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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - April 04, 2011
From: Colleyville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Oak sprouts in flower bed in Colleyville TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
We have a raised flower bed in our back yard that includes 2 live oak trees. We have a TON of shoots that keep popping up and make our bed look very untidy. My husband doesn't think the shoots are from the tree and we should dig up the entire area of these shoots. Question: How do you best handle shoots -- they are taking over!ANSWER:
This is a question we get fairly frequently. Please see this previous answer which seems to address your questions. And yet another previous answer on how to get rid of them. And here is the previous previous question mentioned in the second one. We haven't found a better way, nor changed our tune.
You might consider moving the flower bed. Then you could nip off suckers and/or mow without messing around with your flowers. A nice layer of mulch, maybe 2 inches (but not piled against the tree trunk) will make it look neater, but won't stop the suckers.
More Trees Questions
Drought-Tolerant Trees for South-Central Texas
February 09, 2010 - I would like to replace two Golden Rain Trees with native ornamentals. They should be highly drought tolerant and should not exceed 25 feet in height. They will need to be tough since they will get ...
view the full question and answer
Possibility of oak wilt or iron deficiency
September 04, 2007 - This spring my two oak trees, 4" and 7" in diameter, in my yard in Kyle started showing very light green leaves with green veins. I've been told this is chlorosis, so I treated them with a couple o...
view the full question and answer
Failure to thrive of Texas Mountain Laurel in Austin
May 02, 2010 - I have an adult (over 25 years?, 20 feet tall?) Mountain Laurel next to my house in Austin. The winter of 2009/10 it lost most of its leaves. It did bloom and leaf out this Spring--not vigorous espec...
view the full question and answer
Problem with Arizona Ash in Leander TX
March 10, 2011 - What would make my otherwise healthy Arizona Ash tree, that was doing so well last year, only bud out on just one side?
view the full question and answer
Fraxinus cuspidata (Fragrant Ash)
May 30, 2008 - Two part question:
1) Will fragrant (flowering; Fraxinus cuspidata) ash survive in Zone 7b?
2) Where can I get it?
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |