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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| Erosion Control for a Shaded Slope in Aliquippa PA May 07, 2014 What plants. shrubs or trees can I plant to retard soil erosion on a steep shaded hillside in PA View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover to control hillside erosion in Illinois May 04, 2014 I have seen some other questions regarding native plants for erosion control, but I am looking specifically for plants that will do well on a hill in partial to full shade. I am told the soil in our a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade tolerant plants for erosion from Austin May 03, 2014 I live in Austin and my house backs up to Shoal Creek. I am looking for a native creeping vine or something that will grow on the shaded bank to help prevent erosion. It should be able to tolerate the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion control in Ohio April 23, 2014 We live on the north side of the Maumee River in Toledo, OH. We are looking to plant something low (3' max) that will stabilize the very steep hill leading down to the river, preventing erosion. Wo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion controlling Groundcover for Phenix AL March 30, 2014 Hi I am trying to find a grass or ground cover to control erosion on firing range berms which are 1:1 grade on a firing range outside of Phenix City AL. Sandy clay soil, direct sunlight almost all day... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Getting rid of non-native, invasive English Ivy from Davidsonville MD March 19, 2014 Just moved and need to rid the well established Ivy planted on the steep slope area around the back and side of the house as it is taking over the bushes on the top and trees in forested area at botto... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Raingarden Plants for Brownsville, TX March 14, 2014 I'm a Landscape Architect in South Texas and I'm implementing raingardens and vegetated swales in my projects. What native plants could be used in these gardens/water runways. They would need to res... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing Texas cedar Juniperus ashei from Blanco River banks February 26, 2014 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, Should cedar trees be removed from our Blanco River banks to prevent them from sucking too much of our precious water before it makes it into the river system? If so, what s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ground cover to control erosion in Montgomery County, Texas February 24, 2014 I am looking for some kind of ground cover to control erosion on a north facing slope in Montgomery County, Texas. The area gets very little direct sunlight. I need something that will establish quick... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Reconsideration of previous question from Hays County TX February 21, 2014 QUESTION: Please reconsider this question that I sent to you last week. Our home address is in Bastrop County, but the Blanco River property that we own is in Hays County near Wimberley. Our proper... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants and grasses for river bank from Rosanky TX February 19, 2014 Our property owners association would like to know what native plants/grasses to plant on the Blanco River bank in our river park to help prevent erosion. Some banks are steep and some areas are a gra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion Solution for Lorton, VA February 07, 2014 We have a steep slope in our common area of our homeowners association. Trees that were planted have died. It is a large area around a pond. What should we plant that will hold the soil? The soil... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Searching for nursery with yellow nutsedge in NC January 27, 2014 I'd like to plant yellow nut sedge as a cover to stop erosion in a lot. Where can I buy yellow nut sedge plants near Kinston, North Carolina? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Deer Resistance and Erosion Control for St. Louis County MO January 03, 2014 I am looking for deer and rabbit resistant native plants for erosion control on a steep ravine slope with part sun and part shade in St. Louis County MO. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Plant Suggestions for a Partly Sunny Steep Bank in Illinois November 09, 2013 I am looking to plant something on a steep clay bank on our Illinois property. It is on the edge of our dirt road with trees above the bank and is partly sunny. What would work best for that type of a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Riverbank Plants for Minnesota September 04, 2013 I would like to stablize a steep riverbank slope along the Upper Mississippi in St. Cloud MN. The slopes are almost 1:1. We are using an open cell concrete matt in which we are going to plant native... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion control for shady slope in Kentucky backyard August 28, 2013 I live in northern Kentucky (near Cincinnati). I have an area in my backyard that has slope. It is next to an ash tree and is very shady. Water erosion has washed away the top soil and pretty much no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion control for edge of artificial lake in California August 14, 2013 How about erosion control at the edge of an artificial lake in Southern California? Juncus and ..? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Salt tolerant plants for shade on tidal inlet in NY August 11, 2013 Are there any salt water tolerant grasses or forbs with deep roots that grow in shade? I live on a tidal inlet/canal on Long Island NY. The southern bank has cedars and oaks but the soil is eroding ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Hillside Erosion Control for Gainesville GA August 07, 2013 I have a steep bare hill and the runoff from it is heavy this year. I need help with a fast growing groundcover that will help control erosion and runoff. Planting on the hill is difficult because you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Erosion tolerant plants for shade from Kerrville TX August 06, 2013 We have just cleared a lot of cedar out of a small draw and would like to know the best groundcovers, shrubs, etc. to plant to hold the soil. Deep shade most of the day. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Wind and erosion tolerant plants from Austin August 05, 2013 I recently cleared a fire break by removing cedar from around my home in West Austin. I'd like to plant the exposed NW facing slope with native shrubs and trees. Looking for selections that can wit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Erosion Control with perennials for a shady Dallas bank July 25, 2013 Thank you for your help with turf or perennials on a shaded bank, 4000 sq ft, for the Dallas area that has good roots, grows in semi shade to shade, is on a steep bank so cannot mow, and flowers the l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native Streambank Plants for SE Pennsylvania July 18, 2013 I help manage a nature preserve in southeastern Pennsylvania. Along the stream the banks have been beaten down by a large number of visitors for their educational activities such as stream studies. Th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Ground cover for a slope in San Antonio TX July 02, 2013 Slope growing, no or little irrigation ground cover. The slope is probably greater than 30%. The area is currently a construction road at the base, cut into the hill. To re-establish with a ground cov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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