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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| Goldenrod not blooming in Lecanto FL September 19, 2010 My goldenrod(fireworks) grows only like a groundcover(3" tall) and does not flower. It is in full sun in my garden in Lecanto, Florida(zone 9A). What could be wrong? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When is the best time to trim oak trees in Driftwood TX? September 09, 2010 When is the best time to trim oak trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Blackfoot daisy declining in Austin September 04, 2010 My Blackfoot Daisies have grown large, bushy, have bloomed well over the past two summers. Now parts of the plants are drying up, dying. Will pruning out the dead parts help the plants to survive, or ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Copper Canyon daisy leaves turning yellow in Spring Branch TX September 01, 2010 My Copper Canyon daisies have grown well this year but the leaves are turning yellow. Any ideas? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Branches of yucca being blown down in Torrance CA August 19, 2010 I have a Yucca tree about 30 ft tall. Lately when the wind picks up in Torrance we have had about 3 branches fall out of the tree. Can you help me with this. I don't want to cut all of the branches... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Tool for removing live oak root shoots in Gonzales TX August 09, 2010 I've read your answer to live oak root shoots. You said to get rid of them by going 2 to 4 inches below the surface and cutting them. What tool is best for this shoot removal? I'm getting very tir... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Removal of honeysuckle bushes from Coaldale Alberta Canada July 30, 2010 I have 2 honeysuckle bushes that I want to get rid of. I am wondering if Honeysuckle bushes have very deep roots (are they hard to dig out?) I am 70 years old and didn't know if I'd be able to dig ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Best time of year to trim oak trees from Beloit WI July 23, 2010 What is the best time of year to trim oak trees? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| How can I control underground runners from from Pride of Houston Yaupons in Austin, TX? July 16, 2010 How can I control the underground runners from the Pride of Houston Yaupons? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Deadheading Mexican hat to produce more blooms in Austin July 05, 2010 I have several Mexican hat (rudbeckia) plants growing wild in my yard. Would deadheading now give them a second flush of bloom in fall? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer |  | |
| Runaway growth on mountain laurel in Coolidge AZ July 01, 2010 I have 2 mountain laurels. They are thriving well. In fact one is growing way too fast. I am growing it as a tree, but the branches are in excess of 6 feet, while the trunk is only 18 or so inches. I ... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Ash tree dying back to lower sprouts in Kempner TX June 19, 2010 My 2 year old ash tree leaves dropped, appears dead, branches dying. New growth near base of tree. Do I cut upper trunk or remove entire tree? My other ash is doing well. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Care for large trumpet vine in Hugo MN June 09, 2010 I was recently given a large Trumpet vine that has been growing in the same place for the last 25 years.I have replanted it and given it a large trellis to grow on.I live in central Minnesota. My ques... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming iris leaves in Pickerington OH June 08, 2010 I recently trimmed the stems and leaves of my iris plants in late May - I realize now this was a bit early. The leaves are still about 3-4" out of the ground. I would like to half them and move som... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| When may I remove seed heads from yuccas? June 07, 2010 Soft tip yuccas dominate my home's landscape. When is the best time to remove the heavy seed heads after flowering? In addition to being difficult to work around, the pods seem to attract infestatio... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Trimming back freeze damage from Anacacho orchid in Liberty Hill TX May 17, 2010 When is it safe to trim back what I think is dead wood on my Anacacho orchid trees (that were hit hard this past winter)? Is there any harm done if I cut back living wood? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Anacacho Orchid tree in Austin May 17, 2010 I have an Anacacho Orchid that is about 9ft tall. It is early May and has not started to put out leaves yet on the old growth. I can't even see any noticeable buds yet. It is still alive because I ha... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Over-trimmed junipers in Shell Beach CA May 16, 2010 Help! My husband decided to "trim" the juniper bushes that are in front of our house that create a great private front yard. I guess he cut back into the dead wood and now nothing is regrowing. It'... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Problems with Texas Mountain Laurel in Dallas May 04, 2010 I have a Texas Mountain Laurel that is about 3 years old. When I bought it 2 summers ago, it was about a foot high. Now it is over 6 feet. It seems to have grown so fast that the branches can't ke... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Cold damage to Texas wild olive tree in San Antonio May 02, 2010 I have a Texas Olive tree that was unprotected from the 2010 cold winter here in San Antonio, TX. It is the end of April and there is no sign of growth on any of the branches. If the tree is still a... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Failure to thrive of Texas Mountain Laurel in Austin May 02, 2010 I have an adult (over 25 years?, 20 feet tall?) Mountain Laurel next to my house in Austin. The winter of 2009/10 it lost most of its leaves. It did bloom and leaf out this Spring--not vigorous espec... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Can I save my century plant by cutting the flowering stalk in Austin, TX? Probably not. April 28, 2010 Our century plant is starting to sprout it's flower (four feet). If we cut it down can we save the plant? Thank you. View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Young yaupon trunks bending in Houston April 26, 2010 I have new yaupon in this their second summer which are bending over about half-way up their trunk, at around two feet - do I trim them or stake them? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Correcting overgrown Savannah holly in Goldsboro NC April 24, 2010 I have an overgrown Savannah Holly. How do I go about correcting? View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
| Shape of common ninebark in Canton MI April 24, 2010 I have planted one center glow ninebark in a triangular area in between my front walk and driveway. It looks a little odd just having one plant, but I originally did this b/c of the mature plant heig... View Mr. Smarty Plants' Answer | ||
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