Question of the Week: Dealing with Dying Cholla

Q: My cholla cactus appears to be dying. There's a lot of debris and dirt build-up at its base. What's causing this?

A: The accumulation of debris and dirt is likely the work of a pack rat. These rodents can cause significant damage to your property, not only ruining landscaping but also potentially chewing through wiring. To address the pack rat issue, consider using a standard rat snap trap with bait or call in the professionals.

As for your cholla, if it's still showing signs of life, carefully remove the debris and level out the dirt mounds around it. If the cholla looks too far gone, you might prefer to remove it entirely.