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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| Vines for fence in Bentonville, Arkansas June 12, 2013 I have about 600 LF of 8ft high chain link fence I would like to grow vines on in Northwest Arkansas for screening. I would like some to cover quickly but be maintenance friendly. I heard alternating ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees for privacy screen in California May 31, 2013 Hi Mr. Smartypants, We are first-time home-buyers of a cute little house and a relatively large lot in Pacific Grove, CA. Unfortunately the neighbors to the north have built a second story with a nic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screening from Prosperity SC May 19, 2013 I need to know what would be a good tree to plant for blocking my neighbor's home it needs to be an evergreen and slender in the space it would take. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Screen of Thuja Occidentalis on fire-damaged property in Bastrop TX May 04, 2013 I want to plant a screen of Thuja Occidentalis on the east side of our driveway. It is in the burn area of Bastrop, TX. None of our trees survived. Will Thuja Occidentalis grow here? I saw some specim... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen from Temecula CA May 04, 2013 I live in Temecula and need a fast growing tree by our pool that is good to block neighbors house. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen from Simpsonville SC May 04, 2013 My neighbor cut down his part of our shared woods so now we see his whole "outside patio area". What kinds of fast growing shade loving trees and shrubs can we plant on our property line that will c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shade Tolerant, Deer Resistant, Evergreen Hedge Suggestions for CT April 30, 2013 I think I am asking for a lot, but here we go… Is there a deer tolerant evergreen that can grow in the shade and create a hedge of 5 feet tall here in CT? I am not opposed to ivy covering a fence if t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sources for Ilex shrubs from Boca Raton FL April 29, 2013 Where can I find Ilex plants in the Boca Raton, FL area? I would like to use them for hedges. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Vines to Cover Brush Pile in Maryland April 29, 2013 We have a large brush pile on our property that we'd intended to burn, but it is big enough now that it would require the help of the fire department! I'm thinking I'd like to cover it with native ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screen for barn from Washington TX April 27, 2013 We live on a large ranch and have someone now next to us that built a barn on our fence line that we want to make a tree barrier to hide it, so we need to plant trees that will grow at least 15-29 fee... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Screening Plant for New York Narrow Site April 20, 2013 I need privacy screening on the side of my house in Mount Kisco, New York located 40 miles north of New York City. The area gets plenty of sun but is somewhat narrow. What evergreen bushes or trees ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Screen for Heavy Clay and Full Sun in Louisiana April 19, 2013 What would be a fast-growing plant for privacy in Louisiana? I have heavy clay and full sun. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Noise reduction hedge from Austin April 17, 2013 Noise reduction hedge row in Austin. We back up to a very busy street and need a fast growing noise barrier. In a similar post for the Houston area, you recommended Gordonia lasianthus -loblolly bay. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy Screen Tree for Patio in NC April 15, 2013 What is a good tree to plant in front of a brick wall/fence to provide privacy and not compromise the structural integrity of the wall? The brick fence is my neighbors but I need privacy as they can s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Covering dead arborvitae with non-native ivy from Niles MI April 14, 2013 I have a severely thinning arborvitae hedge. It is probably too shady, but I want the privacy. I'm thinking of planting something like ivy to fill the gaps. I know it will probably kill the hedge, bu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dog Friendly Privacy Hedge for Long Island April 14, 2013 Can you please advise me of some plants for a privacy hedge that are non-toxic to dogs and that would thrive on Long Island, NY? I am looking for a hedge to grow to about 6-8 ft. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy screening from Phoenix AZ April 14, 2013 I live in the center of Phoenix, Az. On the eastern side of my house we have some 2 story condos next door. The width of the side yard is about 12'-15' and it gets lots of shade. I also have my powe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Replacement evergreens under power line in Wisconsin April 11, 2013 I have to replace evergreen trees in a privacy screen due to borer damage. The screen is below power lines so the replacements cannot be tall. I would like use bird and pollinator friendly replaceme... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Privacy hedge for Burleson, TX. April 09, 2013 I moved out to the country away from the hustle and bustle only to find that I have less privacy out there because of open land. I hear children screaming and dogs barking from 1/4 mile away. I want t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen, deer resistant privacy screen for Villanova PA March 29, 2013 Looking for something that is deer resistant and ideally evergreen to block a shed and fence that my neighbor recently installed. Live in Eastern PA. Not the best drainage and also shade for most of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tall trees for privacy screen in St. Augustine FL March 24, 2013 Please let me know what kind of evergreen tall trees I can plant for privacy in my back yard in the st. Augustine, Florida area. Thanks for your assistance. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreen vine for screen March 20, 2013 We have pretty much "dead" red-tipped photinia bushes and old pine trees that have seen better days, on a steep hillside. We need to remove and replace with a more natural setting, with some terraci... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought tolerant privacy plants for Flagstaff AZ March 19, 2013 We need a fast growing drought tolerant tree that will grow in Flagstaff AZ/Parks AZ. Neighbors are hoarders and we want privacy fence to cover the mess. Any help would be greatly appreciated. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Patio Privacy Screen Suggestions for Central Texas March 17, 2013 I have just built a patio and want to plant some small trees, bushes or shrubs to form a visual barrier (rather than to erect a fence)to the neighbors yard. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fast-growing, non-poisonous evergreen vine for California March 14, 2013 Hi, I am in the north bay area of California, north of San Francisco, need a quick growing vine to cover a very long section of chain link fence that is not poisonous (back yard backs up to school pla... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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