♪ >>> "BACKYARD FARMER" IS A COPRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT WHAT'S AILING THESE LILACS, AND TAKE A LOOK AT ALTERNATIVES FOR TURF.

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 PLANNED FOR YOU AS WE ANSWER ALL OF THOSE GARDENING QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US AT 1-800-676-5466.

WE'LL ALSO TAKE YOUR EMAILS AND PICTURES FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

THAT ADDRESSES IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

AND OF COURSE GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND "BACKYARD FARMER" ON A VARIETY OF SOCIAL MEDIA SITE.

YOU CAN SEE OUR PAST FEATURES AND SHOWS ON YOUTUBE AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

SO LET'S START WITH A FEW SAMPLES.

AND JODY, I DO HOPE YOU KEEP THOSE IN THE BOX.

>> THEY'LL STAY IN THE BOX.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] SO I BROUGHT TICKS.

THESE ARE ALL ADULT LONE STAR TICKS THAT I PICKED UP ON TUESDAY.

AND WHAT'S NOT IN THE BOX IS THE 50 OR SO, OR MORE NYMPHS THAT I ALSO PICKED UP ON TUESDAY, BECAUSE I DON'T TRUST THEM IN THAT BOX EVEN THOUGH IT'S SEALED UP.

ANYWAY, TICKS ARE OUT.

IT IS HIGH TICK SEASON IN NEBRASKA, AND SO I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU TO, ONE, CHECK YOURSELF, AND YOUR KIDS.

AND, TWO, TREAT YOUR PETS.

A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WAIT UNTIL MEMORIAL DAY, AND BETTER LATE THAN NEVER, SO GET THAT STARTED.

AND, THREE, IF YOU ARE COMING IN FROM OUTSIDE, AND YOU MAY HAVE A HITCHHIKER, PUT YOUR CLOTHES -- ALL YOUR OUTSIDE CLOTHES IN A HOT CLOTHES DRIVER FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES SO THEY DON'T CRAWL OFF YOUR CLOTHES AND ONTO SOMEONE THAT YOU CARE ABOUT.

>> AND IF YOU PICK ONE OFF, SAVE IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, SAVE IT, UNMC IS ACTUALLY DOING TICK TESTING NOW, STARTING MAY 1st.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

OKAY, MATT, SOMETHING DREADFUL AS ALWAYS.

>> I DON'T LIKE TICKS EITHER, SO -- ALL RIGHT, SO I GOT SOMETHING THAT WON'T CRAWL ON YOU, BUT IT WILL BUG YOU IF IT'S IN YOUR LAWN.

SO CRABGRASS IS EMERGING AND GROWING THIS TIME OF YEAR, BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE SOIL TEMPS THAT ARE IN THE 60s, EVEN IN A THICK STAND OF TURF.

THIS WAS ON BARE GROUND, SO SOME OF THESE ARE ALREADY IN LIKE, THE TWO- THREE LEAF STAGE.

SO JUST -- IF YOU DO SEE THIS STUFF -- LET'S SAY YOU DIDN'T PUT A PREEMERGENT HERBICIDE OUT ALREADY, AND YOU'RE SEEING LITTLE TINY CRABGRASS PLANTS, IT'S OKAY TO USE A COUPLE PRODUCTS THAT HAVE SOME REACH BACK.

SO ONE IS DITHIOPYR, OR DIMENSION, SO YOU CAN STILL USE IT WHEN THE CRABGRASS IS EMERGED, AND IT'LL CONTROL CRABGRASS UP TO THE 3-5 LEAF STAGE PRETTY WELL, SO THERE'S STILL TIME IF YOU ARE WANTING TO GET A PREEMERGENT OUT.

JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

YOU'RE NOT -- NOT ALL IS LOST YET, SO YOU CAN STILL CONTROL THIS STUFF WHEN IT'S THIS SMALL.

GET IT OUT SOON, AND WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE MORE CRABGRASS EMERGING AS THE TEMPERATURES WARM UP FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

[ COUGHING ] >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, MATT.

AMY, YOU CAN SPEAK?

>> I CAN SPEAK.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ALLERGIES ARE GOING "WHOA!"

IT'S YOUR CRABGRASS.

>> YEAH, MUST BE.

>> IT'S THE CRABGRASS.

IT'S POLLINATING, I GUESS, AS ITS GERMINATING.

SO WHAT I BROUGHT TODAY IT IS THIS IS SOME SAMPLES I PULLED OFF OF AN OAK TREE.

AND WE'RE GETTING INTO SOME REALLY WARM TEMPERATURES, AND WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON HERE IS WE HAVE A NEW GROWTH COMING UP ON THESE OAK TREES, AND THE LEAVES ARE ALL CURLED AND GNARLED.

THIS IS CLASSIC GROWTH REGULATOR DAMAGE.

AND SO THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS TREE IS THIS WAS A MATURE TREE, 60-70 FEET TALL.

BUT I ONLY FOUND THIS ON BRANCHES THAT I COULD REACH.

SO, MOST LIKELY WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS SOMEBODY HAD PUT GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE ON THEIR HOME LAWN, AND IT DRIFTED UP AND CAUSED THE NEW LEAVES TO CURL.

AND SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THIS WEEKEND, WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT EXTREMELY WARM TEMPERATURES.

AVOIDING THOSE GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE APPLICATIONS IS GOING TO BE REALLY CRITICAL RIGHT NOW.

OTHERWISE, WE'RE GONNA START DINGING OUR TREES THAT ARE STILL TRYING TO LEAF OUT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY GOT NIPPED BY FROST, AND ALSO ANY OTHER GARDEN PLANTS YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PUTTING IN YOUR GARDEN THIS WEEKEND.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, AMY.

DANA, WELCOME TO THE SHOW, AND WHAT DID YOU BRING US?

>> SO I BROUGHT A CUTE BUSHY LITTLE DETERMINATE TOMATO PLANT, AND IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR, 'CAUSE I GET TO SEE TOMATO SEEDLINGS WHEN I'M GROCERY SHOPPING.

SO I PICKED THIS ONE UP JUST TO KIND OF SHOW FOLKS THAT THESE ARE OUT AND ABOUT, AND TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP SO WE CAN START THINKING ABOUT PUTTING THEM IN THE GROUND.

THESE WARM SEASON PLANTS PREFER SOIL TEMPERATURES AT 60 DEGREES OR GREATER, CONSISTENTLY.

BUT, OPTIMAL ROOT GROWTH CAN HAPPEN -- OR HAPPENS BEST FROM 65-70 DEGREES.

SO, I ALSO BROUGHT A LITTLE SOIL THERMOMETER, JUST IN CASE ANYONE'S WONDERING WHAT THEIR SOIL TEMPERATURES ARE.

YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT HERE, OR VISIT CROPWATCH.UNL.EDU TO SEE THOSE SOIL TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE STATE.

>> EXCELLENT.

AND THEY DO VARY, SO THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SUGGESTION.

>> THEY VARY A LOT, YEAH.

AND TIMING IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN WE WANT TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE CROP.

>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU, ALL.

ALL RIGHT, SO, FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS GOES TO YOU, JODY.

THE FIRST ONE FROM NORTH PLATTE.

AND SAID THIS IS IN A PATCH OF ASPARAGUS, AND THEY APPEAR TO BE EATING THE FOLIAGE?

>> YES.

SO THIS IS A COMMON ASPARAGUS BEETLE.

THERE'S ALSO ANOTHER TYPE OF ASPARAGUS BEETLE WHICH IS RED WITH SPOTS, AND THEY CALL IT SPOTTED ASPARAGUS BEETLE.

BUT BOTH OF THOSE WILL EAT ASPARAGUS.

AND NORMALLY YOU WANT TO START SCOUTING EARLY, SO IF THAT'S JUST COMING UP, YOU WANT TO TAP THOSE INTO SOAPY WATER, THE ADULTS.

BUT IN THE FALL YOU WANT TO REALLY MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOME GOOD GARDEN CLEANUP AFTER THOSE FERNS TURNED BROWN, CUT 'EM DOWN AND REMOVE THAT FROM THE GARDEN, 'CAUSE THE ADULTS OVERWINTER IN ALL OF THAT DEBRIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

IT COMES TO YOU FROM TEKEMAH, RURAL BURT COUNTY.

WHAT CAUSES THE ASPARAGUS TO TAKE A TURN LIKE THIS?

SHE SAYS THE BED IS EIGHT YEARS OLD, AND LIGHT SOIL, AND FULL SUN.

>> THE ASPARAGUS BEETLES.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO, I JUST MENTIONED THAT, SO YOU WANT TO JUST MAKE SURE TO REALLY CLEAN UP THOSE BEDS IN THE FALL AND DO SOME SANITATION.

IF -- IF IT GETS REALLY BAD, AND YOU DO NEED TO USE SOME TYPE OF PESTICIDE, THEN YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE LABEL THAT ASPARAGUS IS ON THAT LABEL AND THAT THE P[RE-HARVEST INTERVAL IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN MANAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ALSO FROM NORTH PLATTE.

THIS SAYS -- THIS VIEWER SAYS "FOUND THIS BEETLE ON THE DECK."

HE WAS DOING YARD WORK, NOT THE BEETLE.

>> OH, YEAH, THIS BEETLE'S PROBABLY LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.

SO THIS AN ARGUS TORTOISE BEETLE.

IT'S AN ADULT.

THE LARVAE IS PRETTY FUN, I THINK THERE WAS ONE LAST YEAR.

THEY HAVE THE FECAL FORKS AND THEY KIND OF USE THEIR POOP AS DEFENSE.

