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Greg Quinn's Thought for the day:Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.

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I missed the cut back time last fall to cut back my mums, due to illness. Can this be done anytime soon, or will the plants come back on their own?

Trim off any of last year's dead branches, then cut 50% of the total height in mid-May, again in mid-June and in mid-July.

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Hi Greg, I have hundreds of tulips beginning to poke up. I also have a huge herd of deer that often pass through at night who have begun to munch on the greens, and in the process pull out a number of bulbs. What can I do? Jayne Davis

Hi Jayne, The only ways to control deer for the present are fences and repellents. Both have limited effecacy. I wish I had a cure for you.

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Hi Greg! I Listen to you every week on my way to work and told my husband about your expertise. He wants to know if it's too early to start planting Christmas trees. Thanks. Paula

Hi Paula, Trees can comfortably be planted between March 1st and May 15th.

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I JUST PURCHASED SOME HOSTA BULBS AND WANT TO KNOW IF I CAN PLANT THEM NOW OR SHOULD I WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WARMER??

Hostas may be planted after April 15th.

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Dear Greg, I have a holly bush that has turned grey on the outer leaves. What do you think happened? It was OK over the holidays. Do you think a good fertilizer (what kind?) and a pruning will fix it? Thanks, Sandy Pizzuto

P.S. This happened a few years ago and I had to cut half of it off. It's taken a long time to grow back. This time I'd like to do something before the gray leaves spread too far.

Hi Sandy, It sounds like winter burn caused by exposure to cold and wind. The brown foliage will eventually fall off or you can trim it back. Next fall, spray your illex with an anti-desicant to protect it during the winter. I would feed it with a 10-6-4 or "Holly-Tone."

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Dear Greg, I live on 3 acres of wooded land in Cornwall and have for the last 15 years. I have a man-made pond around which is a semi-cleared area but many tall elms/maples. This season, for the first time, I have noticed a very odd occurence. On about 4 separate trees, about 3 feet up from ground level are conical holes 2-4" in outside diameter, with all the woodchips on the ground from this drilling. The holes are perhaps 3"deep and there seems to be evidence of smaller borings deeper into the trees...like little tunnels. Each tree has perhaps 4-5 such holes, all at the same level and the piles of woodchips on the ground is really impressive! I also notice that where the holes have been bored, the otherwise thick bark has long since been missing, so the borings have been made not through the bark but beyond it. The only animal I can think of that might be causing this destruction is the Pileated Woodpecker. I know I have for many years had a couple on my property, although they do not reside in the area now affected. My thought is that they may be seeking insects that are otherwise attacking these trees, but I have never seen the birds venture so close to ground level. Any suggestions as to cause and prevention would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Ken Marte

Hi Ken, I would agree, it sounds like a woodpecker. The piliated are distinct in that their holes are oval shaped and they probably are looking for insects. You can anchor the strings of silvery, helium filled balloons so the balloon is at the height of the activity. This will discourage them from hanging around there. I would also get an arborist in to look at the trees to assess what is going on with insects and what to do about it. Good luck.

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Hello Greg. My rubber tree plant that I have indoors has developed small raised patches. Are these things infectious, dangerous...?How can I get rid of them? thank you.

I'm afraid I need a little more information. Where are the patches? Describe them, etc.

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Dear Greg, We are in the process of clearing land for development at the cemetery where I live and work, and I would like to save as many bayberry and wild blueberry bushes that I can from the area scheduled to be cleared. I've tried transplanting the bayberry bushes before with little success. Their roots are so shallow and close to the surface, you'd think it would be easier! I've never attempted to move the blueberries, which are 2-3' tall. Any suggestions? Thanks! Lorraine Kennery

Hi Lorraine,

Both may be transplanted this time of the year. Be sure to prepare the new holes with large amounts of compost and 5-10-5 and always plant them at the exact same depth as they were growing, never deeper.

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Dear Greg: I am interested in creating an all year hedge which will eliminate the view and cut the noise level of traffic on our busy road. I have been thinking about using either Virginiana Juniper or Caragana for this purpose. I would like to know the following: Will either one of these hedges work as a thick, all year hedge? Are one or both of these fast growing? Are they deer resistance? Grow in shaded areas such as under taller tree? Are they hardy? Withstand droughts and the cold? Will they grow in any type of soil? I would appreciate any information you could provide. Thank you

John Barrie Garrison,NY

Hi John, First and foremost, few evergreens do well in the shade. Most become thin and will not provide the barrier you're looking for. I have had the best results in these kind of situations with Hollies. You'll need to spray them with deer repellent but they should perform well for you.

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Hi Greg-really enjoy your comments! Last Fall, I took a cutting from a really pretty mum plant and rooted it; after all my TLC, the plant has flowers, BUT it also has teeny black "bugs" on the stems, leaves & flowers. When I wash the plant under warm water, they come off and stay away for a few weeks, but then come back. Is this fatal or should I not give in after all this patience? thanks for your help. Phyllis B

Hi Phyllis, Wash off your plant again but this time start watering it with a 10% Ivory liquid solution to kill the eggs and larva in the soil.

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hi greg, I have a butterfly bush. its about 6 ft tall and 5 ft wide. do i need to cut it back before the spring blooms start? Love listening to u on whud. thanks in advance. Debbie Conkling

Hi Debbie, Your butterfly bush should be pruned each spring and you may prune it 50% if you like.

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Hi Greg, My question is how do i get the deer to stop eating my tulips? Thank you. Deanne

Hi Deanne, Repellent sprays or fences are your only hope for the time being. Deer L-O-V-E tulips

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HI Greg, When is the best time to prune holly bushes?

Hi, I trim my hollies in the early spring.

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Hi Greg, I enjoy your Thursday morning info. But I can never get to the phone. FIRST: Why don't all my amaryllis bulbs bloom again each year. I do the same thing to all of them. I have about 8 bulbs, and this year only one has a flower. Some have not bloomed for the past 3 years. Should I just throw those bulbs out now? I'm getting frustrated taking care of these bulbs every year only to get foliage. This is what I do. I fertilize the bulbs with a fertilizer for blooms. I put the bulbs out side in their pots during the summer, fertilizing regularly. I stop watering them in September and let the foliage die. I put the bulbs, in their pots in a cool dark place from September until February. Then I repot some that need it, put the pots in a sunny place and start watering them. The bulbs do not die they just don't flower again. Like I said earlier I only have 1 that flowered this year. Thanks, You help is greatly appreciated. SECOND; I have heard you say to wait until early spring to prune your rose bushes. I have low hedge type rose bushes that I planted last year that were lovely. How much do I prune them? I do not want to cut off branches if I am going to get less roses. Thanks again. Fran

Hi Fran, Thanks. It's not uncommon for amaryllis to take a year or two off. Try feeding them, this year with a fertilizer with a very high middle number such as 5-20-5 or even "supper phosphate." That should spark them back into bloom. You can prune 30% off your hedge roses with no trouble at all. The roses will sprout on the new wood anyway so cutting them back doesn't inhibit blooms.

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You have accomplished so much for only a 20 year old - ! I have spoken to you on the air regarding our uninvited diners at our vegetable garden. The stories I've been reading concerning these pests points to the fact that we will be bombarded by them this season coming, as well as their uninvited hitchhikers, the tick. Any advice about tick control????? I'll be listening.......and thanks.

I'm a quick study! I wish I had good news about the ticks. The best I can tell you is that DEET works better than any other repellent currently out there, Front Line seems to be the best for dogs and spraying your property helps a little. June is the best time. Good luck!

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Hi Greg. How are you? I, like most everyone, listen to you on WHUD. It's nice to hear a sense of humor mixed with knowledge!! When is the best time to plant shrubs? We are renting and they are all dead. It looks horrible! The landlord has given us the ok, but I know nothing about shrubs. The soil isn't the best and the whole yard gets hit with hard sun all day long. Any recommendations on which type would do the best? Thanks for your help

Thanks for compliment. It means a lot. You can plant shrubs in the spring or fall. If the soil is not good (and even if it is) dig holes twice the size of the root balls of the new plants and mix huge quantities of compost in the soil along with a couple handfuls of bone meal. Full sun is good not bad but remember to keep them well watered during the first year. Put down a 2-3 inch deep mulch of wood chips around the bases. As to which kind, it's hard to say without seeing the area. Describe the area to your garden center and see what they have and what you like.

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Greg, During last summer's drought, a large portion of my lawn was taken over by some type of broad leaf weed. There is almost no grass left growing, and so I suppose I will have to kill all the weeds and re-seed. Is it too early to put down weed-killer at this point, since the weeds are not actively growing yet? Also, how long should I wait after applying weed-killer to re-seed? Thanks so much. Alan McBrien

Alan, I would use something like roundup, now, according to label directions. Once everything is dead, in about two weeks, you can add a covering of compost, till it in and re-seed. Enjoy your new lawn.

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DEAR GREG: I HAVE A PEAR TREE IN MY YARD THAT IS ABOUT 25-30 FEET HIGH. IS THAT O.K? SHOULD I TRIM IT? IF SO, WHEN. THANKS, JOHN DONATO

Hi John, It's OK with me if it's OK with you!

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When is the best time to prune spirea (John Waterman) ? What is the baking soda "recipe" for black spot on roses ?

The best time to prune spirea is in the spring. I use 2 Tablespoons of baking soda per gallon of water for my roses.

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Greg, We've had a maple tree, planted well out in the front of our yard, for some 7+ years now and the tree has taken very well. It has full sun all day long and we really do try to be aware of rainfall so that our of our trees and shrubs don't go too long without a decent drink. However, our maple tree for the past two years has had black spots on its' leaves. Two years ago, there weren't all that many leaves affected but last year quite a few leaves had these black spots and the tree's growth was not what it had been. I think that I remember someone calling in to WHUD to ask you a question along very similar lines as our maple tree problem and that you called this something 'black tar' disease. Bottom line: what can we do? Thanking you in advance for any advice you can offer--- Craig and Betty Cassen

Hi Craig and Betty, If these black spots the size of a penny or larger, it is probably anthracnose. In any case, if this is a valuable tree to you, I would call in an arborist to take a look and make recommendations about a spraying program.

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When is the best time to dig up an azalea and replant it three feet away? Rod

You can do that up to the middle of May, Rod.

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Hi Greg, I've got a cape primrose that I have had for years. There apprears to be a problem with the leaves starting to turn a lighter shade of green with dark brown along the the edges. This dark brown spreads down the entire leaf and the leaf shrivels and dries up. Is there something I can do to prevent this..sun..fertilizer...help... This plant has been split many times through out the years and given to friends and relatives and I'd like to keep it as healthy as possible. Whenit blooms it is beautiful through out the summer. Thanks!!!! Sharon Buneo

It's hard to diagnose without seeing it. It sounds like a disease might be getting into it. I would try one of the fungicides labeled for Primrose (check with your garden center to see what they have in stock). They are beautiful!

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When is the best time to trim a lilac bush and how far can it be trimmed?

NEVER prune your lilac from the top! Cut 1/3 of the thickest stems at the ground after bloom. Repeat for the next two year and you will have a new lilac.

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Dear Greg: My Rhodies have become ground cover instead of tall bushes. When is the best time to cut them back, how far, and is there any hope of straightening them up? Also I have a new one - still in the pot from the nursery - when is the best time to transplant this one? Thank you for any help you may give. Sally from Highland Falls

Hi Sally from Highland Falls, If you are doing drastic pruning of your rhodies (more than 1/3), do it in the late winter / beginning of March. You can plant the little guy now! Good luck!

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Hi Greg - Can you please recommend some bushes or hedges that are completely shade tolerant and grow to at least four feet and, if possible, stay green all winter? Thanks.

Nothing is completely shade tolerant. Hollies, however, are pretty good and they are evergreen. They would get my vote.

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I am in my first home with property I have to care for. I have a backyard which is mostly in the shade. The grass was OK when I moved in last fall, but not great. I am not sure what to do or not to do. It has several patches of low reddish leaves in places and several patches of light brown (tan) wispy things -- I did not have them last fall when I moved in. Is fertilizer called for, weed killer, both -- lime???? I don't want to kill what I have. Any advice would me welcome. Thanks -- Pat

Hi Pat, First, you should know that turf grass is very difficult to grow (really!) and almost never does well in the shade. Having said that, in the areas that are not too shady, spray Roundup and kill everything that is there. In 10 days, put down a covering of compost, till it in and re-seed with a good seed with a high percentage of Fescue. Think about a nice ground cover in the real shady areas. Good luck in your new home.

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Greg, We have been trying to find the best annuals to grow in large pots. We place the pots on brick posts that surround our concrete patio. The patio receives full sun all day long. All plants we have tried in the past seem to suffer from being exposed to the intense summer sun. What do you recommend as the best annuals for withstanding these conditions? J

Hi J, Most annuals will do well in full sun with the exception of impatiens or primrose. The real problem was probably water (lack of). In certain conditions you may have to water up to twice a day in containers. Check the seed catalogs or the little plastic taps in the seedlings for the "full sun" sign and keep them well watered.

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My rose bushes seem to be dying. Last year the roses were very small and few. I fertilize and water yet the plants don't seem healthy. What can I do? I live in Monroe Orange County. Thanks for any help you can give me. Sincerely Bernice M. Gennaro.

Hi Bernice, I would begin spraying your roses now, with a good rose and flower insect and disease spray. Spray as often as the label recommends. That should do the trick.

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I have a bare slop in my back yard that gets all but late afternoon sun. I need an evergreen ground cover that spreads quickly. Any suggestions? Thank you Linda Carbone.

One of the many low growing junipers should work well such as "blue rug" or the larger Pfitzer.