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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Monday - August 02, 2010
From: Parma Hts, OH
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Propagation
Title: Seedlings from established plants in Parma Hts., OH
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
I have 20 yr old shrubs and hedges along my back yard. I don't know their variety. How do I keep the seedlings from encroaching in my lawn? The seedlings have sprouted 3 feet into the lawn. Any ideas?ANSWER:
We're getting a lot of questions right now on seedlings of trees and shrubs coming up where they were not wanted. This excerpt is from one of the number of questions on the subject we have answered:
The sprouts coming up could either be suckers off the roots of your existing plants, or seedlings from previous years' seeds. Either way, they need to be physically removed, by pulling them out. If the terrain permits, you could try mowing very low. If you deny the roots of seedlings the ability to produce leaves long enough, the roots (and the seedling) will starve. And, when the seeds begin to form on the plants next Fall, cut them off and discard them before they can drop. Saplings that have gotten too well established to pull out will have to come out with a shovel, the sooner the better.
More Propagation Questions
Propagating Eustoma exaltatum from seed in Lucas TX
September 27, 2010 - Hello
I know that Texas bluebells Eustoma exaltatum ssp. russellianum are supposed to be difficult to start from seed.
Does Mr. Smarty Plants have any helpful hints?
Thanks!
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Growing native trees from seeds
March 25, 2011 - I'm trying to let large empty sections of my property revert back to woods by means of natural seeding. I have existing White Oaks, Water Oaks, Yaupon Hollies, Sweet Gums, Loblolly Pines, American E...
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Trimming prairie coneflower for lower height when blooming in Hampshire IL
August 16, 2009 - Can the prairie coneflower, Ratibida Columnifera, be cut by half or some amount before setting flower buds to force the plant to bloom at a shorter height? If not, when is the best time to dig and tra...
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No female, hence, no squash.
September 07, 2008 - This is not a wild flower but. My grandchildren left a squash outside in a corner of a flower bed. This spring it grew. There are only male flowers, many of them, but no female, hence, no squash. Why...
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Bluebonnet rosettes in July from Austin
July 30, 2012 - Dear Mr S.P.:
Please solve my bluebonnet summer mystery!
I established about 1500 sq feet of bluebonnets starting four years ago by scavenging seeds here and there and just scattering in the sprin...
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