>> >> CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS, "BACKYARD FARMER" IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL BE TRIMMING UP HYDRANGEAS AND SHARING TIPS FOR RAISED BEDS.

THAT IS ALL COMING UP NEXT RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

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

I'M KIM TODD.

WE DO HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO GET OUT AND GET THAT GARDEN READY FOR THE SEASON PRETTY SOON.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

IF YOU'VE GOT A QUESTION, YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446.

YOU CAN ALSO CONTACT US VIA E-MAIL WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND PICTURES FOR A FUTURE SHOW AND THAT IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

PLEASE TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE, GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION.

DO BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

IT HAS ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS AND FEATURES FROM THIS YEAR AND SOME OF THE PAST SEASONS.

"BACKYARD FARMER" IS ALSO ON FACEBOOK, SO YOU CAN JOIN AND FOLLOW US DURING THE WEEK.

SO YOU HAVE NO EXCUSES NOT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO KAIT, YOU'VE GOT A RATHER LARGE SAMPLE.

>> I DO!

IT'S A LARGE SAMPLE FOR A TINY BUG.

BUT I GET A LOT OF CALLS REGARDING GNATS FLYING AROUND IN THE HOUSE AND USUALLY MY FIRST QUESTION FOR WHOEVER CALLS IS, DO YOU HAVE PLANTS?

WHETHER YOU HAVE A LOT OF HOUSE PLANTS IN YOUR HOME OR YOU STILL HAVE PLANTS INSIDE BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING TO PLANT THEM IN THIS CRAZY NEBRASKA WEATHER, CHANCES ARE YOU MIGHT COME ACROSS THESE LITTLE FUNGUS GNATS.

THESE GNATS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DAMP SOIL OF PLANTS.

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME AND YOU BUY PLANT POTS THAT DON'T HAVE GOOD DRAINAGE, IT CAN BE AN ISSUE.

WE CAN KIND OF SEE HERE ON THIS YELLOW STICKY TRAP, THEY'RE REALLY SMALL LITTLE BLACK GNATS AND CONTROLLING THEM IS PRETTY FAIRLY EASY.

FOR THE ADULTS, YOU CAN USE A YELLOW STICKY TRAP, JUST LIKE THIS ONE HERE.

TO CONTROL THE LARVA, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS JUST LET YOUR PLANT DRY OUT BETWEEN WATERING.

IF IT'S REALLY BAD, YOU CAN ALSO USE LIKE A BT-BASED INSECTICIDE THAT IS TARGETED TO GNATS, AS WELL.

>> EXCELLENT.

THEY REALLY ARE DINKY.

THERE ARE SO MANY WHEN THEY DECIDE THEY ARE HAPPY.

>> YES!

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOU ARE IN THE TURF CHAIR TONIGHT.

>> YEP, JACK OF ALL TRADES, MASTER OF NONE.

MY SAMPLE IS, THIS IS BED STRAW.

BED STRAW YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, IT IS GOING TO BE LIME GREEN OUT USUALLY IN YOUR LANDSCAPE BEDS WHERE YOU KIND OF HAVE SOME THINNING AREAS.

IT IS VERY EASY TO PULL.

IT'S GOT A TINY, TINY LITTLE ROOT ON IT SO IT IS REAL EASY TO PULL OUT.

THE ONE THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT WILL STICK TO YOU.

BY THE END OF THE NIGHT TONIGHT, I WILL HAVE RASH ALL OVER ME BECAUSE I AM ALLERGIC TO IT.

IT WILL HAVE WHITE FLOWERS.

THE FLOWERS TURN INTO THESE TINY LITTLE SEED BALLS AND THE SEED BALLS WILL STICK TO CRITTERS AND THAT'S HOW IT GETS DISTRIBUTED ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO, THIS IS BED STRAW.

EASY TO PULL.

DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY KIND OF CHEMICAL CONTROL.

JUST WHEN YOU PULL IT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE USING GLOVES.

>> DON'T THROW IT AT ANYONE.

>> DON'T THROW IT AT ANYBODY.

>> RIGHT.

DENNIS, WHAT IN THE WORLD?

>> WELL, BIRDS ARE TRYING TO NEST RIGHT NOW AND SO ONCE THEY BUILD THE NEST AND THEY PUT AN EGG THERE, IF IT'S ANYTHING BUT A EUROPEAN STARLING, A HOUSE SPARROW, OR A PIGEON, YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT UNTIL THEY ARE DONE WITH THAT NEST.

THAT IS THE MIGRATORY BIRD ACT OF 1974.

IF IT IS A ROBIN OR A SWALLOW OR A GRACKLE, THEY BUILD A NEST AND ONCE THEY HAVE IT COMPLETE AND AN EGG IN THERE, YOU CAN'T TOUCH IT.

YOU CAN DETER THEM FROM BUILDING A NEST.

THESE ARE SEVERAL DEVICES THAT YOU CAN USE.

THEY ARE LIKE PORCUPINE WIRE.

YOU PUT IT WHERE THEY WANT TO START TO BUILD A NEST.

IF THEY START TO BUILD A NEST, YOU WIPE THAT MUD OFF OR THAT GRASS AND ADHERE THIS AND THEN THEY CAN'T BUILD -- THIS IS KIND OF SHARP.

THIS ONE IS EVEN SHARPER.

THIS ONE IS GREAT.

IF YOU HAVE BIRDS SITTING ON STATUES, YOU CAN PUT IT RIGHT ON IT LIKE THIS, THEN THE BIRD WON'T SIT THERE AND DEFECATE.

SOMETIMES WHEN I WALK AROUND WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PIGEONS, I JUST WEAR THIS AND THEN THE PIGEONS DON'T SIT AND DEFECATE ON ME, LIKE USUAL.

BIRDS HAVE A TENDENCY TO DEFECATE ON ME.

THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES THAT YOU CAN PURCHASE FAIRLY EASY.

THIS IS ONE THAT'S FOR BIGGER BIRDS, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS POINTED.

IF YOU HAVE A LONG TYPE OF EAVE, WHERE THEY CAN NEST AT ANY POINT, YOU CAN USE THIS TYPE.

IT'S PLASTIC.

IT'S A BIT MORE INEXPENSIVE.

BUT THESE ARE ALL TO STOP BIRDS FROM NESTING.

AGAIN, GET THEM UP SOON AS THEY START TO BUILD THAT NEST.

WIPE OFF THAT MATERIAL AND GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS UP THERE.

>> THAT STUFF IS AVAILABLE ONLINE MOSTLY?

>> YEAH, I GOT ALL OF IT FROM ONLINE BUT I'M SURE THERE IS USUALLY ONE OR TWO AVAILABLE AT SOME OF THE BOX STORES AND GARDEN CENTERS.

>> OKAY.

>> COOL QUESTION FOR YOU, TERRI.

WHAT'S IT CALLED WHEN THE BED STRAW STICKS TO SOMETHING OR A TICK GETS ONTO SOMETHING TO MOVE ITS SEED OR JUVENILE?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA!

I DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

>> YOU REMEMBER KAIT?

YOU TOOK MY CLASS.

>> THAT WAS LIKE, A DECADE AGO.

>> PHORESY, PHORESY.

IT'S CALLED PHORESY.

P-H-O-R-E-Y.

>> CLEARLY YOU WEREN'T A VERY GOOD TEACHER.

(LAUGHTER) >> ON THAT NOTE... >> ON THAT NOTE, I'M OUT.

>> YOU LAUGH ABOUT HIM WEARING THAT.

I SEE HIM ON CAMPUS ALL THE TIME WITH THAT ON HIS HEAD, SO I MEAN, IT'S NOT REALLY A JOKE.

PEOPLE WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO, I HAVE A FEW THINGS HERE.

THE PURPLE LEAF PLANT, I WILL TURN HERE, IS A PURPLE HAZELNUT.

IT'S HERE FOR COLOR AS IS THE VIBURNUM, THE FRAGRANT VIBURNUM FLOWER.

THAT WAS MY WIFE'S IDEA BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T LIKE THE IDEA THAT I JUST HAD SOME GREEN THINGS WITH LITTLE TINY FLOWERS.

THE IDEA BEHIND THIS IS THAT WE GET A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THINGS LIKE BLUEBERRIES OR SOME OF THE OTHER SMALL FRUITS AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME -- IF YOU'VE HAD A HARD TIME, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO WITH BLUEBERRIES.

THEY ARE TOUGH TO GROW IN THIS AREA.

CURRANTS, THERE ARE A FEW.

THERE'S A WHITE CURRANT, RED CURRANT, AND THEN A BLACK CURRANT.

ALL DO VERY WELL IN OUR CLIMATE.

THEY DO WELL IN OUR SOILS.

THEY CERTAINLY WOULD PREFER A BETTER, RICHER SOIL IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING WITH MORE ORGANIC MATTER, THEY'LL DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR YOU.

THEY REALLY DON'T REQUIRE A LOT OF CARE.

THEY DON'T HAVE PESTS.

THEY DON'T REQUIRE A LOT OF SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION.

CERTAINLY, FOR IN A DRY PERIOD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GIVE THIS SOME EXTRA WATER.

UNLIKE A LOT OF OTHER SMALL FRUITS, THEY DON'T REQUIRE A LOT OF ATTENTION.

THEY ARE VERY PRODUCTIVE.

IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO, GROW SOME THINGS TO HAVE SOME SYRUPS OR JAMS, IT IS AN EASY PLANT.

THEY ARE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE TO GET BARE ROOT.

THEY ARE KIND OF FUN TO HAVE.

>> THEY ARE PRETTY.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE SOME IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, SO VERY NICE.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS ALL.

OKAY, KAIT, YOU GET THE VERY FIRST ROUND OF PICTURE QUESTIONS.

YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS, EGGS ON ASPARAGUS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> WHAT IN -- NOT VERY YUMMY.

WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT DOES SHE DO ABOUT IT?

>> THESE ARE EGGS OF THE COMMON ASPARAGUS BEETLE, WHICH IS A PEST OF ASPARAGUS.

THEY ARE PRETTY EASY TO SEE.

IF YOU ARE SEEING EGGS ON YOUR ASPARAGUS, GO AHEAD AND SQUISH THOSE, REMOVE THEM.

YOU'RE GOING TO KIND OF NEED TO CONTINUE MONITORING THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

THE LARVAE AND THE ADULTS ARE PRETTY EASY TO PICK OFF, SQUISH, PUT IN SOAPY WATER.

THEY COMPLETE THEIR LIFE CYCLE IN JUST A MONTH SO THERE'S GOING TO BE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON SO IT'S JUST IMPORTANT TO KIND OF GO OUT THERE, TAKE A LOOK, REMOVE WHAT YOU CAN AND THEN FALL CLEANUP IS ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THESE, AS WELL BECAUSE THE ADULTS WILL OVERWINTER IN THE DEBRIS UNDER STONES SO IN THE FALL, KIND OF TAKE A LOOK IF YOU PLAN ON PLANTING ASPARAGUS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

>> OOPS, WE USE OURS IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN ALL WINTER BECAUSE IT IS SO PRETTY.

OH, WELL.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS FROM SWEDEBURG.

LAST YEAR, THEY HAD ISSUES WITH WATERMELON.

HE WANTS TO KNOW, IS THIS INSECT OR DISEASE?

YOU GET IT THIS WEEK, AND PATH MIGHT GET IT NEXT WEEK.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO SAY, I CONSULTED WITH OUR ROTS AND SPOTS EXPERTS, BECAUSE I WASN'T CONFIDENT THIS WAS INSECT RELATED.

I THINK THE CONSENSUS WAS IT'S CALLED WATERMELON RIND ROT.

IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT'S CAUSED BY A BACTERIA, WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT BACTERIA CAUSES IT YET, AND THERE'S NO EXTERNAL SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT SO YOU DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S AN ISSUE IN THE WATERMELON UNTIL YOU BUST IT OPEN.

LUCKILY, IT'S STILL EDIBLE.

IT'S JUST NOT VERY GOOD LOOKING.

>> YEAH, NOT GOING ON MY TABLE.

OKAY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES HERE.

THIS IS A TREE THAT'S BEEN THERE 20 YEARS.

IT'S A PINE, LOTS OF SPACE.

YOU SEE A LITTLE CLOSER UP, WHICH I THINK DOES LAND ON YOUR PLATE.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS LIKELY THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH.

THE CATERPILLARS ARE PESTS OF THE TREES, THEY BURROW INTO THAT WOOD AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE ON THE HOLES IN THIS PICTURE, IT HAS THIS POPCORNESQUE YELLOW PITCH MASS THAT COMES OUT WHEN THE CATERPILLARS TUNNEL IN THERE.

SO TIMING IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN TREATING A TREE FOR ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH.

WE ARE PAST THE WINDOW FOR THAT FIRST TREATMENT IN EARLY APRIL.

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO TREAT, YOUR NEXT WINDOW IS GOING TO BE EARLY AUGUST.

IT IS KIND OF EASY TO REMEMBER, "A" MONTHS, APRIL AND AUGUST.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TREAT THE WHOLE TREE, WHICH MIGHT BE DIFFICULT GIVEN ITS AGE.

BUT YOU NEED TO TREAT IT WITH SOMETHING LIKE PERMETHRIN, BIFENTHRIN, LABELED FOR THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH AND YOU HAVE TO SPRAY UNTIL IT HAS PRETTY MUCH RUN OFF FROM THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KAIT.

OKAY, TERRI.

YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES ARE WEST OMAHA, KIND OF BEYOND BOY'S TOWN.

SHOWS THIS WEEDY GRASS COMING UP INTO THE YARD, SPREADING INTO PLANTING BEDS.

CAN YOU TELL WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT?

>> SO IT IS HARD TO TELL FROM GRASSES ON PICTURES BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET IN THERE AND SEE THEM.

I THINK THIS IS JUST A TALL FESCUE, LIKE ONE OF THE KIND OF NOT NICE PRETTY ONES THAT WE WANT IN TURF.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT IT.

IT WON'T HAVE A MID-RIB.

IT'LL HAVE KIND OF THESE LINES, REALLY DISTINCT LINES ON IT SO THAT WILL BE A GOOD SIGN.

WHEN I BLEW UP, IT PIXILATED.

I COULDN'T SEE IT VERY WELL BUT THAT'S WHAT I THINK IT IS.

YOU CAN HAND-PULL IT OUT.

YOU CAN CONTINUE MOWING, JUST KIND OF KEEPING IT DOWN IF YOU DON'T CARE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, OR YOU CAN USE CARFENTRAZONE ON IT AND SPRAY IT.

IT WILL PROBABLY TAKE A COUPLE SPRAYS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, TERRI.

YOU HAVE TWO ON THIS NEXT ONE ALSO.

THIS IS BEATRICE.

AREAS IN THE YARD THAT HAVE CLUMPS OF THIS BROADLEAF GRASS THAT LOOKS LIKE WEEDS.

WHAT IS THIS AND HOW DO I CONTROL IT?

>> I THINK THIS ONE IS DOWNY BROME.

THAT IS WHAT I'M THINKING.

IT IS KIND OF LIKE A BUNCH GRASS.

IT USUALLY COMES UP PRETTY EARLY THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THIS ONE ACTUALLY WOULD BE EASIER TO GET OUT THAN THE TALL FESCUE, SO YOU CAN JUST GO OUT WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND DIG IT OUT TO GET RID OF IT.

DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED BECAUSE ONCE IT GOES TO SEED, YOU'LL HAVE 10,000 OF THEM ALL OVER THE PLACE.

MAKING SURE THAT YOU HAVE A GOOD STAND OF TURF TO KIND OF HELP STIFLE THAT OFF IS IMPORTANT.

IF YOU WANT TO SPRAY FOR IT, TENACITY WOULD BE THE THING THAT YOU COULD USE FOR THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, TERRI.

OKAY, DENNIS.

CRITTER TIME.

>> GOOD.

>> YOUR FIRST HERE IS FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THIS IS PROPERTY ABUTTING A PASTURE.

HAD A HANDFUL OF THESE HOLES.

HAD DOZENS, PUT OUT PELLETS, THINKING HE WAS DEALING WITH VOLES AND POISON THINKING HE WAS DEALING WITH RATS.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

>> FIRST YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY BEFORE YOU PUT ANY TOXINS OUT.

IT IS VERY,VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO THAT.

CERTAIN TOXINS ONLY WORK FOR CERTAIN THINGS.

CERTAIN TOXINS CAN BE A BIG PROBLEM.

SO THE GENERAL RULE IS, IDENTIFY FIRST, THEN WORRY ABOUT CONTROL, OKAY, SO YOU DON'T BLINDLY TRY AND CONTROL ANYTHING.

WITH THAT SAID, THAT DOES LOOK LIKE SOMETHING DIGGING FOR SOMETHING.

IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW DEEP THE HOLE GOES.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE VOLES.

BUT THEN THE PART THAT IS KIND OF LONG AND PUSHED, IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE AN OPOSSUM OR A SKUNK DIGGING FOR GRUBS OR EARTHWORMS.

PROBABLY NOT GRUBS THIS TIME OF YEAR, PROBABLY EARTHWORMS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING FOR.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE MYSTERIOUS HOLES IN PATCHES SIX- TO EIGHT-FEET ACROSS -- THIS IS A DORMANT ALFALFA FIELD, TWO TO FOUR INCHES IN DIAMETER, NO SIGNS OF ACTIVITY, THEIR DOG DOESN'T BOTHER.

THIS IS MONDAMIN, IOWA.

>> YES, I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AT IT.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING GOING AFTER SOMETHING.

MAYBE EVEN A BIG BIRD GOING AFTER.

I'M TRYING TO SEE IF THAT IS JUST A MAT OF OLD STAND OF ALFALFA.

>> YEAH, HE SAID IT IS DORMANT ALFALFA.

>> YEAH, SO UNDERNEATH THERE, THERE COULD BE MICE OR VOLES.

WHAT YOU HAVE IS BIRDS OF PREY DIVING IN AFTER THEM.

THEY HEAR THEM UNDERNEATH THERE AND THEN THEY GO DOWN AND THEY GET 'EM AND PULL 'EM OUT.

>> I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT.

>> OH, YEAH.

IT'S GREAT.

>> YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

THIS IS HOLES IN A BACKYARD LAWN.

THIS IS BELLEVUE.

NOT REALLY SURE WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS.

I THINK THERE'S ONE MORE.

>> THIS IS DEFINITELY VOLES BECAUSE OF THE TRAILING AND THE FACT THE HOLE HAS -- YOU CAN SEE WHERE IT GOES IN.

THIS IS VOLES, WITH A "V" WHICH ARE GRANIVORE.

HOWEVER, IT IS BETTER AND USUALLY MORE EFFICIENT TO USE THE MULTI-CATCH TRAPS.

THEY HOLD UP TO 15 AT A TIME.

THEY ARE NOCTURNAL.

PUT THE TRAP NEXT TO THE RUN.

PUT A LITTLE BIRDSEED OR GRASS SEED AROUND THE ENTRANCE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ANYTHING IN THE TRAP.

YOU WIND IT UP AND IT WILL HOLD UP TO 15.

USUALLY, YOU CAN GET FOUR OR FIVE IN ONE NIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE AND THIS IS FROM NORFOLK.

THEY ARE WONDERING WHAT THAT IS.

>> SAME THING.

THAT'S A VOLE.

DITTO, DITTO, DITTO.

THE BOX-REPEATING TRAP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAD LOTS OF HOLES SENT IN THIS YEAR.

>> THE THING IS, THIS IS FROM THE WINTER AND YOU ARE SEEING IT NOW.

THEY DO THIS IN THE SUMMER, BUT THE GRASS IS ACTUALLY GROWING AND YOU DON'T SEE THEIR PATHS.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A SERIES OF SAD QUESTIONS, I'M AFRAID TONIGHT.

MOTHER NATURE HASN'T BEEN NICE TO US.

THIS IS PAPILLION, ARBORVITAE PLANTED EARLY LAST SPRING, THRIVED UNTIL -- DID SURROUND IT WITH BURLAP OVER THE WINTER, WATERED IT, BUT IT'S TURNED ALMOST THIS DRY GRAY.

ANY HOPE?

>> I WOULD, WITH THIS PARTICULAR TREE, I WOULD -- I THINK I WOULD WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OFF THE STUFF THAT SEEMS CLEARLY DEAD.

SOMETIMES I WILL JUST RUN MY HANDS OVER IT IF THE NEEDLES COME OFF.

WE HAD GOOD LUCK WITH ARBORVITAE ON CAMPUS THAT HAD BAGWORMS PRETTY BAD THAT I CLEANED UP.

THEY DID NOT LOOK GREAT BUT THEY'VE RECOVERED PRETTY WELL FROM IT AND IT TOOK SOME TIME.

SO IF YOU ARE PATIENT, THE OTHER THING I WOULD DO IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE IS PULL BACK THE ROCK AND MULCH AN AREA AT LEAST A FOOT OR TWO AWAY FROM THE BASE OF THE TREE TO GIVE IT A CHANCE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT TWO ARE BLAIR.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE IS A HETZ MIDGET, WHICH IS PARTLY GREEN.

THESE ARE ARBORVITAE ALSO.

THERE'S A GOLDEN GLOBE THAT IS REALLY BRITTLE ALL OVER.

CAN THEY COME OUT OF THIS?

>> THAT PARTICULAR ONE IS A REPLACE.

>> MM-HMM, MM-HMM.

I THINK THAT IS THE GOLDEN GLOBE.

THE HETZ MIDGET, I THINK, WAS HALF AND HALF, MAYBE.

>> THAT WOULD BE ONE, THAT I WOULD BE, AGAIN, I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO GO IN DEPENDING HOW THE PLANT IS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE, HOW IMPORTANT IT IS.

IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU FEEL IS REALLY IMPORTANT, I WOULD REPLACE IT.

OR AGAIN, YOU CAN PRUNE THE DEAD AND GIVE IT A CHANCE AND SEE IF IT RECOVERS, BUT IT WILL TAKE A WHILE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES HERE, I THINK, FROM OMAHA, OR MAYBE ONE.

THIS IS HOLLY.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THEY WATERED THE PLANTS DURING THE WARMER DAYS.

THEY'VE HAD IT ABOUT TEN YEARS.

IT'S NEVER LOOKED LIKE THIS.

SHOULD THEY TAKE THE ROOT, JUST THE DEAD BRANCHES OUT OR THE WHOLE THING?

>> WITH A HOLLY, MANY TIMES YOU'LL SEE THE CANES WILL START TO TURN BLACK OR MUCH LIKE A ROSE, YOU'LL KIND OF SEE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN LIVE AND DEAD.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THAT AND AGAIN, TAKE OUT ALL THE CANES THAT ARE CLEARLY DEAD AND SOME OF THEM THAT ARE GREEN THAT MAY HAVE DEAD LEAVES ON THEM.

THEY WILL LIKELY COME BACK FROM IT.

HOLLIES ARE PRETTY TOUGH, SO IT MAY TAKE SOME -- YOU KNOW, COULD TAKE A SEVERE PRUNING AND STILL RECOVER FROM IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GREAT, THANKS.

WE'VE COVERED THE TOPIC OF HYDRANGEAS SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW SEASONS.

RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO GET YOUR PRUNING SHEARS OUT AND MAKE A FEW STRATEGIC CUTS.

KNOW WHAT SPECIES AND KNOW HOW IT GROWS BEFORE YOU TAKE OUT THOSE PRUNING SHEARS, SO LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO SEE HOW IT'S DONE.

S S >> WE GET SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT PRUNING HYDRANGEAS, WE THOUGHT WE'D ACTUALLY SHOW YOU HOW TO DO IT WITH SOME OF DIFFERENT TYPES THAT WE GROW HERE.

THIS IS PANICLE HYDRANGEA.

IT IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS EASIEST TO PRUNE.

IT IS LATE FLOWERING.

YOU CAN SEE IT'S BEGUN TO BREAK ITS BUDS SO WE'RE A LITTLE ON THE EDGE BUT WE CAN STILL PRUNE THIS ONE HARD AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS ONE IS DEPENDING ON HOW LOW YOU WANT IT TO GO, YOU CAN REALLY TAKE A LOT OF THE STEMS OFF OF THIS ONE.

YOU CAN SEE THE OLD FLOWERHEADS.

OBVIOUSLY WE WILL BE TAKING THOSE OFF.

I WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHY WE MAKE THE PRUNING CUTS WHERE WE DO BECAUSE ONE OF THE COOL THINGS ABOUT THESE PANICLE HYDRANGEAS, WHETHER IT'S THE BIG ONE OR ONE OF THE SMALLER ONES, IS IF YOU LOOK, YOU'LL SEE THERE IS ACTUALLY A LOCATION WHERE THERE ARE ACTUALLY THREE BUDS.

IF ALL THREE OF THOSE BUDS BREAK, YOU WILL ACTUALLY HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR THREE FLOWERHEADS LATER IN THE SUMMER.

THE BEAUTY OF THE PANICLE HYDRANGEAS IS THEY ARE 100% WOODY, WHICH MEANS THEY WILL NOT DIE BACK IN WINTER MONTHS, AND THAT REALLY ALSO SORT OF INFORMS HOW WE'RE GOING TO PRUNE THEM.

THE DWARF ONES, LIKE THIS LITTLE QUICK FIRE, HAVE BEEN BRED FOR SMALLER STATURE.

SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT KIND OF FLOWER FORM BUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PRUNE THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY RELATIVELY SIMILAR TO THE WAY WE PRUNE THE BIG ONE.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK FOR THOSE BUDS.

WE'RE GOING TO PRUNE BACK AS FAR AS WE WANT BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY TRYING TO REDUCE THE HEIGHT ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BIG LEAF HYDRANGEAS.

PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH ENDLESS SUMMER AND ALL OF THE SPIN-OFFS OR THE KNOCK-OFFS.

HERE IS THE ISSUE.

THOSE WERE ACTUALLY BRED TO BLOOM ON BOTH OLD WOOD AND NEW WOOD BUT TYPICALLY IN OUR ZONE, THE OLD WOOD IS NOT HARDY.

SO, YOU HAVE TO REALLY WAIT ON THESE TO SEE WHERE THOSE NEW BUDS BREAK.

THEN WHAT I WILL DO IS I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OFF EVERYTHING THAT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER, WHICH MAY MEAN NOT FLOWERS UNTIL VERY LATE.

WE'LL IDENTIFY A PLACE WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD SHOOT.

AGAIN, YOU MAY NOT GET GOOD FLOWERING OUT OF THESE MACROPHYLLA HYDRANGEAS AND THAT IS PARTICULARLY TRUE IF YOU PRUNE OFF EVERYTHING EITHER IN THE FALL OR IN THE SPRING.

OAK LEAF HYDRANGEAS IS ALSO ONE OF THE ONES THAT IS 100% WOODY.

IT'S ALSO ONE THAT TYPICALLY NEEDS VERY LITTLE PRUNING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF REMOVING THE DEAD WOOD.

THIS IS A WINTER WHERE WE GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF DEAD WOOD.

THE PEELING BARK WILL NOT NEED TO BE PRUNED OFF AS LONG AS YOU STILL HAVE LIVE BUDS.

HOWEVER, THIS HYDRANGEA WILL BLOOM ON OLD WOOD.

WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THE PRUNING AFTER FLOWERING OCCURS.

IF YOU NEED TO DO ANY SHAPING WHATSOEVER SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS JUST TAKE OUT SOME OF THE DEAD WOOD, LEAVE ALL THIS NEW GROWTH ALONE.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAS TO BE PRUNED OUT AFTER IT FLOWERS A LITTLE BIT LATER.

A FOURTH HYDRANGEA IS THE SMOOTH HYDRANGEA KNOWN AS ANNABELLE.

EASY TO PRUNE BECAUSE THIS IS ONE THAT YOU TAKE EITHER ALL THE WAY DOWN, OR YOU TAKE IT DOWN ABOUT 18 INCHES.

AGAIN, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF HYDRANGEAS THAT HAVE ESSENTIALLY FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PRUNING.

MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHICH ONE YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU SHARPEN THOSE PRUNING SHEARS.

>> MAKE SURE YOU DO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF HYDRANGEA YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU START OR YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE OFF THOSE FLOWER BUDS.

ALSO, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THOSE DAMAGED OR CROSSING STEMS.

YOU CAN PRUNE THOSE OUT JUST ABOUT ANY OLD TIME.

ALL RIGHT, KAIT, THIS IS BLAIR.

RECENTLY OPENED THE WINDOW AND FOUND THIS DEBRIS.

DID IT COME FROM AN INSECT OR IS THIS MOUSY?

>> I THINK I NEED TO PASS THIS TO DENNIS.

THIS LOOKS MOUSY TO ME.

>> YES, IT DOES.

THAT WAS PROBABLY CLOSED FOR A WHILE AND SOME RODENT WAS NESTING.

VERY MUCH SO.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'S GOING TO BE MORE CREEPED OUT BY THAT.

>> QUICKLY, IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY TAKEN CARE OF IT, DO NOT SWEEP IT OR VACUUM IT.

USE WATER.

USE SOMETHING WET AND PICK IT UP AND GET RID OF IT BECAUSE IF YOU VACUUM, THE DISEASES IN THE DEFECATION WILL BECOME AIRBORNE AND YOU MAY BREATHE THEM IN, SO NEVER VACUUM ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, DENNIS AND KAIT.

KAIT, THIS ONE IS -- SHE KEEPS FINDING THESE BUGS IN HER HOUSE.

IS IT A GOOD BUG OR A BAD BUG?

THANK YOU.

>> THIS IS, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION, A BAD BUG.

THIS IS A LARDER BEETLE.

THEY ARE ONE OF THE PANTRY PESTS.

THEY LIKE TO EAT DRIED GOODS, STORED PRODUCTS, INCLUDING CURED MEAT, THUS THE NAME LARDER BEETLE.

WHEN DEALING WITH PANTRY PESTS, IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE INFESTATION.

COULD IT BE AN ITEM IN YOUR PANTRY?

GO THROUGH BOXES OF FLOUR, WHATEVER COULD BE IN THERE.

I HAVE SEEN THEM IN BAGS OF DOG FOOD QUITE FREQUENTLY.

TRY TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE INFESTATION.

IF IT'S IMPORTANT, YOU CAN FREEZE IT BUT OTHERWISE YOU CAN JUST PITCH IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KAIT.

TERRI, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS A PROSSER, NEBRASKA VIEWER.

WHAT IS THIS LARGE GREEN PLANT AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

>> THAT IS CURLY DOCK.

JUST GO GET YOUR SHOVEL AND DIG IT.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE A VERY BIG ROOT, SO MAKE SURE YOU GET MOST OF IT.

OTHERWISE, IT'S GOING TO COME BACK UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR SECOND TWO ARE FROM LEWELLEN.

HOW DO THEY GET RID OF THIS WEED?

USED GLYPHOSATE OR ROUNDUP LAST YEAR.

KILLED BOTH THE GRASS AND THE WEED.

NOW IT'S COMING INTO THE BARE SPOTS.

>> I THINK YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT WEEDS HERE.

THE FIRST ONE I THINK IS A MALLOW.

DEPENDING ON WHICH ONE IT IS, IT COULD BE A PERENNIAL.

SO YOU MAY NEED TO REAPPLY THAT GLYPHOSATE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION TO GET THAT.

THE SECOND ONE IS HENBIT, SO THAT ONE ACTUALLY GERMINATED LAST FALL, SO YOU NEED TO ACTUALLY CONTROL IT IN THE FALL.

ONCE IT WARMED UP, WHICH WE DIDN'T EVER REALLY GET COLD, BUT ONCE IT WARMED UP, IT STARTED GOING.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP THE FLOWERS OFF IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF SEEDS AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER PROBLEM NEXT FALL, NEXT SPRING.

SO, YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT A PREEMERGENT DOWN IN THE FALL TO STOP IT FROM GERMINATING IN THE SPRING.

>> AND PLANT DECENT GRASS.

>> YES, YOU NEED TO IMPROVE YOUR GRASS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

IT COULD BE FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

HAD A TREE STUMP GROUND DOWN LAST YEAR.

THIS IS WHAT'S LEFT.

WANTS TO GROW GRASS RIGHT ON TOP OF IT.

CAN HE JUST THROW GRASS SEED ON TOP OR DOES HE NEED TO DIG, ADD TOPSOIL, THEN SEED?

>> SO IT LOOKED LIKE YOU'VE LEVELED IT OFF PRETTY WELL, FROM WHAT I CAN TELL IN THE PICTURE.

THE ONE THING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THAT ALL OF THAT WOOD IS GOING TO BE COMPETING FOR THE NUTRIENTS AND CAN STOP THE SEED GROWTH IF YOU PLANT NEW SEED SO YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA FERTILIZER IN THERE.

YOU CAN PUT THE SEED DOWN.

I WOULD PUT SOME KIND OF SOMETHING OVER THERE TO KEEP IT MOIST.

I WOULD DO IT NOW AND THEN YOU MAY HAVE TO BABY IT THROUGH THE SUMMER AND THEN DO IT AGAIN IN THE FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

DENNIS.

NOT HOLES, YET.

THIS IS SOUTH OF HICKMAN.

IT'S A SILVER MAPLE WITH THIS DAMAGE.

IS THIS A SQUIRREL OR SOMETHING ELSE?

SHOULD SHE CUT IT OFF OR LEAVE IT?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY A SQUIRREL.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WENT ALL THE WAY AROUND SO THAT'S MORE OF A HORTICULTURAL QUESTION BUT WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM OUR HORTICULTURIST, CUT IT OFF.

USUALLY, SQUIRRELS WILL NOT DO THIS TO NATIVE TREES BECAUSE THEY LIVE WITH NATIVE TREES.

BUT THINGS LIKE ELMS AND SILVER MAPLES, THEY GET SUGAR FROM THAT AND STARCH, SO THEY DO THAT FOR NUTRITIONAL VALUE IN THE WINTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS ONE.

THIS IS IN OMAHA.

SMALL LILAC AT THE FAR CORNER OF THE BACKYARD.

WAS DOING GREAT, ABOUT THREE WEEKS LATER SOMETHING DID THIS.

THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY TRACKS.

THEY HAVE SEEN DEER TRACKS IN THE FALL BUT NOT LATELY.

SO, IT'S HIGH UP, MORE THAN FIVE FEET.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE?

>> WELL, IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A SQUIRREL, BUT THE WAY IT LOOKS MORE UP AND DOWN, I'M GOING DEER RUBBING ITS -- ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENED IN THE FALL, OVER THE WINTER.

ESPECIALLY IN THE FALL BUT IT COULD ALSO HAPPEN IN THE SPRING.

THEY DO IT ACTUALLY MORE.

I SAY DEER.

>> MM-HMM, YEP.

