Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
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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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| 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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