Q: I love Pride of Houston yaupon hollies, but I don’t live in Houston. Is there a similar variety for my city and its soils? A: Don’t be concerned by that variety’s name. Pride of Houston will grow ...

Q: We have alkaline soil and heavy shade. Cotton root rot has become a real problem. What can I plant beneath our live oaks that will also be highly resistant or immune to the root rot? A: Cotton root ...

Dear Neil: I read your column in Central Texas. My house was built in 2017 and I bought it in 2021. I had two beautiful elm trees in my front yard. One died suddenly earlier this year. I had it ...

Dear Neil: I have several rose of Sharon plants, and two have died suddenly. What causes that? A: Cotton root rot fungus. It's a nasty disease that remains in the soil for years. It attacks and ...