ALL RIGHT SO YOUR NEXT ONE IS -- IT IS A FUN QUESTION.

WHY WON'T MY GRASS GROW?

THIS IS ON THE CALAMUS RIVER IN BROWN COUNTY.

SHE SENT THREE PICTURES OF THIS.

(LAUGHTER) >> I DON'T KNOW WHY THE GRASS IS NOT GROWING.

>> TURKEYS.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHY THE TURKEY IS THERE.

>> YEAH, HE THINKS IT'S TURKEYS, I THINK, THAT IS ARE STOMPING, PICKING, AND EATING.

>> YEAH, BUT I MEAN, I'VE SEEN TONS OF TURKEYS IN PLACES WHERE THERE'S GOOD GRASS SO --.

>> WHO KNOWS.

>> IF IT'S GOOD, HEARTY GRASS, THE TURKEY'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

YOUR FIRST ONE, JEFF, IS WHAT KILLED THESE JUNIPERS, OR IS KILLING THEM, AND WHAT SHOULD THEY REPLANT?

THIS IS COUNCIL BLUFFS.

IT IS FIVE OF THEM.

THEY WERE PLANTED BY A GARDEN CENTER AND THEN NOTICED SOME DISCOLORATION LAST YEAR ON THE TWO OUTSIDE ONES, CHOPPED IT OFF.

THEN THE OUTSIDE OF THE NEXT PEAR HAS STARTED TO DETERIORATE.

INSIDE TURNED INTO CORPSES OVER A WEEK.

ANY IDEA ON THIS ONE OTHER THAN SIZE AT PLANTING?

>> IT COULD BE A VARIETY OF THINGS.

I THINK CERTAINLY, IT WOULDN'T HURT TO SEND A SAMPLE INTO THE PLANT PATH LAB FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT TO SEE IF THERE IS A DISEASE.

YOU COULD GET IN THERE AND LOOK AND SEE IF THERE IS A CANKER ON SOME OF THE BRANCHES.

THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER THING TO LOOK FOR, TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MY GUESS IS IT MAY BE A ROOT DESICCATION SORT OF ISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE WHICH IS BENNET.

CEDAR IS LOSING LEAVES.

KIND OF MAYBE THE SAME THING.

>> I THINK SO, TOO.

I THINK, PROBABLY ROOTS NOT DEVELOPING AND WITH THE DESICCATION THIS YEAR, IT WAS PROBABLY TOO MUCH.

>> YOUR NEXT ONE IS MOTHERLODE CREEPING JUNIPER IN CENTRAL CITY, 75-80% LOOKING LIKE THIS.

IS THIS A GONER?

>> IT IS A BIG PLANT.

I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND SEE IF IT COMES OUT OF IT, BUT I WOULD SUSPECT YOU'RE REPLACING IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH PLANTED YET OUT AT OUR GARDEN THIS PAST WEEK.

WE GOT SOME HEAVY EQUIPMENT OUT TO DO SOME DIGGING.

THERE'S SOME WONDERFUL EARLY SEASON FLOWERS GOING ON RIGHT NOW, SO LET'S HEAR FROM TERRI ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

S S >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF CONSTRUCTION.

OUR PRODUCTION BED ERODES A LOT WHEN THE RAIN COMES AND WE LOSE A LOT OF SOIL OFF THAT BED SO WE'RE PUTTING THIS SMALL RETAINING WALL IN TO KIND OF HELP HOLD THAT SOIL IN AND TO MAKE THAT PRODUCTION BED MUCH MORE EFFICIENT.

WE HAVE WONDERFUL THINGS BLOOMING IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE OUR KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUMS GOING, WE HAVE OUR RED AND WHITE TULIPS, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR PANSIES STILL UP AND GOING AND LOOKING FANTASTIC.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING OUR PLANTS OUT OF THE GREENHOUSE TO START HARDENING THEM OFF.

THE PLANTS THAT WE'VE PLANTED IN OUR RAISED BED, THOSE COOL SEASON PLANTS, THE PEAS, THE LETTUCES, THE RADISHES ARE ALL UP AND GROWING AND LOOKING FANTASTIC SO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK IT OUT.

S S >> YOU KNOW, THOSE TULIPS ALSO LOOK FANTASTIC.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE THOSE RAISED BEDS ALREADY SPROUTING WITH GREEN.

WE NEED TO TAKE THAT SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP LATER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT LIGHTENING ROUND AND PLANT OF THE WEEK.

STAY WITH US FOR MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" RIGHT AFTER THIS.

S S [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] >> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

LATER ON IN THE SHOW, TERRI WILL SHOW US A FEW GREAT TIPS FOR SAVING SOME MONEY ON THOSE RAISED BEDS.

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

SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND E-MAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS TIME FOR LIGHTNING.

JEFF, READY?

>> NOPE.

>> TOO BAD!

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A FREMONT VIEWER WHO HAS A HEMLOCK.

SHE KILLED AN ELDERBERRY BUT NOW IT IS SHOOTING ALL OVER THE PLACE UNDERNEATH IT.

HOW DOES SHE KILL THE SHOOTS WITHOUT KILLING THE HEMLOCK?

>> DIG UP THE ELDERBERRY.

>> OKAY, ALL THOSE SHOOTS.

>> ALL THOSE SHOOTS.

>> HICKMAN, WHAT IS THE BEST MULCH FOR A GARDEN WITHOUT INTRODUCING MORE WEEDS?

>> WELL, YOU CAN GET CLEAN WOOD MULCH.

I THINK PROBABLY ANYPLACE, EITHER THE BAGGED STUFF OR SOME OF OUR LOCAL SUPPLIERS.

I WOULD TRUST THAT NOT HAVING WEED SEEDS IN IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, A NORTH BEND VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IF THE WEATHER IS STILL TOO COLD TO PLANT WILDFLOWERS.

>> NO, IT'S NOT TOO COLD.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHEN AND HOW MUCH TO PRUNE BACK A 15-FOOT TALL BURNING BUSH.

>> YOU COULD DO SOME OF THE PRUNING NOW.

YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO TAKE IT IN STAGES, SO I THINK I WOULD TAKE SOME BACK NOW.

MAYBE A FOOT OR SO, DEPENDING WHAT IT IS.

LOOK AT SOME OF THE CANES.

BUT IT IS A PROCESS.

THAT WOULD BE A MULTI-YEAR PROCESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER IT IS TOO LATE TO PLANT SPINACH AND LETTUCE.

>> NO, IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

>> GREAT JOB.

>> OKAY, YOU READY, DENNIS?

>> I AM READY.

>> THIS IS A GRETNA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN DISCOURAGE DOVES OR PIGEONS FROM ROOSTING ON THEIR ROOF.

>> USE WHAT I SHOWED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW.

>> ON YOUR HEAD.

WE HAVE A VIEWER HERE WHO HAS A 3000-GALLON KOI POND.

HAD LEOPARD FROGS IN IT.

10 OF 25 DIED OFF.

HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO STOP THE REST FROM DYING OFF.

>> GET RID OF THE KOI.

THEY'RE ADDING TOO MUCH NITROGEN.

>> ALL RIGHT, OMAHA VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF MOLES.

>> MOLD?

>> MOLES.

>> MOLES.

>> MOLES!

>> USE THE GUMMY WORMS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER IN LINCOLN WHO HAS A KOI POND, HAS A BEAUTIFUL BLUE HERON HE LOVES TO WATCH BUT IT EATS ALL HIS KOI.

HOW CAN HE DISCOURAGE THE GREAT BLUE HERON?

>> USE NATIVE FISH INSTEAD OF THOSE CHINESE, ORANGE-COLORED THINGS.

>> OKAY, THIS IS A YORK VIEWER WHO SAYS SHE HAS A CRITTER HOLE BIG ENOUGH FOR A CAT TO GO DOWN INTO.

WHAT WOULD THAT BE, MAYBE?

>> WOODCHUCK.

>> WOODCHUCK, ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

>> WOODCHUCK.

>> COULD CHUCK A WOOD.

>> GROUNDHOG, SAME THING.

>> WHISTLE PIG.

>> TERRI, ARE YOU READY?

>> YEP.

>> SEVERAL QUESTIONS FROM VIEWERS ABOUT HOW TO CONTROL VIOLETS IN THE LAWN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOW "VIOLET-ING."

>> THOSE ARE SO PRETTY.

WHY CONTROL THEM?

YOU CONTROL THEM IN THE FALL WITH A THREE-WAY BROADLEAF WEED KILLER.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO REALLY WANTS TO GET RID OF DANDELIONS BUT IS WONDERING WHETHER WEED AND FEED WILL DO IT AND SHOULD THEY PUT IT DOWN IN DROUGHT.

>> NO, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S REALLY GOOD TO JUST GO OUT THERE WITH AN ADULT BEVERAGE AND YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND JUST START WORKING ON IT EVERY NIGHT.

>> YOUR THIRD QUESTION IS SOMEBODY WANT TO KNOW HOW DEEP DO YOU HAVE TO DIG TO DO THAT?

>> YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN PRETTY FAR.

IT DEPENDS HOW OLD THEY ARE.

YOU WILL HAVE TO GO DOWN PRETTY FAR AND MAKE SURE YOU GET MOST OF THE ROOT.

IF YOU GET THREE-FOURTHS, YOU SHOULD BE PRETTY GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS VIEWER WANTS TO PUT DOWN A SLIP AND SLIDE AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD TO USE DISH SOAP ON IT TO MAKE IT SLIPPERY.

WILL THAT HURT THE LAWN?

>> PROBABLY NOT IF YOU KIND OF RINSE IT OFF ALL WHEN YOU ARE DONE.

>> NICE JOB FOR SHE IS NOT REALLY THE TURF LIGHTNING PERSON.

KAIT, READY?

>> YES.

>> THIS IS A PLATTSMOUTH VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO CONTROL CLOVER MITES IN THE LAWN.

>> IN THE LAWN IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DO, BUT YOU CAN PREVENT THEM FROM COMING INSIDE BY DOING A PERIMETER TREATMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WITH WHAT?

>> WITH A PERMETHRIN-BASED INSECTICIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A GRAND ISLAND VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW IS THERE A SYSTEMIC FOR JAPANESE BEETLES THAT SHE CAN USE ON HER ELDERBERRY AND SHE DOES WANT TO EAT THE ELDERBERRIES.

>> USUALLY WITH JAPANESE BEETLES, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT SYSTEMIC.

PROBABLY NOT.

BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS JUST HAND-PICK THEM OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER HAS SAID THEY'VE NOW SEE THOSE WHITE AND YELLOW BUTTERFLIES FLYING AROUND ALREADY.

SHOULD THEY BE PROTECTING THEIR BROCCOLI AND SO FORTH FROM THOSE BUTTERFLIES?

>> YEAH, IF THEY ARE NOT FLOWERING, YOU CAN DO ROW COVERS BUT OTHERWISE THEIR EGGS ARE EASY TO SPOT SO YOU CAN JUST SCOUT FOR THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU ALREADY MENTIONED THE ZIMMERMAN WINDOW IS CLOSED.

>> YES.

>> SO WITH OUR TEMPERATURE BEING SO STRANGE, DO YOU EXPECT IT TO BE DIFFERENT IN AUGUST, OR DON'T YOU KNOW?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

>> WE WILL SEE, WON'T WE?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, THREE-WAY TIE.

>> NICE.

>> SHOOT.

>> OKAY, JEFF.

WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR PLANTS OF THE WEEK?

>> WELL, YOU BROUGHT IN A COUPLE THINGS THAT ARE NATIVE TO THE EASTERN PART OF OUR COUNTRY, SO THE FIRST IS A TREE THAT'S IN FLOWER RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS SASSAFRAS, WHICH IS A FUN TREE.

I REMEMBER BEING DOWN BY LAKE OF THE OZARKS.

IT GROWS NATIVELY DOWN THERE.

IT HAS KIND OF A MITTEN-SORT OF LEAF TO IT.

IT IS A FUN TREE.

IT IS NOT A REAL LARGE TREE BUT DOES WELL IN KIND OF AN UNDERSTORY SITUATION.

IT IS UNUSUAL AND THEN OUR OTHER PLANT IS A VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS SO ANOTHER EASTERN U.S.

NATIVE.

YOU KNOW, THEY BOTH KIND OF HAVE A TENDENCY TO SPREAD OVER TIME.

THIS WILL DO IT THING RIGHT NOW AND THEN KIND OF FADE AWAY AS THINGS WARM UP.

>> EXACTLY, SO VERY BEAUTIFUL RIGHT NOW.

>> FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KAIT YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES HERE.

THIS IS A TANGELO TREE IN THE GEOTHERMAL GREENHOUSE.

THREE YEARS OLD, NOW EIGHT YEARS OLD.

IT IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S FLOWERED.

THEY FOUND THIS INVASION AND THINK THE ANTS ARE FARMING THE APHIDS.

THEY WANT TO USE ORGANIC CONTROL.

BEAUTIFUL PICTURES.

>> YES, THESE ARE APHIDS.

A GREENHOUSE, ESPECIALLY FOR ORGANIC, YOU COULD ALWAYS DO BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.

LADY BEETLE LARVA, GREEN LACEWING LARVA, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO SOME FUNGI THAT SPECIFICALLY ATTACK APHIDS TOO THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

>> EXCELLENT.

THEN YOU HAVE ONE FROM PETERSBURG, WHICH IS A MEXICAN PETUNIA.

BROUGHT IT IN OVER THE WINDOW.

IT STARTED TO DEVELOP THE BUMPS.

SHE DID SAY SHE CAN SCRATCH THEM OFF.

>> YES.

THESE ARE ONE OF THE PIERCING, SUCKING INSECTS.

THESE ARE WAX SCALES.

SCALES ARE HARD TO CONTROL.

YOU NEED TO KIND OF WAIT FOR THE CRAWLERS BEFORE YOU CAN DO A HORTICULTURAL OIL.

OTHERWISE START SCRATCHING, GET OFF AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KAIT.

TERRI, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS IN KEARNEY.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH THE RUTS IN THEIR LAWN.

HE DID CHANGE HIS MOWING PATTERN.

>> I HAVE A LOT MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE I CAN REALLY ANSWER THIS.

I COULDN'T TELL.

ARE YOU DRIVING BACK AND FORTH OVER THIS?

IS THIS FROM YOUR LAWNMOWER?

IS THIS A DRIVEWAY TO GET TO A SHED OR SOMETHING?

I COULDN'T TELL.

ONE, STOP DOING IT.

TWO, DON'T DO IT WHEN IT'S WET.

I WOULD START AERATING IT.

I WOULD AERATE IT PROBABLY TWICE A YEAR FOR THE NEXT COUPLE TIMES TO TRY TO HELP PULL THAT UP.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD START DOING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS BELLEVUE.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR THE NEIGHBOR ACROSS THE STREET, REALLY.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHERE TO START RENEWING THIS.

I THINK WE HAVE TWO PICTURES, THE FAR AWAY AND THE CLOSE UP.

>> THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY A SEVERAL-YEAR THING SO IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A LOT OF WINTER DEATHS, SO IF THIS WAS COOL SEASON GRASSES, THEY ARE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOME AERATING.

I WOULD DEFINITELY DO AERATING BOTH IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL FOR THIS ONE.

YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE PUTTING SOME FERTILIZER DOWN.

YOU MIGHT ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT SOME GOOD ORGANIC MATTER DOWN.

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO RE-SEED.

YOU ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO HAVE TO USE SOME KIND OF SOMETHING.

AGAIN, YOU CAN USE THAT SOIL KNIFE TO GO OUT AND GET THE DANDELIONS.

THAT'S A GOOD AFTERNOON CALM DOWN THING WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM WORK TO DO TO GET ALL THOSE OUT BEFORE YOU HAVE SUCCESS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

ALL RIGHT, BACK TO HOLES, DENNIS.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS MINDEN.

THREE PICTURES HERE.

SOMETHING IS DIGGING.

SHE HAS SEEN RACCOONS AND SKUNKS DURING THE NIGHT.

THE HOLES ARE ONE- TO THREE-INCHES WIDE, ONE- TO SIX-INCHES DEEP.

HOW DOES SHE STOP THEM?

I THINK YOU HAVE ONE THAT ALSO SHOWS KIND OF THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK.

>> YEAH, IT LOOKS MORE LIKE VOLES THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

IT ALSO COULD BE THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRRELS BUT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT EDGE.

THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF DIRT.

BUT WHEN THERE IS NO DIRT AT ALL AND NO TRAIL, THEN IT IS THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRRELS.

>> HOW DOES SHE STOP THEM FROM DOING THAT?

>> OUR NEB GUIDE HAS A GREAT CAGE YOU CAN BUILD TO GET RID OF THEM.

GO TO WILDLIFE.UNL.EDU.

>> PERFECT.

MAKES IT EASIER.

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS ONE.

THIS IS UNDER HER BIRD FEEDER IN FREMONT.

SHE IS WONDERING WHAT CAME TO VISIT DURING THE NIGHT.

WAS HE LOOKING FOR ROOTS, GRUBS, INSECTS OR WHAT?

>> LOOKS LIKE SKUNK TRACKS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, BUT IT IS HARD TO TELL.

SKUNKS WOULD LOVE TO GO AFTER THAT GRAIN, SO WOULD RACCOONS AND SO THEY GO AFTER SPILLED GRAIN.

>> EITHER STOP FEEDING THE BIRDS OR LIVE WITH THE SKUNKS AND RACCOONS.

>> RIGHT OR ENJOY THEM.

WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF, THIS IS A MALCOLM VIEWER.

THEY ARE ON AN ACREAGE SO THEY HAVE A BORDER OF LILACS, 36 OF THEM.

ASIDE FROM DEER DAMAGE, THEY ARE JUST STICKS.

HE WANTS TO PRUNE THEM DOWN TO A FOOT, OR SHOULD HE DO SOMETHING ELSE, LIKE MANAGE THE SITE AROUND THEM?

>> I THINK AT THIS STAGE WE NEED TO GET THE GRASS AWAY FROM THEM.

AGAIN, WE NEED TO GET THINGS BACK A COUPLE FEET.

MULCH THEM, GIVE THEM STEADY WATER, THEN I WOULD CAGE THEM SO I WOULD HAVE SOMETHING AT LEAST THREE FOOT TALL AROUND ALL OF THEM.

PIN IT DOWN SO THAT DENNIS'S ANIMALS DON'T TEAR THE CAGE OFF THE TOP OF THEM.

THAT WILL GIVE THEM HALF A CHANCE.

THEN THEY'LL START BRANCHING AND DO THE OTHER THINGS.

THEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR LILACS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

YOUR NEXT PICTURE IS A DOUGLAS COUNTY VIEWER, ALSO LILACS PLANTED IN A RAISED PLANTER.

HER QUESTION IS WHETHER SHE COULD PLANT BUTTERFLY WEED SO ONE OF THEM BUTTERFLY THINGS AROUND IT, OR WOULD IT TAKE OVER AND KILL THE LILACS OR WILL THE LILACS KILL THE BUTTERFLY WEED?

>> I THINK YOU CAN PLANT ANYTHING YOU WANT.

I MEAN, KEEP THINGS A FOOT OR TWO AWAY FROM THE BASE OF THE PLANTS SO THEY ARE NOT GETTING INTO THE ROOT SYSTEMS BUT IT'S A NICE, SUNNY SPOT SO YOU HAVE TON OF CHOICES.

GO TO THE GARDEN CENTER AND BUY TO YOUR HEART'S DELIGHT.

>> YOU HAVE ONE FINAL ONE.

THIS IS FAIRBURY.

NEW SEPTIC SYSTEM.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT COULD BE PLANTED OVER THE DRAIN FIELD AND WANT TO AVOID THAT WASTELAND OF WEEDS.

>> SURE.

I THINK THE SIMPLEST THING WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE TALL FESCUE.

IN FACT, WHEN TERRI WAS TALKING ABOUT THE COARSER, FORAGED-TYPE OF FESCUES, YOU COULD CERTAINLY PUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THERE AND IT WOULD TAKE OVER AND DO REALLY WELL.

YOU COULD DO WILDFLOWERS.

YOU COULD DO ANY KIND OF VARIETY OF THINGS IN THERE.

YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM TREES AND SHRUBS, ANYTHING WITH A MORE VIGOROUS ROOT SYSTEM BUT, I THINK AGAIN, USE YOUR IMAGINATION.

YOU CAN MAKE IT FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

WELL, HAVING SOME RAISED BEDS AROUND YOUR REGULAR VEGETABLE GARDEN IS A GOOD WAY TO GROW THOSE SMALLER VEGETABLES, HERBS, AND SAVE WATER AND YOUR BACK.

IF YOU'RE SETTING UP SOME NEW RAISED BEDS FOR THE SEASON, YOU'LL WANT TO WATCH THIS SECOND FEATURE.

BE PREPARED TO DO A LITTLE MATH.

S S >> OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS ON THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT RAISED BEDS AND THE BENEFITS OF THE RAISED BEDS.

WE'VE GIVEN YOU IDEAS OF DESIGN, WHY THEY ARE IMPORTANT, AND HOW THEY WILL HELP YOU SUCCEED.

WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT WHAT YOU PUT INSIDE THAT RAISED BED.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE GOING TO SHOW YOU REALLY HOW TO TAKE YOUR RAISED BED AND KIND OF FILL IT UP AND WHAT TO DO.

BUT FIRST, YOU HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF GARDEN MATH.

THE GARDEN MATH INVOLVES MAKING SURE YOU KNOW THE DIMENSIONS SO YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE LENGTH, AND THE WIDTH, AND THE HEIGHT.

MAKE SURE YOU USE ALL THE SAME DIMENSIONS.

A LOT OF TIMES WE WILL MEASURE THIS HEIGHT IN INCHES AND WE'LL MEASURE THE LENGTH AND THE WIDTH IN FEET BUT MAKE SURE YOU KEEP THEM ALL IN FEET SO YOU MAY HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF CONVERSION WHEN YOU DO THAT.

THIS BED IS FOUR-BY EIGHT-BY 32-INCHES, WHICH TURNS OUT TO BE 2.6 FEET.

TAKE THAT, MULTIPLY ALL THREE OF THOSE NUMBERS TOGETHER AND YOU GET 83 CUBIC FEET.

OFTEN, YOU'RE GOING TO GO TO A LANDSCAPE COMPANY, MOST LIKELY, TO ORDER BULK IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT MUCH SOIL.

YOU CAN GET IT BY BAGS BUT I SUGGEST GETTING IT BY BULK AND HAVING IT DELIVERED BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A LOT EASIER.

MOST LANDSCAPE COMPANIES ARE GOING TO ASK FOR IT IN YARDS SO YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THAT 83 CUBIC FEET, DIVIDE THAT BY 27.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE YOUR TOTAL YARDS.

THIS WILL BE A LITTLE OVER THREE YEARS TO FILL COMPLETELY.

DON'T FORGET, OVER THE SEASON, IT WILL COMPACT DOWN A LITTLE BIT BUT DON'T WORRY.

YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUALLY ADD IT AND MOST LIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO BE MAKING YOUR COMPOST SO THAT IS WHAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ADD BACK INTO THAT SOIL TO KIND OF KEEP REFRESHING IT THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

OFTENTIMES, IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE OF THESE BIG BEDS, YOU ACTUALLY MAY WANT TO THINK ABOUT KIND OF FILLING THAT BOTTOM.

THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING TO COME IN AND KIND OF FIGURE THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY PUT CARDBOARD ON THE BOTTOM.

THAT IS REALLY GOING TO HELP DECOMPOSE IT AND THAT WILL HELP STOP SOME OF THOSE WEEDS FROM COMING UP, ESPECIALLY THAT NASTY BIND WEED.

YOU CAN ALSO ADD SOME OF YOUR LOGS, YOU CAN ADD SOME BRANCHES, YOU CAN ADD SOME FOOD SCRAPS FOR COMPOSTING.

YOU CAN ALSO ADD SOME OF YOUR OWN COMPOST.

IF YOU FIGURE THAT OUT, MAKE SURE THAT YOU SUBTRACT THAT DISTANCE OF THE HEIGHT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO ORDER AS MUCH SOIL.

LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR RAISED BEDS.

WE'VE LOOKED AT DESIGN OVER THE YEARS.

WE'VE LOOKED AT HOW SUCCESSFUL THEY ARE.

NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW TO FILL THEM UP.

SO TRY RAISED BEDS.

THEY ARE A FANTASTIC WAY TO HELP YOU SUCCEED AND DO WELL IN YOUR BACKYARD FOR GROWING ALL OF YOUR PRODUCE.

>> YOU KNOW, MUCH LIKE THE WAY YOU FILL UP THE BOTTOM OF ANY LARGE CONTAINER TO SAVE WEIGHT IN POTTING SOIL, THAT TECHNIQUE WILL HELP YOU SAVE MONEY ON SOIL AND COMPOST IN YOUR LARGER RAISED BEDS.

WE HAVE MANY FEATURES ON THE BENEFITS OF RAISED BEDS AND PLENTY OF OTHER TOPICS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH THOSE PAST SHOWS FROM THIS AND OTHER SEASONS.

TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO CHECK IT OUT AFTER THE SHOW.

HIT "SUBSCRIBE."

ALL RIGHT, KAIT, THIS IS ASPEN IN SCOTTS BLUFF, GERING.

IT'S HAD LEAF SPOT, NOT MUCH ELSE BUT THERE IS A MONSTER KIND OF INTERESTING HOLE IN THE TRUNK ON THIS.

WHAT DO WE THINK AND THERE'S ALSO HOLES HIGHER UP IN THE TREE.

>> IT COULD BE THE POPLAR BORER BEETLE.

MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO ABOUT THAT, YOU COULD TREAT IT BUT JUST KEEP THE TREE HEALTHY, WATERED, MULCHED, NO MOWING DAMAGE.

>> ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THESE.

THIS IS BRUNING.

WHAT COULD THESE HOLES BE ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE HOUSE?

>> YEAH, I LOVE THESE.

THESE ARE LITTLE ANTLION PITS.

THERE IS LARVA OF AN ANTLION AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF EACH OF THOSE PITS JUST WAITING FOR ANTS TO WALK BY SO THEY CAN HAVE A NICE MEAL.

