Woof, woof...is not what we mean The bark of a seedling is little more than a crêpe paper thin covering. The bark of a Cork Oak can be 8 inches thick and Redwoods can have 1 foot thick bark. The thickest bark is on ancient, giant Sequoia trees and is around 3 feet thick. Bark not only … Read more about What’s with that bark?
Don’t kill that insect!
Twice-stabbed lady beetle What's black, red and on your plants? I bet you automatically thought "Lady Bug" (which isn't actually a "bug", but is a true beetle). Today's insect du jour is a Twice-stabbed lady beetle. The Twice-stabbed lady beetle is a cousin of the Lady Beetle, only their … Read more about Don’t kill that insect!
Smut…not what your Granny warned about.
Help! It has a disease One of the reasons I love my job, is that I learn something every day. A few days ago, I was looking through one of my favorite books, Diseases of Trees and Shrubs (Sinclair, Lyon and Johnson...Comstock Publishing, 1987). Since I didn't know the name of what I was … Read more about Smut…not what your Granny warned about.
What caused that?
Hole Puncher? The crazy holes in this redbud should probably be viewed as a more of a curiosity than a true problem in the Houston area. Damage like this is either caused by a Leaf Cutter Bee or a Leaf Cutter Ant. If the entire plant is being stripped...then you got a … Read more about What caused that?
The greenhouse is up
....at last! It's been a long time since we had houseplants and they are starting to trickle in. We can special order plants for you and get them in pretty quickly, just let us know what you are looking for. Houseplants do more for your home than just looking pretty. They help clean the air and … Read more about The greenhouse is up
I want to be alone! (in your best Garbo voice)
What does that mean? Patty called last week and asked if Eucalyptus were allelopathic (al-le-lop-a-th-ic). "Are what?" She quickly explained what it meant. I Googled to find the answer and yes, they are. Of course that lead me down the research road and to this article. Allelopathy comes from … Read more about I want to be alone! (in your best Garbo voice)
Setting the record straight
I have a Pin Oak in my yard... uh...no, you don't. We get requests for Pin Oaks all the time. We don't grow them and I have never seen any available, from any grower that we buy trees from. It doesn't matter that the previous home owner said so, your Master Gardener friend said so or the House … Read more about Setting the record straight
Stingers, not stinkers
Just because they sting... Most wasps are beneficial because they eat other bugs. They are, however, more aggressive than common bees and can sting multiple times. If you disturb their nest or kill one, they release chemicals that signal the nest to attack. This is a defence mechanism, so you … Read more about Stingers, not stinkers