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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| Need to find an alternative to Bradford Pear in the Woodlands, TX September 18, 2011 Hello! I am trying to find an alternative tree to a Bradford Pear. I love the seasonal change in these and ordered one, but after the many negative reviews I've read (smell, weakness in branches, mes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildseed Planting in a drought September 14, 2011 Due to the extreme drought and no rain in the near future in central Texas would it be prudent to have a wildseed planting in October? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping plant for Austin September 01, 2011 Great site! Have gotten lots of ideas. We're about to start construction on a fairly major landscaping project: raised beds/privacy screen. We're at the top of a hill in the Hill Country just wes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Damage from Hurricane Irene in Burgaw, NC August 27, 2011 We live in Burgaw, NC and have begun the clean up efforts of Hurricane Irene which has made a full grown crape myrtle lean to one side. Its a very large tree and it is not uprooted. Is there anyway ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need suggestions for plants for a bird/small wildlife refuge in Wichita Co, TX. August 26, 2011 With our continuing drought in North Texas, I'm planning to transform my small backyard into a bird/small wildlife "refuge". What types of native plants and grasses can I plant in dry, hot Wichita ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for shade in Ennis TX August 26, 2011 My house faces south. The southwest side of the front yard has a Pride of Houston, Japanese Barberry, 2 crape myrtles and some dwarf yaupon hollies. The other section, divided by a stairway to the p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing mature Arizona Ash trees in Austin August 26, 2011 Mr. Smarty Plants, I have 2 very large, very old Arizona Ash trees in my yard. I want to remove them and replace them with something like Cedar Elm or Chinquapin Oak. The problem is that they are t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Safe distance from foundation for Sycamore from Preston UK August 24, 2011 What would be the safe distance to have a sycamore tree near your house so it doesn't affect the foundations? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for trees with non-invasive root system in Paramus, NJ. August 23, 2011 What trees can I plant in New Jersey with non invasive root systems? We lost our tree to a storm and are looking for a viable replacement. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting trumpet creeper in Prairie City, IA August 22, 2011 I have a Trumpet Creeper that I would like to transplant. How do you do that? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Evergreen sumac in clay soil of Texas August 19, 2011 I'm in need of a fast growing evergreen screening shrub/small tree. I'm considering the Evergreen Sumac but before I go further I need to know if this plant will thrive and remain evergreen in the D... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought affecting native trees from The Woodlands August 18, 2011 I've been trying to grow native trees in my yard for the past 3 years and I'm starting to question whether the amount of time required to spend watering them during the long hot season in Texas is r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade trees for Spring TX August 17, 2011 Dear Mr.Pants, our west-facing backyard in Spring, Tx, is unbearable in this Summer's heat. Neither us nor the neighbors has any backyard trees established yet, as the subdivision is pretty new. C... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting a redbud in August from St. Louis MO August 09, 2011 I have a 4' tall redbud that needs to be transplanted before the end of August because of construction on our house. Can this be done without killing the tree? Can I take a cutting from the tree and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Selection of a small variety of Desert Willow for SE Texas August 02, 2011 Looking to plant desert willow as shrub. Any helpful tips to keep height down and plant full or bushy. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need something to compete with Virginia wild rye in Bristol, TN. July 29, 2011 I have been working for 4 years to convert a large area of sunny lawn (150' x 40') to a native woodland planting, using native trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. Although I used seeds of a variety ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Redoing garden in Memphis TN July 25, 2011 Please help. I don't know much about landscaping and plants and I am re-doing my flower bed. I recently had everything pulled out and I want to start fresh. The area that I will be working with is ap... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yard Trees for Burleson, TX July 24, 2011 We need to replace 2 mature pear trees in our front yard, north side of the house in Burleson, TX. We are looking for faster growing trees that will last for decades that resist disease in clay soil.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Garden problems from Centreville VA July 23, 2011 Plants die, trees won't grow. I've replaced the soil (6") twice. Replaced grass twice and planted new plants and tree. After two yrs, the tree is still the same size and the flowering bushes nea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should I purchase wax myrtle plants as liners or pots July 18, 2011 I want to buy some wax myrtle over internet.Place has wax myrtle "liners" They look very thin. Will these bushes grow quickly or should I spend more $ for 1 gallon plants. Just need a hedge fairly q... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Possumhaw losing leaves in Liberty Hill, TX. July 11, 2011 I have two female possumhaw trees and one of them is losing its leaves. I planted both of them in February and they were doing very well, getting green and full. What's happening? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need help with my Mountain Laurel in Sugarland, TX June 22, 2011 Texas Mountain Laurel - My plant's leaves are turning yellow and falling off. I don't know if this is caused from over watering or under watering. I have skipped days of watering to see if it will h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Suggestions for flowerbed in Mesquite TX June 17, 2011 I live in Mesquite and am new to the area. I am trying to make the flowerbed in the front of my house look better. I've planted some yellow roses and red roses but would like some perennial that bloo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can a hibiscus survive in Wyoming? June 09, 2011 Can a hibiscus survive in Wyoming if it is taken care of properly? If so, can you tell me how to make it happen? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Chile pequin from Spring Plant Sale in Austin June 08, 2011 Re: chile pequin purchased at your Spring 2011 sale: it grows, seems to thrive, but sets no flowers and so bears no fruit. It's in terracotta in Ladybug potting soil, on a shady apartment patio. How ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for Summer Planting in Vernal UT May 24, 2011 What are the native plants that I could plant this summer in Vernal, Utah View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Drought tolerant Plants and moving Wax myrtles in Austin April 30, 2011 Mr. Smarty Plants, What are the most fire resistant and drought tolerant plants for caliche soil in Austin area? I am considering relocating or removing my wax myrtle shrubs because they are ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do I save my recently transplanted yaupon holly? April 20, 2011 Recently transplanted (two weeks ago) a yaupon holly tree from one part of the yard to another. Leaves are beginning to turn yellow and fall. What can be done to save this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of contaminants leaching from asphalt driveway to adjacent vegetable garden in Tucson April 13, 2011 We have planted a vegetable garden next to a driveway. The driveway has recently (within the last 2 years) been covered with asphalt. My concern is that the oil may leach into my vegetables. Is thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What will grow in red clay in Conroe TX? April 10, 2011 We just built a new home and the foundation was poured on red clay which is what my flowerbed area is in. Could you please tell me what can be planted that will grow. I am looking for ground cover, fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native sun plants for Bastrop TX April 05, 2011 We live in the Bastrop area and have a 21 ft. by 15 ft. sunny area. We also need help with a list of native plants and want to start planting from tallest to short. Can you please advise? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for sun in Phenix City, AL April 04, 2011 I live in Phenix City, AL and am new to planting. I have a 60 x 15 feet slope that is just dirt. I am going to till it next week and want to plant some various ground cover plants (that will grow to c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for clay soil in Lathrop MO March 21, 2011 My family just moved to the north Kansas City, MO area and would like to know what native species, both perennial and tree, will do best in the clay soil. It has already proven problematic as we have ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dead woody plants in wildlife garden in Austin March 02, 2011 I am an enthusiastic and pretty successful wildlife gardener, have studied my Wasowski "Bible", but I can't get any evergreens established in my yard! We live on blackland clay, which I amend with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Landscape services in Austin February 21, 2011 I just bought a property in Austin with a terrific outdoor space. However, I came to find that the previous owner added jasmine and many other invasive species. I'd like to rid the entire space of th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Eastern White Pine suitable for Waxhaw NC February 13, 2011 Pinus strobus ( White Pine )- I wish to plant four of these evergreens along our property lines as a screen. Our county is selling one foot plants in a container. Our soil is clay. Are these t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible transplant shock in recently planted Anacua in San Antonio, TX. February 10, 2011 I planted an Anacua tree from a nursery this past November. The tree I purchased was about 6ft tall and was a leftover from the spring. The roots were pretty wound up inside. After shaking the roots l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need replacements for old arborvitaes destroyed by snow and ice in Reisterstown, MD. February 07, 2011 Our big old arborvitaes have been destroyed by snow and ice. Rather than a fence we would like to use plants/bushes for privacy. We live in zip 21136. This would extend all across the back property l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to do with soil left over from new driveway in Austin January 07, 2011 When we had a new driveway put in in Mid-December, the topsoil and weedy grass was scraped into a low pile. I watered it and covered it with black plastic to kill all the plant matter. How long should... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grass-planting time in Mt. Pleasant, TX December 15, 2010 We are new to Texas and just finished building a house. The builder wants to seed the grass now (December). Will it germinate or will we have to replant in spring? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cenizo as a Foundation Plant in Austin December 09, 2010 We live next to the wildflower center. We would like to plant "Leucophyllum frutescens". We are hoping to use this as a foundation plant. Will it survive if planted in Dec. Please offer any tips ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How close can I plant Mountain Laurels to my house in Austin, TX? December 08, 2010 Hello, I'm interested in planting 2 or 3 Texas Mountain Laurels on the side of my house and I'm wondering just how close is safe. I've been told that planting trees too close can damage the slab f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants native to Hudson River December 03, 2010 What plants grow along/in the Hudson River? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Permit to transport trees in Ivanhoe TX December 02, 2010 Do you have to have a special permit to transport trees on a semi truck and trailer in Texas? They are Texas grown trees, just going to a different location inside the state. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating non-native Asian Jasmine in Austin December 02, 2010 I have a large bed in front of the house full of jasmine that was planted by the builder 25 years ago. What suggestions do you have to eliminate it and prepare the bed to plant native flowers and pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for cutout in driveway in Houston November 12, 2010 I live in central Houston. I have a new driveway with a cutout of 4' x 8'. I would like to plant a shade tree that will not break up the concrete. What do you recommend? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will suckering of coralberry be a problem in Homewood AL? November 11, 2010 I am considering planting Symphoricarpos orbiculatus in the yard of the home I just purchased. I am interested in attracting wildlife to my yard and covering over a stump with a 3' diameter. My onl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen tree for planter in Sherman Oaks CA November 11, 2010 We have a large cinder block planter, 6ftx6ftx6ft,in the back of our building and would love to find a good evergreen accent tree (but not pine like). Planter is near a building so preferable it shoul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting crabapples in NJ October 25, 2010 I purchased a mature Red Baron crabapple in march of this year from a reputable nursery here in southern NJ. The tree was in the ground when I first viewed it, and since it was march and hadn't bloom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to have year round color in the garden in Fort Worth October 23, 2010 Hello, I'm sending an SOS for a miracle! Since planting is the best now during the fall or so I've been told for North Texas Native Perennials, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. My beautifully mat... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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