♪ Word of the Week ♪ ♪ Word of the Week ♪ ♪ PBS KIDS Word of the Week ♪ NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA BACKYARD FARMER 2023 >>> 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 FINISH UP THE SEASON WITH A LOOK AT LILAC MANAGEMENT AND A REVIEW OF THE GARDEN.

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

♪ ♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FINAL "BACKYARD FARMER" OF OUR 70TH SEASON.

WE'RE AWFULLY SAD TO HAVE HAVE TO GO AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT WE DO HAVE A GREAT SHOW PLANNED FOR YOU TONIGHT.

AND IF YOU DO HAVE A QUESTION YOU LIKE TO GET ANSWERED BEFORE WE GO AWAY, GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446.

TO GET THE SHOW STARTED AS ALWAYS, LET'S LOOK AT SAMPLES.

WAYNE?

THOSE ARE DEAD.

>> FORTUNATELY.

>> GOOD, WHAT DO WE HAVE?

>> I BROUGHT SOME EASTERN YELLOWJACKETS WITH ME TONIGHT.

THEY WERE BROUGHT INTO THE OFFICE BY A CONTRACTOR IN TOWN ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

THEY WERE UP IN A SOFFIT WHERE EVERY TIME THEY STARTED BANGING ON THE SIDE OF IT AND REPLACING THE FACIA, THEY WOULD COME OUT AND START TRYING TO STING THEM.

AND THEY WERE TRYING TO USE THE FOAMING WASP SPRAY SO IT WOULD EXPAND IN THERE, PROBLEM WAS IT WAS UP IN THE SOFFIT AND THERE WAS TOO MANY PLACES FOR IT TO COME OUT FOR THEM TO GET A GOOD PLUG AND GO.

SO YOU COULDN'T DO IT AT NIGHT, GO UP, SPRAY THE HOLE, PLUG IT LIKE A CLOTH AND LET THEM DIE THAT WAY.

OFTEN TIMES THIS TIME OF YEAR, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAVE BEES THAT ARE OUT AND STINGING THEM.

THEY LIKE TO VISIT PICNICS BECAUSE THEY DO GO AFTER A LOT OF SWEET THINGS SUCH AS FRUIT.

SWEET BEVERAGES.

THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

AND THEY DO TEND TO STING, RATHER UNPROVOKED ESPECIALLY IN DEFENSE OF THE NEST IF YOU ARE TOO CLOSE.

SO, IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH IT YOURSELF AND YOU CALL YOUR PEST CONTROL PROFESSIONAL, DO NOT SAY YOU HAVE BEES BECAUSE THEY WILL TURN YOU DOWN VERY QUICKLY.

IF YOU KNOW YOU HAVE YELLOWJACKETS OR IF YOU NEED HELP KNOWING IF YOU NEED YELLOWJACKETS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE AND THEY CAN GET PICTURES TO SOMEONE THAT CAN HELP YOU IDENTIFY THEM SO THEN THAT PEST CONTROL PROFESSIONAL WILL ASSIST YOU.

>> EXCELLENT, ALL RIGHT, THANKS WAYNE.

OKAY ROCH, YOU HAVE SOMETHING I'M GUESSING MOST PEOPLE DO NOT WANT IN THEIR LAWNS.

>> THAT WOULD BE CORRECT.

AND ACTUALLY, KIM, YOU WERE THE ONE THAT TURNED ME ONTO THIS -- THIS IS BERMUDA.

AND I GOT THIS OFF A CAMPUS OVER A STEAM TUNNEL, AND IT NORMALLY DOESN'T REALLY LIKE IT HERE.

IT TURNS DORMANT OR IT WINTER KILLS AND IT'S JUST NOT REALLY PERENNIAL.

BUT IT'S AMAZING THAT THIS CAN GROW WHERE WE WOULD FIND IT ON THE STEAM TUNNEL.

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD, IT GETS SOME ROAD SALT, IT GETS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

AND PEOPLE WANT TO DO THIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT IS REALLY HIGH IN SALT TOLERANCE AND IT'S REALLY WEAR TOLERANCE -- VERY DROUGHT TOLERANT, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S JUST NOT CONDUCIVE TO GROWING IN OUR LAWNS AND WHEN YOU SEE IT IN YOUR LAWN, IT'S GOING TO BE CONSIDERED A WEED.

