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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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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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Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

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Monday - May 13, 2013

From: Manchaca, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: Grey Goo Coming from red Oak in Manchaca TX
Answered by: Mike Tomme

QUESTION:

I have a large Red Oak in my yard that appears to be weeping some sort of grey goo from parts of the trunk. What is this goo and do I need to treat it and if so how? I'm happy to come by the Wildflower center with a photo if someone there could help me.

ANSWER:

Grey goo coming from anything is never a good sign. You need to get a certified arborist to look at your tree and it needs to be done as soon as possible. A professional can assess your tree and determine if it is threatened, if it can be cured and if other trees in the area are in danger.

 

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