>> LIKE THAT THING ON "STAR WARS."

IT PULLS THINGS DOWN.

ALL RIGHT, TERRI, THIS IS A PAXTON VIEWER.

WHAT KIND OF GRASS IS THIS IN THE IRIS BED?

IS THERE ANY KIND OF SPRAY THAT WILL KILL THE GRASS BUT NOT THE IRIS?

>> I THINK THIS IS JUST LIKE A BLUEGRASS OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE.

YOU CAN HAND-PULL THIS OUT, IF YOU WANT.

YOU CAN ALSO USE SOME LIKE --.

>> LOST YOUR TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

>> I DID LOSE MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT.

HAND-PULL IT OUT OR YOU CAN REMOVE THE IRIS IN JULY OR AUGUST AND THEN GET RID OF ALL THE WEEDS, THEN PLANT THEM BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW YOU HAVE WEED CONTROL IN MY IRIS.

THIS IS A DIFFERENT WEED, SO THIS IS A BROADLEAF, YEAH.

>> SO, THIS I THINK IS CHICK WEED.

THAT IS ACTUALLY VERY EASY TO PULL, SO I WOULD JUST GO PULL THAT ONE OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR THIRD PICTURE HERE IS RURAL GILTNER.

HOW DO YOU GET THOSE CHIVES OUT OF LAWN?

>> DO NOT LET IT GO TO SEED.

DO NOT LET IT FLOWER OR GO TO SEED BECAUSE YOU WILL HAVE EVEN MORE.

IT'S GOING TO REPRODUCE BOTH BY THOSE SEEDS AND BY THEIR BULB SO IF YOU CAN GO OUT, AGAIN WITH YOUR DRINK OF CHOICE AND YOUR SOIL KNIFE, YOU CAN START DIGGING BULBS OUT AND GET RID OF THEM.

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT, I WOULD MOW THEM OFF AND USE 2-4, D TO SPRAY ON THAT TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, THIS IS A PICTURE FROM AN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE WONDERS WHAT KIND OF A BIRD WOULD HAVE FUR IN THEIR FECES.

>> THE ONLY BIRD WITH FUR IN THEIR FECES WOULD BE A HAWK, A BIRD OF PREY.

MOST OF THEM WILL SPIT IT OUT WITH THE SMALL BONES, LIKE OWLS.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT IS A PELLET.

I WOULD HAVE TO SEE IT CLOSER, OR A FECES.

IT MAY BE A PELLET, WHICH THEY SPIT OUT.

ANY BIRD OF PREY OR OWL WILL HAVE FUR IN IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEN WE HAVE A TECUMSEH, NEBRASKA QUESTION.

>> HAVE TO WAIT THIS LONG TO GET A DECENT PICTURE.

>> THEY ACTUALLY SAID, "WE THOUGHT THIS WOULD MAKE A GOOD SEGMENT OR QUESTION FOR DENNIS."

>> YEAH, IT'S A BLACK RAT SNAKE.

>> PLEASE ASSURE HIM THE SNAKE WAS NOT HARMED.

>> GOOD.

>> THERE WAS A ROBIN'S NEST APPARENTLY IN THE EAVES.

THEY THINK HE WAS TRYING TO --.

>> DEFINITELY.

THIS IS OUR ONLINE SEMI-ARBOREAL SNAKE IN NEBRASKA.

IT LIVES NEAR THE MISSOURI RIVER IN OAK SAVANNAHS AND IT EATS BIRDS AND BIRD EGGS BECAUSE BIRDS ARE JUST REPTILES GONE BAD IN WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS.

IT WAS JUST CLIMBING UP AND GREAT.

THEY CAN CLIMB A SYCAMORE TREE.

IT IS AMAZING WHAT THEY CAN DO.

>> AMAZING.

>> AMAZING SNAKES!

>> OKAY, YOUR NEXT ONE IS A LITTLE BAT PICTURE.

THIS IS A BAT THESE PEOPLE FOUND ON THE GROUND AND THEY PUT IT IN A FLOWERPOT.

IT HUNG OUT THERE.

IS THAT A SICK BAT OR A LITTLE BAT?

>> NO, IT LOOKS LIKE A RED BAT.

I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S SICK.

IT IS A LITTLE EARLY FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR -- RED BATS ARE THE LAST ONES TO HAVE THEIR YOUNG IN JUNE.

THEY HAVE TWINS.

SOMETIMES WHEN THEY GET READY TO GIVE BIRTH, THEY FALL TO THE GROUND AND HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING UP, BUT IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT.

I'M NOT SURE.

I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT BE, TRY TO STAY AWAY FROM IT, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, THIS IS AN ORD, NEBRASKA VIEWER THAT HAS A GLOBE BLUE SPRUCE.

TWO PICTURES HERE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY CAN PRUNE SOME OF THE BOTTOM UP BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE A LITTLE MORE TRUNK, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO HURT THE PLANT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK WITH ANY KIND OF PRUNING, A SIMPLE TRICK IS TO PICK THE BRANCH AND PULL IT DOWN.

PULL OFF TO THE SIDE AND LET SOMEONE ELSE LOOK TO SEE WHAT KIND OF HOLE YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE BECAUSE ONCE YOU PRUNE IT, YOU CAN'T PUT IT BACK ON.

THE OTHER BIT OF ADVICE IS START FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WORK YOUR WAY IN.

START SMALL AND WORK IN 'TIL YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE TAKEN ENOUGH OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT QUESTION IS A COLUMBUS VIEWER.

HE SAYS HE TYPICALLY LEAVES ONE TO TWO FEET OF STEM WHEN PRUNING BACK THIS ROSE IN THE FALL.

HE'S WONDERING SHOULD HE PRUNE SHORTER THAN THAT OR NOT.

>> IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THERE IS A LOT OF DEAD IN THIS ROSE SO YOU NEED TO REMOVE ALL THE DEAD.

START WITH THAT.

>> OKAY, THANKS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FUN THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

WE HOPE YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE.

OUR FIRST ONE IS SPRING AFFAIR PLANT SALE WHICH IS THE 29TH AND 30TH AT THE LANCASTER COUNTY EVENT CENTER.

IT'S LIVE THIS TIME.

WE HAVE A THING ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU ON THAT ONE.

OUR SECOND ONE IS THE HOLY TRINITY ARTS FESTIVAL.

IT WILL BE MAY 14 FROM 10:00 TO FIVE-ISH.

CHURCH OF HOLY TRINITY ON "A" STREET.

THAT SHOULD BE REALLY FUN TO SEE ALL THE VENDORS AND DISPLAYS.

THIRD ONE IS THE UNL HORTICULTURE CLUB SPRING PLANT SALE MAY 4-5 FROM 9:00 TO 4:00.

THE 6TH PROBABLY 10:00-1:00.

TEACHING GREENHOUSE WEST WHICH IS ON EAST CAMPUS.

THAT'S ALWAYS A GREAT THING, AS WELL.

AND THEN OF COURSE, WE HAVE "DIGGING DEEPER WITH BACKYARD FARMER."

YOU CAN WATCH US ON FACEBOOK.

THERE IS A NEW SEGMENT COMING NEXT THURSDAY.

WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF GREAT SEGMENTS COMING UP.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US ON "BACKYARD FARMER" AND NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA FOR THAT SO THAT WILL BE FUN.

I THINK IT'S ON RAISED BEDS.

WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, KAIT.

THIS IS GOING TO GO TO YOU BECAUSE THIS CAME AND WE HAVE 20 SECONDS.

>> GREAT.

>> CLOVERLEAF MITES INSIDE THE GLASS OF A BUILDING.

THEY HAVE BEEN USING MALATHION ON IT, SOUTH SIDE MAINLY AND THEY'VE HAD AN EXTERMINATOR, AND THEY'RE IN SUPERIOR.

AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

>> CLOVER MITES ARE TRICKY BUT THEY DON'T REPRODUCE INSIDE.

VACUUM THEM UP INSIDE.

THEY'RE SEASONAL AND TEMPORARY SO YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LIVE WITH THEM FOR A LITTLE BIT.

>> PATIENCE.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO IT TONIGHT FOR "BACKYARD FARMER."

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO OUR LOYAL AUDIENCE FOR SUBMITTING THOSE QUESTIONS FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT AND ENTERTAINING SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING, WE HAD MASTER GARDENERS JOHN CARIOTTO, CYNTHIA CONNER, AND GARY BELL.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," JODY WILL BE POKING AROUND TREES AND SHRUBS TO FIND THOSE ANNOYING BAGWORMS.

SHE'LL BE SHOWING US WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE AND HOW YOU CAN REDUCE THEIR NUMBERS BEFORE WARMER WEATHER COMES AROUND.

GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

S S CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: CAPTION SOLUTIONS, LLC WWW.CAPTIONSOLUTIONS.COM