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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - February 05, 2010
From: Vancouver, BC
Region: Canada
Topic: Planting, Watering
Title: Grouping plants according to water needs
Answered by: Anne Bossart
QUESTION:
Explain how appropriate design/grouping of plants of the same water needs would make irrigation scheduling easier?ANSWER:
Well, another broad, vague long answer question! The short answer is "gee, isn't it obvious that life would be simpler and the plants happier if you put all the plants that only need a little water together in one area of your garden and the others that need more in another place?"
Actually, that is the principle of xeriscaping. Most people think it is simply using drought tolerant plants and not watering them but it is actually planning a garden so that the higher water need plants go in an area where the gardener can provide the required water (usually close to a water source) and more drought tolerant plants in areas where water is provided only by nature. Of course xeriscaping means something different in Arizona than in Vancouver!
Do an internet search, see what you find, and I'll bet that once again, you'll be able to answer this question yourself. (Hint: search "smart scaping" as well as xeriscaping).
More Watering Questions
Watering oaks in Houston, TX.
June 07, 2011 - Our yard (Real County, TX.) has many oak trees. We never water these trees, but I wonder if you recommend watering during this extreme drought. The trees look very stressed and are covered in ball m...
view the full question and answer
Shriveling agave from Miami Florida
August 23, 2013 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Most upset - My beautiful agave (wish I could have submitted an image) has stared to misbehave. The once first liquid filled leaves, are starting to look more like the skin ...
view the full question and answer
Failure to thrive of Texas Mountain Laurel in Austin
May 02, 2010 - I have an adult (over 25 years?, 20 feet tall?) Mountain Laurel next to my house in Austin. The winter of 2009/10 it lost most of its leaves. It did bloom and leaf out this Spring--not vigorous espec...
view the full question and answer
Cedar elm with brown leaves
August 12, 2011 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, We feel we may have limited time to save our beautiful Ceder Elm. We have many trees in our yard (Post Oaks and Cedar Elms) and have been told they are all between 50 - 75 year...
view the full question and answer
Watering needs for a new landscape
October 11, 2008 - How much and how frequently are you supposed to water after implementing a new landscape? For example, perennials and succulents that are drought tolerant.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |