Teen Cuts the Arm Off An Iconic Saguaro (Scottsdale, Gilbert: school, college)

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by new2colo

... and if it hadn't been moved in the first place, it would probably still be alive. I would wager that hundreds of saguaros die weekly due to human disturbance. Relocating a cacti can have secondary effects just as severe as initially cutting it down and slicing it up.

Fair enough. I guess no homes should have ever been built in the desert unless they could incorporate every standing cactus into the landscaping?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

That appears to have been watered and is probably the reason it fell over? My buddy had one in his yard that he watered and it got huge very quickly. His fell over also. They get too big and the roots don't have to grow deep, since all the water is on the surface, so they topple is what I've heard. Though, I thought I also read that they don't have deep roots to begin with.

I think some of the problem is that people transplant them into soft soils in the valley floors. Saguaros are pretty much confined to rocky slopes naturally where their roots can get down into rocks and fissures in the rocks. When you put them in a cotton field and apply rain to make mud and wind, they are not anchored well and fall over. To make matters worse, the roots are chopped off when they are transplanted and probably never grow back enough to anchor them properly.

I see a lot of saguaros in people's landscapes that are leaning badly too. The growth is uneven with most of the arms on one side causing an imbalance.

[Woodrow LI]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I think some of the problem is that people transplant them into soft soils in the valley floors. Saguaros are pretty much confined to rocky slopes naturally where their roots can get down into rocks and fissures in the rocks. When you put them in a cotton field and apply rain to make mud and wind, they are not anchored well and fall over. To make matters worse, the roots are chopped off when they are transplanted and probably never grow back enough to anchor them properly.

I see a lot of saguaros in people's landscapes that are leaning badly too. The growth is uneven with most of the arms on one side causing an imbalance.

I believe you are right on all counts

The root system of a saguaro is very shallow. There is a tap root that is only about three feet long. Smaller roots are longer, radiating out and adding stability to the saguaro by wrapping themselves around rocks. You can see a picture of the roots of a full-grown saguaro here.

SOURCE

Just my opinion but it looks like they planted the cactus 4 feet deep for stability. Just my opinion, while that might hole for a good many years I think that deep will eventually cause the buried portion of the trunk to eventually rot and then it falls over. Just a guess. But the Saquaro is very shallow rooted in nature with a very large area of fribrous roots just below the suface. It is designed to grow in hard rocy soil and depend upon infrequent rains to water the fibrous close to surface roots.

I wonder if anyone knows of any transplanted ones that have lived over 50 years?

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

I am sorry but I don't see why we have to preserve every single stupid saguarto cactus in this state. There are a gazillion of them and it will probably grow another "arm" so why take some poor teen to jail just because he did this deed. Jail should be for criminals, not teenagers, in my opinion. Just another example of the way some people in Scottsdale think. JMH good for nothin O...

It's a police state full of 40 and older somethings. Hypocrites and all.

Originally Posted by Bummer

Outrageous and arrogant disrespect for Mother Nature and/or the property of others.

If this Teen is not severely criminally prosecuted now . . . who or what's next? A casual "PC slap on the hand" is by no means adequate. This POS needs to be taught a lesson before he does more harm.

Bummer that was a good one "disrespect for Mother Nature." Next time a bear bites you in the butt, remember the "beauty of nature."

As far as this whole BS case, the kid should be charged a fine, not thrown in jail. This is stupid.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by shiphead

As far as this whole BS case, the kid should be charged a fine, not thrown in jail. This is stupid.

This BS is all in your mind because there's no discussion of him doing jail time. He was held in jail until he made bail -- or in this case, picked up by his parents since he's a minor. That's how arrests usually work. He will most likely be fined (or his parents will be fined) and/or do community service.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by kdog

This BS is all in your mind because there's no discussion of him doing jail time. He was held in jail until he made bail -- or in this case, picked up by his parents since he's a minor. That's how arrests usually work. He will most likely be fined (or his parents will be fined) and/or do community service.

oh thank you for logging in from San Jose to make the sky clear for me. It wasn't like I was replying to other posters or anything.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by shiphead

oh thank you for logging in from San Jose to make the sky clear for me. It wasn't like I was replying to other posters or anything.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize this was a personal conversation between you and the "other posters". At least I indicate where I'm located, Mr. Anonymous Location.

[madmmac]

The judge needs to make him hug a saguaro with a good squeeze for 10 minutes a day for 15 days.

He will be much more respectful of all cacti by the end.

[Woodrow LI]

It was an act of vandalism and that is how the court should handle it.

[kdog]

Originally Posted by Woodrow LI

It was an act of vandalism and that is how the court should handle it.

He's going to be charged with, "felony criminal damage", according to this. Boy, 16, accused of disfiguring 150-year-old Scottsdale saguaro - CBS 5 - KPHO