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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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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Grassy "weed" invasion in Bermuda grass lawn July 09, 2007 Our grass is being totally overrun by this weed.(I don't know what the name is but I do know it's not the dandelion weed or the thin grassy weed). It is Bermuda grass and I really don't know how to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mixing of bluebonnets and buffalograss in a lawn April 22, 2007 I have moved into a house with a yard full of weeds. I would like to plant Buffalograss but understand Buffalograss is sparce and difficult to keep the weeds out. So, I was considering mixing it wit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Calyptocarpus vialis, Horseherb, for shady, mowable lawn April 06, 2007 Graham, Texas, Heavily wooded. Too shady for St. Augustine grass. Need mowable ground cover near house. Have heard of something called horsewort, but not able to find anything about it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removal of chickweed from lawns April 06, 2007 How do I get Cerastium arvense L. - field chickweed out of my lawn? How can I kill them without hurting my grass? I don't have a clue as to how they got into my lawn, but my lawn is the only one on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Buffalograss as lawn replacement in Austin, TX March 12, 2007 Mr. Smarty Plants, I have just moved into a house that has a yard full of weeds. I was planning on killing the existing ground cover and starting buffalo grass, when I came upon several articles on... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removal of Bermuda grass in lawn November 22, 2006 Help! I am looking for a way to get rid of coastal bermuda grass in my yard, short of all out toxic chemical warfare. Is there any thing that can be used other than herbicides. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Preventing armadillos from digging up lawn for grubs September 29, 2006 Over the past 4 months we have endured an armadillo digging up our lawn. We are now seeking a humane method to discourage the armadillo from digging up the grubs in our lawn. Do you have any suggest... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Environmentally friendly and drought resistant alternatives to St. Augustine grass September 28, 2006 As a member of the planning committee of our property owners association in Wimberley TX, we are researching ways to make our landscape environmentally friendly and drought resistant. We have 60,000 ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Removal of Western yarrow invading lawn July 23, 2006 We have western yarrow in our yard and it is starting to take over and kill the grass. How do we get rid of it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Elimination of non-native, invasive King Ranch bluestem in lawn June 06, 2006 How can I eliminate an annual infestation of king ranch bluestem in my bermuda lawn? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native replacements for non-native St. Augustine lawn April 20, 2006 Hi. We would like to reseed our lawn. It is currently St. Augustine. What would you suggest for a low maintanence, drought tolerant grass or ground cover. We would prefer to have something that do... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Process of converting from lawn to wildflower meadow in New Jersey March 17, 2006 I live in northern New Jersey and have an acre of property which is currently a grassy lawn. I would like to make a meadow where the lawn is. What is the process to convert from a lawn to a meadow? Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Low maintenance native plants for sloping lawn in Maine June 07, 2005 Hello, we live in Maine and have clay-ey soil with a lot of sun. I suspect the soil is acidic as well. We would like to replace at least part of our small front lawn with native ground cover or gras... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Elimination of bermuda grass from St. Augustine lawn January 04, 2005 Dear Mr.Smarty Plants, I am so frustrated with the bermuda grass mixed with St. Augustine grass. I have tried Ortho-B-gone but it did not work. Is there any measure to kill the Bermuda grass but not... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Value of planting wildflowers versus maintaining turf November 02, 2004 I'm trying to determine the cost/value of planting wildflowers and whether it is less costly than maintaining turf. Do you have any research on this topic? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mixture of native grasses as opposed to buffalo grass monoculture November 26, 2003 My husband and I just built our home on Lake Travis. Our lot is very rocky and is on the side of a hill. We would like to plant something on the incline at the front of our home that doesn't need a l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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