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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
Search Smarty Plants
| topic | question | |
| Evergreen ground cover for San Antonio August 03, 2011 Is there a short, evergreen, drought tolerant ground cover which will tolerate light traffic that can be used instead of grass? San Antonio, Texas View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Survival of native lawn in Hockley TX August 02, 2011 I'm on the edge of the Katy Prairie and a very large ranch with full blasting sun and completely open exposure. The soil is fill from the developers with more clay than sand, a minimum of nutrients,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Garden problems from Centreville VA July 23, 2011 Plants die, trees won't grow. I've replaced the soil (6") twice. Replaced grass twice and planted new plants and tree. After two yrs, the tree is still the same size and the flowering bushes nea... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growth of non-native bermudagrass in Snelville GA July 16, 2011 How do you grow Bermuda grass successfully in the state of Georgia? Techniques in fertilization, lawn cutting and general maintenance. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Short wildflowers to interplant with grass in PA July 05, 2011 I live in NE PA and would like to grow short wildflowers throughout my yard mixed in with my grass. Is this possible? If so, what would be a good match for my zone? I will be mowing the grass once a w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for Laredo Texas July 04, 2011 I am in Laredo, TX and no longer want to waste water on grass. I would like to pull it all out and plant native, drought resistant ground cover - low growing, between 6-12 inches, sun and partial sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native grass lawn for San Antonio June 25, 2011 Dear Mr Smartyplants, I live outside of San Antonio and my question is in regards to putting in a native grass lawn. What type of soil should I put down? I've sprayed herbicide and was planning on ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Roots of live oak in lawn from Round Rock TX June 24, 2011 I live on a cul-de-sac and have a small triangle shape yard. There is a large live oak in the middle of the yard. I am concerned because large bark covered roots have emerged on two sides of the tre... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mowing the multi-species buffalo grass lawn June 23, 2011 I am planning on putting in a buffalo grass lawn in an area that is little used. I read that a mix of buffalo, blue grama, and curly mesquite is good for better cover but I am concerned about the blu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What kind of turf can be planted in Baja Mexico from Las Vegas NV June 12, 2011 What kind of turf can be planted in Baja. Mexico View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade plants to replace a lawn in PA June 01, 2011 Our neighborhood is built into a hill and our backyard is along the slope. We cannot keep grass in the area (except for a few clumps). The area is mostly shaded and moist-dry however when rain comes t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native turf grasses for shady lawn May 25, 2011 I am interested in planting a native lawn using the grasses discussed on the website (2lb of buffalograss, 1½ lb of bluegrama and at least 4 oz of curly mesquite). My front yard is relatively small w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Water loving companions for a vegetable bed in Greenlawn New York May 25, 2011 I have a plot in a community garden that has poor drainage in one corner. I've installed raised beds, and that has helped immensely, but I'd like to plant some native plants in the wet corner that c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native lawn grass for El Paso April 24, 2011 I am new to the El Paso area and my front and back yards are currently mostly dirt with a tiny bit of dying (thank goodness) bermuda grass. I want to seed both yards with something that will grow well... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How Can I Replace my Lawn with Natives in Houston, Texas January 12, 2011 I want to remove the turf grass from my lawn and put in gravel and sand. I want to put in native and adapted plants that will attract butterflies and I want different native and adapted ornamental g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native replacement for middle school lawn in AR. November 03, 2010 I'm doing a project to help out our green middle school replace the grass in front of the school with something that stays short but is also native to the region. Can you recommend one that I can use... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Compare Natives to Lawn for Carbon Footprint Benefits in Durham, New Hampshire September 22, 2010 Are there carbon sequestration rate tables for turf (lawn) and bushes, shrubs, trees? I want to compare the carbon footprint benefit of lawn versus the same area put into native plantings. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to make a lawn into a prairie in Arlington, Texas September 15, 2010 I am removing lawn grasses in order to start a native prairie meadow. After grass removal, I'll put down 1/2" of compost. I will broadcast wildflower seeds on the compost. If I mulch after broadcas... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need shade friendly native grass for lawn under pine trees in Carthage, TX. September 07, 2010 My home is situated on six acres of woods in the East Texas piney woods area. Other than a few beds I have tried to plant, the yard has not been landscaped. I am trying to cover dirt and weeds in a p... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native xeric grasses for Colorado June 24, 2010 Tired of mowing - replacing western exposure full sun lawn with native xeric grass. Please explain the pros and cons of Bouteloua Gracilis (Blue Grama) and Bouteloua Dactyloides Bella (Bella Blue Gra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will Thunder Turf do well in shade from Iola TX June 23, 2010 Will the Thunder Turf do well in shady areas or is there a better blend of native grasses that would thrive better? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grassburs in native lawn in Utopia TX June 22, 2010 I recently planted native Texas grass (Buffalograss, blue grama & curly mesquite) at my new house in the hill country. I had to bring in all the top soil. The grass is doing great, but in one area o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Maple roots in lawn in Denton TX June 03, 2010 I purchased a new home 4 years ago that came with a landscape package. There are 2 trees in the front yard that I think are red maple trees. I am now seeing their roots appear above the ground which... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grass for lawn in Round Rock, Texas May 16, 2010 I am interested in your recommendation for the grass at my home. I currently have St. Augustine but have become very aggravated by it. I am looking for a low maintenance grass that I can replace it wi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grass for shaded lawn in Austin May 14, 2010 Hello, I've read all your info on the native lawns and came by the center on Sunday. We live in Circle C and want to plant a lawn in our backyard. We don't want something that needs a lot of wate... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| topic | question | |