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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| Plants wilting too quickly in Toledo OH May 27, 2012 The garden I have had recent issues with plants wilting all too quickly. I would like to know what types of plants would be hearty for the climate in Toledo, Ohio. I have a partly sunny front yard and... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Oak trees shedding leaves in Denton TX May 27, 2012 In Denton, TX we have two mature Quercus buckleyi. It is May 11th 2012 and one of these trees has been shedding green leaves for the last week. The only changes we have made are: planted English ivy... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dying leaves on Autumn Blaze Maple tree in Littleton, CO May 25, 2012 I have an autumn blaze maple where for the last two years the left side of the tree turns light green, then brown, and leaves die. The right side is dark green, normal. Is this a water over/under pr... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Yellow in pin oak leaves from Allen TX May 25, 2012 I have two pin oaks and one is completely yellow - a sign of iron deficiency and the other is starting to turn completely yellow as well. I've a proposal for iron deficiency but it is quite expensiv... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need options for smaller trees in neighborhoods in Austin, TX. May 25, 2012 Please discuss smaller tree options for typical Austin neighborhood yards. These houses are built close together on the sides, and only have smallish back yards. They just don't have space for big 50... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shade trees for Tucson AZ May 25, 2012 I need to plant some "fast growing" trees or shrubs on my southwest yard in order to reduce the heat in my bedroom. What do you suggest? I live in Tucson, Arizona. Thank you in advance. I'm... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Unknown pest of Texas Mountain Laurel from Round Rock TX May 24, 2012 I have a Texas Mountain Laurel that is being denuded from the top down by something unseen. It's not the Genista moth larvae, as there are no worms and no webbing visible. The only clue that it might... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Dog eats Celtis laevigata, sugar hackberry May 21, 2012 This is an odd question but I am a biologist and have for years notice an odd behavior in my Golden Retriever. When he gets stomach distress or something makes him nervous like an incoming thunderstor... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Which plants are resistant to dog urine in Ashmore, IL?? May 21, 2012 Which native plants are resistant to dogs urinating on them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with leaves of Texas Ash in Austin May 21, 2012 We purchased a 3' to 4' Texas Ash in March 2012. The past few days I noticed new leaves at the top are curled under, have a milky substance on them, and more than a few ladybugs on them. What is thi... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Reason for tree canopy dieback from Mahopac NY May 21, 2012 Dear Mr. Smarty Plants: Not a questions, just sharing, re person in Texas whose Ash Jupiter appeared to be dying "canopy very thin on top". We moved to Putnam Co. NY in 1970. Our house was shaded by... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Trees for shade in Austin May 20, 2012 I live in Austin and I am looking for a good tree to plant under a large live oak I have in my backyard. Something slow-growing of course and, the garden only gets late day sun for about an hour. Filt... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Huisaches in pots from Houston TX May 20, 2012 I have special (and probably weird) affinity to huisaches (acacia farnesiana). As a child I used to admire the three that elegantly guarded our backyard looking almost like fingers reaching for the s... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Growing a Texas Mountain Laurel in Pennsylvania May 20, 2012 Can I grow a Texas Mt. Laurel in Lancaster, PA? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Cultivar of Cercis Canadensis from Haskell OK May 16, 2012 We have a Hearts of Gold Redbud that first had dark edges to many of its leaves (about 2 weeks after planting). It now has multiple leaves w/ medium-dark brown spots on them. Are we looking at some ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with a Sherman (Shumard?) Oak from Bixby OK May 14, 2012 We have done extensive research on oak fungi/diseases/pests could be affecting our Sherman Oak tree but we are stumped. The leaves are falling off and have some sort of moldy bunch within the leaf it... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Oak bark problems from Stillwater OK May 14, 2012 In my clients large oak tree there is bark stripped from the limbs in small pieces. No piece is larger than 1 inch by 1 inch and occurs on limbs high in the canopy. It does not look like squirrel doin... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Stump sprouting of Oak trees in the wildfire area in Bastrop, TX. May 13, 2012 We live in Bastrop, Texas, in the wildfire area. We lost all of our trees. The oak trees have "suckers" growing from the base of the burned tree that has been cut down. They look like little bushe... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problem with magnolias and yaupon in Prosper TX May 13, 2012 Problem with Little Gem magnolia - 3 little gems planted next to a fence, in Prosper, TX. Planted 3 years ago, 2009, one of the trees is now withering. The other 2 are doing fine, the one has leaves... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Transplanting Trees in OH May 10, 2012 Is the middle of May too late to dig out Arborviteas and spruces to transplant? I live in central Ohio. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Small oak tree with powdery mildew in San Antonio, TX. May 09, 2012 I have a small oak tree with powdery mildew. Is there anything I can do about? Will it kill the tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| A year and a half old live oak tree is doing poorly in Nevada, TX. May 08, 2012 We planted a live oak tree about a year and a half ago. the tree is still rather small. The leaves are of a vibrant green, however the leave have only grown through the center of the tree and not out... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Restoring the woods in Central Austin. May 08, 2012 I live in Austin, south central between Red Bud trail close to the low water bridge and Bee Caves road. My question: I want to make the wooded sections of my yard attractive. They have filtered sun... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Rash resulting from cutting trees in NC. May 08, 2012 My boyfriend was cutting some trees yesterday. He had thorns in his hands after he was done, and today he has a rash on his legs, a fever and he feels like throwing up. Can you tell me if its symptoms... