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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| Sequence of Seeding Wildflowers and Grasses in Texas July 24, 2016 In the How To article on meadow gardening, it recommends that a good chunk of your garden (50%-80%) should be native grasses. The kind mentioned in that article are typically warm season grasses. In... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seeding Bluebonnets in Missouri July 07, 2016 I live in St. Louis, MO and obtained a packet of Bluebonnet seeds as well as a seedling. I read up on inoculating and scarifying the seeds, but I'm unsure as to the soil I should use. I was planning ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Caring for a wildflower meadow in Austin, TX. March 22, 2016 We have a meadow full of wildflowers in the country, bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, etc. What can we do to promote continued growth and is there a certain time of year we should mow? Should we fe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to plant bluebonnets in Spicewood, TX March 19, 2016 When is the best time to plant Bluebonnets and do you place seeds under the soil or just spread on top? Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Are Bluebonnet seeds still viable after storage for a year? March 02, 2016 I bought a pouch of Bluebonnets a year ago and now found them and have to wait to Fall to plant. Too old? Start over in purchase? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants from county roads in TX? February 05, 2016 Is it illegal to collect wildflower plants like bluebonnets from county roads in Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When will the bluebonnets appear this year? February 04, 2016 When will the bluebonnets appear this year? We have many friends and family who want to visit when they are in bloom. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets for Upstate New York December 03, 2015 Will Texas Bluebonnet seeds germinate and flourish in Upstate NY? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Improving Bluebonnet seed contact with soil November 06, 2015 I have a five acre field in Blanco County, much of which is covered by bluebonnets. There are several species of native grasses as well. Would it be beneficial to disk or otherwise disturb the soil ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers of April wedding in Liberty Hill TX September 02, 2015 We are planning a wedding for April 9 in Liberty Hill, TX (78642) and live on several acres. We would like to plant wildflowers on the land to use for bouquets and centerpieces. Could you please recom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflowers for April wedding near Austin TX August 31, 2015 Home wedding April 2016. Live North of Austin.on 200 acres ranch and would like to plant wildflowers. What to plant? When to plant? Flowers that will sustain in vase or bouquet? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Native Texas Plants for SC June 22, 2015 I just visited your beautiful facility for the first time and loved it! I'm planning to move to Charleston, SC and would love to replicate some of the wildflower and walkway areas I saw. Would the fo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Can you grow wildflowers on a Zoysia greenroof? June 09, 2015 I have a 700 square foot zoysia grass roof with irrigation on a pool cabana that I would like to sprinkle with wildflower seeds (bluebonnets, indian paintbrush etc) Is this possible? What is the best ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is fall the best time to plant Bluebonnet seeds? May 29, 2015 Bluebonnet plants drop their seeds in late May or early June. Why is it recommended to broadcast Bluebonnet seeds in October which is 5 months after the plant drops its seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of TX bluebonnets to thrive May 28, 2015 We have had extraordinary luck with bluebonnets growing in our driveway of decomposed granite--until last year and this year. The bluebonnets seem to be drying up and wilting away. The ones in other a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Indian Paintbrush outnumbering our Bluebonnets this year. May 26, 2015 We noticed we have more Indian paintbrush than bluebonnets in our front yard this year. Our issue is we also have more spear grass than normal. Is there a way to control this grass without killing th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do about bastard cabbage in the Austin area? May 08, 2015 I am noticing bastard cabbage taking over roadsides and medians at an alarming rate where a mixture of native flowers used to bloom. Is it allowable to organize efforts to pull the invasive plants ou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can bluebonnet pods be gathered when green in Lockhart, TX May 02, 2015 Can bluebonnet seed pods be gathered when green? Will the seed be capable of germinating next season? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What about the Bluebonnets at Muleshoe Bend Recreational Area in Spicewood, TX ? April 27, 2015 We had heard about vast field of bluebonnets out at Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area - an LCRA park in Spicewood. We went out today and there are indeed vast fields . . . all where Lake Travis would be ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Plants for Year Round Interest February 16, 2015 I'm involved in a paradigm shift from traditional bedding plants (petunias, zinnias, begonias, etc.) to native plants. I realize that native plants have natural life cycles where they look pretty bad... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When do wildflowers bloom in the Texas Hill Country February 12, 2015 Approximately when do the wild flowers bloom in Hill country? I would love to see them. I know it depends on winter weather conditions. I have a short vacation mid March, was considering a trip th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best date for spring bluebonnet blooms for 2015 January 31, 2015 What is the estimated date range for the best bluebonnet viewing in the Hill Country this year (2015). I have guests from the north planning a visit and we'd like to pick a weekend with great possibi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Using Dormant Oils in the Winter January 20, 2015 What are your thoughts on the use of dormant oils as part of a winter maintenance program? I live in Austin, Texas. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bluebonnets Emerging in December December 21, 2014 Bluebonnets Emerging in December. We've seen bluebonnets emerging all over our property in the last two weeks. I don't ever remember seeing them come up this early. What will be the impact on t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of seedlings December 20, 2014 So..last spring I spread out a bag of random Texas wildflower seed I bought at Home Depot. Bautiful things happened. Since that time I've collected seeds while out camping etc and just been chunking ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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