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.
Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Search Smarty Plants
topic | question | |
Large oak with possible Laetiporus fungus November 29, 2011 We have a huge oak tree in front of our new house. After the first rain this fall a large fungal growth appeared in an old knothole of the tree and I would guess that it is Laetiporus. A neighborho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How to treat bark damage on oak tree November 15, 2011 I have an oak tree approx. 50 ft., live in austin, texas. the tree has dropped bark about 3-4 ft above ground, in a section of 4 inches by 8 inches, and the tree appears dark where the bark was. is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help with yucca palm in New York City, NY. November 10, 2011 I have had my yucca palm plant for almost 10 years. The bark has started to peel off although leaves seem fine. The second smaller separate yucca plant has half its bark and trunk gone. I can't see a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native Grass is Falling Over November 09, 2011 Hi Mr. Smarty Plants, I've tried to find this answer but am stumped as to the cause. We live in Fredericksburg, TX and have several different tall grasses, Yellow Indian grass, Little Bluestem, wire... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are brown junipers (Juniperus ashei) dead? November 08, 2011 If the cedar/junipers in our area are brown, will they ever come back green? Or just clear them out as dead. There are many of them due to the drought. Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Oak sap dripping on driveway in Austin November 06, 2011 Why would oak sap be dripping on driveway at this time when other oaks the neighbors have are not. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trees and shrubs turning brown in Dripping Springs TX October 31, 2011 Due to the extended drought - a number of trees and shrubs in our Dripping Springs area property have turned brown. Specifically: Live Oak; Agarita; Ash Juniper; Cedar Elm. Is this a dormant stag... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Time to trim oak trees in Austin October 29, 2011 We have several large oak trees in desperate need of a good trimming. Given that the trees have had a very stressful drought year, when would be the best time to trim them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Non-native Boulevard Cypress Pom Pom trees in Princeton NJ October 29, 2011 I just had some landscaping done near my front door and front yard. I have two Boulevard Cypress B&B (4-5') Pom Pom. The pom poms are turning brown. What should I have been doing? I am watering them ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Live oak bark splitting in Katy TX October 03, 2011 We have a 7 yr old live oak that looks like its bark is splitting open in branches and top leaves look wilted. If that sounds like oak wilt, do we need to have the tree removed? We live in a subdivisi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Evergreen privacy hedge resistant to verticillium wilt September 27, 2011 I am looking for an evergreen, fast-growing privacy hedge (over 6') that is resistant to verticillium wilt and has low water requirements. I live in Monrovia, CA and have to replace hopseed bushes w... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Swarming insects on non-native willow in Washington PA September 25, 2011 I have had a very large, beautiful pillow willow bush/tree growing next to our garage for about 8 years. Last year at the end of August, it began to attract white-faced hornets and yellow jackets by t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dying trees in San Marcos, Texas September 24, 2011 I live on 11 acres in San Marcos and cannot water at all during this drought. All of my oaks and mountain laurels are turning brown. Does this mean they are all dying? Will they come back in the sp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Live oak trees with rusty spots and holes on tree trunks September 21, 2011 I have live oak trees that have developed rusty spots, small holes on the tree trunks and sawdust on the trees base. They were planted in Oct 2010. We have had a hot dry summer in Texas this year an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Pruning live oak shoots from San Antonio September 10, 2011 I am new to TX and am curious about removing suckers/water sprouts from my Live Oaks. Everything I've read about pruning Live Oaks states that you must paint ALL cuts, so I assume that all means al... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sap oozing from non-native Chinese pistache in San Antonio September 07, 2011 I live in San Antonio, and my chinese pistache is exuding copious amounts of a sticky sap from old trim sites and from the trunk itself. The tree is about 12 years old and has been healthy up until no... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Carolina Laurel Cherry from Pflugerville, TX September 02, 2011 In 2007 we planted 7 Carolina Laurelcherry (Prunus caroliniana)across our back fence. Everything was fine until this year. Three of the trees seemed to get sick and a local arborist said the roots ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Butterfly bushes and weed killer in Pueblo West CO August 27, 2011 I have 3 previously healthy butterfly bushes that have one by one developed masses of tiny yellowish-green compact leaves. The entire bush went from its normal healthy appearance to something that res... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Theory for live oak shoots from Austin August 25, 2011 More on preventing suckers from coming up around live oaks in Austin. I too have been puzzled - why some live oaks have shoots, and not others. Posting here says different varieties have suckers. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Dead portions on oak tree in Hutchinson KS August 22, 2011 I have an oak tree on the property I just moved into. One tree is healthy, the other has a dead side or almost dead. It did have some new green leaves on the dead branches but not many. What should... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Watering Houseplants with Soapy Water August 22, 2011 I accidentally watered my house plants with a container that had a some dishsoap in it. Will they be okay? One of the plants is a 20yr old cactus, with small roots. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Oak tree with browning leaves in Brenham TX August 16, 2011 I have a large oak tree in my small back yard. I also have a sprinkler so the tree has been receiving some water. Nevertheless, some of the leaves are turning brown in patches. Would drip watering ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Native grasses or sedges for a border in Texas August 12, 2011 I am in the process of gradually replacing some of my landscaping in Dallas Texas with native Texas plants. Your website has been very helpful. I now wish to replace a liriope border, which has cro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cedar elm with brown leaves August 12, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, We feel we may have limited time to save our beautiful Ceder Elm. We have many trees in our yard (Post Oaks and Cedar Elms) and have been told they are all between 50 - 75 year... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Hibiscus plants being attacked by powdery mildew, or maybe mealy bugs in Austin, TX. August 10, 2011 I have three hibiscus plants planted outside about a foot apart from each other. The one that gets most of the sunlight is the worse off of the three. However, all three of them have white powdery stu... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Are Ashe Junipers dying from mite damage in Austin? August 08, 2011 If Ashe Juniper needles are turning brown and dropping off the trees because of drought, and not disease, do the needles ever come back, or have the tree limbs died? What if the cause is mites, not ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Bulging trunks on post oak August 05, 2011 I have a huge post oak with a codominant trunk that is bulging between the two main trunks. The bulging is causing the trunks to spread apart, so one of the trunks is getting much too close to the ho... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Chlorosis in sycamore in Kyle TX August 04, 2011 I'm trying to assist an elderly neighbor of mine with a plant issue. We have designated street trees in this community, our street being a Sycamore. The previous foreman out here called it a Mexica... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Lantana isn't blooming in Leander, TX. August 03, 2011 I bought a small potted New Gold Lantana about 2-1/2 weeks ago. I planted it in full sun and covered it with mulch. The few original flowers have fallen off. Although, I see a couple of new buds, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help with powdery mildew and mites in Bastrop, TX July 26, 2011 I tend to flower beds for the city. I have noticed a powdery mildew in 2 beds. It is on the Pavonia and Turks caps. I now notice mites. What should I do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Shy blooming non-native Crape Myrtle, in Littlestown Pennsylvania July 25, 2011 My Crape myrtle has been planted about three years, and reached a height of about 4'. It blooms late July and for the past two years, has only had one or two blooms on it. I have a lot of buds whic... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Possible freeze damage in Wax Myrtle from last winter in Bastrop, TX July 25, 2011 Our Wax Myrtle is about 7 yrs old and in good shape until this past winter when we had several very hard freezes. Now several of the large branches are dead and more are dying each month. We have not ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with non-native zucchini in Muskogee, OK July 23, 2011 In the awful heat of this summer I am still getting zucchini to produce. But, once it grows about 3 inches, it gets yellow on the ends and dies. Am I watering it too much? (I have sprayed for bugs ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Trumpet creeper with ants in Belchertown MA July 23, 2011 My Campsis Vine is having one of the maximum blossom years it gets after a good pruning. This year, I have black carpenter ants on the blossoms and the flowers are rotting from the edges down on some... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Leaves on yaupon holly turning brown/black July 20, 2011 Arlington TX Yaupon Holly has leaves on stems closer to the bottom of the plant and moving up that are turning brown/black. Is this a disease, over/under watering? There is black gummy soil, but it ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sooty mold on Texas Sage in Silsbee, TX. July 20, 2011 I just saw two questions from December regarding black sooty mold appearing on leaves of Texas Sage. My Texas Sage is two years old growing in the original, well-draining large pot it was planted in ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Cedar trees dying in CO July 18, 2011 We have mature cedar trees at the home we bought in SW Colorado. The large ones have begun to die. Can too much water kill a cedar tree and is there anything I can do to keep them alive? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Leaves on 3 year old maple turning brown in Lebo, KS. July 16, 2011 Hello, one of our five Maple trees which is is 3 yrs. old now, we saw a week ago that the leaves started turning brown and dropping. My question is: Will the tree survive this and return healthy next ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Care of a live oak with decay and perhaps fungus on trunk July 14, 2011 I have a huge live oak on my property in Salado that just lost a very large branch. The branch had decay in the center and also has a variety of bugs in it, espeically since it has been on the ground... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Treating suspected drought-stressed live oak July 13, 2011 I have a live oak with excessive leaf drop - it was planted approx. 20 year ago surrounded by heavy pavers. very little grass - I did not plant the tree - I have noticed in the last few years the dro... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Tulip trees losing bark in OH July 11, 2011 We have two tulip trees in our yard that are losing their bark at the base of the trunk. I am careful with the mower keeping away from the tree when I mow. What could the problem be and what can I d... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need help with my 25 yr old Mountain Ash in Clinton Township, MI. July 11, 2011 For the first time our 25yr old mountain ash tree has dying branches, we removed one branch and it seems to have spread to other branches? What should we do? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Leaves browning on non-native willow from in Cumbla PA July 10, 2011 We recently planted a willow tree. A lot of the leaves turned yellow and some turned brown, but it is also getting some new buds. my question is, should I take the dead leaves off or leave them there... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
My Mock Orange fails to flower in Redmond, WA. July 06, 2011 I planted a Mock Orange shrub about 5 years ago. The first few years, it only produced leaves but no blossoms. Then, last year, it finally produced 4-5 blossoms on 2 of the branches. This year, it a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Petals not developing on blackeyed susans from Nashville TN July 05, 2011 I have an established "patch" of black eyes susans. This year, the leaves are beautiful, the centers black..but the petals are practically non existent. They didn't seem to develop correctly. Any... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Red buckeye not blooming in NY July 04, 2011 I planted my red buckeye in September 2007 and it was about 18 inches tall. It is now a few inches short of 5ft. tall. I have had it in the ground for nearly 4 yrs and it has never bloomed. I have fr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Potted Plumbago, struggling with the heat, in Spring Texas June 29, 2011 Why do some of the leaves of my plumbagos that are grown in large, well-draining planters turn brown? The brown starts on the tips, then extends to the whole leaf. They get several hours of west aft... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Hybrid Leyland Cypress leaning in Annapolis MC June 29, 2011 We have a large, 9-year old Leyland Cypress that has tipped over. It is still green and growing but leaning slightly off center. It's about 20' tall. Should we stake it? If so, we'd like to do ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Failure to bloom of Salvia greggii from San Antonio June 29, 2011 We bought Salvia greggii at the Wildflower Center Plant Sale three years ago and planted them in a well drained area. We cut them back early in the year as recommended at Go Native U classes. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Failure to bloom of Campsis radicans in Elkins WV June 28, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, We live in a very cool climate of West Virginia, in the mountains, and it seems impossible for our Campsis radicans vines to flower! Perhaps the growing season is too short? W... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Failure to flourish of Trumpet Creeper in Leesburg VA June 28, 2011 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Late last year I planted a trumpet creeper vine to grow on my fence and attract hummingbirds. It gets full sun, is in average soil and gets adequate water. I put a few daylilli... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Changing bloom color from Tulsa OK June 27, 2011 How do you change the bloom color? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with redbud in DeLand FL June 15, 2011 My native Redbud trees leaves are turning yellow and a sucker branch has died. What could it be? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Will mowing live oak seedlings contribute to Oak Wilt from Dripping Springs TX June 14, 2011 I live near Drippings Springs, TX. Will mowing live oak seedlings contribute to the spread of oak wilt? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Rust problems on Jack in the Pulpit in IL June 12, 2011 The last 2 years I have noticed that some of my jack in the pulpit plants have something that makes me think of a copper color rust.It seems to start on the underside of the leaves. What can I do to g... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with maple in Denver June 09, 2011 I live in Denver, CO and planted an Autumn Blaze maple three years ago. It has done very well until about a week ago. The leaves are drying out and falling off and earlier today I noticed some bugs ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with redbud in CT June 08, 2011 My Eastern redbud was planted 4 years ago and has been fine. This Spring it was beginning to pop out buds. Less than a week later, after returning from a trip all the buds were dead, never flowered, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Mountain Laurel having trouble in AZ June 07, 2011 A Sophora secundflora (Texas mountain laurel) was planted to an Arizona north faced front yard last year in August under full sun. Starting early this year, I noticed its leaves turn to light green an... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Something killing evergreens on Long Island from Baldwin NY June 06, 2011 What seems to be killing so many of the evergreens on Long Island - see more and more dying each day - doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason - can it be helped? Many thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Juniperus ashei in San Antonio May 27, 2011 I live in San Antonio and have many juniper trees. On inspection I do not see insects or any other form of damage, but my trees are turning brown and dying. I have already had to cut one down. When... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with spreading juniper in Sturgis, SD May 25, 2011 I live in Sturgis, South Dakota and I have two different varieties of Spreading Juniper in the yard as ground cover. They have developed an orange colored fungus that goes dormant in the winter but a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Long-legged bugs eating roses in Richmond VA May 22, 2011 There are bugs eating my roses. What can I do? They look like long bugs with a lot of legs. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Yellowing foliage on a lemon cypress from St. Charles MO May 22, 2011 I recently received a lemon cypress tree as a gift. After about a month we transplanted it outside and the foliage turned from a light green to a yellow color. Is this normal? The tree doesn't app... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Juniperus scopulorum in Dallas May 19, 2011 Dallas, Texas - Juniperus Scopolorum "Skyrocket" Last June I planted six, five foot tall along my chain length fence by the alley. Full sun. One died within 6 months. The soil seems to stay damp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Huisache tree is not thriving in Kerr County, TX. May 18, 2011 Our landscaper planted a Huisache tree in our back yard (Kerr County). It was planted about 3 years ago. It has grown considerably (about 15 feet tall)but it has never flowered and is always late in... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Need to identify white powdery substance on Wisteria in Georgetown, TX. May 11, 2011 My wisteria shrub has a white powdery substance over the wood base. I have tried spraying a fungicide on it but have seen no improvement. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Something eating Arizona ash in Gilbert AZ May 11, 2011 Something is eating my Arizona ash tree. what should I spray on it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with gaura in Kyle TX May 10, 2011 Gaura - I seem to have something going on with this plant. I've tried fungicide that also works on mealy bugs and spider mites, etc., but they're looking rather puny? Any suggestions? thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Freeze-damaged Texas Mountain Laurel in Austin, TX. May 05, 2011 I have a Texas Mountain Laurel (Sophora secundiflora) that is several years old. During this past winter, one of the freezes we had split one of the largest trunk right below the soil line. T... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Pruning oaks in August from Pflugerville TX April 30, 2011 Can I do minor pruning on my Lacey oak and bur oak in August if it is hot and dry? I'd like to prune one limb from each. The Lacey oak limb is about 2 inches in diameter, and the bur oak limb is ab... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Weeping live oak and beetles in Elgin TX April 24, 2011 I have a live oak that I just noticed is weeping from a small spot about 3' above ground, foamy and smells like beer, several beetle species attracted. Also some very small insects in the foamy area. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Live Oak in Boerne TX April 24, 2011 I had my large Live Oak trimmed last year. This spring there seems to be a problem with leaf growth. Most leaves are small in nature and appear to have been attacked possibly by bugs. Many of the bran... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
One wax myrtle declining in Austin April 20, 2011 I have 3 wax myrtles in a row; two are doing fine and one is looking "sad". It is thinning and when I checked a few branches they were dead, I pruned it and it was dead. I have had the trees for 7 y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
How do I save my recently transplanted yaupon holly? April 20, 2011 Recently transplanted (two weeks ago) a yaupon holly tree from one part of the yard to another. Leaves are beginning to turn yellow and fall. What can be done to save this plant? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Esperanza freezing back in Highlands, TX April 16, 2011 I have an 3 yr. old Esperanza that froze the last two yrs. but grew back each spring. This spring after getting about 2 ft. the leaves at the bottom began turning brown at the edges and now seems to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Knots on redbuds in Stillwell, OK April 07, 2011 My redbud has knots all over the limbs. Its been this way for a few years now. I can not find a way to take care of this problem. I don't even know what is causing this. Can you help me? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Growth in oak tree in San Antonio April 05, 2011 We have a very large gorgeous oak tree in our backyard here in San Antonio, Texas. I noticed a thickness high up in the tree. Thinking it was a nest of some sort, I used binoculars and saw a parasiti... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Chlorotic leaves on yaupon in Austin April 04, 2011 My yaupon holly looks chlorotic, it is 7 years old, I do not feed it, just a little seaweed occasionally. I am a totally organic gardener. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
More on oak problems in Carrollton TX April 04, 2011 Thank you for answering me, I will contact a specialist to see if we can determine the cause. but since writing you we have pulled down a small twig to see the leaf more closely, it is more of a reddi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Browned foliage on Juniperus ashei in Wimberley TX April 03, 2011 We are in Central Texas and have native "cedar" juniper trees. One with foliage that looked brown, on close inspection, is covered with white webs. The foliage looks like it is dying. No worms a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Grubworms in Austin Flower Bed March 09, 2011 How do I get rid of grubworms in my flower beds? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Control of Fusarium wilt on Wax Myrtle March 05, 2011 Do you have any new reports on how to control the Fusarium Wilt disease to Wax Myrtle Plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Adventitious sprouts from Live Oak in Dallas February 26, 2011 How do I kill Holly growing in my yard? I have a Live Oak tree growing in my Bermuda grass lawn. The holly grows under the tree from the trunk extending out about 12-15 ft. It grows right in with the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Escarpment black cherry from Ponder TX February 11, 2011 I have an escarpment black cherry that is about three years old and about 9 feet tall. It was healthy until this last summer when its began to bark peel and sap run out at the base of the tree. The af... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Possible transplant shock in recently planted Anacua in San Antonio, TX. February 10, 2011 I planted an Anacua tree from a nursery this past November. The tree I purchased was about 6ft tall and was a leftover from the spring. The roots were pretty wound up inside. After shaking the roots l... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Leaf problems on Cherry Laurel in Boulder City, NV January 29, 2011 I live in Boulder City, Nevada and have 4 cherry laurel trees. I'm having a hard time with brown leaves and loss of leaves. How much water should I give them each season? Temps run from 28 degrees to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Plants to grow in high zinc, lead and copper soil in Los Angeles January 24, 2011 We live on the Westside of Los Angeles and have just been given the bad news that our beds are high in zinc (86.39), lead (45.98) and copper(12.95). Can you recommend some plants that may grow in thes... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Getting rid of algae on dirt and patio January 12, 2011 Algae and on patio and dirt, and how to get rid of same? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
White fuzz on Christmas tree from Lewisburg PA January 04, 2011 Our Canaan fir Christmas tree is now coated with white fuzz after being up for 4 weeks. The fuzz looks like spider webs, but it is also in clumps around the needles. When you rub your finger on it, ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Is December a good time to prune oaks in Central Texas? December 29, 2010 Given that we haven't had much cold weather here in central Texas (Wimberley) this season, is it a good time to trim live and Spanish oak trees (damaged limbs and low hanging branches and suckers)? ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Possibility of oak wilt in red oak in Austin December 25, 2010 I planted a Red oak tree in Austin January 2008. It was container grown but decent size, over 15ft tall. This summer (2010) its leaves turned color as if it were fall and started dropping. I starte... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems with Thuja in Oakland CA December 16, 2010 I have a Thuja hedge about 100' long. Part of this hedge and a well established Rhododendron have been diagnosed with Armillaria mellea that is spreading. I see the bunches of mushrooms growing eve... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Sooty mold on Texas Sage in Heath TX December 09, 2010 I have a Texas Sage that has developed a mildew, blight, fungus or (?) condition. Something has attacked the leaves with a black sooty condition. What is this and what can I do to help this plant thri... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Blackened leaves on purple sage in Utopia TX December 08, 2010 I live in Utopia Texas and have a 5-ft. Texas Purple Sage that has developed a black appearance on the leaves. What is this and what can I do about it? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Fungus Spots on Native Bush Honeysuckle December 03, 2010 My native bush honeysuckle plants that I have along my back fence have leaves that are turning yellow with spots. It appears to be a type of fungus, but not powdery mildew. Any suggestions as to what ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Further question on sprouts from holly tree in Surprise AZ November 16, 2010 Thank you Barbara Medford for your response to my question about the sprouting holly tree in Surprise AZ. I took for granted that the tree I was talking about was a holly tree. I looked at pictures of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Problems for Texas Madrones from Dripping Springs TX November 15, 2010 Dear neighbor: I'm blessed with a property with many Texas Madrone on it. I've been trying for a few years to determine what causes apparently healthy trees to suddenly blacken and die. I've con... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
Foam on Salvia greggii in Austin October 20, 2010 I have 7 Salvia greggii plants. I am seeing a white foam like substance on tip of all of them (where flowers use to be). Any suggestions on what is happening to the plants? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
topic | question |