Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

DONATE TODAY

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

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!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Saturday - May 02, 2009

From: Kenai, AK
Region: Northwest
Topic: Invasive Plants
Title: Invasive plant in pond in Kenai, AK
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We built a pond in our back yard with materials from the beach. Including some plants. Didn't investigate the plants(our mistake). Well now it has taken over all of our landscape. It looks like extra large blades of grass. Its grows to about 4' and buds acouple times a year. It has numerous sprouts growing under and up through everything. How do we get rid of this horror we created.Thank you for any advice

ANSWER:

Much as we would like to help you, we're going to need a little more help from you. It would be hard to help you without knowing what you have. While the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center focuses on plants native not only to North America but to the area in which the plant is being grown, we need to know (or try to find out) what the plant is, first. Please go to our Mr. Smarty Plants instructions on how to submit a photo; when we get that, we'll try first to identify it, and then help you figure out what to do about it.
 

More Invasive Plants Questions

Covering dead arborvitae with non-native ivy from Niles MI
April 14, 2013 - I have a severely thinning arborvitae hedge. It is probably too shady, but I want the privacy. I'm thinking of planting something like ivy to fill the gaps. I know it will probably kill the hedge, bu...
view the full question and answer

How to combat weeds growing in mulch
September 12, 2008 - Trying to decide on either ground cover plants, or some type of gravel. We have a new house where the builder has planted small shrubs in the full sun flower bed next to house. The bed has mulch at th...
view the full question and answer

Pruning of non-native Senna bicapsularis from Ocean Springs MS
April 04, 2013 - I have 4 Senna plants (cassia bicapsularis) that I planted late last spring. They about 3-4 feet tall but are very gangly with leaves at or near the tips only. How should I prune them to encourage g...
view the full question and answer

Removing invasives plants in Adairsville GA
September 29, 2009 - We just moved into a new house and kudzu, greenbriar and poison ivy are trying to take over. I pulled what I could out of the trees, cut everything off at the base of the vine. I even tried digging ...
view the full question and answer

Taproot tree to replace willows by pool
June 23, 2008 - Installing Pool with bomanite decking all around it. We're in process of cutting down 18 year old Weeping Willow due to root invasiveness and small messy leaves. Can you recommend a good shade tree w...
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.