Living Ocotillo Fence

We stretched a top wire for the fence and attached the panels to that making sure their bases were in the trench.

Living ocotillo fence.

Individual ocotillo stems are sometimes used as poles as a fencing material in their native region and often take root to form a living fence. To fence our garden it took over 2 500 ocotillo stalks. In the desert southwest the ocotillo cactus fouquieria splendens is harvested to create living fences and other garden features. Ocotillo cactus is very easy to grow in indigenous areas.

To make living fence you only need dig a shallow trench and then hunt up the cactus respectfully. Ocotillo is also called devil s walking stick and candlewood and grows well in full sun and sandy soil. Ocotillo handmade fence panels are truly unique to the southwest. 6 x 5 and are available throughout.

Due to their light weight and interesting pattern ocotillo branches have been used for. The traditional art of hand tying the canes together with wire is slowly disappearing. Because they re hand made there s some variation in the exact length of each panel. It is a material that is exciting in that it is unique to the region where it is used and it really gives a sense of the place.

There are many creative ways that people have installed and used ocotillo fencing but installation can be as easy as the following directions. We made panels of the ocotillos like 30 in each panel. Apr 16 2012 great source of ocotillo canes to make your own living fence explore travel travel destinations north america travel palm springs. It took them a few months to root but that was it.

You may plant ocotillo branch fences at any time of the year. Fences are made by cutting ocotillo branches intertwined with wire to keep them together. The plants are hardy in u s. By that i mean you don t find a cactus and cut all its branches leaving it to die.

By walks on rocks. Install 6 foot t posts 2. They can be set against an existing fence or stand on their own with a post every 5 to 10 feet for support depending on your install. Each panel is approximately 6 feet tall by 4 5 to 5 feet wide.

Ocotillo fences make very good coyote and privacy fences. Civano nursery is one of the last few places in tucson that you will be lucky enough to find this product. Dig a trench along the fence line that is at least 6 inches deep.