Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Questions From Near You

Quemado, TX
Native plants growing between Eagle Pass and Del Rio, TX
I have just bought an acre near Quemado, Texas. That's about halfway between Eagle Pass and Del Rio. I'd like to know what the native plants for this area are, especially colorful flowers for the ...
view the full question and answer

Eagle Pass, TX
Non-native Chinese pistache in Eagle Pass, TX
Hi Mr Smarty Plants!! I just bought a young chinese pistache tree, is no bigger than 7 feet. I've never had one of these trees before, I'm about to plant it and I would also like to fertilize it...
view the full question and answer

Eagle Pass, TX
Which cactus grow in the Eagle Pass, Texas area?
I would like to know which types of cacti grow in my area since I can't seem to find any websites that may give me a way to identify them. The type I seek is the round type of cacti not nopal types. ...
view the full question and answer

Brackettville, TX
Plant ID from Bracketville TX
A volunteer plant, 3 feet. 4 to 5 Dark green leaves from a central point, diamond shaped very serrated leaves with dark spots within the the leave. Stem is reddish. flowers are pinkish, small and clus...
view the full question and answer

Brackettville, TX
Moisture as trigger for Cenizo bloom
Does the cenizo bloom because it has had water on its leaves and stems?
view the full question and answer

Del Rio, TX
Dormancy in Pin Oaks without water in Del Rio, TX
Can Pin Oak trees go dormant without enough water? If so how long can they live that way? Can they be brought back to producing leaves? If yes, then what do I need to do besides giving them water. I d...
view the full question and answer

Del Rio, TX
Large, fast-growing shade tree for Val Verde County, Texas
What is an overall good shade tree, very large & fast growing, to plant in Central South Texas, Val Verde County region? I am told that virtually nothing but Live Oaks or some other type of Oak will ...
view the full question and answer

Del Rio, TX
Identification of a vine in El Paso, Texas
I live in Del Rio Texas - Zone 8/9 and I have a vine which can't be identified. It looks like a morning glory white flower with crimson throat, but the leaf pattern is like a 5-7 fingered hand with d...
view the full question and answer

Uvalde, TX
Should a tree near a water well be transplanted?
I have a water well and have about a 6 yr live oak planted in close proximity to it( about 10 feet). Would it be wise enough to transplant the tree while its this young or leave it alone. Also I need ...
view the full question and answer

Uvalde, TX
Plant identification possibly red buckeye
I encountered a shrub-like plant in the Edwards Plateu noth of Bracketville, and could use your help with identification. It's most distinguishing charactaristics are the seed pod, which has three c...
view the full question and answer

Uvalde, TX
Moving a red oak away from the house foundation
About a 3 weeks ago I noticed a 5 ft. red oak growing in my flower bed. I hadn't noticed it growing up through my shrubs until the leaves turned bright red. The problem is that its coming up about tw...
view the full question and answer

Uvalde, TX
Request to use images from Image Gallery
The Nueces River Authority is publishing a riparian plant guide and we would like permission to use one or more of your plant photos. Can you direct me to a person or process for this. Thanks.
view the full question and answer

Camp Wood, TX
Edible native plants for Camp Wood, TX
We live northwest of Camp Wood, TX in the uplands, so our soil is shallow with caliche and limestone beneath and is clay-like with the typical higher pH. Are there any native trees, bushes, vines, or...
view the full question and answer

Leakey, TX
Propagating agarita from berries in Leakey TX
I would like to pick the berries off my agarita and plant them in other areas. When can I plant the seeds and do I need to prepare or dry them first? What is best way to plant in ground? thanks
view the full question and answer

Leakey, TX
Source for manzanita from Leakey TX
Where can I buy manzanita plants in Texas?
view the full question and answer

Leakey, TX
Causes of death to Papershell pinion pine (Pinus remota)?
Good afternoon. I did my best to review the site and have not found a comparable question - apologies if I have missed something. I own property equidistant between Leakey and Campwood off of HWY 33...
view the full question and answer

Utopia, TX
Pruning Texas madrone trees from Utopia TX
I have a number of large Texas Madrone trees on my ranch in Utopia Texas. A few of them have dead limbs and I was wondering whether I should cut off the dead limbs or just leave the tree alone. I wa...
view the full question and answer

utopia, TX
Why are branches falling from my pecan trees?
I have tree branches falling that appear to have been cut, not broken,off the tree. Seen most on the pecan trees but had a young red bud die with what appears a clean cut of the trunk approx. 2 feet ...
view the full question and answer

Utopia, TX
Native grasses for Uvalde Co., Texas
I plan on seeding a new yard in the Utopia area in central Texas with a combination of Texas native grasses (Buffalograss, Blue Grama & Curly Mesquite). When can I broadcast the seeds..how warm shoul...
view the full question and answer

Utopia, TX
Fertilizing Newly Planted Trees
Back in November, I planted 20 trees on rocky, caliche slopes around my house outside of Utopia, Texas. The trees were 45 gallon Monterrey Oaks and Texas Redbuds. I have also installed a drip irriga...
view the full question and answer

Utopia, TX
Source for information on Habiturf from Utopia, TX
During a recent Central Texas Gardener TV show, someone from the Center mentioned that your Habiturf was going to be available as sod from someone in the San Antonio area this spring. Is that true an...
view the full question and answer