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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| Controlling sedge in vegetable garden in Mississippi August 03, 2008 I have a veg. garden surrounded by Purple Sedge. The nut grass has been contained/eliminated by replacing all dirt 1' down. Now the surrounding sedge is beginning to creep inward infesting the gard... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wild mustard growing in disturbed ground in Montana August 01, 2008 I have recently planted "plugs" of wildflowers in beds throughout my yard. Because the soil was disturbed, I now not only have some beautiful wildflowers growing, but also mustard plants growing in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of Polygonum punctatum (dotted smartweed) July 28, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, After much online research, my property has been invaded by what I believe to be Persicaria polygonum punctata, more commonly known as dotted smartweed. I have tried hortic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to get rid of Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) July 28, 2008 We have an enormous stand of japanese polygonum that we are trying to get rid of. What soil type is the most inhospitable to this aggressive and highly invasive species? Were thinking of planting so... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How to get rid of plants spreading fluffy seeds July 27, 2008 I live in Blaine, MN next to a Lake. The "buffer zones" next to the lake are filled with native grasses, weeds & wildflowers. We are trying to identify a plant that blooms July with lavender flowe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Control of white clover (Trifolium repens) July 18, 2008 our yard was remediated by ARCO in Rico Colorado. they brought in soil that must have been from clover fields. the soil produces tense low growing and fast growing clover with white flowers. it is inv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-flowering mimosas in Texas July 08, 2008 I have two mimosa trees, about 3 years old. Both were grown from volunteer seedlings. Neither have flowers nor have they produced seed pods. Are they too young or do they need a source of pollenation... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling Phragmites australis, common reed July 04, 2008 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I volunteer at Cedar Ridge Preserve in Dallas. We are currently chopping down an invasive called Phragmites australis around the pond. The belief is that by continuously cho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vs. Invasive Experiment July 01, 2008 I asked you earlier about my group's experiment on native vs. invasive plants in Valdosta. Here are what we chose to work with..native: spiderwort (Tradescantia ohiensis) and invasive: wild taro (Col... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native vs. invasive photosynthesis and CO2 exchange. June 27, 2008 My group is conducting an experiment on invasive and native plants in Valdosta, Georgia. Are invasive plant species better adapted to live in Valdosta than native plant species? How do invasive specie... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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