>>> "BACKYARD FARMER" IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME TREES THAT ARE IN TROUBLE, AND WE'LL CATCH YOU UP ON NEW GARDEN TRENDS.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP, NEXT, RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD, AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT AS WE ANSWER ALL OF THOSE GARDENING QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US RIGHT NOW BY DIALING 1-800-676-5446.

WE ALSO TAKE YOUR PICTURES AND YOUR EMAILED QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE SHOWS.

THAT ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

DO BE SURE TO TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE, GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN SO THAT WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR ALL THOSE LATEST PROGRAMS AND VIDEO FEATURES.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

SO LET'S GET STARTED WITH SAMPLES.

AND KAIT, YOU GET TO START TONIGHT.

YEAH, SO LAST WEEK JODY TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EUROPEAN MANTIS AND THE CHINESE MANTIS.

SO I WANTED TO SHOW YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE OTHER MANTIS WE HAVE HERE IN NEBRASKA, WHICH IS ACTUALLY OUR NATIVE SPECIES, WHICH DOWN HERE IS CALLED THE CAROLINA MANTIS.

NOW YOU CAN KIND OF TELL IN COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CAROLINA MANTIS, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE, AND THE CHINESE MANTIS, THAT THEY ARE A LOT SMALLER.

AND THEY ALSO HAVE EGG SACS OUT AND ABOUT RIGHT NOW, WHICH YOU CAN SEE DOWN HERE ON THIS PIECE OF PAPER.

THEY'RE A LOT LONGER, THEY'RE MORE RECTANGULAR IN SHAPE, AND A LOT SMALLER THAN WE WOULD SEE WITH THE LARGE, GLOBULAR CHINESE MANTIS EGG SACS.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU WHAT THE NATIVE SPECIES LOOKS LIKE, AND JUST KNOW THAT THEY'RE ALSO GENERALIST PREDATORS, LIKE ALL PRAYING MANTIDS, SO EVEN THOUGH THEY'LL SOMETIMES EAT PESTS, THEY CAN ALSO EAT BENEFICIAL INSECTS LIKE POLLINATORS TOO.

SO JUST A KIND OF COOL THING TO HAVE OUT IN THE GARDEN.

>> SO JUST IN THE TEN SECONDS YOU HAVE LEFT, IS THAT STILL FILLED WITH BABY MANTI OR IS IT --?

>> THIS ONE, I DON'T THINK IS, UNFORTUNATELY.

WE JUST FOUND IT ON THE FENCE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HATCHED ALREADY.

>> WELL, SOMEBODY IS GONNA HAVE GOOD PREDATORS.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOU'RE NEXT.

A MONSTER PIECE OF WEED.

>> YES.

SO I KINDA WANTED TO STICK TO THE THEME THAT MATT AND JEFF HAVE STARTED FOR THIS SEASON.

THIS IS CATCHWEED OR BEDSTRAW.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WINTER ANNUALS, SO THIS IS ONE THAT WOULD'VE GERMINATED LAST FALL, KINDA SAT AROUND, AND THEN HAS BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

BUT THIS IS, OF COURSE, IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

BUT ONE OF THE THING THAT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT, AND JEFF AND MATT KINDA HAD SAID THIS TOO, THAT SOMETIMES THE BIGGER PLANTS AREN'T WORTH TRYING TO SPRAY, KIND OF GETTING RID OF THOSE EASILY.

WELL, THIS ONE IS REALLY EASY TO TAKE CARE OF AND MANAGE, BECAUSE YOU DON'T EVEN NEED TO SPRAY IT.

THIS IS ITS ROOT RIGHT HERE.

SO THIS BIG PLANT IS BEING SUPPORTED BY THIS ROOT.

AND I VERY -- DID VERY CAREFULLY PULL IT OUT OF THE GROUND, SO I DIDN'T BREAK ANYTHING OFF.

SO THESE ARE REALLY EASY, MAKE SURE YOU WEAR GLOVES, BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE ARE KIND OF -- CAN GET SOME KIND OF ITCHING ON THEIR HANDS AND STUFF FROM THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

BEAUTIFUL LILACS, KYLE, OR NOT.

>> I DID.

I BROUGHT SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS, AND THEN ONE DISGUSTINGLY FRAGRANT LARGE ONE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] BUT YEAH, THESE ARE LILACS THAT HAVE ASH YELLOWS.

AND SO THE ASH YELLOWS PHYTOPLASMA ACTUALLY CAN INFECT LILACS AS WELL.

SOMETHING I LEARNED TODAY -- LILACS AND ASHES, ACTUALLY KIND OF RELATED.

SO THEY -- IT CAN CROSS-INFECT.

AND THE ONE THING THAT I WANTED TO SHOW, ESPECIALLY ON THE -- AS WE LOOK AT THE HEALTHY LILAC, AND ALL OF THE NEW GROWTH THAT'S NICE AND GREEN.

AND THEN WHEN WE GO OVER AND LOOK AT OUR INFECTED LILACS, WE STILL HAVE NEW GROWTH, BUT IT'S JUST A WHOLE BUNCH OF REALLY SHORTLY STACKED NODES.

VERY TYPICAL, KIND OF A WITCH'S BROOM-ING TYPE OF SYMPTOMOLOGY, VERY TYPICAL OF A PHYTOPLASMA.

AND, YOU KNOW, THESE TYPES OF DISEASES, THEY ARE A BACTERIA THAT ACTS LIKE A VIRUS, THAT'S VECTORED BY LEAF HOPPERS, THAT ARE LITERALLY BLOWING ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO THEY CAN REALLY BE A LION TO MANAGE.

UNFORTUNATELY THE BEST THING TO DO IS PRUNE AT GROUND LEVEL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE, NOW.

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT, A MONSTER CHAIR.

>> YES.

IT' COULD'VE BEEN A CHAIR, >> FOR A GNOME.

>> WITH ALL THE STORM EVENTS WE'VE HAD WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN REPLACING OUR TREES.

AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT GOOD PLANT HEALTHCARE PRACTICES -- WATERING, MULCHING, AND WHATNOT, BUT WE OFTEN FORGET TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE TREE AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE STRAPPING MATERIAL.

IF LEFT IN PLACE, WE CAN GET THIS TREE TO GROW AROUND IT, AND WE'RE IN ESSENCE STRANGLING THE TREE.

SO IF YOU'VE PLANTED A TREE RECENTLY, WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, YOU SHOULD GO OUT, INSPECT THE TREES TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MATERIAL IS NOT CONSTRICTING, CAUSING ANY ISSUES.

IF IT'S BEEN STAKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR, THAT' ABOUT THE TIME YOU WANT TO TAKE IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THE POOR THING.

>> YES, POOR THING.

>> THE POOR THING.

ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT JOB ON SAMPLES, ALL.

WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH QUESTIONS.

KAIT, YOU ARE OF COURSE THE FIRST ROUND.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

AND THESE WERE ACTUALLY IN RAISED BEDS IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

THEY ARE UNDER ONE MILLIMETER, SO THEY'RE TEENSY-WEENSY THINGS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

AND WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT THEM?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THEY'RE REALLY CUTE.

[ LAUGHTER ] THIS IS A TYPE OF SPRINGTAIL.

WE GET TWO SPRINGTAILS -- WE GET THOSE LONGER ONES AND THEN WE GET THESE ONES ARE CALLED GLOBULAR SPRINGTAILS.

AND GLOBULAR SPRINGTAILS, LIKE ALL SPRINGTAILS, THEY LIVE IN LEAF LITTER, THEY LIVE IN THE SOIL, AND MOST OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY DECOMPOSERS, SO THEY'RE BENEFICIAL TO HAVE AROUND, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE PESTS.

AND THEY'RE CALLED SPRINGTAILS 'CAUSE THEY HAVE THIS LITTLE -- CALLED A FURCULA THAT THEY FLIP UP, AND FLIP UP AND SPRING.

SO, REALLY COOL FIND, AND REALLY GREAT PICTURES.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, ALSO, KAIT.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PLATTSMOUTH.

SHE SAYS THAT HER NEIGHBOR STARTS PLANTS FROM SEED COVERED WITH THESE INSECTS IN THE PICTURES.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TO TREAT THEM, AND ARE THEY SAFE AFTER TREATMENT TO USE THE PLANTS AND THE FLOWERS?

SHE ALSO SAID ONLY OUTSIDE MATERIAL THAT CAME IN WAS THE COMMERCIAL SOIL.

>> OKAY.

YEAH, SO THESE ARE APHIDS, AND, IN MY OPINION, APHIDS ARE REALLY CUTE ALSO, SO JUST ADD IT TO THE LIST.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] BUT THESE ONES, UNLIKE THE SPRINGTAILS, ARE ACTUALLY PESTS, AND THEY WILL FEED ON THE PLANTS, AND THEY CAN GET REALLY HIGH POPULATIONS REALLY QUICKLY.

