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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| 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 | ||
| Plants for controlling erosion on a cleared slope in Ohio April 29, 2009 I live in Cincinnati, OH. BP owns a pipeline which runs thru part of my property. They clear out all the large trees every few years, so that it is visible from the air. Our area is surrounded by M... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for banks of a retention pond in Alabama April 24, 2009 What can we plant on the inner and out walls of a detention pond to stop erosion? The pond is located in a neighborhood in Mobile, AL and the walls are 9 ft high with a steep slope. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-allergenic landscape in Fairfield, CT April 18, 2009 I live in Fairfield, CT and need to have a non-allergenic landscape. Can you please list plants, ground covers, and trees/shrubs that would be beautiful, and help in this critical situation? The lan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering plant for hillside in Brookings OR April 16, 2009 We live on the Chetco river and the bank in front of the house is on a hill. What would be a flowering plant that would maintain the integrity of the hill? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Water seepage problems in basement in Philadelphia April 09, 2009 I am interested in stopping/limiting water seepage into my basement by placing water absorbing ground plants along one or both sides. The grass we planted when home was new in July 2007 has taken on o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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