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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.
rate this answer
Thursday - June 29, 2006
From: Long Beach, CA
Region: California
Topic: Pests
Title: Effects of salt sprinkled on garden
Answered by: Nan Hampton and Andrea DeLong-Amaya
QUESTION:
The kids accidentally sprinkled salt on the plants in the garden. How do you counter the effect of the salt so the plants will not die. I would appreciate your response. Thank you.ANSWER:
I am assuming the kids used a salt shaker or a box of salt to do their "gardening". If it was a salt shaker and you can't really see any salt on the ground or on the plants, you are probably just fine with washing the plants with a hose and then giving them a good watering to dilute and wash the salt away. If you see large piles of salt, then you need to scoop up as much of it as possible and, perhaps, some of the soil under and around those piles. Then, you need to very thoroughly wash the plants and water the soil around them to flush out the salt. A small amount of salt, if well rinsed, probably won't be a big problem.
More Pests Questions
Berry-looking parasites on live oak leaves
September 20, 2013 - Dripping Springs TX Live oaks. What are these berry looking parasites on my tree's leaves. As many as 4 1/4 in berries per leaf. I have 3 acres with dozens of liveoaks all having them on the leav...
view the full question and answer
Will Canada geese eat Asclepias tuberosa from Cape May Court, NJ
May 20, 2014 - Will Canada geese eat my butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)? I know this plant is deer resistant. I really want to plant some on sandy bank near pond in my back yard, but I fear the geese will ...
view the full question and answer
Varmints disturbing plants in NH
August 04, 2011 - I planted herbs and perennials, then put paper down and bark. At first an animal just disturbed the paper around the plants, exposing it. Today two plants are dug up and are completely gone. No sig...
view the full question and answer
Webworm on Texas Mountain Laurel in Texas
September 02, 2015 - I thought my mountain laurel had web worms and I sprayed for them. Now the plant looks like it still has the worms even though none are present. Also, I sprayed with a fungicide because some of the ...
view the full question and answer
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...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |