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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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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Thursday - April 10, 2014
From: Dallas, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Drought Tolerant, Groundcovers, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Replacing St. Augustine grass from Dallas TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Pants, we are replacing dying St. Augustine grass in a small, sunny back yard with ground cover. What are your recommendations for a drought-tolerant evergreen ground cover? We will till and amend the soil. Thanks!ANSWER:
Please, please, please - Plants with an "L", thank you.
Frankly, we are not sorry your non-native St. Augustine is dying. In drought plagued Texas and the Southwest, water guzzlers like St. Augustine are a problem. Since you are in Dallas and have a sunny lawn area, allow us to introduce you to Habiturf.
First, is this a good grass for North Central Texas? Read his previous question from Grand Prairie.
From another previous Mr. Smarty Plants answer:
"Since Habiturf was developed right here at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (home of Mr. Smarty Plants) we certainly recommend Habiturf, and have extensive material on it to answer your questions. Please follow this link: Habiturf The Ecological Lawn and any other links in that answer. Be sure and pay attention to the information on preparing the site for your Habiturf, as that will involve removing unwanted plants and improving the soil quality. We hope you will be very happy with this water-conserving grass."
We recommend you read all the material in the links above, particularly noting the part about developing the soil. Now is a good time to get going, get it planted and we hope you are very happy with it.
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Non-native smoketree for California City, CA
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Mexican Feathergrass not Blooming in San Diego
September 22, 2015 - Hello, I planted seven Mexican Feathergrass plant about four months ago and only one of them has got the "feathers" at the tip of its grasses. The others are growing nice and tall as well, but not f...
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Need plants to replace cedars on a 40 degree slope in Boerne, TX.
August 28, 2012 - My backyard is a roughly 40 degree slope that is covered with cedars. The slope is basically all rock, what can I grow here to replace the cedar which drink too much water. I would still like the area...
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Plants to replace Phragmites australis (Common reed) in Cedar Ridge Preserve
February 25, 2015 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I live in the DFW area and volunteer at a preserve (Cedar Ridge). We are constantly battling the common reed, Phragmites australis, around the pond. I am wondering what shou...
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O.K. to grow grass under a live oak?
November 26, 2014 - Is it a bad idea to plant grass around a mature live oak? We have erosion issues and trying to keep mulch in the beds around the tree groves is a challenge, even with edging. Much of the native dirt...
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