Native Plants
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.
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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
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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Tuesday - July 31, 2012
From: Marlin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Diseases and Disorders, Trees
Title: Recently planted Chinquapin Oak with browning leaves in Marlin, TX.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills
QUESTION:
We planted a Chinquapin Oak this in March 2012. As of July 21, 2012, the tips of the leaves on the lower branches are turning brown. We cannot see any insects. There does not appear to be any fungus on the leaves that you can see. Soil is a sandy loam with a clay subsoil. We are in east Falls County, Texas about 100 miles NE of Austin.ANSWER:
Whenever Mr. Smarty Plants hears about newly planted trees having problems, his thoughts turn to transplant shock. When plants are moved from location to another, it takes a while for the roots to adjust to their new environment and become established well enough to support the shoots. These two links to northscaping.com can help you get your oak tree through these trying times.
Ten Tips for Minimizing Transplant Shock
First Year Tree and Shrub Care
From the Image Gallery
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