Native Plants
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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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Saturday - February 28, 2015
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Problem Plants, Shrubs
Title: Repairing the split trunk of a TX mountain laurel
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
I have a fairly large mountain laurel that I just realized has a split down the trunk. Is there anything I can do to save it?ANSWER:
If the foliage on both sides of the split seem green and healthy you should be able to save the shrub. This web site demonstrates the most common approach involving a metal bolt installed through both sides of the split to draw the two sides together. The bolt will remain there and the shrub will seal itself around it.
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February 06, 2010 - Hello, behind my backyard fence there is a large growth (about 300 to 400 sq feet) of Asian jasmine. It was planted by previous owners. It prevents growth of native plants like holly. What is the prac...
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April 22, 2009 - Greetings Mr. Smarty Plants, from Tonto Basin, AZ! We have numerous mature (huge!) Agave Americana plants here, and have, until recently, enjoyed them. However, we are now ready for a drastic landscap...
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Killing oak sprouts from El Paso TX
August 16, 2011 - I want to know how to kill oak root sprouts and seedlings. Very dense and out-of-control in huge area of front lawn. I had tree cut down and I still cannot get rid of them. They're only getting wors...
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Fast-spreading desert-type tree with thorns in yard
July 21, 2014 - There is a fast spreading tree in my backyard - many multiple almost symmetric flat green oval leaves on either side of the stem (sort of like a moringa tree but this is not that). Grows straight up, ...
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