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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| Protecting plants from birds near bird feeder April 24, 2009 I am happy to have several cardinal pairs living in my yard, but I need to discourage them from eating & destroying my purple heart planted under the huge cedar that holds my bird feeders. The cardina... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for banks of a retention pond in Alabama April 24, 2009 What can we plant on the inner and out walls of a detention pond to stop erosion? The pond is located in a neighborhood in Mobile, AL and the walls are 9 ft high with a steep slope. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Special requirements for Density buffalograss in Austin April 23, 2009 Are there any special requirements for Density Buffalo beyond the requirements of other, more common, types of buffalo grass? Background: We live in NW Austin, and we recently installed density bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-allergenic landscape in Fairfield, CT April 18, 2009 I live in Fairfield, CT and need to have a non-allergenic landscape. Can you please list plants, ground covers, and trees/shrubs that would be beautiful, and help in this critical situation? The lan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering plant for hillside in Brookings OR April 16, 2009 We live on the Chetco river and the bank in front of the house is on a hill. What would be a flowering plant that would maintain the integrity of the hill? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree without extensive root system in Ozark, AL April 10, 2009 I would like to plant a tree (in full sun next to a brick house wall) that doesn't have an extensive root system. I have concerns about the roots and the water/septic lines, as well as the concrete h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Water seepage problems in basement in Philadelphia April 09, 2009 I am interested in stopping/limiting water seepage into my basement by placing water absorbing ground plants along one or both sides. The grass we planted when home was new in July 2007 has taken on o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Stabilizing a shale slope in Virginia April 08, 2009 I have family members who recently built a new home in Virginia. The site required extensive excavation resulting in a large 30 foot, nearly vertical, shale wall behind the house. They now want to r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grasses for creek area near Abilene, Texas April 04, 2009 I have constructed several low water crossings on a live creek in the Abilene,Texas area and need to find out the best grass to plant to hold secure the soil and keep down erosion. The creek does runs... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for near a salt water swimming pool April 01, 2009 I need some suggestions of plants that will grow next to a public salt water swimming pool, located in Bossier City, Louisiana View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses to replace mondo grass in California March 30, 2009 Hello - I live in the Southern California coastal zone, and am looking for a drought resistant, turf alternative. My husband wants to use "Mondo Grass", but I know that is not native to the regi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Grasses for area under pecan tree in Tennessee March 26, 2009 I have two big pecan trees in my yard and would like to know what kind of grasses would thrive in the shade and also survive for my area of the country. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for Georgia March 26, 2009 I am new to Georgia by way of Colorado and would like to plant a drought resistant, tough grass/sod alternative in my backyard. Would buffalo / grama grass do ok in this climate? My backyard doesn’t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants for a creek bank in Northern Illinois March 26, 2009 Hello. I live in Northern Illinois. The creek (northern exposure in a wooded area) on the back of my property has bare muddy banks and is subject to seasonal floods. I want to plant something hardy t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I control Rescue Grass in my newly seeded prairie restoration? March 25, 2009 Hello, This past fall I solarized the existing turfgrass in my front yard and seeded with the native tallgrass prairie grasses and wildflowers. My goal is to restore a small patch of tall grass pr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plant for full sun behind waterfall March 21, 2009 I have a 24 inch waterfall around my pool. I need to plant something behind it. I have full sun and hot Texas weather. I will be watering everyday, so what do you think would grow well in this area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Potential allelopathy of cultivar of Artemisia ludoviciana March 09, 2009 I recently submitted a question regarding allelopathic potential of artemisia ludoviciana on rusty blackhaw viburnum, not specifying that I meant Vibernum rufidulum. Mr. SP interpreted my viburnum as... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Curvularia blight in buffalograss in Kansas March 05, 2009 Our buffalo grass is infected with a fungus called curvularia. How can we treat it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difficult slope in Tarrytown NY March 03, 2009 I hope you can help. Is there a way to plant some native shrubs and plants on a steep slope that is filled in some areas with rock without having to tier the slope? The section is approximately 50' w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for south Florida March 02, 2009 I live in south Florida, south of Miami about 30 miles. I would like to get rid of my St. Augustine lawn and plant native grasses. Can you please suggest some plants I could use? Will buffalo grass... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for Gilmer TX March 01, 2009 I would like to get some native grasses growing on our farm that are good for wildlife - barnyard grass - sedges - smartweed - have read and heard that all I need to do is disc and fertilize - yes/no ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Top soil dressing for bermudagrass February 25, 2009 Need to apply top soil dressing to bermudagrass. Can you suggest any type? This area is heavy clay soil and need to even out the lawn as well as feed the grass. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low cost landscaping in Federicksburg VA February 22, 2009 Hello, I live in Fredericksburg Va and I rent a townhome with a small yard. My back yard is almost completely mud and my front yard has a hideous square shrub. So my question is do you have any plant ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Flowering native plants for Bastrop, TX February 20, 2009 What type of flowering plants, trees,and bushes will grow in Bastrop, Texas? I see lots of things around, please help, have never done before. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for traffic area in Austin February 11, 2009 What time of the year is best to plant grass seed in Central Texas? My lawn is in bad shape due to the drought and my dogs. I am considering replanting with tall fescue, do you have any comments or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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