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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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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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Thursday - September 20, 2012

From: Smithville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Meadow Gardens, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Non-native, invasive rescue grass in meadow garden in Smithville TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

Despite numerous efforts, a solid field of cool weather rescue grass keeps desired wildflower and grass seeds from successfully growing on my "vacant" lot in town. I plan to I put out a 6 ml plastic sheeting now (Sept 18) and leave it until uncovered rescue grass is well established then remove the plastic and plant my seeds where the plastic was. This may not happen until late November. Any better ideas?

ANSWER:

Well, we live and learn, we kept thinking there was a typo in your question and you were referring to fescue grass. Turns out the typo was in our brain. In fact, Mr. Smarty Plants (which is a team with some smarter people on it than this one) had already answered a question on rescue grass. This question even refers you to links on Meadow Gardens and Recreating a Prairie, as well as using solarization. The previous answer is, in fact, so thorough that we feel you will have all the information you need when you read it.

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Thursday - September 20, 2012

QUESTION:

ANSWER:

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