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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| Groundcover beneath a maple January 24, 2009 I am looking for something to spread out in the shade of a maple tree. I have tried lily of the valley, ferns, pachysandra, ivy, hosta, euonymus.. nothing spreads out. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for North Central Texas January 24, 2009 I live in north central Texas. My backyard has very fine, powdery sand soil. The previous owners of the property let the grass die out and now every time it gets windy, the sand gets into our patio an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for damp areas January 11, 2009 I am looking for a cover ground plants that tolerate damp areas. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Locating free tumbled glass for mulch in Austin October 31, 2008 Do you know where tumbled glass can be obtained for free in Austin? You've used it as a mulch at the Center. Someone in one of my Native U classes mentioned that it can be gotten free somewhere in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for drainage ditch in Bastrop October 02, 2008 A friend in Bastrop has a drainage ditch in front where she'd like to use a groundcover. Normally it's very dry, but when it rains, can have 1-2" of water. Gets mostly sun. I was wondering about ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to combat weeds growing in mulch September 12, 2008 Trying to decide on either ground cover plants, or some type of gravel. We have a new house where the builder has planted small shrubs in the full sun flower bed next to house. The bed has mulch at th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcovers to replace meadow grasses September 08, 2008 Are there any groundcovers that are tolerant to local conditions between Bastrop and Elgin and hardy enough to takeover meadow grasses? I have a couple of acres that was a meadow before I moved here e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Santa Fe orchard groundcovers September 05, 2008 Howdy We were wondering what kind of ground cover you would suggest to use in a sunny area that has a few new apple trees [7' high]. The area is about 80' x 100 '. The soil is clay & was used to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low ground cover for steep bank in Ohio September 02, 2008 We have a 3/4 acre pond that has several places along the bank too steep to mow. We would like to plant some type of ground cover in those areas that would keep the weeds out. The planting would need ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground covering around cypresses in pool area July 25, 2008 We have multiple cypress trees planted along our pool area..they shed way too much..but I'm looking for something to put under and around them over the dirt..do you suggest wood chips or a ground cov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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