BUT THIS IS A REALLY FINE LEAF ONE WHICH IS A LITTLE UNIQUE.

THE ONLY REASON IT CAN TOLERATE HERE AND SOMEHOW IT BLEW IN OR GOT BROUGHT IN BY A BIRD OR WHATEVER, THE ONLY REASON IT CAN BE -- GROWS THERE IS BECAUSE OF THE HEAT FROM THE STEAM TUNNEL ON CAMPUS AND OTHER THINGS.

NOW WE CAN'T REALLY SHOW IT BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A FINE LEAF ONE BUT VERY TYPICAL OF THE WARM SEASON GRASSES LIKE THE BERMUDA GRASS AND BUFFALO GRASS THAT'S GOT HAIRS IN IT AROUND THE COLLAR, WHICH WOULD BE THE KIND OF ZONE DOWN HERE.

BUT UNIQUE IN BERMUDA GRASSES IS THESE THINGS THAT MY KIDS CALL FANGS.

THEY'RE THE WHITE LITTLE THINGS THAT LOOK LIKE VAMPIRE FANGS RIGHT AT THE BASE OF WHERE THE LEAF MEETS THE SHEET.

SO IT IS A UNIQUE SPECIES NOT REALLY NEAT AND CAPABLE OF BEING PROPAGATED HERE.

IF YOU DO PROPAGATE IT HERE, IT IS USUALLY THE VERY COURSE UGLY KIND AND IT'S ONLY GREEN FOR LIKE SIX WEEKS, SO IT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT AND IN THE LAWN, BUT WE DO HAVE PRODUCTS THAT CAN CONTROL IT.

THE -- BASED HOMEOWNER PRODUCTS THAT ARE PUT OUT BY ORTHO OR SCOTTS, EXCUSE ME, SCOTTS MIRACLE GROW, DO A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THIS.

IT WILL TURN WHITE AS A SHEET.

AND IF YOU DO THIS THREE TO FIVE TIMES OVER A GROWING SEASON, AND MAYBE HAVE TO DO IT OVER THE NEXT YEAR, IT CAN DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS ROCH.

THAT IS A MONSTER PIECE OF STEEL WOOL.

>> YEAH, WELL THIS IS ACTUALLY STAINLESS STEEL WOOL.

SO THIS IS A TIME TO EXCLUDE.

AND REMEMBER, IF YOU KILL ONE MOUSE OR KILL ONE SQUIRREL, THAT ONE IS GONE, BUT IF YOU EXCLUDE, YOU ARE KEEPING EVERYBODY OUT.

SO YOU ARE BETTER OFF PUTTING YOUR TIME AND YOUR MONEY INTO EXCLUSION.

SO THIS IS STAINLESS STEEL WOOL, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO RUST OR GO AWAY AND YOU CAN PLUG UP, CUT IT AND PLUG UP ANY KIND OF HOLES YOU'D LIKE TO.

YOU DO NOT USE STAINLESS STEEL IF THERE IS ANY ELECTRICAL OUTLET BECAUSE THAT CONDUCTS ELECTRICITY.

THERE -- YOU HAVE TO WATCH THAT.

BUT IF THERE'S NO ELECTRICAL LINES GOING THROUGH, OKAY, YOU CAN EASILY USE THIS AND YOU CAN CUT IT UP AND PUT IT AROUND ANY KIND OF PIPES COMING IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE, AROUND SOFFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEN, THIS IS LAST WEEK, I HAD SOMEONE CALL ME.

THEY HAD A SQUIRREL GO DOWN THEIR VENT PIPE FOR THEIR STOOL IN THE BATHROOMS.

AND SO, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GET SOME OF THIS, IT IS CALLED -- THIS BRAND, BUT IT'S PORCUPINE WIRE, AND IT'S ALL STAINLESS STEEL.

AND YOU JUST PUT THAT IN THAT AIR VENT, PUT IT IN THE AIR VENT AND THE SQUIRRELS AND THE RATS CAN'T GO DOWN THE AIR VENTS BUT THE AIR CAN COME RIGHT UP, OR YOU CAN JUST PUT IT OVER THE TOP OF THE AIR VENT, OKAY.

AND I'M NOT GOING TO PUT IT ON MY HEAD TO KEEP THE BIRDS AWAY AGAIN, OKAY.

BUT AGAIN, SO, STAINLESS STEEL LASTS A LONG, LONG TIME.

IT IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT IT WILL KEEP EVERYTHING OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS DENNIS.

OKAY, JEFF, YOU BROUGHT US SOME GREAT LOOKING STUFF.

>> I BROUGHT A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO WITH OUR CONDITIONS THIS YEAR, SOMETIMES, WE WILL FORGET ABOUT SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT DO WELL IN NEBRASKA.

SO I HAVE A COUPLE THINGS.

SO I HAVE GOLDENROD AND I HAVE BIG BLUE STEM.

AND SO, BOTH OF THESE PLANTS HAVE DONE WELL WITH LITTLE IN THE WAY OF SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION THIS YEAR.

SO THEY'RE BOTH DOING THEIR THING, THEY LOOK GOOD.

AND THEY HAVE DONE REALLY WELL.

THEY'RE IN A VIRGIN AREA SO, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A LOT OF HEAT.

NOW, IN WETTER YEARS, THESE PLANTS MAY LODGE A LITTLE BIT, THEY MAY LAYOVER BECAUSE THEY'VE PUT ON TOO MUCH GROWTH.

BUT IN A YEAR LIKE THIS, THEY ARE KIND OF KEEPING THEIR SIZE AND THEY LOOK REALLY GOOD.

THE SHRUB I HAVE HERE IS EASTERN WAHOO, SO YOU WANT THEM.

IT'S OUR EASTERN NEBRASKA NATIVE -- ONE OF US.

AND IT DOES WELL IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE.

BUT IT IS A PLANT THAT REQUIRES SUPPLEMENTAL IRRIGATION EVEN THOUGH IT IS A NATIVE PLANT.

SO IT'S KIND OF KNOWING YOUR ZONES AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF WHAT YOU TEACH, AND THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU ARE PAIRING THE RIGHT PLANTS TOGETHER THAT REQUIRE THE SAME SORT OF MAINTENANCE AND MANAGEMENT.

AND THAT WE'RE NOT MIXING THOSE SO THAT YOU ARE OVERWATERING ONE OR UNDERWATERING THE OTHER, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE WHOLE SEASON.

SO THIS IS A SEPARATE LOCATION, BUT AGAIN, I HAVE HAD TO ON A REGULAR BASIS CONTINUE TO WATER, SO.

>> BUT THAT'S GOOD BECAUSE IT IS A REALLY COOL NATIVE PLANT.

>> YEAH, IT'S FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS JEFF.

OKAY WAYNE, YOU GET THE FIRST ROUND OF PICTURES FOR THIS LAST 70TH SEASON SHOW.

YOU HAVE A FOUR FROM THIS FIRST PERSON, THIS IS A BLUE SPRUCE IN SOUTH LINCOLN.

AND SHE SENT A LOT OF PICTURES HERE, LOST ONE LAST YEAR, TOOK A LIMB OFF, DEAD BRANCHES, SHE'S SHOWING A SECTION.

THEN SHE IS SHOWING THIS, AND THEN, SHE FOUND A DINKY LITTLE INSECT.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF THAT IS THE CAUSE.

SHE IS AWARE OF SOME OTHER DISEASES BUT SHE REALLY DOES NOT WANT TO LOSE MORE OF HER TREES.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO IF THEY KEEP IT ON THIS PICTURE, I'M GOING TO POINT OUT SOME THINGS.

SO YOU HAVE THAT LITTLE TINY BEETLE.

I CAN TELL IT'S A BEETLE.

I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A PART OF THE AMBROSIA BEETLE GROUP.

YOU CAN SEE THESE BLUISH STAINS WORKING FROM THE EDGE OF THAT LIMB DOWN IN.

THAT'S A FUNGUS THAT COMES IN THAT BEETLE.

SO THERE IS A MUTUALISM THERE.

THAT BEETLE BRINGS THE FUNGUS TO A NEW TREE, THE FUNGUS STARTS GROWING, THE BEETLE LARVAE GET A LOT OF THEIR NUTRITION FROM EATING THE WOOD INFECTED WITH THAT FUNGUS.

NOW, IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT IT SPREADING TO OTHER TREES, YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR TREES HEALTHY.

THESE BEETLES TEND TO LIKE LOTS OF OUR NATIVE BOARS THAT WE TALK ABOUT.

GO AFTER WEAKENED TREES, STRESSED TREES, DYING TREES.

SO KEEP THEM HEALTHY AND YOU SHOULD HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO KEEP THEM AWAY AT LEAST FOR NOW, BUT IT HAS BEEN A ROUGH GO FOR A LOT OF OUR CONIFERS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE HERE, THIS COMES TO US FROM ESTERVILLE, IOWA.

MATURE OAKS AND THESE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE THAT FELL.

SO HE DID SAY THE MIDDLE OF THE TREE WAS ROTTEN AND HE IS WONDERING DOES HE NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THE REST OF HIS OAKS?

>> IF IT WAS ROTTING I WOULD SAY IF IT IS ROTTING THE LIKELIHOOD OF THAT TREE BEING STRESSED WAS MUCH HIGHER.

JUST LIKE I SAID ON THE PRIOR SET, WE ARE LOOKING AT STRESSED, DYING TREES.

THAT'S WHAT THE BORERS ARE GOING TO ATTACK.

SO AS LONG AS THE OTHER TREES ARE HEALTHY AND THEY'RE NOT OVERLY STRESSED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT SHOULD BE OKAY FOR NOW.

>> OKAY, THANK YOU WAYNE.

OKAY, ROCH HERE'S TWO PICTURES FOR YOU HERE.

THIS IS FROM PLATTSMOUTH.

HE HAD SOME DAMAGE TO THE LAWN AND A FEW OTHER AREAS THIS SUMMER AND THEN THEY SEEDED AT THE END OF THE PROJECT.

THIS IS ALL THAT GREW.

LONG RUNNERS THAT GO THROUGH THE REST OF THE GRASS.

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

>> YEAH, THIS IS A NIMBLEWILL.

I CAN'T CONFIRM THAT IT CAME IN THE SEED.

IT COULD BE THAT THE SEED WASN'T CERTIFIED AND WE CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT WE KNOW THAT IT CAME FROM THE SEED.

I DON'T WANT TO THROW THE SEED COMPANY UNDER THE BUS AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT IS SURPRISING THAT THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAME UP.

NIMBLEWILL CAN SPREAD FROM SEED.

IT IS A PERENNIAL WARM SEASON GRASS VERY SIMILAR TO BERMUDA GRASS AND EVEN BUFFALO GRASS.

BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY NIMBLEWILL.

WHEN WE BLOW THESE PICTURES UP WE CAN SEE THERE IS NO HAIR IN AND AROUND THE CALLER AND THE SHEATH OF THE LEAF.

AND IT'S GOT THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROWTH HABIT OF NIMBLEWILL.

HOW TO GET RID OF IT?

THERE ARE TWO THINGS THEY CAN DO.

ONCE AGAIN AS WE MENTIONED WITH BERMUDA GRASS, IT'S GONNA TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS BUT ANYTHING THAT HAS MESOTRIONE IN IT.

AND THERE ARE SOME SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO PRODUCTS THAT HAVE IT.

THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES I KNOW THAT HAVE IT.

BUT OTHERS HAVE SAID YOU CAN FIND SOME THINGS AT YOUR STORE.

AND IT'S PRIMARILY FOR CRABGRASS BUT IT CAN WORK.

THERE'S A PRODUCT AND I STRUGGLE WITH IT BUT THEY CALL IT ROUNDUP FOR LAWNS, CRABGRASS DESTROYER.

SO IT'S NOT GLYPHOSATE.

