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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| Lake Plantings and Geese May 10, 2013 I live on a small lake in Wichita, KS and we are over run with Canada geese. I would like to plant flowers around my patio (which is not allowed to be fenced off). Are there any flowers or plants that... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Removing grassy weeds from cactus garden in Corpus Christi TX May 07, 2013 How do you get grassy weeds out of a cactus garden? I don't want to use roundup around the cacti? Can you recommend a herbicide that won't harm the cactus? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removing bermudagrass from buffalograss in Smithville TX May 01, 2013 I have a lawn created two years ago with buffalo grass sod in Smithville, TX. Recently several areas of bermudagrass have started to flourish in the buffalo grass lawn. Can you recommend a herbicide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dog-proof grass from The Woodlands TX April 26, 2013 I am looking for a hardy grass that can tolerate female dogs urine. Zoysia was suggested but I am concerned about it being invasive. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants that animals won't eat from Ione WA April 19, 2013 In Ione Washington and need to know what types of plants and flowers I can plant that animals in that area wont eat? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Giant Pumpkins in Georgia April 15, 2013 I have tried to grow giant pumpkins in the Atlanta, GA area. Each year I lose several strong plants to vine borers. I have tried tin foil wrapped around the stems, and I even painted the stems with Se... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black bugs on yucca from Aledo TX April 14, 2013 We have flowering yuccas that have thousands of small black bugs that seem to be hurting the plant. They are not on any other foliage in our beds. What do I use to get rid of them?? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Century plant leaves falling over from San Antonio April 10, 2013 Have a large century plant about % feet tall. The leaves are falling over. Can you tell me what to do to avoid this. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Doodlebugs in dead area of Coral Bean from Houston April 10, 2013 I have a Firemans coralbean tree about 5 years old. I discovered yesterday in the middle of the tree there is some deadwood where we have pruned out branches. A couple of the branches were filled with... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Is oak leucanium an invasive species in Texas from Laredo TX April 02, 2013 Is Parthenolecanium quercifex considered an invasive species in Texas? Does this insect attach itself to redbuds? I spotted and removed from my small 5ft Texas Redbud last year. It seems that it has ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bugs eating new growth on Mountain Laurel shrubs from Dripping Springs TX April 02, 2013 What is eating the new growth on my mountain laurel shrubs? One plant has red bugs and the other has black (could they be love bugs?). Is there something I can do to preserve the new growth? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growths on Shumard Red Oak leaves from Katy TX April 01, 2013 Our beautiful Shumard Red Oak has developed lots of light green grape like growths on the leaves. Please inform us what this could be and how we should treat it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Death of lantana in Bryan TX March 28, 2013 I would like to know what killed several new gold lantana in a single bed that died over the winter. They looked quite healthy last fall. I have several other new gold lantana that survived the wint... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with Live Oaks in Mesa AZ March 26, 2013 I have two Evergreen Live Oaks in central Arizona. One is flourishing and getting new spring leaves from top to bottom. Its trunk is rough, has large grooves, and the spots where I've pruned look li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Monterrey Oak in Austin March 26, 2013 We had a local tree service plant two Monterrey Oak trees on 4/2/2012. At the time we noticed that woodpeckers had had a field day on the trunk bark of both trees with the most damage being on the lar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Long term effects of pesticide from Lubbock TX March 20, 2013 I have 9 western pecan trees about 20 years old. Trunk sizes is from 18" to 39". I used a product Bayer Tree and Shrub, applied to the trees. I wonder what it will do to the trees. I talkd to Bayer ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Do Deer Eat Orchid Trees? March 08, 2013 I have planted three anacacho orchid trees, however we have a lot of deer around us. Is this a tree they will want to eat? Do you have any ideas to keep deer away? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Weedy buffalo grass from Dripping Springs, TX March 07, 2013 I have a buffalo grass lawn. It is thin and filled with weeds. I would like to find a solution to improve my lawn. I prefer a native grass but I need to be able to control the weeds and I am not ph... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling sandburs from Austin February 24, 2013 Hello, What is the best way to prevent sticker burrs from growing in a rocky bed with no grass. There are many other plants we want to preserve and a drip line to keep them watered. We have 2 small k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Horse ate bark of cedar elm from Liberty Hill, TX February 20, 2013 I have three acres with a rental. Planted a Cedar Elm near the porch. My ex-renters allowed their horse to graze around the house. It ate the bark off of the tree. How can I save this tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating wood roaches from hardwood mulch from San Antonio TX February 05, 2013 How can I eliminate the numerous wood roaches in my hardwood mulch that I get for free from the city of San Antonio? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Groundcover for vineyard from Round Rock, TX February 04, 2013 I will be planting a vineyard in the Hill Country next spring. I am looking to maintain low-growing understory plants across the entire vineyard to maintain soil health, choosing plants that the leaf... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling slugs in a Pacific Northwest strawberry patch February 04, 2013 Would love to plant various varieties of strawberries on a bank for erosion control and ground cover. How can we keep the slugs at bay? We are in the the Pacific Northwest View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with crossvine from Semmes AL January 06, 2013 I have a 3 year old cross vine (tangerine beauty) and the leaves have started turning black and falling off the plant. I have two plants growing on the same pergola (opposite ends) and the second plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC December 10, 2012 I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Vines free from cutter ants from Caldwell TX November 14, 2012 What are some climbing vines cutter ants won't eat View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cupressaceae dying in Suffolk Co.NY October 20, 2012 I have noticed that all of my Cupressaceae (& others I see in my area) are dying. They turn yellow, then rust & brown til they are everbrowns. what is going on? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spots on non-native naval orange trees from Stockton CA October 20, 2012 I have two mature Navel Orange trees. One tree has developed spotty chlorophyl depleted areas that were not on the oranges when they were smaller. In addition, the oranges on both trees are smaller ,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Live oak trees buzzing in Taylor TX October 20, 2012 Is it possible for live oak trees to make a buzzing sound? We have heard this sound under our live oak and were worried it was bees but we don't seem to see any. I also heard the buzzing under my mot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are fuzzy oak leaf galls harmful to post oak trees? October 19, 2012 Are the fuzzy balls on the undersides of our post oak trees harmful? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Orange eggs on milkweed plants October 18, 2012 Hello I have milk weed in my flower garden. Every year I find small orange 'eggs' on the leaves and stems of the plant. I don't think these are the monarch eggs, but not sure if they are other... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Weeds in Buffalograss from Edmond OK September 20, 2012 We have a patch of buffalograss surrounded by patio/flower garden/vegetable garden. We like B-grass, but are getting a lot of weeds despite preemergents, and some bermuda had appeared. Are there h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| New nursery plants with sappy spots from Round Rock, TX September 09, 2012 We live on the west side of RR, near Cedar Park and recently bought three 15 gallon cherry laurels from a nursery. Started to plant them today as we bought them a week ago and noticed base of the trun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sticky film on oak tree leaves from Whitney TX September 04, 2012 What is the sticky film that is coating leaves on our oak trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with mountain laurel from Sunrise Beach TX August 29, 2012 In Llano Co., TX near lake LBJ, crushed granite type soil - my 4 - 5 year old TX Mtn. Laurels (2), about the size of large wheel barrows, are turning very pale, dropping leaves and on 1 the seed pods ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tiny holes oozing sap from Austin August 22, 2012 My ash tree becomes loaded with butterflies on the trunk. At closer inspection, I see they are drinking sap which is coming from small holes in the trunk. Are the butterflies creating the holes? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wasps on live oaks from Sinton TX August 20, 2012 Wasps on my live oak trees. What is attracting them? Does this hurt the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oaks emitting substance in Lakeway TX August 14, 2012 We have two large oak trees in our yard that are emitting a clear, very sticky, non-fragrant substance. The leaves are beginning to be covered as is our deck. Bees are now attracted and I am worried ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Insect damage on possumhaw August 12, 2012 We planted a small possumhaw in February of this year (2012). It had leaves and some berries and was doing real well until some bug starting eating the leaves and berries. I know it is not deer becau... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants that donkeys won't eat August 08, 2012 What plants/trees do donkeys NOT like? I live in Hawaii on the Big Island and they visit once a week in my yard. I like them but would prefer that they stay just outside. Unfortunately they like my... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Crape myrtle in Austin August 01, 2012 Please don't bother to answer my question about how to treat a crepe myrtle with sticky stuff falling from it. I just found the answer on your site. Good site, by the way. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sticky stuff dripping from non-native crape myrtle in Austin August 01, 2012 There is sticky sap-like stuff dropping from the very large crepe myrtle in my yard. The tree has quit blooming. This didn't happen last year when it was so dry; it started after we had all the rain ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Demise of Flameleaf Sumac in Austin, TX. July 31, 2012 My Flameleaf Sumac suddenly died. Beetles came out around the trunk when I cut it down. How can I prevent this on the other sumac? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Something dripping from red oak in Austin July 30, 2012 There is a large red oak outside my apartment. The leaves are shiny and covered with what appears to be oil. The ground underneath is coated with this also. When I parked under the tree my car beca... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ticks on native grasses in Katy, TX. July 23, 2012 Are there native grasses that are less susceptible to tick infestation than others? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Getting rid of Aphids on Asclepias plants in Brea, CA. July 23, 2012 I grow asclepsias or MILKWEED for the benefit of Monarchs. At times I have aphids consuming the leaves. How can I destroy the aphids without harming the Monarch eggs? Thank you very much. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sticky material dripping from tree in Austin July 22, 2012 The tree in my backyard is dripping what I surmise is sap - a thick,fdrake1@ sticky substance in July. What kind of tree is it and is there anything one can do prevent this from happening? Thank you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Aphids in pecan tree from Austin July 14, 2012 Last year at this time (midsummer) everything under the canopy of our 60+ year old pecan tree was covered with a sticky substance--plants, lawn furniture, concrete pool deck..Since we had never seen t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Something eating cannas in Austin July 14, 2012 What is eating my cannas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dealing with aphids on milkweed plants in Alloway, NJ. July 11, 2012 I planted milk weed for the Monarch butterfly. Every year it gets orange aphids that seem to suck out the juices and eventually kill the plant sooner than I like. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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