THE EASIEST THING TO DO WOULD JUST BE TO GIVE THAT PLANT LIKE, A STRONG SHOWER.

GET THE HOSE OUT, SPRAY THEM OFF, TRY TO DISLODGE AS MANY APHIDS AS YOU CAN.

SO THAT'S THE MOST ORGANIC OPTION TO TAKE CARE OF THE APHIDS.

OTHERWISE THERE'S PRODUCTS LIKE INSECTICIDAL SOAPS, NEEM OIL, HORTICULTURAL OIL THAT ARE LABELED FOR APHIDS AS WELL, AND JUST FOLLOW THE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS ON THOSE FOR WHEN YOU CAN HANDLE THEM AGAIN, BUT MOST OF THOSE ARE ORGANIC AND RELATIVELY SAFE.

BUT JUST KEEP IN MIND IT'S NOT A ONE AND DONE.

SO KEEP CHECKING FOR APHIDS, KEEP REPEATING THOSE TREATMENTS AS POSSIBLE, 'CAUSE LIKE I SAID, THEY CAN GET REALLY HIGH POPULATIONS REALLY QUICKLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

AND HE TOOK PICTURES LAST SUMMER OF SOME INTERESTING INSECTS.

HE'S WONDERING WHAT DO WE HAVE?

SO WHAT'S THIS MOTH-LOOKING ONE?

>> WELL, WOULD YOU BELIEVE IT, IT'S CALLED A YELLOW SUNFLOWER MOTH.

[ LAUGHTER ] IT'S YELLOW, IT IS ON A SUN FLOWER, AND IT'S A MOTH, BECAUSE ENTOMOLOGISTS ARE REALLY ORIGINAL WHEN IT COMES TO COMMON NAMES.

BUT THESE GUYS ARE PRETTY COOL.

SUNFLOWERS ARE THEIR HOST PLANTS, BUT THESE SPECIES OF MOTH ACTUALLY DOESN'T REALLY CAUSE ANY DAMAGE TO WORRY ABOUT, SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING PRETTY TO LOOK AT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, TWO PICTURES FOR YOUR FIRST ROUND.

THIS IS A WEED THAT HAS INVADED THE BACKYARD.

SOME SPOTS ARE SPARSE, OTHERS IT'S TAKING OVER.

JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT.

>> YEAH.

SO I WENT BACK AND FORTH ON THIS ONE.

A LITTLE BIT HARD TO BE ABLE TO TELL KIND OF SOME OF THE IDENTIFICATION CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS.

BUT I THINK IT'S DALLIS GRASS.

SO THIS WOULD BE A PERENNIAL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THESE PERENNIAL WEEDS IS THAT THIS ONE ESPECIALLY, THERE'S NOT REALLY A SELECT SELECTION THAT YOU CAN USE.

SO EITHER DIG IT OUT, OR YOU CAN USE JUST A GENERAL HERBICIDE TO GET RID OF IT, WHICH WOULD KILL ANYTHING AROUND IT.

SO MY BEST RESULT WOULD BE PULL -- OR DIG IT OUT WITH A SOIL KNIFE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE THIS ONE'S FROM EITHER.

HE SAYS THIS POPS UP EVERY YEAR.

WHAT'S THIS?

>> I THINK THIS IS ROUGH BLUEGRASS.

THIS ONE YOU'LL PROBABLY SEE DISAPPEAR IN THE SUMMERTIME.

IT DOESN'T REALLY LIKE THE HEAT.

SO THIS ONE IS PROBABLY SHOWING UP NOW, AND THEN IT'S PROBABLY GONNA DISAPPEAR ALONG THE EDGES OF THOSE HOT SIDEWALKS, AND THEN SHOW BACK UP LATER IN THE FALL WHEN IT STARTS TO COOL DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO MANAGE IT JUST LIKE THIS OTHER ONE, WHERE JUST GO AND DIG IT OUT WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE IS PROBABLY THE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE FOR THESE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THEY COME TO US FROM ATLANTIC, IOWA.

SHE SAID THIS WEED HAS POPPED UP IN A FEW AREAS IN THE YARD.

UM, THAT'S -- >> IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A WEED.

IF IT'S IN THE WRONG PLACE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SORRY.

YEAH, THIS IS KYLE'S, SORRY.

I DIDN'T DRAW MYSELF A LINE.

THIS IS KYLE'S, AND THIS IS RHODODENDRONS.

AND SHE IS WONDERING ON THIS PARTICULAR ONE IF IT'S A DISEASE, WHAT IS THIS DEAD TERRIBLE SPOT ON THIS ONE?

DOES SHE REMOVE IT?

IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY, BUT IT'S 10 YEARS OLD.

>> YEAH.

THE DEAD AREA, OR THE AREA THAT LOOKS DEAD IS MOST LIKELY DEAD.. >> DEAD.

>> IT COULD CERTAINLY BE REMOVED.

YOU KNOW, WHAT THE EXACT CAUSE IS -- BOTRYOSPHAERIA CANKER IS VERY COMMON ON RHODODENDRONS, ESPECIALLY OLDER RHODODENDRONS.

THERE'S ALSO SOME SOIL DISEASES -- A PHYTOPHTHORA ROOT ROT CAN CAUSE SIMILAR SYMPTOMOLOGY.

AND IT 'S BEEN -- IT'S BEEN DRY.

IT'S -- WE HAVE NOT HAD THE GREATEST WEATHER.

AND RHODODENDRONS ALREADY CAN BE KIND OF IFFY IN NEBRASKA, AND I THINK IT'S JUST A COMBINATION OF DISEASE, AND KIND OF OLD AGE, AND NOT HAPPY WEATHER CONDITIONS.

>> PRUNE IT UP AND CROSS YOUR FINGERS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

SHE HAS -- THESE ARE GRANDIFLORA ROSES.

SHE'S NEW TO GARDENING, NEW TO OMAHA.

AND THEY WERE PLANTED LAST SPRING.

SHE'S WONDERING IF THIS IS NORMAL, OR DO WE HAVE SOME REAL ISSUES HERE?

>> IT'S -- THERE ARE SOME ISSUES THERE.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST THING THAT I SAW LOOKING AT THESE PICTURES IS THERE'S COMMON ROSE CANKER.

AND SO IT ACTUALLY IS FAIRLY -- FAIRLY NORMAL, VERY COMMON, 'CAUSED -- THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF FUNGI THAT CAUSE THOSE CANKERS ON ROSES.

BUT LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE THERE, THOSE ARE NOT TERRIBLY HEALTHY ROSES.

SAW A LOT OF DIEBACK ON THERE AS WELL, SO I WOULD -- I WOULD PROBABLY CONSIDER REPLACING THOSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, KYLE.

SHE SAID THIS PEONY HAD WHAT WAS DIAGNOSED AS TOBACCO VIRUS -- >> MM-HM.

>> IS THAT CORRECT?-- LAST YEAR.

SHE'S WONDERING WILL IT GET IT AGAIN, AND WHAT CAN THEY DO?

AND SHE HAS LOTS OF PEONIES.

>> IT MOST LIKELY WILL GET IT AGAIN.

AND I FEEL LIKE ABOUT HALF OF THE PEONIES I HAVE BEEN SEEING IN THE AREA HAVE THIS SIMILAR LOOK.

MOST -- AND TOBACCO RATTLE VIRUS, VERY COMMON ON PEONIES, AND IT'S ACTUALLY SPREAD BY A NEMATODE, AND SO YOU HAVE THIS MICROSCOPIC WORM IN THE SOIL THAT HAS THIS VIRUS, AND IT IS MOVING AROUND, FEEDING ON THE ROOTS, OBTAINING THE VIRUS, MOVES TO THE NEXT ONE, AND FEEDS ON MORE.

UNFORTUNATELY NOT A LOT OF GREAT OPTIONS FOR REMOVING THAT NEMATODE FROM THE SOIL.

SO IT -- TOBACCO RATTLE VIRUS IS MOST LIKELY SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO BATTLE IN THE PEONIES.

AND MAYBE YOU CAN LEARN TO LOVE IT.

AGAIN, WHEN THE -- ONCE THE LEAVES ACTUALLY EXPAND, THEY CAN HAVE SOME REALLY FUN MOSAIC-Y PATTERNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES, SCOTT, ON THIS FIRST ONE.

AND THIS IS IN INDIANA.

WE ANSWERED IT INCORRECTLY LAST WEEK, AND WE DISCOVERED THAT HE SENT US A PICTURE.

SO WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A FALL-PLANTED BULB CALLED WINTER ACONITE.

IT'S A COLONIZING BULB, IT'S NOT VERY COMMON, BECAUSE IT DOES NEEDS THAT REALLY NICE MICROCLIMATE LIKE CONSISTENT WITH SOIL.

IT IS REALLY GORGEOUS AND IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A CERESCO VIEWER.

THIS IS GROWING WILD ON THE ACREAGE, AND HE THINKS IT'S CHICKASAW PLUM, AS OPPOSED TO COMMON AMERICAN PLUM.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> IT DOES LOOK LIKE CHICKASAW PLUM.

IT'S A REGIONALLY NATIVE PLUM.

IT COULD BE A MULTI-STEM SHRUB, IT COULD BE A SMALL TREE.

IT LOOKS REALLY HEALTHY, YOU JUST MIGHT WANT TO MOW AROUND IT.

IT'D BE SOMETHING WORTH KEEPING.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE ON THIS FOR YOU.

THIS IS FROM LINCOLN.

SHE HAS MOSS PHLOX, AND SHE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

PART IS HEALTHY AND PART IS LOOKING LIKE THAT.

AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT TO DO TO KEEP IT ALL HEALTHY.

>> THEY'RE NOT ALONE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH PHLOX.

IT WAS A DRY WINTER.

BEST THING TO DO IS GO AHEAD AND CUT IT OUT, IT'LL KNIT ITSELF BACK TOGETHER.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

WELL, WE TOLD YOU LAST WEEK THAT WE WERE GOING TO SHOW YOU SOME IDEAS FOR TREE DIVERSITY.

SINCE WE HAD A SEVERE STORM BLOW THROUGH, WE THOUGHT WE'D SHOW YOU SOME TREES THAT MIGHT BECOME A PROBLEM THE NEXT TIME THE WINDS SWEEP DOWN THE PLAINS.

SO HERE'S FORESTER GRAHAM HERBST TO SHOW YOU WHAT COULD BE A PROBLEM TREE IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

♪ >>> IN SPRING WE CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY BY RECOGNIZING ALL THE BENEFITS THAT TREES BRING TO OUR COMMUNITIES AND ECOSYSTEMS ALL OVER THE PLANET.

THE FIRST ARBOR DAY WAS CELEBRATED IN 1872 IN NEBRASKA CITY.

THEY PLANTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TREES, AND WE'RE STILL CELEBRATING TODAY.

NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY IS CELEBRATING THE BENEFITS OF BIG TREES, THE ONES THAT SEQUESTER ALL THE CARBON, BRING ALL THE WATER FROM THE GROUND BACK UP INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, PROVIDE HOME AND PANTRY FOR NUMERABLE INSECTS, BIRDS, AND SMALL MAMMALS, AND SHADE OUR ROADS AND BUILDINGS SAVING US TONS OF ENERGY.

IF IT WEREN'T FOR ALL THESE BENEFITS, WE MIGHT NOT WANT TREES GROWING NEAR OUR PARKING LOTS, BUILDINGS, POWER LINES, AND PEOPLE.

BUT IF WE CAN RECOGNIZE THE BODY LANGUAGE OF TREES, AND IDENTIFY SOME SIGNS THAT A WHOLE TREE OR PART OF THE TREE MIGHT FAIL AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE, THEN WE CAN MORE ACTIVELY MANAGE THOSE TREES.

SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF POOR STRUCTURE IN A TREE, ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS, AND OBVIOUS SIGNS THAT WE CAN TO LOOK FOR IS DECAY CAVITIES IN A TREE.

THESE COLUMNS OF DECAY WILL MOVE VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN THROUGH THE TRUNK OF THE TREE, AND THEY WILL COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF EVERY BRANCH THAT'S ATTACHED TO IT.

SO WE CAN SEE THE RESPONSE WOOD AS THE TREE RESPONSE TO THE DAMAGE OF THIS DECAY, AND TRIES TO SEAL OVER.

TREES DO NOT HEAL AND RESTORE TISSUE TO ITS ORIGINAL FUNCTION, THEY GROW OVER WITH NEW WOOD.

NOW, AS WE CAN SEE WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL GINKO TREE, WE HAVE BOTH CODOMINANT STEMS, SIMILAR IN THICKNESS, SIMILAR IN LENGTH, AND BARK INCLUSION, WHERE THERE'S JUST NO ATTACHMENT BETWEEN THESE TWO STEMS UNTIL WE GET SOMEWHERE ABOUT DOWN IN HERE.

NOW IF CAN REMEMBER ON THANKSGIVING WITH YOUR BROTHER OR COUSIN PULLING ON ONE PART OF THE WISHBONE TO SEE WHO GETS THE BIGGER HALF, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF AND WHEN THERE'S A FAILURE BETWEEN THESE TWO PARTS OF THE TREE.

HERE ON THIS LINDEN WE HAVE A FANTASTIC EXAMPLE OF BARK INCLUSION, WHERE WE HAVE A BRANCH ATTACHING TO THE STEM, BUT ALL OF THIS AREA RIGHT IN HERE IS NOT ACTUALLY ATTACHED TO THE TREE.

OUR ATTACHMENT IS DOWN HERE.

SO AS THIS BRANCH CONTINUES TO GETS THICKER, LONGER, AND HEAVIER, THE ATTACHMENT THAT IT HAS TO THE TREE IS NOT PROPORTIONALLY KEEPING UP, CAUSING FOR A WEAK UNION THAT'S LIKELY TO FAIL AT SOME POINT.

NOW A COUPLE OTHER SMALLER WARNING SIGNS TO WATCH FOR IN YOUR LARGE SHADE TREES INCLUDE BRANCHES THAT ARE RUBBING OR CROSSING OTHERS AND GROWING BACK INTO THE CANOPY, WE'LL WANT TO ADDRESS THOSE, AND ALSO ANY BRANCHES THAT HAVE BROKEN IN THE PAST BUT ARE STILL HANGING ON UP IN THE CANOPY AND WAITING TO FALL AT A LATER TIME, WE WANT TO HAVE THOSE COME DOWN ON OUR TERMS.

NOW FROM A SAFETY STANDPOINT, WITH YOUR BIG SHADE TREES, WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE DOING WORK THAT'S HIGH UP OFF THE GROUND, OR WORK THAT'S REMOVING LARGE PORTIONS OF THE TREE.

OR, IF YOU'RE NEAR POWER LINES, YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO GET A PROFESSIONAL INVOLVED.

SO CALL A CERTIFIED ARBORIST WITH THE NEBRASKA ARBORIST ASSOCIATION, OR THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE.

CELEBRATE YOUR BIG TREES, THEY'RE DOING WONDERFUL THINGS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE, AND DO IT SAFELY WITH A PROFESSIONAL INVOLVED.

>>> JUST LIKE GRAHAM SAID, WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT SAFETY WHEN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS.

ALSO GET THAT ADVICE, GET THE WORK DONE FROM A CERTIFIED ARBORIST, SO YOU WILL NOT BECOME THE STAR OF THE NEXT VERY VIRAL VERY BAD VIDEO ON YOUTUBE.

ALL RIGHT, KAIT, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE FOR YOU HERE.

THIS IS AN ASHLAND VIEWER.

IT WAS CRAWLING ON HIM IN THE GARAGE AFTER TRIMMING CEDARS.

HE'S NEVER SEEN THIS, WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS A TWO-SPOTTED COBWEB SPIDER, SO IT CHECKS OUT THAT HE SAW IT IN THE GARAGE, BECAUSE THEY MAKE WEBS THAT LOOK LIKE COBWEBS.

AND JUST A RANDOM FUN FACT IS THAT THEY'RE CLOSELY RELATED TO BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS, WHICH ARE ALSO COBWEB SPIDERS, BUT THIS ONE IS HARMLESS, SO YOU DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.

{ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] SORRY IF I MADE YOU NERVOUS FOR A SECOND.

>> MADE US NERVOUS, JUST KNOW ABOUT OUR VIEWER.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, KAIT.

THIS IS AN OGALLALA VIEWER.

HE WAS SITTING ON THE DECK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THESE LITTLE BUGS WERE AROUND.

THEY WERE DRINKING WINE, SUDDENLY DOZENS SHOWED UP, SOME WENT WINE- DIVING.

THEY'RE ABOUT ABOUT AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH LONG.

WHAT ARE THESE?

>> I LOVE THE BACKSTORY ABOUT THAT.

'CAUSE THEY'RE CALLED FAT BEETLES, AND WHEN, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO OVERRIPE FRUIT OR FERMENTING FRUIT, LIKE WINE.

SO THAT'S WHY THEY WERE THERE, BUT THEY'RE JUST REALLY CUTE LOOKING BEETLES.

I'M SAYING CUTE A LOT TODAY, BUT -- >> YOU THINK THEY'RE ALL CUTE.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KAIT.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, TERRI.

TWO FOR YOU FROM ATLANTIC, IOWA.

THIS WEED HAS POPPED UP IN A FEW AREAS IN THE YARD AND EACH YEAR IT SPREADS MORE, IT'S CHOKED OUT THE GRASS.

PLEASE HELP WITH HOW TO ELIMINATE IT.

>> WELL, YOU CAN COME TO THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND YOU CAN GET IT OUT OF THERE TOO.

BUT THIS LOOKS LIKE PROSTRATE KNOTWEED, THAT'S JUST STARTING TO COME UP.

