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.
rate this answer
Wednesday - September 02, 2009
From: Frankfort, IL
Region: Midwest
Topic: Wildflowers
Title: Getting rid of wildflowers in Frankfort IL
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Can you tell us how to get rid of wildflowers? We have wildflowers on the side of our pond and we want to plant sod next year.Should we cut them down this year and use a vegetation killer? We have fish in our pond and wouldn't want anything to affect them.ANSWER:
Ooops, we believe you've reached a wrong number. You're asking the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, home of Mr. Smarty Plants, to tell you how to get rid of wildflowers?
The only way we can answer a question like that is to say that perhaps you have weeds around your pond, weeds being something that is somewhere it doesn't belong (or you don't want it). We would never recommend a herbicide, that can harm too many other things in the area. And we're certainly not crazy about the native wildflowers being replaced with sod, probably a non-native lawn grass. Everyone has the choice of what they grow on their own property, but we would hope you would rethink this a little bit. Take a few minutes to read our How-To Article A Guide to Native Plant Gardening. If we still have your attention, how about reading Meadow Gardening. And if we still haven't talked you out of destroying your wildflowers, we suggest you hand pull them and don't allow them to go to seed.
More Wildflowers Questions
History of the Texas Bluebonnet
March 12, 2008 - Hi, I'm working on an article for a newspaper and wondered if you could point me in the right direction to find out the history of the bluebonnet. When did it become the state flower? Is it really ill...
view the full question and answer
Wildflower seeds that drop into a sidewalk crack
May 31, 2006 - This is an odd question. I'm writing a children's book about a seed that gets dropped in the crack of a sidewalk or driveway and blooms there. Can you tell me if there are any wildflowers that it ...
view the full question and answer
Resources for a green roof project from Wayne PA
April 14, 2013 - Hello! I am researching a project to create a native wildflower/ turf mix for a green roof. I would ideally like to grow it as a sod mat, and then install it in rolls. I am currently working as an i...
view the full question and answer
More on bluebonnets
March 28, 2005 - I am flying a photographer in on April 7, 2005, for a special art project on Bluebonnets. We have 3 days set aside for the shot. Where are THE best places to capture Bluebonnets in the wild?
view the full question and answer
Bluebonnets and weeds in Burleson TX
March 31, 2010 - I have lots of blue bonnets growing in my yard but they are overcome with weeds. What can I use to eliminate the weeds without killing the bluebonnets?
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |