Native Plants
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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.
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.
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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 adviceANSWER:
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
Controlling invasives and using natives in New Hampshire
October 09, 2007 - What ideas would you have for marrying the subjects of native plants and invasives? This summer I volunteered to work with our town planner and recycling director on a new initiative called SNIP-IT!: ...
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A method for killing nandina and ligustrum with herbicide
October 19, 2012 - Is there an effective herbicide that can be painted on the stumps of Nandina and Wax-leaf ligustrum to keep them from growing back?
Thanks so much!
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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...
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Getting rid of invasive grasses in backyard
July 17, 2010 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
How do I rid my yard of invasive grasses? I am finding Bermuda, stickers, crabgrass and maybe even Johnson grass throughout my backyard. The invasion is substantial in one 200+...
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Replacement of Arizona ash in Austin
October 28, 2011 - We have two Arizona Ashes in our yard that probably have maybe a decade left in them. We want to get a couple new trees started, so they will be well established once the Ashes are near their end. In ...
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