Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

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.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Monday - April 04, 2011

From: Colleyville, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Oak sprouts in flower bed in Colleyville TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford

QUESTION:

We have a raised flower bed in our back yard that includes 2 live oak trees. We have a TON of shoots that keep popping up and make our bed look very untidy. My husband doesn't think the shoots are from the tree and we should dig up the entire area of these shoots. Question: How do you best handle shoots -- they are taking over!

ANSWER:

This is a question we get fairly frequently. Please see this previous answer which seems to address your questions. And yet another previous answer on how to get rid of them. And here is the previous previous question mentioned in the second one. We haven't found a better way, nor changed our tune.

You might consider moving the flower bed. Then you could nip off suckers and/or mow without messing around with your flowers. A nice layer of mulch, maybe 2 inches (but not piled against the tree trunk) will make it look neater, but won't stop the suckers.

 

More Trees Questions

Why didn't the mountain laurels bloom this year in Georgetown, TX?
June 19, 2014 - Why are the mountain laurels not blooming this year, I live in Georgetown, TX?
view the full question and answer

Need help with Tulip Tree in Jacksonville,Florida
July 03, 2012 - I planted a 20 foot tall Tulip Tree last spring. The hole I dug was double the size of what the tree came in. The tree was doing well until we got tropical storm Debby. In the middle of the night t...
view the full question and answer

Need recommendations for privacy screen in Richmond, VA
February 27, 2013 - Hello, I read through the previous posts on privacy screen plantings in the Mid Atlantic region. There was a lot of great information, but I has a specific question that was not answered. I would li...
view the full question and answer

Location of pine trees for a wedding site in Grapevine TX
April 30, 2014 - Okay, I know this is a long shot. My daughter is getting married in Grapevine, October 18 at sunrise. She REALLY wants to have the ceremony near pine trees. Any suggestions for locations in Grapevine ...
view the full question and answer

Tree for New Jersey shore
May 02, 2008 - I'm looking for a small tree (max. 15 ft. with small spread) that will tolerate salt spray, wind, and full sun at the NJ shore. There is no protection in this location.
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.