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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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Sunday - February 10, 2013

From: Garden Ridge, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs
Title: Need a privacy screen of native plants for swimming pool in Garden Ridge, TX
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

We are building a pool and would like to use native plants as a screen around the fence, preferably a shrub that grows quickly to about 6 feet. Any suggestions? Thanks.

ANSWER:

It seems like the two most frequent questions that Mr. Smarty Plants receives are:
When are the bluebonnets going to bloom?
Can you suggest plants for a privacy screen?

We applaud your intention to use native plants for your screen!  I am going to refer you to a previous question about privacy screens that we answered just last month. It has links to other previously answered question about privacy screens, so in a sense, we are exposing you to the “wisdom of Mr. Smarty Plants”.

SP #8972

 We also usually suggest that people  contact their county office of Texas AgriLife Extension.

 

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Native Texas shrub for privacy screen in hot area
August 31, 2007 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a lot facing dead west which I'm sure you can understand is brutally hot in the summer. I'm putting in a pool in my backyard and would like to plant a native Texas...
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Need suggestions for plants to form a privacy hedge in Granbury, TX.
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Need a fast growing shrub to quickly create a 6' privacy screen in Magnolia, TX.
February 28, 2011 - Can you please recommend a fast-growing shrub to quickly create a 6' plus-tall privacy screen in an area with mottled shade along a north/south oriented wrought-iron fence? This is under a canopy of...
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Screen plant for Austin
March 30, 2009 - I live in Austin Texas and am looking for a small tree or large shrub that will obscure the view from my kitchen window into my neighbors. I am looking for an evergreen plant that gets no wider than ...
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