Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Questions From Near You

Ignacio, CO
Edible plants beginning with I, T, X and Z in Colorado
My friend would like to know a fruit or vegetable that he would plant in his garden and come back yearly. The plants would have to start with the letters I,T,X, & Z. It has to be edible, of course.
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Bayfield, CO
Cedar trees dying in CO
We have mature cedar trees at the home we bought in SW Colorado. The large ones have begun to die. Can too much water kill a cedar tree and is there anything I can do to keep them alive?
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Rico, CO
Control of white clover (Trifolium repens)
our yard was remediated by ARCO in Rico Colorado. they brought in soil that must have been from clover fields. the soil produces tense low growing and fast growing clover with white flowers. it is inv...
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Jemez Springs, NM
Planters for wildflower exhibit in Jemez Springs NM
I am planning to have a wildflower/pollinator exhibit at a visitor center located on a high elevation grassland (no trees). I would like advice on the size of the planter boxes.The area is located at...
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Los Alamos, NM
Native American barberry with edible fruit in New Mexico
HI I am looking for a native american burberry plant with edible fruit. I love Persian cuisine, and they use the dried fruit of the burberry plant in a rice dish that I would like to recreate. I liv...
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Delta, CO
Many different species called
I know from researching that Dusty Miller is drought tolerant. But, I tend to water too much when I do get irrigation water. Will it stand this? (clay soil, near a very young globe willow, southern ex...
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Delta, CO
Plants harmed by chipped spruce and evergreens for mulch in Colorado
What plants would be harmed by using chipped Spruce and evergreens for mulch? Thank you.
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Espanola, NM
Growing Sophora gypsophila from seed
Sophora gypsophila B.L. Turner & Powell Do you have any information on growing this small tree from seed? I have a few seeds and would like to try. What conditions break seed dormancy? I have grown ...
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Valdez, NM
Planting shrubs on a rocky slope
I need to plant a rocky slope, facing south and west, to cut down erosion. Other than creating terraces, are there tricks for securing individual shrubs or trees to a slope when planting? What plant...
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Chimayo, NM
Verticillium wilt in catalpa and maple
On Monday - July 07, 2008, you answered a question about a catalpa and maple with the same problem--an entire branch died, and then more of the tree died. And both trees came from the same nursery. Th...
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Paonia, CO
Percentage of plants native to U.S.
About 50% of the plant species in Hawaii are naturalized, invasive, aliens (from other places). What are equivalent statistics for the lower 48 states (continental US) as a whole?
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Salida, CO
Plant identification of ethereal plant in Colorado
We live in the south central mountains of Colorado in the upper Arkansas River valley near Salida, Colorado. During the past few weeks we have noticed a very mystic looking plant (flower/grass?) alon...
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Santa Fe, NM
Plant identification request
I took a trip to Arizona in 9/06. While out walking through public land I encountered a beautiful plant with very distinctive leaves, color of woody stems and flowers. I have scoured the USDA plant ...
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Santa Fe, NM
Dispersing seeds for wildflowers in New Mexico
Here, in Santa Fe, NM, we have lots of beautiful wildflowers. What is the best way to propagate them? Can I just disperse the seed on my acreage after blooming? There is purple aster and sunflowers...
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Santa Fe, NM
Sweet cherry tree for New Mexico
What is the best kind of sweet cherry tree to plant in Santa Fe, NM? I have apple, apricot, peach and pear. Would like cherry unless it is a bad idea.
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santa fe, NM
Santa Fe orchard groundcovers
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 ...
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Santa Fe, NM
Information on cherry trees from Santa Fe
1.does the purple leaf sand cherry have edible fruits? size, flavor, cross pollinator necessary, fruiting time? cultivars? zone, soil, light, water? 2. fall foliage color of 'Meteor" cherry tree?
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Santa Fe, NM
Source for photo of Helianthus nuttallii
I need a photo of Helianthus nuttallii. Can you help me?
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Santa Fe, NM
Smarty Plants on Isocoma pluriflora
I would like to know when isocoma pluriflora (rayless goldenrod) blooms in the Santa Fe, N.M. area. I'd also like to know its height. Other info will also be appreciated. ...
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Santa Fe, NM
How to propagate milkweed from root cuttings
I am interested in propagating Asclepias speciosa (showy milkweed). Your info page for this species says it can be propagated via root cuttings. Does this mean I can lop off a chunk of the root/tuber ...
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Santa fe, NM
Treating splits in a Cottonwood tree trunk
How to treat slipts in trunk of 4 year old Cottonwood tree.
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