers to have it dug up and transported to your property (with the required governmental permits) and, in turn, have it planted by a qualified landscaper (who is usually also the transporter). It is a very expensive proposition - prices vary, the latest I have encountered are from $100 to $120 per foot (including arms) removed, transported and planted. It takes a long time for a mature Saguaro to re-establish and adjust to its new environment and some do not make it. A major problem is the damaged root system which is usually extensively pruned during the removal and transportation process and often is now too weak to anchor the massive plant - after heavy rains they sometimes topple over because the softened soil structure simply cannot provide enough support.

How sad!

https://agriculture.az.gov/plantsproduce/native-plants

[Cactusgirl]

Absolutely terrible. Should not be allowed.

[iann]

Just prop it back up again, maybe nobody will notice.

[James Pickering]

Our Tucson Cactus and Succulent Society is heavily involved in native Cactus/plant rescue:

http://www.tucsoncactus.org/html/cactus_rescue.html

[DaveW]

At least it had a chance. Better than just doing this. They did not even cut the arms off and try and replant them elsewhere as cuttings:-

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=167155&p=269766&hil ... ia#p269766

[RICHAUD]

planting a plant of this size and weight without attaching and tutoring is stupid and criminal

[pauco]

Just another area, of human greed We now move from the destruction of our wildlife to the destruction of our plants. What's next?????