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Thought For the day: Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.

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I have had 3-4 different lilac bushes for the last 4 years - No Flowers!!! Yet there is an old lilac bush approximately 5 feet away that always blooms. Why haven't these bushes flowered? I would like to see some flowers next spring. What do you suggest? Lilac Is My Color

First Lilacs can take up to 7 years to come into bloom. Provide full sun, 5-10-5 fertilizer spring and fall and be patient.

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I recently bought a small hydrangea bush. Beautiful blue flowers, however with the heat during the summer, the color didn't last as long as I hoped. It has just recently blossomed one last blue flower. Must have been the rain we received since. Anyway, my question is: do I cut all the brown flowers off? And if I do, when does this get done? Hydrangia Lover

Dear Hydrangea Lover, You may harvest the spent flowers (they're great in dried arrangements) any time but NEVER prune the bush from the top.

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Please advise when and how to winter over my Butterfly bush; should it be cut back, can I divide it, and if so, how. Also, the squirrels have turned into demons these past 2 years. They eat my tomatoes, green or red, are eating my zinnias, and something is eating up my melons. Is this a temporary situation due to the drought, or a change in diet? Any suggestions on how to prevent this for next year? They're getting as bad as the deer!! Thank you for your help and advice. Janet FItzgerald JanetFitz@aol.com

Janet, The Buddlia or butterfly bush overwinters without much help. I don't divide mine but you can prune it next early spring by as much as 50%. To Protect your bounty from the thieves, try boiling hot peppers and garlic, run them through the blender then strain and spray the liquid about once a week.

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Hi Greg - We need your advice. This past June, we've planted a variety of shrubs - 3 dwarf barberry, a Japanese lace maple, 3 dwarf Alberta spruce, a purple sand cherry, and a dwarf blue spruce. We did everything according to what the nursery told us: top soil, fertilizer, mulch, watered 2-3 times a week. However, we've recently lost one Alberta spruce, 2 barberry's, and the Japanese maple isn't looking too good. We're not sure what the cause is, but these are some possibilities:1) our front yard is full sun (and our house is white which reflects th light) perhaps too much for theses plants; or 2) visits by some of the neighborhood dogs. There's not much I can do about the first, but can anything be done to keep the dogs away, short of a fence? Help! Chris & Tina

Hi Chris & Tina, All of the plants you mentioned can do well in the sun but I would bet by favorite trowel that they didn't get enough water. There is watering and there is watering. The soil needs to be SOAKED down to at least 1 foot deep especially with new plantings. Spritzing the foliage for 5-10 minutes ain't going to do it. Try one of the several "Dog Repellents" that are on the market which work quite well.

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Hi Greg, I always enjoy listening to you on WHUD, but I have always been in my car on my way to work when you are on. I am so glad to be able to ask you questions on the web. My question has to do with azalea bushes. My husband and I bought a home last October. The property already had azalea bushes, but we would like to transplant them to a different part of the yard, if that is possible. When is the best time of year to do this? Also, how much sun or shade to these bushes require and how often should they be fertilized and with what? Thanks for your advise. Maureen in Patterson, NY Maureen

Hi Maureen, The best time to move azaleas is the first part of April. Fertilize in November and April with a 5-10-5 and they will tolerate shade but will bloom better in the sun.

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Do I cut off the flowers on my Hydranga plant? I want to transplant it. I just want to move it over about 3 feeet from where it is now. suggestion s - when should I do this. ? any special soil? thanks , leslie

Leslie, You may harvest the blooms from your hydrangea, move it the first part of April and incorporate good quantities of compost in the new hole.

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Hi Greg, I was wondering if you would give me some information about my vegetable garden. This year I planted a few zucchini plants, but to no avail it never produced any zucchinis. I'm stuck, what am I doing wrong. Everything else is growing vegetables. Thanks for your help. Miriam

Hi Miriam, Without seeing it, I'm not sure. Zucchini is usually easy to grow. Perhaps your plants developed male and female flowers at different times which can sometimes happen. Make sure your vegetable patch has great quantities of compost worked in deep this fall, fertilize with a 5-10-5 at planting time and try again.

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Greg. Just looked at your picture and bio. Your bio says you were born in Connecticut 20 years ago. You are a very good looking man, but you do not look 20 years old. Just a little suggestion.... update your bio. I love listening to you on Thursday mornings, however, I can never get through to ask you a question. But now I can email you my questions. Wishing I was born 20 years ago..... Barbara

Barbara, Thanks for the suggestion but my bio was written three weeks ago. I have no idea what you're talking about.........

