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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| 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 | ||
| Want to Amend Soil Without Harming Earthworms in Dallas Area March 16, 2011 I have a totally odd question. I live in the Dallas area in the blackland soil. I am removing sod from part of my back yard and will replant with nectar and host plants for butterflies. The soil is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are Eastern White Pine suitable for Waxhaw NC February 13, 2011 Pinus strobus ( White Pine )- I wish to plant four of these evergreens along our property lines as a screen. Our county is selling one foot plants in a container. Our soil is clay. Are these t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Caring for Texas Buckeye in Buda TX February 07, 2011 I have a Texas Buckeye that is planted in a moderate amount of shade. It is growing very slowly, and only holds on to it's leaves from late March to August. It has been in the ground for about 4-5 ye... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Texas Ash and non-native Bradford Pear in Hutto TX January 27, 2011 We have planted two trees in our back yard. The first one(a Bradford Pear) died and the second one (a Texas ash) doesn't look like it's doing very well. Our back yard is mostly black clay about 1 f... 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 | ||
| Conditions for growing Anacacho Orchid in Smithville TX January 24, 2011 What conditions (soil type, sun/shade, understory? etc.) to grow a healthy Anacacho Orchid tree? And what is the best size tree to plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of algae on dirt and patio January 12, 2011 Algae and on patio and dirt, and how to get rid of same? 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 | ||
| Allowing oak leaves to pile up at base of tree from San Jose CA December 26, 2010 Greetings, Is it a good idea to allow oak leaves to pile up at the base of our California live oak? Will that cause fungus, mold and rot that hurts the tree? Thanks for your advice. 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 | ||
| Cenizo as a Foundation Plant in Austin December 09, 2010 We live next to the wildflower center. We would like to plant "Leucophyllum frutescens". We are hoping to use this as a foundation plant. Will it survive if planted in Dec. Please offer any tips ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Blackened leaves on purple sage in Utopia TX December 08, 2010 I live in Utopia Texas and have a 5-ft. Texas Purple Sage that has developed a black appearance on the leaves. What is this and what can I do about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fungus Spots on Native Bush Honeysuckle December 03, 2010 My native bush honeysuckle plants that I have along my back fence have leaves that are turning yellow with spots. It appears to be a type of fungus, but not powdery mildew. Any suggestions as to what ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating non-native Asian Jasmine in Austin December 02, 2010 I have a large bed in front of the house full of jasmine that was planted by the builder 25 years ago. What suggestions do you have to eliminate it and prepare the bed to plant native flowers and pl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planters for wildflower exhibit in Jemez Springs NM November 28, 2010 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... 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 |  | |
| Time to transplant an Eastern Redbud in Pearland, TX November 17, 2010 When is the best time in the fall to transplant an Eastern Redbud tree in Pearland, TX? We have one approximately 6 feet tall in the back yard and want to move it to the front ASAP. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Texas wild olive tree in Tucson November 15, 2010 Planted a Texas Olive tree in Tucson, Az. Some of the leaves are kind of yellow. It gets part sun and part shade and is growing. Is this due to too much water, not enough water or does it need somet... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for cutout in driveway in Houston November 12, 2010 I live in central Houston. I have a new driveway with a cutout of 4' x 8'. I would like to plant a shade tree that will not break up the concrete. What do you recommend? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black-eyed Susans in potting soil on ground November 12, 2010 I would like to know if black eyed susans can be planted in just potting soil instead of mixing it in with dirt from the ground? I don't want to leave it in the pots. I want to plant it, but the grou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for planter in Sherman Oaks CA November 11, 2010 We have a large cinder block planter, 6ftx6ftx6ft,in the back of our building and would love to find a good evergreen accent tree (but not pine like). Planter is near a building so preferable it shoul... 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 | ||
| Why all the acorns from Austin November 03, 2010 What's the explanation for the huge crop of acorns falling from my live oak trees this fall. Do you recommend I dump them in my composter or just throw them in the flower beds? Thanking you in adv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover to withstand dog traffic in Michigan November 02, 2010 I need a soft ground cover that will grow in sand, and be able to take four big dogs that love to run in the yard. Grass just doesn't make it. Someone suggested that groundcover might work. Thanks... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower seeds affected by mulch in Austin October 24, 2010 I have a small wildflower garden in my central Austin yard. In early summer, I had some extra mulch and put it in this garden. Now I'm thinking that was a mistake. The bed has re-seeded itself for se... 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 | ||
| Moving a volunteer holly from Springfield IL October 11, 2010 When would be the very best time to move a volunteer holly? I would say it is 3 years old, it stands about 5 feet tall, shaped like a very nice tree and it keeps its leaves. Thank you. Karen View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need evergreen hedge and groundcover for shade in Carmel, Indiana September 27, 2010 Our property is bounded by a fencerow that is wooded and mostly shaded by mulberry and hackberry trees during the growing months. We'd like to create a 5'+ tall evergreen barrier on the property li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| What to do with a sickly American elm in Austin, Texas September 27, 2010 I have an American elm that is about 6 feet tall in my yard. It is has not grown quickly this year--as compared to another American Elm that I have in another spot that is about 3 feet tall and has m... 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 | ||
| Perennials non-toxic to horses in Thayer MO September 21, 2010 I live in South Central Missouri. I am looking for a plant/shrub to plant in pots (our soil is clay and very rocky)to landscape the front of our barn. This plant can't be harmful to horses and must b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Century plants spread through offshots from Rye TX September 20, 2010 How do century plants spread? Are the little ones the babies? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Newly planted magnolia in Hedron NE September 19, 2010 We planted a Magnolia stellata 'Royal Star' in our landscape about 2 weeks ago. It is approx 7' tall. My question is should the leaves on it all be turning brown and crisp already or are doing some... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to make a lawn into a prairie in Arlington, Texas September 15, 2010 I am removing lawn grasses in order to start a native prairie meadow. After grass removal, I'll put down 1/2" of compost. I will broadcast wildflower seeds on the compost. If I mulch after broadcas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wax myrtle problems from Driftwood TX September 04, 2010 We planted 27 wax myrtles on the perimeter of our property last year and were diligent about watering them throughout the drought. They are in very rocky soil (we had to use a jackhammer to dig the ho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplanting yucca pups from Dallas September 01, 2010 Can I transplant Pup Yucca plants off of the main yucca and how do I cut them off? 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 | ||
| Flowering evergreen shrubs for sun in Austin August 09, 2010 I am looking for a flowering evergreen shrubs that can take all afternoon sun(on the west side of our house. Preferably 2ft high and 2 ft wide. I had planted a few Salvia Greggii(Autumn Sage) which on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Perennials for flower bed in Humble TX July 28, 2010 I have a 10 foot by 10 foot flower bed that needs to be replanted and I am located in Houston, TX so what would be some good perennials to plant that are good to grow in this heat? I have been told L... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing vine for cinder block wall in Albuquerque July 26, 2010 I live in Albuquerque, N.M. and have a cement/cinder block wall and was wondering if there is a vine I can plant which will be easy to grow, grow fast and cover my wall without any type of help like a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Holding soil on a bank in Goldsboro, NC July 25, 2010 I live in Goldsboro, NC on a small ridge with a very steep bank on one side of our property. What native plants can we plant on the bank to help hold the soil. Also, what would be best to plant on t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover for heavy dog traffic in Huntsville TX July 23, 2010 We have recently moved to Huntsville, TX where our backyard is very shady and has only a small patch of St. Augustine grass and the rest is a dry, sand-like soil. We also have 2 Great Danes and 2 Pugs... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to bloom of lantanas in San Antonio July 22, 2010 Mr. Smarty Plants, We have lantanas in our front yard. This summer the leaves have turned white and they die to a brown color all the while the leaves are "crispy". At the beginning of the season... 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 | ||
| Death of mature Eve's necklace in Fredericksburg, TX July 12, 2010 A friend mentioned his mature Eve's necklace had died this year. The next day I walked past my own mature Eve's necklace(about 5 years old)and it was dead! What could have happened? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Amendments for faster-growing trees from Bulverde TX July 04, 2010 What faster growing trees will grow in black gumbo clay that is about 12 inches deep above caliche rock in full sun with a sprinkler system set on 1 inch/week? How many and how much amendments such... 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 | ||
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