Native Plants
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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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| Sap oozing from trunks of Cherry Laurels in Austin, TX January 24, 2015 I have several mature compact cherry laurels whose leaves are beginning to turn yellow. They are in raised beds, have been properly fertilized, have compost spread around them, and are properly water... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Purple Heart in Raleigh, NC December 24, 2014 I was hoping you could help me with an indoor/outdoor houseplant issue. I have a purple heart, that lives outside in the summers and indoors in the winters. I brought it in a few weeks ago and am no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Migrating Turkey tail fungus in garden in Austin, TX November 25, 2014 I have turkey tail fungus that has migrated from a rotting elm tree stump to a part of my garden that has a healthy wax myrtle tree and other native shrubs, but no rotting tree stumps. Its presence h... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems on Prickly Pear Cactus in Illinois November 19, 2014 I have a fungus on my prickly pear cactus that is not a bug. I tested it and my fingers didn't turn red when I squeezed them. So how do I get rid of this as it is spreading to my other cacti? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oak Wilt in Georgetown, TX November 17, 2014 We have lost several live oaks to oak wilt. Another couple are dying but still have some green leaves. Is it OK to cut down these trees now or should we wait until they are entirely dead? I've heard ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Texas Redbud Suddenly Died in NM November 06, 2014 We had a Texas redbud, approximately 5 1/2 years old. It had been doing great then all of a sudden after it bloomed this spring, the leaves appeared but then shriveled right away. We noticed the trunk... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Young Bur Oak not Flourishing in Texas November 06, 2014 We have a bur oak in our SW Travis County lawn in Texas, planted about 3 years ago as a 6-7' tree. It is now about 12' but has not "flourished". It has put out virtually no horizontal branches, an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Is Sabal minor juglone tolerant? October 13, 2014 Is Sabal minor or any other small and shade tolerant palm juglone tolerant? I’d like to plant one in an area near a pecan tree but I am not sure if they will play well together. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why are my Rock Roses dying? September 22, 2014 I planted several rock roses last fall. This spring they have grown wonderfully, but all of a sudden, one shriveled and died. I took it out and replaced it. Now, another is starting to shrivel. It ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fuzzy Citrus Fruit on Satsuma and Lemon Trees September 13, 2014 A man asked you about fuzzy little small fruit-like balls that looked like tiny lemons. I have huge numbers of these on both my mature Satsuma and lemon tree this year. I get 100's of really great f... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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