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.
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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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| Bugs eating new growth on Mountain Laurel shrubs from Dripping Springs TX April 02, 2013 What is eating the new growth on my mountain laurel shrubs? One plant has red bugs and the other has black (could they be love bugs?). Is there something I can do to preserve the new growth? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growths on Shumard Red Oak leaves from Katy TX April 01, 2013 Our beautiful Shumard Red Oak has developed lots of light green grape like growths on the leaves. Please inform us what this could be and how we should treat it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Death of lantana in Bryan TX March 28, 2013 I would like to know what killed several new gold lantana in a single bed that died over the winter. They looked quite healthy last fall. I have several other new gold lantana that survived the wint... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with Live Oaks in Mesa AZ March 26, 2013 I have two Evergreen Live Oaks in central Arizona. One is flourishing and getting new spring leaves from top to bottom. Its trunk is rough, has large grooves, and the spots where I've pruned look li... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Monterrey Oak in Austin March 26, 2013 We had a local tree service plant two Monterrey Oak trees on 4/2/2012. At the time we noticed that woodpeckers had had a field day on the trunk bark of both trees with the most damage being on the lar... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Long term effects of pesticide from Lubbock TX March 20, 2013 I have 9 western pecan trees about 20 years old. Trunk sizes is from 18" to 39". I used a product Bayer Tree and Shrub, applied to the trees. I wonder what it will do to the trees. I talkd to Bayer ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Do Deer Eat Orchid Trees? March 08, 2013 I have planted three anacacho orchid trees, however we have a lot of deer around us. Is this a tree they will want to eat? Do you have any ideas to keep deer away? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Weedy buffalo grass from Dripping Springs, TX March 07, 2013 I have a buffalo grass lawn. It is thin and filled with weeds. I would like to find a solution to improve my lawn. I prefer a native grass but I need to be able to control the weeds and I am not ph... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Controlling sandburs from Austin February 24, 2013 Hello, What is the best way to prevent sticker burrs from growing in a rocky bed with no grass. There are many other plants we want to preserve and a drip line to keep them watered. We have 2 small k... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Horse ate bark of cedar elm from Liberty Hill, TX February 20, 2013 I have three acres with a rental. Planted a Cedar Elm near the porch. My ex-renters allowed their horse to graze around the house. It ate the bark off of the tree. How can I save this tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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