>>> 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 SEE WHY THESE TREES ARE OFF COLOR AND HEAR ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN EASTERN AND WESTERN NEBRASKA.

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

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

"” I'M YOUR HOST KIM TODD, AND WE'LL BE ANSWERING THOSE GARDENING QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

IF YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS AROUND YOUR HOME LANDSCAPE AND GARDEN, GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446.

THOSE PHONE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE GLAD TO HELP YOU.

IF YOU'D RATHER SEND US AN E-MAIL OR A FEW PICTURES TO GO ALONG WITH YOUR QUESTION, YOU CAN SEND THOSE TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT THAT QUESTION, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

AND WE ANSWER THOSE ON FUTURE SHOWS.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT OUR PAST SHOWS OR FEATURES ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE HIT SUBSCRIBE SO YOU CAN WATCH ANY NEW MATERIAL WE POST.

WE ALSO GOT A LOT GOING ON OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE, SO CHECK US OUT THERE AFTER THE SHOW.

ALL RIGHT, KATE.

THEY HAD TO SHOW UP AGAIN DIDN'T THEY?

>> THEY'RE HERE.

>> THEY'RE BACK!

>> UH-HUH, EXACTLY.

SO ADULT JAPANESE BEETLES ARE OFFICIALLY HERE.

AND IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO BE FAMILIAR WITH WHAT A JAPANESE BEETLE IS, THEY'RE AN INVASIVE PEST THAT CAN FEED ON OVER 300 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS.

AND SO THEY'RE A REALLY BIG DEAL IN THE GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE.

THEY'LL FEED ON THE LEAVES, THE FLOWERS, THE FRUITS.

AND THEY'LL CAUSE DAMAGE.

AND THERE IS SEVERAL DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN MANAGE THEM.

BUT TODAY, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE JAPANESE BEETLE TRAP.

SO, THESE ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE IN STORES.

AND ALL JAPANESE BEETLE TRAPS COME WITH THIS LITTLE LURE HERE.

AND SO, IT IS MADE OF A FLORAL SCENT AND A SEX PHEROMONE.

AND WE ACTUALLY DON'T USUALLY RECOMMEND THESE IN THE GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE, BECAUSE THEY ALMOST WORK TOO WELL.

A LOT OF THE TIME THE TRAPS WILL GET OVERWHELMED, AND THEY ATTRACT BEETLES FROM A VERY FAR DISTANCE.

AND RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THEY ONLY CAPTURE 75% OF THE BEETLES THAT THEY ATTRACT.

SO IF YOU PUT THIS IN YOUR GARDEN, YOU HAVE A BIG NEON SIGN THAT SAYS, "BUFFET, PLANTS TO EAT HERE!

"” SO, THERE ARE SOME CASES, IF YOU HAVE AN ACREAGE AND YOU PUT IT REALLY FAR AWAY FROM THE PLANTS YOU WANT TO KEEP.

BUT RESEARCH HAS ALSO SHOWN THAT GARDENS THAT HAVE THESE TRAPS IN THEM ACTUALLY HAVE MORE JAPANESE BEETLE DAMAGE THAN IF YOU USED A DIFFERENT CONVENTIONAL METHOD.

SO STAY AWAY FROM THE TRAPS.

THEY WORK REALLY WELL, BUT THEY WORK TOO WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KATE.

ROCH, WHAT DO WE HAVE TODAY?

>> I ACTUALLY HAVE TWO WEEDS.

ONE OF THEM I'M GOING TO PICK UP TENDERLY, I GUESS.

AND WE'LL START WITH THAT ONE.

THIS ONE IS BULL THISTLE.

AND IT'S A NATIVE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE THISTLE FAMILY, BUT THIS ONE HAS SPINES ON EVERYTHING, EXCEPT THE ROOTS.

THEY EVEN HAVE SPINES UP ON THE CORAL AND THE FLOWER.

SO THEY'RE VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE.

THIS IS A LITTLE WILTED AND UNHAPPY.

I'M TELLING YOU WHY I'M SHOWING YOU THIS ONE AND THIS ONE.

THIS IS BLACK NIGHT SHADE.

YOU CAN SEE THE CHARACTERISTIC LITTLE UMBREL FLOWER THERE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

IT'S NOT TOXIC LIKE PEOPLE THINK.

THERE ARE OTHERS THAT ARE VERY TOXIC, BUT THIS ONE ISN'T AND NATIVE AMERICANS ATE THE BERRIES.

THE REASON I SHOW THESE IS I HAVE A PLANTING BED IN MY YARD THAT I HAVEN'T TOUCHED IN QUITE A WHILE.

I NEEDED TO DIVIDE SOME PLANTS UP.

SO I CAREFULLY DIVIDED THE PLANTS PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM PEOPLE LIKE ELIZABETH AND KIM.

AND GOT IT ALL READY AND PUT A MULCHED THING ON IT, BUT I DISTURBED THE SOIL.

AND THAT WAS LAST FALL.

AND THEN THIS SPRING, I HAVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EIGHT OF THESE NASTY CRITTERS AND ABOUT TEN OF THESE.

IT'S IN AN ORNAMENTAL BED.

SO THERE IS NOT REALLY ANYTHING I CAN DO ABOUT IT.

EXCEPT YOU CAN PULL THESE UP, THEY'RE AN ANNUAL.

IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO GET THEM OUT OF THE GROUND.

AND THE BULL THISTLE, YOU HAVE TO DIG THE TAP ROOT OUT ANYWAY.

SO I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DISTURB IT AGAIN.

BUT THE IDEA THAT HAD BEEN IN FULLY MATURE FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND YET NOW IT'S GOT ALL THESE WEEDS IN IT.

SO WHEN YOU ARE MOVING SOIL, MOVING PLANT MATERIAL, JUST REALIZE, YOU ARE GOING TO BRING UP WEED SEEDS THAT DOWN THERE.

YOU CAN STAY DORMANT IN THE SOIL FOR 10-TO-40 YEARS.

SO JUST BE CAREFUL WITH THAT, AND BE ON THE LOOK-OUT.

BECAUSE THIS IS OUT OF SIGHT PLACE IN MY YARD.

I WALKED AROUND THE AROUND THE CORNER, AND WENT IN THE OTHER BACK GATE.

AND I'M LIKE, "HOLY CRAP.

"” I MEAN, WHERE DID ALL THESE COME FROM?

AND I THOUGHT, "I'M SUPPOSED TO KNOW BETTER.

"” AND I DIDN'T.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, ROCH.

I HOPE THAT'S NOT ONE OF YOUR TOMATO PLANTS.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY IT IS.

JUST LIKE ROCH, I WENT TO MY GARDEN AND SAID, "HOLY SOMETHING.

"” I HAD A COUPLE TOMATO PLANTS AFTER NOT REALLY PAYING ATTENTION AND HAVING A WEED MESS AND RECOVERING THINGS.

TWO TOMATO PLANTS, SIDE BY SIDE, THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS, THAT WERE IN NORMAL PLANTING DISTANCE APART.

AND ALL MY OTHER TOMATO PLANTS LOOKED GREAT.

SO JUST SHOWING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT HERBICIDE INJURY AND SUCH, BUT THOSE WOULD BE ALL THE PLANTS, AND THIS WAS JUST TWO OF THE PLANTS.

THEY WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER, SO THERE IS A VIRUS THAT WE SEE IN TOMATOES THAT'S BROWN RIGOS FRUIT VIRUS THAT ISN'T REAL COMMON, BUT I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

IT'S TRANSMITTED MECHANICALLY, SO JUST THE CONTACT FROM PLANT TO PLANT WOULD DO THAT.

MAYBE IT WAS INFECTED WHEN I PLANTED IT.

JUST YOU COMMONLY SEE VIRUS-INFECTED PLANTS IN TRANSPLANTS.

IT CAN BE SEED TRANSMITTED.

BUT THIS IS ONE THAT WOULD CONTINUE TO SPREAD.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY TIME TO THROW IT OUT.

THAT'S WHAT I DID HERE.

>> AND YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PUT IT IN THE COMPOST PILE?

>> NO.

THIS IS GOING TO GO IN -- IT WILL GO IN THE YARD WASTE PILE.

>> SO THE PATHOLOGIST BROUGHT IN A DISEASE INFESTED PLANT, AND THE HERBICIDE GUY BROUGHT IN WEEDS.

>> WE LOVE OUR PASSION.

OUR JOB AND OUR PASSION IS OUR HOBBY.

>> INVASIVE INSECT.

>> YEP.

>> ELIZABETH, LET'S BAIL THE PANEL OUT.

>> I'LL DO ONE BETTER.

NO.

SO WHAT I BROUGHT IN IS I BROUGHT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT HERBS.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT HERBS, THE HERBS THAT WE GROW FOR FOLIAGE, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T FLOWER.

THE HERBS THAT WE COMMONLY GROW, FOR THE FOILAGE -- WE'RE TALKING THE BASIL.

WE'RE TALKING THE OREGANO.

THE SAGE.

THESE WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE AVOID FLOWERING ON THERE.

AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS WHEN THEY FLOWER, THAT CHANGES THE ESSENTIAL OILS WITHIN THAT PLANT.

AND IT AFFECTS THE TASTE.

AND, SO, IF WE WANT THAT GOOD TASTING BASIL, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK AT THE ENDS TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT GETTING THOSE BLOOMS.

SO IF WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THOSE BLOOMS ON THE SAGE, OR OREGANO, OR BASIL, IT'S TIME TO GO AHEAD AND CUT THOSE OFF.

THE ONES THAT WE GROW FOR FLOWER OR FOR SEED, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE LET THEM FLOWER.

SO WE'RE TALKING OUR DILL.

AND ONE OF THE ONES THAT WORKS BOTH WAYS IS CILANTRO AND CORIANDER.

NOW I KNOW KIM'S FAVORITE HERB IS CILANTRO.

>> NOT.

>> BUT WHAT CILANTRO IS -- WE EAT IT FOR THE FOLIAGE.

AND THEN WHEN IT STARTS TO GO TO SEED, THAT'S WHEN IT TURNS INTO CORIANDER.

SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE ONES THAT CAN GO BOTH WAYS.

SO IF YOU WANT TO USE IT AS CILANTRO, THEN MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T FLOWER OR SET SEED.

IF WE WANT TO USE IT FOR COARIANDER, WE NEED TO LET IT GO THAT WAY.

BUT NOWS THE TIME THAT SOME OF OUR HERBS ARE STARTING TO SET FLOWER.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THEM LOOKING THEIR BEST, WE NEED TO GO IN AND PINCH OR REMOVE THOSE FLOWERS OUT OF THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ELIZABETH.

OKAY, KATE.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF INSECT QUESTIONS.

IMAGINE THAT.

YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES COME TO US FROM WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

HE CALLED THIS AN ALIEN.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THESE ARE COOL FLIES.

THEY'RE CALLED ROBBER FLIES.

AND THEY'RE PREDATORY.

AND DEPENDING ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW, YOU MIGHT FIND THEM FANTASTIC.

YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THEM.

BEEKEEPERS MIGHT NOT LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE ROBBER FLIES, AND SOMETIMES THEY HANG AROUND IN FRONT OF BEEHIVES ROBBING THE BEES.

BUT THEY ALSO EAT THINGS LIKE GRASSHOPPERS.

THERE IS RESEARCH IN THE SAND HILLS OF NEBRASKA, WHERE CERTAIN SPECIES OF ROBBER FLY ATE 2% OF THE GRASSHOPPER POPULATION THERE.

SO THEY CAN BE REALLY GOOD IN THE GARDEN.

MAYBE NOT SO MUCH IF YOU ARE A BEEKEEPER.

>> LOVE IT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF INSECT THIS IS.

>> AND THIS IS ALSO A ROBBER FLY.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE I THINK IT'S HOLDING A WASP.

SO, THEY'RE KIND OF GENERALIST PREDATORS AND EAT ANY INSPECT THEY CAN FIND.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE A CANNOT IDENTIFY THIS BEE OR WASP.

THIS IS FROM NORTHWESTERN DOUGLAS COUNTY.

>> SO, THIS IS A REALLY COOL ONE, I THINK.

IT IS ONE OF OUR SOLITARY BEES.

I BELIEVE THIS ONE IS A GIANT RESIN BEE.

SO IT'S NOT A NATIVE SPECIES.

IT WAS INTRODUCED TO THE STATES IN LIKE 90'S OR SOMETHING.

BUT THESE ONES WILL NEST IN CAVITIES IN WOOD.

SO, A LOT OF TIMES IT WILL BE IN TREES.

BUT SOMETIMES IT WILL BE CARPENTER BEE CAVITIES.

THEY'LL ACTUALLY KILL THE CARPENTER BEES SO THEY CAN TAKE OVER THE NEST.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, THEY'RE SOLITARY, WHICH MEANS THEY'RE NOT AGGRESSIVE SO IT IS JUST A LOVELY BEE TO SEE BECAUSE THEY CAN POLLINATE AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN YOUR FINAL ONE HERE IS FROM OMAHA.

AND HE FOUND THESE OUTSIDE ON THE DECK AND AROUND THE OUTSIDE.

ARE THEY GOOD GUYS?

BAD GUYS?

AND IF THEY'RE BAD GUYS, HOW DO GET RID OF THEM.

>> YEAH, SO I'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THESE LATELY TOO.

SO, THIS IS A EUROPEAN EAR WIG.

EAR WIGS ARE KIND OF ONE OF THOSE LIKE NEUTRAL INSECTS.

THEY'RE OMNIVORE.

SO SOMETIMES THEY WILL FEED ON THINGS.

AND IN RARE CASES, THEY CAN BE A PEST IN THE GARDEN BECAUSE THEY WILL FEED ON FLOWERS AND FRUITS.

IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING THAT DAMAGE IN THE GARDEN, NOTHING REALLY TO DO.

I MEAN, THEY DON'T, LIKE, DIG INTO YOUR EARS LIKE PEOPLE THINK EAR WIGS DO THAT.

THEY'RE CALLED EAR WIGS BECAUSE THEIR HIND WINGS.

SOMEONE THOUGHT IT LOOKED LIKE AN EAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KATE.

ROCH, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ATKINSON.

WHAT IS THIS WEEDY GRASS THAT IS TAKING OVER HER YARD?

THE ROOTS ARE SHORT.

THEY FORM A MAP.

WHAT CAN SHE DO ABOUT THIS?

>> THIS IS TUMBLE WINDMILL GRASS.

AND THE SEED END IS REALLY CHARACTERISTIC.

BECAUSE THE WIND WATCHES IT WHEN IT IS MATURE AND IT ROLLS ACROSS YOUR YARD AND YOUR LAWN PLANTING SEEDS AS IT GOES ABOUT BECAUSE THEY SHATTER AND FALL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE DIDN'T HAVE A SELECTIVE CONTROL MEASURE FOR THE LONGEST TIME.

BUT IN THE LAWN YOU CAN USE MESOTRIONE OR TENACITY, AND IT'S READILY AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AS WELL WITHIN MANY PRODUCTS AVAILABLE AT GARDEN STORES.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT BECAUSE IT IS A PERENNIAL AND IT DOES HAVE A -- EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEM, IT IS RELATIVELY EXTENSIVE.

SO, YOU HAVE TO TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS.

DON'T SPRAY IN THE SUMMER, BUT START SPRAYING THIS FALL AND PROBABLY A COUPLE IN THE SPRING AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO ERADICATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, ROCH.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A CARNEY VEIWER.

SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS RIVER OATS OR SEA OATS.

SHE SEEN IT UNDER THE GOLD FINCH FEEDER.

>> SO THIS IS NOT SEA OATS.

MAYBE THERE IS A RIVER OAT.

I THINK SEA OATS IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH LOOP IN THE SEED HEAD FOR ME TO THINK IT IS SEA OATS.

BUT THE DEAD GIVE AWAY, THANKS TO THE VEIWER FOR LETTING US KNOW IT'S UNDER THE FINCH FEEDER, THIS IS CANARY GRASS.

WHICH IS A COMMON COMPONENT OF SEED MIXES.

AND OF COURSE WHEN THE BIRD IS WORKING IT, IT FALLS DOWN TO THE GROUND AND IT GERMENATES.

THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE GET THEIR SUNFLOWERS AND STUFF FROM.

IT WILL GERMINATE.

AND IF THEY WANT TO CONTROL IT, JUST PULL IT UP OR MOW IT OFF.

IT DOESN'T NEED ANY HERBICIDES AT THIS POINT.

BUT THAT'S CANARY GRASS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ROCH.

ALL RIGHT.

LOREN, TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A LILAC, TWO LEAVES HERE.

HE SAYS EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME, LATE JUNE, THE LEAVES TURN BROWN AND FALL OFF.

>> WE'RE JUST -- WE'RE GOING TO GO ONE DIRECTION ON THIS.

IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELSE, BUT THERE IS A BACTERIAL LEAF DISEASE THAT WE SEE ON LILAC.

THE ADDITIONAL SYMPTOM THEY MIGHT SEE WOULD BE IF SOME OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHUTES, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY EARLIER IN THE YEAR WOULD DIE OR IF THEY SEE ANY BLACK STEMS ON THE GREEN AND GROWING TISSUE.

IT LOOKS LIKE BACTERIAL LEAF SPOUT WE SEE PRUNING OUT TWIGS OR BRANCHES POSSIBLY EARLIER WHICH THEY MAY BE MISSING IN THAT WOULD BE PROBABLY THE BEST THING TO DO.

AND THEN THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT OVERHEAD IRRIGATING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE, AND THEN ANOTHER VIEWER WITH THE SAME PLANT, SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ISSUE.

THIS IS BLUEBERRY BUSHES IN LINCOLN.

>> MIGHT ENGAGE ELIZABETH A LITTLE BIT HERE ON THIS ONE, TOO, BECAUSE BLUEBERRIES IN GENERAL, REALLY DIFFICULT TO GROW IN OUR SOILS HERE.

REQUIRE A VERY LOW PH.

AND BOTH OF THESE PLANTS, AND I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE A LITTLE BIT LATER, KIM.

>> THEY'RE RIGHT ON THIS NEXT ONE.

VERY SIMILAR.

>> ACTUALLY, ARE THEY THE NEXT PICTURES.

LET'S SHOW THOSE, TOO.

THIS ONE WHERE WE'RE SEEING FRUIT SHRIVEL AND DROPPING, DRIED UP FRUITS, I BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THESE COULD BE RELATED TO NUTRITION AND JUST POOR GROWING CONDITIONS.

DIDN'T REALLY SEE ANYTHING ON ANY OF THE PICTURES THAT WOULD INDICATE A DISEASE.

I DON'T KNOW, ELIZABETH, IF YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON JUST OVERALL GROWTH FOR BLUEBERRIES AND OUR NEBRASKA SOILS.

>> YEAH.

BECAUSE THAT'S THE DIFFICULT PART IS THEIR PH.

THEY LIKE IT AROUND FOUR-FIVE.

YOU GO TO CENTRAL NEBRASKA, WE HAVE SEVEN AND A HALF, CLOSER TO EIGHT.

IT'S JUST NOT HAPPY.

YES, YOU COULD PLANT THEM IN A CONTAINER AND YOU AMEND THAT SOIL IN THAT CONTAINER.

BUT EVEN THEN IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO KEEP THEM TO THAT RIGHT PH WHERE THEY WILL BE HAPPY.

>> AND ALSO DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE SOIL THAT LOW EVEN IF YOU DO AMENDMENTS TO TRY TO MAKE IT MORE ACIDIC.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS GUYS.

ELIZABETH.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS VIEWER HAS A STRAWBERRY PLOT THAT PRODUCED ALMOST NEXT TO NOTHING.

IT'S OVERGROWN.

IT'S BEEN PRODUCTIVE.

DOES HE RESTORE?

DOES HE START OVER?

CUT IT?

MOW IT?

>> SO IF WE'RE TALKING STRAWBERRIES, MOST OF THE TIME WE'RE LOOKING AT REJUVENATION EVERY THREE TO FOUR YEARS.

IF IT'S BEEN LONGER THAN THREE OR FOUR YEARS, YOUR BEST BET IS TO START OVER.

BECAUSE WHAT WE WOULD NEED TO DO IS GO IN AND ROTOTILL AND MAKE THOSE ROWS 12 INCHES.

AND THEN WE NEED TO REMOVE THE MOTHER PLANTS.

AND THEN WE NEED THIN BETWEEN THE PLANTS EVERY FOUR TO SIX TO EIGHT INCHES IN BETWEEN THERE.

AND WE NEED TO MOW THEM OFF ONE INCH ABOVE THE CROWN OF THE PLANT.

SO, IF IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU REJUVENATED, I'D JUST START OVER AND GET SOME NEW PLANT MATERIAL, AND THEN YOU CAN WORK ON THAT PROCESS EVERY THREE TO FOUR HOURS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A HERBICIDE DAMAGED GRAPE VINE.

THE HERBICIDE WAS SPRAYED ON A HOT DAY.

HE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN EXPECT THE VINES TO RECOVER AND THE GRAPE CROP ITSELF.

>> YOU KNOW, JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE THOSE VINES ALONE.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT PRODUCT IT IS.

SOME OF THEM COULD STILL BE GREEN.

THEY JUST MIGHT BE DISFORMED, AND SO IT IS FILL GOING TO REJUVENATE THE CROWN OF THAT PLANT.

WHEN IT COMES TO HERBICIDE DRIFT, THERE IS NO PRE-HARVEST INTERVAL FROM WHEN IT IS DRIFTED TO WHEN IT IS SAFE TO EAT.

SO WE REALLY CAN'T RECOMMEND THAT THEY EAT ANY GRAPES OFF OF THAT VINE AS BEING THE MOST CAUTIOUS AS THEY COULD POSSIBLY BE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THEY EAT ANY GRAPES OFF THERE AND JUST LET THAT VINE RECHARGE IS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, NEXT SPRING, WHEN YOU GIVE IT A GOOD HAIRCUT, CUT THOSE ENDS OFF.

AND THEN THEY WON'T BE THERE.

>> THANKS, ELIZABETH.

ONE PICTURE HERE, THIS IS A VIEWER THAT DIDN'T REMEMBER PLANTING THIS.

WHAT IS IT?

>> MORE THAN LIKELY, IT'S THAT IRON WEED.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE A PURPLE FLOWER AT THE TOP.

IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF FLAT.

IT IS ONE OF OUR WEEDS OF NEBRASKA THAT WE HAVE COMMONLY.

AND, SO, I'D LEAVE IT IN, BUT THAT'S JUST ME.

>> AND GREAT FOR POLLINATORS.

>> IT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT THANKS ELIZABETH.

WELL, CHLOROSIS IS A CONDITION THAT CAN AFFECT A NUMBER OF PLANTS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

TREES, TURF AND SHRUBS CAN ALL GO OFF COLOR AT TIMES FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

JEFF CULBERTSON STARTS US OFF THIS EVENING BY HELPING US SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF CHLOROSIS.

>> EVERY SEASON ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL GET SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY IS MY TREE NOT THE RIGHT COLOR?

AND THIS PARTICULAR MAGNOLIA HERE, WE SEE THIS LIGHTER GREEN, YELLOW COLORATION WITH THESE NEWER LEAVES IN PARTICULAR.

AND THAT'S AN INDICATION OF CHLOROSIS.

CHLOROSIS IS A SYMPTOM OF A VARIETY OF THINGS.

IT'S KIND OF A BIG TERM.

A LOT OF THINGS CAN GO INTO IT.

THERE CAN BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT CAUSES.

IT CAN BE TOO HIGH PH IN THE SOIL.

IT CAN BE TOO MUCH MOISTURE, TOO DRY.

SOIL COMPACTION.

SO, THERE IS JUST A LOT OF THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN.

MAYBE THERE HAVE BEEN SOME ROOT DAMAGE AT SOME POINT HERE.

SO, THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS THAT MAY CAUSE CHLOROSIS IN PLANTS.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TRY DO IS FIGURE OUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET THIS PLANT THROUGH THIS AND IMPROVE ITS CONDITION.

BECAUSE LONG-TERM CHLOROSIS WILL WEAKEN THE PLANT.

AND AT SOME POINT, IT'LL EVENTUALLY FAIL AND YOU'LL HAVE TO REPLACE THIS TREE.

SO, A COUPLE THINGS WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT HERE, SOME EASY SOLUTIONS TO SEE IF THAT -- IF IT WILL HELP, IS TO COME IN, EXPAND OUR MULCH AREA AROUND THIS PLANT.

REMOVE ANY OTHER TURF NEAR THE PLANT SO WE MAY BE OUT TO THE EDGE OF THE DRIP LINE HERE.

AND THAT WILL HELP REDUCE SOME OF THAT COMPACTION ON THE ROOT ZONE.

WE MAY EVEN COME IN WITH A COUPLE INCHES OF SOME GOOD COMPOST.

SO, INTEGRATE THE COMPOST INTO THE SOIL AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANT.

ADD A COUPLE INCHES OF MULCH.

MAKE SURE THAT WE WATER IT APPROPRIATELY.

WE DON'T WANT THIS PLANT TO DRY OUT.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE DON'T WANT TO OVERSATURATE THE SOILS.

SO, THERE'S KIND OF THAT FINE LINE THERE.

SO, WE'LL TRY SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO SEE IF IT WILL HELP.

YOU CAN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, A QUICK FIX IS AN IRON BASE MINERAL FOLIAR SPRAY.

MANY TIMES THAT WILL HELP.

AND THEN IF YOU HAVE A LARGER TREE -- SO IF THIS WAS A LARGER SHADE TREE, PETE OAKS IN PARTICULAR RESPOND WELL TO THE MANY DIFFERENT INJECTIONS THAT YOU CAN USE ON PIN OAKS.

THAT SPECIES IN PARTICULAR RESPONDS VERY WELL TO THAT SORT OF THING.

AND, AGAIN, IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM CURE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE DONE EVERY FEW YEARS DEPENDING ON THE PROCESS THAT YOU USE.

SO, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT ONCE YOU STARTED THAT, IF YOU WANT THAT TREE TO CONTINUE TO DO WELL, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE THAT PROCESS.

BUT CHLOROSIS AFFECTS A LOT OF THINGS.

IT WILL AFFECT, YOU KNOW, PERENNIALS.

IT WILL AFFECT YOUR TURF.

THOSE ARE MORE EASILY AMENDED WITH SOME SORT OF IRON-BASED MINERAL THAT YOU COULD PUT DOWN.

AND THAT'LL HELP THOSE PLANTS GET THROUGH THAT MORE QUICKLY.

BUT FOR ROOTING PLANTS, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT LONGER LASTING, AGAIN, TRYING TO AMEND THE SOILS, MULCHING, THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE WATERING THE PLANT TO SEE IF WE CAN BRING IT OUT OF THAT CHLOROSIS KIND OF SPIRAL THAT IT'S GOING THROUGH.

>> IF YOU'VE GOT SOME LIME GREEN TREES AND SHRUBS THAT AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY, CHANCES ARE THERE'S SOME CHLOROSIS GOING ON.

AND HOPEFULLY THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU GET THEM BACK TO GREEN AND GROWING AND THOSE PLANTS THAT ACTUALLY ARE GENETICALLY SUPPOSED TO BE LIME GREEN.

THEY ALWAYS LOOK CHLOROTIC TO ME IN NEBRASKA.

ALL RIGHT, KATE.

TWO ON THIS ONE.

AND, OH, I WONDER WHAT THIS IS.

I FOUND THIS ON A COMMON MILK WEED ON JUNE 25th IN JOHNSON COUNTY.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> SO THOSE ARE STINK BUG NYMPHS.

THESE ONES, I BELIEVE ARE OF THE BROWN MARMARATED STINK BUGS, WHICH IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE INVASIVE PESTS.

PARTICULARLY IN LIKE CROP PRODUCTION WITH VEGETABLES, THEY CAN CAUSE CAP FACING ON FRUITS.

USUALLY IN THE GARDEN THEY'RE NOT A BIG DEAL.

BUT THE BIG THING WITH THESE IS THAT THEY'RE ONE OF THE FALL INVADERS.

SO, WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP IN THE FALL, THEY LOOK FOR A PLACE OVER WINTER.

AND THEY LIKE TO GET INTO OUR HOMES.

SO JUST MAKE SURE YOUR HOUSE IS BUG PROOF FOR THE WINTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS FROM ELM CREEK.

WHAT ARE THESE?

FOUND THEM ON A LEAF.

>> YEAH.

SO, THESE ARE ALSO STINK BUG NYMPHS.

BUT I BELIEVE THESE ONES ARE FROM A NATIVE SPECIES, THE GREEN STINK BUG.

SO, THEY'RE LARGE AND THEY'RE THIS BEAUTIFUL GREEN COLOR.

AND THOSE ONES PREFER TO FEED ON LIKE SEEDS, OATS, NUTS, AND ALSO DO A LITTLE BIT OF CATFACING ON FRUITS.

BUT ONCE AGAIN, NOT A HUGE DEAL TO CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE FINAL PICTURE, AND THIS IS FROM A LINCOLN VIEWER, FOUND THIS CATERPILLAR.

WHAT IS IT, FRIEND OR FOE?

>> I LOVE IDING CATERPILLARS.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE.

SO, THIS ONE IS A -- SADDLED PROMINENT MOTH CATERPILLAR.

IT'S KIND OF A MOUTHFUL, BUT YOU CAN SEE ABOUT THAT BROWN U-SHAPE ON ITS BACK.

THAT'S THE SADDLE.

SO, THESE ONES WILL FEED ON WOODY PLANTS, BIRCH, OAK, BLUEBERRY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU FOUND IT ON A RETAINING WALL?

IT'S NOT A FOE TO THE RETAINING WALL.

SO, JUST LEAVE IT BE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO FORM A COCOON SOON.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE MOTHS DON'T LOOK AS PRETTY AS THE CATERPILLARS.

THEY'RE JUST KIND OF A DRAB BROWN MOTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KATE.

ROCK, TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

WE'VE HAD THIS EARLIER.

BUT SHE DOES DESCRIBE ITS FLOWERS AS SMALL AND WHITE.

>> YEAH.

SO, I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS COMMON NETTLE.

BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT THE FLOWERS AND IT'S NOT RIGHT.

AND I'M SORRY, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ONE, CAUSE I -- >> IT'S GEO.

>> OH, IS IT?

>> OH, OKAY.

THANK YOU.

I'M GLAD KIM WAS HERE.

CAUSE IIT LOOKS LIKE COMMON NETTLE UNTIL YOU LOOK AT THE FLOWER, RIGHT?

AND THEN I SAW THE FLOWER, IT THREW ME FOR A LOOP.

SO, I APOLOGIZE, BUT KIM STEPPED IN.

THANK YOU.

>> YEAH, AND CONTROL OR JUST LET IT BE?

>> I WOULD JUST LET IT BE.

I DON'T THINK I'D PUT ANYTHING ON THAT.

>> YEAH.

JUST FINE.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, TOO.

AND THIS IS GROWING ALL OVER.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS WEED OR GROUND COVER.

>> I LOVE THIS PLANT.

THIS IS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE DAY FLOWER.

AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY IT ONLY FLOWERS ONCE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, USUALLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT GROW OVER SEVERAL DAYS.

IT IS SHOWY FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

IT'S REALLY GOT FLOPPY LEAVES, SO IT NEEDS OTHER PLANTS TO KIND OF HOLD IT UP.

BUT I FIND IT JUST TO BE KIND OF AN INTRIGUING PLANT THE WAY IT COEXISTS AND DOES REALLY WELL.

I MEAN, IF IT GETS IN THE WAY FOR YOU, YOU CAN CUT IT BACK.

AND IT'S STILL GOING TO FLOWER.

BUT WHAT I LOVE IS THAT WHILE I WAS LOOKING INTO THE -- LOOKING A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THIS ONE, WHEN YOU TAKE THE SPANISH NAME FOR IT AND TRANSLATE IT, IT MEANS THE HERB OF THE COOKED CHICKEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS.

BUT I FIND THAT REALLY INTRIGUING.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> HERB OF THE COOKED CHICKEN.

>> THAT'S A PRETTY COMMON WEED IN A LOT OF FLOWER BEDS.

I HAVE A LOT OF IT IN SOME MINE THAT I WAS GOING TO PULL OUT.

BUT I THINK I WILL LEAVE IT NOW.

BECAUSE ROCK REALLY ENJOYS IT AND IF MY WIFE ASKS ME, I WILL SAY, WELL, ROCK REALLY LIKES IT.

>> BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONTROL IT.

IT WON'T DIE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT ON IT, RIGHT?

YEAH.

I DON'T THINK YOU WANT TO -- I WOULDN'T MESS WITH IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE HERE, ROCK.

THIS IS, ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, THIS IS THE ONE PICTURE THAT WE THOUGHT WE COULD MAYBE IDENTIFY.

LOTS OF WEEDY SORTS OF THINGS.

SHE SAID THIS DOESN'T FLOWER.

BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT SHE'S JUST CUTTING IT BACK.

WHAT DID WE DECIDE THIS WAS?

>> I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IT'S AN ASTER.

BUT THERE'S 170 DIFFERENT SO -- I THINK IT DOES FLOWER.

I MEAN, MOST OF THE ASTERS BLOOM -- >> YOU SHOULD LET IT.

>> WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO SEE A PICTURE OF THE FLOWER OR SOMETHING CLOSER TO THE LEAVES.

BECAUSE I'M CONFIDENT IT'S AN ASTER.

BUT OTHER THAN THAT -- I GOT ONE OUT OF FOUR OR ONE OUT OF THREE ON THAT ONE.

>> YOU DID JUST FINE.

ALL RIGHT.

LAUREN, YOUR FIRST ONE IS SHE HAS ISSUES WITH BOTH TOMATOES AND POTATOES.

WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE TATERS ON THIS ONE, KIND OF A CONSTANT ISSUE HERE.

>> A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS HERE.

IF THEY'VE BEEN GROWING TOMATOES IN THIS SITE FOR A LONG TIME, IT COULD BE THAT THEY HAVE ACCUMULATED SOME TYPE OF A SAW HORN FUNGAL DISEASE.

THE WAY THEY'RE YELLOWING AROUND THE EDGE AND THE BOTTOM AND COMING UP, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME SORT OF A ROOT ROT.

I WOULD JUST TRY TO ENSURE YOU'RE NOT OVERWATERING.

I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE IN SHADE OR WHAT THEIR SIGHT IS.

JUST MAKE SURE IT'S IN A GOOD GROWING CONDITION, OTHERWISE, AND THAT THERE'S GOOD DRAINAGE IN THE SITE.

NOTHING TO TREAT FOR, THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

WHY ARE THE TOMATOES SO SAD?

SHE SAYS THIS IS CELEBRITY.

>> AND THIS ONE ALSO, IN THE PARTICULAR PICTURES, I JUST SEE SOME LOWER LEAVES YELLOWING, WHICH WILL HAPPEN NATURALLY, AND I CAN'T REALLY SEE A SPECIFIC LEAF SPOT OR SOMETHING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOLIAR DISEASES OF TOMATO THAT YOU CAN HAVE.

BUT, IN THIS CASE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DOING A LOT OF THINGS RIGHT.

I SEE SOME STRAW MULCH IN THE BACKGROUND.

THEY'VE GOT THEM UP.

I WOULD JUST SIMPLY TRY TO REMOVE SOME OF THOSE LEAVES AS THEY'RE STARTING LIKE THAT.

MAKE SURE, IF THEY DO HAVE DRIP IRRIGATION, LIKE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MAY, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL AS FAR AS DISEASE MANAGEMENT AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE NOT OVERHEAD IRRIGATING, AND THEN, JUST, KIND OF, LET THAT GO.

I'M NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND A FUNGICIDE FOR THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS ALCORN ZUCCHINIS.

SHE HAD A COUPLE THAT WERE GOOD TO EAT, BUT, THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, SHE'S GOT THIS GOING ON.

SHE DOES CHECK EVERY DAY, KATE, FOR SQUASH BEETLES AND EGGS, AND SHE HASN'T SEEN ANY CREATURES YET.

>> SO, A COUPLE THINGS.

AND I WAS TRYING TO TELL -- IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE BOTH OF THEM WERE ON THE TERMINAL END OF THE FRUIT.

AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, TOO.

AND WE TALK ABOUT BLOSSOM AND ROT.

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT MUCH ON ZUCCHINI.

BUT I THINK THERE'S SOME NUTRITIONAL THING.

AND IT MAY BE JUST SOME NATURAL FRUIT THINNING.

BUT I NEVER COULD REALLY FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT THIS WAS.

ANY ADVICE FROM ANYONE ELSE ON THE PANEL?

>> NO, YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> OKAY.

I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S A NUTRITIONAL -- IT'S NOT A DISEASE.

>> YEAH.

>> MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE SOIL CONTACT ON THE FRUIT IF YOU GOT SOME MULCH TO PUT UNDER IT.

BUT OTHERWISE, I WOULD HOPE FOR SOME MORE.

I USUALLY GET MORE ZUCCHINI THAN YOU NEED.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A JAPANESE TREE LILAC IN OMAHA.

PEELING BARK, DEAD LIMBS, ALL SORTS OF STUFF.

HE DID SEND, I THINK, THREE PICS HERE, AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE TELLTALE, RIGHT THERE.

>> YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN TIME, REMOVE ANYTHING DEAD, DAMAGED OR DISEASED.

THAT CAN BE REMOVED AT ANY POINT IN TIME.

AND JUST CONTINUE TO WATCH THE TREE.

WATCH FOR SIGNS OF FLAGGING, DROPPING LEAVES EARLIER THAN NORMAL, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT, YEAH, THAT -- THAT BASE PICTURE REALLY WASN'T A GOOD SIGN OF THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE HERE FROM SUTTON, THEY CUT DOWN A MONSTER COTTONWOOD TREE, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP THOSE SUCKERS FROM CONTINUING TO TRY TO TAKE OVER.

>> SO, IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE SUCKERS FROM COMING UP, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO TREAT THE ROOT SYSTEM.

SO, YOU CAN USE SOMETHING THAT CONTAINS TRICLOPYR OR TRICLOPYR, 2,4-D COMBINATION, THAT'S SAFE TO USE ON TURF, UNTIL THAT ROOT SYSTEM DIES, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SUCKERS POPPING UP IN THE YARD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM KENARD.

SO, FLOWERS WITH PINK, THEN IT HAS WHAT SHE'S CALLING GREEN BALLS ON IT.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THAT IS ONE OF THE REALLY FUN PEACHES.

IT'S A PURPLE LEAF PEACH.

I BELIEVE IT'S -- BONFIRE IS THE NAME.

THE MAIN THING IS, YOU'RE GONNA NEED TO THIN THOSE PEACHES TO ABOUT EIGHT INCHES APART, SO THAT WAY YOU GET SOME GOOD, QUALITY FRUIT OUT OF IT.

AND THEN, DO SOME RESEARCH ON HOW TO PROPERLY PRUNE A PEACH TREE.

WE PRUNE THEM A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE WOULD A SHADE TREE, SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT FINESSE TO IT.

BUT THAT'S GONNA BE A REALLY FUN PEACH TREE NEAR THE HOUSE.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

>> ARE PURPLE LEAF PEACHES AS PRODUCTIVE GREEN LEAF PEACHES.

>> NO.

>> NOT REALLY, NO.

>> OKAY.

I WOULDN'T THINK THEY WOULD BE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW.

>> AND PEACHES IN GENERAL IN NEBRASKA TAKE ABOUT TWO, THREE YEARS BEFORE THEY PRODUCE.

AND THEN, COMMERCIALLY, THEY LIVE FOR ABOUT EIGHT.

SO, ENJOY IT WHILE YOU HAVE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, FOR OUR WEEKLY UPDATE AT OUR GARDEN, TERRI IS GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS.

SO, HERE'S TERRI TO SHOW US ANOTHER FANTASTIC ORNAMENTAL IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

>> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE'RE CONTINUING LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE NEW 2022 ALL-AMERICA SELECTION WINNERS.

IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN TO THE GARDEN AND LISTENED TO ME TALK ABOUT ANY OF MY ANNUAL COMBINATIONS, YOU'RE GONNA REMEMBER THAT I HAVE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT VERBENA BONARIENSIS AND HOW WONDERFUL OF A PLANT I LIKE IT.

WELL, THEY ACTUALLY CAME OUT WITH A NEW ONE.

AND I THINK THIS ONE MAY TOP THE ORIGINAL.

THIS IS VERBENA BONARIENSIS "VANITY."

IT IS A LITTLE BIT SMALLER HEAD THAN THE ORIGINAL.

A LOT DARKER.

AND I'M STARTING TO LIKE IT.

IT'S GOING TO BECOME ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

THIS ONE IS AN ANNUAL.

IT WILL GET TO BE APPROXIMATELY 30 INCHES TALL.

IT'S GONNA HAVE THAT DARK GREEN STEM.

IT'S GOING TO BE, KIND OF, THAT NICE BACKGROUND IN SOME OF YOUR CONTAINERS OR LANDSCAPES, SO THAT YOU CAN STILL SEE THROUGH IT BUT STILL GIVE THAT DEFINITION OF, KIND OF, A WALL OR A BORDER.

THE JUDGES SAY THIS IS A FANTASTIC ONE.

IT WILL ATTRACT BUTTERFLIES ALL DAY LONG, AND IT WILL MAKE A STATEMENT IN YOUR CONTAINER.

SO STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN AND CHECK OUT VERBENA BONARIENSIS "VANITY.

"” >> THOSE REALLY ARE GORGEOUS.

AND THEY MAKE A GREAT CONTRAST TO SOME OF THE OTHER LIGHTER COLORS WE HAVE IN THE GARDEN.

WE DO NEED TO TAKE A BREAK.

COMING UP LATER IN THE PROGRAM, WE'LL HAVE THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

THERE IS MUCH MORE GOOD GARDENING ON "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"!

LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT SOME DIFFERENCES WHEN IT COMES TO GARDENING IN WESTERN NEBRASKA.

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

SEND THOSE PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

AND, RIGHT NOW, IT IS TIME FOR LIGHTNING.

ELIZABETH, YOU'RE IN THE HOT SEAT.

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS, "HOW CAN YOU TELL WHEN TO HARVEST YOUR ONIONS.

"” >> WHEN THE TOPS, KIND OF, FLOP OVER AND IT LOOKS LIKE THEY MADE A BULB.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS VANHOUTTE, THE BRIDAL WREATH SPIREA, THE WHITE ONE, WANTS TO KNOW WHEN TO PRUNE IT.

>> USUALLY THOSE WE PRUNE AFTER FLOWERING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A SHELDON, IOWA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHEN TO PRUNE RED TWIG DOGWOOD, WILLOW, AND AMUR MAPLE.

>> BEFORE THEY LEAF OUT, CUT BACK THE WILLOW AND THE DOGWOOD FOR SURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS -- HAS SEVEN-SONS SHRUB AND WANTS A SINGLE STEM TREE.

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

>> I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND IT.

IT'S MORE FUN WITH MULTI-STEMS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA VIEWER WHO DUG AND DIVIDED THEIR IRIS LAST FALL, AND THEY'RE NOT FLOWERING NOW.

IS THAT COMMON?

>> USUALLY, WE DIVIDE IRIS ABOUT NOW, IN JULY.

AND SO, THAT'S THE POSSIBILITY, IS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOO LATE, AND IT MIGHT HAVE NEEDED SOME EXTRA TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU USE BLOSSOM SET FOR TOMATOES AND YOU DO IT MORE OFTEN THAN THE RECOMMENDED TWO WEEKS, IS THAT A PROBLEM?

>> YEAH.

DON'T APPLY IT.

IT DOESN'T WORK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S PERFECT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

ALL RIGHT, LOREN, YOU READY FOR YOUR LONG ANSWERS THAT YOU PROMISED?

>> READY AS SOME SEASONED RIBS TO THROW ON THE GRILL ON THE 4th OF JULY TONIGHT, KIM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER HAS RASPBERRIES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENDS OF THE CANES ARE DYING.

ANY IDEAS ON THAT ONE?

>> IT COULD BE -- >> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT HAS PATCHES OF A FESCUE ABOUT SIX TO TWELVE INCHES AROUND GOING SORT OF TAN.

>> WITH THE WARM WEATHER, THERE COULD BE A GOOD CHANCE THAT'S BROWN PATCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A COLUMBUS VIEWER HAS LITTLE BLACK FLECKS ON THEIR TOMATOES, LITTLE FLECKS ON THE FRUIT.

>> COULD BE BACTERIAL SPEC.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT YOUR METHOD IS OF KEEPING THE PEACHES FROM ROTTING?

ON THE COUNTER.

>> OH, I LIKE A WARM WATER BATH.

AND I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT TEMPERATURE, BUT IF YOU HEAT THE WATER TO, I BELIEVE IT'S 160 DEGREES, AND SOAK THE PEACHES FOR TWO MINUTES.

AND WE GOT TO LOOK THIS UP, TO BE EXACT.

BUT I THINK THAT'S IT.

BUT I'M UNDER PRESSURE RIGHT NOW, AND I MIGHT MISS THE NUMBERS THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THEY CAN YOU USE NEEM OIL AS A PREVENTIVE FOR POWDERY MILDEW?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT ONE.

PASS.

>> NO.

IT'S AN INSECTICIDE.

>> NO, NEEM HAS SOME ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES TOO.

>> YEAH, IT DOES.

>> SO, IT MAY BE THAT IT COULD, BUT I -- I JUST -- I HAVEN'T LOOKED AT THAT CLOSELY.

SO -- >> WE'RE ALL LAUGHING AT THE THOUGHT OF YOUR WARM WATER BATH.

>> AM I -- WELL.

I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW I SAID THAT.

>> I WAS LIKE, "DID HE REALLY JUST SAY THAT?"

>> IT'S BETTER THAN A COLD WATER BATH.

BUT, NO, WARM -- WARM -- HOT WATER DIPS HELP IN FRUIT AS FAR AS STORAGE BECAUSE A LOT OF THE SPORES OF THE FUNGI ARE ON THE SURFACE, AND THE HOT WATER WILL KILL THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, ARE YOU READY?

>> I DON'T KNOW AFTER THAT.

BUT YEAH, I'M READY.

THANK YOU.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER HE HAS TO REMOVE HIS OLD TURF BEFORE HE LAYS NEW SOD.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

IS THERE A BETTER PRODUCT THAN TRIMEC AS A WEED AND FEED SO THAT YOU CAN USE THE CLIPPINGS ON THE GARDEN?

>> WELL, YOU CAN USE THE CLIPPINGS AFTER ABOUT THREE OR FOUR MOWINGS.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S GOING TO BE TRUE OF ANY HERBICIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER -- WE ANSWERED THIS QUESTION BEFORE ABOUT SCOURING RUSH.

HE WANTS THE REPETITION OF THE CHEMICAL NAME FOR SCOURING RUSH CONTROL.

>> AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A HICKMAN VIEWER WHO HAS ONE INCH CRACKS IN THE SOIL DESPITE WATERING.

IS THERE -- WILL THIS BE HARMFUL TO THE TURF?

>> IT COULD BE SO DRY THAT THE WATER IS JUST RUNNING OFF AND NOT PERCOLATING DOWN.

AND HENCE, IT'S CRACKING.

SO, DO MORE SETS AND SHORTER TIMES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN UP ON CREEPING CHARLIE, AND THEY HAVE READ THAT YOU CAN, LIKE, PUT DOWN BLACK PLASTIC AND SOLARIZE IT.

DOES THAT ACTUALLY WORK?

>> NOT WITH BLACK PLASTIC.

IF YOU SOLARIZE, YOU GOT TO USE CLEAR PLASTIC BECAUSE YOU WANT THE SUN TO HEAT UP THE EXISTING SOIL.

SO, CLEAR PLASTIC WILL WORK.

AND THAT'S A DRASTIC STEP TO TAKE.

BUT IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT WITH PROPER APPLICATION TIMING OF HERBICIDES, THEN, CERTAINLY, SOLARIZATION WOULD WORK FOR THAT.

LOOK IT UP ON THE INTERNET, BECAUSE IT'S -- BLACK PLASTIC IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION WITH SOLARIZATION.

IT'S GOT TO BE CLEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, KATE, YOU READY?

>> SURE.

>> THIS IS AN AVOCA VIEWER WHO SAYS SHE THINKS THRIPS HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF HER HIBISCUS BUDS DRYING UP.

WOULD THAT BE TRUE?

>> IF SHE SAW THRIPS ON THE FLOWER, THEY COULD -- THEY COULD CAUSE SOME, LIKE, DAMAGE TO IT, BUT USUALLY NOT DRYING UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A GRETNA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHERE THE POLLINATORS ARE.

>> THEY'RE THERE, BUT WE NEED TO PLANT MORE NATIVE PLANTS TO ATTRACT THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A LINCOLN VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO SPRAY ON HER LAWN AND HER PATIO FOR MOSQUITO CONTROL.

>> I ACTUALLY DON'T RECOMMEND SPRAYING FOR THE ADULTS.

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS TREAT STAGNANT WATER OR DUMP IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AN OMAHA VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING LADYBUGS TO RELEASE IN THE YARD FOR GOOD REASONS?

>> IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH APHIDS, LADYBUGS WOULD BE GOOD.

BUT, IF YOU GET THE ADULTS, JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THEY FLY AWAY, SO YOU CAN GET THE LARVAE INSTEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A GRETNA VIEWER WHO HAS BAGWORMS AND THEY'RE ALREADY IN THEIR LITTLE BAGS ALREADY.

IS IT TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING?

>> IF THEY'RE SMALL ENOUGH, YOU CAN STILL TREAT WITH BT, OTHERWISE AS THEY GET LARGER, A PYRETHROID WOULD BE BETTER.

[ LIGHTNING CRACKING ] >> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB, ALL.

OKAY, ELIZABETH, WHAT ARE OUR PLANTS OF THE WEEK?

>> SO, WE GOT A COUPLE OF REALLY NICE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

THE ONE WITH THE REALLY FUN FLOWER HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES JUST BECAUSE I KNOW WE CAN'T GROW IT AND WHEN I'M ON CAMPUS I HAVE TO GO SEE IT.

IT'S THE BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE.

IT HAS THIS VERY LONG FLOWER STALK TO IT.

IT'S A SUCKERING LARGE SHRUB FOR PART SHADE, AND IT'S GOT SOME REALLY FUN FOLIAGE LIKE WITH OTHER BUCKEYES, IT HAS A COMPOUND -- A COMPOUND LEAF TO IT.

AND SO THAT'S REALLY FUN WITH THAT ONE.

AND IT KIND OF HAS LIKE A TROPICAL, LIKE, APPEARANCE TO IT.

THE OTHER ONE WITH THE BIG FLOWER IS A SMOOTH HYDRANGEA.

AND SO SOMETIMES HYDRANGEAS WILL HAVE STERILE FLOWERS AND SOMETIMES THAT WHAT GIVES US THAT BIG HEAD ON IT.

AND THEN OTHER TIMES IS WHERE THEY HAVE THE OTHER FLOWERS.

AND SO WHEN YOU SEE THOSE WITH THE BIG, LACY CAPS ON THEM, THOSE ARE THE STERILE ONES, BUT THIS ONE SMELLS AMAZING.

THIS WAS AN ANNABELLE ONE THAT REVERTED TO THE STRAIGHT SPECIES.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GETTING THAT STRAIGHT -- THAT SWEET SMELL FROM, IS ALL THESE FLOWERS ON HERE.

>> AND THE POLLINATORS WERE ALL OVER THAT ONE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KATE, FIRST QUESTION HERE, THIS IS A VIEWER IN MALVERN, IOWA.

DEFORMED OAK LEAVES WITH SOMETHING ON THE BRANCHES THAT LOOKS LIKE TINY SNAILS.

>> YEAH.

SO, THIS IS KERMES OAK SCALE.

SO, SCALE INSECTS, THEY FEED ON THE PLANT'S SAP AND THEY CAN DO DAMAGE OVER TIME.

UM, SO THESE ONES IN PARTICULAR, THEY MATURE IN THE SPRING AND THEY'LL LAY EGGS LATE SUMMER.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT AS ADULTS, THEY HAVE THIS HARD EXOSKELETON AND THEY HIDE THE EGGS UNDER THOSE EXOSKELETONS, WHICH MAKES THEM HARD TO TREAT.

THEY'RE PROTECTED AGAINST ANY INSECTICIDES.

SO, TIMING IS REALLY IMPORTANT HERE.

THE EGGS ARE GOING TO HATCH SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.

AND SO YOU WANT TO TRY TO TARGET THOSE CRAWLER STAGES AS THEY CRAWL OUT FROM THE PROTECTION OF THE MOTHER SCALE.

AND YOU CAN TREAT IT WITH A PYRETHROID AT THAT TIME.

OTHERWISE THE OTHER OPTIONS WOULD BE LIKE A DORMANT OIL SPRAY BEFORE THE TREE LEAFS OUT AND YOU CAN TRY TO DO LIKE A SYSTEMIC -- THAT WILL GIVE YOU PROTECTION NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KATE.

YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS A MAXWELL VIEWER THAT HAS AN INSECT ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE RASPBERRY LEAVES.

>> YEAH, SO I BELIEVE THESE ARE TORTOISE BEETLE PUPAE.

SO, TORTOISE BEETLES ARE A TYPE OF LEAF BEETLE AND THEY DO FEED ON LEAVES.

BUT I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT TYPE IT IS.

I WILL SAY THAT WE DO HAVE SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL TORTOISE BEETLES HERE IN NEBRASKA.

WE HAVE A GOLDEN TORTOISE BEETLE, THEY'RE REALLY FUN TO LOOK AT.

BUT THESE ARE PUPAES, SO, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ADULTS SOON, SO JUST MAYBE KEEP AN EYE OUT TO SEE WHEN THEY EMERGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A VALENTINE VIEWER HAS GROWTHS LIKE THIS ON AN ELM.

HE THINKS IT'S AN AMERICAN ELM.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS AN ELM COCKSCOMB GALLS.

AND THEY'RE CALLED COCKSCOMB GALLS BECAUSE THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO RESEMBLE THE COCKSCOMB ON A ROOSTER.

I LEARNED THAT TODAY.

ANYWAY, THESE ARE CALLED -- CAUSED BY GRASSROOT APHIDS.

SO, THE APHIDS WILL FEED ON GRASSROOTS FOR PART OF THEIR OF LIFE CYCLE.

THEY'LL GO TO THE ELM TREE, LAY EGGS ON THE BARK.

WHEN THOSE HATCH, THEY'LL MOVE TO THE LEAVES.

IT'S REALLY COMPLICATED.

AND WHEN THEY START FEEDING ON THE LEAVES, THE PLANT KIND OF OVERREACTS AND FORMS THESE GALLS.

SO, GREAT PASTTIME IS JUST BREAKING OPEN GALLS.

I LOVE DOING IT, YOU SHOULD DO IT.

AND INSIDE EACH OF THOSE, YOU SHOULD FIND ABOUT A DOZEN APHIDS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS-IS THAT IT'S MOSTLY A COSMETIC ISSUE.

IT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE TREE.

BUT IF YOU FIND IT LIKE IT GETS WORSE YEAR AFTER YEAR, YOU CAN TRY ONE OF THOSE SYSTEMICS.

>> ALL RIGHT AND ONE MORE HERE.

AND THIS IS AN McCLELLAND, IOWA, VIEWER THAT IS CALLING THIS A BOBBLE-HEADED BUG.

>> YEAH, SO, THIS ONE IS CALLED -- A FALSE BOMBARDIER, I DON'T KNOW IF I'M PRONOUNCING THAT RIGHT, BEETLE.

SO, THERE'S A FALSE BOMBARDIER BEETLE AND A REAL BOMBARDIER BEETLE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN TELL BY THE COLOR OF THE HEAD.

THE REAL ONES ARE COOLER BECAUSE THEY WILL SPRAY THIS NOXIOUS CHEMICAL THAT REACHES LIKE 100 DEGREES CELSIUS AGAINST PREDATORS.

SO, DON'T TOUCH THOSE.

FALSE ONES, THEY WILL MAKE, LIKE, A BAD SMELL, BUT THEY'RE QUITE A BIT BETTER THAN THE REAL ONES.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KATE.

>> ROCH, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE COMES TO US FROM BENNINGTON.

SHE HAS A DOG PEE SPOT.

WHAT DOES SHE DO ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S RIGHT BY THE DOOR, RIGHT OFF THE PATIO, SO THE DOG IS NOT MOVING VERY FAR.

IT'S PROBABLY A FEMALE BECAUSE IT'S OFF -- YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT -- IT'S SQUATTING RATHER THAN GETTING -- MORE THAN LIKELY, IT'S A FEMALE.

AND IT'S GOING TO HABITUATE -- IT'S HABITUATED THAT SPOT.

SO, UNLESS SHE CAN TRAIN IT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE -- AND SHE CAN TRY TO RE-SEED THAT, BUT THE SOIL'S BEEN AFFECTED NEGATIVELY.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HELP THE SOIL GET BETTER.

UNLESS SHE WANTS TO ACTUALLY -- THEY DON'T WORK, BY THE WAY, SORRY.

BUT IF SHE WANTS TO FLUSH THAT WITH WATER AFTER EVERY TIME THE DOG PEES, THAT CERTAINLY IS A POSSIBILITY OR TRAIN THE DOG TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND THERE ARE -- THERE IS SOME PRETTY GOOD INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET ABOUT GETTING THEM TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.

IT'S JUST THAT IT'S SO CONCENTRATED RIGHT THERE BY THE DOOR.

I'M ASSUMING THIS IS PROBABLY A SMALLER, MEDIUM-SIZED OR SMALLER DOG.

BUT THAT'S A PRETTY SEVERE DAMAGE.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO RECOVER BECAUSE THE SEEDLINGS AREN'T GOING TO SURVIVE THE CONTINUED USE OF THE -- THAT IS, THE RESTROOM.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS FROM OMAHA.

AND THEY'RE REALLY ASKING ABOUT WHETHER THEY SHOULD -- WHETHER THEY SHOULD CUT BACK THAT BIG, GRASSY HILL EVERY SPRING, REMOVE ALL THE BROWNISH STUFF IN THE SPRING.

THEY DIDN'T DO IT THIS TIME.

AND WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND FOR ORNAMENTAL GRASSES?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY, THEY NEED TO BE CUT BACK EITHER IN THE FALL OR THE SPRING.

MOST OF THE TIME, WE RECOMMEND THE SPRING BECAUSE YOU LIKE THEM, YOU KNOW, BLOWING IN THE WIND AND ALL THE PRETTY STUFF THAT HAPPENS IN THE WINTER, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S PRETTY BARREN.

BUT THEY DO NEED TO BE CUT BACK.

AND THAT'S A PRETTY THICK STAND.

AND I'M NOT SURE WHAT SPECIES IT IS, BUT ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE CUT BACK.

AND THE DEBRIS REMOVED SO IT DOESN'T SMOTHER THE EXISTING.

BUT, YEAH, DEFINITELY CUT THAT BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES OF THIS NEXT ONE.

MORE AND MORE OF THESE IN THEIR LAWN.

AND HE THINKS IT'S BIRCH ON ONE SEEDLINGS.

AND THEN THERE'S SOMETHING THAT'S CLEARLY NOT WOODY.

SO, HOW DO WE GET RID OF ALL THESE SEEDLINGS?

>> WELL, THE TREE SEEDLINGS -- AND I THINK THOSE -- THEY MAY BE ASH SEEDLINGS, NOT BIRCH, BUT THEY DON'T TOLERATE MOWING.

SO, AS LONG AS THEY'RE MOWING REGULARLY, THESE HERE ARE NOT TREE SEEDLINGS, BUT WAIT UNTIL FALL, SEE IF THEY'RE -- I CAN'T TELL WHAT THEY ARE BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STRUCTURE ON THEM, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF THEY REALLY WANT TO GO THE HERBICIDE ROUTE, THEY COME BACK, BUT MOWING WILL PROBABLY TAKE THOSE OUT.

AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DON'T BE OVERLY AGGRESSIVE ON YOUR MOWING.

MOWING WHEN IT NEEDS IT.

THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF THE TREES AND PROBABLY THAT ONE.

'CAUSE THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO GROW UP AND MAYBE EVEN -- IT'S GOING TO GET BIGGER AND THEY JUST DON'T LIKE MOWING.

>> OKAY, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, LOREN, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES OF THIS.

AND IT'S ON BERGAMONT, WHICH, OF COURSE, IS ONE OF THOSE MONARDAS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE ON BERGAMONT.

>> IT'S A RUST.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE CYCLE IS.

NOTHING TO DO AT THIS TIME, BUT, I MEAN, IF THEY REALLY WANTED TO MANAGE IT THIS TIME OF YEAR NEXT YEAR, GO ABOUT A MONTH EARLIER AND YOU CAN USE A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A NORTH PLATTE VIEWER.

IT'S A FIVE-YEAR-OLD HOSTA, AND SHE'S NOT SEEING ANY SPRAY DRIFT OF ANY KIND.

SO -- >> AND THIS ONE COULD BE CONCERNING.

IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS WHAT ELSE IS IN THE LANDSCAPE.

IF THERE ARE LOTS OF HOSTAS IN THE LANDSCAPE, JUST TO BE CAUTIOUS, YOU MAY WANT TO ROGUE THIS OUT.

'CAUSE IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT COULD BE SOME VIRUS WHEN YOU ZOOM IN ON IT.

THERE ARE SOME RINGING IN THE SPOTS.

AND THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE SHOWS IT.

THAT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A VIRUS.

I'M NOT GOING TO SAY WHICH ONE IT IS FOR SURE, BUT THOSE CAN BE SPREAD TO OTHER HOSTAS.

SO, IF THAT'S THE ONLY HOSTS YOU HAVE IN THE LANDSCAPE, YOU COULD JUST -- BUT IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MOVEMENT TO OTHER HOSTAS, I WOULD ROGUE THAT PLANT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, LOREN.

ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE THREE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A CONE FLOWER BED IN GRAND ISLAND.

AND IN FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL.

AND THEN THIS YEAR, THEY'RE -- OOPS, THIS IS ONIONS FIRST.

WE ENDED UP WITH YOUR ONIONS, I THINK, ON THIS ONE FIRST.

SORRY, I'M ON THE WRONG PAGE.

>> YEP, IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE ONION -- >> IT'S STILL GRAND ISLAND.

>> YEP, STILL GRAND ISLAND.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THE LEAVES, YOU'LL NOTICE LITTLE WHITE SPOTS.

AND SO, IN GRAND ISLAND, WE DID HAVE SOME HAIL.

SO I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF HAIL DAMAGE ON THERE.

NOTHING THAT THEY CAN REALLY DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

JUST GO AHEAD AND WATCH IT.

WE WOULDN'T APPLY ANY INSECTICIDES OR FUNGICIDES FOR THOSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT IS A HARVARD, NEBRASKA, VIEWER THAT HAD CABBAGE THAT GOT DAMAGED BY THE HAIL AND THEY WONDER WHETHER IT'S GOING TO RECOVER, WILL THAT SPLIT JUST GET WORSE?

>> MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO THE HEAT, IT'S JUST GOING TO CONTINUE TO GET WORSE.

SO, YOUR BEST BET, GO AHEAD AND JUST HARVEST THAT ONE NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT, THANKS, ELIZABETH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN REVISITING SOME GREAT CONTENT FROM OUR PARTNERS IN WESTERN NEBRASKA.

TONIGHT, AMANDA FILIPI WITH NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS DETAILS SOME DIFFERENCES IN WEATHER, ENVIRONMENT AND CRITTERS OUT WEST.

>> HERE WE ARE AT THE WILDCAT HILLS STATE RECREATION AREA IN WESTERN NEBRASKA.

WE'RE LOCATED JUST EIGHT MILES SOUTH OF GERING.

AND OUR HABITAT OUT HERE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN ON THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

OUR AVERAGE RAIN FALL IS 10 TO 12 INCHES.

SO A LOT OF OUR PLANT LIFE AND OUR ECOSYSTEMS ARE DROUGHT TOLERANT.

SO WE HAVE SOME UNIQUE SPECIES OUT HERE FOR PLANTS THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T SEE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE STATE AS WELL AS SOME INTERESTING WILDLIFE THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

SO, WE HAVE BIG HORN SHEEP OUT HERE, ELK.

WE ALSO HAVE GRASSLAND SPECIES, LIKE PRONGHORN AND PONDEROSA PINE-SPECIFIC SPECIES LIKE RED CROSS BILLS, WHICH IS A SMALL SONG BIRD THAT FEEDS ON OUR PINE CONE SEEDS OUT HERE.

OUT AT THE WILDCAT HILLS, WE'RE MAINLY A PONDEROSA PINE WOODLAND.

SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF PONDEROSA PINES.

AND THEN WE'RE IN A SHORT GRASS TO MIXED GRASS PRAIRIE AS WELL.

SO, A LOT OF OUR PLANTS ARE A LITTLE BIT LOWER GROWING DUE TO THAT AVERAGE RAINFALL OUT HERE.

THE WILDCAT HILLS ARE VERY UNIQUE.

THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE A LOT OF -- THE REST OF THIS STATE.

SO, ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE STATE, WE SEE A LOT OF OPEN FIELDS AND CROP LANDS.

AND AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY WEST, WE HAVE A LOT OF ROCKY BUTTES AND PONDEROSA PINE WOODLANDS.

SO, IT'S VERY UNIQUE.

SO, WE'RE SIMILAR TO THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

WE ARE A LITTLE DRIER OUT HERE.

AND I THINK OUR AVERAGE RAINFALL, LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

SO, WHAT WE'RE ALSO DEALING WITH OUT HERE IS DROUGHT AND WILD FIRE DANGERS AS WELL.

SO, OUT HERE IN WESTERN NEBRASKA, WE ARE A LITTLE DRIER OUT HERE.

BUT WE HAVE UNIQUE SPECIES THAT ARE ADAPTED FOR THOSE DRIER ENVIRONMENTS WITH DIFFERENT WILDLIFE AND DIFFERENT PLANTS.

SO, SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT YOU CAN GROW ON THE EASTERN END OF THE STATE, WE MAY BEGIN TO GROW SOME SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ONES OUT HERE.

SO, WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME OUT HERE TO WESTERN NEBRASKA AND SEE ALL THESE UNIQUE SPECIES.

>> AND AS AMANDA SAID, SLIGHTLY DRIER AND MUCH WINDIER OUT WEST.

YOU CAN STILL USE THESE NATIVE AND ADAPTIVE PLANTS OUT THERE WITH A LOT OF SUCCESS.

