Common name:Horsetail Reed
Botanical name:Equisetum hyemale

This reed-like plant bears dark green, jointed stems to 3'-4' tall. It should receive sun to part shade with regular summer watering. The reed grass can be extremely invasive and is best when used in pots or when confined by a barrier. As such, it can be extremely effective as an accent plant. While tolerant of wet conditions, the most successful plantings are those with average soil moisture. Tall grasses are highly combustible.

Common name:Black Bamboo
Botanical name:Phyllostachys nigra

This is a tall running, very exotic looking Bamboo that needs to be confined or it becomes invasive. Its one to two-story stalks are green the first year; then it becomes a dark purple to jet-black color. Tall grasses are highly combustible. This plant is fast growing and can be invasive.

Dealing With Drought

More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.

Click in the green box for more information