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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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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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| Replacing a Grass Lawn with Moss January 02, 2010 I have a small north facing yard that I would like to change from grass to moss. There is some moss now but still lots of grass. I need to rake a lot of leaves in the fall but want to get away from a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Area needing soil amendment in San Diego December 02, 2009 I have a dirt area in the corner where my fence comes together. The dirt is clay-like and during the winter the area gets very little, if any, sun and during the summer it gets 4-6 hours of sun. Wha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Foundation Plants for South Carolina November 07, 2009 What native plants are suitable as foundation plantings? My soil is heavy clayey loam with red clay subsoil. I live in Charleston County. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blackfoot daisy turning brown in Round Rock, TX September 30, 2009 A few days ago, our blackfoot daisy was doing wonderfully. Then we got heavy rains and suddenly the plant is sere and brown. Did the too wet weather do this, and will it come back next year? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant shock in Chestnut Oak in Waukesha WI September 13, 2009 Bought and had nursery install a 4" diameter, 16' tall chestnut oak. Watered it as instructed-every 2nd or third day-hose stream size of my pinky for 45-60 minutes. It was planted in July. Just l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How will my Texas Mountain Laurel survive clay soil? June 09, 2009 Mr. Smarty Pants: I live in a new neighborhood (brownfield site) in Central Austin where the developers have put fill in the yards. After not much more than 2 inches of topsoil you encounter fairl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fruit in the compost bin June 07, 2009 I have a compost bin and I use the pulp from fruits and vegetables as one of the ingredients in my compost pile. We juice everyday so will all this pulp be too potent for new seedlings? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with Salvia Mystic Spires in Chesterfield VA May 30, 2009 Last August, our local Lowes had these beautiful, unusual blue perennials on the discount rack called "Salvia Mystic Spires". For 50 cents each, they looked terrific, so I bought all they had, about... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is cement leaching into flower beds in Colorado Springs? May 16, 2009 I have posed this question to a number of garden centers in our area around Colorado Springs--only to rec. a repeated--"Gee, I don't know." When we moved to our new home there was a rock concrete ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should shredded Ashe juniper be composted for mulch? May 06, 2009 Our neighbor shredded some Texas Hill Country cedar trees. Can we use it safely as mulch? Do we need to wait until it composts some? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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