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How do you stop the bark from peeling off the tree in Amarillo? May 07, 2012 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? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree well for partially exposed roots from Lake Kiowa TX May 05, 2012 Medium oak tree along lake has partially exposed roots. Can we make a barrier (what kind?) and fill the roots behind it with topsoil, compost, etc.? Tree and roots are above the waterline. Lake occ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need to find a place to buy Western Soapberry in Paris, TX. May 05, 2012 Where is the closest place to purchase a Western Soapberry tree? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning a rough-leaf dogwood in spring May 04, 2012 Is it OK to trim a rough leaf dogwood now? Should I spray after trimming? Thanks View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Identification of tree in California May 02, 2012 A medium-size tree with shiny green leaves toward the bottom and garnet red ones toward the top of the tree. The leaves are narrow with saw-toothed edges. There are clustered small white flowers with ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Live oak wobbling in the ground from Austin May 02, 2012 I have a live oak that was not planted firmly in the ground by the subdivision builder's landscapers. The entire tree is wobbly to the touch and it has come close to dying as result of windy condit... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Scorched leaves on Red Maple from Lufkin TX April 30, 2012 I have a Red Maple that we planted in Lufkin, TX about a month ago and fertilized about 2 weeks ago. We water the tree often. The leaves have become scorched looking on the outside of about 1/3 of t... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Spots on bark of Mountain Ash from Engadine MI April 30, 2012 I have a mountain ash that is about 5 years old & have just noticed white, patchy, scaly looking spots on the bark. Is this something to be concerned about??? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tree for St Paul MN April 30, 2012 Need deciduous faster growing shade tree, more taproot style (few/no surface bulging roots--had to cut down large silver maple), few/no fatal pests, tolerant of cold (MN), preferably able to take vari... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Cedar Elm in Kerrville TX April 28, 2012 We live in 10 miles outside Kerrville - have a Cedar Elm tree - planted 4 or 5 years ago, 15-20 foot high, is losing leaves in the top 1/4th. Rest of leaves look healthy and green. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Pruning live oak in Austin April 28, 2012 Hi, We recently purchased a house in South Austin and there is a huge Live Oak Tree about 6 feet from the back door (so so so love it!) The only real issues I have so far are: 1. Needing to trim a ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Speed of growth on plants from Plant Sale from Austin April 28, 2012 Hello, I recently attended the native plant sale and bought several plants for a sunny curbside bed in central Austin. Due to financial constraints I stuck with the 3 inch varieties so I could buy 3 ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Fast growing, flowering shade tree for Austin April 28, 2012 Sister just moved to Austin Texas. She is looking for fast growing shade trees, preferably one with nice flowers. Any suggestions? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Need help with a fungal disease in oak trees in Austin, TX April 26, 2012 Two adjacent oak trees in my yard are showing distinct symptoms of Sudden Oak Death. Most notably, the lowest ten feet of their trunks have several bleeding cankers with thick, tarry ooze and no accom... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Tree for South Dakota April 24, 2012 Sir, I am looking for suggestions on a backyard tree, nice shade tree 60-80' height to complement a split foyer house and a flowering crab that is currently there. Low maintenance, with no seeds or c... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Plants poisonous to dogs from Marion TX April 24, 2012 Is the desert willow poisonous to dogs? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Non-native, invasive Paulownia for San Marcos TX April 24, 2012 Can a Paulownia tree grow in San Marcos? If so were can I get one? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Privacy screen for pool from Southlake TX April 21, 2012 I have a row of 7 live oaks that help block my neighbors two story house. Unfortunately, there is a gap between each tree of about 8 feet wide and 15 feet tall (from ground to the first branches/ leav... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Shrub that will grow outside in Zone 5 from Millbrook NY April 21, 2012 Is there any shrub, tree or other sort of plant that will grow well in zone 5 in a very large container outdoors? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for oak acorns after planting from Huntsville TX April 21, 2012 I planted oak trees from acorns, how often and how much do I water them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Need a drought resistant, maintenance free tree in Thomasville, GA. April 20, 2012 I have been through many tree forums and asked several nurseries about a good tree to plant but nobody has provided an adequate answer and I hope you can help. I live in SW Georgia (Zone 8) and need ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Moving a large red horse chestnut tree in Jackson MI April 20, 2012 I have a red horse chestnut that is maybe 12 inches around, can I move it after the sap goes down about 10 miles to our new place? Sadly, I cannot afford to hire a tree truck. What are its chances? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Problems with Texas Ash from Sun City, AZ April 20, 2012 What might be causing the leaves on my Texas Ash tree to have brown spots and curl up and die? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Lopidea on Texas Mountain Laurel from Austin April 16, 2012 How do I get rid of the Lopidea ALL OVER my Texas Laurels and boring into the seed pods? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Evergreens for a deer corridor in MI April 16, 2012 I am growing three rows of evergreens for a wildlife, deer travel corridor, and am looking for which trees grow well together and are shade tolerant of each other when planted at the same time, or at ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Small trees for property edge in Katy TX April 16, 2012 By deed restriction, I must have five trees on the side of my small suburban lot just west of Houston, TX. Due to the lot layout, the trunks are only about 8-10 feet from the house, with the trees abo... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
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