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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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
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Can non-native guavas be successfully moved from Gulfport MS? April 19, 2011 Can guavas be moved successfully from one established planted location to another? My mother is having to relocate due to MDOT and we would like to move her established guavas. Thank you, View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Gardening advice for Quebec April 15, 2011 I live in Aylmer Quebec 1. I bought some lily bulbs at a Christmas bazaar. When can I plant them and what do I put in the hole with the bulbs? 2. I bought a little potted cedar at COSTCO for a Ch... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Moving Iris bulbs April 15, 2011 I will be moving and want to take my Iris bulbs with me. Can I dig them up now that they are in flower? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need suggestions for plants to form a privacy hedge in Granbury, TX. April 14, 2011 We live on a rocky hill in Hood County, Tx. and need suggestions for evergreen anything that will provide privacy. Red Cedars were added in October 2010 and it looks as if half of those are dying. He... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problem with Arizona Ash in Leander TX March 10, 2011 What would make my otherwise healthy Arizona Ash tree, that was doing so well last year, only bud out on just one side? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dead woody plants in wildlife garden in Austin March 02, 2011 I am an enthusiastic and pretty successful wildlife gardener, have studied my Wasowski "Bible", but I can't get any evergreens established in my yard! We live on blackland clay, which I amend with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Possible transplant shock in recently planted Anacua in San Antonio, TX. February 10, 2011 I planted an Anacua tree from a nursery this past November. The tree I purchased was about 6ft tall and was a leftover from the spring. The roots were pretty wound up inside. After shaking the roots l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Caring for Texas Buckeye in Buda TX February 07, 2011 I have a Texas Buckeye that is planted in a moderate amount of shade. It is growing very slowly, and only holds on to it's leaves from late March to August. It has been in the ground for about 4-5 ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Best Time for Dividing and Transplanting Native Bunch Grasses in Jarrell, Texas February 02, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, What time of the year is the best for dividing and transplanting native bunch grasses like Gulf muhly, and Miscanthus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Texas Ash and non-native Bradford Pear in Hutto TX January 27, 2011 We have planted two trees in our back yard. The first one(a Bradford Pear) died and the second one (a Texas ash) doesn't look like it's doing very well. Our back yard is mostly black clay about 1 f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Conditions for growing Anacacho Orchid in Smithville TX January 24, 2011 What conditions (soil type, sun/shade, understory? etc.) to grow a healthy Anacacho Orchid tree? And what is the best size tree to plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tall Evergreens for Pennsylvania January 06, 2011 I want to plant tall evergreen trees that grow really tall in deep shade or that I can plant already fairly large and withstand the shock of planting in a mature state and live in deep shade. I thank ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Blackened leaves on purple sage in Utopia TX December 08, 2010 I live in Utopia Texas and have a 5-ft. Texas Purple Sage that has developed a black appearance on the leaves. What is this and what can I do about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Time to transplant an Eastern Redbud in Pearland, TX November 17, 2010 When is the best time in the fall to transplant an Eastern Redbud tree in Pearland, TX? We have one approximately 6 feet tall in the back yard and want to move it to the front ASAP. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Texas wild olive tree in Tucson November 15, 2010 Planted a Texas Olive tree in Tucson, Az. Some of the leaves are kind of yellow. It gets part sun and part shade and is growing. Is this due to too much water, not enough water or does it need somet... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with a Monterey Oak in Austin, TX. November 12, 2010 I have a large Monterey Oak, planted last year that has not gotten any fuller. Do I need to fertilize and if so, when? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplanting False Gaura in Austin October 27, 2010 I am transplanting my false gaura. Do they transplant well, and should I cut them back? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplanting crabapples in NJ October 25, 2010 I purchased a mature Red Baron crabapple in march of this year from a reputable nursery here in southern NJ. The tree was in the ground when I first viewed it, and since it was march and hadn't bloom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Damage to yucca in San Marcos TX October 18, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, thank you for helping me with my buffalo grass is San Marcos TX back in the spring, my lawn is gorgeous thanks to you! I really need your help as someone sabotaged my beauti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Moving a volunteer holly from Springfield IL October 11, 2010 When would be the very best time to move a volunteer holly? I would say it is 3 years old, it stands about 5 feet tall, shaped like a very nice tree and it keeps its leaves. Thank you. Karen View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Want a source for Mexican redbud in Houston, TX October 04, 2010 I live in west Houston and would like to purchase and plant a Mexican redbud in my yard. I have Googled to find one and also searched the Growit site without success. Where can I find one in Texas? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with a Hackberry tree in San Antonio. September 23, 2010 Our old hackberry tree fell over last year. Now we have dozens of new ones popping up in the same area. We want to transplant a few to another area of the yard, but they aren't surviving. It appears ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Transplanting wild sumac September 23, 2010 About a month ago I dug up five sumac from my backyard in Aylmer Quebec. I potted them. They now look dead. I wanted to transplant them at my cottage in Barrie Ontario. Can I still transplant them... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Century plants spread through offshots from Rye TX September 20, 2010 How do century plants spread? Are the little ones the babies? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tecoma stans problems in Santa Monica CA September 20, 2010 I just purchased a mature 6ft tall potted Tecoma Stance Vine (Honeysuckle), It is placed in an area where it gets at least 3 to 4 hours morning/early afternoon sun and then a shaded sun for the rest o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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