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Greg Quinn's thought for the day: Why do the signs that say "Slow Children" have a picture of a running child?

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I RECENTLY PURCHASED TWO POTTED OUTDOOR PLANTS. IS IT TOO COLD TO KEEP THEM OUTSIDE. ( THEY'RE GERANIUM & PETUNIA)?

A. These two plants like nippy weather, but can't take a frost. Watch the weather report. If it says there is a threat of frost you can put them in the garage at night. Be sure to put them back outside in the daytime.

Greg, When the chutes/blooms on a Peace Lilly wihither should they be cut off or left alone? Thank you, Merilee Timberger

A. Hi Merilee, You can carefully remove them so that the petals and pollen don't make a mess when they fall off. The lily only has a certain amount of flowers that will bloom, so removing the flowers will not make it blossom more.

Greg, I've listen to WHUD to years and sometimes get to hear you discuss garden problems on my way to work. I live in the Catskills, near the Ashokan Reservoir. I love rhododendron but recently started to have some problems with my new plants and older ones. The green leaves are turning red brown than a dried-out brown color. What can I do to get healthy plants back? Thanks for any help you can lend me on this problem.

A. Often brownish red splotches on the leaves or in severe cases, whole leaves of that color are indications that you have Rhododendron borer. Check for holes the size of a pencil lead at the base of all crotches and the base of the plant. sometimes these will have an 'ooze coming out. This is the entry point. With a sharp knife cut from that point around the stem. You will feel the "channel" bored out by the little larva. When you feel the channel stop, you will have killed the critter! I have a potted tulip plant. I have nowhere to plant this outside. After the plant stops blooming will the bulbs come up again next year if I leave them in the pot. If so are there special instructions to do this.Thanx A. Put the pot outside so that it gets a lot of light or provide strong, direct light inside, and keep it watered. When the foliage has turned brown, dig up the bulbs, remove the soil and store them in a brown paper bag on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator. Pot them up anytime after 60 days and 50% of the time they will come back into bloom.

Greg - Because I have only limited space, I plant my tomatoes in the same place every year. What can I do to rejuvenate the soil?

A. Compost, my friend! Take nice big scoops of black gold and turn it into your soil. If you do not have your own pile, check to see if your town has compost for the asking. If they don't, get busy piling your leaves, grass, weeds (no seeds), and kitchen vegetable scraps, chop it up and turn it often. Soon you will be making your own black gold.

First of all, let me tell you how much you have helped me in the past. I enjoy listening to you on WHUD. I received a weeping Japanese cherry tree last year. It had blossoms on it this year. It also has two branches grow straight up with no blossoms on them. Why aren't these branches bending over "weeping" like the others? Is there a way they can be "trained to do this". Thank you. Judy

A. Hi Judy, Thanks for being a regular! Your tree is probably still in its youth. The weeping characteristics are breed into the tree and often some growth will revert to it's parentage. Some lateral branches will produce new weeping branches growing off them. Many, however can be cut off to keep the plant in bounds and help direct its energy to the lower weeping growth. This is a relatively fast growing tree that gets more beautiful as it ages.

Good morning Greg. I was given several pots of tulips for Easter and I want to know if I can put them in the ground after they've stop blooming or if I should keep them in the pots till fall. If so, should I water the pots till then? Thanks. Monique Fethke

A. Hi Monique, You can plant them in the ground and be sure to leave the green leaves attached so the plant has food. Next year, about 50% will come back into bloom.

I live in a fairly new housing community in which there are some protected areas of trees. Some of these trees are behind my house. A few of them appear to be dead or dying. I've contacted the city, but have gotten no response. I'm worried that in a wind storm or bad weather, they might land on my house. Can you recommend someone or a company who can come and check the health of these trees? I have looked in the yellow pages but I see only people or companies who remove trees, not necessarily evaluate the health of trees. Thank you for your attention to my question.

A.The trees are the responsibility of whoever owns the property they are on, which is hardly a comfort when they appear to be threatening your house. Any company that can remove trees can also evaluate the health of the trees. If you give a call to one of the companies in the Yellow Pages, or in the classified section of your local paper, someone should be able to come and give you an evaluation and an estimate of the cost to take the trees down.