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Hi Greg, I have a lawn that is overwhelmed with large roots on the surface. They come from huge maple trees. Is it true, if I put top soil on top of these roots that they will subside or will I have to keep doing this? Is there any other solution to this problem. Right now I'm afraid someone is going to twist their ankle or worse. Thank you, Mary Ann Landolina

Hi Mary Ann Do not take stock market tips from the same person that told you to cover the roots. BAD advice! In time that practice will kill the maples. The roots are growing there because that's where maple roots like to grow. It's a common problem with maples, pines, willows and other shallow rooted trees. First, assess whether you really need or want a lawn there. Probably not and if that's the case, I recommend planting a nice ground cover in the area of the roots such as vinca or pachysandra (not ivy) or covering the whole area with 2-3 inches of wood chip mulch. In general shallow rooted trees and lawns don't mix!

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Hi Greg! It is great to be able to e-mail you. I listen to your comments on the radio and decided to ask you about our miniature Japanese maple. We have to trees, which were planted by previous owner. One was broken in half in 1995 winter by the snow, but was rescued by putting wire around unbroken branches and grows well. Other one, which looks older and is much more beautiful with curved trunk, is not doing very well. Already last year lost a lot of leaves and in the spring some branches were dead. I though that was due to were dried weather last year. In the spring most branches had nice leaves but by now most of them are drying on the outside. I try to water as much as I can but with drought restriction I think it was not enough. Also I am afraid that it may have some disease. What about fungus ? How that can be diagnosed. Help! Betka

Hi Betka, I agree that it probably didn't get enough water. If it has now gone through two "dry" years, it may be on it's way out. Make sure it goes into the winter with fat roots meaning water often and deeply between now and November and then fertilize with 10-6-4 November and April. Good luck!

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Gregg I planted 2 Rhododendron plants after the spring. I watered per instructions from the greenhouse. It is producing some red leaves . Can you tell me are there any other instructions for feeding that can be used, also when can I expect any to see any flowers ? Thank you Ron D'Elia

Ron, I feed my Rhodys with a 5-10-5 in November. If you are seeing fat flower buds on the tips now, you will have blooms next spring. If not it may take another year

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Hi I need to know when the best time is to move a holly tree. Thank You Navsno@aol.

Transplanting of you Ilex is best done in the first part of April.

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My butterfly bush got hit with the branches of a fallen tree in last weeks storm. I cut off the broken branches. Anything else I should do for it before the winter? I just planted it this spring. Thanks for your help.

Feed your buddlea with a 5-10-5 this fall and again in the spring. It'll be fine!

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Hi Greg - I have a climbing rose that is 3 years old. It has grown beautifully and fills the side of the house but it has never bloomed. I gave it super phosphate this year but nothing yet. It gets good sun and is surrounded by other roses that bloom regularly. What do I do to get it to bloom? Thanks for your help. Love your show.

Thanks for the compliment! Prune you climber next spring before the new growth starts by 50%, fertilize with 5-10-5, then stand back!

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When is the best time to trim Rhododendrims and holly bushes

Rhodys can be pruned immediately after bloom and hollies in May.

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As with many other folks the storm has damaged much of my garden. We have a climbing rose that is taller then the posrch roof on our house. The storm knocked the trelis and bush over. Although we have uprighted it I need to cut it back. Is it ok to cut it down to approx three feet in height this time of year. I am afraid that if we have a severe winter I will loose my rose bush altogether. Thank you D. J. Ramus Ft. Montgomery, NY

Hi D.J. You can prune back your rose now but if possible, I would wait until the spring. How about tying it back up jus for the winter?

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Greg, please tell me what time of year would be the best time to move my Andromida and Mt. Laurel bushes? They were planted last year, and I have planted them too close together. Also, why would the tips of the leaves on the Mt. Laurel turn brown? I have tried many times to ask you a question on WHUD, but have never had the good fortune of being able to connect. Would appreciate your help in answering the questions. Thank you. Linda Brickman

Linda, Move them the first part of April. The brown tips were probably caused by insufficient water .

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Dear Greg, I love your Q&A page, many are the same questions I would have. A new one is when should I split day lilies and other perennials? Now or in the spring? You also mentioned courses at NY Botanical Gardens. Can you tell us when they are? Thank you again. Ernestine (EW from page 3)

Dear Ernestine, Thanks for the compliments. I never get tired of hearing them. While it's not true for all perennials, you can divide day lilies and many others in the spring. I teach several courses at The New York Botanical Garden including one at Rockefeller University in Manhattan and one in the New Canaan (CT) Nature Center. Check with NYBG for dates and times at (718) 817-8700. Thanks!

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Hi Greg, Thank you for all the valuable information and gardening tips. Greg, I have a golden and red delicious apple tree, plus a peach tree. They are 2 years old.. This year we had many buds, but when it came for fruit, almost all of it fell to the ground. We were lucky that we were able to water. We did not spray tho. Also, can we prune back the trees? We live in an area that they can't get to big. Also, we planted garlic last year. When we dug them up, they were very small, and did not have that white tissue wrapped around them. What did we do wrong? Thanks for all your help Rosemary

Hi Rosemary, Make sure your fruit trees have sufficient fertilizer. I use a 5-10-5 November April and June. They can be pruned in January. The garlic also sounds malnourished. Feed with a 5-10-5 and make sure the soil has lots of good compost. Good Luck!

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I transplanted a mountain laurel after all flowers dropped off this summer and now all the leaves have turned brown; but have not fallen off. What is it lacking??? What can I do to help it??? It desperatley needed to be transplanted as it was hidden under a hydrangia.

You transplanted it at the wrong time and the roots did not recover with the hot dry summer. Feed it this fall with a 5-10-5, water well and keep your fingers crossed for next year.

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Any suggestions for two plants to close together . It is a snow ball bush and a rose of sharon bush. How & when should they be seperated/ transplanted???

They can both be easily be transplanted next April. If the roots are intertwined, just cut them apart with a hatchet.

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Greg Quinn's thought for the day: Money isn't everything, but it sure keeps the kids in touch.

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Greg, recently I noticed that my dogwood trees, crab apple trees, and one of my ash trees have some sort of bug. ON the crab apple and dogwoods I can see holes bored into the trunk and if I peel off bark, which is starting to come lose, I find small white worms. On the ash tree, whatever it is is having a hard time getting through the bark, but I notice small holes starting on the trunk. I have the trees sprayed professionally each year. Do you have any ideas?? Also I planted some blue spruce this year and one of them is turning brown and loosing its color. Any answers. Thank You Fred Weber

Fred, I would speak with the arborist that is spraying your trees. He may not be using the right treatment for what sounds like borers. Ask him or her to come over and look at the trees and discuss a remedy. If they are not cooperative or don't seem knowledgeable, it may be time for a change. As for your spruce situation, it sounds like the familiar song I've been singing "Not Enough Water!" Make sure it goes into the winter well soaked and keep your fingers crossed. It doesn't sound great.

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I have some mature Holly bushes that I would like to move. Can you tell me when the best time for transplanting these would be?

The first part of April is when I try to do all of my transplanting. Good luck!

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Hi Greg, This passed year after our tulips bloomed, we were visited by deer who ate only the tops of the tulip blooms. Will these tulips ever come back and bloom since they were not able to die off naturally? I am afraid we will only have the plants return next year with no flowers. Should we start over this year and plant new bulbs this fall? Is there something we could use to prevent the deer from eating these beautiful flowers? There were also daffodils planted in the same area, but they were not eaten, I guess the deer only prefer tulips. Thanks, Maureen

Hi Maureen, If in fact the deer only ate the blooms, which is what they normally do, and the foliage was allowed to go through it's cycle and naturally turn yellow, then you should have plenty of deer food, oops.... I mean blossoms this year. You can try a homemade repellent this year. Boil several chopped hot peppers (the hotter the better) with a lot of crushed garlic. Strain the liquid and spray the buds often before and after they open. As insurance, you may want to put in more perennials this year. You can never have too much. Daffodils are the safest of all flowers to grow in deer country. They HATE them!

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is it safe to cut back a rubber tree, when it gets tall and floppy?

Hi, how are you? I'm fine, thanks for asking...hope all is well with you too. Your very welcome......... You can cut back your "ficus elastica" and even root the cuttings. "OOPS THERE GOES.... ANOTHER RUBBER TREE PLANT!"