SO IT WILL START KIND OF GROWING IN FEBRUARY, MARCH.

IT'S GONNA BE ONE THAT'S REALLY HARD TO CONTROL.

THEY DO LIKE COMPACTED SOIL.

SO, IF IT YOU COULD AERATE YOUR SOIL THAT WOULD ACTUALLY HELP WITH GETTING THAT OUT OF THE AREA.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING HAVE TO DO IS YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET A MULTI MIX OF A CHEMICAL, PROBABLY LIKE A 2,4,-D AND A TRICLOPYR.

SO LOOK FOR BOTH OF THOSE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ON THAT, AND THAT WILL HELP.

AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE DOING IT WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, AND NOT WHEN THEY'RE OLDER, JUST LIKE WE'VE BEEN SAYING.

SO, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

AND SOME WEED HAS BEEN EXPANDING, TAKING OVER NATIVE GRASS.

THIS AREA'S MATTED, AND VINEY.

HE HAD ANOTHER PICTURE THAT SHOWED ALL THE DEAD VINE STUFF THAT HE PULLED OUT OF IT THAT WAS QUITE LARGE.

HE'S HOPING TO IDENTIFY IT AND GIVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON THIS.

>> I THINK THIS IS CROWN VETCH.

THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY ANOTHER ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE PRETTY INVASIVE.

ONCE IT GETS STARTED, ESPECIALLY IN KIND OF THOSE GRASSY AREAS, IT PRETTY MUCH JUST KIND OF GROWS ON TOP OF IT AND WILL SNUFFS EVERYTHING OUT.

AGAIN, IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF CONTROL.

IF YOU DO HAVE IT KIND OF MIXED IN WITH GRASS FORBS, ACTUALLY CONTROLLED BURNING IS REALLY ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MANAGE IT.

AND IF YOU'RE DOING KIND OF, AGAIN, THAT GRASSY FORBS MIX.

BUT AGAIN IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A TRICLOPYR, 2,4,-D, MULTIAPPLICATION CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO MORE FOR YOU, TERRI.

THIS IS A WEED THAT HAS TAKEN OVER PART OF THE BACKYARD.

NOW IT'S BLOOMING.

AND SHE HAS A DOG.

SHE WONDERS IF SHE NEEDS TO FENCE IT OFF SO THE DOG DOES NOT GET HURT BY CREEPING CHARLIE.

>> THIS IS CREEPING CHARLIE.

SO THIS, AGAIN, THIS IS ONE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

EARLIER IN THE YEAR, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A PERENNIAL.

SO MY BEST SUGGESTION, IS TRY TO KEEP IT FROM BLOOMING AND GOING TO SEED.

AND THEN MANAGING IT IN THE FALL WITH KIND OF A MULTI, KIND OF THREE-WAY.

2,4,-D, TRICLOPYR, BROADLEAF WEED KILLER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICS FOR YOU, KYLE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PIEDMONT, SOUTH DAKOTA.

BOTTOM LEAVES OF TOMATO SEEDLINGS TURNING YELLOW.

THEN SPOTS.

STARTED FROM SEED, THEY'VE BEEN UNDER GROW LIGHTS.

AND THEY NOTICED IT ON A HYBRID F1 TOMATO SEEDLING.

AND NOW IT IS SPREADING.

WHAT IS IT?

IS IT TREATABLE?

DO THEY THROW THINGS AWAY AND START OVER?

AND HOW DOES A PLANT GET DISEASES FROM SEED?

>> A LOT TO UNRAVEL THERE.

FIRST THING, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?

WE DON'T KNOW.

TALKED ABOUT -- AT FIRST I WAS THINKING, "OH, THERE'S BUGS."

TURNS OUT, THERE'S NO INSECTS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I SEE THE LOWER LEAVES YELLOWING LIKE THAT AND ESPECIALLY STARTING FROM SEEDS, I OFTEN GO TO A WATER OR MOISTURE ISSUE.

LIKE THEY'RE BEING OVERWATERED.

AND THE LAST PICTURE THERE, IT DOESN'T SHOW UP REALLY WELL, BUT THERE ARE SOME BUMPS ON THE LEAVES TOO; THAT COULD INDICATE AN EDEMA.

SO, MAYBE IF YOU COULD, DECREASE THE HUMIDITY THERE, AND WHERE THEY'RE GROWING.

AND, HOPEFULLY THAT WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE EDEMA.

BUT I WOULD JUST KEEP MY HOPES UP THAT THEY WILL PULL OUT OF IT.

AS FOR, "HOW DO DISEASES COME FORM SEED?"

A LOT OF THINGS CAN BE TRANSFERRED BY A SEED.

THERE ARE FUNGI, BACTERIA, VIRUSES, NEMATODES.

EVERYTHING CAN GO THROUGH SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU KYLE.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FUN, WE'VE ALREADY HAD THIS FROM ANOTHER VIEWER.

BUT THIS IS IN, "I SAW THIS AFTER IT STARTED RAINING."

WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS MOST LIKELY ALCOHOL -- ALCOHOL FLUX.

WITHIN THAT WET WOOD, SLIME, FLUX, GROUP.

TENDING TO SAY IT IS ALCOHOL FLUX BECAUSE OF THE REALLY WHITE, FOAMY COLOR OF IT.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY HURTING THE TREE ITSELF.

BUT IT CAN BE AN INDICATION THAT MAYBE THERE ARE SOME OTHER ISSUES WITH THE TREE.

SO I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE SOME STAINING THERE AT THE BASE OF THAT TRUNK NEXT YEAR.

JUST AS -- ONCE THAT WHITE STUFF DRIES IT TURNS BLACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THAT TREE DRANK TOO MUCH.

>> YOU KNOW, IT HAD A FUN NIGHT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE, SCOTT.

THIS IS FROM LINCOLN.

SHE MOVED INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SHE WOULD LIKE TO DO SOMETHING TO SCREEN THE FENCE.

SHE'LL PUT A FENCE IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

SOUTH FACING, TWO KIDS.

SHE WANTS IT PRETTY BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TIED TO IT BECAUSE SHE HAS TWO CHILDREN.

ANY IDEAS.

>> THAT'S A BIG LONG SPACE.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT NARROW.

IF YOU CAN EXPAND IT NOW, MAYBE ANOTHER 18 INCHES.

THAT COULD REALLY OPEN UP THE PALETTE OF PLANTS TO LOOK AT.

BUT OU CAN GO WITH SOME OF OUR HEARTY PERENNIALS.

LIKE, UPRIGHT PLANTS.

LIKE, CONEFLOWERS, HOARY VERVAIN, CULVER'S ROOT.

THOSE ARE JUST NICE, TIGHT UPRIGHT PLANTS.

MAYBE LEAVE SOME GAPS BECAUSE YOU WANT SEASON LONG FLOWERS SO YOU CAN ADD SOME ANNUALS TO GET THAT CONTINUOUS BLOOM.

>> ALL RIGHT, NICE SUGGESTIONS.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A PAPILLION VIEWER.

HUGE LILAC, OBVIOUSLY BEAUTIFUL.

"NEEDS PRUNING.

NOT SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT IT OR WHEN."

>> THERE'S TWO OPTIONS.

HE CAN DO THE THREE-YEAR OPTION.

WHICH IS THAT YOU TAKE A THIRD, AND A THIRD, AND A THIRD OFF, EVERY YEAR AS YOU GO.

OR, YOU HAVE THE MORE DRASTIC APPROACH AND JUST CUT OUT SIX INCHES OFF THE GROUND.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND PICTURE, IT DOES LOOK LIKE THERE'S SOME EDGING AT THE BASE OF THAT PLANT.

TRY TO GET THAT OUT, BECAUSE LILACS DO LIKE TO SUCKER AND THAT COULD BE CAUSING SOME ISSUES DOWN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE IS FROM FALLBROOK.

AND SHE HAD ROSE OF SHARON, SHE THINKS.

IT WAS FULL SUN, BIG, BEAUTIFUL, RED.

AND NOTHING YET.

DOES SHE CROSS HER FINGERS AND WAIT?

OR DOES SHE -- >> IT S -- PATIENCE.

IT'S BEEN A REALLY WEIRD SPRING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE WANT TO GIVE THE PLANT BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

MAYBE WAIT UNTIL THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE BEFORE YOU TAKE SOMETHING OUT.

BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK PROMISING.

>> EXACTLY.

THAT ONE -- YEAH.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, OH WELL.

WELL, YOU KNOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE TEMPERATURES RISING INTO THE 70s HERE IN EASTERN NEBRASKA.

WILL IT STAY THAT WAY?

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM GANNON RUSH FROM UNL'S HIGH-PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER, ON WHAT WE SHOULD EXPECT.

>> THANKS, KIM.

WE'VE GOT AN INTERESTING WEEK AHEAD OF US.

WE'LL START OFF ON A COOLER NOTE WITH HIGHS IN THE 50s AND 60s ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

ON SUNDAY, AREAS WEST OF KEARNEY WILL REACH INTO THE 80s.

ON MONDAY THIS WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE, BEFORE WE COOL OFF ON TUESDAY.

LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD, IT SEEMS LIKE WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE ON THE HORIZON FOR US.

CHANCES FOR RAIN ARE BETTER THIS WEEK, WITH UP TO TWO INCHES POSSIBLE IN THE OMAHA METRO.

STORMS ARE ONGOING ACROSS THE STATE AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

OVER THE WEEKEND THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SCATTERED STORMS.

ON MONDAY, IF YOU LIVE EAST OF GRAND ISLAND, DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER.

AS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE, POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT THUNDERSTORMS.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS GANNON.

OF COURSE, WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

WE DO HOPE YOU'LL STAY WITH US.

COMING UP AFTER THE BREAK, THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK, AND THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

KEEP IT HERE, AND WE'LL GET BACK TO YOUR QUESTIONS ON BACKYARD FARMER.

♪ [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] ♪ >> -- I'LL GIVE YOU THE RUNDOWN ON A FEW OF THE LATEST TRENDS IN HARDSCAPE ITEMS FOR YOUR HOME.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN THOSE QUESTIONS TO 1-800-676-5446.

SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

RIGHT NOW, OF COUSE, IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

OKAY SCOTT, STARTING WITH YOU AS ALWAYS.

>> OKAY.

>> ALRIGHTY.

WE HAVE VIEWERS WONDERING NOW THAT WE ARE APPROACHING "MAY ONE-TH," WHETHER IT IS SAFE TO SET OUT OUR TOMATOES AND PEPPERS IN THE GARDEN.

>> YOU CAN HARDEN THEM OFF, BUT IT'D STILL BE A GOOD THING TO TAKE THEM IN AT NIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL VIEWERS WHO HAVE SPIRAEA THAT THEY'RE SAYING ARE HALF DEAD.

SO HALF HAS FOLIAGE AND HALF DOESN'T.

SHOULD THEY GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THAT DEAD OUT, OR IS THAT A, "WAIT AND SEE?"

>> GO AHEAD AND PRUNE IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

"WHAT IS THE RATIO OF GREEN TO BROWN IN COMPOST?"

THIS PERSON SAYS THEY HAVE WAY TOO MANY OAK LEAVE.

>> THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S SOMETHING-TO-SOMETHING, I CAN'T REMEMBER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, ANOTHER VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW AGAIN, BASED ON THE WEATHER IS IT OKAY TO MOVE HOUSE-PLANTS OUTSIDE?

>> YES, GO AHEAD AND MOVE THEM OUTSIDE.

YOU WANT TO HARDEN THEM OFF, STICK THEM UNDER THE DECK, BUT YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

"RHUBARB HAS BOLTED ALREADY, AND THE BOLTS HAVE BEEN CUT OFF, AND IT'S BOLTING AGAIN.

IS IT STILL SAFE TO EAT?"

>> IT SHOULD BE FINE, KEEP CUTTING THEM OUT.

[ THUNDER ] >> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB.

>> OKAY KYLE.

>> LET'S DO THIS.

>> LET'S DO.

"IS COPPER THE BEST RECOMMENDED FUNGICIDE FOR APPLE TREES?"

WE'VE ANSWERED THIS BEFORE, BUT WE'RE WE'RE GETTING IT AGAIN.

>> IT IS -- NO, IT'S NOT.

IT IS A FUNGICIDE, IT IS NOT THE BEST FUNGICIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A FOLLOW UP IS, "WHAT IS THE BEST FUNGICIDE?"

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CONTROL.

>> IF YOU ARE TRYING TO CONTROL CEDER APPLE RUST, WHAT IS THE BEST?

>> IF YOU'RE TRYING TO CONTROL CEDER APPLE RUST A PRODUCT SUCH AS CHLOROTHALONIL TENDS TO WORK PRETTY WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE'VE HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS AGAIN FROM OUR VIEWERS ABOUT PRE-TREATING HOLLYHOCKS FOR RUST.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW A SPECIFIC FUNGICIDE THAT WOULD WORK TO PRE-TREAT FOR THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD -- >> PASS?

>> NO, IT STARTS WITH A "D" I CAN SEE THE -- I CAN SEE THE LABEL.

OH!

OH MY GOLLY, I CAN SEE IT.

AND I WAS GONNA WIN THIS WEEK TOO.

AND NOW I'M NOT.

[ LAUGHTER ] THE PRODUCT IS DACONIL.

WHATEVER THAT -- [ THUNDER ] >> CHLOROTHALONIL.

>> -- YEAH.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OH, WELL.

BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YES, DACONIL.

>> TERRI, ARE YOU -- STOP LAUGHING.

>> NO, I'M NOT READY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

HE HAD GRASS SEED THAT SAT IN HIS GARAGE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

HE'S SEEDED WITH NEW SEED, AND HE ALSO SEEDED WITH THE OLD STUFF.

THE QUESTION IS, "DID THE OLD STUFF GO BAD?"

>> WELL, YES AND NO.

YOU'RE JUST NOT GOING TO HAVE AS GOOD A GERMINATION RATE.

BUT IF YOU HAVE NEW STUFF THEN YOU SHOULD BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A BURWELL VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO KILL SAND BURRS WITHOUT HARMING NATIVE PLANTS.

AND HE DID CRABGRASS PRE-EMERGE IN THE WHOLE AREA, AND HURT THE NATIVE PLANTS.

>> ARE THE NATIVE PLANTS ALREADY UP AND GROWING?

ARE THEY PERENNIAL, OR -- >> PRAIRIE -- YEAH.

PRAIRIE GRASSES.

>> OH -- PASS.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE A SELECTIVE CONTROL OF NUTSEDGE IN THE ORNAMENTAL SEDGES?

>> YOU CAN USE SEDGEHAMMER.

BUT I WOULD, PROBABLY BE VERY CAUTIOUS AROUND THE REST OF THE STUFF.

>> ALL RIGHT, NOT ON THE ONES YOU WANT TO KEEP.

>> CORRECT.

>> WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT PRE-EMERGE.

IS IT TOO LATE BECAUSE OF THE RAIN AND THE TEMPERATURE.

>> WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE.

I ACTUALLY DID MINE ON TUESDAY -- MONDAY?

I DON'T KNOW, WHATEVER DAY IT WAS.

AND I DID SEE A LITTLE BIT COMING UP, BUT -- YEAH, GO AHEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU GUYS ARE TERRIBLE TONIGHT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, KAIT.

>> I'M NERVOUS.

>> SAVE US ALL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A HICKMAN VIEWER, KAIT.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW, "ARE ROLY-POLIES ROOT EATERS?"

BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY ARE SEEING ROOT DAMAGE FROM ROLIES.

>> NOT TYPICALLY, NO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY WERE BIT IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ON THEIR THIGH.

IS THAT CHIGGERS?

>> USUALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR WE'RE NOT SEEING CHIGGERS YET.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN BITE OUT THERE.

>> OKAY.

MAPLES HAD OYSTER SHELL SCALE A YEAR OR TWO AGO.

IS THAT GONE?

ARE THEY GONNA HAVE TO TREAT FOR THAT?

>> IF YOU CAN PRUNE ANYTHING OUT, PRUNE OUT THE HEAVILY INFESTED BRANCHES.

OTHERWISE LOOK FOR THE CRAWLERS STARTING IN MAY AND THEN YOU CAN TREAT AROUND THAT TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT, "IS THERE ANY BIO-CONTROL FOR JAPANESE BEETLES ONCE THEY'RE ADULTS?"

>> ONCE THEY'RE ADULTS -- THERE IS A PARASITOID FLY, BUT GOOD LUCK GETTING THAT FOR YOUR HOUSE, SORRY.

>> AND YOU HAVE TO HARNESS THAT, RIGHT?

KEEP ‘EM THERE.

>> YES, YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS DISCOVERED CLOVER MITES ALREADY, THINKS IT'S VERY EARLY.

DOES THYME OIL WORK ON CLOVER MITES?

>> NOT THROUGH RESEARCH, NO.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH KAIT WON.

THE REST OF YOU NEED TO PRACTICE LIGHTNING ROUND.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I THINK IT WAS A STACKED DECK OR SOMETHING.

>> NO, NO, NO.

I DON'T DO THAT.

WELL WE'VE HAD SOME BEAUTIFUL BULBS POP OUT OF THE GROUND IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS.

THEY'RE STARTING TO FADE NOW, AND WE'RE LEFT WITH SOME CHORES TO DO.

LUCKILY WE HAVE SOME HELP THIS WEEK.

SO HERE'S TERRI AT THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN TO TELL US MORE.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN WE WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET QUITE A BIT DONE IN THE GARDEN.

BUT, WE ACTUALLY HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HELP, THANKS TO ABOUT 30 4-H AMBASSADORS THAT WERE HERE ON CAMPUS LEARNING, AND NEEDED A SERVICE PROJECT.

SO WE GAVE ‘EM A SERVICE PROJECT.

AND THEY WERE ABLE TO WEED OUR ENTIRE GARDEN.

SO WE DO NOT SEE ANY WEEDS, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ALL OF OUR LANDSCAPE BEDS TURNED OVER.

SO WE ARE READY TO START PLANTING HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

OUR GREENHOUSE IS STILL LOOKING FANTASTIC.

AND THE VEGETABLES IN OUR RAISED BEDS ARE REALLY STARTING TO COME UP, AND LOOK FANTASTIC.

SO, THANKS TO ALL OF OUR STUDENTS THAT HELPED US IN THE GARDEN, AND STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN THIS WEEK, AND CHECK IT OUT.

♪ >> YOU KNOW, WE ARE REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP FROM THOSE 4-H AMBASSADOR STUDENTS.

BECAUSE WE WERE STARTING TO GET OVERRUN WITH THOSE WEEDS.

NOW SCOTT, TIME FOR THE BEAUTY INSTEAD OF THE WEEDS.

WHAT DO WE HAVE THIS WEEK.

>> WE HAVE SOME, TWO, REALLY NICE PLANTS.

THE FIRST ONE DOWN HERE, THE WHITE ONE -- THIS IS APRIL SNOW WEIGELA.

IT'S A LOCALLY FOUND CULTIVAR -- SPECIES, THAT WAS RECENTLY FOUND HERE IN NEBRASKA.

IT GROWS ABOUT FIVE FOOT.

MAYBE FIVE FOOT TALL, FIVE FOOT WIDE.

IT DOESN'T GET THE DIE-BACK THAT WE OFTEN SEE WITH OUR OTHER CULTIVARS.

AND THEN THE PURPLE FLOWER UP HERE.

THIS IS OUR NATIVE PHLOX.

OUR WOODLAND PHLOX.

IT'S REALLY -- IT'S A FRAGRANT PHLOX, WHICH IS UNIQUE.

AND IT DOES WELL IN THE SHADE.

SO IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO TRY.

>> BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION.

AND YES, THEY SMELL VERY, VERY GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT, WELL OF COURSE WE HAVE WONDERFUL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

THE FIRST IS THE UNL HORTICULTURE CLUB SPRING PLANT SALE, MAY 1st AND 2nd.

9:00 TO 4:00 MAY 3rd IN THE MORNING BASICALLY.

AND EAST CAMPUS GREENHOUSE WEST.

RIGHT HERE ON EAST CAMPUS.

OUR SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT IS THE GARDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN -- OR, SORRY, OMAHA.

MAY 2nd, ANNUAL PLANT SALE FROM 3:00 TO 7:00.

MAY 3rd, FROM 8:00 TO 12:00.

KEYSTONE EVENT CENTER, IN OMAHA.

OUR THIRD ONE, IS THE MAY MUSEUM PERENNIAL PLANT SALE.

SATURDAY MAY 3rd, 9:00 TO 12:00.

THAT'S IN FREEMONT.

AND OUR FOURTH ONE, NEBRASKA EXTENSION, BACKYARD POULTRY WORKSHOP.

MAY 2nd IN KEARNEY, A PHONE NUMBER THERE.

MAY 3rd IN NORTH PLATTE, ALSO A PHONE NUMBER.

YOU NEED TO REGISTER BY APRIL 28th BY CALLING THOSE NUMBERS.

SO GREAT THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

ALL RIGHTY, KAIT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

BEES IN THE RIVER ROCK ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

THIS IS FROM HASTINGS.

THEY'RE MAKING HILLS IN THE DIRT LIKE ANTS.

HOW DO THEY GET RID OF THEM WITHOUT KILLING THEM, AND THEN DISCOURAGE THEM FROM RETURNING?

>> UM, SO, THESE, I THINK THEY'RE FURROW BEES.

NOT A HUNDRED PERCENT CONFIDENT, BUT THEY ARE A SOLITARY BEE THAT WE HAVE HERE IN NEBRASKA.

SO, THEY'RE NATIVE.

THEY'RE GREAT POLLINATORS.

IF THEY'RE NOT HURTING ANYTHING I WOULD LET THE BEES BE BECAUSE THEY ARE BENEFICIAL.

YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA GET RID OF THEM WITHOUT KILLING THEM, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT YOU CAN DISCOURAGE THEM FROM NESTING THERE BY KEEPING THAT AREA WELL WATERED.

MAYBE SET UP A SPRINKLER, BECAUSE THEY LIKE THAT DRY SOIL TO NEST IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICTURES FROM THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A PLATTSMOUTH VIEWER.

THIS ANT COLONY, IS IT A PROBLEM?

IT'S AWAY FROM A LOCUST AND A ROCK GARDEN.

THEY DO SPRAY GRASS AND WEED KILLER.

THEY HAVEN'T HAD ANY RAIN.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA COME INTO THE HOUSE AND HURT THINGS.

>> WELL, IT KIND OF DEPENDS WHAT TYPE OF ANT IT IS.

I SUSPECT THAT THESE ARE PROBABLY FIELD ANTS JUST BASED ON WHAT I CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE.

SO, CHANCES OF THEM COMING INSIDE ARE PRETTY LOW.

BUT IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF IT, YOU CAN RAKE BACK THAT MOUND AND DO DUST INSECTICIDE, A DRENCH INSECTICIDE.

BAITS WORK REALLY WELL FOR ANTS AND TERRO MAKES SOME STAKES THAT YOU CAN PUT IN THE GROUND.

BUT IF IT'S NOT HARMING ANYTHING, ANTS LIVE OUTDOORS, SO YOU CAN KIND OF JUST LET THAT -- LET THAT ONE GO AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE ANT ONE.

THIS IS ANTS IN LAVA ROCK AND HOW DOES SHE GET THEM OUT OF THERE?

SAME THING?

>> YEP, SAME THING.

SO, USUALLY WITH ANTS, THE BEST SOLUTION IS GOING TO BE TO USE THOSE BAITS.

SO, THAT WOULD BE MY FIRST SUGGESTION THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO START RESURRECTING THIS WEEDY RIGHT-OF-WAY PATCH.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'D ASK WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WITH IT.

AND I WOULD SAY PULL OUT ALL OF THOSE WEEDS.

YOU CAN EITHER DO IT BY HAND IF YOU'RE -- DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE GYM THAT DAY, I GUESS.

OR YOU CAN USE A NON-SELECTIVE HERBICIDE.

AND THEN, I WOULD PREP THAT SOIL AND GET IT GOING.

AND THEN, I WOULD FIGURE OUT WHAT I WANTED TO PLANT.

I'D PROBABLY PLANT MAYBE SOME REALLY NICE HEAT-LOVING PERENNIALS AND JUST KIND OF MAKE IT A REALLY NICE PERENNIAL BED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS ONE, THIS LITTLE YELLOW WEED, ALL OF A SUDDEN IS EVERYWHERE IN OUR "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW SHOULD WE TELL PEOPLE THAT HAVE IT HOW TO GET RID OF IT.

>> I GUESS WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THOSE KIDS PULL THOSE OUT TOO.

BUT THIS IS CORYDALIS.

THIS ONE THAT YOU -- CAN KIND OF SHOW UP.

IT'S ACTUALLY A VERY INTERESTING ONE, 'CAUSE IT ACTUALLY NEEDS BOTH WARM AND COLD IN ORDER FOR THE SEEDS TO GERMINATE.

SO, I THINK THAT SEEDS JUST KIND OF SHOWED UP.

AND IT'LL SEED ITSELF ABOUT.

IT WILL BE KIND OF AGGRESSIVE, BUT IT'S PRETTY EASY TO PULL.

SO, I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

HE HAD VARIEGATED BISHOPS WEED, WHICH IS THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

AND IT REVERTED.

AND NOW, IT IS EVERYWHERE IN THIS NEXT PICTURE.

HE'S WONDERING HOW HE CAN CONTROL IT WITHOUT HURTING EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> YEAH, THIS ONE'S GONNA BE REALLY HARD TO CONTROL.

WHEN I LOOKED AT IT, HE'S GOT A LOT OF PLANTS AROUND IT.

HAND-PULLING WITH YOUR REALLY NICE SOIL KNIFE IS PROBABLY GONNA BE YOUR BEST BET.

YOU CAN USE THE GLOVE OF DEATH ALSO.

CUTTING IT BACK AND THEN USING THE GLOVE OF DEATH TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THAT HERBICIDE RIGHT ON IT.

YEAH.

THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON ALL SUMMER LONG.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

FREMONT FOR YOU, KYLE, IS YOUR FIRST ONE.

AT THE ENDS OF THE GROWING SEASON LAST FALL, SHE PUT GRASS CLIPPINGS ON TOP OF THE SOIL OF THIS RAISED BED.

SHE GREW CARROTS IN IT LAST YEAR.

SHE WENT TO PREP IT.

