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
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Thursday - September 20, 2012
From: Smithville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Invasive Plants, Non-Natives, Meadow Gardens, Grasses or Grass-like
Title: Non-native, invasive rescue grass in meadow garden in Smithville TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Despite numerous efforts, a solid field of cool weather rescue grass keeps desired wildflower and grass seeds from successfully growing on my "vacant" lot in town. I plan to I put out a 6 ml plastic sheeting now (Sept 18) and leave it until uncovered rescue grass is well established then remove the plastic and plant my seeds where the plastic was. This may not happen until late November. Any better ideas?ANSWER:
Well, we live and learn, we kept thinking there was a typo in your question and you were referring to fescue grass. Turns out the typo was in our brain. In fact, Mr. Smarty Plants (which is a team with some smarter people on it than this one) had already answered a question on rescue grass. This question even refers you to links on Meadow Gardens and Recreating a Prairie, as well as using solarization. The previous answer is, in fact, so thorough that we feel you will have all the information you need when you read it.
More Grasses or Grass-like Questions
Questions on non-native St. Augustine from Austin
October 15, 2013 - I have St. Augustine grass in my yard. I am having work done in my yard soon, which will require new sod. I know the St. Augustine has to take root in the ground before the first freeze, to assure t...
view the full question and answer
Revegetating a hillside in western Washington state
October 10, 2012 - Removing several downed trees across my dock demolished the native plants growing on the hillside and the contractor pulled out their remains. The area faces east on an open freshwater bay. Close to...
view the full question and answer
Controlling non-native Pennisetum frutescens (Naked fountain grass)
December 07, 2014 - Three years ago I bought a pennisetum frutescans grass from a reputable online nursery. It gets no supplemental water, but it is taking over my yard. It is almost 7 feet wide now. Can you tell me how ...
view the full question and answer
Native grasses and turf grass for VA
February 08, 2012 - I recently moved to Blacksburg, Virginia. I am becoming involved with a church here that recently started a grounds committee. There is some discussion within the group of which varieties of native ...
view the full question and answer
Plants for near a salt water swimming pool
April 01, 2009 - I need some suggestions of plants that will grow next to a public salt water swimming pool, located in Bossier City, Louisiana
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |