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topicquestion
protecting native trees during drought
June 07, 2011
We are very concerned about our mature live oaks and cedar elms because they are so stressed due to the drought. We have lost several of our mountain juniper and I really don't want to lose our more...
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Watering oaks in Houston, TX.
June 07, 2011
Our yard (Real County, TX.) has many oak trees. We never water these trees, but I wonder if you recommend watering during this extreme drought. The trees look very stressed and are covered in ball m...
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Powdery mildew hits Rock Rose in Round Rock Texas
May 05, 2011
My beautiful Rock Roses have gotten spots of white fuzzy "fur" on their leaves in the past month. This is not something they have ever had before and I'm worried its some kind of disease. Is it so...
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Drought tolerant Plants and moving Wax myrtles in Austin
April 30, 2011
Mr. Smarty Plants, What are the most fire resistant and drought tolerant plants for caliche soil in Austin area? I am considering relocating or removing my wax myrtle shrubs because they are ...
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Irrigation of landscaping project after 1 year in San Antonio
November 10, 2010
Hello, I am working on a project in San Antonio where the following vegetation types have been specified: cedar elm, bald cypress, 'Tifway 419' bermuda grass, mountain laurel, esperanza, and lantana...
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Blackfoot daisy declining in Austin
September 04, 2010
My Blackfoot Daisies have grown large, bushy, have bloomed well over the past two summers. Now parts of the plants are drying up, dying. Will pruning out the dead parts help the plants to survive, or ...
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Mexican Plum not doing well in Liberty Hill, TX.
September 03, 2010
Two summers have passed since I planted my Mexican Plum. It's in full sun. It seems to have added height but not much width. It's virtually a 7 foot stick with 1 foot branches from top to bottom. It...
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Copper Canyon daisy leaves turning yellow in Spring Branch TX
September 01, 2010
My Copper Canyon daisies have grown well this year but the leaves are turning yellow. Any ideas?
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Patio plants suffering from heat in Austin
August 22, 2010
My patio plants are burning up from the intense sun of Austin's August. Last year it even burned the leaves. Besides moving 40 plants to a shadier spot do you have suggestions on how to protect the...
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Failure to thrive of desert willow in Wimberley TX
August 10, 2010
I have a desert willow. It is always, whether I water it or leave it alone, yellow/ brown leaves, dark spots on the leaves, losing leaves. now it looks sad and not very healthy. Can you please tell m...
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Plant for graveside in New Jersey
August 07, 2010
I am looking for a plant to put on a graveside in southern New Jersey. The problem is that the area is very hot & dry and the plant would only receive rain. I am interested in a perennial. Thanks
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Arizona ash tree with brown leaf tips in Las Vegas NV
August 01, 2010
We've had an Arizona Ash Tree in our yard for over 7 years it was doing fine until last summer, the tree seems to be struggling with the heat, its leaves look like they are burning up and turning bro...
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Red sister Cordyline problems in Brownsville TX
July 27, 2010
I bought a Red Sister Cordyline plant but once the leaves grow they dry from the ends.
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Limp leaves on Texas purple sage in Magnolia TX
July 22, 2010
Recently planted Texas purple sage, some of it looks healthy and has new blooms, but a few of the plants have limp leaves and are thin at the bottom. I read the article on cotton root rot, but am not ...
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Transplant shock in American beautyberry in Birmingham AL
July 13, 2010
We created a new garden area in our yard that gets full sun in the afternoon. I had a Beautyberry Bush that had seriously outgrown the area where we originally planted it (also full sun), so I transp...
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Blackening of top growth of yaupon in Sunrise Beach TX
June 09, 2010
My question regards a Will Flemming yaupon which I am thinking may be within your scope of expertise. These were recently planted under windy conditions, then hit with a neighbors antiquated jet type ...
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Texas Pistachio trees dropping leaves in Austin
June 09, 2010
I have several Texas Pistachio that are about 13 years old. Despite good rainfall in Travis county this year, they seem to be losing most of their new leaf growth now in early June. Leaves are simpl...
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Why is my recently planted Esperanza doing poorly in Texas City, TX?
May 28, 2010
I have an Esperanza I planted about 2 months ago. It has been doing well, except today all but one stem of the plant is wilting and the leaves are rolling. I see no bugs on the plant. Any idea what...
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Problems with Texas Mountain Laurel in Dallas
May 04, 2010
I have a Texas Mountain Laurel that is about 3 years old. When I bought it 2 summers ago, it was about a foot high. Now it is over 6 feet. It seems to have grown so fast that the branches can't ke...
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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...
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Why are the leaves on my Laurel hedge turning brown in Everett, WA?
February 22, 2010
Our laurel hedge seems to have brown leaves on the top of the bush. We haven't had a freezing winter so we are trying to figure out why some of the leaves are brown.
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Consequences of overwatering plants
February 05, 2010
Explain how an error on the high side when watering would affect soil fertility management, IPM efforts?
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Grouping plants according to water needs
February 05, 2010
Explain how appropriate design/grouping of plants of the same water needs would make irrigation scheduling easier?
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Xeric landscaping walls in Mansfield TX
November 15, 2009
We have two stone, concave 10 ft. high entry walls to our private street. These are each 20 ft. in length and face the west. What xeriscaping accent plants would you recommend. Also, should we crea...
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Transplant shock in Chestnut Oak in Waukesha WI
September 13, 2009
Bought and had nursery install a 4" diameter, 16' tall chestnut oak. Watered it as instructed-every 2nd or third day-hose stream size of my pinky for 45-60 minutes. It was planted in July. Just l...
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