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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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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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Monday - May 07, 2012

From: Amarillo, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: How do you stop the bark from peeling off the tree in Amarillo?
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

How do you stop the bark from peeling off the tree? I live in Amarillo, TX. If you can't stop the progression, how do you keep the tree alive?

ANSWER:

You didn’t mention what kind of tree is loosing its bark. There are some trees where shedding of the bark is a characteristic of the tree (sycamore, silver maple, redbud, birches).

 Another cause of loosing bark can be a fungal infection. Mr. Smarty  Plants suggests contacting the Potter County office of Texas AgriLife Extension and ask one of their agents look at the tree to make an analysis.
If the tree is infected, continued loss of bark will kill the tree.

 

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