(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> BACKYARD FARMER IS A CO PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT FIRE HAZARDS IN THE STATE EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD RECENT STORMS.

AND WE'LL RUIN THESE FLOWERS BEFORE WE PLANT THEM.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER GREAT SHOW TONIGHT.

AND OF COURSE, WE'LL BE ANSWERING YOUR LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

IF YOU NEED SOME HELP IN YOUR GARDEN, GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446 TO TALK TO ONE OF OUR EXTENSION MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS.

WE ALSO NEED QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE SHOWS AND LOVE GETTING YOUR PICTURES, SO SEND US AN EMAIL TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN AND MAKE SURE YOU TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW BACKYARD FARMER DURING THE WEEK FOR SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND VIDEOS ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND YOUTUBE.

WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY, LET'S GET TO THE BEAUTIFUL SAMPLE THAT WAYNE HAS FIRST.

>> YEAH, I BROUGHT WITH ME BASED ON MY SAMPLE FROM LAST MONTH.

I BROUGHT IN THAT CECROPIA MOTH COCOON, AND UP HERE IN THE CORNER, I HAVE AN ADULT SILKWORM MOTH, CECROPIA MOTH.

SO THIS IS WHAT CAME OUT OF MY COCOON.

SO I DID NOT HAVE A PARASITE COME OUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS IN MY FREEZER AT HOME AND NOT SET UP ENOUGH TO BRING HERE TO SHOW YOU ALL.

SO THAT'S WHAT THIS ONE IS.

I ALSO BROUGHT THREE OTHER GIANT SILKWORM MOTHS THAT WE CAN FIND IN THE STATE RIGHT BELOW THIS ONE.

THIS IS GLOVER'S SILKWORM MOTH.

IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE THE CECROPIA, BUT IT'S SMALLER.

IT HAS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MARKINGS.

AND THEN OVER HERE ON THIS SIDE, ON THE TOP, I'VE GOT THE LUNA MOTH.

THIS ONE'S REALLY POPULAR.

YOU MAY REMEMBER IT FROM CERTAIN COMMERCIALS FROM TV.

AND THEN DOWN HERE THIS IS THE IMPERIAL MOTH.

ALL OF THESE ARE PART OF THAT SUITE OF GIANT SILKWORM MOTHS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

IT DOES INCLUDE THE POLYPHEMUS MOTH, BUT I DECIDED WE'D HAD ENOUGH OF THAT ON THE SHOW ALREADY.

>> AND I'M ALWAYS JEALOUS BECAUSE I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO HAVE ANY OF THOSE AT MY HOUSE, AND I'VE ALWAYS WANTED THEM.

SO I'LL JUST ENJOY YOURS.

ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, YOU BROUGHT IN HALF OF OUR BACKYARD FARMER RAIN GARDEN.

>> NO ONE'S GOING TO KNOW I TOOK THESE, SO EVERYONE'S ALWAYS ASKING US, WHY DOESN'T MY TURF LIVE UNDERNEATH MY TREE?

AND WE SAY THAT TURF DOESN'T LIKE TO LIVE UNDERNEATH TREES.

AND I'M ALWAYS RECOMMENDING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

OFTENTIMES I'M RECOMMENDING SEDGES.

SO I DUG THESE.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

THIS TALLER ONE IS GRAYI.

IT'S A LITTLE WIDER, TALLER HAS KIND OF A COOL SEED HEAD, BUT THIS BOTTOM ONE IS PENNSYLVANICA.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH MORE GRASS LIKE.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO GET MUCH TALLER THAN THIS.

IT'S GOING TO STAY LIKE THIS.

SO IF YOU WANT ONE THAT REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE TURF, YOU WON'T NEED TO MOW IT UNTIL LIKE MAYBE SPRING JUST TO KIND OF CLEAN IT UP.

BUT THESE WOULD BE GREAT, FANTASTIC ALTERNATIVES TO GROWING SOMETHING UNDERNEATH YOUR TREES.

IF YOU CAN'T GET GRASS TO GROW THERE.

>> AND IT'S FUN TO SEE THEM AFTER WHAT, 15 YEARS IN THE IN THE RAIN GARDEN.

INHE GARDEN.

>> YEP.

THEY'RE VERY NICE.

>> YEAH.

LOTS OF OTHER OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT THAT TURF.

>> PRETTY DROUGHT TOLERANT ALSO.

>> YES THEY ARE.

AND SHADE.

AND SHADE.

ALL RIGHT KYLE, LAY IT ON BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE THIS ONE.

>> IT'S WHY I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE WHEN I START TALKING I, I HAVE EXCITING THINGS, BUT I HAVE TODAY ASH YELLOWS.

AND SO ASH YELLOWS IS CAUSED BY A PHYTOPLASMA.

A PHYTOPLASMA IS A BACTERIA THAT THINKS IT'S A VIRUS.

AND YOU MAY BE THINKING, "KYLE, THAT'S NOT AN ASH TREE" AND I ACTUALLY DID KNOW THAT.

BUT ASH YELLOWS ALSO GOES ONTO LILACS.

AND WE'VE BEEN SEEING QUITE A BIT OF ASH YELLOWS ACROSS THE ACROSS THE STATE, OR AT LEAST ACROSS THE SOUTH, CENTRAL OR SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE, SHOWING UP IN LILACS IN PARTICULAR.

AND SO THIS TIME OF YEAR, YOU KNOW, THE THE FLOWERS ARE MOSTLY GONE.

AND SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO GET SOME OF THESE LEAF DEFORMATIONS.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S A LOT MORE PETIOLES COMING OUT OF SOME OF THESE BUDS THAN THERE SHOULD BE.

BUT THEN ON THESE DEAD FLOWERS, WE CAN ALSO SEE THE EVIDENCE OF, OF THAT PHYTOPLASMA.

AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS IS FLOWER PROLIFERATION.

AND SO IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I KIND OF LIKE THIS DISEASE.

YOU GET MORE FLOWERS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT ASTER YELLOWS ON CONEFLOWERS, BUT IT'S THE SAME THING.

IT'S JUST EXTRA FLOWERS.

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?

UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING.

YOU CAN LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.

OR IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH IT, YOU CAN GET RID OF THAT TREE.

>> OR THAT LILAC.

>> OR THAT SHRUB.

>> AND PEOPLE WILL NOT DO THAT.

NO THEY WON'T.

THEY LIKE THEIR LILAC.

>> THEY WILL BECAUSE IT'S PRETTY.

AND YOU GET MORE FLOWERS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE.

EVENTUALLY IT'LL KILL THE TREE OR SHRUB.

BUT.

>> OH, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, DANA, YOU HAVE BEAUTY.

INSTEAD OF THAT.

>> I KNOW.

RIGHT.

I'M GOING TO TAKE OVER FROM KYLE'S NONSENSE.

BUT I BROUGHT COMMON SAGE.

AND WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT THIS, OF COURSE, ARE THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

BUT SAGE IS ONE OF THOSE PLANTS THAT GIVES YOU A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK IN TERMS OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES.

IT HELPS POLLINATORS.

IT'S A CULINARY HERB.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

THERE'S JUST A LOT YOU CAN GET OUT OF IT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S GOT, YOU KNOW, THESE GRAY, GREEN, SLIGHTLY FUZZY LEAVES, THESE BEAUTIFUL TWO LIPPED SALVIA-LIKE FLOWERS.

I HAD TO WAIT FOR A BUMBLEBEE TO BACK OUT OF ONE BEFORE I STARTED HACKING AT THIS AGE TODAY.

BUT YOU KNOW, THI IS JUST A REALLY NICE PLANT.

GIVE IT FULL SUN, WELL-DRAINED SOIL, AND YOU'VE GOT AN EASY, YOU KNOW, MULTIFUNCTIONAL PLANT IN THE GARDEN.

>> I LOVE IT TOO.

AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR A SAGE PLANT TO GET OLD ENOUGH TO FLOWER.

>> YEAH.

IT'S GOT A, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF THE MATURE STEMS IS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO GET THOSE.

>> WILL THAT CHANGE THE FLAVOR AT ALL.

IF IT FLOWERS.

>> YES, IT CAN MAKE IT MORE POTENT.

>> LESS POTENT.

YOU LOSE THE OILS WHEN IT FLOWERS.

>> IT TASTES WEIRD.

IN OTHER WORDS.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

GOOD TO KNOW.

>> YEAH.

IT'S DIFFERENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ON THAT NOTE, LET'S START WITH QUESTIONS.

WAYNE, THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

HER PEONIES ARE BEING ATTACKED BY WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS SAP BEETLES.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS LAST WEEK.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THEM.

SHE DID SPRAY WITH JAPANESE BEETLE SPRAY THAT WAS RECOMMENDED.

AND THEN SHE NEEDED TO CUT THEM DOWN.

AND HOW DOES SHE PREVENT THEM FROM INFESTING HER GRASS?

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

>> WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM INFESTING YOUR GRASS.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM THERE.

THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO SWEET THINGS LIKE SAPS DRIPPING OUT OF TREES, NECTAR FROM FLOWERS, AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO TOWN ON THIS POOR, POOR PEONY.

AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE MUCH YOU CAN DO THAT'S GOING TO KEEP THEM ALL AWAY WITHOUT REMOVING THE FLOWER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO ENJOY ALL OF IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM COLUMBUS.

SHE WANTS TO GET RID OF AN INFESTATION OF WHAT SHE'S CALLING METALLIC FLEA BEETLES ON HER PRIMROSES.

AND THEN THE SECOND QUESTION IS WHAT TO REPLANT.

AND WE'LL VISIT THAT ONE PROBABLY ON ANOTHER SHOW.

BUT THIS IS DREADFUL.

>> THIS DOES LOOK UGLY.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE.

>> JUST CALL IT WHAT IT IS.

>> SHOOT STRAIGHT WITH YOU.

YEAH.

THESE DO LOOK LIKE FLEA BEETLE LARVAE.

AND THERE ARE LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN DO TO TREAT FOR THEM.

YOU CAN USE A NEEM WOULD WORK WELL IN THIS SITUATION AS WELL AS ANY OF OUR PYRETHROID TYPE INSECTICIDES.

SO YOU LOOK AT THAT LABEL AND IT'S IN THRIN.

THAT'S HOW YOU TELL WHAT THOSE ARE.

AND I WOULD IMAGINE IF YOU DID A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THOSE DOWN OVER A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU WOULD HAVE NICE PRIMROSES BACK AGAIN.

>> RIGHT?

SO IT'S A LONG TERM TREATMENT.

>> JUST TO MAKE SURE YOU GET THEM ALL DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, ONE PICTURE FROM LINCOLN.

THEY DUG THIS OUT OF THEIR LAWN.

IT'S A COMBINATION OF BLUEGRASS AND SOME TYPE OF FESCUE THEY HAVEN'T NOTICED AT OTHER YEARS.

BUT THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO THEY GET RID OF IT?

>> I THINK THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE ROUGH BLUEGRASSES.

IT'S KIND OF GOT THAT LITTLE BOAT SHAPED.

I THINK I FOUND ONE SOMEWHERE WHERE IT DIDN'T GET CUT.

ACTUALLY, WHAT YOU DID WAS PERFECT.

JUST DIG IT OUT, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE OVERSEEDING IN THE FALL WITH GOOD CERTIFIED SEED.

THIS ONE, IF YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF IT WITH SOME KIND OF A CHEMICAL, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A NON SELECTIVE BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO IT'S A BLUEGRASS.

SO IT WOULD YOU WOULD KILL EVERYTHING SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SOIL KNIFE.

>> YEP.

SOIL KNIFE.

>> TWO PICTURES FROM RURAL COLUMBUS.

SHE'S HAD THESE PHLOX BEDS FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS AND NOW SHE'S GOT TALL WEED LIKE GRASS IN ONE OF THEM ACROSS THE SIDEWALK.

SHE HAS ANOTHER ONE.

WE DIDN'T USE THAT PICTURE.

I DON'T THINK THAT DOESN'T HAVE IT IN IT.

BUT SHE WANTS TO KILL THE GRASS WITHOUT KILLING ANYTHING ELSE.

YEAH, THERE'S THE OTHER ONE.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, A LITTLE BIT OF MANAGEMENT WOULD HELP.

I THINK THAT IF YOU DID A REALLY NICE EDGE TO KIND OF CUT THE RHIZOMES AND STOLONS FROM THAT GRASS, THAT WOULD HELP IT FROM INVADING INTO THAT BED.

THE OTHER THING IS IF, IF YOU WANTED TO GO OUT THERE WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND START DIGGING IT OUT, YOU COULD IF YOU WANTED TO, YOU COULD USE LIKE A GRASS-BE-GONE.

FLUAZIFOP IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT ON THAT ONE.

SO YOU COULD TRY THAT.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU READ THE LABEL.

DO NOT USE IT WHEN IT STARTS GETTING HOT, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE NEXT WEEK IT'S GOING TO START WARMING UP AGAIN.

SO JUST READ THE LABEL AND DO EVERYTHING YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO.

>> ALL RIGHT?

FROM INDIANOLA, ONE PICTURE OF ZOYSIA PERFECT FOR THE DROUGHT, BUT WEEDS AND UNWANTED GRASSES.

THEY WANT TO SPRAY THE GREEN ZOYSIA WITHOUT AND GET RID OF THE WEEDS WITHOUT KILLING THE ZOYSIA.

>> WELL, IT LOOKED LIKE THEY HAD BOTH BROADLEAF AND GRASSY WEEDS IN THERE.

SO YOU'RE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT HARDER SO YOU CAN SPRAY A BROADLEAF WEED KILLER TO GET RID OF THE BROADLEAF WEEDS, BUT YOU NEED TO WAIT AT LEAST THREE WEEKS AFTER GREEN UP OF THAT ZOYSIA BEFORE YOU CAN SPRAY ON IT.

HOWEVER, THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE GETTING FURTHER INTO THE WARMER SEASON WHERE IT'S HARDER TO ACTUALLY FIND TIME AND TEMPERATURE TO BE ABLE TO SPRAY.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTROL IT THAT WAY.

MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL FALL AND JUST DO A NONSELECTIVE AND THEN JUST LET IT GROW BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA KYLE.

AND THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS ONE BEFORE.

THESE ARE WATER LILIES.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEY'RE 15 FT APART.

AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SHE HAS SEEN SPOTS ON THESE LILIES.

>> YEAH.

AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE'S NOT A TON OF RESEARCH ON DISEASES OF WATER LILIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT POP UP IN NEBRASKA.

SO THIS WAS TOUGH.

IT CERTAINLY LOOKS IT LOOKS FUNGAL TO ME.

THERE IS A THERE IS A PSEUDOCERCOSPORA THAT ATTACKS THAT ATTACKS WATER LILIES.

TYPICALLY IT'S CERCOSPORA IS ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME OF THAT REDDISH PURPLE MARGIN WITH A KIND OF A STRAW COLORED CENTER.

AR AS WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT, REALLY NOTHING, YOU KNOW, CONTROLLING ANY SORT OF FUNGUS INSIDE OF A WATER FEATURE IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO START.

AND THIS WILL NOT IT'S NOT GOING TO HARM THE PLANTS ENOUGH TO, TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, THREE PICTURES FROM OCTAVIA.

THIS IS THE RHUBARB QUESTION AGAIN.

AND SHE SPRAYED.

SHE'S DONE A LOT OF THINGS WITH IT.

WHEN THE NEW PLANT COMES UP SPRAY IT WITH A FUNGICIDE.

SHE SAYS NOTHING HAS HELPED.

WHAT DO WE TELL HER NOW?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT LOREN HAD MENTIONED THINNING IT OUT.

I WONDER IF THAT IF THEY HAD DONE THAT AS WELL.

THE OTHER THING, YOU KNOW, ANYTIME I'M SEEING KIND OF DEAD LEAVES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLANT THAT ARE WILTING AND YELLOW, I TEND TO WONDER ABOUT SOME SORT OF ROOT ISSUE.

MAYBE YOU CAN WORK ON WATER MANAGEMENT, MAKE SURE IT'S ONLY GETTING MOISTURE WHEN IT NEEDS IT, NOT JUST ON A REGULAR SCHEDULE.

AND THEN THIS IS THE FUNGAL LEAF SPOT.

NOTHING TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT WITH THAT THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

KYLE.

DANA, FROM HOXIE, KANSAS, A THREE YEAR OLD STRAWBERRY PATCH.

IT WAS FINE FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

FULL SUN, EVEN WATER NUTRITION.

IS THAT WHAT WE THINK?

>> WELL, I WAS ALSO THINKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST THE CHLOROSIS.

THIS IS NORTHWEST KANSAS.

YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE HIGH PH SOILS JUST LIKE WE HAVE.

AND JUST WONDERING, YOU KNOW, DOES IT.

COULD THE COOLER TEMPERATURES HAVE, YOU KW, JUST EXACERBATED THAT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING TO PANIC ABOUT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN JUST TRY FIRST A SOIL TEST.

LOOK AT THE PH.

BUT THIS IS A THREE YEAR OLD PLANT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE STARTING TO RENOVATE ANYWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM PAPILLION, A BLEEDING HEART IN THE SAME SPOT FOR 14 YEARS.

THIS YEAR IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I DID NOTICE ABOUT THAT SOILS THAT LOOKS A LITTLE CRACKED.

I MEAN, THE PLANTS OBVIOUSLY STRESSED.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE SOMETHING IF IT'S BEEN IN THE SAME SPOT FOR 14 YEARS.

YOU KNOW, ONCE IT GOES DORMANT, YOU MIGHT THINK ABOUT DOING A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, POPPING IT UP THIS FALL, SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON, IS IT CROWDED OR WHATEVER.

BUT JUST TRY EVEN MOISTURE IN SOME MULCH AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE CARE OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THIS IS OUR THIRD PICTURES FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

WHY ARE THE LEAVES ON THIS BAPTISIA BECOMING CHARTREUSE?

>> WELL, SOME OF THE BAPTISIA, IT'S BECOME CHARTREUSE.

YOU KNOW, THAT COULD JUST BE THE NATURE OF THE PLANT.

IT COULD ALSO BE, AGAIN, THERE WAS ONE PICTURE WHERE IT LOOKED LIKE REALLY CLAYEY CONSTRUCTION SOIL.

SO IT COULD JUST BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PHASE.

BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, DANA.

WE'VE HAD STRONG STORMS ROLL THROUGH THE STATE RECENTLY AND RECEIVED SOME GOOD PRECIPITATION.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE'RE FREE AND CLEAR OF FIRE HAZARDS.

THAT COULD CONTINUE TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

BEN BOHALL FROM THE NEBRASKA FOREST SERVICE AND OUR WEATHERMAN, GANNON RUSH, TALK ABOUT BEING PREPARED BECAUSE FIRES ARE STILL A STRONG POSSIBILITY.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> SO OBVIOUSLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE DEALING WITH THE MOST ACTIVE WILDFIRE SEASON IN NEBRASKA ON RECORD.

YOU KNOW, UP TO THIS POINT, WE'VE HAD ABOUT 2 MILLION ACRES BURN ACROSS THE US.

ALMOST HALF OF THAT IS IN NEBRASKA ALONE.

SO THE GREAT PLAINS AS A WHOLE ARE DEALING WITH A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE HERE.

YOU KNOW, AND THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE HAD ACTIVE WILDFIRE SEASONS START AS SOON AS FEBRUARY INTO MARCH.

WE ARE SEEING A BIT OF A GREEN UP RIGHT NOW WITH ALL THIS MOISTURE.

THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ENOUGH PERPETUAL MOISTURE OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS.

ONCE AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH SNOW PACKED AND THAT LEADS INTO THESE VERY ACTIVE SPRING SEASONS WHERE, YOU KNOW, IT'S WILDFIRE GALORE, ESSENTIALLY, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE EXPERIENCED THIS PAST SPRING WITH THOSE MASSIVE FIRES OUT WEST WAS THIS IDEA OF DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND A HOME.

YOU KNOW, AS WE HAVE THIS GREEN UP, NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT STRATEGIES TO PROTECT YOUR HOME.

IN CASE YOU ARE IN THE MIDST OF AN ACTIVE WILDFIRE.

SO WITH STRATEGIES LIKE FIREWISE, WHAT WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IS TO LOOK AT PLANTING STRATEGICALLY, RIGHT?

THERE ARE DIFFERENT ZONES AROUND YOUR HOME, RIGHT.

WITHIN 0 TO 5 FT.

WE LIKE TO SEE FOLKS PLANT, YOU KNOW, AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, TRY TO AVOID THINGS THAT MIGHT BE FLAMMABLE IN CASE THERE IS AN ACTIVE FIRE.

AS WE GET FROM 5 TO 30 FT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE START TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE, YOU KN, NATIVE PERENNIALS, YOU KNOW, SHORTENING YOUR GRASS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THEN TRYING TO GET RID OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT ACT AS A FUEL DURING A WILDFIRE SITUATION.

SO WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU AREN THE MIDST OF A WILDFIRE, WE WANT TO GIVE FIREFIGHTERS AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE TO RESPOND ON THE SCENE AND PROTECT YOUR HOME.

YOU KNOW, WE SAW THAT OUT WEST WITH THE MOREL AND COTTONWOOD FIRES, AND IT'S PIVOTAL NOW MORE THAN EVER, REALLY.

>> ESPECIALLY OUT WEST, IT'S STILL AN EXTREME DROUGHT.

OBVIOUSLY THEY GOT SOME RAIN THIS PAST WEEK.

HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH IN THE LONG TERM TO SUBSIDE THINGS.

IF WE START HAVING THESE WINDIER DAYS AGAIN, ESPECIALLY, THAT'S WHEN YOU REALLY NEED TO START WATCHING OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THERE ARE SOME OF THOSE DAYS COMING UP, AND HOPEFULLY THIS RAIN WAS ENOUGH TO GET US PAST THOSE, BUT YOU JUST NEVER KNOW.

ESPECIALLY ONE LITTLE SPARK OUT THERE WITH HOW DRY IT'S BEEN.

AND I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAYING IT'S NOT GREENED UP IN SOME PLACES, ONE LITTLE SPARK OUT THERE AND THAT CAN JUST TAKE OFF ON THOSE WINDY DAYS.

SO ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT OUR SUMMER OUTLOOK WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE HOTTER AND DRIER, IT'S WHAT IS EXPECTED.

ONCE YOU START GETTING INTO LATER SUMMER.

IF THESE DEFICITS KEEP GROWING AND STUFF REALLY HASN'T GREENED UP, THAT'S A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD, ESPECIALLY AS HE SAID LATER IN HARVEST WHEN THOSE COMBINES GO THROUGH THERE AND IT'S REALLY WINDY AND STUFF'S JUST BLOWING AROUND, IT CAN TAKE OFF INSTANTLY.

(SOFT WIND BLOWING) >> IT'S ALWAYS BETTER TO BE, EXCUSE ME, PREPARED FOR THE WORST BEFORE IT HAPPENS.

ALSO, WE KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD STRONG WINDS AND FLOODING THAT DAMAGED YOUR LANDSCAPES.

WE WANT YOU TO BE SAFE CLEANING THINGS UP AND HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL THAT CAN GUIDE YOU.

CHECK THAT OUT AFTER THE SHOW.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT ROUND OF QUESTION TWO FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THEY FOUND THIS GLOWING CATERPILLAR AT PRAIRIE RIDGE STATE PARK NEAR HARLAN, IOWA.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT ABOUT IT.

TWO PICTURES, THIS ONE AND THEN THE THE GLOWY.

>> ONE GLOW ONE.

THAT'S JUST ALWAYS FUN.

THERE YOU GO.

>> YEAH.

>> SO THIS IS A GLOW WORM.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

THEY ARE IN A GROUP OF BEETLES CLOSELY RELATED TO FIREFLIES.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU SEE THAT GREEN LUMINESCENCE THERE.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> I LOVE IT.

TWO PICTURES FROM RED CLOUD.

AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A STRANGE FASCIATION ON THE LICORICE MINT.

AND THEN THE WHITE BLOB APPEARED.

AND THEN THIS BEAUTIFUL SPIDER CAME OUT FROM THE BLOB.

WHAT IS IT?

>> SO WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CRAB SPIDERS THAT ARE REALLY CLOSELY LOOKING.

IN THIS CASE, THIS ONE IS THE FROM YELLOW TO WHITE, AND THEY CAN CHANGE THEIR COLOR AT WILL.

AND SO THAT PINK THERE AND EVERYTHING IS THEM TRYING TO BLEND IN, WAITING FOR A POOR POLLINATOR TO COME THROUGH AND GET EATEN.

>> OH, I LOVE IT.

IT'S SO PRETTY.

THREE FROM BROWNVILLE FOUND THIS AND SHE THINKS IT'S A MALE NORTHERN BLACK WIDOW.

>> WELL, IT IS A MALE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER.

HOWEVER, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WITHOUT VERY, VERY CLOSE EXAMINATION.

AND A SPIDER EXPERT BETWEEN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN BLACK WIDOW MALES.

>> WE DON'T CARE.

>> IN EITHER CASE.

IN EITHER CASE, THE MALE IS HARMLESS AND THE FEMALE DOES HAVE THE NEUROTOXINS IN HER VENOM.

SO TREAD CAREFULLY.

>> DON'T CARE.

TWO PICTURES.

TERRI FROM NORTHEAST OF CENTRAL CITY.

WHAT ARE THESE WEEDS?

THERE ARE TWO IN HERE.

WHAT TO KILL?

THEY'RE HARD TO PULL.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS A VERVAIN?

I PROBABLY WOULD LEAN ON MY SOIL KNIFE TO DIG THIS OUT, BUT THE SECOND ONE IS DIFFERENT.

I THINK THIS IS A 4 O'CLOCK.

SO I THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY SEEDING THEM ABOUT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THAT IS.

SO SO THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT ONES.

BOTH.

THIS ONE WOULD NEED MORE THAN A SOIL KNIFE.

IT WOULD NEED A SHOVEL.

SO BUT YOU CAN JUST DIG THEM OUT.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE FROM OMAHA.

WHAT IS GROWING AMONGST HER MONARDA AND HER VINCA.

AND IS IT THE SAME THING IN ANOTHER GARDEN?

AND I THINK IT WAS.

SO SHE'S GOT TWO PICTURES OF THE SAME THING.

>> I THINK THIS IS THE VIRGINIA STICKSEED, SO YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE NOTICED IT BECAUSE IT'S A BIENNIAL.

SO LAST YEAR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE JUST A ROSETTE.

SO YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE NOTICED IT.

AND THIS YEAR IT'S GOING TO GROW UP AND IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO PRODUCE THE FLOWER IN THE SEED.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED BECAUSE IT WILL BE YOU'LL HAVE EVEN MORE OF THEM.

SO JUST CUT IT BACK, DIG IT UP.

>> YOU'LL HAVE THEM IN YOUR SOCKS.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM LINCOLN.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW, IS THIS A MOING GLORY OR SOMETHING ELSE WORTH KEEPING?

IT SHOWED UP UNDER A TREE AND LOOKS LIKE IT WILL GROW FAST.

>> IT WILL GROW VERY FAST.

THIS IS A BUR CUCUMBER.

SO WE HAD ONE ON THE CORNER OF 33RD AND VINE FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

IT ACTUALLY KILLED A TREE.

SO YEAH.

GET RID OF IT.

PULL IT UP.

GET.

YEP.

BURN IT.

>> OKAY.

THREE PICTURES.

KYLE FROM SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA TREE WAS CUT DOWN THIS PAST WINTER.

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS AN IRONWOOD.

WHAT IN THE WORLD WITH THIS ORANGE?

AND I THINK WE HAVE THREE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF THIS.

>> YEAH, AND YOU THINK BUGS CAN LOOK COOL?

THIS IS, SO IT HAS THE SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR THIS.

BEAR WITH ME IS ORANGE GOO.

IT'S ACTUALLY JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS.

SO IT'S CLOSELY RELATED TO SLIME FLUX OR BACTERIAL WETWOOD.

BUT IN THE SPRING THAT'S WHEN TREES WANT TO BE MOVING.

A LOT OF STUFF FROM THE ROOTS UP.

AND EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS ALREADY CUT, THERE'S STILL THE TREE IS STILL TRYING TO SEND SAP UP INTO THE TO THE REST OF THE TREE.

THAT SAP WAS ORIGINALLY COLORLESS, BUT THEN DIFFERENT FUNGI, YEAST, BACTERIA COLONIZED IT AND GAVE IT THAT AWESOME ORANGE COLOR.

>> LOVE IT.

>> YEAH, JUST A COOL THING.

>> ONE FROM GRETNA.

THREE BLUEBERRY BUSHES IN HER SMALL GARDEN AND ONE HAS SPOTS ON PARTS OF THE STEM.

IT ALSO IS AFFECTING THE BERRIES.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT'S ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE MANY BLUEBERRY STEM CANKERS THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK THIS IS BOTRYOSPHAERIA STEM CANKER.

WE CAN KIND OF SEE SOME OF THOSE, SEE IT'S FORMING SPORES IN THE MIDDLE OF THOSE SPOTS.

FUNGICIDES REALLY TEND NOT TO WORK WITH THIS ONE BECAUSE ANY TIME WE HAVE MODERATE TEMPERATURES, SO KIND OF MID 70S TO LOW 80S, THOSE FUNGI ARE GOING TO BE RELEASING MORE SPORES.

SO PRUNING IT OUT IS REALLY THE BEST THING.

AND THEN TRYING TO, ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE CIRCULATION THROUGH THAT STAND IS REALLY GOING TO HELP TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES FROM LINCOLN, A LAWN SERVICE LAST WEEK.

AND SHE'S WONDERING, IS IT DISEASE OR IS IT DRIFT ON THESE ROSES.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS DISEASE.

THIS IS ROSE ROSETTE.

SO A FUN THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ROSES IS IF YOU DON'T LIKE THORNS ON ROSES, YOU'LL LOVE THIS DISEASE.

BECAUSE IF YOU GO OUT AND TOUCH THE TOUCH, THE NEW GROWTH, ALL THOSE THORNS ARE GOING TO BE AS SOFT AS LIKE HAIRS.

AND SO THEY'LL JUST KIND OF MOVE, MOVE WITH YOUR FINGERS.

THEY WON'T POKE YOU AT ALL.

UNFORTUNATELY, MOST PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THAT WITH THEIR ROSES.

THE ONLY CONTROL IS, IS REMOVAL.

IT'S SPREAD BY A MITE.

BUT WE'VE BEEN SEEING A LOT MORE ROSE ROSETTE IN THE AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE, DANA THREE FROM BENNETT.

HACKBERRY AND IT'S LIKELY DROUGHT.

>> YES.

>> IT'S WHAT DO WE HAVE HERE.

>> I THINK THE CLIENT MENTIONED THAT THEY DID SOME TRENCHING.

>> THEY DID.

>> YEAH.

LIKE WITHIN SIX FEET OF THE TREE.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WAS LAST FALL AND THEY DID TRY TO HELP IT OUT.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST A LOT OF LEAVES AND JUST CAUSES A LOT OF STRESS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU KNOW, WATERING, DEEPLY WATERING, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, UNDER THE ROOTS OR UNDER THE DRIP LINE AND MAYBE BEYOND MULCH THE TREE.

JUST GOOD PLANT CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES FROM LINCOLN.

SO IS THIS A DISEASE OF THE TREE OR IS IT ANIMAL?

AND SHE'S LOOKING REALLY AT THE BASE, I THINK.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW I THINK IT DOES LOOK LIKE BARK INJURY.

AND THAT'S ANY NUMBER OF THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE IT.

I CAN'T QUITE TELL WHAT DIRECTION THAT'S FACING.

BUT YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST THIN TENDER BARK ON THOSE JAPANESE MAPLES.

COULD BE SUNSCALD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT CALLUSING OVER.

JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

THE TREE IS ALSO PLANTED A LITTLE DEEPLY.

YOU MIGHT PULL THAT BACK, WIDEN THE MULCH RING, JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CALCIUM OVER.

>> ALL RHT.

AND TWO FROM BLUE HILL.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS ONE OF THE HAIL PICTURES.

WILL THE ONIONS GROW BACK OR ARE THEY DONE.

>> YOU KNOW.

SO THEY GROW FROM VERY LOW IN THE BASE.

AND I'D GIVE IT 10 TO 14 DAYS.

THIS IS PRETTY DRAMATIC DAMAGE.

BUT IF IN IF IN 10 TO 14 DAYS, IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MUSHY SOFT ROT, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT YOUR YOUR ONIONS WILL BE SMALLER, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT WORTH GIVING UP JUST YET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

DANA.

EACH YEAR WE START OUR PLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE NEXT TO OUR GARDEN.

WE'VE BEEN HARDENING THEM OFF FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS, AND SOME HAVE GOTTEN QUITE LEGGY.

HERE'S TERRI AT THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN TO TELL US WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN WE ARE FINISHING PLANTING.

WE GOT QUITE A BIT DONE, HOWEVER, AND IF THIS IS HAPPENING IN YOUR GARDEN TOO, WE'VE HAD SOME PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN SITTING IN THE POTS A LITTLE BIT TOO LONG, SO THEY'RE GETTING A LITTLE LEGGY OR THEY'VE STARTED PUTTING FLOWERS ON.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF MANIPULATE THESE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE A GOOD START.

SO SOME OF THESE TOMATOES, WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF LAY OFF TO THE SIDE.

THOSE STEMS WILL ACTUALLY PRODUCE ROOTS ALL THE WAY ALONG.

SO THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE QUITE AS TALL AND LEGGY.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN THAT WIND AND KIND OF BREAK OFF.

SO WE'RE KIND OF PREPARING THEM FOR GETTING READY TO GROW THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO START TAKING SOME OF THE FLOWERS OFF SOME OF THE ORNAMENTALS.

WE WANT THAT PLANT TO SEND ALL OF ITS ENERGY DOWN INTO ITS ROOTS.

SO IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE STILL PLANTING IN YOUR GARDEN TOO, THESE ARE A COUPLE TIPS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO DO ALONG WITH US SO THAT YOU HAVE GREAT PLANTS TO START AND TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY, ENJOY ALL SUMMER LONG.

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

(BIRDS CHIRPING) >> THANKS, TERRI.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK FROM 13 YEAR OLD LAYLA BOWDER OF SAINT PAUL, SENT IN BY HER DAD, BOYD.

SHE HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT PLANTS IN THEIR LANDSCAPE, INCLUDING LITTLE WHITE INSECTS ON A CALIBRACHOA HANGING BASKET AND GROWTHS ON AN OAK TREE.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THESE ARE AND HOW TO PREVENT THEM.

SO, WAYNE, SHE SENT IN REALLY GOOD PICTURES.

LET'S START WITH THE LITTLE WHITE INSECTS ON THE CALIBRACHOA.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> THOSE ARE ACTUALLY LEFTOVER INSECTS.

THOSE ARE THE SHED EXOSKELETONS OF APHIDS.

AND IF SHE'S LOOKING TO PREVENT THEM, NOT MUCH TO PREVENT.

BUT WHEN YOU DO GET THEM, JETS FROM THE HOSE ARE A GREAT WAY TO WASH THEM OFF.

OR A LITTLE INSECTICIDAL SOAP WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, AND SHE SAID, I THINK THREE OUT OF 15 BASKETS IS ALL THAT HAD THEM.

SO NOT ALL THAT BIG A DEAL.

>> PROBABLY NOT.

JUST TAKE CARE OF THE ONES THAT HAVE THE PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

AND WHAT ABOUT THE THINGS ON THE OAK.

>> CLASSIC OAK BULLET GALLS.

AGAIN, NOT A HARM TO THE TREE.

IF THEY REALLY BOTHER YOU THAT MUCH, YOU CAN PICK THEM OFF.

OTHERWISE, THEY'RE JUST PART OF WHAT GOES ON WITH OAK TREES IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING THOUGH, BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN SOME OAK TREES THAT HAVE SO MANY BULLET GALLS ON THEM THAT YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY EVEN SEE THE TWIG ANYMORE.

SO IN THAT INSTANCE, MAYBE THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE, BUT.

>> MAYBE FOR THAT TWIG, FOR THAT TWIG IT MIGHT BE, BUT FOR THE OVERALL TREE.

NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

AND THOSE ARE CAUSED BY WHAT.

>> THEY ARE CAUSED BY A WASP THAT LAYS THE EGG I THERE.

AND THAT DEVELOPING LARVA THEN CAUSES THE GALL TO GROW.

>> AND THAT HAPPENS SPRING, SUMMER, WINTER?

>> YEAH.

WE'RE IN THAT PERIOD RIGHT NOW.

YOU'RE SITTING GOG.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL THANKS, WAYNE.

THAT WAS FUN FOR HER TO BE ABLE TO SEND THAT TO US.

WELL, GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, POST A QUESTION AND A PICTURE.

YOU MIGHT SHOW UP ON THE BIG BOARD NEXT WEEK.

JUST D YOUR QUESTIONS AND PHOTOS IN THE COMMENTS OF ONE OF OUR POSTS.

IT'S TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP, WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTNING ROUND, PLANT OF THE WEEK AND WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> WELCOME BACK TO BACKYARD FARMER.

COMING UP, WE'LL HEAR FROM ELIZABETH ABOUT PINCHING OFF YOUR ANNUALS BEFORE YOU PLANT THEM.

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

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

LET'S SEE.

LET US START WITH YOU, DANA.

THIS NO BROCCOLI FROM HER EARLY PLANTING IN SEWARD.

IS THERE A BROCCOLI THAT WOULD ACTUALLY SET HEADS NOW AS IT'S GETTING HOTTER?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS IT NECESSARY TO BUY POTTING SOIL FOR EVERY SINGLE SPECIFIC GARDEN PLANT?

BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY MIXES AVAILABLE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY ASKING ABOUT, LIKE WHAT PLANT, BUT IN GENERAL, NOT REALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS PERSON'S GIANT ALLIUMS ARE ALREADY FINISHED FLOWERING AND THE LEAVES ARE YELLOWED.

CAN SHE DIG THEM UP AND DIVIDE AND TOSS?

>> I MEAN, YEAH, IF YOU KNOW, I WOULDN'T IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT, AWESOME.

GO AHEAD.

BUT YOU KNOW, JUST IF THEY'RE NOT TOO THICK, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS NORFOLK PEONIES COLLAPSED IN THE RAIN.

CAN I CUT THEM OFF ALL THE WAY?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

YOU PROBABLY NEED TO LET THEM.

YOU JUST CONTINUE DOING THEIR THING.

YOU COULD TRY TO KIND OF STAKE THEM UP, BUT YOU NEED THAT.

YOU NEED THAT GREEN TISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

LET'S SEE.

LET ME GIVE YOU YOUR OWN.

UNLESS YOU.

>> I'LL TAKE SOMEONE ELSE'S.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU CAN HAVE INSECTS TONIGHT.

GOTHENBURG, LOTS OF TOMATO BLIGHT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.

HOW CAN HE GET AHEAD OF IT THIS YEAR?

>> BIG THING IS SANITATION.

AND SO ONCE YOU START TO SEE IT ON THOSE LOWER LEAVES, TRY TO REMOVE THEM.

AND THEN A TIMED FUNGICIDE APPLICATION, MAYBE EVERY 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

>> WHAT IS THE FUNGICIDE?

QUESTION TWO.

>> SOMETHING THAT CONTAINS CHLOROTHALONIL.

COPPER ALSO WORKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KEARNEY, POTATOES WERE PLANTED AND THEN THEY'RE UNDERWATER FLOODED.

ARE THEY GOING TO BE OKAY TO EAT?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

THE SAME TOMATO BLIGHT.

PHYTOPHTHORA INFESTANS ALSO HITS POTATOES AND IT LOVES SATURATED SOILS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SOUTH BEND VIEWER HAD OAK SAPLINGS ABOUT 12 IN TALL WITH RUST ON THE LEAVES.

HE'S PICKING OFF THE LEAVES.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> IT'S A FINE IDEA.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT THE TREES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS BEATRICE.

SHOULD THEY WATCH FOR ANY PARTICULAR PATHOGENS IN THE FLOODED, LOW LYING PARK IN BEATRICE?

>> THE WATER MOLDS.

SO PYTHIUM PHYTOPHTHORA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB ON YOURS ALSO.

TERRI, LET'S SEE, GRAND.

>> ONES THERE ARE.

>> YES, OF COURSE.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO WIN.

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

>> THIS IS GRAND ISLAND ARE THE STRAW BLANKETS, YOU CAN BUY FROM THE BOX STORES, OKAY FOR COVERING SEED, OR ARE THEY GOING TO SPROUT STRAW?

>> OH, NO.

THEY'RE GOOD FOR SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AURORA, THEY HAVE CLUMPS OF WHAT LOOK LIKE FOUNTAIN GRASS THAT CAME UP ALONG THE EDGES OF THEIR LAWN.

SHOULD THEY DIG IT, OR IS THERE A HERBICIDE?

>> IT'S PROBABLY FOXTAIL WOULD BE MY GUESS.

AND I WOULD JUST DIG IT IF THERE'S NOT THAT MANY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OMAHA, ARE THERE ANY GOOD PUBLIC EXAMPLES OF MICRO CLOVER LAWNS THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH?

>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF IN OMAHA.

NOT THAT I CAN THINK OF, NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHERE TO GET A SOIL TEST DONE.

>> OH, THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES YOU CAN ACTUALLY GOOGLE SOIL TEST PLUS UNL AND THERE'S A WHOLE LIST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HOW LONG CAN TURF WITHSTAND FLOODWATERS STANDING WATER BEFORE IT CROAKS?

>> OH, PROBABLY JUST A HANDFUL OF DAYS WOULD BE MY GUESS BEFORE YOU START SEEING DISEASES AND STUFF.

AND THEN KYLE WOULD BE HAPPY.

>> OKAY.

>> IT'S TRUE.

(ALL LAUGHING) >> ALL RIGHT, WAYNE, LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

COLUMBUS IS OAK TWIG GIRDLER ACTIVE NOW.

AND WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE?

>> WELL, IF IT WAS ACTIVE, YOU WOULD NOTICE BECAUSE THE BRANCHES WOULD BE TIPPED OVER AND TURNING BROWN.

I THINK WE'RE JUST A TAD EARLY FOR THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT FROM THE SAME VIEWER?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

THIS PERSON WAS TOLD THAT HIS ASH HAS BEETLES.

IS IT TOO LATE TO TREAT?

BUT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF BEETLES.

>> YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET BORERS ONCE THEY'RE IN THERE.

ONCE THEY'RE IN THERE, IT'S TOO LATE.

YOU CAN PROTECT, BUT YOU CAN'T CURE.

>> FROM LINCOLN.

IS THERE ANY UPDATE ON SPOTTED LANTERNFLY IN NEBRASKA YET?

>> NOT YET.

NOT YET, THANKFULLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM LINCOLN.

HOLES ARE IN THE LAWN AND THEY'VE FOUND WHAT THEY THINK IS EMERGING CICADAS ALREADY FROM AN ONLINE SEARCH.

>> THAT'D BE A LITTLE EARLY FOR THAT.

MAYBE IT'S BIRDS FORAGING OR MAYBE SOME NIGHT CRAWLERS AT WORK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM KEARNEY.

MILKWEED IS COVERED WITH APHIDS LAST YEAR.

WILL THEY RETURN THIS YEAR?

>> IT'S A TOSS UP WHETHER OR NOT THEY WILL.

IF THE PLANT IS STRESSED, THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE FREE AMINO ACIDS IN THE PLANT FOR THE APHIDS TO GET, AND THEN THEY WILL FEED ON THAT MORE READILY AND BE MORE ATTRACTED TO THE PLANT.

>> SO THERE I DID NOT STACK THE DECK FOR HORTICULTURE, WHICH YOU ALWAYS TELL ME I DO.

>> I DON'T COMPLAIN.

