About Mary Kay Pope

Mary Kay is an asset to Backbone and a wealth of knowledge! Many customers come in and ask for her by name for all their plant questions. It's no wonder why, as Mary Kay has 47 years of experience in the horticulture field. She holds a B.S. in Horticulture from Ohio State University, a TMCNP and a TCLP from Texas Association of Nurserymen, a Specialist in Urban Trees Certification from Texas A&M, and is a Certified Arborist.

Palo Verde Caterpillar

  Has your 'Desert Museum' Palo Verde tree suddenly appeared to have lost all its leaves? If so, it could be the work of the Palo Verde Caterpillar. This night-feeding caterpillar is difficult to find during the day, as it tends to find a cooler spot to hang out. A large number of these chompers can defoliate an established Palo Verde tree almost overnight.             Here's the good news. This caterpillar has a relatively short lifespan and established trees are rarely harmed. By the time [...]

By |2026-05-24T13:37:28-05:00May 24th, 2026|Insects, Trees|
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What “Overwatering” Really Means

What “Overwatering” Really Means Gardening customers across Central Texas often tell us the same thing: “I’m afraid of overwatering my plants.” That fear causes many container plants to decline long before summer heat arrives. Ironically, most struggling potted plants suffer from incomplete watering, not too much water at one time. "I don't want to overwater so I just give it a little bit" is something I hear almost every day. True overwatering does not happen because you applied a generous amount of water during one watering session. Overwatering occurs when [...]

By |2026-05-20T13:25:41-05:00May 20th, 2026|Plants|
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How to Attract Butterflies to Your Central Texas Garden

How to Attract Butterflies to Your Central Texas Garden (Year-Round Guide) If you want a garden that feels alive, colorful, and constantly in motion, butterflies are the answer. In Central Texas, you can attract a wide variety of butterflies by planting the right mix of native and well-adapted nectar plants that bloom across the seasons. With a little planning, your garden can support butterflies from early spring through late fall. Let’s walk through how to build a butterfly-friendly garden that works with our climate—not against it. Why Butterflies Love Native [...]

By |2026-05-11T10:17:43-05:00May 10th, 2026|Insects, Plants, Native Plants|
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Lightning Bugs in Central Texas

Lightning Bugs in Central Texas: Why Fireflies Belong in Your Garden Few sights capture a warm Central Texas evening like the soft glow of lightning bugs. Beyond their charm, these beneficial insects—also called fireflies—play an important role in a healthy landscape. If you want a garden that’s both beautiful and ecologically balanced, it’s worth making space for them. Why Lightning Bugs Matter Lightning bugs are more than backyard magic. Their larvae are active predators that live in the soil and leaf litter, where they feed on a variety of soft-bodied [...]

By |2026-05-06T11:37:30-05:00May 6th, 2026|Insects, Native Plants|
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Thrips in Central Texas Gardens

Thrips in Central Texas Gardens: Easy Identification & Control Guide If your flowers look streaked, your buds won’t open, or your vegetables have silvery scars, thrips may be the culprit. These tiny pests love our hot, dry Texas weather and can damage both flowers and food crops quickly. 🔍 What Are Thrips?   Thrips are tiny, slender insects that feed by piercing plant tissue and sucking out juices. They’re hard to see—but their damage is easy to spot. Tip: You’ll almost always notice damage before you ever see the insect. 👉 [...]

By |2026-04-28T13:39:37-05:00April 28th, 2026|Vegetable Gardening, Insects, Plants, Trees, Houseplants, Native Plants|
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How to Control Annual Bluegrass in Central Texas Lawns

How to Control Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua) in Central Texas Lawns If you’ve noticed bright green clumps popping up across your lawn in late winter and early spring, you’re likely dealing with annual bluegrass (Poa annua). This cool-season grassy weed thrives in Central Texas conditions and has become one of the most frustrating lawn problems for homeowners. As a horticulturist working here in the Texas Hill Country, I want to give you a clear, realistic approach to managing it—because the old “just use a pre-emergent” advice isn’t working like it [...]

By |2026-04-23T14:13:55-05:00April 23rd, 2026|Weeds, Lawn Care|
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How to Control Rescuegrass in Central Texas Lawns (Before It Takes Over)

If you’ve noticed patches of light green, fast-growing grass popping up in your lawn during the cooler months, you’re likely dealing with rescuegrass. This common Central Texas weed can be frustrating, but understanding its life cycle is the key to getting ahead of it. What Is Rescuegrass? Rescuegrass is an annual cool-season grass, which means it germinates in the fall, grows through winter and early spring, and then dies out naturally once the summer heat arrives. While that might sound like good news, the problem is that it produces plenty [...]

By |2026-04-23T13:59:13-05:00April 23rd, 2026|Weeds, Lawn Care|
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How to Grow Antelope Horn Milkweed from Seed

How to Grow Antelope Horn Milkweed from seed (Asclepias asperula) Antelope horn milkweed (Asclepias asperula) is a tough, drought-adapted native that supports monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Because Central Texas soils and climate can be challenging, proper seed preparation and early care are essential. Follow these steps to improve germination and establish healthy plants. Why Grow Antelope Horn Milkweed? First, this native species thrives in rocky, well-drained soils common across the Hill Country. Additionally, it serves as a host plant for monarch caterpillars and provides nectar for beneficial insects. For [...]

By |2026-04-22T14:54:59-05:00April 22nd, 2026|Native Plants, Plants|
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13-13-13 Fertilizer-Good or Bad?

Is 13-13-13 fertilizer good or bad for Central Texas soils? If you garden in Central Texas, you’ve probably seen bags of “all-purpose” fertilizer labeled 13-13-13 and wondered if it’s a safe default. It isn’t—and in our region, it can actually make things worse. Our Soils Aren’t a Blank Slate Most soils across the Hill Country and surrounding areas are naturally alkaline and already high in phosphorus (P). This comes from the underlying limestone geology and years of fertilizer use. A soil test from Texas A&M Soil Testing Lab will often [...]

By |2026-04-15T15:09:25-05:00April 15th, 2026|Palms, Ornamental Trees, Native Plants, Trees, Plants, Lawn Care, Vegetable Gardening|
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Tomato Mega Blooms

Title: What Are Tomato “Mega Blooms”? (And Should You Be Excited or Worried?) If you’ve been out in your Central Texas garden lately and noticed a giant, almost strange-looking tomato flower—maybe thick, fused, or just extra—you’ve likely encountered what we call a tomato mega bloom. These unusual blossoms can catch even seasoned gardeners off guard, so let’s dig into what they are, why they happen, and whether they’re something you should celebrate… or pinch off. 🌼 What Is a Tomato Mega Bloom?   A tomato mega bloom (also called a [...]

By |2026-04-09T09:46:15-05:00April 9th, 2026|Plants, Vegetable Gardening|
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Oak Pollen Benefits

Every spring in Central Texas, oak trees put on their dusty yellow show—and most folks see oak pollen as nothing but a nuisance. Cars turn chartreuse, allergies flare, and patio furniture looks like it’s been rolled in cornmeal. But in a garden, oak pollen is far from useless. In fact, it plays several quiet but meaningful roles in a healthy landscape. A Natural Nutrient Booster Oak pollen is essentially plant protein and micronutrients in powder form. When it settles onto soil, mulch, or lawn, it begins to break down quickly [...]

By |2026-04-01T15:58:45-05:00April 1st, 2026|Plants, Trees|
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Do you need advice on what to plant in Central Texas?

If you need advice on what to plant in a specific location of your landscape in Central Texas, there are several key pieces of information that you need to bring to the experts at Backbone in order to receive a recommendation that will thrive in your landscape. Let's go over the information to consider before choosing a tree, shrub or perennial plant for you landscape. What type of soil are you planting in? Central Texas has a variety of soil types, and each one has its own specific properties. Does [...]

By |2026-03-15T08:50:32-05:00March 15th, 2026|Disease, Fruit & Nuts, Plants, Trees, Yucca and Agave, Native Plants, Ornamental Trees|
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