Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
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.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Wednesday - March 31, 2010
From: Midland, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Pruning, Shrubs
Title: Removal of yaupon stumps in Midland TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
How is the best way to remove Yaupon tree stumps? We have 4 of them.ANSWER:
This is a little out of our usual line, but since Ilex vomitoria (yaupon) is a plant native to North America and to Texas, we'll cut a little slack. The most obvious answer is just to dig the thing up. They don't have terribly extensive roots and you can always saw through the larger roots closer to the stump with a pruning saw, and then get the extensions of those roots out separately. From Popular Mechanics, we found this article Do-It-Yourself Stump Grinding, which has suggestions mostly aimed at taking out a stump from a large, old tree. If you talk to a big box home improvement store in town, they probably have a small-size grinder, about the size of a lawnmower, for rent. Four shrub stumps should not take you very long, and the rental would probably be worth it to avoid the manual labor of grubbing out the roots.
More Shrubs Questions
Identification of spiky red berry in Connecticut
September 25, 2011 - I found an odd berry outside of my school, none of the science teachers know what it is though. It kind of looks like a spiked cherry. It has spikes on the outside, a pit on the insde, and has pinkish...
view the full question and answer
Do female possumhaws require male to bloom?
January 02, 2009 - Do female possumhaws require a male nearby to bloom? I've read that about yaupon hollies, but not possumhaws specifically.
Thanks.
view the full question and answer
Planting Texas Mountain Laurel to transplant to Dallas
August 29, 2012 - My daughter would like to incorporate a tree planting ceremony in her wedding in Texas. The seedling would be planted in a pot for a few years and later transplanted in a yard when they buy a home. Wo...
view the full question and answer
Is Crape Myrtle Native?
July 20, 2015 - Hello, I live in Frisco, TX. Can you tell me is there any Crape Myrtle which is native to Frisco, TX.
view the full question and answer
Native woodland plants for Benicia, California
May 20, 2009 - I am planting in raised beds around redwood trees, Japanese maples and rhododendrons in my backyard. I would like suggestions for native woodland plants to accompany my established plants. The area i...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |