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Greg Quinn's thought for the day: Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.

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Hi Greg. I, too, am a devoted fan. Thanks for all the help! Thought you might have some ideas. I want to plant along the road to create a visual boundary. I'm in a very rustic and woodsy area and want it all to look full and natural. There's a number of old tall trees on my side as well as across the road, so there's not much direct sun when everything is in bloom. I put in a couple of Rose of Sharon but would love to add more. Any suggestions? Thanks!!

The only evergreens (for year round privacy) that do OK in the shade are hollies and hemlocks. Hollies are beautiful but are slower growing and about three times as expensive.

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Dear Greg I listen to and enjoy your answers on WHUD on Thursdays. Starting about five years ago my two neighbors both starting having a silverish cast to their hemlock hedges which they were told was a mite infestation peculiar to hemlock. They both bought a spray which seemed to stop the spread and the hemlocks started to fill in again. Now, starting late last summer, my trimmed, spreading yews seem to have a silverish cast and the grass under a maple tree in the rear of my house is covered with a silverish dust. Could the mites have become less finicky about hemlock? If so, how should I fight them? A spray would seem logical but what would be safe for such a variety of plants? Thanks in advance for your help, Jim Greenwood

Hi Jim, The problem with the hemlocks was not a mite but rather a critter called a Wooley Adelgid. It is unique to the hemlocks and will not attack any other specie in this part of the country. I'm afraid I can tell what this problem isn't but not what it is. I need more details of the actual insect or disease attacking your yews and lawn before recommending a treatment.

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Mr. Quinn, I've heard different stories from different sources - can you tell me... 1) When I should prune my Rose of Sharon and my Lilac bush? (spring, fall, before leaves open, after they've dropped off) The Rose of Sharon has just gotten HUGE so I want to cut it back a little but the Lilac, which is big is getting a little sparse in the middle. Am I supposed to cut the flowers off after they bloom? 2) I've transplanted some of the lilacs' "suckers" - Should I feed them? If so what? It seems everyone I talk to has some secret "old wives tale" that they swear is the thing to do. Thanks in advance for the professional advice! Robert Loprinzo

Hi Robert, I don't know about a secret old wife's tale but I can tell you what is botanically and physiologically correct. Prune your Rose of Sharon in the spring before or as new growth starts. It blooms on new wood. Prune your lilac only and always at the bottom, never from the top. Cut out 33% of the oldest, thickest trunks. It blooms on last year wood. It's a good idea to "dead head" flowers any time feasible. Feed your little lilacs with a 5-10-5 and remember, it may take up to seven years for them to produce blossoms.

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Hi, I live in a high-range style home. Under the picture window in the front of the house, there is a small area designed for flowers. It measures approximately 3 to 4 feet deep and about 7 feet long. This area does not get much sun at any time of the year. What would you recommend I plant there that will not block the window? Thanks for you help. Michelle Baker

Hi Michelle, There are many, many plants that might do well in this large area. I'm not able to list all the possibilities because of time and space constraints and even if I were I would have to know much more about the exact conditions, heights, desired effects, esthetic preferences, etc., etc. I suggest to go through a bunch of catalogs and look for plants that do well in the shade and then match them to your requirements.

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Hi Greg, We have 2 Alberta Spruce trees that have grown to be about 11-12 feet tall. I would like to know if they can be trimmed down to about 7 feet tall or will that ruin the natural growth pattern? Thanks for your help. J. R.

Hi J.R. If you prune them down from the top they will loose they're apical dominance and be ruined. Sorry.

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Hi Greg, What can we use to spray our peach trees to prevent bugs and disease? We moved into our home two years ago and there were already two peach trees planted. Last year we had peaches, but they were no good. Looks like the peaches themselves were eaten by bugs or a type of disease. They had black spots on them and they were very small. Thanks, Maureen

Hi Maureen, Spray your peaches starting now with one of the "Home Orchard Sprays" strictly according to label directions. It is available in all garden centers.

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I have had a problem with the deer eating my holly bushes. There is hardly any foliage left. Will they come back or do I have to plant new ones? These are about 10 years old. I do not always hear you on the radio because of my work so would appreciate an e-mail in return. Thank you in advance. Grace Hamor

Hi Grace, Your Hollies will refoliate just fine but you must protect them from future "munching." Use some of the repellent sprays and netting if necessary.

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Greg- keep up the good work! I have a Eureka lemon tree that got shocked when we moved in Jan (coldest day of the year!). All the leaves fell and I cut it back completely and are starting to sprout. Any special care or fertilizer to aid in the process? -joe curto

I would fertilize the lemon with a 15-30-15 water soluble fertilizer such as Miracle-Gro. After May 15th, you can move it outside again.

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Well, I have lots of pets. My dogs seem to like eating the dirt from my floor plants. I have even caught my older dog "stealing" potted plants off the porch in summer. What is it that attracts them and how do I deter them from making such a mess ( never mind harming the plant). Love listening to your knowledge, thanks

Thanks. I'm not sure what it is that's attracting them but if you sprinkle the soil with a very hot dried pepper flakes it should cure the problem.

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hi Greg, I have a indoor jade plant which seems to be dieing. The leave are falling and some of the branches are shriveling, when I cut them off, they are black, not green. What have I done. I love this plant & don't want to lose it. Regards, Peg Dorry, Black Thumb!!

Hi Peg, It sounds like you may have root rot due to overwatering. Slip it out of the pot and check the roots. If they are soft and squishy or if there is a rotting smell, that's it. You'll need to trim of the rotting roots, dust the remaining ones with garden sulfur and repot it in the same type of soil mix. Jades are succulent and don't need a lot of water. Good luck.

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DEAR GREG, LAST WEEK YOU SPOKE ABOUT ROSES WHEN THEY TURN BLACK. YOU MENTIONED USING A TSP. OF BAKING SODA OR WAS IT BAKING POWDER WITH A GALLON OF WATER? THAT WAS AFTER YOU CUT THEM 8 TO 12" FROM ROOT. PLEASE GIVE ME THAT FORMULA AGAIN THANK YOU E-MAIL ME AT JKELLY2430@AOL.COM JOANNE KELLY FISHKILL,NEW YORK

Hi Joanne, I use 2 Tablespoons of baking soda per gallon of water for the control of black spot.

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Hi Greg, I'd like to try my hand at growing strawberries this year (in a hanging tower) type of pot. I live in a condo and my deck gets morning sun till about 1 p.m. Do you think I'll have much luck living in the Dutchess area and if so, can you recommend a certain soil or plant food I should use? Also, should I be concerned about any type of bug or beetle that may cause damage? Thank you for your time and I look forward to a response! Have a great Day! Barbara

Hi Barbara, Yeah, you should have good luck. Use a rich soil and feed them with a fertilizer with a high middle number such as a 5-10-5 or a 15-30-15. Insects should not be too much of a problem but if you see some you may use rotenone according to label directions.

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Hi Greg. I'm wondering what you can tell me about bonsai. After losing my first to an accidental "drought," I learned they must be kept moist and made sure to water my next one daily. The soil eventually seemed to develop a fungus or something, so I cut back my watering to every other day or so depending on the humidity in the house. Nevertheless all the leaves have turned brown and all the main branches have become brittle. Only one lonely branch has retained a tinge of green and remains pliable. Is it a goner or does that one branch represent hope? Could this type of thing be attributed to overpruning? What kind of fertilizer do bonsai like? I'm hoping your advice can turn my black thumb green! Thanks a bunch... Kim

Hi Kim, The problem with most Bonsai is that they need humidity more than water. People often confuse these two. If your bonsai is still alive, put it in a clear, plastic dry cleaner bag "tent," out of the sun until May 15th and then you can place it outside. This will provide the needed humidity around the foliage; a sort of miniature greenhouse. The humidity in most homes drops to 3% during the heating season and most bonsai need up to 30%. Watering the soil doesn't help the humidity.