Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Questions From Near You

Goldthwaite, TX
Control of grasshoppers from Goldthwaite TX
How long do grasshoppers live. They are eating our flowers, plants and trees.
view the full question and answer

Goldthwaite, TX
Source for Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: an Earthwise Guide for Central Texas
Do you know where I could get a copy of the publication, "Native and Adapted Landscape Plants: An Earthwise Guide for Central Texas"? I believe this was a joint effort between the City of Austin an...
view the full question and answer

Lometa, TX
Looking for rattlesnake flower
I taught school for many years. The students and I identified wildflowers. I had one I call Rattlesnake Flower. It was small and had a little blue flower. On the leaves were little seed cases that...
view the full question and answer

Lometa, TX
Are Yucca and Spanish dagger the same?
We have Yucca, and we have Spanish Dagger. We don't think they are the same thing. Are they?
view the full question and answer

Adamsville, TX
Plant identification
I found a large shrub/tree behind an old building on my place. It has small smooth oval leaves 3/4-1 inch; x 1/2 inch, small somewhat clusters of a blue fruit 1/4-1/2 inch diam with one seed in it. Ca...
view the full question and answer

Brownwood, TX
Care of huisache tree (Acacia farnesiana)
I bought a huisache tree, about one ft. tall, last spring. How do I prune, stake, and care for it as it grows? Do they usually bloom in Brownwood, Tx ?
view the full question and answer

Cherokee, TX
Vine for a fence in San Saba County, Texas
I want to plant vines on a deer proof fence close to my house for privacy. Are there any vines that stay green year round? Also what breed of vine would you recommend for several hundred feet of fenc...
view the full question and answer

Lampasas, TX
Native plants for butterflies and birds in a park in Lampasas, Texas
There is an area along a creek in Lampasas, Texas that I want to establish as a butterfly and bird park. There are various native plants there now, but I want to add plants that are hosts for butterf...
view the full question and answer

Lampasas, TX
Toxicity of seeds of Texas Mountain Laurel for dog
I have a Tx Mountain Laurel that is in 1 end of a dog pen. I just heard the seeds are poisonous. Is this true & should we pull the seeds off so the dog can't reach them to eat? Thanks for your assist...
view the full question and answer

Burnet-Kempner, TX
Source for trees from Burnet TX
I am desperately searching the central Texas area for Pistacia Mexicana male and female trees to buy. I would like about four, maybe more. I live in the Killeen-Lampasas area and have been to seve...
view the full question and answer

Kempner , TX
Ash tree dying back to lower sprouts in Kempner TX
My 2 year old ash tree leaves dropped, appears dead, branches dying. New growth near base of tree. Do I cut upper trunk or remove entire tree? My other ash is doing well.
view the full question and answer

Kempner, TX
Dying branches on Texas Mountain Laurel from Kempner TX
The branches on my Texas Mountain Laurel are very dry and brittle. The leaves are also starting to die. The tree has been in my yard for six years and prior to that it sat wrapped in burlap for ov...
view the full question and answer

Kempner, TX
Plants for wildlife and trees for shade.
We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun,...
view the full question and answer

Kempner, TX
Is horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis) edible?
Hello, I find horse-herb everywhere. Is it edible, too? Thanks!
view the full question and answer

Jonesboro, TX
Preparing to plant buffalograss in Jonesboro, TX
Our current lawn is full of broad-leaf weeds, KR bluestem, a little native grass, lots of wildflowers and in spots, lots of rocks . We are in the country in Hamilton Co., TX. We want to plant buffa...
view the full question and answer

Valley Spring, TX
Growing live oaks from acorns
What is the best way to grow Live Oaks from acorns?
view the full question and answer

Copperas Cove, TX
Problems with gnats in dirt
I have problems with gnats in my dirt. It's something I can't get control of. What can I do?
view the full question and answer

Dublin, TX
Ground cover for North Central Texas
I live in north central Texas. My backyard has very fine, powdery sand soil. The previous owners of the property let the grass die out and now every time it gets windy, the sand gets into our patio an...
view the full question and answer

Deleon, TX
Identifying
i have a tree that i cannot identify. the leaf looks like a "pot plant"(yes, cannabis!!), but the leaf does not have serrated edges. it has a long bloom of numerous small white flowers that form a s...
view the full question and answer

Hico, TX
Fungus on spineless prickly pear in Hico TX
Is there anything I can do to save my spineless prickly pear planted 3 yrs ago in rock garden. Pods had grayish-white fungus? on the pods and I noticed a few green colored bugs on them. Bugs are gone-...
view the full question and answer

Hico, TX
Lawn grass for Erath County, TX
We live in Erath County in TX on ranch land. We are relatively dry. Our soil is combination of clay and red soil (brought in for building pad), and sandy. We have a sloped area, about 30%, that we w...
view the full question and answer