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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| Fruit-bearing crabapple for Austin, TX January 07, 2007 Is there a fruitbearing crabapple that will live in Austin. If so, what soil type is required? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Use of newspaper mulch in garden January 05, 2007 Before constructing a raised garden, I would like to lay newspapers at the initial ground level, then add about 12 to 15 inches of compost on top of that. Would that hurt the plants? And will the ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter trim-back of plants in butterfly garden January 05, 2007 I had a wonderful butterfly garden this past spring, summer, and fall. This was its first year of planting. Should I trim the plants that have died back due to frost? I'm worried about destroying ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Alternative to grass as groundcover in area used by dog January 05, 2007 I am looking for a beautiful groundcover to use instead of grass which need to be soft and animal friendly. My dog is in the yard a lot and she's 10 yrs old. I am looking for a groundcover which wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeding for hurricane-damaged areas of New Orleans January 05, 2007 I need some information. I am going to be traveling to New Orleans in two weeks to visit a relative. They are in an area that was decimated by the hurricane. Though they have rebuilt the neighborho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible damage by invasive, non-native earthworms in compost January 03, 2007 I received a worm bin (vermicomposter) for Christmas. The instructions that came with the bin say to use the red wiggler worm (Eisenia foetida) and that it is okay if some of the worms go into your g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Ash January 03, 2007 Where can I purchase a Texas Ash? One native tree nursery advertised Texas Ash but the trees turned out to be Fan-Tex, which I believe is an Arizona Ash cultivar. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rhizobium inoculant for Leucaena and othr leguminous tree seedlings January 02, 2007 What sort of Rhizobium inoculant would be appropriate for Leucaena and other leguminous tree seedlings? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of plants emerging from "wildflower mix" of seeds January 02, 2007 I planted a "wildflower mix" a couple months ago, and now I have a bunch of plants growing that I'm not sure what they are. Some of them are starting to make buds, and I've been looking on the in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Viability of Desert Willow and Hong Kong Orchid Tree in Spring Branch, TX December 26, 2006 We live in Spring Branch, Rt 281 north of San Antonio. We want to plant a Regal Desert Willow tree and a Hong Kong Orchid tree. Will the cold / freeze be a problem? Where locally can we purchase th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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