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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| topic | question | |
| Vinegar as a Herbicide March 08, 2012 When can you use vinegar on weeds to get rid of them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seasonal tasks for Big Red Sage and Tall Aster in Marble Falls TX January 09, 2012 I transplanted some Big Red Sage and Tall Aster into my raised bed garden in early summer this year. They've sent up lots of rosettes. Do I need to protect them from freezing in winter? Do I need to ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planning garden tasks in advance from Austin January 03, 2012 My yard was a disaster last year-grass and trees browning, early leaf fall on flowering plants, and water bills sky high, even with the limited watering days. What can I do this year to prevent this s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Burning back Gulf Muhly instead of trimming from San Antonio December 19, 2011 A few years ago I noticed that the Center burned back its Gulf Muhly rather than cutting it back. Did that study result in any conclusions or recommendations? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Overwintering Texas bluebonnets November 17, 2011 I planted Texas Bluebonnet and I want to know how to save them through the winter months. I think they are so beautiful. Can I cover them with something? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Planting Muhlenbergia capillaris (Gulf muhly) October 27, 2011 Is it too late to plant Gulf Muhly seed in North Texas (October)? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Time for seeding wildflower seeds in Castle Rock CO October 03, 2011 I live in Castle Rock, CO. When is the best time to plant wildflower seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildseed Planting in a drought September 14, 2011 Due to the extreme drought and no rain in the near future in central Texas would it be prudent to have a wildseed planting in October? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought affecting native trees from The Woodlands August 18, 2011 I've been trying to grow native trees in my yard for the past 3 years and I'm starting to question whether the amount of time required to spend watering them during the long hot season in Texas is r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade trees for Spring TX August 17, 2011 Dear Mr.Pants, our west-facing backyard in Spring, Tx, is unbearable in this Summer's heat. Neither us nor the neighbors has any backyard trees established yet, as the subdivision is pretty new. C... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Leaves on 3 year old maple turning brown in Lebo, KS. July 16, 2011 Hello, one of our five Maple trees which is is 3 yrs. old now, we saw a week ago that the leaves started turning brown and dropping. My question is: Will the tree survive this and return healthy next ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Preventing weeds in kinnikinnick in Richland WA May 29, 2011 We planted our kinnickinick last Nov. and we live in Richland, WA, where it gets hot in the summer. We planted almost 500 of them on a hillside. Weeding is taking over our lives, to say the least. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for Summer Planting in Vernal UT May 24, 2011 What are the native plants that I could plant this summer in Vernal, Utah View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Carolina Jasmine failing to turn green in Pleasant Garden NC April 26, 2011 We planted Carolina Jasmine last year and it did great. This Spring we only have about 2-3 small green leaves beginning on the vines. We did not cut them back in the Fall. Is it time for them to be tu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Late blooming Esperanza in St. Augustine FL April 21, 2011 I bought an Esperanza at a plant expo- I was told it was a Florida native Allamanda. It took me two years to figure out what I had. Mine grows 8 ft. tall and is huge! But it doesn't bloom until alm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cutting back perennials from Austin February 08, 2011 When is it time to cut back native plants; salvia;copper canyon daisy; verbena, etc? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should grape vines be covered in winter from San Antonio February 07, 2011 Do I need to cover grape vines in winter? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Time to cut back Turk's Cap in Austin January 27, 2011 I did not find my question answered in the database. My question is: When is the best time to cut back Red Turks Cap? I live in Central Austin. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Raising bluebonnets in Stanford CA January 17, 2011 I'm a Houston girl now living in Northern California (Stanford). I would like to know if I need to adjust my growing timing for lupinus texensis? Mostly, I want to know when I should actually put th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning cherry laurel in January in Austin January 07, 2011 Do trust I checked Q&A first. Can Cherry Laurel shrubs be pruned earlier than late winter in Austin? I foolishly planted 12 native Cherry Laurel standards on our suburban property line 5 years ago. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Winter wrappings for plants in Ellenton Florida December 23, 2010 Hi and thank you for your time, I do appreciate it. I have one question. I live in Florida and yes we do get frost and temps down to 28 degrees in the winter. last year I lost almost 50 plants tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting Juncus effusus back from Bellevue WA November 18, 2010 I read your posts about Juncus effusus and just have one follow-up question. When is the best time to cut them back to the ground - before winter or early spring? I live in the Pacific NW. I recent... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When to plant in Austin November 02, 2010 I own a small landscaping business in the Austin area, and we are admittedly learning every day, but trying to do the right thing. We are knowledgeable about the sun, water, soil requirements for a v... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do I prepare blackfoot daisies for winter in Austin, TX October 19, 2010 I have blackfoot daisies in my garden that have bloomed all summer. They are cascading out of the bed onto my lawn/grass. They have been so beautiful that I hate to cut them back. How do I prepare t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Winter pruning for yucca in Adrian, Michigan October 11, 2010 Can I cut yucca plants down for winter months. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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