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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| 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 |  | |
| Using Horse Manure for the Garden July 07, 2016 Can you use horse manure for decomposed matter for your flower beds, etc.? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with Adding 5 inches of Mulch and Soil Under Juniper July 03, 2016 My landscaper added about 3" of mulch and 2" of dirt under my ashe junipers to create a planting bed. Several have turned gold/yellowish this winter including a female tree. They are still flexible an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Expanded Shale Availability in Austin Area March 18, 2016 Where can you find expanded shale in bulk or bag in the Austin area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Osage Orange in Caliche in Austin October 23, 2015 Does Osage Orange tree grow in caliche? Do nurseries carry it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oyster Shell source in Austin September 18, 2015 Hi, I was not sure who to reach out to, but I work for Quality Seafood here in Austin, and we have several gardeners who take our old oyster shells and grind them up or put them in their gardens for ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Plants by Soil Type June 17, 2015 Can't find an appropriate place to ask this - would love to be able to search for plants that do best in acidic soil (soil pH) another filter on the search screen. May not be there because the data... 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 |  | |
| Plants for a Shaded Slope in Philadelphia April 17, 2015 I have a small slope along the North side of my house in a suburb of Philadelphia. A small maple tree grows there but most of it gets no sun at all (a large segment is under the tree). I had the soil ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Twenty year old Texas Mountain Laurel isn't blooming. March 09, 2015 I have 20-year-old Texas Mountain Laurel in a fairly poor, clay-type soil. It hasn't bloomed very well the last couple years. Can you recommend a fertilizer to improve the blooms? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need suggestions for planting trees in poor soils in Austin, TX February 27, 2015 Due to the clay soils and poor drainage in East Austin, what ornamental trees do you normally suggest? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Turf grass for a sandy site in central Texas February 16, 2015 I want to plant grass over an old sand volleyball court in our back yard in Bastrop, Texas. What is the best way to go? Adding top soil and buffalo grass seed or try St. Augustine? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need fast growing deciduous trees for Austin, TX February 14, 2015 We'd like to plant several fast growing deciduous trees in a full sun yard with a hard alkaline soil in the western edge of Travis Heights in South Austin. I've noted several locations in our neighb... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Converting a Texas backyard to grow Xerophytic native plants January 09, 2015 I am planning the conversion of our backyard, about 4000 sq ft of largely St Augustine, into a grassless landscape of hardscaping and native plants. I’ve been an avid gardener of rock garden plants i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Calcium from Eggshells for Ferns? December 15, 2014 I was reading recently about beneficial additions to the soil/plant. The first was about soaking used egg shells overnight and then pouring the water onto ferns. They said that the calcium in eggshell... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Restoring disturbed land in Marshall, TX. December 04, 2014 I have a 30 acre tract of land in Marshall, Texas. The oil company has turned 2-3 acres surrounding the rig into gravel. I would like to return the gravel area to green space. Any suggestions on gras... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Nitrogen Fixing plants for Austin Texas September 22, 2014 I recently saw a piece on Central Texas Gardener recommending winter covers to fix nitrogen such as elbow rye, hairy vetch, and crimson clover. Can you recommend a native plant that will grow through... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Stress on Goldenball leadtrees from Austin June 07, 2014 I know of two separate instances where young Goldenball Lead Trees (leucena retusa) have shown symptoms of defoliation and a bleeding of white sap from sores that have developed on the bark. The first... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problem garden strip in Austin May 22, 2014 Currently I live in the west half of a duplex. There is a small strip of dirt about two feet wide between the wall and the sidewalk in the backyard. It faces west, meaning it only gets sunlight duri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| How does Habiturf spread from Walburg TX May 19, 2014 How does HabitTurf spread? - by seed only? - when/how often must you let it go to seed to insure a permanent stand? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Chlorotic Texas Mountain Laurel in Benson, Arizona May 04, 2014 I've planted a Texas Mountain Laurel in heavy clay soil in Arizona. It's been in place for 3 years and flowers each spring. However it's leaves are a shade of medium, yellowish green nothing like t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacing hawthorn bush with muhly grass from Plano TX April 10, 2014 I am thinking of replacing a hawthorn bush with a muhly grass plant or two in an edged area with river rock cover in Plano, texas. It is the black soil and not a sandy loam. We have a sprinkler syst... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Mountain Laurel grown from seeds in Argentina April 09, 2014 Hello, I was transferred to Cordoba, Argentina 2 years ago from San Antonio, the climate hereis similar to S. TX, anyway I brought some mountain laurel seeds with me and they have been in 2 gallon pot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plant mistakes from Cedar Park, TX April 09, 2014 At our "Wilts End" in Cedar Park, TX. and are looking for a tall shrub/tree that will hide a 6-ft tall concrete wall and muffle the noise from a busy street. The wall forms a very wide-angled V shap... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Disagreement with HOA on raised beds placed beneath mature oak from Tequesta FL April 05, 2014 I have mature 30 year old oak trees on my property and I put a raised bed under each with very good soil and I used pavers for retaining the soil about about 1.5 ft high. I planted a perennial begonia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a Narrow, Dry, Shaded Site in Georgia April 03, 2014 I am writing from Valdosta, GA. Could you please suggest three perennial shrubs and/or plants that flower at different times of the spring and summer? Also ones that can be planted in a 2 ft. wide s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Loblolly Pines Outside Native Range April 03, 2014 I would like a stand of pines on my property but do not know if they will grow in my area. Do you know if the soil in Waelder, Texas will support pines? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native shrub for Chesterfield VA April 02, 2014 Need a native shrub for the north side of our house that is deer resistant, not overly sensitive to wind, and can tolerate clay soil. Preferably 3-8 feet. Thanks for your help. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Recovering neglected garden space from Grapevine TX March 22, 2014 I live in Grapevine TX (Dallas). I just moved into a house where almost the entire large backyard is covered by oak trees that shed tons of leaves throughout our mild falls/winters. The yard has not... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Yellowing leaves on Carolina jessamine from Las Vegas NV March 21, 2014 Carolina jessamine, has yellow leaves. 3 years old, grows on south wall, full sun. Same plant, in partial shade, has green leaves. Should I feed yellowish plant some nitrogen? If yes how much? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grass mix for Bastrop County, TX February 25, 2014 I plan to put in a small lawn on a tract of land near Rosanky, TX in Bastrop County. There are scattered oaks but the yard space will be mostly open. Soil is basically sandy. Is there a good native... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Source for information on Habiturf from Utopia, TX February 25, 2014 During a recent Central Texas Gardener TV show, someone from the Center mentioned that your Habiturf was going to be available as sod from someone in the San Antonio area this spring. Is that true an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ecosysystem with pecan at center from Austin February 21, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like to create a native tree guild around a mature pecan. It shares its space with native shrubs and ephemerals but I would like to add a nitrogen fixing plant. I am... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Care of Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) November 30, 2013 Does the venus flytrap grow better in nitrogen rich soil or in nitrogen poor soil with a diet of insects? Thank you so much for your time! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants suitable for clay soils in College Station, Texas November 26, 2013 Where might I find a list of native plants suitable for clay soils in the College Station TX area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellowing leaves of Texas Sage (Cenizo) from Las Vegas NV November 21, 2013 Leaves of Texas Sage are turning yellow. Can you tell me why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wildflower seeds that do well in black clay soil from Plano TX November 21, 2013 What native wildflower seeds do best in black clay soil? We live in Plano along creek w/ 8,000 sq. ft. in full sun. No manmade water source. Suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with water oaks from Laurel MS October 05, 2013 The leaves on my mature water oak trees have been falling since the leaves matured. My area has had an abundance of rain this year, 11 inches above normal. All the trees in my area are doing the same.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Brown leaves on Burr Oak from Dripping Springs TX October 05, 2013 We have recently planted a 15 gal. burr oak in an correct hole with great soil and plenty of watering in. We have noticed some brown leaves. Should we be worried? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees for Plum Grove, TX October 05, 2013 Sorry Mr. Smarty pants, my question is I live in Plum Grove Texas, I have 5 acres and NO TREES. What trees were on the property were either taken out by Ike, or the twisters that followed. I have boug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failure to thrive of one Desert Willow in Phoenix AZ September 06, 2013 We planted 4 desert willow trees in the summer and 3 of the 4 are doing excellent, however the last one is not not doing so well, it was the smallest of all and it started out fine but its leaves bega... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ornamental grasses under desert willows from Dallas, TX September 06, 2013 I am planning on planting 3 desert willows in full sun, below the power lines at the back of my back yard in the White Rock Lake area of Dallas. I would like to plant some ornamental grasses in the be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees for clay soil from Charlotte TX August 25, 2013 We have an area in our yard that even Esperanzas won't grow. It is near another that does great. Six Esperanzas are planted in a north/south row about with 10' between plants, the southern most plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shriveling agave from Miami Florida August 23, 2013 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Most upset - My beautiful agave (wish I could have submitted an image) has stared to misbehave. The once first liquid filled leaves, are starting to look more like the skin ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will ceanothus grow in West Texas from Midland TX August 17, 2013 re: Ceanothus - you have two ceanothus in your data base. Will any of those grow in West Texas? (southern exposure, full sun)? Will any of the California native ceanothus grow in West Texas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen shrubs for Butler PA August 09, 2013 Here is what I want in a bush: native to Western Pa.(Southern Butler County), appropriate for a horse pasture,fast growing, not too aggressive (I will mow around it regularly and can prune occasionall... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Soils for spiderwort from Round Rock TX August 08, 2013 We have spiderworts growing naturally in our backyard. We put a large circle around them them with limestone rock (as our beds have) to make their own bed as they clumped in one area. What kind of s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Gregg's Mistflower stressed in Fredericksburg TX August 07, 2013 My Gregg's Mist Flower plants are very stressed. The blooms have turned brown and the leaves are drooping. Plants are receiving moderate sun, partial shade. Do they need daily watering this time o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native turf and trees for Odessa TX July 29, 2013 What native turf and trees can I grow in my Odessa, Tx back yard? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trumpet Vine Dropping Buds July 25, 2013 My trumpet vine is dropping its buds before flowering. This happened last year as well. Do you know what is causing this and what I can do to prevent it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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