Make a Raised Bed

• 1). Make a raised bed, called a berm, in an area that gets plenty of sunlight. Berms are good for cacti because they drain well and add dimension to the landscape. Decide on the outline of the berm. An irregular shape will look more natural than a rectangular bed. Wearing gloves, border the outer edge with large rocks, placing them next to each other and mixing sizes and colors.
  
  
• 2). Shovel a sandy soil mixture into the berm. Mound the soil up about 1 to 2 feet high in the center with a gradual taper down the sides. Varying the contour of the mound will also give your berm character.
  
  
• 3). Place smaller rocks on top of the border rocks. Position them against the soil mound to create a stair-step effect. This will give the berm a more natural appearance and help keep the dirt in.
  
  

Choose the Cacti

• 1). Select a cactus at least 4 feet high as the focal point. Examples of suitable cacti include the saguaro, with its arm-like limbs, and the organ pipe, which has tall, columnar branches. Alternative succulents can also be used for a centerpiece. Consider using a daytil yucca, an ocotillo or an agave plant. Use a shovel to plant your selection.
  
  
• 2). Plant medium-sized cacti in strategic locations surrounding the larger cactus. Cacti of this size include the prickly pear, with flat, spiny pads, and the cholla, with purple blooms and segmented joints. The desert Christmas cactus is another suitable choice with its display of beautiful red berries during the holiday season.
  
  
• 3). Intersperse smaller cacti throughout the bed. Good choices include various species of hedgehog cactus, which grow in clusters and bloom scarlet red or purple. The horse crippler has thick, heavy spines and a bright orange crown of flowers.
  
  

Finish the Landscape

• 1). Shovel small pebbles or lava rock onto the cacti berm. This looks natural in a desert landscape and helps retain moisture. This top-dressing also helps keep weeds from growing.
  
  
• 2). Add appropriate accent pieces to the cacti landscape. Displaying deer antlers or a cow skull with horns enhance the setting. Large rocks with unusual shapes, broken clay pots, and old wagon wheels also work well. Maintaining a birdbath brings a refreshing effect to a desert landscape.
  
  
• 3). Water the berm thoroughly to allow the soil to settle in around the roots. Look at the cacti periodically, and if they look shriveled, water them. If your area receives regular rainfall, it is not necessary to water them again.