>> GREAT.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] SO IS IT A HARMFUL THING, OR IS IT A --?

>> NO, THEY EAT BINDWEED AND THINGS IN THAT FAMILY, SO MORNING GLORIES THEY CAN EAT IT ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND, BUT MOST OF THOSE ARE WEEDS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE PULLING YOUR WEEDS, THEN YOU MIGHT HAVE LESS OF THOSE.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

'KAY, MATT, YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM GUIDE ROCK.

HE WONDERS WHAT KIND OF GRASS THIS IS?

AND IT'S NOT.

AND WILL IT TAKE OVER THE YARD?

>> SO YEAH, IT'S NOT A GRASS, IT'S A SEDGE OR A CAREX.

ENGELMANN'S SEDGE I THINK IS THE ACTUAL TERM.

THERE'S ARE A UPLE DIFFERENT NAMES FOR IT, OR SPIKE SEDGE, OR -- THERE'S A COUPLE OTHER ONES I THINK THAT I CAN'T THINK OF.

BUT YEAH, THIS ONE WILL JUST KEEP SPREADING.

IT DOES SPREAD A LITTLE BIT FROM RHIZOMES.

SO, I MEAN, IN ORDER TO CONTROL IT, I THINK SOME OF THE SEDGE PRODUCTS WOULD PROBABLY WORK ON IT, OR YOU CAN SPOT TREAT THAT AREA WITH GLYPHOSATE, OR YOU CAN DIG IT OUT AND TRY AND GET GRASS TO GROW IN THERE AND THE GRASS CAN OUTCOMPETE IT.

THAT'S -- THAT'S KIND OF THE BEST SCENARIO.

>> OR YOU CAN KEEP IT.

>> OR YOU CAN KEEP IT, AND JUST KEEP MOWING IT.

AND IT'S JUST -- IT MATCHES THE GRASS A LITTLE BIT.

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OGALLALA, MATT.

AND SHE SAYS, "WHAT IS IT?

IT APPEARS TO BE ABLE TO GROW WITHOUT ANY SOIL, AND IN SOIL."

SO IT IN AN AIR PLANT, OR IS IT ONE OF YOUR FANCY WEEDS THAT CAN GROW ANYWHERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, THIS ONE IS A WEIRD LOOKING WEED.

I DIDN'T KNOW IT RIGHT AWAY, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT IS RUSSIAN THISTLE.

AND THESE -- I MEAN, IN THE AREA TOO, I'M SURE THERE'S SOME OUT THERE -- ARE ALSO KNOWN AS TUMBLEWEED, 'CAUSE THEY GROW UP AND THEY LOOK KINDA LIKE THIS WHEN THEY'RE EMERGING, AND THEN THEY GROW UP BIG AND THEY JUST KINDA FALL OFF, 'CAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A GOOD ROOT SYSTEM, AND THEN THEY ROLL AROUND AND FILL UP THE FENCES.

SO THIS ONE, I'M PRETTY SURE IS RUSSIAN THISTLE, AND IT'S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE EARLY 1900s.

PRETTY SURE IT CAME FROM RUSSIA, THOUGH.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> HOW DO YOU CONTROL IT?

>> SO THESE ARE PRETTY EASILY CONTROLLED JUST BY MOWING, OR DISTURBING THE SOIL.

THEY DON'T REALLY COMPETE WELL WITH OTHER THINGS.

THAT'S WHY YOU FIND 'EM IN LIKE, AREAS WHERE THERE'S NO -- NOTHING THERE, SO BARE SOIL.

SO IF CAN KINDA REMOVE 'EM, DON'T LET 'EM GROW BIG, MOW OVER 'EM.

OTHERWISE 2,4-D WORKS ON THESE AS WELL.

SO YOU CAN TREAT THEM WITH BROADLEAF HERBICIDES.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, MATT.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

HE WANTS TO KNOW, CAN HE CAN PUT TOPSOIL DIRECTLY OVER THE SOIL OVER THE STUMP GRINDINGS, AND THEN RESEED?

IT WAS A BIG OLD SILVER MAPLE.

>> I WOULD NOT SAY DO NOT JUST PUT TOPSOIL OVER IT, BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL GONNA HAVE THAT VOID OF ALL THAT CHEWED UP MULCH, OR WOOD, SO YOU'RE GONNA END UP WITH FAIRY RING OR JUST DRY SPOTS THAT ARE JUST GONNA TURN BROWN IN THE SUMMER.

SO TRY AND EXCAVATE SOME OF THOSE CLIPPINGS OUT -- OR THOSE CHIPPINGS OUT IF YOU CAN, AND PUT THE SOIL IN, OR BLEND 'EM N. JUST YOU DON'T WANT A REALLY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF CHIPPINGS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A GLENWOOD, IOWA, VIEWER.

SHE HAS WILD BLACK RASPBERRIES, AND ONE PATCH HAS RUST.

SHE DUG OUT THE CANES, LOTS OF THE YOUNGER CANES THIS YEAR HAVE IT.

SHE'S WONDERING IS IT A TOTAL LOSS, OR WHAT DOES SHE DO WITH THIS?

>> SO, I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE PICTURE.

WITH BLACKBERRIES THEY ACTUALLY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF RUST.

WE HAVE LEAF AND CANE RUST, WHICH ISN'T THAT BIG OF A DEAL, AND THOSE PRODUCE A YELLOW PUSTULE.

AND THEN THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED ORANGE RUST, WHICH PRODUCES AN ORANGE PUSTULE, BUT ORANGE RUST IS MORE DETRIMENTAL, BECAUSE IT IS A SYSTEMIC INFECTION.

AND SO I MIGHT BE LEANING TOWARDS MORE OF AN ORANGE RUST, THAT WOULD EXPLAIN WHY THE NEW SHOOTS COMING UP ARE STARTING TO SHOW SOME SYMPTOMS OF THAT.

MANAGEMENT FOR THE ORANGE RUST, THERE ISN'T ANY, THAT'S THE SAD PART, BECAUSE IT'S SYSTEMIC WITHIN THE PLANT.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT THE OTHER RUST THAT'S YELLOW IN COLORATION, SANITATION IS THE BIG THING.

WE NEED TO REMOVE THOSE CANES AND DO PROPER FALL CLEANUP.

YOU CAN HIT THAT ONE WITH SOME FUNGICIDES, BUT MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW LABEL INSTRUCTIONS WITH IT BEING A FRUIT CROP TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADHERING TO PREHARVEST INTERVALS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND SHE DOES THINK IT'S ORANGE RUST.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE KIND OF TOUGH OUT OF LUCK, SORRY.

>> YEAH.

OKAY, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, AMY.

THIS IS A ROCA VIEWER.

HE SUBMITTED A QUESTION ON BLACK LEAVES ON HIS PEACHES, SAID HE HAD A SENIOR MOMENT, IT WAS THE APPLE TREE, AND IT WAS HONEY CRISP, WHICH IS VERY SUSCEPTIBLE.

LAST SPRING -- HE DOES SPRAY WITH CAPTAN, EARLIER THIS SPRING.

BUT WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE?

>> I'M LEANING TOWARD FIRE BLIGHT, WHICH IS THAT BACTERIAL DISEASE THAT IS MOVED BY WATER AND INSECTS AND IT HAS TO ENTER THROUGH THAT FLOWER THAT'S ALREADY BEEN THERE.

AND ONCE YOU HAVE FIRE BLIGHT -- AND HONEY CRISP IS MODERATELY RESISTANT, SO IT'S NOT GONNA COMPLETELY KILL OUT THE TREE, BUT IT'S GONNA HAVE HARM.

THE BEST TREATMENT IS WE'RE GONNA ACTUALLY HAVE TO PRUNE THOSE BRANCHES BACK FROM THAT SYMPTOM POINT.

WE'RE GOING TO GO 8-12 INCHES BACK, AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE IT GOES SYSTEMIC IN THE VASCULAR SYSTEM, AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU SANITIZE YOUR CLIPPERS THOROUGHLY BEFORE YOU MAKE ANOTHER CUT.

BUT BEYOND THAT, WHEN I WAS KINDA LOOKING AT THE TREE, IT'S PRETTY THIN FOR BEING A YOUNG TREE, SO THE TREE IS ALREADY STRESSED.

SO, YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER REPLACING IT POTENTIALLY, JUST BECAUSE OF HOW THIN THAT CANOPY IS FOR THAT YOUNG OF A TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, AMY.

ALL RIGHT, DANA, YOUR FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS ON YOUR FIRST APPEARANCE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

SHE PLANTED THIS SPINDLY LOCUST, 12 FEET TALL, SURVIVED.

SHE WONDERS TWO THINGS -- SHOULD SHE LEAVE SOME TINY SPROUTS ON THE TRUNK?

THAT'S ONE OF HER FIRST ONES, AND HER SECOND QUESTION IS SHOULD SHE USE POUND IN THE GROUND FERTILIZER STAKES?

AND HER THIRD ONE IS HOW BIG A MULCH RING SHOULD SHE PUT IN?

>> SO, FOR THE FIRST QUESTION I WOULD SAY GO AHEAD AND JUST LEAVE THOSE LITTLE SPROUTS YOU'VE GOT THERE.

THAT'S JUST FINE.

IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, THIS VIEWER SAID THEY HAVE PLANS TO UN-STAKE THE TREE, SO CONGRATS ON THAT.

THAT'S A GREAT THING.

WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO PUT THE FERTILIZER STAKES INTO THE GROUND?

FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE, YOUR TURF LOOKS BEAUTIFUL AND GORGEOUS, AND THAT TREE IS GOING TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE ITS SHARE OF THOSE NUTRIENTS.

SO SKIP THE FERTILIZER, AND THE SKY IS THE LIMIT IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO MAKE THAT MULCH RING AT THREE FEET WIDE IN DIAMETER.

BUT WHOEVER'S IN CHARGE OF THE TURF, IF THEY ALLOW YOU TO GO FURTHER, JUST GO FOR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, DANA.

THIS IS A FEWER WHO HAD A TREE PLANTED WITHOUT ANY MULCH, AND THEN THE SOD WAS PUT RIGHT UP TO THE TRUNK AND APPARENTLY THE COMPANY THAT DID THIS SAID THEY WERE TRYING TO MATCH THE OTHER TREE, WHICH IS 18 YEARS OLD.

SHE WONDERS WAS THAT A GOOD DECISION OR WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN HERE?

>> I'D SAY GIVE 'EM A CALL BACK.

[ LAUGHTER ] I WOULDN'T HAVE CALLED THAT A GREAT DECISION.

BUT THE SOD LOOKS LIKE YOU CAN JUST KIND OF PULL THAT BACK.

OR HAVE THEM DO THAT.

PUT IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, IF IT'S NEEDED, AND DO LIKE THE LAST VIEWER WHICH IS PUT DOWN A MULCH RING.

I WOULD GO AT LEAST AS FAR AS THAT STAKING MATERIAL IS.

YOU CAN GO 2-4 INCHES DEEP.

AND DON'T LET THEM PILE IT ON THE TRUNK.

PULL THAT AWAY A LITTLE BIT, YOU KINDA WANT A LITTLE MINI DONUT HOLE THERE.

>> PERFECT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS VIEWER IS IN LINCOLN AND WORRIED THAT THE COMPANY PLANTED A KOUSA DOGWOOD TOO DEEP, BECAUSE IT HASN'T GROW FOR THREE YEARS.

>> YEAH, SO KOUSA DOGWOODS, THEY ARE A SLOW-GROWING TREE.

BUT WHEN YOU PLANT TREES TOO DEEPLY, YOU CAN HAVE SOME SLOW DOWN OF THE GROWTH.

BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE SOME BARK THAT'S STARTING TO KIND OF DECAY AND SLOUGH OFF THERE.

SO THAT TREE, WHICH JODY AND I MADE A JOKE EARLIER, IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE MAYBE A GIRAFFE LEG.

I'M NOT SURE.

IT'S NOT -- IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE IT HAS ANY FLAIR THERE.

SO WHAT YOU CAN DO IS TRY TO PULL THAT BACK, THAT MULCH BACK A LITTLE BIT, 'CAUSE YOU DO HAVE MULCH UP AGAINST THE TRUNK.

BUT PROBABLY GIVE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST A CALL, SEE IF THEY CAN HELP YOU OUT.

BUT YOU MIGHT NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT A REPLACEMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS JODY -- "JODY," SORRY, YOU SAID "JODY" AND INSTEAD - - [ LAUGHTER ] WE GOT DANA.

DON'T DO THAT TO ME.

WELL, IF YOU'VE EVER HAD A CHANCE TO STROLL AROUND EAST CAMPUS, YOU'LL NO DOUBT NOTICE THE LILAC FRAGRANCE WAFTING THROUGH THE AIR OVER BY THE DINSDALE LEARNING COMMONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT STAND OF LILACS HAS BEEN RAVAGED BY ASH YELLOWS.

HERE'S KYLE TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S HAPPENING.

♪ >>> LILACS ARE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE SHRUBS IN THE LANDSCAPE.

THIS TIME OF YEAR, THERE'S A BEAUTIFUL SCENT ALL OVER, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO GET SOME DISEASES AS WELL.

AND WE HAVE BEEN SEEING A FAIR AMOUNT OF ASH YELLOWS PHYTOPLASMA ON LILACS AROUND -- ESPECIALLY IN THE LINCOLN AREA.

NOW ASH -- THE ASH YELLOW PHYTOPLASMA PRIMARILY AFFECTS ASH TREES, BUT IT CAN ALSO AFFECT A LOT OF OTHER SHRUB SPECIES AS WELL, ESPECIALLY LILACS.

AND THIS -- THIS PHYTOPLASMA IS ACTUALLY -- IT'S A BACTERIA THAT SURVIVES IN THE NUTRIENT-TRANSPORTING PORTION OF THE PLANT.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY VECTORED BY AN INSECT, VECTORED BY LEAF HOPPERS, THESE VERY TINY INSECTS THAT ARE LITERALLY BLOWN ALL OVER THE PLACE.

NOW, AS FAR AS SYMPTOMOLOGY ON LILACS, ONCE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TEND TO SEE IS SOME KIND OF WITCH'S BROOMING THAT TENDS TO APPEAR.

SO BASICALLY, A PROLIFERATION OF BUDS, FLOWER PARTS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND WHEN LOOKING AT A DISEASED PLANT, YOU MAY NOT NOTICE IT UNTIL YOU CAN COMPARE IT TO A HEALTHY PLANT RIGHT NEXT TO IT, AND THEN YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE DIFFERENCE.

THE SMALLER LEAVES, THE MORE CHARTREUSE GREEN, THE SMALLER FLOWERS AS WELL.

AND IN SOME CASES THESE PLANTS MAY NOT EVEN FLOWER DEPENDING HOW SEVERE THE INFECTION IS.

NOW, UNFORTUNATELY, HOW DO WE CONTROL THIS -- THIS DISEASE?

NOT A WHOLE LOT OF GREAT OPTIONS.

ANYBODY WHO IS FAMILIAR WITH ASTER YELLOWS, ONE OF OUR COMMON DISEASES ON PRAIRIE CONEFLOWERS, KNOWS THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS RIP THOSE FLOWERS OUT.

THAT'S RELLY THE SAME CONTROL WITH LILACS AS WELL.

SO PRUNING, REMOVING THAT DISEASED TISSUE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE IS GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET IN TERMS OF CONTROL.

AND, AS ALWAYS, THE EARLIER WE CAN DETECT ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE MORE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE.

SO, GET OUT IN YOUR LANDSCAPE AND JUST TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING.

IF YOU'RE SEEING SOMETHING STRANGE DON'T BE AFRAID TO GET OUT THOSE PRUNERS AND CLIP IT OFF.

>>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY TRAGIC TO SEE THE DAMAGE TO SO MANY OF OUR LILACS.

AND THEY'RE QUITE OLD AND VERY BEAUTIFUL.

JEFF DID MENTION THOUGH THAT HE'S GOING TO TRY TO SAVE SOME OF THEM AND REPLANT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT PATHOGEN WILL BE OUT OF THERE.

OR NOT.

ALL RIGHT, JODY, YOU HAVE THREE QUESTIONS.

THIS COMES TO US FROM SOUTH BEND.

THIS IS REALLY PROBABLY THE FIRST INSECT, AND THERE'S A THIRD ONE, AND THERE'S A MAPLE IN BETWEEN.

BUT HE SAID THIS TREE WAS DYING AND HE'S WONDERING IS THIS EMERALD ASH BORER DAMAGE?

>> UM, OKAY, SO -- >> THE FIRST PICTURE.

>> OKAY, THE FIRST PICTURE, THAT IS -- IT'S AN ASH BARK BEETLE.

SO IT'S -- JUST 'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT ROUND TINY HOLES IN THE, LIKE, THE ETCHING IN THE GALLERIES ARE DIFFERENT.

BUT IT'S LIKE, THE MOST ENCOUNTERED BARK BEETLE OF ASH, SO IT'S A DIFFERENT BEETLE, BUT NOT THE EMERALD ASH BORER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THE SECOND PICTURE IS RANDOMLY A MAPLE, AND HE'S WONDERING WHETHER HE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND CUT OUT ALL OF THE STEMS IN THERE.

IT'S A SILVER MAPLE.

>> WELL, I AM THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND I ONLY DEAL WITH BUGS, BUT I GUESS -- I GUESS IT WOULD PROBABLY BE RECOMMENDED BY MY FRIENDS, THAT YES, TO CUT THOSE OUT.

>> YES.

>> AT THE GROUND.

>> AND THE WHOLE -- >> AT THE GROUND.

>> AND THE WHOLE TREE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> AND YOUR THIRD PICTURE FROM HIM IS ALSO THE HOLE THAT WAS LEFT IN THAT ASH TREE.

AND I GUESS HE'S JUST KIND OF WONDERING, IS THAT INSECT --?

>> YEAH, THAT WASN'T DONE BY AN INSECT.

THERE WAS SOME KIND OF DECAY THERE IN THE MIDDLE.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THE ASH TREE NEEDED TO EITHER BE TREATED OR LET GO ANYWAY, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, JODY.

THIS IS AN ELKORN VIEWER.

SEEING THIS INSECT ON OVER 50 WEEPING WHITE SPRUCE AND SEEING HONEYDEW ON SOME OF THE NEEDLES.

HE SAYS FEEDING SEEMS TO ONLY BE OCCURRING ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S GROWTH.

>> OH, WELL, I'VE NEVER SEEN THESE IN REAL LIFE BEFORE.

THESE ARE GIANT CONIFER APHIDS.

AND THEY FEED ON THE SAP OF CONIFERS.

AND USUALLY, IT'S NOT A PROBLEM IF THE TREE IS HEALTHY OR NOT STRESSED OR OLDER, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE WAS THIS BRANCH TIED DOWN TO A STAKE OR A POLE, BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMED LIKE A REALLY GOOD, LIKE, MICROHABITAT FOR THOSE APHIDS.

SO, YEAH, AND THEY EXUDE HONEYDEW AND WOULD GET THAT SOOTY MOLD SO -- >> IS THERE ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT IT?

IT IS -- IT'S A COMMERCIAL GROWER.

>> YEAH.

>> 50 OF 'EM.

>> I'LL HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP AND GET BACK TO YOU, NOW THAT I KNOW IT'S A COMMERCIAL GROWER, 'CAUSE WE'LL HAVE TO TRY TO FIND SOMETHING ECONOMICAL AND SEE HOW OLD THOSE TREES ARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA, VIEWER.

BUGS STARTED CRAWLING ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE.

HOW TO GET RID OF IT?

WHAT'S THE SOURCE?

WHAT DANGER DOES IT POSE?

>> OKAY, SO I'M SURPRISED YOU COULD EVEN SEE THIS.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] THESE ARE SO TINY.

THESE ARE SPRINGTAILS.

IT'S A HEXAPOD THAT IS SOFT-BODIED AND LOVES MOISTURE.

YOU CAN FIND THEM LITERALLY EVERYWHERE, AND ANYWHERE, AND YOU CAN'T GET RID OF THEM.

THEY DON'T DO ANY DAMAGE.

THEY'RE JUST PROBABLY OUT WITHIN THE MULCH, WITH THE WATER, THE ENVIRONMENT.

SO YEAH, NOT A PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

OKAY, MATT, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THERE IS A ST. PAUL, NEBRASKA, VIEWER.

SO PUT DOWN THE MULCH, LOOKED GREAT.

LAST LOAD WAS APPARENTLY FULL OF WEED SEEDS.

HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, HE'S NEVER PULLED A WEED LIKE THIS, VINING, SHE SPRAYED IT WITH 2,4-D. HOPEFULLY IT WILL WILT?

BUT WHAT IS IT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW, THIS ONE -- I HAD TO LOOK AT IT FOR A LONG TIME.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FIELD BINDWEED, BUT I DO THINK IT MIGHT BE FIELD BINDWEED, AND IT'S SPREAD ALL OVER BEFORE YOU PUT THE MULCH MAYBE, FROM LAST SEASON, AND THERE'S RHIZOMES IN THE GROUND, THAT'S WHY IT'S KIND OF EMERGING THROUGH THE MULCH.

OR THERE IS A CHANCE THAT IT COULD 'VE BEEN BROUGHT OVER AND IT WAS GROWING IN THE MULCH THAT YOU PICKED UP AS WELL.

SO 2,4-D DOESN'T GENERALLY WORK WELL ON IT, IF YOU'RE USING THAT PRODUCT.

IT WILL MAKE IT WILT A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT WON'T KILL IT.

SO QUINCLORAC ACTUALLY WORKS A LITTLE BIT BETTER ON IT.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE THAT'S KIND OF AN ODDBALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR WEED, IF THAT INDEED IS WHAT IT IS.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M LEANING TOWARDS, 'CAUSE I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT ANYTHING ELSE THAT IT WOULD BE.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING WITH.

>> AND YOU'LL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TRYING TO GET RID OF IT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, SO YOU CAN PULL THOSE OUT, BUT EVENTUALLY THERE'S GONNA PROBABLY BE A NEW SHOOT.

BUT THAT'S ONE OPTION.

OR SHEERING 'EM OFF, AND THEN MAYBE THEY'LL JUST DIE FROM THE HEAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE MOISTURE IN THAT PROFILE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM WORMS, NEBRASKA.

HE HAS AN ESTABLISHED ASPARAGUS BED HE TRIES TO HAND WEED.

HE DID HEAVY PREEN MARCH 1st, BUT HE'S GOT THIS SMALL BLUE FLOWER -- I THINK THE SECOND PICTURE SHOWS THE SMALL BLUE FLOWER, ON DAYFLOWER -- PREEN DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD.

SO SHOULD HE PREEN IT IN THE FALL?

APPLY TWO INCHES OF SOIL, DO A CHEMICAL OF SOME OTHER KIND?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE BEST THING IS JUST LET ALL THOSE DAYFLOWERS -- THOSE ASIATIC DAYFLOWERS IS WHAT IT IS -- LET 'EM GERMINATE, AND THEN JUST GET RID OF THEM BEFORE THEY FLOWER AND SET SEED FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU PROBABLY MULCH OVER 'EM, THEY'LL PROBABLY STILL GROW THROUGH.

IT'S A PRETTY BIG SEED.

SO IN GENERAL, PREEMERGENT HERBICIDES DON'T WORK WELL ON THEM, JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE A HUGE SEED AND THEY JUST HAVE A GOOD RESERVE TO BLOW THROUGH THAT PREEMERGENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, MATT.

LET'S SEE, AMY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THERE IS NORTH OF HUMBOLDT, BY ABOUT 8 MILES, AND YOU'VE GOT TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS FROM HAMPTON, AND THESE ARE FOUR PICTURES FROM RHUBARB FROM TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

THE FIRST ONES, THE RHUBARB CAME WITH THE FARM IN 1972.

EXCELLENT PRODUCTION UNTIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

FIVE YEARS, NOW IT'S GOT LEAF SPOT, YELLOW LEAVES, MUSHY STEMS, AND THEN THE ROOTS DIE.

>> OKAY.

>> THE SECOND VIEWER, HAMPTON, NEBRASKA, SHE'S BEEN BATTLING THIS FOR TWO YEARS.

IT'S ALREADY AFFECTING HER PLANTS.

DILIGENT ABOUT REMOVING, DISPOSING, MULCHING, KEEPING THEM THIN, THE PLANT GETS SUN.

AFFECTED LEAF, STEM, SAME THING, MUSHY.

CAN'T REALLY SEE IN THE PICTURES.

>> YEAH, THE DEFINITION OF -- OR THE DESCRIPTIVE TERM OF "MUSHY" IS REALLY HELPFUL HERE.

SO WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

THE YELLOW LEAVES IS ACTUALLY MOST LIKELY DUE TO A CROWN ROT SINCE YOU ARE SAYING, "MUSHY."

IF YOU DIDN'T FEEL MUSHY I WAS GOING TO RECOMMEND THAT YOU PULL THAT MULCH BACK, OR THAT SOIL BACK, AND FILL THE CROWN.

TYPICALLY WITH THOSE IT'S DUE TO OVERWATERING.

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, THIS YEAR, I WOULD NOT EXPECT THAT'S THE CASE.

BUT DEPENDING HOW YOUR SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS, OR WHERE YOU HAVE IT, IT'S PROBABLY JUST CARRYING OVER.

THE OTHER BIG THIN, I DO WANT TO POINT OUT WITH YELLOW LEAVES, I HAVE YELLOW LEAVES ON MINE.

I DON'T HAVE ROOT ROT, BUT WE CAN SEE YELLOW LEAVES WITH TEMPERATURE FLUCTUATIONS ALSO, HOT, COLD, HOT, COLD, WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THEM A LOT.

BUT IF YOU'VE HAD THAT MUSHY -- YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TRYING TO REPLANT, TRY TO DRY OUT THAT SOIL THE BEST YOU CAN.

NOW, THE LEAF SPOT.

THAT'S A COMMON FUNGAL LEAF SPOT.

THE BEST MANAGEMENT IS YOU CAN STILL USE THOSE STEMS OF RHUBARB TO EAT.

PULL THOSE OUT, BUT INSTEAD OF CUTTING THOSE LEAVES OFF AND LETTING THEM FALL BACK DOWN ALONG YOUR RHUBARB PLANTS -- THAT'S WHAT I USUALLY DO.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE GETTING THROWN IN THE COMPOST PILE RIGHT AWAY AND BEING REMOVED AND THEN AT THE END OF THE SEASON MAKING SURE WE ARE CLEANING OFF THOSE RHUBARB BEDS REALLY, REALLY WELL TO GET RID OF THAT INOCULUM.

I DON'T RECOMMEND A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION, JUST BECAUSE OF THE PRE-HARVEST INTERVAL THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT FOR RHUBARB.

WE WANT TO ENJOY IT.

AND IF YOU HAD TO WAIT, SEVEN, 14 DAYS IT WILL BE PASSED ITS PEAK AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO ENJOY THAT RHUBARB.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, AMY.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HARDINGTON.

SHE SAYS SHE'S GOT SPOTS ON HER ARUGULA, AND SPINACH, AND RADISH LEAVES.

WHAT IS IT, WHAT CAN THEY DO WITH IT, AND CAN THEY EAT IT?

>> SO I ACTUALLY HAD TO LOOK THIS ONE UP THIS IS CLADOSPORIUM LEAF SPOT.

IT'S ANOTHER FUNGAL LEAF SPOT.

I DON'T RECOMMEND A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT IF YOU'RE OVERHEAD WATERING, PLEASE AVOID THAT.

SOAKER HOSES -- DRIP IS GOING TO BE THE BEST OPTION.

YOU CAN EAT IT.

IT ISN'T GOING TO HARM YOU ONE BIT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

DANA.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS FROM OMAHA.

I BOUGHT A PEAR TREE SAPLING, HAD IT PLANTED.

TWO TRUNKS FROM THE GROUND.

WHEN IT FRUITS ONE TRUNK PRODUCES EDIBLES AND THE OTHER IS LOVELY ORNAMENTAL PEAR.

WHEN SHOULD HE DO HERE?

>> I SUSPECT THEY MIGHT OF HAD A BAD PLANTING JOB.

FRUITING TREES LIKE THAT ARE GRAFTED ON A ROOTSTOCK.

AND SOMETIMES THAT ORNAMENTAL PEAR IS THE ROOTSTOCK.

AND I HAVE A FEELING IT WAS PLANTED TOO DEEPLY.

AND THAT ROOTSTOCK TRIED TO TAKE THE LEAD.

SO, WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

I THINK IT'S TIME TO START LOOKING FOR ANOTHER TREE.

IT LOOKED LIKE FROM ONE OF THE OTHER PICTURES YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF YARD.

SO, LET'S PICK SOMETHING ELSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA, ALSO.

8-YEAR-OLD PEACH TREE, NEVER HAD ANY FRUIT.

A FEW FLOWERS.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS LATE FROST.

THIS YEAR THEY HAD TWO FLOWERS NOW THERE IS A WOUND IN THE CROOK.

THEY HAD ONE PEACH, THEY PLANTED A SECOND ONE.

IS IT THEY NEED A SECOND ONE OR IS IT UNTHRIFTY.

>> YEAH, SO YOU CAN'T HAVE FRUIT WITHOUT FLOWERS, AND PEACHES BLOOM SO EARLY.

THAT'S, LATE MARCH, EARLY APRIL, WHEN THEY ARE SO SUBJECT TO THE COLD SNAPS.

SO, THE BUDS START KIND OF, SWELLING.

THE TEMPERATURES, YOU KNOW, DROP QUICKLY.

WE LOSE THE FLOWERS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET ANY FRUIT.

AND, THAT WOUND THERE DOES NOT LOOK GOOD.

IF IT WAS ON A BRANCH WE WOULD SAY PRUNE IT OUT.

BUT I THINK IT IS COMING TO THE END OF THE LIFE OF THAT TREE.

IF YOU WANT, SINCE I THINK, YOU KNOW, NO HARM-NO FOUL -- GO AHEAD AND PRUNE IT REALLY HARD.

MAYBE LATE WINTER, TAKE OUT 30% OF THE TREE, LEAVE IT AS A V SHAPE AND SEE IF YOU CAN CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND HOPE FOR A BETTER SPRING.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE HAD REALLY LOVELY DAYS HERE IN LINCOLN.

AND WE'RE HOPING THIS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER WILL CONTINUE.

WE'VE GOT GANNON RUSH FROM UNL'S HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER HERE TO TELL US IF WE WE'RE GOING TO KEEP HAVING GREAT WEATHER THIS WEEK, OR NOT.

>> THANKS, KIM.

I'M GOING TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS, AND SAY IT'S GOING TO BE A WARM AND DRY ONE THIS WEEK.

WE'LL BEGIN TO HEAT UP ON FRIDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 80S FOR MANY.

ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY, THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE, NEAR CHADRON WILL LIKELY BREAK OUT INTO THE 90s.

THIS HEAT WILL MOVE EASTWARD ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

BUT ON THE BACKSIDE THE PANHANDLE COULD BE IN THE 70s ON WEDNESDAY.

SINCE WE'RE IN THE WETTEST TIME OF THE YEAR THE PROSPECT OF HAVING A DRY WEEK DOES NOT BODE WELL FOR THE ONGOING DROUGHT SITUATION.

THE RAIN FORECAST FOR THIS WEEK IS LESS THAN STELLAR WITH ONLY MINIMAL AMOUNTS EXPECTED OUT WEST.

LOOKING AT THE DROUGHT MONITOR FOR THIS WEEK, EXTREME DROUGHT WAS INTRODUCED IN ANTELOPE COUNTY, WHILE THE BLOB OF SEVERE DROUGHT IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE EXPANDED SOUTHWESTWARDS.

GOING FORWARD, I WOULD DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON THE DROUGHT MONITOR IN THE COMING WEEKS.

AND THAT IS YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST, BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> I WOULD SAY THANKS, GANNON, BUT WE NEED THE RAIN.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK NOW.

COMING UP IS THE PLANT OF THE WEEK AND, OF COURSE, THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

THERE IS MUCH MORE BACKYARD FARMER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

♪ [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] ♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW WE WILL LOOK AT A FEW SEDGES THAT CAN BE A GREAT SUBSTITUTE FOR TURF.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN THOSE QUESTIONS TO 1-800-676-5446 OR SEND US PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR LIGHTNING ROUND.

AND YOU ARE UP, DANA.

YOU READY?

>> OKAY.

>> IS THERE A WAY TO KEEP ASPARAGUS FROM SPREADING OUT FROM THE CENTER?

IT'S A 20-FOOT BY 8-FOOT PATCH, AND THE CENTER IS DEAD.

>> OH -- I WOULD SAY PROBABLY WHEN YOU'RE PLANTING YOU CAN DO SOME STAGGERING TO KEEP THAT KIND OF IN LINE AND GIVE IT ROOM TO GROW.

BUT -- >> BUT NO.

>> NO.

>> LIGHTNING.

>> LIGHTNING, OKAY, SORRY.

PICK UP THE PACE.

>> IS IT LATE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PRUNE THE DEAD OUT OF A BOX WOOD?

THIS IS A NORTH BEND VIEWER.

>> IF IT IS GREENING UP, GO FOR IT.

JUST STOP AT LATE SUMMER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WONDERS HOW LONG TO WAIT BEFORE SHE ACTUALLY PRONOUNCES HER BUTTERFLY BUSHES DEAD?

>> OH, GIVE IT -- GIVE IT UNTIL JUNE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHOULD TOMATO STEMS BE BURIED OR NOT, WHEN YOU PLANT?

>> YOU CAN IF IT IS ESPECIALLY LEGGY.

ON AN INDETERMINATE PLANT, GO FOR IT.

TAKE THE LEAVES OFF, FIRST.

>> ALL RIGHT, DOES A HONEY LOCUST NEED TO BE KILLED WITH TORDON OR THE THORNS WILL NOT BURN?

>> I AM GOING TO LET THAT ONE GO.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT TORDON -- >> THAT IS A HARD PASS.

THAT IS A HARD PASS.

HAVE SOMEONE EMAIL ME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU READY, AMY?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS FROM OMAHA.

WOULD COLD DAMAGE ON SENSITIVE PLANTS LIKE HYDRANGEA'S BE DARK ENOUGH TO LOOK LIKE FIRE BLIGHT?

>> YES.

>> OKAY, THIS IS A COLUMBUS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IF YOU LEAVE A MOREL MUSHROOM WOULD IT PRODUCE MORE IN THE NEXT SPOT?

>> NO, NOT NECESSARILY.

IT IS COMING FROM THE GROUND.

>> OKAY, THIS IS A BEATRICE VIEWER, WHO FOUND SOMETHING THAT SAYS 1 TABLESPOON TO BAKING SODA TO A GALLON OF WATER CAN BE USED FOR ALL SORTS OF PESTS AND KEEP FLOWERS BEAUTIFUL.

>> NO.

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO WORK ON POWDERY MILDEW, BECAUSE YOU'RE CHANGING THE PH, BUT TYPICALLY WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHAT ARE THE DISEASE CODES THAT SEEM TO SHOW UP ON VEGETABLE LABELS, ESPECIALLY TOMATOES.

THE "VF" ETC.

>> SO THAT WOULD BE FOR VERTICILLIUM WILT, TOMATO SPOTTED WILT, ALTERNARI OR "EARLY BLIGHT," AND SEPTORIA BLIGHT.

>> SO THE MORE LETTERS THE BETTER?

>> THE BETTER OFF.

YES, YOU WANT AS MANY LETTERS AS POSSIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS PERSON SAYS ROTTEN POTATOES SPROUTED IN THEIR COMPOST.

IS IT OKAY TO EAT THE POTATOES THAT COME FROM THE ROTTEN POTATO SPROUT PLANTS?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN -- YOU CAN.

>> YOU CAN'T?

>> YOU CAN.

YOU CAN -- I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD.

BUT YOU COULD.

[ LAUGHTER ]E >> NOT THE OLD ONES -- THAT IS WHERE I AM LIKE THE ROTTED ONES?

>> ARE YOU READY, MATT?

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER WHO HAS USED WEED-BE-GONE ON A LAWN TO GET RID OF ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

8%, .8%, TRICLOPYR.

SPRING, AND TWO TIMES IN THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING HAS NOT GOTTEN RID OF CREEPING CHARLIE.

ISN'T THAT A GOOD SOLUTION?

>> WANT TO USE THE LIQUID VERSION INSTEAD OF THE GRANULAR VERSION.

UNLESS IT IS THE LIQUID, BUT YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> NO.

>> THIS IS A WAYNE VIEWER WHO HAS USED HALF-GALLON PER ACRE OF 2DQ ON CLOVER, DOES HE NEED TO APPLY IT TWO TIMES TO MAKE IT WORK?

>> CLOVER IS NOT -- 2,4-D DOES NOT WORK GREAT ON CLOVER.

SO THERE MIGHT BE BETTER PRODUCTS OUT THERE TAHTA AREN'T 2,4-D. >> ALL RIGHT, THIS VIEWER IS SAYING MOWING A THIRD OF THE BLADE OFF NOW WOULD MEAN TWO TO THREE TIMES A WEEK.

IS THERE A CHEMICAL THEY CAN PUT ON IT TO KEEP THE TURF FROM THAT FAST?

>> THERE ARE PLANT-GROWTH REGULATORS BUT THAT'D BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO IF YOU ARE WANTING TO SLOW YOUR GRASS DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO TO KNOW IF THEY CAN APPLY TENACITY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT OVER THE TOP OF THEIR BLUFFLY GRASS RIGHT NOW TO GET RID OF ALL OF THE BROADLEAF WEEDS AND THE GRASSY WEEDS?

>> YOU SHOULD BE SAFE.

I WOULD GO WITH THE FIVE OUNCE OR EIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND I THINK YOU ARE FINISHED BECAUSE YOU FORGET IT WAS LIGHTNING ROUND, TOO.

[ THUNDER ] >> I THINK YOUR QUESTIONS WERE TOO LONG.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT IS NOT MY FAULT.

I DIDN'T MAKE THEM UP.

>> ARE YOU READY, JODY?

>> NO.

I'M NEVER READY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHEN TO SPRAY HIS ARBORVITAE FOR BAGWORMS.

AND HE WANTS TO USE BT.

>> WELL, IF YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND YOU HAVE THE BAGWORMS.

MAYBE PICK THEM OFF, NOW.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO SPRAY YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR THEM TO HATCH OUT.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE END OF MAY, BEGINNING OF JUNE, KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS SEEN REALLY, TINY LITTLE BEE-LIKE INSECTS IN THEIR GLOBE ALLIUMS?

>> YEP, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE.

>> LITTLE TINY BEES?

>> YEAH, TINY LITTLE SOLITARY BEES.

YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE ALSO HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAID THEY SAW WHAT THEY THINK IS CLOVER MITES, OUTSIDE.

>> YES.

LOTS OF THEM, LOTS.

>> AND THEY ARE WONDERING ARE THEY HARMFUL TO ANY PLANTS BESIDES CLOVER?

>> THEY CAN CAUSE YELLOWING TO OTHER PLANTS AROUND THE LEAVES.

BUT, NOT ANYTHING THAT WILL KILL THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS, I THINK A LINCOLN VIEWER, THEY DIDN'T SAY FOR SURE.

BUT SHINY AREAS ON ALL SORTS OF LEAVES BUT THEY DON'T SEE ANY INSECTS, IS THIS -- WHAT IS THAT POTENTIALLY?

>> IS IT STICKY?

LOOK UP.

MAYBE SOME HONEYDEW IS DROPPING DOWN FROM SOMETHING THAT'S EXCRETING HONEYDEW.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL, IT WILL NOT BE LONG NOW.

BECAUSE THIS WEEK WE ARE PULLING OUR PLANTS OUT OF THE GREENHOUSE AND GETTING THEM HARDENED OFF.

SO, LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM TERRY OUT AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ >>> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED.

WE'RE READY TO START PULLING OUR PLANTS OUT.

REMEMBER, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HARDENING OFF.

THE TEMPERATURES HAVE REALLY MODERATED IN THE EVENINGS, AND IT'S BEEN REALLY NICE, SO WE'RE GOING TO START PULLING THEM OUT OF OUR GREENHOUSE.

REMEMBER HOW I TALKED ABOUT HOW YOU KINDA NEEDED TO PULL THEM IN, PULL THEM OUT, TO KIND OF TOUGHEN THEM UP FOR COMING OUT, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN INSIDE THIS WHOLE TIME.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY WE CAN'T REALLY HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT HERE, SO WE HAVE TO PULL MOST OF THEM OUT.

BUT WE DO HAVE A VERY NICE PLACE IN ORDER TO SET THEM OUT.

WE PUT THEM UNDERNEATH OUR BIG OAK IN THE GARDEN.

IT'S REALLY SHADY, IT'S A LITTLE LOW SPOT, SO NOT A LOT OF WIND, AND WE CAN HARD THEM OFF THERE.

SO, WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING THEM OUT INTO THE GARDEN AND START PLANTING AND ARRANGING ALL OF OUR PLANTS.

ALL OF OUR SPRING STUFF IS STILL LOOKING GOOD.

THEY'RE COMING UP AND WE'RE GOING TO START HARVESTING ALL OF THAT HERE SOON, ALSO.

SO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN THIS WEEK AND CHECK IT OUT.

♪ >>> WE'VE HAD SUCH GREAT CONDITIONS HERE IN LINCOLN SO NEXT WEEK, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU PLANTS IN THE GROUND.

SO HERE'S OUR NEWEST PANELIST, DANA, SHE GETS TO TALK ABOUT OUR PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

WHAT DO WE HAVE, DANA?

>> WE'VE GOT SOME LOVELY GIANT ALLIUMS.

SO THEY'RE GIANT IN THAT THEY'RE PRETTY TALL.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT SOMETHING LOWER TO THE GROUND, WE'VE GOT SOME OLD FASHIONED, OLD-TIMEY GRANNY'S BONNETS, SO BASICALLY COLUMBINE THAT KINDA LOOK DOWN.

BOTH OF THESE CAN TOLERATE SOME PART SHADE, AND SOME DRIER CONDITIONS.

>> AND IT'S A PERFECT COMBINATION FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> ALL THE PURPLES.

>> WE ARE ALL DYING FOR SOMETHING PERFECT.

>> YEAH.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, THEY SEED THEMSELVES, AS YOU SAID, AND THESE GO DORMANT.

SO YOU HAVE A HOLE IN THE GARDEN BUT MAYBE THAT CAN FILL IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> PERFECT.

SO ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS WANT TO PUT UP ON THE SCREEN FOR OUR AUDIENCE.

AND OUR FIRST ONE IS THE LINCOLN IRIS SOCIETY IRIS SHOW.

SO THAT IS MAY 17th FROM 2:00 TO 5:00 P.M., SAINT ANDREWS LUTHERAN CHURCH HERE IN LINCOLN -- LANCASTER LANE IT LOOKS LIKE, HERE IN LINCOLN.

WE HAVE THE GARDEN CLUB -- LINCOLN GARDEN CLUB MEETING, WHICH IS MAY 12th, 7:00 P.M., MICKLE MIDDLE SCHOOL, NORTH 67th, AND THAT IS TIM RINNE FROM -- AND I THINK WE HAVE THE LINCOLN GARDEN CLUB PLANT SALE COMING UP, TOO, MAY 17th, 10:00 TO 1:00 AT SOUTHERN HEIGHTS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

SO LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

AND WE HAVE QUESTIONS, OF COURSE, COMING UP NEXT.

THE FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU IN ROUND THREE IS FROM DOVER, DELAWARE.

AND THIS IS WHITE SPECKS FOUND ON THE BUDS OF A DIFFERENT ROSE BUSH IN THE GARDEN.

SHOULD SHE BE CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE WHITE SPECKS?

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE APHIDS.

AND IF SHE'S JUST GOT THOSE, GO OUT THERE AND SQUISH THEM.

OR YOU CAN HOSE 'EM OFF.

>> WON'T DO MUCH DAMAGE.

>> THEY WON'T DO MUCH DAMAGE IF YOU SQUISH 'EM.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, JODY.

THIS IS A CORTLAND VIEWER.

SHE HAS IRIS, AND SHE HAS OTHERS ALONG THE DRIVEWAY, SO ITS OTHER IRS AS WELL, NOT DOING THIS.

BUT THIS ONE IS DOING THIS.

IS THAT LEAF MINER IRIS THINGS?

>> I THINK THIS IS IRIS BORER, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT -- IT'S A MOTH, BUT THAT CATERPILLAR THAT GETS DOWN INTO THE RHIZOMES CAN REALLY DO DAMAGE, MAKE IT MUSHY, AND MAKE IT SMELL BAD.

SO, NORMALLY YOU WANT TO CLEAN UP YOUR BEDS AND REMOVE ALL OF THE DEBRIS BEFORE APRIL.

BUT SINCE WE ARE AFTER THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO WAIT 'TIL AFTER THEY BLOOM, AND THEN DIG UP THE RHIZOMES AND SEE IF YOU'VE SOME GOT IRIS BORER IN THERE, AND THEN REMOVE THOSE, AND THEN REPLANT THEM.

JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE GOOD SANITATION SO THEY DON'T INFECT ALL THE OTHERS RHIZOMES.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS NORTHEAST LINCOLN.

SHE SAYS THIS INSECT IS ON WHAT SHE THINKS IS HER BEE BALM.

SHE'S WONDERING GOOD GUY OR BAD GUY?

>> IT'S A GOOD GUY.

IT'S THE LARVAE OF A GREEN LACEWING.

>> ALL RIGHT, FUN.

OKAY, MATT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS BOTH HER BACK YARD AND HER FRONT YARD HAVE TUFTS OF THIS GRASS.

THEY LOOK LIKE REAL GRASS BUT THE BASE IS REALLY HARD, HARD ENOUGH TO TRIP HER WHEN SHE IS WALKING.

>> SO YEAH, THIS -- THIS LOOKS LIKE TALL FESCUE, OR PROBABLY ONE OF THE OLDER VARIETIES, K-31 WHICH DOESN'T SPREAD.

IT'S JUST A BUNCH OF TIGHT GRASS.

SO, IF IT'S A THIN LAWN OR THERE'S SPOTS THAT GET KILLED OF, IT DOES NOT SPREAD INTO THOSE SPOTS, AND THEY WILL BECOME REALLY CLUMPY.

SO IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE TO END UP TILLING THAT GROUND AND RESEEDING, AND GO WITH A DIFFERENT BLUEGRASS, OR ONE OF THE NEWER VARIETIES OF TALL FESCUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES FROM THIS VIEWER.

THIS IS OMAHA.

THIS GRASS INVADED, VERY SHARP BLADES, IMPOSSIBLE TO PULL.

THE BLADES BREAK OFF AT SOIL LEVEL WHEN SHE TRIES TO PULL THEM.

I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE ON THIS ONE, TOO.

YEAH.

>> YEAH, THIS ONE IS A SEDGE AS WELL.

I THINK IT'S WOODLAND SEDGE.

IT'S ANOTHER TYPE, SIMILAR TO THE ONE I MENTIONED EARLIER, CAREX FAMILY.

SO IT -- SOMETIMES THEY'RE ORNAMENTALS, TOO, DO I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES THESE ARE, BUT I WOULD GUESS IT'S JUST GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO GET RID OF.

AND THEN, SO A GLYPHOSATE WIPE ON THESE WOULD BE SAFE NEXT TO YOUR OTHER PLANTS.

SEDGEHAMMER IS ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT WORKS ON SEDGES, AND IT'S PRETTY SAFE ON A LOT OF ORNAMENTALS, SO JUST READ THROUGH THAT, AND THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY IF YOU WANT TO TRY AND GET IT OUT WITH A HERBICIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE, MATT.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HERSHEY.

PLANTED THIS GRASS LAST SPRING, THEY'RE NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT IT.

THEY WERE HOPING FOR SOMETHING DROUGHT TOLERANT.

IT'S COMPETING WITH THE BUFFALO GRASS AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF IT, SO -- >> SO YEAH, THIS LOOKS LIKE ORCHARD GRASS.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE -- BUNCH OF COOL SEASON GRASSES THAT GROW REALLY FAST, SO THEY'RE KIND OF A LIME GREEN AS WELL.

AND YOU MOW 'EM, AND A DAY LATER THEY'RE ALREADY GROWING UP AND THEY'RE SHOOTING OUT.

SO IN BUFFALO GRASS, IF THEY WERE TO GREEN OUT BEFORE THE BUFFALO GRASS, YOU COULD POTENTIALLY GO AND KIND OF SPOT SPRAY WITH GLYPHOSATE, JUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET IT ON ANY GREEN-UP OF THE BUFFALO.

OTHERWISE THERE'S NOT A GOOD SELECTIVE OPTION, OTHER THAN KIND OF MANUALLY TAKING THOSE OUT OR INDIVIDUALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM.

>> YEAH, I KNOW, IT'S A TOUGH ONE.

BUT YEAH, IF THE BUFFALO'S DORMANT, YOU COULD GO IN THERE AND TAKE IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THREE PICTURES FOR YOU, AMY, ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER, RHODODENDRONS ARE DYING, LEAVES ARE CURLING, TURNING BROWN.

THEY'RE AT THE DRIP LINE.

YOU CAN SEE THE PHOTOS.

LAST SEASON THEY LOOKED GREAT, AND SOME OF THE LEAVES DO HAVE LITTLE SMALL DOTS.

>> I'M ACTUALLY LEANING TOWARDS PHYTOPHTHORA CROWN ROT ON THIS, THAT THEY WERE TOO WET LAST YEAR, WITH THE WAY THE PLANTS ARE JUST COMPLETELY JUST MELTING DOWN.

YOU CAN DIG UP ONE OF 'EM, TAKE A FEEL OF THAT CROWN.

YOU COULD ALSO LOOK AT THE BASE, AND IF IT'S DARK BROWN GOING UP, IT'S MOST LIKELY PHYTOPHTHORA, SO YOU'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT REPLACING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, AMY.

THIS IS RURAL TEKAMAH, AND THE QUESTION IS WHAT IS THIS GELATINOUS GROWTH ON THE CANNA BULB.

IT'S STICKY, IT'S CLEAR, IT'S ON BULBS THAT WERE DUG LAST FALL, STORED IN COOL BUT NOT FREEZING GARAGE.

THE BULBS ARE FIRM AND THEY SHOW NO SIGNS OF ROT, AND THEY'VE STARTED GROWING.

BUT SHE SAID "DOESN'T IT LOOK LIKE A MONSTER FACE?"

>> IT DOES LOOK LIKE A MONSTER FACE.

MOST LIKELY WHAT YOU'RE DEALING IS WITH SOME TYPE OF BACTERIAL ROT, JUST BECAUSE IT NEVER FROZE AND EVERYTHING WAS NICE, HONKY DORY.

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS BREAK THAT PORTION OFF, AND PLANT THE REST, AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ESPECIALLY SINCE SHE ACTUALLY OVERWINTERED CANNAS.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE FOR YOU.

AND, LET'S SEE, DANA, THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

OH, NO, THIS IS AMY.

>> THIS IS ME.

>> SORRY, THIS IS STILL AMY.

SO WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS ON THIS PARTICULAR PLANT?

THIS IS -- >> HONEYSUCKLE.

>> I'M ACTUALLY LEANING TOWARDS ENVIRONMENTAL.

THAT MAYBE IT WAS SOME WATER SPECKLES WHEN YOU WATERED IT, AND WE GOT SOME REALLY HIGH TEMPERATURES, AND SUN SCORCHED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THERE ISN'T MUCH FOR SPOTS -- >> NO BIG DEAL.

>> NOPE.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, NOW IT'S YOUR TURN, DANA.

SO THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

YOUR FIRST PICTURE, AND THEN THERE IS ANOTHER ONE.

THIS IS FINE LINE BUCKTHORN.

WONDERING SHOULD THEY TRIM OUT THE DEAD, OR PULL AND REPLACE.

THAT'S THE FIRST VIEWER.

AND THE SECOND ONE SAYS, SAME THING.

CORNER OF THE HOUSE, FACING WEST, CONCERNED ABOUT THE TREES' HEALTH.

THEY'RE NOT LEAFING OUT WELL.

>> YEAH, I'D PULL 'EM BOTH OUT, AND I WOULD REPLACE THEM NOT WITH A FINE LINE BUCKTHORN.

I'D PICK SOMETHING LIKE A NINEBARK OR A BLACKHAW VIBURNUM, ANYTHING BUT A FINE LINE BUCKTHORN.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S -- WE'RE NOT SEEING GOOD LUCK WITH THEM.

>> NO, NO.

THEY CAN'T SEEM TO TOLERATE OUR DROUGHT AND COLD.

>> ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE FOR YOU, DANA.

THIS COMES TO US FROM EVERGREEN, COLORADO.

30-YEAR-OLD NARROWLEAF COTTONWOODS, 70 FEET TALL, IT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE TRUNK, AND THEY'RE WONDERING IF COMING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT OTHER THAN ENJOY?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD PROBABLY JUST, YES, ENJOY.

YOU MIGHT CALL A CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND HAVE THEM COME OUT AND CHECK STABILITY.

IT SEEMS PRETTY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.

AND THEN I'D START -- MIGHT START THINKING ABOUT THE NEXT TREE.

BECAUSE COTTONWOODS ARE ALREADY PRONE TO CANKER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE PLANTED THREE BERRI-MAGIC KIDS HOLLIES NORTHSIDE OF THE FENCE TWO YEARS AGO.

FIRST SPRING THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WINTER DAMAGE, LAST SPRING THEY LOOKED OKAY.

THIS SPRING, MORE DEAD, MORE DEAD, MORE DEAD.

WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

>> SO HOLLIES ARE SLOW GROWING.

BUT I THINK YOU DO HAVE SOME WINTER DAMAGE.

I WOULD SAY THAT THAT'S PROBABLY NOT THE BEST CULTIVAR.

I MIGHT'VE GONE WITH A CHINA BOY OR CHINA GIRL.

HOWEVER, I THINK IT'S -- IT MIGHT BE JUST TIME FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THRIVING.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS YOU, DANA.

WELL, MOST OF US HAVE THOSE AREAS WHERE TURF JUST WON'T GROW VERY WELL.

WE CAN KEEP TRYING TO GET IT TO COME IN, BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT WILL LOVE THAT AREA MORE THAN YOUR TURF.

HERE IS BOB HENRICKSON FROM THE NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM TO TELL US ABOUT SOME SEDGES THAT YOU SHOULD TRY.

♪ >>> HEY, I'M AT WHAT WE CALL A LAWN ALTERNATIVE.

AND THIS IS PLACES WHERE WE PLANT WHAT'S CALLED WOODLAND SEDGES, OR SEDGES THAT ARE MADE FOR THE SHADE.

OFTENTIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO GROW TURF GRASS UNDERNEATH TREES, FOR EXAMPLE, SO WHAT I'M KNEELING IN FRONT OF IS A LAWN ALTERNATIVE CALLED PENNSYLVANIA SEDGE.

AND THIS IS SEDGE IS LOW, IT ONLY GET AROUND 8 INCHES HIGH.

AND YOU CAN GROW THIS UNDER SHADE TREES, IT DOES VERY WELL, IT SPREADS SLOWLY BUT SURELY TO FORM A NICE PATCH THAT ACTUALLY KINDA LOOKS LIKE TURF.

AND, BECAUSE IT ONLY GETS 8 INCHES TALL, THIS PLANT REALLY DOESN'T NEED MOWING.

SURE, YOU CAN MOW IT ONE OR TWO TIMES A YEAR TO TIDY IT UP.

BUT THE BEAUTY OF LAWN ALTERNATIVES UNDER OUR SHADE TREES IS THEY'RE VERY DROUGHT TOLERANT, YOU WON'T HAVE TO MOW THEM, SO, IT IS REDUCTION IN COMPACTION UNDER YOUR TREES.

SO, THAT COMPACTION IS BAD FOR TREE ROOTS.

SO, LAWN ALTERNATIVES REDUCE THAT COMPACTION.

EXTREMELY DROUGHT TOLERANT, AND WHAT'S MORE, IS THE LEAVES THAT WILL FALL FROM YOUR TREES WILL NESTLE IN AMONGST THE PLANTS, AND SO RAKING IS ELIMINATED OR GREATLY REDUCED AS WELL.