AND YOUR TWIN SAYS HELLO.

ELIZABETH.

ALL RIGHT, FIRST PICTURE IS YOURS, KATE.

THIS IS JUST A SIGHTING.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> SO, THIS AGAIN IS THE JAPANESE BEETLE.

SO, I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE TRAPS.

BUT RIGHT NOW WITH JAPANESE BEETLES THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS GO OUT IN THE EVENING WITH A BUCKET OF SOAPY WATER AND BAT THOSE BAD BOYS IN THERE.

OTHERWISE, THERE ARE CHEMICAL OPTIONS FOR ORGANICS.

YOU CAN USE -- BUT KEEP IN MIND, THAT GIVES YOU ONLY ABOUT THREE TO SEVEN DAYS UNTIL YOU NEED TO REAPPLY.

FOR SYNTHETICS, THAT GIVES YOU ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT JAPANESE BEETLES LIKE FLOWERS AND WE DON'T WANT TO APPLY ANYTHING TO FLOWERS BECAUSE WE NEED TO PROTECT THE POLLINATORS, TOO.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO HAS INCH-HIGH DIRT MOUNDS AT THE END OF THE DRIVEWAY, PENCIL-SIZE HOLES, INCH-LONG CHIMNEY ON ONE.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> SO, I'M PRETTY SURE THESE ARE MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE SWEAT BEES.

SO, BECAUSE THEY'RE BEES, THEY'RE REALLY EXCELLENT POLLINATORS.

THEY'RE NOT GONG TO BE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE PLANT.

AND I REALLY DON'T RECOMMEND SPRAYING THEM, OF COURSE.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO DISCOURAGE SWEAT BEES FROM MAKING MOUNDS IN THE FUTURE, YOU CAN TRY TO KEEP THAT AREA WELL IRRIGATED.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE WET SOIL OR YOU CAN PUT A NICE LAYER OF MULCH THERE, TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE FINAL PICTURE.

THIS IS A PAPILLION VIEWER.

SHE THINKS THIS BIT HER.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> WELL, I'M SO SORRY YOU GOT BIT, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY GREAT TO HAVE IN THE GARDEN.

SO, THIS IS A GREEN LACEWING LARVAE AND THERE ALSO SOMETIMES CALLED APHID LIONS BECAUSE THEY EAT PESTS LIKE APHIDS AND OTHER SOFT-BODIED INSECTS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT THE HORTICULTURE GREENHOUSE HERE ON EAST CAMPUS EVEN APPLIED BEES IN THEIR GREENHOUSE AS A GREAT FORM OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.

>> THEY DID.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, ROCH, THIS IS A PROPERTY NEAR AND HELLUM AND THIS WEED IS GROWING IN THE DITCH.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS AN INTRIGUING -- I WOULDN'T CALL IT A WEED.

IT'S GLYCYRRHIZA LEPIDOTA, WHICH IS AMERICAN LICORICE.

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT GETS THE LICORICE NAME OTHER THAN MAYBE TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM THE ASIAN LICORICE.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A NATIVE.

IT'S BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME.

IT'S KIND OF GOT A SHOWY FLOWER AND THE ROOT ON IT WAS USED BY NATIVE AMERICANS FOR BREATH FRESHENER AND OTHER THINGS.

IT'S KIND OF AN INTRIGUING PLANT.

AND LEWIS AND CLARK, LEWIS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY ATE IT ON THEIR SOJOURN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND BASICALLY SAID IT TASTED JUST LIKE SWEET POTATO AND HAD A QUITE APPEALING TASTE.

SO, IT'S AMERICAN LICORICE.

AND I WOULDN'T CONTROL IT UNLESS IT'S IN A PLACE THAT THEY DON'T WANT IT.

BUT I WOULD JUST ENJOY THE DIVERSITY OF THIS PLANT AND HOW INTRIGUING IT IS.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ROCH.

>> YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS PLANT OR WEED, THEY'RE SAYING IT'S STARTING TO TAKE OVER THE GARDEN.

IS IT A PLANT OR IT IS A WEED?

>> IT'S HORSEWEED.

IT HAS WEED IN THE NAME.

ACTUALLY, THE INTRIGUING THING ABOUT THIS PLANT, IT WAS THE FIRST ONE DOCUMENTED WITH GLYCIPHATE RESISTANCE.

AND NOW WE KNOW THERE'S LOT OF PLANTS RESISTANT TO GLYCIPHATE, THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IN THE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE ROUND-UP PRODUCT.

IT'S A VERY WEAK ROOT SYSTEM ON IT.

IT'S AN ANNUAL.

SO, IT'S RELATIVELY EASY TO PULL UP.

IN THAT FIRST PICTURE, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE FIVE OR MAYBE FIVE OR HALF A DOZEN OF THEM.

I WOULD JUST PULL THEM UP AND COMPOST PILE.

JUST CERTAINLY DON'T LET THEM GO TO SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, ROCH.

>> LEWIS AND CLARK, SEE HORSEWEED ON THEIR TREK, ROCH -- ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST TWO HERE ARE -- THIS IS A DECATUR VIEWER.

SHELLBARK HICKORIES AND THIS IS SIX TO SEVEN-YEAR-OLD TREE.

THEY'VE SHOWN GOOD -- IS THIS NUTRITION OR IS THIS POTENTIAL DISEASE IN HICKORY?

>> THIS ONE HAD ME A LITTLE STUMPED.

THE WAY IT'S CUPPED AND HAS YELLOW LEAVES, I DON'T THINK IT'S A DISEASE.

I QUESTIONED IF IT WASN'T NUTRITIONAL OR EVEN POSSIBLY A HERBICIDE DRIFT EVENT, IS WHAT IREALLY QUESTION ON THAT.

I DON'T SEE IT AS A DISEASE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A HAWTHORN IN LEIGH, NEBRASKA.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THIS IS BUGS OR A DISEASE.

SO I THINK WE HAVE THE FULL TREE.

AND THEN I THINK WE HAVE ONE OF THE CLOSE-UP THAT IS -- >> THIS IS ANOTHER RUST THAT WE'LL SEE.

A LOT OF TIMES WITH RUST, WE'LL SEE THAT DISTINCT LESION ON TOP OR DISCOLORATION.

MANY TIMES IT WILL BE ORANGE TO RED IN COLOR.

AND THEN ON THE UNDERSIDE, YOU WOULD SEE MANY TIMES THE SPORE-PRODUCING STRUCTURE THAT LOOK LIKE LITTLE FINGERS ON THE UNDER SIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TREATMENT?

>> DON'T TREAT IT.

IT'S GOING TO BE CYCLING OVER FROM SOMETHING ELSE AT THIS TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

AND FROM PLATTSMOUTH, YOU WERE EXCITED TO SEE THIS.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS ANIMAL DROPPINGS OR A STRANGE FUNGUS.

>> I'M ALWAYS ENVIOUS.

KATE GETS THE PRETTY INSECTS THEY TALK ABOUT AND I GET DOG VOMIT OR WHATEVER.

THIS IS SLIME MOLD.

AND VERY COMMON.

YOU CAN SIMPLY WASH IT AWAY WITH A HOSE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

OKAY, ELIZABETH.

YOU HAVE NOW -- NOW, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES OF THE CONE FLOWER FROM GRAND ISLAND.

BEAUTIFUL CONE FLOWERS, FOUR TO FIVE YEARS.

CUT THEM BACK, CLEAN THEM UP.

DIDN'T DO THAT AFTER READING AN ARTICLE ABOUT LEAVING THE SEED HEADS.

WHAT DO WE THINK IS GOING ON HERE?

SHOULD SHE ROUGE THESE OUT.

>> YOU KNOW, I WAS TRYING TO LOOK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING PATHOLOGICAL OR MAYBE WE HAD SOME INSECT DAMAGE ON HERE.

AND IT WAS JUST KIND OF TOUGH TO TELL BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE IT COULD BE SPIDER MITES OR IT COULD BE SOMETHING SUCKING THE PLANT JUICES OUT.

AND THEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, IS IT ANYTHING PATHOLOGICAL LIKE ASTER YELLOWS?

THE FLOWERS ON THERE LOOK KIND OF NORMAL.

THEY'RE DISFORMED, BUT NOT ASTER YELLOWS.

SO, I MEAN, THE BEST BET IS TO BRING IN A SAMPLE WITH THAT ONE TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING PATHOLOGICAL ON THERE, BUT IT'S JUST KIND OF TOUGH TO TELL EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, ELIZABETH.

AND QUICKLY HERE, WE HAVE TWO PICTURES OF THIS FROM A SOUTH LINCOLN VIEWER.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS AND WHEN THEY CAN PRUNE IT.

>> SO, THIS IS PRIVET.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO PRIVET, YOU CAN PRUNE IT WHEN IT'S DORMANT UP TO THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER.

IF THEY REALLY ENJOY THE FLOWERS, THEY WOULD DO LIKE A ONE-THIRD REJUVENATION WHERE YOU REMOVE ONE-THIRD OF THE CANES AND THEN OVER THREE YEARS YOU'VE COMPLETELY REJUVENATED THAT BECAUSE IT DOES BLOOM ON OLD WOOD.

YOU CAN CUT IT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GROUND AND START FROM SCRATCH IF YOU REALLY WANT TO.

THE EASIEST ONE OF THE TWO IS TO REMOVE A THIRD OVER THREE YEARS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT.

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

THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING WE HAD CAROL RUSTAD, LINDA HELTON AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," JEFF RETURNS TO TALK TO US ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF MULCH.

HE'LL FOCUS ON DIFFERENT KINDS OF MULCH AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO USE THAT AROUND YOUR LANDSCAPE.

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