Native Plants
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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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| 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 |  | |
| Allelopathy of American elms from Dallas March 24, 2013 Are American elms at all allelopathic? 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 | ||
| Black Sooty Mold on Bay Tree February 25, 2013 I have a large bay tree and all the leaves are covered with a black mold-like substance on the top part of the leaf. Under each leaf are some black/brown spots. I have washed the leaves with soap and ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Bugbane Leaf Blotch January 24, 2013 My bugbanes (Cimicifuga/Actaea) seem to suffer from black blotches on the leaves in the summer. This happens even when they have adequate moisture. I also see it on the ones growing wild. Is this a fu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| What to do about volunteer trees growing beneath a large live oak tree in Austin, TX January 08, 2013 We have a large live oak tree. Several volunteer trees are growing directly underneath it and into its branches. I want to cut them down if they are going to hurt the long term health of the live oak.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with crossvine from Semmes AL January 06, 2013 I have a 3 year old cross vine (tangerine beauty) and the leaves have started turning black and falling off the plant. I have two plants growing on the same pergola (opposite ends) and the second plan... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Prickly pear doing poorly on Long Island NY December 27, 2012 First, thanks for your reply on 11-3-12, re.Can a prickly pear cutting from Harker Heights, TX find happiness in Long Island, NY. The plants were set before a southern window in the attic, temp. ra... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with non-native Japanese privet from Glendale AZ December 26, 2012 We have Japanese privet shrub and they seem to be suffering from a disease, need help. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mountain Laurel slowly dying in San Antonio, TX December 26, 2012 My Texas Mountain Laurel seems to be dying in a slow unusual manner. Over the past two weeks the leaves have been turning yellow and falling off starting with the south facing side of my multi-tru... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Will damage to live oak root make it more susceptible to oak wilt December 24, 2012 Hi. I knicked the root of a live oak when digging. Will this hurt the tree and make it more succeptible to wilt? Is there something I can use to protect the exposed part of the root and make it les... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Agarita and Mexican Buckeye not flowering or fruiting. December 11, 2012 The Greenbelt behind our home has a ton of agarita and Mexican buckeye, but they never bloom or berry. The pigeon berry is very happily doing both all year. Any suggestions for helping the agerita a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native Chamaecyparis pisiflora turning brown in Fuqua-Varina NC December 10, 2012 I have a "Soft Serve False Cypress" Chamaecyparis pisifera'Dow Whiting PPAF, that has only been in the ground for 6-7 months. I just noticed that the branches and leaves are starting to die, turni... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with mature Blue Agave in Kenya December 09, 2012 I have a mature Agave plant and there is a thin black liquid that looks like oil starting to appear on the leaves. The plant plant seems to be dying (from the bottom up). (The plant is a blue Agave an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Fasciation on Texas Mountain Laurel November 21, 2012 Do Texas Mountain Laurel normally have a staghorn looking growth hanging on them after blooming in addition to the seed pod clusters or could this be a mutation? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Newly planted nuttall oaks from Houston TX November 16, 2012 I recently purchased two Nuttall Oak Trees in Houston Texas (October). They are both 15' or taller. I planted them within 24 hours of being delivered, watered them in, staked them, and within 3-4 d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Chlorosis in Texas Wisteria from Blanco TX November 05, 2012 Just noticed a Texas Wisteria I bought last month and it is already looking chlorotic. Mixed compost in w/the dirt it is planted in but I don't think that will be enough. Is Blanco soil too alkaline?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cupressaceae dying in Suffolk Co.NY October 20, 2012 I have noticed that all of my Cupressaceae (& others I see in my area) are dying. They turn yellow, then rust & brown til they are everbrowns. what is going on? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spots on non-native naval orange trees from Stockton CA October 20, 2012 I have two mature Navel Orange trees. One tree has developed spotty chlorophyl depleted areas that were not on the oranges when they were smaller. In addition, the oranges on both trees are smaller ,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with recently planted trumpet vine from Worcester MA October 20, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a question about my recently planted Trumpet Vines. First of all, I live in Massachusetts, zone 6. The soil is perfect for the two vines, which I bought from a local nur... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Drought-resistant and grub-resistant grass for Smithville TX October 02, 2012 I want a drought resistant grass for a sunny area that is also resistant to grubs. I have lots of grubs but want a healthy soil of good microbes. Any ideas? Zoysia, Buffalo? I noticed that Tech Turf r... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Film growing on prickly pear from Austin September 28, 2012 We've just xeriscaped our front & back yards. Two of the spineless prickly pear cacti have a beige film growing on the paddles. The film is now moving further up the cactus, and one of the upper pad... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Failing to thrive of non-native rose bushes in Austin September 24, 2012 I live in NW Austin and I have lost one knockout rose bush this summer and it looks like another one is failing. The leaves on a cane turn yellow then brown. I do not see whiteflies or black spots o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling nematodes on lantana from San Antonio September 19, 2012 Can anything be done to "fix" root knot nematode on older lantana. Next to other lantana. Pull them out or try organic fix? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with mature cottonwood in Justin TX September 17, 2012 I have a very large, 90" circumference, approx 60' tall, cottonwood tree in my front yard that appears to be sick. The trunk splits at about the 4' level into 2 parts. at that split is a 10" wide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bark problems with Monterrey oak from Austin September 15, 2012 I planted a 65 gallon Monterrey Oak (White Oak) in my front yard in February of this year. I water it once a week. All of the leaves and branches appear very healthy and there is no discoloration.