>> IT IS TIME FOR OUR PLANT OF THE WEEK.

A WE STAYED RIGHT HERE ON CAMPUS WITH A WONDERFUL SMALLER UNDERSTORY TREE.

HERE'S JEFF TO TELL US MORE.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> FOR THIS WEEK'S PLANT OF THE WEEK, WE HAVE ACER PALMATUM.

IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS BLOODGOOD.

SO THIS IS JAPANESE MAPLE.

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THESE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD OR SEEN THEM AROUND TOWN.

WHEREVER YOU'RE AT.

IT'S A POPULAR SMALL TREE.

IT DOES RELATIVELY WELL HERE IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

THIS ONE IS AN OLDER ONE HERE IN MAXWELL ARBORETUM ON EAST CAMPUS.

BUT IT STARTS THE BLOODGOOD STARTS WITH THIS NICE BURGUNDY FOLIAGE.

AND IT'LL IT'LL MODERATE A LITTLE BIT AS WE GO THROUGH THE SUMMER, BUT IT HOLDS THIS FOLIAGE PRETTY GOOD.

THERE'S SOME GREEN VERSIONS OUT THERE, AND THE GREEN VERSIONS WILL ALSO HAVE SOME GOOD FALL COLOR.

THEY'RE NOT INVASIVE.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A LOT OF SEEDLINGS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF TIMES THAT'S A CONCERN WHEN YOU HAVE A MAPLE IN YOUR YARD AND THEY'RE RELATIVELY SMALL, YOU MIGHT GET 15 FT TALL OVER TIME, BUT IT'LL TAKE A WHILE TO DO THAT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU IF YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE ONE OF THESE IN YOUR, IN YOUR YARD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS A GOOD EASTERN EXPOSURE.

WE REALLY WANT TO KEEP IT OUT OF THE LATE DAY SUN SO IT CAN HANDLE THE MORNING SUN WELL, BUT NOT THE LATE DAY HEAT.

SO BLOODGOOD MAPLE, WHY DON'T WE SEND IT OVER TO GANNON FOR THE THE WEATHER?

(BIRDS CHIRPING) >> HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT THIS WEEK AND KIND OF RECAP WHERE WE ARE SO FAR THIS YEAR.

THESE MA ARE GOING TO COMPARE TO THE CLIMATE NORMALS, WHICH IS 1991 TO 2020 COMPARED TO THIS YEAR.

LOOKING AT TEMPERATURES, YOU CAN DEFINITELY SEE THERE'S A VERY STRONG SIGNAL TOWARD ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES.

MOST PLACES ARE RUNNING IN THE TOP FIVE WARMEST YEARS SO FAR, WHILE OTHERS, SUCH AS SCOTTSBLUFF, ARE HAVING THE WARMEST YEAR SO FAR.

RELATIVELY RECENTLY, WE'VE KIND OF COOLED OFF A BIT, BUT MOST OF THESE WERE DRIVEN BY THE LATE WINTER AND EARLY SPRING TEMPERATURES.

LOOKING AT PRECIPITATION.

ONCE YOU START GETTING WEST OF LINCOLN, IT REALLY STARTS TO TAPER OFF, AND MOST PLACES ARE BELOW 50% OF THEIR NORMAL PRECIPITATION THIS YEAR.

ONCE YOU START GOING FURTHER WEST BY SCOTTSBLUFF, YOU REALLY START TO SEE IT'S TAKING OFF AND BELOW 25%.

AND THOSE PLACES HAVE RECEIVED LESS THAN TWO INCHES THIS YEAR SO FAR.

THE FIRE HAZARD AND THE DROUGHT HAS REALLY TAKEN OFF IN THAT AREA.

SO WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT LONG WEEKEND.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON.

AND OF COURSE, FIRST IS BACKYARD FARMERS AT SCHRAMM STATE PARK, PARK STATE PARK.

SO SATURDAY, MAY 30TH, NOON TO FIVE, FREE PARKING.

BRING A CHAIR OR A BLANKET FREE IN AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS ARE GOING TO BE THERE AS WELL.

IT'LL BE A FABULOUS DAY.

OUR SECOND ONE IS WAY OUT WEST AND THAT IS THE MONUMENT VALLEY VALLEY IRIS SOCIETY IRISH SHOW SATURDAY THE 23RD FROM 10 TO LATER AND SUNDAY, MAY 24TH FROM NOON TO 3 PM.

UNL PANHANDLE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION NTER IN SCOTTSBLUFF.

SO WINDING DOWN A LITTLE ON ANNOUNCEMENTS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS ALREADY OUT IN THEIR GARDENS.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO FROM WEST OF GURLEY, NEBRASKA, NOH OF SIDNEY.

WAYNE, ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL VISITOR HANGING OUT ON SOME SWEET WILLIAM.

SHE SENT BEAUTIFUL PICTURES.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW HOW WE CAN KEEP PROVIDING GOOD LIVING SPACES.

AND WHAT DO THESE LOOK LIKE AS A CHRYSALIS AND A CATERPILLAR?

>> WELL, THEY LOOK VERY SIMILAR TO YOUR EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

BUT THIS IS NOT AN EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

THIS IS A TWO TAILED TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

WE FIND THEM IN THE WESTERN PARTS OF THE STATE AND SOME OF THE ROUGH BRUSH COUNTRY.

AND SO THIS IS A NICE ONE.

I REMEMBER THESE GROWING UP OUT THERE.

>> BEAUTIFUL AND TWO TAILS.

>> YES.

>> ONE FROM UNION, NEBRASKA.

HE FOUND SIX MONARCH CATERPILLARS IN THE FOUR AND FIVE INSTAR STES ON COMMON MILKWEED ON MAY 14TH.

HE THINKS IT'S THE EARLIEST HE HAS EVER SEEN THEM.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> SO THE MONARCHS WERE EARLY THIS YEAR.

THEY'RE VERY EARLY.

NORMALLY WE DON'T SEE THEM FIRST ONES UNTIL ABOUT MID-MAY THIS YEAR.

WE WERE SEEING THEM IN MID-APRIL, SO THEY'RE ABOUT A MONTH AHEAD OF WHERE WE WOULD NORMALLY THINK WE WOULD SEE THEM.

SO YES, THEY'RE RIGHT.

THIS IS UNUSUAL.

>> OKAY.

EMERSON, NEBRASKA.

IS THIS WHAT IS CAUSING HIS ASPARAGUS TO CURL?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE CUTWORM.

AND WHAT'S CAUSING THE ASPARAGUS TO CURL?

NOT THAT I CAN REALLY SEE MUCH HERE.

COULD BE ASPARAGUS BEETLE FEEDING.

IT COULD BE COLD TEMPERATURE SWINGS.

IT COULD BE HERBICIDE EXPOSURE.

IT'S TOUGH WITHOUT SEEING THE EXACT SYMPTOMS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM LINCOLN, TWO PICTURES.

THESE LITTLE BUGS ON DAISIES ARE KIND OF CUTE.

BUT ARE THEY GOOD, BAD OR SOMEWHERE IN BETWEEN?

>> IT ALL DEPENDS ON PERSPECTIVE.

SO THESE ARE VARIED CARPET BEETLES.

THEY DO NOT AFFECT OUR MODERN CARPET SINCE THEY'RE SYNTHETIC FIBERS.

BUT THE ADULTS DO POLLEN AND NECTAR AT FLOWERS, AND THE LARVAE ARE THE BANE OF INSECT COLLECTIONS EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THEY WILL EAT AND DESTROY THEM.

>> OH, DEAR.

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

>> GOOD.

ON ONE HAND, BECAUSE THEY'RE RECYCLERS.

EVIL.

ON THE OTHER HAND, IF YOU'RE AN ENTOMOLOGIST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM LINCOLN.

TERRI, THIS PLANT HAS APPEARED ALL OVER THE GARDEN BED.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES SHE CONTROL IT?

SHE THINKS IT'S RED AMARANTH.

>> YEP.

SHE WOULD BE RIGHT.

SO GOOD.

GOOD JOB.

THEY'RE NOT THAT HARD TO PULL.

HOWEVER, IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT THERE WITH LIKE THE GLOVE AND HERBICIDE, YOU CAN JUST, ALL OVER.

>> GLOVE OF DEATH.

YEAH.

AND THEY SEE IT ALL OVER.

>> THEY DO.

YEAH.

OUR NORTH BED IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN HAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM BECAUSE WE GREW THEM THERE LAST YEAR.

THEY'RE COMING UP VOLUNTEER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> TWO FROM DENTON.

THIS LOOKS LIKE CRABGRASS.

THAT IS ALREADY QUITE LARGE.

CAN SOMETHING BE DONE TO GET RID OF IT NOW.

>> SO POST-EMERGENCE OF CRABGRASS OR SOME OF THOSE WARM SEASON GRASSES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO CONTROL.

YOU CAN USE EITHER MESOTRIONE OR QUINCLORAC ON THOSE.

SO THOSE WOULD BE TWO POSTS THAT YOU CAN USE TO HELP CONTROL THAT.

HOWEVER, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE READING THE LABEL AND YOU'RE NOT DOING IT WHEN IT'S TOO HOT.

SO ONCE WE START HITTING KIND OF THAT 80, 85 DEGREES, YOU'RE GETTING TOO HOT TO BE ABLE TO SPRAY, SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE HERE FROM MILLARD.

WHAT IS THIS WEED THAT IS IN SHADY PARTS OF THE GARDEN, ESPECIALLY THE MORE MOIST SPOTS.

AND HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF IT AND KEEP IT FROM COMING BACK?

>> YAY!

ONE OF MY FAVORITES TO SAY.

>> THAT'S MINE TOO.

SORRY.

>> PENNSYLVANIA PILLITTERI.

SO THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY VERY EASY TO PULL.

I HAD IT IN MY YARD AND I JUST KEPT PULLING.

IT TOOK ME A COUPLE OF YEARS.

JUST PULL IT.

DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED.

VERY EASY TO GET RID OF.

>> YEAH.

IT'S KIND OF FUN.

ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, SO WE HAVE SEVERAL PICTURES HERE.

>> IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME.

>> THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM STANDING BEAR LAKE.

AND THIS WAS SUNDAY, MAY 17TH AFTER THE RAIN ONLY ON THE SEEDER.

SHE THOUGHT IT INVADED THE PINE CONES.

THEN WE HAVE THIS ONE.

AND THEN WE HAVE FROM ELKHORN AND FROM ELKHORN.

AND WE HAVE A LOT OF THESE THIS LAST WEEKEND.

>> YEAH.

NO.

AND IT'S THAT IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WITH THE RECENT MOISTURE, OUR CEDAR APPLE RUST OR OUR, OUR GYMNOSPORANGIUM RUSTS, I WILL SAY ARE REALLY IN FULL EFFECT IN THIS PICTURE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT RUSTS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THE ONE THAT'S THE HAS LIKE THE HORNS, KIND OF THE OCTOPUS LOOKING ONE.

THAT'S TRUE CEDAR APPLE RUST.

THE OTHER ONE THAT WAS MORE KIND OF JUST YELLOW GLOBS ON THE, ON THE BRANCHES.

THAT'S ACTUALLY CEDAR QUINCE RUST.

SO GYMNOSPORANGIUM CLAVIPES.

BUT YEAH, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR.

TYPICALLY, WE DON'T SEE MAJOR DAMAGE ON THE, ON OUR CEDAR OR JUNIPER HOSTS.

IF YOU ARE WANTING TO CONTROL YOUR APPLES OR ANY OF YOUR ROSACEOUS HOSTS, NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY SOMETHING.

MYCLOBUTANIL WORKS PRETTY WELL.

IT HAS ABOUT A. IT KIND OF CAN GO BACK IN TIME A LITTLE BIT.

SO IT GIVES YOU A LITTLE BIT, A FEW EXTRA DAYS TO GET OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY SPRAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES FROM PLATTSMOUTH OF NEW GALA.

APPLE TREE PLANTED TWO WEEKS AGO.

LOOKED VERY HEALTHY UNTIL THE LAST FEW DAYS AND HAS YELLOW SPOTTING LEAVES.

>> YEAH.

SO WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS LEAF, I THOUGHT, OH, IT'S SCAB, WHICH DOES LOOK A LOT LIKE APPLE SCAB.

HOWEVER, IT'S A TREE THAT WAS PLANTED TWO WEEKS AGO.

LEAVES ARE GOING TO BE DOING SOME WEIRD THINGS.

I WOULD JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CONTINUING TO GIVE IT ADEQUATE MOISTURE.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S A TON OF DISEASE OR A TON OF INFECTED LEAVES ON IT.

SO I WOULD JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE GIVING IT PLENTY OF WATER AND HELPING IT GET A GOOD START ON LIFE.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE FROM LOGAN, UTAH.

AND HE SAW AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THREE LITTLE SHROOMS ON HERE.

>> YEAH AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE ONE A LITTLE BIT UP AS WELL.

>> YEAH.

>> NO IDEA AND I ASKED QUITE A FEW PEOPLE.

BUT REALLY THIS GOES INTO HOW DO WE TAKE PROPER PICTURES?

AND IF YOU CAN'T TELL A DISTINGUISHING FEATURE ON A PICTURE THAT YOU'VE TAKEN, THERE'S NO WAY THAT ME OR WAYNE OR ANYONE ELSE WHO LOOKS AT IT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO EITHER.

AND SO ESPECIALLY WITH MUSHROOMS, SOME OF THE THINGS WE WANT, FIRST, WE WANT TO HAVE A CLOSE UP PICTURE THAT HAS SOME SORT OF SCALE.

SO WE KNOW HOW BIG IT IS.

I WANT TO SEE THE UNDERSIDE OF IT IF WE CAN AND ALSO WHAT IT'S GROWING ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KYLE.

LET'S SEE FROM GRETNA.

SHE HAS SO MANY PEACHES ON HER TREES AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT IS THE BEST METHOD TO ENSURE SHE DOESN'T HAVE A BUNCH OF BROKEN BRANCHES.

>> YEAH, SHE'S REALLY LUCKY.

BUT THIS IS A COMMON PEACH PROBLEM AND SO WE WANT TO KIND OF THINK ABOUT THINNING.

SO YOU WANT 6 TO 8 IN BETWEEN AND START WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE SMALLER OR DAMAGED OR, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.

PULL THEM OUT.

YOU CAN ALWAYS PROP IF THEY DO GET TOO HEAVY.

BUT NEXT YEAR I'D THINK ABOUT PRUNING THAT TREE BACK BECAUSE I THINK HER OTHER COMMENT WAS, "IT'S TOO TALL FOR ME."

>> IT'S TOO TALL.

RIGHT.

AND FOUR ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS FROM MILLARD ARBOR VITAE, PLANTED TWO YEARS AGO.

THE BROWN SHOWED UP AFTER THE FIRST WINTER.

IT HAS IMPROVED.

THEY'RE A LITTLE SHORTER.

ON THE OTHER SIDE.

SHE'S WONDERING WHETHER IT'S NEEDLES PH AND I DID ASK, WOULD THERE HAPPEN TO HAVE BEEN A DOG LIFTING ITS DOG LEG?

AND SHE SAID, NO.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A COMMON MYTH THAT FOLKS THINK THAT THE NEEDLES ARE CHANGING.

YOU KNOW, IN GENERAL, THE SOIL.

THIS TO ME LOOKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, SOME TRANSPLANT STRESS PROBABLY FROM THAT FIRST YEAR AND THEN SOME WINTER INJURY.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GROW BACK, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU CAN GENTLY PRUNE THAT OUT.

THE SMALLER ONES TO THE RIGHT, I SUSPECT, HAVE TO DO WITH COMPETITION AND OR SHADE FROM THE TREES THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST SOME MULCH AND GOOD PLANT CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

DANA.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY NATURAL WHEN YOU GO TO THE GARDEN CENTER TO PICK UP ANNUALS, TO CHOOSE THE ONES WITH THE MOST BLOOMS, ELIZABETH IS GOING TO TELL YOU TO PINCH THOSE OFF FOR A GOOD REASON.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE'RE BUYING ALL THOSE ANNUALS EITHER TO PUT INTO CONTAINERS OR TO INSTALL IN OUR LANDSCAPE.

BUT WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO TO KEEP THOSE ANNUALS LOOKING NICE ALL YEAR ROUND?

NOW, WHEN WE FIRST GET THOSE ANNUALS FROM THE GARDEN CENTER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE MEAN.

AND ON SOME OF THEM WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PINCH OFF THOSE FLOWERS.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RIP UP THAT ROOT BALL BEFORE WE GO AHEAD AND PLANT THEM.

NOW, THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON, WE'RE GOING TO ALSO NEED TO PINCH BACK SOME OF THOSE DEAD AND DYING FLOWERS.

WE ALSO HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REMOVING THOSE LEAVES THAT AREN'T LOOKING THEIR BEST.

AND IF IT'S A FLOWERING CONTAINER, WE ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT ADDITIONAL FERTILIZER.

THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO MAKE THESE FLOWERS BLOOM THEIR BEST THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF FLOWER.

SOME OF THEM WE'RE GOING TO PINCH BACK NOW SO THAT THEY START TO BRANCH.

SO THOSE THINGS LIKE OUR COLEUS ARE REALLY GOING TO DO REALLY WELL IF WE PINCH BACK THAT GROWING POINT.

SO THEY WILL START TO BRANCH OUT.

OTR ONES THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT IN OUR LANDSCAPE THAT HAVE A SINGLE FLOWER ON THEM, LIKE A GERANIUM.

WE WOULD PINCH BACK NOW AND THEN WE WOULD REMOVE ANY OF THOSE SPENT FLOWERS AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES.

SO MAKING SURE THAT WE PROVIDE THAT SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION OR THAT WATER TO THEM, PINCHING THEM BACK, FERTILIZING THEM AND MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SUNLIGHT THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE THESE FLOWERS LOOKING THEIR BEST ALL YEAR ROUND.

(BIRDS CHIRPING) >> PINCHING AND DEADHEADING HELPED THE PLANT PUT ITS ENERGY INTO BLOOM PRODUCTION.

IT MIGHT SEEM DESTRUCTIVE AT FIRST, BUT JUST WAIT A BIT AND YOU'LL BE REWARDED.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES IN LINCOLN.

SHE FOUND THIS DEAD INSECT IN HER LAUNDRY ROOM.

SHOULD SHE BE WORRIED?

>> WELL POSSIBLY.

THIS IS A MALE ORIENTAL COCKROACH.

AND SO SOMETIMES THEY'RE CALLED WATER BUGS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO ADMIT THEY HAVE COCKROACHES.

IF IT'S JUST THE ONE, IT MAY NOT BE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IF YOU START SEEING LITTLE ONES OR MULTIPLES, THEN IT MIGHT BE TIME TO LOOK INTO EXCLUSION OR POSSIBLE BAIT STATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM HUMPHREY.

WHAT IS THIS GUY FRIEND OR FOE.

>> FOE.

>> OKAY.

>> ORIENTAL OR EXCUSE ME.

INDIAN MEAL MOTH WRONG ONE INDIAN MEAL MOTH.

THEY WILL GET INTO ALL KINDS OF STORE DRY GOODS, FIND WHERE THEY'RE INVESTING.

GET RID OF IT QUICK, OR YOU WILL HAVE A PROBLEM FOR MONTHS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LINCOLN, WHAT TYPE OF BUG IS THIS?

IT WAS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A QUARTER.

>> YES.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN CARRION BEETLE.

AND SO THEY LIKE DEAD THINGS LARGER THAN A RAT SIZE.

>> AND ON THAT NOTE.

LET'S MOVE ON.

LET'S MOVE TO THREE.

WAVERLY IN THE COUNTRY.

HE'S BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS UNDER CONTROL FOR YEARS.

IT'S UNRELENTING.

HE'S PAINTED IT WITH STUMP OUT RIGHT AWAY.

A COUPLE 2 OR 3 WEEKS LATER, IT POPS UP IN NEW SPOTS.

IS IT GREENBRIER?

>> YEP.

IT'S GREENBRIER, AND THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.

YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE WORKING AT, AND IT'LL PROBABLY TAKE YOU 2 OR 3 YEARS.

>> MORE.

OKAY.

>> SO TWO FROM LINCOLN AND UNION PLAZA.

THIS CLOVER LOOKS REALLY GOOD ON SOIL AND A CONSTRUCTION SITE.

IS THERE A WAY TO SEED MORE OF IT TO CROWD OUT THE WEEDS?

AND IS THAT A GOOD IDEA?

>> SO YES AND NO.

YES, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

YOU WOULD BE RESEEDING IT ALMOST EVERY YEAR.

WE TRIED IT IN THE COURTYARD FOR A COUPLE YEARS, AND IT HAD A GOOD STAND FOR A COUPLE YEARS, AND THEN IT KIND OF FADED AWAY.

YOU WILL NOT HAVE ANYTHING IN THE WINTER TIME, SO IT WOULD BE BARE SOIL.

SO EROSION CONTROL WOULD BE AN ISSUE WHEN THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE KYLE WHAT IS THE BLACK ALL OVER MY MAGNOLIA.

IT'S ABOUT 50% BARE.

IT WAS NORMAL LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH.

SO THAT BLACK IS SOOTY MOLD.

AND SOOTY MOLD IS IT'S A IT'S THE END RESULT OF AN INSECT WITH PIERCING FEEDING MOUTHPARTS.

AND SO I WONDER ABOUT MAGNOLIA SCALE.

AND I THINK THERE'S MAYBE AN APHID THAT, THAT THEY GET.

BUT IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN THIS YEAR.

RIGHT.

I MEAN IT'S NOT QUITE TIME RIGHT.

>> IT'S NOT QUITE TIME YET.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO FOR MAGNOLIA SCALE IS YOU WANT TO USE THAT DOUBLE SIDED TAPE ON THOSE BRANCHES TO TRAP FOR THE CRAWLERS, BECAUSE THAT IS THE STAGE YOU APPLY AND TREAT AT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU CAN'T DO A THING ABOUT THE MOLD.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

>> OR PROBABLY THE TREE AT THIS INT.

>> YEAH.

>> TWO FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

RED PINE IS FULL OF BROWN NEEDLES.

IT'S ABOUT 12 TO 15 YEARS OLD.

AND SHE'S NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE.

AND IT'S BEEN VERY DRY IN UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

>> AND THIS IS JUST NATURAL NEEDLE DROP PINES.

HOLD ON TO THEIR NEEDLES FOR 3 TO 5 YEARS.

AND THEN THEY DROP THE OLD ONES TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW.

THIS IS JUST TYPICAL WITH THE DROUGHT.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT WORSE, THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HOPE FOR RAIN.

>> YES.

>> ONE FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS DANA.

THE BYF PANEL ALWAYS STRESSES TO NOT PILE MULCH UP THE TREE BASE.

WHY DO ALL THE COMPANIES DO THIS, THIS?

AND WHO IS CORRECT ON THIS?

THIS IS AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, APPARENTLY.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE THINK WE ARE THE PLANT POLICE.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THEY WANT US TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW.

I ALWAYS KIND OF SUSPECT LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT DOES TIDY THINGS UP.

PEOPLE PAY FOR SERVICES AND PEOPLE ARE JUST GIVING YOU SERVICES.

BUT WE DON'T LIKE MULCH VOLCANOES.

WE'D RATHER HAVE MULCH, DONUT.

SO PULL THOSE AWAY.

AND THAT'S ALSO WHY I REALLY DON'T LIKE THE RED MULCH, BECAUSE THEN IT JUST ADDS TO THAT VOLCANO APPEARANCE.

>> AND ALL THOSE CRITTERS GET IN THERE AND.

>> OH, AND THEN START DIGGING AROUND.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

ONE FROM OMAHA, WONDERING IF WE HAVE IDEAS ON HOW BEST TO CONTROL THE CLEMATIS, WHICH HAS TAKEN OFF THIS SPRING.

SHE'S WONDERING SHOULD SHE CAN PUT A TRELLIS OVER THE MAILBOX, OR SHOULD SHE PRUNE OFF THE ONES THAT WANT TO GO INTO THE STREET AND WHEN.

>> SO I THINK THIS IS TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING IS PROBABLY A GOOD THING.

YOU KNOW, THIS CAN JUST, YOU KNOW, HAPPEN AND ENJOY IT.

BUT YES, YOU COULD TRY ONE OF THE TRELLISES OR THE OBELISKS AND KIND OF TRY TO CONTROL IT THAT WAY.

I WOULDN'TRUNE THIS UNTIL AFTER IT'S DONE FLOWERING.

I COULDN'T TELL YOU WHICH VARIETY IT IS, BUT I SUSPECT IT'S ONE OF THOSE GROUP TWOS, THE LARGE FLOWERED.

>> ONES, AND SHE COULD MAYBE LOOK ON THE ONES THAT ARE WANTING TO TAKE OVER THE EARTH AND SEE IF THERE'S A BUD.

AND THEN PRUNE THOSE OFF POTENTIALLY.

AND YOU MENTIONED TYPES ON THAT.

YEAH.

NO, MOST PEOPLE JUST SAY IT'S A CLEMATIS.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO ABOUT IT.

>> OH.

>> SO THE TYPES ARE THE BIG THE TYPE TWO ARE THE GREAT BIG ONES.

>> YES.

YEAH.

I YEAH, I DON'T KNOW THE VARIETY.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

IT'S VERY HARD TO KNOW UNLESS YOU'VE ACTUALLY KEPT THE TAG ON THAT PARTICULAR THING.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CLEMATIS ALSO THAT ARE FLOWERING VERY LOW ON THE VINE THIS YEAR.

IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE MAILBOXES, THEY'RE THEY'RE WAY DOWN LOW.

>> BUT I LIKE A CLEMATIS ON A MAILBOX.

MAKES ME THINK OF MY GRANDMA.

>> WELL, AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL IT THE MAILBOX PLANT, NOT THE GRANDMA PLANT.

>> FOR ME, IT'S A GRANDMA PLANT.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

WELL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR BACKYARD FARMER TONIGHT.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED A QUESTION AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW HELPING US ON THE PHONES.

WE'RE MASTER GARDENERS GARY BELL, JOHN CARIOTTO AND TIM DUNGAN.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE GET A SNEAK PEEKF THE 57TH ANNUAL UNMC MONROE MEYER GUILD GARDEN WALK AND HEAR ABOUT THE MISSION THIS EVENT SUPPORTS THROUGH THE LOVE OF GARDENING.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC)