Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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Soil Loosener/Pollinator Plants for Houston August 11, 2014 I am trying to establish a mostly-native pollinator way-station in a recently purchased lot in a 100 year old neighborhood in Houston. Much of the property has a thick layer of oyster shell four to si... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Making a pollinator garden August 11, 2014 Hello, I have a ditch right by my house and I want to turn it into a pollinator garden using native plants. My problem is, right now it's so full of weeds that we have to mow those down so soon. For ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Certified organic native grass seeds for Texas August 10, 2014 Thanks for your previous answer to my pasture grass seed question. We know about Native American Seed but they don't sell certified organic seeds. We're not sure whether we'll be able to find cer... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
When does Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss) go to seed in southern US? August 06, 2014 When does Bouteloua dactyloides go to seed in the southern United States, mainly Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcover for a wet hillside in the San Juan Islands July 30, 2014 I live on Orcas Island in WA state. We have a place on the water and want to plant something that is no taller than 2-3 feet, lower if possible, on a hillside. The hillside gets lots of sun, yet als... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can Habiturf™ be hydromulched? July 28, 2014 Our lawn was originally planted with "Weeping Love Grass" seed by hydromulching. After 7 years we still have some bare spots. Other types of grass have infiltrated the lawn and that does not matter... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native grasses for organic farm in Elgin TX July 22, 2014 Hi there, I am working to restore native grasses on our certified organic farm in Elgin, TX. We raise eggs, grass fed beef, and grass fed lamb. I am having a terrible time finding organic pastur... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mowing Bouteloua dactyloides (Buffalograss) July 05, 2014 Dear Mr or Ms Smarty Plants, Although I see you have posted some information about mowing Buffalograss it doesn't seem to answer my question. Will it hurt to mow the buffalograss flags off? Will t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Habiturf care from Plano TX July 03, 2014 Five weeks ago, we planted a Habiturf lawn in our back yard. The grass looks great and is already about 6 inches. I have two questions to solve before we do the front yard. We have lots of purslane m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Planting creeping phlox for a groundcover June 13, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in Southwestern PA (zip code 15065). I have a small slope on my property that is hard for me to mow. I would like to cover it with creeping phlox, which I saw on t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Using Pensylvania Sedge in Dover, DE. June 11, 2014 Regarding Pennsylvania sedge, I am thinking of planting the sedge along our driveway, which is under trees and not reached by our sprinkler system. Across the driveway, there is lawn. Is it likely tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Advice about buffalo grass lawn in NW Arkansas June 10, 2014 I am determined to grow a native buffalo grass (bouteloua) lawn in Northwest Arkansas. My question is this: I am considering mixing an annual rye into the bouteloua seed mix for the purpose of quick, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Drought tolerant grass for small lawn from Woodbury TX June 07, 2014 Trying to establish small lawn area, needs to be drought tolerant, water wise. Have tried Turffalo with poor results. Recommendation please. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Herbicide on Habiturf from Austin May 31, 2014 Can you recommend an herbicide that is safe to use on a Habiturf lawn? I followed the directions to put in a new Habiturf lawn about a month ago. The grass seedlings are doing well in places, but ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How does Habiturf spread from Walburg TX May 19, 2014 How does HabitTurf spread? - by seed only? - when/how often must you let it go to seed to insure a permanent stand? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Fast-growing ground cover for creekside May 18, 2014 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants. I live in Austin Texas and am looking for an aggressively spreading ground cover or grass to plant along a small creek on the back of my property in order to help with soil er... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Muhlenbergia dumosa safe for horses from Austin May 13, 2014 Is Muhlenbergia dumosa safe for horses? Will horses eat it? I have a client who has a mini-horse who visits her property on occasion, and I want to ensure that what I plant is both safe for the hors... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Habiturf in Austin May 10, 2014 I have been trying to establish a Habiturf lawn in my back yard. It is approximately a 1,000 square foot area and this last seeding was the third over about one and a half years. I just recently over ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion Control for a Shaded Slope in Aliquippa PA May 07, 2014 What plants. shrubs or trees can I plant to retard soil erosion on a steep shaded hillside in PA View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Control of invasive sandburs in Austin May 05, 2014 My attempts to control / eradicate Sanbur with pre-emergent corn gluten twice yeary for the last three years have been unsuccessful. My post emergent pulling weeds for 15 years has also been unsucces... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Want to replace lawn in Ecorse, Michigan. May 04, 2014 Hi! I want to replace my lawn, and not have to mow it much at all. What would you suggest? It will be walked on and utilized as a normal lawn. Thanks! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover to control hillside erosion in Illinois May 04, 2014 I have seen some other questions regarding native plants for erosion control, but I am looking specifically for plants that will do well on a hill in partial to full shade. I am told the soil in our a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for farm animals from East Greenwich RI May 03, 2014 What type of perennial flowers and shrubs are safe to plant around farm animals (dogs, horses, chickens, turkeys) in New England climate? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Shade tolerant plants for erosion from Austin May 03, 2014 I live in Austin and my house backs up to Shoal Creek. I am looking for a native creeping vine or something that will grow on the shaded bank to help prevent erosion. It should be able to tolerate the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Perennial ground cover for hillside in Holmdel NJ April 25, 2014 I live in NJ. I would like to use a perennial ground cover for my landscaping bed on a hill with full sun and deer resistant. It's a good size landscaping bed that is facing east (southeast). What... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Replacing hawthorn bush with muhly grass from Plano TX April 10, 2014 I am thinking of replacing a hawthorn bush with a muhly grass plant or two in an edged area with river rock cover in Plano, texas. It is the black soil and not a sandy loam. We have a sprinkler syst... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Replacing St. Augustine grass from Dallas TX April 10, 2014 Dear Mr. Pants, we are replacing dying St. Augustine grass in a small, sunny back yard with ground cover. What are your recommendations for a drought-tolerant evergreen ground cover? We will till a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for a Narrow, Dry, Shaded Site in Georgia April 03, 2014 I am writing from Valdosta, GA. Could you please suggest three perennial shrubs and/or plants that flower at different times of the spring and summer? Also ones that can be planted in a 2 ft. wide s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion controlling Groundcover for Phenix AL March 30, 2014 Hi I am trying to find a grass or ground cover to control erosion on firing range berms which are 1:1 grade on a firing range outside of Phenix City AL. Sandy clay soil, direct sunlight almost all day... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Comments on previous answer on non-native invasives from Raleigh NC March 27, 2014 https://www.wildflower.org/expert/show.php?id=7827 This answer is incorrect. Please have someone review it to remove the two invasive species you are encouraging people to plant by calling them nati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How many Bamboo species are native to North Carolina? one March 27, 2014 I would like to know how many bamboo plants are native to North Carolina? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Type of clumping bamboo for outdoor planters from Plano TX March 25, 2014 What type of clumping bamboo can be grown outdoors in planters in Dallas,TX? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native turf grass for Austin March 24, 2014 I am installing a xeriscape landscape in my yard. It will be in full sun and I am looking for an alternative to turf, such as monkey grass. However, I am concerned about the light. Suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Help with Habiturf from Bertram TX March 24, 2014 I am a resident of Bertram..about 45 min northwest of Austin. I have 1.33 acres of land with my home on it. My front pasture is pretty nice native grass but my backyard is full of weeds. I'm guessing... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
User comment on native grass mixes from Robstown TX March 21, 2014 As a followup to my question on seed spreaders, native grass and prairie seed mixes seem a good fit for my location in far western Nueces County which is more semi-arrid than 30 miles away in Corpus w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Use of hand-held seed spreader from Robstown TX March 20, 2014 I am planting native turf grass and prairie grasses as part of a backyard restoration on my 1.6 acre home site. My problem is good seed dispersal for the chaffey grass seeds. Have you have any luck... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sheet mulching before planting Habiturf from Grand Prairie, TX March 03, 2014 Have you tried sheet mulching as a bed prep and to kill bermuda grass before planting habituff? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removing Texas cedar Juniperus ashei from Blanco River banks February 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Should cedar trees be removed from our Blanco River banks to prevent them from sucking too much of our precious water before it makes it into the river system? If so, what s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native grass mix for Bastrop County, TX February 25, 2014 I plan to put in a small lawn on a tract of land near Rosanky, TX in Bastrop County. There are scattered oaks but the yard space will be mostly open. Soil is basically sandy. Is there a good native... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for information on Habiturf from Utopia, TX February 25, 2014 During a recent Central Texas Gardener TV show, someone from the Center mentioned that your Habiturf was going to be available as sod from someone in the San Antonio area this spring. Is that true an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover to control erosion in Montgomery County, Texas February 24, 2014 I am looking for some kind of ground cover to control erosion on a north facing slope in Montgomery County, Texas. The area gets very little direct sunlight. I need something that will establish quick... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Reconsideration of previous question from Hays County TX February 21, 2014 QUESTION: Please reconsider this question that I sent to you last week. Our home address is in Bastrop County, but the Blanco River property that we own is in Hays County near Wimberley. Our proper... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native plants and grasses for river bank from Rosanky TX February 19, 2014 Our property owners association would like to know what native plants/grasses to plant on the Blanco River bank in our river park to help prevent erosion. Some banks are steep and some areas are a gra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Can Gulf Muhly grow in California from Walnut Creek CA February 10, 2014 I live in Walnut Creek, California, and recently learned about Muhlenbergia capillaris. It's a beautiful grass. Would this native do well here? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion Solution for Lorton, VA February 07, 2014 We have a steep slope in our common area of our homeowners association. Trees that were planted have died. It is a large area around a pond. What should we plant that will hold the soil? The soil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native turf grass for Denison TX January 27, 2014 I have researched many grasses for sandy soil in Denison,Tx that are easy mantainance. Habiturf has been recommended but is mostly Buffalo grass and is not recommended for sandy soil. What other opt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native turf grass for acreage in Denison TX January 27, 2014 I have recently moved to Denison TX where we have 5+ acres of true crosstimbers land. I am looking for a native turf grass that will do well in sandy soil and with the water provided by nature. The m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Searching for nursery with yellow nutsedge in NC January 27, 2014 I'd like to plant yellow nut sedge as a cover to stop erosion in a lot. Where can I buy yellow nut sedge plants near Kinston, North Carolina? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Corn gluten on Habiturf from Austin January 25, 2014 I live in Central Austin. This past Spring 2013) I replaced my San Augustine lawn with Habiturf. My question concerns corn gluten. It is usually applied in late Jan - mid Feb. Would using corn glu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deer Resistance and Erosion Control for St. Louis County MO January 03, 2014 I am looking for deer and rabbit resistant native plants for erosion control on a steep ravine slope with part sun and part shade in St. Louis County MO. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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