Explore Plants

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
    
 

Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Monday - November 29, 2004

From: Clifton, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Wildlife Gardens, Soils
Title: Native landscaping and wildlife gardening in Clifton, TX
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am moving to Clifton, TX, and I will have an empty lot in the town along with my own home/lot. What kind of soil can I expect? I want to grow a wildflower site to just sit and enjoy and feed the animals and care for the land on the empty lot. I am not very knowledgeable about gardening in Texas.

ANSWER:

Clifton is in Bosque County in east-central Texas. The "Soil Survey of Bosque County, Texas" prepared by the USDA, Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with Texas Agricultural Experiment Station (1980) characterizes the soils of Bosque County as "dominantly very shallow to deep, well drained soils underlain by limestone....These gently sloping to steep soils have a clayey and loamy surface layer that is gravelly or cobbly. Most of these soils is used for rangeland."

You can find information about native landscaping and wildlife gardening relevant to Texas on our web page in the Native Plant Library.

 

More Soils Questions

Is the Obedient Plant a bog plant?
August 16, 2008 - I purchased 2 obedient plants at a farmer's market in Michigan. As I was unfamiliar with this plant, the merchant told me it did well in full sun. It was just what I needed. When I got home I look...
view the full question and answer

Best mulch from Cedar Hill TX
June 10, 2010 - What is the best mulch to use around trees,azaleas and plants in Cedar Hill, Tx?
view the full question and answer

Detoxifying soil from York England
August 15, 2012 - How do you neutralize toxic soil, it may have been contaminated by Foxglove Digitalis Purpurea? Thankyou
view the full question and answer

Difference between soil moisture and water use from Austin
February 20, 2012 - In the native plant data base "growing conditions" can you explain the difference between water use and soil moisture?
view the full question and answer

Compare Natives to Lawn for Carbon Footprint Benefits in Durham, New Hampshire
September 22, 2010 - Are there carbon sequestration rate tables for turf (lawn) and bushes, shrubs, trees? I want to compare the carbon footprint benefit of lawn versus the same area put into native plantings.
view the full question and answer

Smarty Plants's Facebook profile Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.

Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends.