Native Plants
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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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| topic | question | |
| Cupressaceae dying in Suffolk Co.NY October 20, 2012 I have noticed that all of my Cupressaceae (& others I see in my area) are dying. They turn yellow, then rust & brown til they are everbrowns. what is going on? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Spots on non-native naval orange trees from Stockton CA October 20, 2012 I have two mature Navel Orange trees. One tree has developed spotty chlorophyl depleted areas that were not on the oranges when they were smaller. In addition, the oranges on both trees are smaller ,... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Live oak trees buzzing in Taylor TX October 20, 2012 Is it possible for live oak trees to make a buzzing sound? We have heard this sound under our live oak and were worried it was bees but we don't seem to see any. I also heard the buzzing under my mot... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native pomegranate failing to fruit from Highland Village TX October 20, 2012 Last spring I planted a pomegranate tree (type: Wonderful) which is supposed to produce edible fruit. It had 5 or 6 absolutely beautiful blooms, but each of them dropped off and no sign of fruit. Is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Destructive landscape crews in The Woodlands TX October 20, 2012 Hi. We need help. We recently moved to a house where landscape crews have been blowing away the leaf litter from the front yard for many years. The underbrush was also cleared long ago. The result... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are fuzzy oak leaf galls harmful to post oak trees? October 19, 2012 Are the fuzzy balls on the undersides of our post oak trees harmful? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Evergreen for privacy screen in Northern California October 19, 2012 Hello, My neighbor just logged their property and we need a very quick growing evergreen shrub/tree (for privacy of ugly cabin) that grows to at least 10' -15' tall. We live in northern Cal. about ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identity of fragrant oak-like leaves used at funeral October 14, 2012 In the early 1950's I attended my grandmother's funeral in the Southern West Virginia area. At the gravesite, the funeral home had provided what looked like dried oak leaves, (red brown and gold col... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| When to transplant volunteer Cedar Elms in Cedar Park, TX? October 11, 2012 We have a number of volunteer cedar elms we would like to transplant. When is the best time to do this? Should they be potted first and later transplanted or transplanted immediately? Thanks. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Revegetating a hillside in western Washington state October 10, 2012 Removing several downed trees across my dock demolished the native plants growing on the hillside and the contractor pulled out their remains. The area faces east on an open freshwater bay. Close to... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need advice for planting Bur Oak saplings in Comal County October 09, 2012 We will be planting several bur oak saplings this fall in deeper soils in Comal County. How close should we plant them? What mortality should we expect? Thanks in advance for your assistance. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Area under live oaks from Austin October 08, 2012 We have many live oaks in our mostly shaded half acre. While I have tried to plant mostly native plants, often beneath them, the plants are showered with leathery leaves, acorns and sap, while oak sp... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are non-native Chinese pistache poisonous to alpacas from Galt CA October 07, 2012 Are Chinese Pistachio trees poisonous to alpacas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Native plants for under a black walnut from Lansing MI October 04, 2012 What native plants can you recommend that will grow in Michigan under a mature black walnut tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identity of tree with pumpkin-like fruit in Florida October 02, 2012 Hello. I live in a small town called Molino FL. I was walking on the side of our road and found a tree with pumpkin type fruit on the limbs. I have been trying to figure this tree out for about 3 mont... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Growing Magnolia trees in Palm Desert, CA. October 02, 2012 Will magnolia trees grow in the Palm Desert/Indio, CA area? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Keeping a Texas Madrone alive from Belton TX October 01, 2012 I have found a supplier of a Texas Madrone and have been wanting to grow one ever since our family vacation to Big Bend NP. My question is how do you have success with this tree? Many people say it is... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree roots in sewer from Paragould AR September 30, 2012 I have beautiful pecan trees, an apple in the back yard, a pine on the west side of the house and pecan trees in the front yard. Two trees are interrupting my sewer systems (at least one in the back y... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a shade tree for an enclosed courtyard in Las Cruces, NM September 24, 2012 I HAVE A WEST FACING COURTYARD ENCLOSED WITH A 6' STUCCO WALL AND I WANT TO ADD A SHADE TREE. CURRENTLY HAVE SEVERAL MESQUITE TREES, DESERT WILLOW, CHINESE PISTACHE & VITEX TREES IN THE FRONT AREA ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Non-native, and/or invasive bermudagrass, St. Augustine and Pistache from Houston September 24, 2012 Our St. Augustine lawn died suddenly this summer from either chinch bugs or grub worms (or both?), and a multitude of weeds and native Bermuda have taken over the area. Now that the weather has cooled... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of burned tree stump from Weir TX September 24, 2012 Hello, I am the community manager for Country Glen, LLC In Weir, Texas 5 miles north east of Georgetown Texas. Simple question I need to remove a large Arizona Ash that was burned buy fire I need th... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need information about planting Red Maples in Houston, TX. September 22, 2012 I want to plant some Drummond Red Maples in my front yard. What cultivars would you recommend, and what is the absolute smallest amount of space possible between two of these trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Most numerous trees in the Piedmont NC from Chapel Hill NC September 20, 2012 What's a list of the most populous trees in piedmont North Carolina? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blocking dust from a road in Sturgis MS September 20, 2012 Please let me know what Trees/shrubs will help block dust from dirt road. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Speed of growth of quercus agrifolia from Torrance CA September 20, 2012 I planted a quercus agrifolia in my front yard about 2 years ago without considering its ultimate size (it's about 10 feet from the sidewalk and 10 feet from our house). The tree is growing really fa... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Heat tolerant arborvitae for Spring TX September 20, 2012 Is there an arborvitae that would be heat-tolerant to Spring, Texas (north of Houston) and amenable to neutral clay soil? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Are mountain laurel beans safe to use as rattles with small children? September 19, 2012 Is it safe to use the mountain laurel mescalbean pods as shakers or rattles, as long as the pods are not open and the seeds left unexposed? If a small child (very small, who has no way to open the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with mature cottonwood in Justin TX September 17, 2012 I have a very large, 90" circumference, approx 60' tall, cottonwood tree in my front yard that appears to be sick. The trunk splits at about the 4' level into 2 parts. at that split is a 10" wide... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Mountain Laurel not growing in Hallettesville, TX. September 16, 2012 Mountain laurel has been planted over 2 years. Well drained,sandy soil, full sun. They have not grown or set blooms despite occasional all purpose fertilizers. What is wrong? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Bark problems with Monterrey oak from Austin September 15, 2012 I planted a 65 gallon Monterrey Oak (White Oak) in my front yard in February of this year. I water it once a week. All of the leaves and branches appear very healthy and there is no discoloration.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants for streambank area in Oregon September 14, 2012 I am ready to replant a streambank area with native plants..what do you recommend for the Willamette Valley in Oregon? Thanks much! View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dying branches on Texas Mountain Laurel from Kempner TX September 14, 2012 The branches on my Texas Mountain Laurel are very dry and brittle. The leaves are also starting to die. The tree has been in my yard for six years and prior to that it sat wrapped in burlap for ov... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trimming non-native sago from Fresno CA September 10, 2012 I have a sago plant, fronds are hanging over into street, can the fronds themselves be trimmed back without removing the whole frond? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with new transplant non-native weeping willow from Washington DC September 10, 2012 I replanted a very young BABY weeping willow tree and now it looks as if the leaves are drying up like it is dying. I know that it could also be in shock from the new transplant or it can be dying ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sap dripping from a lacey oaks in San Antonio September 06, 2012 I have a lacey oak tree, approximately 6 ft. tall that has been in the ground almost a year. The tree looks healthy but there is a small area on the trunk that looks and feels wet. The substance is s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oaks at Wildflower Center from Wimberley TX September 05, 2012 I know you have numerous Quercus fusiformis examples at the ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. My question is, do you also have Quercus virginiana growing there? Also, is Oak Wilt a disease that ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non native crape myrtle changing bloom colors in Sonora CA September 05, 2012 I have a Red Rocket Crape Myrtle that was planted a little over a year ago. Last year the bloom was a beautiful deep red and this year it is a Mauvie pink. Is there something I can do to bring it back... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Pecan tree dropping limbs in Grand Prairie, TX. September 04, 2012 Our 15 year old pecan tree is losing it's limbs. The tree and its leaves look healthy with no signs of bugs or mites, but all the limbs are drooping and breaking off. The tree did have a bumper crop ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Sticky film on oak tree leaves from Whitney TX September 04, 2012 What is the sticky film that is coating leaves on our oak trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Disagreement on amending soil for planting from Austin September 01, 2012 In today's newspaper column, you answered a question about transplanting a redbud. You said to follow the instructions on the WFC web site, except you recommended adding compost to the backfill soil.... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Identification of small tree in Florida August 31, 2012 I live in Port Saint Lucie, FL. We have a few trees (?) growing in our yard I would like to i.d. They seem to grow quickly have smooth leaves that grow opposite one another and the underside of the ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Replacements for photinia from San Antonio August 31, 2012 i just read your response to someone regarding Red Tip shrubs. You just saved me thousands of dollars ! I was getting ready to order over 250 of these to line my 2.5 acre fence line. What shrub would ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting a blue spruce from Pingee Grove IL August 30, 2012 Transplant 18" Blue spruce from 5 gal. bucket to ground. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need suggestions for a small tree for cemetery in NH. August 30, 2012 I would like suggestions for picking a SMALL tree for a rural cemetery in Winchester, NEW HAMPSHIRE. Would the delicate Japanese Elm be suitable for the weather, etc? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting a redbud in Boerne TX August 29, 2012 Hi there, My question is when is it safe to transplant a native tree? I have a redbud tree come up in m flower bed I want to try to transplant it instead of cutting it out. It is very young - maybe 4-... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need plants to replace cedars on a 40 degree slope in Boerne, TX. August 28, 2012 My backyard is a roughly 40 degree slope that is covered with cedars. The slope is basically all rock, what can I grow here to replace the cedar which drink too much water. I would still like the area... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Native plants both deer resistant and good for erosion from North Oaks MN August 23, 2012 We have several partially sunny areas on hills that are prone to both deer and erosion. Our goal is to reduce runoff in an effort to preserve the watershed that provides tap water to many citizens of ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tiny holes oozing sap from Austin August 22, 2012 My ash tree becomes loaded with butterflies on the trunk. At closer inspection, I see they are drinking sap which is coming from small holes in the trunk. Are the butterflies creating the holes? I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Difficulty with Clay Soil from Palm Bay, FL August 22, 2012 I had a very nice little native shady area behind my house for over 40 years, but now it has been cleared except for a 100 foot tall live oak in the center of this raised mound (50' x 80'). I've be... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Wasps on live oaks from Sinton TX August 20, 2012 Wasps on my live oak trees. What is attracting them? Does this hurt the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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