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.
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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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| What's attacking my Nellie Stevens Holly plants in Iredell, TX? June 27, 2011 I just bought 10 Nellie R. Stevens holly bushes and planted them as a screen. The leaves on some of the plants are at least half white - not yellow but white. Apparently they were like that when I b... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Squirrels eating seed pods of Rock Rose in Austin June 24, 2011 Squirrel(s) have been ripping the branches off my rock rose bushes in order to eat the seed pods. Previously we had problems with squirrel(s) gnawing on our garden ornaments. I sprayed the ornaments ... 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 | ||
| Snails in the ice plants in California May 31, 2011 Ice plants and snails. Every morning when I go outside I see at least 20 or more snails. Is there a certain way that I should have planted them that would have prevented them from destroying my plant?... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacing Weeds with Native Plants in Dallas Area May 29, 2011 I have a large oak tree in my front yard and lots and lots of miscellaneous weeds (clover, chickweed, stickers, etc.). I am wanting to grow grass in my front yard, that is shaded pretty much most of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Preventing weeds in kinnikinnick in Richland WA May 29, 2011 We planted our kinnickinick last Nov. and we live in Richland, WA, where it gets hot in the summer. We planted almost 500 of them on a hillside. Weeding is taking over our lives, to say the least. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Black bugs on Autumn Joy sedum in Dublin OH May 27, 2011 How to get rid of tiny black bugs on Autumn Joy sedum? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ants in vegetable garden in Muskogee OK May 25, 2011 I have ants in my vegetable garden this spring - I think because of all the rain. I think they are the culprits that ruined my spinach and swiss chard. They have left all the lettuces alone..but you... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Possible sawflies on loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) May 03, 2011 My pine trees looked great a week ago, now one from top to bottom is almost without needles. It is covered with greenish caterpillars. They have several stripes down their back . Could these be saw fl... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Holes in leaves of wax myrtle from Austin April 30, 2011 I just purchased 4 of the 5 gallon Wax Myrtles at the last spring plant sale and after planting them, they are getting eaten by bugs leaving holes in the leaves. I can't find any of the bugs doing th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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