SO, DROUGHT TOLERANT, EASY TO GROW, AND REDUCED MAINTENANCE, LAWN ALTERNATIVES WITH WOODLAND SEDGES IS THE WAY TO GO.

I LIKE PENNSYLVANIA SEDGE.

I ALSO LIKE -- A GREAT ONE IS CALLED OAK SEDGE.

THERE'S ROSY SEDGE AND BRISTLE LEAF SEDGE, AND APPALACHIAN SEDGE, MEANING THERE'S AROUND HALF A DOZEN SPECIES WE CAN CHOOSE FROM, ALL OF THEM FINE- TEXTURED, SHORT, TOUGH AS NAILS, GREAT PLANTS FOR LAWN ALTERNATIVES.

>> THANKS, BOB, AND THANKS FROM BENJAMIN VOGT FROM PRAIRIE UP FOR SHARING SOME OF THOSE EXAMPLE IMAGES.

ALL RIGHT, LAST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

YOUR FIRST ONE, ALSO COMES TO US FROM COVER, DELAWARE.

SO SHE SENT TWO.

SHE SAYS PLEASE IDENTIFY THIS SPIDER FOR ME THAT WAS FOUND ON A ROSE BUSH.

SHE NOTICED THAT IT SEEMED TO HAVE A FACE.

WHAT IS THIS?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YES.

SO THIS IS A REALLY -- IT'S A CRAB SPIDER.

IT'S VERY COOL, YES.

AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE A FACE, IT IS UPSIDE DOWN.

BUT THERE'S ACTUALLY TWO SPIDERS IN THAT.

>> YES, THERE ARE.

YES.

>> VERY COOL >> PRETTY COOL.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS ONE IT IS A DRAGONFLY, FLYING AROUND EARLY, MANY OF THEM.

WHAT KIND IS IT?

>> IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S A GREEN DARNER DRAGONFLY, AND THEY MIGRATE NORTH THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SO THEY'RE AROUND PONDS, EATING UP MOSQUITOES AND STUFF.

>> ALL RIGHT, LOVELY.

AND HARD TO SEE ON THAT YEW, BUT STILL PRETTY.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THERE IS THREE MILES WEST OF KEARNEY.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, JODY.

SHE NOTICED THAT A WHOLE ROW OF EMERALD GREEN ARBORVITAE IS FULL OF BEES, OR WHAT LOOK LIKE BEES.

THE TREES WERE BUZZING.

SOME ON THE OUTSIDE, MANY MORE INSIDE, SHE'S WONDERING WHICH ONES THEY ARE AND ARE THEY GOOD OR ARE THEY BAD?

>> SO, THOSE ARE THE EUROPEAN HONEYBEE.

THEY WERE PROBABLY SWARMING, SO, LOOKING FOR SOMEWHERE TO LIVE, AND THEY PROBABLY AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

SO HOPEFULLY SOMEONE FOUND THEM, MAYBE A PRIVATE BEEKEEPER, AND PUT THEM IN A HIVE SOMEWHERE.

SO THAT'S A HONEY BEE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO GOOD GUYS, OBVIOUSLY.

>> YEP.

WE NEED 'EM FOR LIVESTOCK, FOR AGRICULTURAL CROPS.

>> THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

MATT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SO THIS IS BACKYARD AND FRONT YARD HAVE THIS WEIRD THING IN IT.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S NETTLES, OR STINGING NETTLES, SO THAT WOULD BE ONE THAT YOU WANT TO TREAT FOR, OR IF YOU CAN REMOVE IT MANUALLY AND GET IT OUT OF THERE BEFORE IT GROWS UP.

>> AND IT'S IN A VEGETABLE GARDEN, I GUESS.

>> OKAY, SO YEAH.

THAT WOULD BE JUST SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PROBABLY DIG OUT AND TAKE OUT.

>> HAS TO BE NETTLE, SHE SAYS THEY DID PUT IT IN THE BURN BARREL LAST YEAR .

>> YEAH, IT'LL PROBABLY DIE IF YOU BURN IT.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] FOR SURE THAT WORKS.

>> YEAH, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO TOUCH IT TO BURN IT.

WELL, YOU PICK IT UP WITH GLOVES, AND YOU STICK IT IN THERE.

>> OR YOU CAN EAT IT.

>> WHEN IT'S YOUNG I DON'T THINK -- WHEN IT'S YOUNG I DON'T THINK IT'S AS POTENT.

IT'S WHEN IT GETS OLDER, THE LEAVES START TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE POINTED, AND THEN THAT'S WHEN YOU GET THAT STINGING FEELING IF YOU TOUCH IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, MATT.

THIS IS A GRAND ISLAND VIEWER.

SOMETHING COMING UP THE YARD, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO TREAT IT.

>> YEAH.

AND IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A WEED TO ME, BUT I THINK IT'S A TREE SEEDLING.

BASSWOOD, AMERICAN BASSWOOD IS WHAT I GOT OUT OF THIS, AS A TREE SEEDLING.

SO I'M GUESSING IF YOU JUST MOW YOUR LAWN WHEN THEY START GROWING UP HIGHER, IT'LL KILL 'EM.

SO I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

>> WE KINDA OF DO THAT WITH ALL OF OUR TREES THAT WANT TO LIVE IN OUR TURF.

>> YEAH.

OR -- YEAH.

OR LET ONE GROW, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER TREE SOMEWHERE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

AMY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FROM THIS ONE.

THIS IS A KEARNEY VIEWER.

BROWN SPOTS IN THE LAWN.

THE LAWN DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE CHEWED.

WE SAW SOME RUST SOMETHING ON IT, BUT WE THINK THIS IS CRITTERS AND THEN SOMETHING ELSE.

>> BY LOOKING AT THIS PICTURE, I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE THATCH BEING A LITTLE TOO THICK.

MAYBE NEED TO BE LOOK AT POWER RAKING, OR AERATION, THAT'S MORE ON THE TURF CHAIR, BUT THAT'S GOING TO DECLINE THE ABILITY OF THAT TURF TO HANDLE THE DROUGHT COMING UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO GET RID OF THE VOLES, AND DETHATCH, AND SO FORTH.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN OSCEOLA VIEWER.

HACKBERRIES LOOKING LIKE THIS.

LEAVES STARTED DROPPING LIKE CRAZY.

THEY DON'T SEE ANY INSECTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I'M THINKING MAYBE IT GOT FROSTED, AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A SECOND FLUSH OF LEAVES COMING OUT HERE REAL SOON.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO FAR SO GOOD, 'CAUSE YOU GOT A LOT OF STUFF ON THE GROUND OFF THAT TREE.

>> I KNOW.

I'M THINKING FROST.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

DANA, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A WAHOO VIEWER.

LAST YEAR AUTUMN BLAZE DEVELOPED THIS SPLIT IN THE TRUNK.

THE TREE COMPANY TOLD THEM TO FILL THE SPLIT WITH GREASE.

AND, UH -- [ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] -- THIS IS WHAT THEY HAVE.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN?

>> SO, THEY'VE GOT A GROSS GREASY TREE.

I THOUGHT THIS ONE SHOULD BE IN THE OTHER CHAIR.

AND I'M KIND OF A BROKEN RECORD TONIGHT, WHERE I'M JUST LIKE, HACK IT DOWN AT THE GROUND AND PICK SOMETHING THAT IS NOT A MAPLE.

>> RIGHT.

>> MAYBE I WAS THINKING MAYBE TULIP-POPLAR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> RIGHT, AND NEVER FILL A WOUND WITH GREASE.

>> JUST -- [ LAUGHTER ] YOU JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

>> YEAH, IT WAS BAD ADVICE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS FINAL ONE, DANA.

THIS IS A JAPANESE MAPLE THAT WAS 20-YEARS-OLD.

IS IT DYING?

LAST YEAR THE BARK STARTED FALLING OFF.

CAN THEY GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OUT THAT DEAD STUFF AND STILL GIVE IT A FIGHTING CHANCE?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD PRUNE IT OUT, GIVE IT A FIGHTING CHANCE.

I WOULD GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THAT RING FROM THE BOTTOM, PULL THAT SOD AWAY, PUT SOME MULCH DOWN THERE.

KIND OF GIVE IT SOME LOVE THROUGH THE -- AS IT GETS HOT OUTSIDE.

>> AND THAT LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE BIT LIKE A CRIMSON QUEEN, AND I HAD ONE THAT DID THE SAME THING.

CUT OFF ALL OF THE DEAD, WENT LIKE THIS, SHE'S A BEAUTY NOW.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO FAR.

>> YEAH.

WELL, I WAS PRETTY IMPRESSED, THAT LOOKED LIKE FULL SUN.

>> YEAH, IT'S -- YEAH.

AND YOU KNOW, THEY WILL LIVE IN FULL SUN.

THEY DON'T LIKE IT VERY WELL, BUT -- >> THEY DON'T LIKE IT.

>> BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO WITH A JAPANESE MAPLE, AS LONG AS THE SOIL IS GOOD.

WELL, AND THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK'S "BACKYARD FARMER."

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

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING, GARY BELL AND CAITLIN DeCOSTER AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'RE HEARING ABOUT A MAST YEAR FOR MAPLES.

DURING THIS TIME MAPLES AND OTHER TREES PRODUCE A BUMPER CROP OF EITHER HELICOPTER SEEDS OR OTHER SEEDS.

JUSTIN EVERTSON FROM THE NEBRASKA FOREST SERVICE WILL TELL US WHAT TO EXPECT.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" WEBSITE AT BYF.UNL.EDU AND SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING, AND WE 'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