AND HERE'S THIS LAYER OF MUSHROOMS.

SOME ARE ON TOP AND SOME ARE DEEPER.

SHE USED CARDBOARD, WOOD, AND LEAVES AND TOPPED IT WITH SOIL AND THIS IS WHAT SHE GOT.

>> SO, THIS IS ACTUALLY TOO FUNNY.

I DID NOT KNOW THAT YOU GREW CARROTS THERE LAST YEAR, BUT IT MAKES SENSE THAT YOU GREW CARROTS THERE LAST YEAR.

BECAUSE YOU INVITED THE RABBIT EAR MUSHROOM.

[ CHUCKLING ] YEAH.

NO JOKE.

THAT'S WHY THE CHUCKLING THAT YOU COULD HERE WHILE KIM WAS TALKING WAS ME JUST LOVING THE IRONY OF LIFE.

BUT YEAH, THAT'S RELATED TO OUR KIND OF OUR WOOD EAR MUSHROOMS THAT WE TEND TO SEE.

BUT WE WILL FIND THESE ON THE GROUND.

AGAIN, A RABBIT EAR.

THE SCIENTIFIC NAME OTIDEA.

THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT SPECIES IN THERE.

BUT YEAH, SOMETHING THAT WE TEND TO FIND, REALLY, IN SOME -- SOMEWHAT DISTURBED SOILS, YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER.

15 YEARS, THEY'VE LIVED THERE.

LAST TWO YEARS, THEY'VE HAD THESE COME UP.

ARE THEY DANGEROUS?

AND HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF THEM?

>> WELL, GETTING RID OF THEM IS DIFFICULT.

BUT THESE ARE MOST LIKELY SHAGGY MANE MUSHROOMS, ONE OF OUR CORPINOID MUSHROOMS.

HERE, WE HAVE THE BABIES, JUST AS THEY ARE COMING OUT.

AND THEN, EVENTUALLY, THEY WILL -- THE BOTTOM OF THE CAPS WILL TURN BLACK AND INKY AND WILL ATTRACT THE FLIES TO SPREAD THE SPORES.

THEY ARE NOT DANGEROUS, PER SE.

THEY CAN CAUSE GASTROINTESTINAL DISTRESS.

I THINK SHE MENTIONED DOGS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, ONCE THEY MATURE YOU REALLY DON'T WANT THE DOGS TO BE EATING THEM.

BUT THEY, FOR THE MOST PART, MOST ANIMALS TEND TO LEAVE THEM ALONE.

TO GET RID OF THEM, FERTILIZE THE LAWN AND TRY TO GET WHATEVER WOOD THEY'RE GROWING ON TO BREAK DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO MORE.

AND THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER, CLEANING OUT LEAVES AND FOUND THESE BLACK LUMPS.

WHAT ARE THESE?

>> THESE ARE DEAD MAN'S FINGERS.

SO, MAYBE YOU COMMITTED A CRIME IN THAT AREA PREVIOUSLY.

NO.

BUT YEAH, THEY ARE -- THERE'S A GROUP OF XYLARIA MUSHROOMS, AND THESE ARE -- YEP, EARLY STAGES OF DEAD MAN'S FINGERS.

THEY WILL JUST CONTINUE GROW ON WHATEVER WOODY TISSUE THERE IS.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

KIND OF FUN.

SCOTT.

CROFTON, NEBRASKA.

HE WANTS TO KNOW IN THESE FIRST TWO PICTURES WHAT HAS COME UP HERE, AND IS IT A DESIRABLE.

AND YOUR NEXT PICTURE IS FROM A PAPILLION VIEWER.

SO, TWO FROM CROFTON, ONE FROM PAPILLION.

ARE THEY THE SAME THING?

AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO ABOUT THEM?

>> THEY'RE THE SAME THING.

THEY LOOK LIKE A VOLUNTARIES CRABAPPLE.

TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE IT'S GROWING, BECAUSE CRABAPPLES ARE A SHORT TREE.

MAYBE 10, MAYBE UP TO 20 FOOT TALL.

SO, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE LANDSCAPE.

THEY ARE NICE TO HAVE.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THEY'RE GONNA -- WHAT COLOR THEY'RE GONNA HAVE THAT, IF THEY'RE IN A GOOD SPACE, MIGHT WANT TO KEEP THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND PROTECT THEM FROM THOSE WASCALLY WABBIT EARS.

>> YES, PROTECT THEM FROM RABBITS.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE FROM CARNEY ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS A FORSYTHIA THAT WAS PLANTED 40 YEARS AGO.

WE TRIED TO ANSWER A LITTLE BIT IN THE LIGHTNING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO PROPAGATE OR DIG AND DIVIDE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE?

>> THE BEST THING TO DO IS DO A SOFTWOOD CUTTING.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THOSE CUTTINGS OFF THE MOST -- THAT NEW GROWTH THAT STARTS, YOU'RE GONNA DO THIS AROUND FATHER'S DAY UP 'TIL 4th OF JULY.

STICK IT IN SOME DAMP PEET -- NOT PEET MOSS, PERLITE AND BAG IT.

AND ONCE IT ROOTS IN, THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PLANT IT OUTDOORS.

SO, YEAH.

>> GIVE IT A TRY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICKS ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS IN ASHLAND VIEWER.

SO, THESE ARE FIVE TO SIX-YEAR-OLD ARBORVITAE.

IT LOOKS LIKE GREEN GIANT.

PLANTED ABOUT 20 FEET APART.

SHE'S WONDERING WHY ONE'S YELLOW AND ONE'S NOT.

>> IT -- ONE'S YELLOW BECAUSE OF DROUGHT DAMAGE, WINTERKILL.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THEM.

BUT IT'S BEEN A HARD WINTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, DAT DOG DEAD.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS GO OUT OF STYLE AND FADE AWAY, BUT GOOD DESIGN IS ALWAYS TIMELESS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE TRUE FOR THIS YEAR'S GARDEN TRENDS, SO LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE HARDSCAPE AND LANDSCAPE TRENDS.

♪ >> WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT GARDEN TRENDS EVERY YEAR, AND WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS JUST FOR A LITTLE BIT ON HARDSCAPE AND FURNISHINGS.

BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T THINK ABOUT THAT.

HERE'S ONE OF THE DEALS.

PEOPLE ARE STILL VERY INTERESTED IN CREATING GOOD SPACES FOR THEM TO LIVE IN AND WILDLIFE TO LIVE IN, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU'RE TALKING POLLINATORS OR CREATURES LIKE FOXES.

THE KICKER ON HARDSCAPE MATERIALS NOW IS JUST LIKE TRENDS IN THE LANDSCAPE WORLD.

SOME OF THE MATERIALS THAT WE HAVE USED ARE DISAPPEARING.

SO, THAT MEANS IF YOU NEED TO MATCH OR YOU NEED TO EXPAND A PATIO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE A DIFFERENT MATERIAL, GET IT TO BLEND WELL WITH WHAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT.

PERGOLAS AND VERTICAL GARDENING ARE REALLY HOT TOPICS AGAIN, OF COURSE, BECAUSE OF URBAN SITUATIONS.

WE'VE SORT OF SET THE TREND YEARS AGO ON OUR PERGOLA, WHICH IS OUR ENTRANCE TO THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

SOLID, GOOD MATERIALS, SUSTAINABLE BEST PRACTICES.

YOU CAN GROW VERTICAL GARDENING THINGS ON IT, OR YOU CAN DO THINGS ON IT THAT ARE JUST BEAUTIFUL INSTEAD.

AND OF COURSE, CONTAINERS ARE STILL A BIG HOT OBJECT.

YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO WITH YOUR OWN CONTAINERS AND YOUR LANDSCAPE.

PICK AND CHOOSE FOR COLOR, PATTERN, THE SAME SORT OF IDEA HOLDS TRUE ON ACTUAL PAVEMENTS IN YOUR PATIO AREA.

>> AND OF COURSE, TERRI IN PARTICULAR WOULD TELL YOU DON'T OVERLOOK THOSE CONTAINERS.

THEY CAN ADD SO MUCH TO THE BEAUTY AND VARIETY AROUND YOUR HOME.

SOME CAN BE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE OR THEY CAN TAKE YOUR WHOLE ALLOWANCE.

ALL RIGHT.

KAIT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO FOUND YET ANOTHER INTERESTING INSECT IN HIS GARDEN LAST SUMMER.

SO, THIS WAS -- WHAT'S THIS GUY ON THE NEW RASPBERRY FORMING?

>> THIS IS AN ATLANTIS WEB WORM MOTH.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD POLLINATORS.

THE ADULT MOTHS ARE.

AND THE CATERPILLARS ARE HOST PLANT IS THE TREE OF HEAVEN.

AND I'M SURE THESE PLANT PEOPLE NEXT TO ME CAN PROBABLY TELL YOU THAT THAT IS AN INVASIVE, BAD PLANT.

