Native Plants
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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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| Plants to stop erosion on sandy slope in north central Texas November 27, 2009 We have severe erosion problems that lead to a deep ravine. There are deer in the area and the soil is sandy on a slope. What would be the best long term solution to stop or control this erosion. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control in West Mifflin PA November 23, 2009 I have recently had a retaining wall rebuilt in my back yard and an above the ground pool installed. My lawn is uneven with no grass and the hillside is very dry dirt with rocks. What type of plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for slopes in South Texas October 05, 2009 Can you provide a list of plants for use on slopes in S. Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need plants to cover hillside and control erosion in Woodbine, Kentucky September 18, 2009 I live in eastern Kentucky. I have a hillside that is full of weeds how do I get rid of the weeds and what can I plant to cover it. This hillside is not walkable. Is there some kind of vine ? There is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to prevent erosion in clay soil in Heron, NY September 07, 2009 What plants could be used to plant on clay soil, Eastern exposure in full sun to stop erosion on a bay side hill with a steep grade? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control in southern Maryland September 03, 2009 Would you recommend a plant that would act as erosion control for woodlands in Southern Maryland? The soil has a high clay content with a mature hardwoods population.The current erosion is significant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in Charleston WV August 26, 2009 I live in Charleston, WV and just purchased a home that has a hill side out back that has some erosion occurring. I was wondering what would be the best ground cover to plant in my area to control the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for erosion control in Pittsburgh, PA August 22, 2009 I have a terraced high side lot(front of house). I currently have Yuccas growing, but they are too invasive. Can you suggest plants, shrubs, or ground covers that are not as invasive and will still ... 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 | ||
| Need recommendations for native plants on a dry sunny hillside in Baltimore Maryland. July 28, 2009 Need native recommendations for sunny, dry hillside for ground cover or shrub in Maryland. Mowing the grass is a pain and an energy waster (and I don't want to be tempted to extend some adjacent exi... 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 | ||
| Looking for plants for erosion control in Tennessee. July 14, 2009 We are looking for plants native to east Tenessee that will help control erosion once the kudzu in a ravine has been removed. The site is full sun with dry soil. Moderate to fast growth and resist... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for erosion control in Cataula GA July 10, 2009 I have several steep embankments on my property that are slowly eroding. What kind of plants (other than grasses, the area is not lawn mower accessible) can I plant to keep this from happening? We hav... 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 | ||
| Plants to stop erosion in Alabama July 03, 2009 Our front yard is being washed down the street when we have rainstorms. It's been especially bad this year due to all the rain.What kinds of plants/grasses could we use to help stop the water from r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for steep embankment on the Missouri River in Nebraska July 01, 2009 Hi, My embankment along the Northeast Nebraska shoreline of the Missouri River is eroding the land away. Do you have any suggestions for seed I could throw over the side of the bank that would grow... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a sandy slope at a weekend cabin in central WI. June 30, 2009 I have a cabin in central Wisconsin where the soil is equivalent to a sandy beach. There are some areas that are nearly impossible to mow because of how steep the incline is. Could you recommend som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to stop creek bank erosion in North Carolina June 26, 2009 Hi: I live in NC where most of the dirt is clay based. I have a small creek behind my house that is eroding. The creek overflows when there is a heavy rain and as a result, gradual erosion. My g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a bank too steep to mow June 24, 2009 Like the inquiry made in late June of 2008, mine involves a bank that is too steep to mow. However, ours is facing south. I am looking for a native grass, plant or groundcover. Any suggestions? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grass and/or wildflower seed mix for erosion control in North Carolina June 23, 2009 I'm looking for a native grass and/or wildflower seed mix to control erosion on a new mountain road in a pine forest (red clay dirt). The soil is dry and partly shaded, depending on the hour of the d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a steep bank in Virginia June 23, 2009 I have a small yard with a 3 foot steep bank that I want to plant on. I am looking for fast growing ground cover. There is some shade but not a lot and has a southern exposure. Ground is a bit roug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover plants for erosion problem in Orlando June 01, 2009 Hi, I live in Orlando, and have a terrible erosion problem on one side of my back yard. Every time it rains, I lose my yard under the fence! The area is part sun. Can you please suggest a plant or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will not cutting grass make its roots stronger? May 27, 2009 I live on a lake that has a hill. There is some problem with erosion on the hillside. Our association wants us to not cut the grass to stop the erosion. How does not cutting the grass help the roots g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflowers for high canal bank in Florida May 27, 2009 My home is on a canal to a natural lake in Central Florida (Orlando area). I am wondering if there is a wildflower that I can grow on a 3' high canal bank that is mostly shady. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for eroding hillside in Kansas May 08, 2009 We have a creek running thru our property and the hill running down to it is about 30 feet tall, in some places almost straight down, some sloping. Some is in shade, some full sun. We would like som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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