Trees Suck… Water
We love trees! … just not in our desert.
Water is a precious commodity here, and frankly, trees suck water like there’s no tomorrow, especially since their root system is very deep.
We do love a shady spot however, and we are rather fond of the color green… so we did a little research and found a solution – Bamboo!
Bamboo in the desert? Have we lost our minds? Actually… No!
Bamboo is a remarkable plant and here are a few things you may not know…
1,200+ Varieties
There are more than 1,200 different species of bamboo, many of which grow well in our desert environment.
Drought Tolerant
Bamboo is drought tolerant and because it is technically a grass, it has a shallow root system, so it requires considerably less water than trees.
Sequesters Carbon Dioxide
Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide and releases 35% more oxygen into the atmosphere compared to an equivalent mass of trees. This makes bamboo excellent for absorbing greenhouse gases and producing clean, fresh oxygen.
Grows Quickly
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on Earth! There’s one variety that grows 3 feet in one day! It requires no chemicals, pesticides or fertilizer to grow and thrive, and it’s own fallen leaves provide it with necessary nutrients which get recycled back into the soil.
Reduces Temperature
A small stand of bamboo can reduce the temperature in its immediate environment by as much as 10 degrees.
Privacy
Bamboo will provide an outstanding privacy screen between sites and along the perimeter of the property.
Excellent Bird Habitat
Our bamboo will provide an inviting bird habitat which will attract feathered friends for an enhanced onsite birding experience.
Gray-water Irrigation
In order to minimize the use of fresh water, Smugglers’ Roost is installing a gray-water irrigation system which will capture and reuse RV gray water to irrigate our bamboo and all other on-site landscaping.