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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| 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 | ||
| Hedge to cover chain link fence September 04, 2010 Hi, I would like to hide 250 feet of 6' tall chain link fence on a western facing, sloped, very rocky soiled back yard I had to use a jack hammer to dig the holes. Esthetically I would like to be abl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy hedge, thick, fast-growing in Georgetown TX August 31, 2010 I want to plant a privacy hedge in Austin Texas Edwards escarpment so it's rocky soil. Looking for something thick, fast growing and can be kept to 7'. It's along a wrought iron fence and ranges fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub/small tree for screen in southern California August 06, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants - I would like to find an evergreen hedge, ~15-20' (or so) to screen a busy road (noise and visual). I'm zone 8b - 92539 (close to) - light snow in winter (to -25) and can ge... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small tree with blossoms for screen in Corpus Christi, Texas July 26, 2010 We are looking for something to plant along a back fence for privacy but don't want it to be a bush. What might work like a crepe Myrtle in the Corpus Christi area that would blossom towards the to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for screen behind a waterfall July 25, 2010 I want to plant 3 evergreen trees as a screen behind a waterfall and along a fence by my pool. We took down a wax myrtle due to winter/ice damage and the mess in the pool. I want male yaupon hollies... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for delineating property line July 18, 2010 I have a neighbor who does not mow his grass or take care of a strip that runs between my property and his. I would like to plant some inexpensive, low maintenance, shrubs, that would do well in full... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native evergreen vine for St. Paul MN June 17, 2010 I am looking for a native vine that will stay green, or at least keep its leaves, throughout the winter. The vine will be grown on a trellis between our house and our neighbor's, and we want to keep... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| White flowers to plant in front of evergreen tree screen in Altoona PA June 15, 2010 I have planted about 30 evergreen trees (as a screen). I would like to plant a row of low maintenance whitish flowering bushes or low maintenance large flowering plants in front of this row. Any sug... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees for screen around pool near Dallas June 13, 2010 I am looking for a native plant to use around a pool to provide screening (I am putting in a 12 ft tall set of flag poles to suspend a sun screen the HOA wants me to block the flag poles) I have 8 ft ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing screen for New York June 04, 2010 I need a fast growing screen to put along my fence due to undesirable neighbors who moved next door to my summer place. Small lot: 25'x25' . The side is south and the lot is partially shade w sandy s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen large shrub/small tree for screen in Houston May 26, 2010 I live on the west side of Houston Tx. I need an evergreen large shrub or shorter tree between myself and a busy neighborhood road. There is a power line above this so we would like something that e... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen tree for privacy screen in Collin County, Texas May 26, 2010 I am looking for a shrub or tree that will serve as a privacy screen. I would like it to grow very tall and be thick to help provide some privacy. I live in Collin County, and the area where the tre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for privacy shield in Austin May 19, 2010 We are looking for a tall hedge on the lot line between us and our neighbors. Thinking Prunus caroliniana (Carolina laurelcherry) would be a good choice. Question: how close should we plant them tog... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen hedge for Dallas-Fort Worth area May 18, 2010 Our red tip photina hedge is slowly succumbing to black spot and we'll need to replace it within the year. (Yes, I now understand red tips come in two varieties: diseased and about to become disease... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need to know how to plant trees to create a windbreak in Ashburn, VA. May 06, 2010 I want to know how to plant trees to create windbreaks. I live on a slope of a hill, the front of the house is steep and the back of the house has neighbors in a cul de sac. I swear I live in a wind... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vine for screening fence in Michigan May 05, 2010 Need a perennial vine to grow on a chain link fence, full sun, moist ground. Wanted to block view. If it flowers and/or attracts butterflies, all the better. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for pool area in Fort Worth April 20, 2010 We have a new pool in our backyard, and now also quite a bit of bare land to go with it. Looking for native grass suggestions and also shrubs/trees that I can plant around the pool area for privacy an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen pet-safe shrubs for house and screening in McKinney TX April 15, 2010 Looking for shrub, preferably evergreen, to plant near the house that can handle wet ground and is pet (dog, cat, horse) safe. The area became boggy after we had an underground water leak that is now ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for privacy in Round Lake IL April 14, 2010 I recently purchased a house in northern Illinois that overlooks a busy walking path. The yard is 80 feet wide and currently has a 4 foot chain link fence, but I would like to add something for priva... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant screening evergreens for CT April 07, 2010 I live in Connecticut, in a predominantly wooded environment. I am looking for a recommendation for a great screening tree, which I can use to block a view of Neighbors behind me. It would need to b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrubs and trees to protect beehives in Godley TX April 06, 2010 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Is there a (relatively) fast growing native small tree or large shrub (NOT cedar) that tolerates Johnson County clay, full sun, sometimes damp and sometimes dry soil with no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blocking out noise from pond pump in Holly MI April 02, 2010 My neighbor has a motor for his pond pump that faces my backyard--it is extremely loud and irritating after listening to it for 5 hours or more. Is there any type of shrub that I can plant to block o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen screen for newly constructed metal building March 31, 2010 Neighbor built a 12' tall metal building right by my gate. I want to screen it with fast-growing evergreen natives. I have lots of ashe juniper on my property, but none where I need it now! Can AJ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing evergreens for privacy in Center, TX March 30, 2010 I live in East Texas and am looking for a fast growing evergreen for a privacy screen around my backyard. The area gets partial sun and the soil has a lot of clay in it. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy hedge plant for Phoenix, Arizona. March 19, 2010 Hi, Can you tell me what would be a good plant or shrub to block one side of an unsightly 6ft high wrought iron pool fence, and create some privacy. It would be full sun and the hot temperature of P... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Screen for highway noise in Conroe, Texas March 18, 2010 I have 120' of fence line which backs up to a busy highway, and now there are plans to widen it to four lanes. Is there a native tree or shrub which could help dampen the noise and block out the view... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| New York State Shrubs to Screen Home from Traffic March 11, 2010 I am looking for a native New York bush/small tree which I can use along a road to screen my home from year-round car traffic. The area is not terribly wide and the soil is OK. I am willing to prune a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Screening plant for wall in Florida February 26, 2010 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants, I live near Tampa, FL and I want to put a line of privacy plants/hedges along a brick wall. The wall is 6' high with openings in the top 3' of the wall. The length of the w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen in Idaho February 15, 2010 Hello Mr. Smarty Plants, I need to add privacy to a chain link fence. The fence is shaded by large trees.They add shade from up high but little privacy at fence level.What would you recommend I plant... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Screen plants to replace non-native Chinese raintrees in Marble Falls, TX February 15, 2010 Five four year old Koelreuteria bipinnata (Chinese Rain) trees were mistakenly cut to the ground. They were planted fairly close together, perhaps ten feet apart. The purpose for them was to provide a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen for wet area in Florida February 08, 2010 What are the best type of bushes/trees to plant in a low-lying area which is very wet--has sitting water after rainfall and drains slowly that is fast growing and serve as a good privacy border near f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrubs for screening in Hays County, Texas January 26, 2010 Help! I bought 2 acres in Driftwood and built a small house. Last year, the neighbor moved in a dilapidated old mobile home right on the fence line and I feel all my peace is gone. What is the fast... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen for pool in California November 24, 2009 Hi, We have new neighbors overlooking our pool and peering into our house. We want to put up a privacy screen along our back fence that runs the length of the pool, but the border running along the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant screen for Comfort TX November 23, 2009 My house sits on a hill between Fredericksburg and Comfort. Darn, if my neighbors didn't build so close to my property line that I can see into their cabin when the trees drop their leaves in the f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen by pool in Friendswood, TX October 07, 2009 We just moved into a new home with a pool in the backyard. We are trying to figure out what to plant along the back fence to allow for a bit of privacy; we have no direct backyard neighbors but there... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen shrub for screen in Bellville, Texas October 03, 2009 Would you please recommend a dense evergreen for a living screen in Bellville, TX (Austin County) that will receive full sun? Fast growing and a minimum height of 8' are preferred. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dog and kid barrier in East Wenatchee WA October 01, 2009 I have about a 8 foot section between my driveway and the neighbor's yard, and their kids and dogs like to run through it! I would like to plant a non-invasive 4-6 foot growing shrub/bush of some s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for privacy screen in Edgewood TX September 10, 2009 Can you recommend a large fast growing tree, shrub, etc. that can give me some privacy from my neighbor across the street that likes to use his binoculars? I live in East Texas on about 10 acres. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low water hedge for Sedona, AZ August 19, 2009 I'm looking for a shrub to plant along a 90' property line with my neighbor in Sedona, Arizona (high desert). Ideally, the shrub would grow to about 8' and would not require too much water. What wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen for New York apartment balcony. August 17, 2009 Hello, I live in an apartment in New York City with an outdoor large balcony. I would like to buy evergreens to make the space more private. Do you have any suggestions on what type of plant woul... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trees and shrubs in Wisconsin July 30, 2009 I live in Hudson, WI, just across the border from Minn/St Paul and would like to create a privacy screen between my front yard and my neighbors yard. Right now it's full sun, but I want to plant a c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen replacement for bamboo in Redding CA July 27, 2009 We have just removed bamboo from our backyard and need to replace it with a plant that will give us the same type of privacy. What plant would you suggest to plant along a fence line that will surviv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for shrubs for a screening barrier along a fence line in Austin, TX. July 24, 2009 Hi! I am new to Austin and I live in a town home community that backs up to an existing neighborhood. There is no screening on my fenceline, which is only about 30 feet from my back porch! I also ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need suggestions for shrubs for for screening along a 70 ft fence in Dallas, TX. June 29, 2009 Hi, My new home backyard is right adjacent to an intersection of reasonably busy roads. The other side of one of these roads is commercial area. From your website, I understand that Wax Myrtle is bes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen in front of cinderblock wall in Los Angeles June 28, 2009 I'm looking for a privacy hedge to plant along my backyard's cinderblock wall in Los Angeles, CA. I need it to grow 10 - 15 feet and it can't be toxic to dogs. Any advice would be great! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low privacy hedge in Houston June 17, 2009 I am looking for a fast growing, dense (for privacy) shrub/s or plants, that will get at least 3-4+ feet high for a mostly shady area. Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen screen for Michigan June 15, 2009 Hi Mr. Smarty Pants, I need help. Can you please suggest some (preferably evergreen) shrubs and trees that will thrive in our backyard that will provide us some privacy from our neighbors (about ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer resistant, fast growing trees for screening June 01, 2009 Deer resistant, fast growing, native plants (trees) as a visual block. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shrubs or trees for privacy screen in New Hampshire May 30, 2009 I am looking to put up a living privacy wall in my yard. My husband and I just bought a house in Derry, NH, and have a rather large backyard (approx. 1 acre), which seems to get continuous sun. We h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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