Native Plants
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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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| Yellowing leaves on non-native weeping birch in Brick NJ August 16, 2009 I have a young weeping birch-planted in spring-we water regularly, it gets good sun-and rain has been perfect--the leaves get yellow--and now they are a lot! Whats the matter? I love my little tree.I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Wilting stems on beautyberry in Georgetown, TX August 16, 2009 Last summer I discovered that a 4-year old beautyberry had one (of many) stems that died. Leaves on this single stem wilted and dried up. This year the same happened to two or three stems. The rest of... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Erosion control in Santaquin UT August 11, 2009 I have a hill in my backyard; it is about 40 ft tall and about 80 ft wide. It is probably a 1.5 to 1 slope ratio. I am going to be landscaping my back yard and have top soil put on the hill as well. S... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disappearance of leaves on desert willow in Tucson AZ August 08, 2009 We have a Lois Adams Desert Willow (Tucson, Az). The leaves will pump out and then a day or so later, all of the leaves are gone. The only bugs we've seen on it are very, very small ants. Could this ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Coreopsis failing to bloom in Sonora CA August 04, 2009 My Coreopsis buds form and then die. Very few open. The plants are two and three years old, in a clay type soil. Is it possible they're getting too much water, and that is whats making the buds die ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure of tall garden phlox buds to open in St. Louis MO July 30, 2009 Why won't the buds of my tall garden phlox open? Plants are apparently healthy, no powdery mildew or visible insects, foliage looks great and buds are profuse but they don't open. I have two clumps ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native water plants for bio-retention pond in North Carolina July 22, 2009 I am looking for North Carolina native plants that can take part shade and very wet conditions (bioretention pond environment). Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for a bioswale in Baltimore July 22, 2009 What native plants would suit a bioswale in an urban part of Baltimore City? The clay soil gets waterlogged and the site has part shade. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Controlling erosion in Leburn KY July 21, 2009 I would really appreciate advice on controlling a serious erosion problem in eastern Kentucky. The slope is north facing, shady and moist with rich soil. Would prefer to use native Kentucky plants. ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow bands around edges of leaves in Whitney TX July 20, 2009 How can you tell whether esperanzas are getting too much water or not enough - ours have a small yellow band around the edges of the leaves - crape myrtles - same question View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Propagation of redbuds from shoots in St. Louis MO July 17, 2009 I have a beautiful, healthy old redbud tree that I love. Every year, I find baby redbud trees rooted all over my yard, Since they are deep, I can't seem to dig them out so I simply cut them down to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Clay hill with erosion problems in Reedsport OR July 10, 2009 We have a very steep 35-40' clay hill subject to erosion in the Oregon rainy season. How or what do we do to get some kind of vegetation/grass, etc to grow without washing away? We have had mudslides... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Transplant time for Virginia Beach, VA July 08, 2009 I have a friend who is not a gardener but lives on a piece of property that has a gorgeous back yard with lots of plants, shrubs and trees that are becoming overgrown. I have her permission to dig up... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Eliminating suckers from roots of Moraine locust in Hilliard, OH July 07, 2009 We removed a large Moraine Locust tree and also the stump. Now little trees from the roots are coming up. How do we get rid of these so something else can be planted? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of Esperanza in Houston July 07, 2009 Esperanza plant. I have 3 of these plant in my flower bed for the last 10 years. They get west sun. Over the last three years they have bloomed initially but then the new growth is deformed. The best... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Dividing blackeyed susans in Lake Ronkoko NY July 06, 2009 How are you supposed to divide blackeyed susan's? And when is the best time to do this? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Eastern hemlock in Greenville SC July 02, 2009 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants, I have a beautiful, young, 5 and a half foot tall Eastern Hemlock. I purchased and planted it two years ago in the fall. It has been doing very well all this spring. And ne... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Brown leaves on possumhaw holly in Grandview TX July 02, 2009 What would be likely causes for brown leaves on possumhaw holly? We have 2, one was planted in spring 2008, and a slightly larger one planted late winter/early spring this year. Most of the leaves a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Planting from pots in summer in Austin July 01, 2009 It's the last week in June and temperatures are going to be at 100 or more all week. I've some plants that I'm wondering about transplanting to an exposed site in this heat: muhlenbergeria lindheim... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Why is oakleaf hydrangea not blooming now in Irving TX? July 01, 2009 I live in Irving Texas and have an oakleaf hydrangea. It bloomed in the early spring and now it is not blooming. Is there anything I can do to get to bloom? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Seeding wildflowers in Dallas June 30, 2009 What is the best way to establish seed for wildflowers in Dallas, TX? The area does get some irrigation from rotors. Would hydromulch be the most effective option? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for under a pine tree in Vevay IN June 29, 2009 At our office we have a very nice garden however, in the front we have a large pine tree. We cannot get anything to take root & live there. Do you have any suggestions for a native shrub or perennia... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to come up of blackeyed susans in Lancaster PA June 28, 2009 My blackeyed susans have been blooming for ten years. All of a sudden this year they didn't come up at all..why? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of invasive horsetail in Shelby Township, MI June 19, 2009 Please help me or direct me to who may be able to help. I have horsetail (Equisetum) invading my Blue Rug Juniper. Please tell me what I can use to get rid of the horsetail (Equisetum) without killi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Loss of bloom on Fremontodendron californicum in California June 11, 2009 The flowers on my Flannel Bush all died at once I have noticed a sappy substance at the base of the trunk. There are still some flowers on bush but most are dead. It has been blooming since Feb. Is ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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