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

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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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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!

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Monday - March 30, 2015

From: Lockhart, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Privacy Screening, Shrubs, Trees
Title: Screen Tree for Lockhart, TX.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

What is a good screening tree for a ranch in the Lockhart area that won't get much water.

ANSWER:

You didn’t give Mr. Smarty Plants any details about how much screening you wanted to do, so he looked through  the database and found ten Previously Answered Questions, from people in Texas (mostly Central Texas), that sort of run the gamut  of situations that might require screening plants.

The plants mentioned are natives, and you can learn more about them by clicking on their scientific name which will take you to each one’s page in the NPIN Database. There you will find out about their characteristics,  growth requirements, and in most cases, photos. Utilizing our National Suppliers Directory can help find locations where they are sold.


Many great suggestions in some of the previously answered questions like yours can be found here 1028990918972793374114739650643554938 and  here 2800.

 

More Privacy Screening Questions

Evergreen shrubs for screen
May 01, 2008 - I'd like your recommendation for an evergreen shrub (flowers would be a nice bonus but not as necessary as the evergreen factor) or small tree with a height hopefully under 12' and a width hopefully...
view the full question and answer

Low privacy hedge in Houston
June 17, 2009 - I am looking for a fast growing, dense (for privacy) shrub/s or plants, that will get at least 3-4+ feet high for a mostly shady area. Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Privacy screen for Sedona AZ
August 02, 2013 - I live In Sedona Az. A builder just built a house next to my house and the new house is ugly to look at. What plant or tree would grow fast and reach 18 foot in height fast. It can be about 5 to 6 foo...
view the full question and answer

Shade trees for Tucson AZ
May 25, 2012 - I need to plant some "fast growing" trees or shrubs on my southwest yard in order to reduce the heat in my bedroom. What do you suggest? I live in Tucson, Arizona. Thank you in advance. I'm...
view the full question and answer

Evergreens to replace a screening line of pine trees
December 02, 2008 - Dear Mr. Smartyplants, I lost a "screening" line of pines along my back property line to powerline trimmers & a blight. The area is quite damp & the soil full of clay which is now acidic from the...
view the full question and answer

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