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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Removing bermudagrass from buffalograss in Smithville TX May 01, 2013 I have a lawn created two years ago with buffalo grass sod in Smithville, TX. Recently several areas of bermudagrass have started to flourish in the buffalo grass lawn. Can you recommend a herbicide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcovers & Shrubs for Shade in North Carolina April 30, 2013 Mr Smarty Pants, My neighbor planted cypress trees as a border between his yard and ours and it is sucking up every drop of water and nutrient. We also have a purple plum in the area which creates ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Narrow strip of groundcover from Sonora TX April 29, 2013 I have an area that is right under my patio about 12 feet by 1 ft. I'm looking for something to plant in there. It has afternoon sun, morning shade. I live in SW Texas so it is hot. but would like so... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Deer resistant native plants for Eagle Scout project in Urbandale IA April 27, 2013 Mr. Smarty Plants, My son is planning his Eagle Scout Project doing some landscaping for the Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary. The facility has asked him to use only plants native to Iowa. Can you su... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dog-proof grass from The Woodlands TX April 26, 2013 I am looking for a hardy grass that can tolerate female dogs urine. Zoysia was suggested but I am concerned about it being invasive. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants for steep slope in Pittsburgh PA April 25, 2013 I have a similar question to one from SC. I live in Pittsburgh, PA. We have a steep slope behind a newly built in pool. What type of plants can I put on the hillside to hold the soil. It gets a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion control on slope from Columbia SC April 25, 2013 We are in the process of having a new home built in Columbia South Carolina. Part of the front yard has a steep slope starting approximately four feet from the corner of the house and running to the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Ground cover for heavily traveled walkway from Redondo Beach CA April 23, 2013 I am looking for a drought resistant ground cover that you can walk on. I live on a south facing, sunny corner lot, 2 blocks from the beach where people park and need to cross over to get to the sidew... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcover Under Maple Tree in Ottawa That Takes Foot Traffic April 19, 2013 Hi, I am looking for a groundcover to put under a large maple tree that will be alright for kids to run about on and will be happy in the Ottawa climate. Your other answers to similar questions have b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Horse pasture seeds from Pawling NY April 19, 2013 We are getting ready to seed an area to be used as horse pasture some time in the future. What seed mix should we use to create an organic horse pasture in Pawling, NY. Ideally there would be some wil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Source for Saltmarsh cordgrass from Houston April 16, 2013 I work for a consulting firm and we are looking to do more of our wetland creation/restoration. Do you know where one can purchased Spartina alterniflora? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Resources for a green roof project from Wayne PA April 14, 2013 Hello! I am researching a project to create a native wildflower/ turf mix for a green roof. I would ideally like to grow it as a sod mat, and then install it in rolls. I am currently working as an i... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plant for deep shade in Pennsylvania April 09, 2013 Hi! I am landscaping our house and trying to use only plants that provide seasonal benefit to bees, butterflies, birds etc. not the deer though. My question is that I have a fairly steep slope of abou... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Landscaper recommends non-native zoysia in Austin April 05, 2013 My landscaper recommends using "zoysia" grass throughout my new lawn, in full shade, partly shaded, and non-shaded areas, including in the gaps between leuder stone walks. I haven't heard about th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Replacement for shade grass in El Paso TX April 05, 2013 We currently have a Honey Mesquite tree with thinning bermuda grass underneath in our front yard. I suspect that the filtered shade is killing the bermuda. I was thinking of planting Buffalo Grass, or... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Nimblewill grass for a shady area in Dallas April 04, 2013 i have a very shady backyard and reading some of your post I think Muhlenbergia schreberi (nimblewill) will survive. Two questions: Is it drought resistant? Where can I buy the seeds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Resourses that are being taken away - Tiffin OH April 03, 2013 What are resources that are being taken away from humans and organisms? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Starting over on a lawn in Heath TX April 02, 2013 Unless one counts dichondra as grass I have more weeds than grass in my yard.I have hand pulled the weeds and used an organic program without success. The soil is a hard clay typical of North Texas. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants to grow in shady sand in Florida March 31, 2013 We live in central Florida (directly between Orlando and Tampa). Our yard is mostly sand for soil and difficult parts in shade almost all day from large trees. What ground cover (grass) and hedges can... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Groundcovers for Miami FL March 27, 2013 What is a ground cover that does not need mowing or a lot of water and survives in South Florida heat and is also native to the area? I would like to turn my lawn into a more natural self-sustaining a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants to grow in shady area near a pecan tree in Maryland March 26, 2013 I live on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I have planted only natives in my front lawn. My backyard, which sports a pecan tree, fir, fig tree, and others I can't identify is dirt, just dirt. I have... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Surface tree roots hurting grass in Houston March 21, 2013 We have 2 mature Arizona Ash trees in our yard (30-40'). One of them is in a sunnier location and has developed an extensive network of surface roots (up to 1 to 1 1/2" Dia.) between the tree and th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Erosion control in Spicewood TX March 20, 2013 I am from a small community along the Colorado River a few miles East of Marble Falls. We are looking for a ground cover/grass to prevent erosion on on our beach front. We had planned to use Bermuda G... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Habiturf for Round Rock TX March 17, 2013 Topic Habiturf. We have just aerated our lawn. We were planning on throwing out bermudagrass seed. We already have bermudagrass as well as many weeds in the lawn especially the blue stem clump grass w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Shade Tolerant Grasses and Groundcovers for Waco TX March 15, 2013 What is the best shade-tolerant grass? What is the best shade-tolerant ground cover? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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