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Dying branches on Texas Mountain Laurel from Kempner TX September 14, 2012 The branches on my Texas Mountain Laurel are very dry and brittle. The leaves are also starting to die. The tree has been in my yard for six years and prior to that it sat wrapped in burlap for ov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| New nursery plants with sappy spots from Round Rock, TX September 09, 2012 We live on the west side of RR, near Cedar Park and recently bought three 15 gallon cherry laurels from a nursery. Started to plant them today as we bought them a week ago and noticed base of the trun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Sap dripping from a lacey oaks in San Antonio September 06, 2012 I have a lacey oak tree, approximately 6 ft. tall that has been in the ground almost a year. The tree looks healthy but there is a small area on the trunk that looks and feels wet. The substance is s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oaks at Wildflower Center from Wimberley TX September 05, 2012 I know you have numerous Quercus fusiformis examples at the ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. My question is, do you also have Quercus virginiana growing there? Also, is Oak Wilt a disease that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pecan tree dropping limbs in Grand Prairie, TX. September 04, 2012 Our 15 year old pecan tree is losing it's limbs. The tree and its leaves look healthy with no signs of bugs or mites, but all the limbs are drooping and breaking off. The tree did have a bumper crop ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with mountain laurel from Sunrise Beach TX August 29, 2012 In Llano Co., TX near lake LBJ, crushed granite type soil - my 4 - 5 year old TX Mtn. Laurels (2), about the size of large wheel barrows, are turning very pale, dropping leaves and on 1 the seed pods ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
| Problems with non-native tomatoes from Spokane WA August 18, 2012 I have 2 tomato plants in 1 whiskey barrel, they are in abundance with tomatoes. My problem is when the tomatoes start to ripen, half green & half light red within 1 day the tomatoes are really soft ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Insect damage on possumhaw August 12, 2012 We planted a small possumhaw in February of this year (2012). It had leaves and some berries and was doing real well until some bug starting eating the leaves and berries. I know it is not deer becau... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pecan leaves falling off the trees in Austin, TX. August 08, 2012 Why are the pecan tree leaves turning black, sappy and falling off the trees, in great quantities? This has happened since the recent rains, all through the Allandale area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| White mold on Bermuda grass August 07, 2012 I tried searching and could not find info for this on your website. What causes mold in Bermuda grass and how can I get rid of it? Tried fungicide as recommended by garden center in austin which did... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Cedar Elm in Austin, TX. August 04, 2012 Our Cedar Elm has yellowing very dry leaves and something is eating the topmost leaves leaving holes and obviously chewed off leaf segments. Could this be two different things? Aphids and bacteria or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Muhly grass slow to green up from Spring Hill FL August 04, 2012 Have lots of muhly grass planted 3 yrs ago. This yr about 1/3 are VERY slow. Still look like hay stacks. No pattern in the bed. You mentioned pesticides being too close? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Recently planted Chinquapin Oak with browning leaves in Marlin, TX. July 31, 2012 We planted a Chinquapin Oak this in March 2012. As of July 21, 2012, the tips of the leaves on the lower branches are turning brown. We cannot see any insects. There does not appear to be any fungu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Demise of Flameleaf Sumac in Austin, TX. July 31, 2012 My Flameleaf Sumac suddenly died. Beetles came out around the trunk when I cut it down. How can I prevent this on the other sumac? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Plants dying in circular garden in Killeen, TX. July 31, 2012 I have a large circular garden in my backyard out in the country in Killeen Texas. Last year two elms died. This year the Rose of Sharon has been dying one by one. One bush will completely die off bef... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Distressed Red Oak tree in Pflugerville, TX. July 22, 2012 I have a large (40 ft) Red Oak tree in my yard that is distressed. It started with yellowing leaves, with darker veins. Then small brown spots appeared, followed by browning arount the leaves edges. N... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with maple tree in Redding CA July 17, 2012 I have a 2 yr. old October Glory tree that is looking bad. It leafed out this spring, but not as much as the others. In total I have 9 red maples along a fence row about 15 feet apart. The trees on ei... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Suffering Yaupon in Austin July 14, 2012 I am in the Austin area and I planted a Pride of Houston Yaupon in my back yard in March. It is in full sun. Lately the leaves have been turning pale green and now they fall off the tree upon touchi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Redbud leaves turning yellow in mid-summer July 13, 2012 The leaves on our redbud trees are turning yellow. The yellow leaves are pale with no other spots and no dark veins. I don't know for sure which variety of redbud they are or how old they are (more t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Escarpment Black Cherry losing leaves in Austin, TX. July 13, 2012 Dear Mr. Plants: We live in Austin off of Mount Bonnell Road. We have beautiful 20 foot tall + black escarpment cherry tree very near the house with leaves turning yellow like it's about to drop th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care of Live Oaks July 11, 2012 We have Two Young Live Oaks in the front of Our home. We had them treated for insects, ect. Now what can we do to make them Full Green and Happy Happy Happy again.Thank You View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sticky sap (honeydew) on car July 10, 2012 MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY COVERED WITH STICKY SAP. I LIVE IN AN AREA WITH MANY COCONUT PALMS AND OTHER TREES. COULD THE SAP BLOW AROUND EVEN THOUGH I KEEP CHANGING THE PARKING? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Ash secreting sap in Lockhart, TX July 05, 2012 I have what I believe is a Texas Ash in my front yard that is secreting a sap with what looks like some wounds on it with some white stuff and with black and red looking ants as well as it has a lot o... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Texas Mountain Laurel oozing sap in Spicewood, TX. July 05, 2012 We have a Texas mountain laurel that seems to be sweating. Oozing sap with no apparent signs of any type of bore holes, or holes made from any birds. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | | |
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