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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| Weak stems on asters and ironweed from Woodbridge ON June 06, 2012 My question is in regards to plants flopping over. My smooth asters and ironweeds never seem to have strong stems. Is because the soil is too fertile or maybe too shallow? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Adding Wildflowers to Corpus Christi May 20, 2012 I have a dry sandy yard, full sun in Corpus Christi with lot's of stickers mostly, want to transform to wildflowers. When should I plant, how should I prepare soil, should I dig out stickers? Which w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Soil for Emory Oak from Dripping Springs, TX April 15, 2012 I bought an Emory Oak today at the Wildflower Center's plant sale. Upon reading about it when I got home, I see "it won't grow in alkaline soils." I was hoping to plant it in the riparian area ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree to plant on rocky soil in San Antonio March 10, 2012 I want to plant a tree in a particular spot in the yard but after digging down 10 inches I hit solid rock. I filled the hole with water and it took hours for it to go down. It is one of the higher e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| High water table in Glewood Springs CO March 03, 2012 We are considering the purchase of a home in Glenwood Springs, CO (elev. Approximately 5,000 ft) and find it strange that while neighboring properties in the subdivision have beautiful landscaping wit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difference between soil moisture and water use from Austin February 20, 2012 In the native plant data base "growing conditions" can you explain the difference between water use and soil moisture? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is the application rate for dried molasses in Leander, TX?? February 10, 2012 I bought dry molasses to add to my soil but the bag doesn't say anything about how much to add. Should I just sprinkle it around and it doesn't matter if it is more or less? I have 2.25 acres so I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Habiturf installation after Take-All fungus January 24, 2012 Are other soil remedies needed (besides those listed in your Habiturf brochure) to install Habiturf on land which had a St. Augustine lawn which was decimated by take all patch. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Changing the pH of the soil January 16, 2012 Hi, We have a job that has mostly Texas native plants on it. The architect is wanting to drop the pH levels of the soils to acidic levels that we don't feel is good for the plants and the area. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants resistant to salt spray in FL December 18, 2011 What type of plants can I put in a small planter bed next to a waterfall with a saltwater pool? Everything I put in there dies. I live in Southwest Florida. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Podocarpus macrophyllus in Ft Worth TX November 12, 2011 I know this question does not pertain to a native plant but I've spent too much time not finding an answer to my question. I have many mature Podocarpus macrophyllus bushes at my house I purchased in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing bluebonnets in pot in Flower Mound TX November 01, 2011 We received a package of bluebonnet seeds along with the DVD Wildflowers: Seeds of History as a gift. In the film, Andrea DeLong mentions that bluebonnets did not grow well in a rich organic soil. W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Baby mountain laurels are ready to move, in Lockhart Texas October 19, 2011 I want to harvest the baby mountain laurel plants which are growing under a large bush. What height would be best for the young plants survival? Please recommend a soil mixture for the pots. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Seeding the banks of a large pond October 18, 2011 I have a 2 acre surface pond that is mostly a hard clay bank all around. The water level is way down and I will begin filling it very soon. I need to somehow being affordable, plant something or thing... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fireplace ash as soil amendment in Maine September 28, 2011 It seems that the custom where we summer in Maine is to dispose of wood ash from the fireplace on the plants around the outside of the house. I think this is not a good idea. What is your opinion? I w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need help growing plants in red dirt in Mount Pleasant, NC. September 17, 2011 I live in N.C. and I have had the hardest time getting plants to grow;I have red dirt at my house. Can you suggest a few colorful plants that would do real well in red dirt? Thank You So Very Much!!!!... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Worms in non-native snake plant from Hillsborough NC September 17, 2011 I purchased a snake plant this summer for my screened in porch. I did not repot it and left it in the plastic pot in came it. I was about to repot the plant to bring it in and noticed there are worm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Carolina Laurel Cherry from Pflugerville, TX September 02, 2011 In 2007 we planted 7 Carolina Laurelcherry (Prunus caroliniana)across our back fence. Everything was fine until this year. Three of the trees seemed to get sick and a local arborist said the roots ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Landscaping plant for Austin September 01, 2011 Great site! Have gotten lots of ideas. We're about to start construction on a fairly major landscaping project: raised beds/privacy screen. We're at the top of a hill in the Hill Country just wes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion at edge of driveway in Abilene TX August 26, 2011 My lawn suffered a great loss of grass over the winter and the soil at the edge of the driveway is washing away with watering and the occasional rains that we have. I am trying to get the grass to gr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing Evergreen sumac in clay soil of Texas August 19, 2011 I'm in need of a fast growing evergreen screening shrub/small tree. I'm considering the Evergreen Sumac but before I go further I need to know if this plant will thrive and remain evergreen in the D... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What hydrangeas can be grown in Austin? June 02, 2011 I was told that oak leaf hydrangea was the only hydrangea variety that could be successfully grown in Austin TX. My oakleaf hydrangea is doing great and I would like to plant other varieties. Can you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for red clay in Hattiesburg, MS May 16, 2011 Looking for plants and flowers to plant in red clay? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will wood shavings in the soil require nitrogen from Charleston MO May 04, 2011 I cut down a big maple tree and a lot of the wood shavings was left in the soil. I planted a flower bed over the area this spring. I later read that the wood chips in the soil would use a lot of nitro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What will grow in red clay in Conroe TX? April 10, 2011 We just built a new home and the foundation was poured on red clay which is what my flowerbed area is in. Could you please tell me what can be planted that will grow. I am looking for ground cover, fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for sun in Phenix City, AL April 04, 2011 I live in Phenix City, AL and am new to planting. I have a 60 x 15 feet slope that is just dirt. I am going to till it next week and want to plant some various ground cover plants (that will grow to c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for clay soil in Lathrop MO March 21, 2011 My family just moved to the north Kansas City, MO area and would like to know what native species, both perennial and tree, will do best in the clay soil. It has already proven problematic as we have ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to grow in high zinc, lead and copper soil in Los Angeles January 24, 2011 We live on the Westside of Los Angeles and have just been given the bad news that our beds are high in zinc (86.39), lead (45.98) and copper(12.95). Can you recommend some plants that may grow in thes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to do with soil left over from new driveway in Austin January 07, 2011 When we had a new driveway put in in Mid-December, the topsoil and weedy grass was scraped into a low pile. I watered it and covered it with black plastic to kill all the plant matter. How long should... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Soil improvement near Kerrville, TX December 11, 2010 We live in the Kerrville area; the soil is extremely shallow and deficient. The yard consists of mainly native plants, with a concentration of plants for butterflies and birds. What kind of soil and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants native to Hudson River December 03, 2010 What plants grow along/in the Hudson River? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control on partially shaded slope November 27, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants, I live in Atlanta, GA. My house is on a hill, and I am beginning to have erosion at my backyard porch (concrete slab, on the corners especially). The soil is mainly red clay, a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Do leaves with tannins make good compost from Austin November 04, 2010 I have a couple of old native pecan trees in my (or neighbor's) yard that drop bushels and bushels of leaves every fall. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I have a recollection that pecan leaves have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What habitat would my Antennaria solitaria like in Red Bank, TN? October 26, 2010 I want to know what habitat my mystery plant will like- sun, shade, dry or moist. I think it is an Antennaria solitaria or Little Pussytoes. I got it at a native plant sale here in Chattanooga. It has... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Turf grasses and alternatives for NH October 23, 2010 I live in Hancock, NH, just north of Peterborough. We just bought a relatively new house that pretty-much has no lawn and minimal landscaping. Can you (or anyone) suggest native lawn grass alternati... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Malpighia glabra for Austin October 14, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Pants, I am planting native Malpighia in a raised bed that was specially prepared for growing roses (soil and amendments). This bed has been left fallow for several years. Do I need t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need Native Cover Crop in Seguin, TX October 11, 2010 Is there a native winter cover crop that would control erosion until spring vegetation takes over? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Native Plants in Juniper litter from Wimberley, TX October 04, 2010 Junipers create an environment under their canopy that prohibits growth of other plants. I have a virgin lot that has been cleared of many juniper but has remaining heavy natural leaf mold containing... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cold hardiness zones for plants from Jackson MS October 02, 2010 How to search the plant database by cold-hardiness zone? Is it possible to do combination search by zone (not just state?) With the information provided with plant, I do not see the zone listed. Ma... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Compare Natives to Lawn for Carbon Footprint Benefits in Durham, New Hampshire September 22, 2010 Are there carbon sequestration rate tables for turf (lawn) and bushes, shrubs, trees? I want to compare the carbon footprint benefit of lawn versus the same area put into native plantings. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need Plants and Soil for a Green Roof in Buffalo, TX September 13, 2010 I'm building a green roof on my cabin in the Buffalo, Texas, area. Would you know what soil and plants would be best suited for that area? I have a lot of sand I could use, but didn't know if that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for sunny dry soil location August 22, 2010 Do any native plants exist in a highly sunny very dry soil location? (high overhang prevents rain but allows sun) View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Hybridized Indigo Spires having problems in Wimberley, TX August 19, 2010 I planted 7 Indigo Spires from one gallon containers in May and now each plant is about 18" tall. 4 of the 7 fell over about 2 weeks are. The plants still look healthy with no dropped or curled leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Using cedar chips as mulch in Wimberley, TX August 19, 2010 In TX Hlll Country there is an abundance of wood chips, usually "cedar", which I have used as plant mulch. Since wood chips extract nitrogen to decay, do you consider chips a poor choice as plant m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of desert willow in Wimberley TX August 10, 2010 I have a desert willow. It is always, whether I water it or leave it alone, yellow/ brown leaves, dark spots on the leaves, losing leaves. now it looks sad and not very healthy. Can you please tell m... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Limp leaves on Texas purple sage in Magnolia TX July 22, 2010 Recently planted Texas purple sage, some of it looks healthy and has new blooms, but a few of the plants have limp leaves and are thin at the bottom. I read the article on cotton root rot, but am not ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blooms on Desert Willow withering quickly in Rockwall TX July 15, 2010 Why do the blooms on my Desert Willow dry up and wither away in one or two days? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants to replace hydrangeas in a wet area in New York July 09, 2010 Dear Smarty, Two years ago I planted 4 Endless Summer Hydrangas in front of the front porch of my summer cottage on Saratoga Lake. The first year they struggled the second they are limp. Can you give... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What is composted mulch from Springfield IL July 01, 2010 I love the look of hard wood mulch. It is my understanding that this wood mulch that is so readily available in bulk and bags is not "composted mulch". I have been told that this type of mulch pull... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best mulch from Cedar Hill TX June 10, 2010 What is the best mulch to use around trees,azaleas and plants in Cedar Hill, Tx? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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