Native Plants
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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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| Severely cutback sloping soil in Dripping Springs TX May 09, 2010 We have 5.5 acres off Henly Loop just north of Hwy 290 about 10 miles west of Dripping Springs, TX. The former property owners carved out soil from a sloping area to get soil for the driveway. Doing ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for steep slope in Washington DC May 07, 2010 We have a steep slope in our garden in Washington DC which has sun from noon to sun set. Could you please recommend some low maintenance plants which would be a good ground cover and limit erosion? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How and when to harvest bluebonnets. April 30, 2010 A previous answer mentioned harvesting bluebonnet seeds by pulling up the whole plant when the seed pods turn brown. Two clarifications - when do the seed pods turn brown as these plants are hard to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Collecting seeds of Anemone berlandieri, windflower March 29, 2010 The recent rainy weather has produced a small colony of what I have identified from your web site as Anemone berlandieri Pritzel (Texas Anemone) in my backyard. Is there a way to harvest these seeds f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Time to mulch without inhibiting seeds in Hitchcock, TX March 17, 2010 When would be the best time of year to put down mulch, if I want my native plants to re-seed? I don't want to bury the seed under mulch layers or new dirt. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Research on Atriplex confertifolia in Austin January 21, 2010 I have heard a lot about Atriplex confertifolia (Shadscale). Has the Center done any research/trial growing of this plant for possible adaptability to Hill Country (west Austin) area? If this is a ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Milkweed with the biggest pods in Smith County, TX? September 11, 2009 I live in East Texas and I would like to know which of the milkweed plants bears the largest seed pod. I would also like to know the best time to locate the pods in and around the Smith County area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in Santaquin UT August 11, 2009 I have a hill in my backyard; it is about 40 ft tall and about 80 ft wide. It is probably a 1.5 to 1 slope ratio. I am going to be landscaping my back yard and have top soil put on the hill as well. S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling erosion in Leburn KY July 21, 2009 I would really appreciate advice on controlling a serious erosion problem in eastern Kentucky. The slope is north facing, shady and moist with rich soil. Would prefer to use native Kentucky plants. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Clay hill with erosion problems in Reedsport OR July 10, 2009 We have a very steep 35-40' clay hill subject to erosion in the Oregon rainy season. How or what do we do to get some kind of vegetation/grass, etc to grow without washing away? We have had mudslides... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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