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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Smarty Plants Question Topics
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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| Can Live Oak suckers be mowed during Oak Wilt spread season in Austin? April 12, 2010 I live in South Austin, not too far from the Wildflower Center. I have a Live Oak in my yard with a substantial amount of sucker growth from the roots. Can I mow them freely throughout the year, or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spanish Dagger plant interfering with walkway in Ingram TX April 09, 2010 I have a Spanish Dagger that is now 8 feet tall and about to fall over in a walkway. Due to the danger of these very sharp tips I need to either cut down the plant or try to root in and replant. If ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of yaupon stumps in Midland TX March 31, 2010 How is the best way to remove Yaupon tree stumps? We have 4 of them. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tidying up Copper Canyon Daisies in San Antonio March 30, 2010 We have a small bed with 4 copper canyon daisies. We cut them back in the fall but have not pruned them during growing season; as a result they become a big tangle by September. Should they be pruned ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why aren't my Forsythias blooming in Stone Mountain, GA? March 24, 2010 We have a large forsythia stand that has bloomed beautifully for 14 years in a row. Two summers ago I cut them way back in July. For the past two years they have only leafed out, no, or very few bloom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming of Aster ericoides in Philadelphia March 20, 2010 Should I cut back my Aster ericoides, ‘schneegitter’ in the spring? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pruning the leaves of Sago Palm. March 10, 2010 Is it a cardinal sin to remove all the sago palm branches? This winter they were so badly scorched by the cold that hardly a frond went unaffected. So I cut them all off as I needed to get around the... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting back salvia greggii in Birmingham, AL February 23, 2010 When is a good time to cut back salvia gregii and how much can you cut it back. We will probably still have frost. Will it grow in sun and shade? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Eastern redcedar uprooted by snow in Arlington, TX February 14, 2010 During the recent snowstorm one of our juniperus virginiana fell over with the rootball looking intact and with a lot of soil all around it.Should we try to save it? It is approximately 20 feet tall ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should I use wound paint when pruning my live oak tree? February 04, 2010 When trimming live oak branches, is it best to coat the wound on the tree? I have been doing this but have recently heard that it can actually be bad for the tree. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Should I top my scraggly magnolia tree? No January 27, 2010 Mr.Smarty Plants, I live in Crockett,Tx. My husband and I just bought this house. In the front yard I have a very tall,scraggly magnolia tree due to trees growing up around it. We have cut some of tho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need help with pruning my Anacacho Orchid tree. January 04, 2010 We have an Anacacho Orchid Tree which has done so well in its location that we will need to prune it back. Please advise how much we can prune it and what time of year to do so. Thank you View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning Bald Cypress in Wylie, TX January 02, 2010 I have a 6 year old bald cypress that sustained damage to the upper portion of its trunk a couple of years ago. Since that time it has grown more outward than upward and developed a rounder shape. I... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trimming American beautyberry in Austin December 20, 2009 I have recently developed an interest in plants and since I work for a country club taking care of all the House & Grounds Maintenance, the landscaping is certainly a part of my work. I have a questi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Freeze damage on perennials in Austin December 10, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, The recent hard freeze in Austin really took a toll on the plants I put in the ground in early October. The leaves of my salvia, lantana and esperanza are completely black! ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cutting back woody plants after freeze in Leander TX December 10, 2009 I have several woody shrubs in a prominent location. Now that the leaves have frozen, how far back should I cut them? These are Flame Acanthus, Salvia ballotiflora, and Aloysia macrostachya, but I w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Freeze damage to esperanza in pot from Brady TX December 10, 2009 My esperanza, currently in a container, has suffered some freeze damage. I have prepared a planting spot for it and am not sure whether to plant now, trim it back if I do plant it, etc. I would appr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Arrows and Hunting Dogs in Kentucky December 09, 2009 Mr. Smarty Plants--Is it normal for our arrowwood viburnum to give off a musky odour in the late fall? The smell reminds me of a wet hunting dog. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Leaf loss on Cenizo in Bertram TX November 17, 2009 I need help with a purple sage (Leucophyllum frutescens) problem. Most of one of my plants started having paler, more greyish leaves, then the leaves began to fall off. It seemed to still look healthy... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming of turkscap November 16, 2009 I have a Mexican Turk's cap, it is in its second year of growth and is doing well. However, I feel a need to prune it? do I need to? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning Texas Mountain Laurel November 12, 2009 How much can I prune a 10 year old mountain laurel to re-shape it and when? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Will a cut back yucca grow back in Lockbourne OH? October 28, 2009 I live in Ohio and recently I cut back all my plants to prepare for winter. I am wondering if my Yuccas will grow back. I cut them to ground level so only a little bit of the leaf is showing. I was... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Lifespan and pruning of cedar elm in San Antonio October 03, 2009 How long do cedar elm trees live? How can you estimate the age of one, or tell if it is nearing the end of its normal lifespan? Do you have any recommendations for selecting someone to prune it proper... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shaping cenizo in Duncanville TX October 02, 2009 Our Silverado Sage, which we expected to be 4' to 5' high and wide based on the label when we purchased it about 10 years ago, is nearly 7' tall and very random in shape (not the evenly rounded sha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Overwintering Cardinal Flower in Thornwood NY October 01, 2009 I have 6 Cardinal Flower plants in planters. They have mulch on top to keep them moist. Can they stay in the planters all winter? Do I cut the stalks before winter comes or leave as is? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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