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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| Frequency of mowing on native grasses November 17, 2006 I live on 5 acres in TX Hill Country. I love the native grasses when they are high and blowing, etc. My husband insists on mowing, claiming that by mowing, the grasses grow more rapidly over the dry... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants to make houses for sale more attractive November 03, 2006 I could use your suggestions: I have 2 small houses in Dallas which I am trying to sell, and would like to beautify -- with plants. Currently there are no shrubs or groundcover or trees -- nor anyo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native alternatives to St. Augustine for under an Arizona Ash October 12, 2006 I live in Mansfield, TX. We have a large Arizona Ash tree in our back yard. No grass will grow under it. We are thinking of laying sod (St. Augustine) there. Is this a good solution and if so, whe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control methods for Cenchrus spinifex, Coastal sandbur September 22, 2006 I have some of the nicest, thickest, greenest grassburs in the county of Erath. What is the best and quickest way to get rid of them? I have heard of a product called cornmeal gluten. Any info appreci... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native fescues and sedges for turf in New York July 25, 2006 Hello, Came across your contact info while googling and hoped you could help answer a question or direct me to another resource that can. I am looking to redo my entire landscaping with native NY ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Xeriscaping in clay on a slope in Fort Worth April 06, 2006 Xeriscaping in clay (Fort Worth) on a slope -- Please offer suggestions and publications. Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Alkalinity-tolerant grasses July 24, 2005 Dear Sirs - Are you aware of any grass species that could survive in strongly alkaline soils (ph from 10 up to 12) Thanks a lot. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suggestions for Texas native plants for memorial June 30, 2005 A dear friend of ours has passed and we would like some ideas of a native Texas plant we could plant in memory of her. It will be grown in the hill region near Houston. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wildflower meadow on former cattle pasture in North Carolina May 17, 2005 We have purchased approximately 7 acres of land in North Carolina. A neighbor has been using the land for grazing his cows, but I hope to plant it with wildflowers once we've built a small house. W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native, durable, drought tolerant grasses for Amarillo, TX May 13, 2005 Are there any kinds of native grasses that are drought tolerant, durable and able to survive heavy foot traffic, and native to the Amarillo, Texas area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing grass with native Texas sedges March 24, 2005 I have been trying to grow native Texas sedges instead of grass in my back yard for the last two years. Much of it is shaded by a canopy of elms, juniper, and oak. I have put a local organic fertili... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native Hill Country grasses, flowers for April garden show March 17, 2005 I will be a first ever (!) exhibitor in my garden club's garden show this April 7. Our theme is The Passion of Texas - my specific category is The Hill Country. Help!!! All materials I use must be al... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas native plants for cemetery site February 09, 2005 I am trying to landscape my mothers gravesite located in far East Texas (just outside of Nacogdoches) and I am looking for some evergreen bushes or any other decorative plants for that area. I am thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possibility of root rot in Praire flame-leaf sumac July 08, 2004 I bought a prairie sumac two years ago and it was fine until recently when we had a lot of rain in Austin. Now the leaves are all brown and it appears to be dying. Is there something I can do? I reall... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Solarization and hand-pulling to remove invasive weeds June 20, 2004 We are planting a field of native grasses, and prepared the landscape by solarization last July. However it now seems that the weeds returned with great vigor. Is there any other method to get rid of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Low maintenance native plants for sun in Dallas March 22, 2004 What low maintenance ground cover would you recommend for a sunny backyard in Dallas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Mixture of native grasses as opposed to buffalo grass monoculture November 26, 2003 My husband and I just built our home on Lake Travis. Our lot is very rocky and is on the side of a hill. We would like to plant something on the incline at the front of our home that doesn't need a l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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