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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| Is Robinia pseudoaccia a good replacement tree for Shumard oaks in Austin TX? February 27, 2013 Recently two of our Shumard trees in the front of our house died. Both trees were small/medium in size having only been growing for 13-17 years. I've been reading about Black Locust trees which accor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling sandburs from Austin February 24, 2013 Hello, What is the best way to prevent sticker burrs from growing in a rocky bed with no grass. There are many other plants we want to preserve and a drip line to keep them watered. We have 2 small k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need help fighting grass burs in La Grange, TX. January 22, 2013 I have 4 acres of wildflowers planted in my front yard. Unfortunately, grassburs have crept in & I need to control them with a pre-emergent. Will this keep the wildflowers from blooming? Also, would l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of vine with hair-like prickles January 04, 2013 Trying to find out what kind of vine I ran into yesterday while climbing a deer stand. While pushing limbs and vines down from around me, I noticed hair-like thorns stuck in my sleeves and hands. This... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eliminating unwanted vine on arbor in San Francisco November 20, 2012 There is a vine growing on our arbor, it has sickle-shaped pods and is crushing the arbor, how do we get rid of it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of yellow-flowered plant with stickers November 06, 2012 I have yellow flowered plant taking over my lawn. I used weed killers last year and it has spread this year and still spreading. It has small burs (not as hard as a regular sticker bur but will stic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A method for killing nandina and ligustrum with herbicide October 19, 2012 Is there an effective herbicide that can be painted on the stumps of Nandina and Wax-leaf ligustrum to keep them from growing back? Thanks so much! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Exposed Tree Roots in Austin September 04, 2012 I have a large ash tree with a lot of mud at the top of a sloping yard. I want to build a small retaining wall with the ground leveled above. This would entail covering exposed tree roots with 4-18 in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Male or female Jatropha curcas from Brownsville TX August 16, 2012 How do know the sex of a young Jatropha C. plant? how many weeks before you can tell a boy/girl plant ? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of plant that smells like oranges in Alpine, TX August 16, 2012 There are patches of flat bushy like plants in lawn, smells like orange. Areas may be 10" and spreading, but when pulled has small root. How can I get rid of this plant and what is it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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