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
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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Wednesday - March 25, 2015
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Using Cement Blocks for Raised Beds
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
Is it safe to use cinder blocks for box gardens? If not, what do you suggest?ANSWER:
Generally there are a lot of people with testimonials online about successfully using cinder (cement) blocks for raised beds that contain vegetable or flower gardens. There are some people though that have concerns about excessive alkalinity leaching from the cement into already alkaline soils. Also some have issued warnings about toxins being present in the cement blocks. In both these situations they recommend using a concrete sealant and polymer paint before putting in the soil. And if you have concerns about the sealant or paint being close to edible plants, then a thick plastic liner can be installed between the blocks and the soil.
More Non-Natives Questions
Problems with non-native impatiens in Denton, TX
May 19, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
4 weeks ago I planted a shady bed (2'x10') with impatiens for the third year in-a-row. Previously, the plants thrived & bloomed till November. Three weeks ago, something ...
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Non-native, invasive Datura sprouting from compost
September 26, 2005 - Hi,
I have a plant growing out of some compost we purchased this spring and no one can tell me what it is.
It's about 4 ft. tall, the stem is maroon like rhubarb and it produces 4-5 in. tubular lig...
view the full question and answer
Recovery from transplant shock for bougainvillea
July 12, 2007 - I live outside of Phoenix. I just bought a bougainvillea in a large pot. It was doing nicely until I brought it home. I placed it in a sunny spot in my front yard inside of a large volcanic rock that ...
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Transplanting non-native invasive chinaberry trees
July 21, 2008 - I know most folk think Chinaberry trees are only for digging up, but I say that here in the Hill Country during a drought, they are the greenest and purtiest tree around. I have some tall fifteen foo...
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Suggestions for alternatives to invasive, non-native English ivy
August 17, 2006 - Can English ivy be planted in a pot, kept oudoors, and expected to endure our Maryland winters?
view the full question and answer
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