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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| Difficult lawn redo in Austin, TX area. April 01, 2010 In Oak Hill section of Austin and our 2 year old house had St Augustine dumped atop the raped soil. After the drought of 09 it is all dead. We have most of our large yard native but need grass aroun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lawn Maintenance in Colorado March 20, 2010 When do I begin to fertilize and water my grass in Colorado Springs? I am selling my house and want my lawn to look green? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rain garden for South Austin March 01, 2010 I have a TINY yard in south Austin. It is 8'x25', sandwiched between four houses and happens to be at the lowest elevation, so all of the neighbor's yards drain to ours. Originally, we had bermud... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Buffalograss to replace non-native St. Augustine lawn in Rockport TX February 16, 2010 I currently have a St. Augustine lawn that is being overtaken by weeds. I would like to replace it with buffalo grass. How do I prepare my lawn in order to seed it with the buffalo grass and how tol... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing a Grass Lawn with Moss January 02, 2010 I have a small north facing yard that I would like to change from grass to moss. There is some moss now but still lots of grass. I need to rake a lot of leaves in the fall but want to get away from a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen plants for shaded lawn in Austin, Texas December 31, 2009 I want to replace three scrawny ligustrums on the shady north front of my house with native plants. I'd like evergreen plants that don't need much maintenance. I'm not looking for a hedge, but some... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating bluebonnets from lawn December 05, 2009 I need to know the best way to eliminate bluebonnets which are growing in my yard. My HOA is pursuing legal action against me to prevent me growing the plants. I can't afford to "resod" my yard. Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need help with an invasive ground cover type plant filling in damaged areas in lawn. November 25, 2009 Since the drought this summer, there is an invasive ground cover type plant filling in the damaged areas in my lawn . It is dark greenish/purplish very small clover type plant, difficult to pull up an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small perennials & grasses for a naturalized lawn October 26, 2009 I am looking for native perennials and grasses that will grow no more than 8 inches tall that can be used in a naturalized lawn in Michigan. What 5 plants would be your first choice? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Did my neighbor's zucchini affect my apple tree from Oak Lawn, IL October 26, 2009 My neighbor planted zucchini plants near a flowering non-fruit producing apple tree in my yard. Soon afterwards in July the tree began to shed leaves. Could the zucchini plant have caused this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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