BUT OTHERWISE, THE MOTH IS VERY PRETTY.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO GET RID OF THE PLANT AND KEEP THE -- >> YES, KEEP THE RASPBERRIES.

GET RID OF THE TREE OF HEAVEN IF IT'S NEARBY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A SPRINGFIELD VIEWER.

ALL SHE SAID IS SPIDER IDENTIFICATION.

>> IT IS A BOLD JUMPING SPIDER.

>> A BOLD JUMPING SPIDER.

>> YES.

AND THEY'RE RELATIVELY BIG FOR JUMPING SPIDERS.

BUT THEY CAN COME IN A VARIETY OF PATTERNS.

THEY CAN KIND OF LOOK METALLIC IN A CERTAIN LIGHT.

BUT THEY'RE -- THEY'RE PRETTY INTERESTING LITTLE SPIDERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, KAIT.

THIS IS A SYRACUSE VIEWER.

YET AGAIN, HERE WE HAVE THE OAKS.

AND SHE DID SAY IF THEY PICK THEM OFF THEY TAKE BARK WITH THEM.

>> YEAH.

SO, THIS IS OAK BULLET GALL.

AND WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THE PLANT WHEN THEY'RE FORMING GALLS PRETTY MUCH JUST ARE REACTING TO SOMETHING THAT THE INSECT DOES.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S A WASP LAYING AN EGG.

AND THIS GALL FORMS AROUND IT.

THE LARVAE LIVE IN THE GALL.

AND THEN, THEY COME OUT.

MOST OF THE TIME, GALLS ARE SIMPLY COSMETIC.

DON'T CAUSE A WHOLE LOT OF ISSUES.

YOU CAN SIMPLY PRUNE THEM OUT IF YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, OVER TIME, SOMETIMES, THE OAK BULLET GALLS CAN BE AN ISSUE BUT THERE'S REALLY NO PREVENTIVES OUT THERE FOR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THIS PLANT IS.

AND THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SO, WHAT IS THIS PLANT?

>> THIS IS WATER POT OR AUNT LUCY.

IT'S ACTUALLY KIND OF A REALLY PRETTY LITTLE WILD FLOWER.

IT'S VERY EASY TO PULL.

BUT YOU CAN KEEP IT.

IT'LL KIND OF DISAPPEAR WHEN IT GETS HOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

AND THEY'RE SAYING IS THIS A WEED?

THIS ONE JUST SHOWED UP IN HER FLOWER BEDS.

>> YEP.

THIS IS FIELD PENNYCRESS.

ACTUALLY, I REALLY LIKE THE SMELL OF IT WHEN THEY MOW.

BUT THIS IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER WINTER ANNUAL.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PULLING IT BEFORE YOU GET IT OUT.

THEY DO USE THIS SOMETIMES IN FLORAL DESIGN.

THE SEED HEAD IS KIND OF PRETTY.

IT'S KIND OF MILD-BRUSH LOOK.

BUT YEAH, JUST GET RID OF IT.

IT CAN HAVE UP TO 15,000 SEEDS PER PLANT.

SO, YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY IN YOUR YARD.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

KYLE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE HERE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT THIS IS.

>> IT'S A DANDELION.

>> TWO PICTURES I GUESS.

>> YES.

AND WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

>> WELL, YEAH, SO IT'S A -- IT'S A DANDELION.

THAT IS -- IT'S A FASCINATING WITH DISPLAYING SOME AMAZING FASCIATION.

FASCIATION IS -- NORMALLY IT'S A GENETIC DISORDER.

BASICALLY, JUST THE -- THAT ABSCOPAL MARI-STEM WHERE IT'S ACTIVELY GROWING, A MUTATION OCCURS AND IT STARTS TO GROW A LITTLE BIT WEIRD.

THERE'S ALSO A BACTERIA THAT CAN CAUSE -- CAN CAUSE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, BUT REGARDLESS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT -- ABOUT THAT DANDELION, I DON'T KNOW.

JUST SING IT A SONG OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> DIG IT UP WITH TERRI'S SOIL KNIFE.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A FIRTH VIEWER.

NOTED BROWNING TIPS ON ONE OF THE WHITE PINES LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WITH A LITTLE GREEN.

AND NOW, HE'S SEEING MORE WITH THE SAME ISSUE.

IS THIS DROUGHT OR IS THIS DISEASE?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A THIRSTY TREE TO ME.

AND IT'S -- I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED AT LARGE ABOUT IT.

IT'S BEEN DRY.

IT'S -- WE'VE HAD -- HAD SOME KIND OF ROUGH WINTERS.

AND JUST A LOT OF -- WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF WINTER INJURY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, WITH THOSE EVERGREENS, ONCE THEY TURN BROWN, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO -- THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RE-GREEN UP.

SO, THOSE LEAVES AREN'T GOING TO FILL BACK IN.

I WOULD PROBABLY START THINKING ABOUT A REPLACEMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

HIS IS A WEST POINT VIEWER.

HE PLANTED A BARE ROOT CONTENDER PEACH IN '23.

ONLY GROWTH IS ONE BOTTOM BRANCH.

HE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN CUT THAT MAIN TRUNK OFF AND THEN, RETRAIN THAT PEACH.

AND WHERE SHOULD HE CUT IT OFF?

>> YOU CAN.

YOU JUST NEED TO ASK YOURSELF HOW MUCH WORK YOU WANT TO PUT INTO IT.

PEACHES ARE A SHORT-LIVED TREE IN NEBRASKA.

IT'S BEEN IN THE GROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

SO, IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE TO THINK ABOUT REPLACEMENT.

IF YOU DO, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY TO IMPROVE THAT ENVIRONMENT, MULCH AROUND THE TREES, GIVE IT SOME PROTECTION FROM THE BUNNIES.

BUT THEY COULD TRY IF THEY WANTED TO.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND HE DID -- CONTENDER IS A GOOD PEACH VARIETY, SO I'D -- >> IT IS A GOOD -- >> SO, AT LEAST HE, YOU KNOW, HE CHOSE A GOOD ONE.

BUT IT'S STARTING TO BE WHERE IT MIGHT BE EASIER -- >> IT'S BEEN A ROUGH WINTER WITH THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE DRYNESS.

SO, WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES THERE.

>> RIGHT.

AND WEST POINT IS A LITTLE -- A LITTLE FURTHER AND DRYER.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A POKE COUNTY VIEWER.

SHE HAS THESE -- ONE TULIP THAT HAS ONE LITTLE RED PIECE.

SHE SAYS SHE'S NEVER HAD IT HAPPEN BEFORE.

SHE SAYS IT'S STILL BEAUTIFUL.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS.

>> IT -- RANDOM CHANCE.

WITH COLOR BREAKS IN TULIPS, IT'S PRETTY COMMON.

SOMETIMES IT CAN BE CAUSED BY A VIRUS.

THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A VIRUS.

IT JUST LOOKS LIKE NATURAL SPONTANEOUS.

THE PLANT DID WHAT IT WANTED TO DO.

KEEP IT.

IT'S GONNA BE FINE.

IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, IT MIGHT NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND IT'S INTERESTING, THIS YEAR, WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TULIPS THAT HAVE -- LAST YEAR, THEY LOOKED YELLOW.

AND THIS YEAR, THEY LOOK WHITE OR THEY LOOKED PINK AND NOW THEY'RE NOT PINK.

SO, IT'S A FUN YEAR.

IT'S A FUN YEAR FOR THEM.

IF OUR VIEWERS HAVE A CHANCE, THEY SHOULD GO LOOK AT THE TULIPS OR THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE TO LOOK AT THE TULIPS AT SUNKEN GARDENS HERE IN LINCOLN.

THEY WERE ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR.

AND WE DID GET AN AWFUL LOT OF RAIN.

WE GOT SOME WIND.

WE GOT MORE RAIN.

AND EXCEPT FOR THE -- >> AND NOW -- AND NOW, THEY'RE TAKING A NAP.

RIGHT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TIRED, EXCEPT FOR THE ONES THAT WERE COMPLETELY WHITE UP -- UP AT THE -- AT THE WHITE LADY.

BUT IT -- QUITE A BEAUTIFUL YEAR FOR IT.

WELL, AND -- UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME AGAIN FOR THIS WEEK'S "BACKYARD FARMER."

WE ALWAYS WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

AND NOT SUCH A GOOD LIGHTNING ROUND.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES, WE HAD TIM DUN -- EXCUSE ME.

TIM DUNGAN AND CAROL RUSTAD.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO THAT TOPIC OF TREE DIVERSITY IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

HAVING THAT WIDE VARIETY OF TREES CONTRIBUTES TO THE BEAUTY OF THE LANDSCAPE.

IT'S ALSO A GOOD WAY TO AVOID SOME OF THOSE INSECT AND DISEASE PESTS WE HEAR ABOUT EACH WEEK.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GAR -- WEBSITE AT BYF.UNL.EDU.

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

SO, GOODNIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK, RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ ♪