Cactus fence

A cactus fence in Bonaire.

A cactus fence in Mexico.

A cactus fence is a hedge or fence made of closely spaced cactus plants, sometimes with barbed wire or wood interwoven with the cacti.

Purpose

Such fences are inexpensive to develop in regions where cacti are common, and can provide an extreme deterrent to any but a determined human intruder. Often their primary function is to keep wandering large animals off a private property.

Design

Sometimes, cacti are used as barriers without being formed into a structured fence. Prickly pears (mostly Opuntia stricta) were imported into Australia in the 19th century for use as a natural agricultural fence and to establish a cochineal dye industry, but quickly became a widespread weed.

In the American southwest, ocotillo stems are often set in the ground to form a structure similar to a cactus fence.

Production

The Rancho Lobos Nursery, in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, provides responsibly-pruned ocotillo to homeowners in the Southwestern United States wishing to build cactus fences.

Cactus Products Limited

Cactus Products is a British company specializing in "sharp, but harmless" cactus-like spikes. The cone-shaped polypropylene spikes are screwed onto a large board to be placed on top of a fence. According to the company's website, "The sharp but harmless wall spikes are a discreet boundary protection system that repel cats and birds from your garden or yard. They also act as a safe intruder deterrent, dramatically reducing the chances of you getting unwanted visitors into your garden."

References

• The cactus family, 2001, Edward F. Anderson, pp. 68–9.