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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| Seeding an established buffalograss lawn to make it denser May 13, 2010 We have 5400 sq ft of existing Buffalo grass and would like to know if spreading Buffalo grass SEED would help the existing get more full? I can't seem to find the seed here or the Austin area? And, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pine bark on non-native St. Augustine grass in Kingwood TX May 12, 2010 I had two large Pine trees cut down. In the process of cutting the trees down there is a lot of pine bark from the tree on my St Augustine grass. Will this affect the growth of my grass? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Did pre-emergent herbicide for lawn kill oak tree in Austin? May 10, 2010 Your article in today's (May 1st)Austin American-Statesman advised against using herbicides around oaks. Does that include the "pre-emergents" that the lawn care companies use in the Spring? I ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Perennial wildflowers for lawn in Dallas May 02, 2010 What perennial wildflowers can I plant in Dallas Texas that will bloom in March or early April that I can just toss out on the lawn? I know you have to soak bluebonnets. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for a lawn in Wimberley, Texas April 25, 2010 Is there a lawn grass that will go dormant with no water at all and come back? ..in Wimberley? our native grass didn't survive the drought. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difficult lawn redo in Austin, TX area. April 01, 2010 In Oak Hill section of Austin and our 2 year old house had St Augustine dumped atop the raped soil. After the drought of 09 it is all dead. We have most of our large yard native but need grass aroun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lawn Maintenance in Colorado March 20, 2010 When do I begin to fertilize and water my grass in Colorado Springs? I am selling my house and want my lawn to look green? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Rain garden for South Austin March 01, 2010 I have a TINY yard in south Austin. It is 8'x25', sandwiched between four houses and happens to be at the lowest elevation, so all of the neighbor's yards drain to ours. Originally, we had bermud... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Buffalograss to replace non-native St. Augustine lawn in Rockport TX February 16, 2010 I currently have a St. Augustine lawn that is being overtaken by weeds. I would like to replace it with buffalo grass. How do I prepare my lawn in order to seed it with the buffalo grass and how tol... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing a Grass Lawn with Moss January 02, 2010 I have a small north facing yard that I would like to change from grass to moss. There is some moss now but still lots of grass. I need to rake a lot of leaves in the fall but want to get away from a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen plants for shaded lawn in Austin, Texas December 31, 2009 I want to replace three scrawny ligustrums on the shady north front of my house with native plants. I'd like evergreen plants that don't need much maintenance. I'm not looking for a hedge, but some... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating bluebonnets from lawn December 05, 2009 I need to know the best way to eliminate bluebonnets which are growing in my yard. My HOA is pursuing legal action against me to prevent me growing the plants. I can't afford to "resod" my yard. Ca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need help with an invasive ground cover type plant filling in damaged areas in lawn. November 25, 2009 Since the drought this summer, there is an invasive ground cover type plant filling in the damaged areas in my lawn . It is dark greenish/purplish very small clover type plant, difficult to pull up an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small perennials & grasses for a naturalized lawn October 26, 2009 I am looking for native perennials and grasses that will grow no more than 8 inches tall that can be used in a naturalized lawn in Michigan. What 5 plants would be your first choice? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Did my neighbor's zucchini affect my apple tree from Oak Lawn, IL October 26, 2009 My neighbor planted zucchini plants near a flowering non-fruit producing apple tree in my yard. Soon afterwards in July the tree began to shed leaves. Could the zucchini plant have caused this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Supplier for native lawn grass for South Texas October 20, 2009 Where would I buy native lawn grass for South Texas? Would it be sod or seed? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low water lawn for Austin September 01, 2009 I am interested in finding out more about low water lawns and was wondering if you have resources you might suggest. We have replanted with varying types of grass several times and my front lawn cont... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is it OK to recycle my kids bathwater out to the lawn? July 23, 2009 Is it OK for me to "recycle" my kids bathwater out to the lawn or houseplants? We use normal everyday brand kids soap. Thanks Mr. Smarty Plants View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bermuda grass and St. Augustine for lawn in Hawaii June 21, 2009 Is bermuda grass and st.augustine grass a good mixture for my backyard lawn? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low sedge for lawn in Bakersfield, CA June 19, 2009 We have a small area for a lawn, but would like to get away from a traditional "lawn". Can you recommend a sedge grass that would act like a lawn (not much foot traffic)that can be mowed once in a w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native grasses for lawn in Michigan June 14, 2009 I want to plant a lawn of grasses that are native to Michigan specifically. My soil is a little sandy in some spots and is moderately moist. I have been researching on the internet and I *think* tha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing lawn in Taylor, Texas May 28, 2009 I live in Taylor, Texas, just northeast of Austin, in the Blackland Prairie region. However, I do not live on a farm, but in town on a city lot of 1/3 acre. My soil is clayey, and currently I have a L... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Savannah holly sprouting in lawn in Oklahoma City May 24, 2009 I have a 15 year old Savannah Holly in a shrub bed. This year, seedlings have sprouted all over my front lawn. This is the first year that I have had this problem other than in the shrub bed itself. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating stinging nettles in lawn in Austin May 13, 2009 How do I get rid of stinging nettle that is dispersed through my lawn. It's not like the nettle pictures I see online - they are short plants and have narrow leaves - but covered with spines. Mowin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lawn care? May 10, 2009 I had red yucca planted in my garden last May. They were trimmed back by my lawn care people last winter and currently seem to be slowly growing back. However, the red flower stalk is not growing ba... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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