IT'S JUST A TRADE NAME FOR A CONSUMER BASED PRODUCT THAT'S ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE FROM SCOTTS.

THE ROUNDUP FOR LAWNS CRABGRASS DESTROYER WILL HAVE A PRODUCT ACTIVE INGREDIENT CALLED TROPRAMEZONE.

IT'S GREAT FOR CRABGRASS BUT ALSO GREAT FOR NIMBLEWILL.

YOU WON'T GET IT IN ONE APPLICATION LIKE YOU WOULD FOR CRABGRASS.

IT WILL TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND TURN IT WHITE.

IT IS SIMILAR TO MESOTRIONE, ONLY IT'S A DIFFERENT CHEMISTRY FROM A DIFFERENT COMPANY AND THEREFORE HAS A DIFFERENT NAME.

BUT THOSE ARE TWO PRODUCTS.

ANYTHING THAT HAS MESOTRIONE IN IT OR EXCLUSIVELY THE ROUNDUP FOR LAWNS CRABGRASS DESTROYER.

ONCE AGAIN IT HAS TROPRAMEZONE WHICH IS A NEW CLASS OF CHEMISTRY THAT NOT ONLY CONTROLS -- WILL DO A GOOD JOB ON NIMBLEWILL BUT IT ALSO DOES A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON GOOSE GRASS AND OTHER DIFFICULT TO CONTROL ANNUAL GRASSY WEEDS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS ROCH.

ONE PICTURE HERE, THIS IS CERESCO VIEWER.

HE HAS THIS PARTICULAR WEED, KEEPS SPRAYING.

WHAT IS THIS AND HOW DOES HE CONTROL IT?

>> THIS IS A LATE-SEASON RAMBO CRABGRASS.

VERY COMMON BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE DROUGHT, WE OFTEN SEE WEED CONTROL GO DOWN.

EVEN THE WEED SPECIES THAT ARE NORMALLY CONTROLLED ARE DROUGHT STRESSED.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO LAUGH, BUT WE SAY PUT WATER ON IT TO GET IT HEALTHILY GROWING AND THEN I MENTIONED THE PREVIOUS CRABGRASS DESTROYER PRODUCT.

ANYTHING THAT'S GOT QUINCLORAC IN IT WILL DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON IT.

IT IS PRETTY LATE IN THE SEASON AND THERE IS SOME HEAD FORMATION ON HERE ALREADY SO THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME SEED PRODUCED.

BUT I WOULD JUST SAY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO GET THAT LAWN HEALTHY AND GROWING AND YOU CAN COMBAT CRABGRASS.

DEFINITELY THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A PRE-EMERGENT IN THE SPRAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE.

THIS WAS EARLIER IN THE YEAR, WE TOLD THEM IT WAS NUTSEDGE, TOO LATE TO TREAT IT.

SO SHE WANTS TO KNOW NOW WHAT TO DO NEXT SPRING AND THIS IS ELM CREEK, NEBRASKA.

WHEN DOES SHE NEED TO BEGIN TO TREAT?

SHE DOES HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S LABELED FOR YELLOW NUTSEDGE AND SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE CAN USE THAT?

>> I IMAGINE IF IT'S LABELED FOR YELLOW NUTSEDGE IT HAS PRETTY GOOD ACTIVITY ON IT.

WITHOUT KNOWING SPECIFICALLY THE CHEMICAL NAME I CAN'T TELL YOU IF IT WILL BE A MULTIPLE APPLICATION ONE OR A SINGLE APPLICATION ONE.

BUT NONETHELESS, THANK YOU FOR ASKING WHAT YOU DO NEXT SPRING.

WE GENERALLY SEE THE BEST YELLOW NUTSEDGE CONTROL OCCURRING IN THE AREAS WHERE YOU KNOW INFESTATIONS ARE, GENERALLY BY THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK IN JUNE.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T SEE IT GROWING MORE AGGRESSIVELY THAN THE GRASS BUT THAT'S WHEN WE KNOW THESE PRODUCTS WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE.

YOU CAN GO LATER IN THE YEAR, PRIOR TO THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR AND GET PRETTY GOOD CONTROL.

AFTER THAT YOU START GETTING GOOD CONTROL OF WHAT WAS THERE BUT YOU BREAK DORMANCY IN THE TUBERS AND YOU START SEEING MORE NUTSEDGE THAN YOU STARTED OUT WITH.

AND YOU CAN CERTAINLY THEN CONTINUE TO SPRAY THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BUT WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO USE THE MOST EFFICIENT MEANS WHICH WAS CONTROL THE NUTSEDGE NO LATER THAN THE FIRST WEEK OR SECOND WEEK IN JUNE WITH A PRODUCT LABELED FOR NUTSEDGE AND THEN YOU DON'T BREAK DORMANCY IN ALL OF THE TUBERS IN THE GROUND AND THEN HAVE MORE THAN YOU STARTED OUT WITH.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ROCH.

DENNIS, THIS IS A JOHNSON LAKE VIEWER.

SEVERAL HOLES ADJACENT TO ROCKS AT WATER'S EDGE.

SIX INCHES DEEP, AT LEAST, AND THREE INCHES IN DIAMETER ABOUT TWO FEET APART.

ANY IDEA ABOUT CREATURE AND WHAT TO DO?

>> WELL, JUST THE SIZE OF THOSE HOLES -- I CAN'T SEE ANY FOOT PRINTS OR PAW PRINTS.

I'M THINKING IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A PACKRAT.

BUT YOU'RE ON THE EDGE OF THE SAND HILLS.

YOU'RE NOT TOO FAR FROM THE EDGE OF THE SAND HILLS AT JOHNSON LAKE.

SO IT COULD ALSO BE DIPODOMYS, OR THE KANGAROO RATs.

THEY'RE NOTED TO BE IN THAT SANDY AREA AS WELL.

IT'S DEFINITELY NOT MUSKRATS AND IT'S DEFINITELY NOT VOLES.

SO I WOULD GO WITH A PACKRAT.

EVEN A NORWAY RAT POSSIBLY, IF THERE'S ANY NORWAY RATS THERE, OR A KANGAROO RAT.

>> AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

>> ENJOY THEM.

THEY'RE BY THE LAKE.

GIVE THEM A LITTLE BATHING SUIT.

>> PERFECT.

HAVE DINNER EVERY NOW AND AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS -- LET'S SEE, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE SHE'S FROM BUT SHE HAS A CRITTER DIGGING UP TULIP AND DAFFODIL BULBS NIGHTLY AND THEY APPEAR TO BE MAKING A BURROW.

WHAT IS AND DO YOU DISCOURAGE THIS?

>> THIS ONE YOU REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT.

SINCE IT IS BEING DIGGING UP AND NOT PULLED DOWN, IF IT WAS PULLED DOWN IT'S PROBABLY A PLAINS POCKET GOPHER.

BEING PULLED UP AT THAT SIZE IT COULD EVEN BE RACCOONS BECAUSE THEY WILL EAT THOSE.

IT COULD PROBABLY COULD BE OPOSSUMS LOVE THOSE THINGS AS WELL AND THEY DO DIG QUITE A BIT.

VOLES, I CAN'T GET A SIZE BUT THEY LOOK FAIRLY SMALL SINCE THEY'RE DAFFODILS.

SO WITH THE TEETH MARKS THAT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO SEE BUT I AM GOING MORE TOWARDS THE VOLE.

>> AND WHAT TO DO?

>> FOR THAT YOU WOULD USE THOSE MULTI-CATCH TRAPS.

AND THOSE ARE THE BOX TRAPS THAT YOU WIND UP AND YOU WILL GET THE VOLES AT NIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

NOW THE NEXT ONE.

WHAT MAKES A BURROW LIKE THIS?

THIS IS WAYNE'S.

>> WAYNE'S.

THAT'S THESE CICADA KILLING WASP, THAT'S NOT A VERTEBRATE.

>> YEAH, AND WE'RE STILL GETTING SOME OF THOSE PICTURES.

>> THERE'S STILL A FEW OF THEM FLOATING AROUND THERE.

>> YOU CAN TELL BY THAT COFFEE GROUND-LOOKING SOIL.

IF IT LOOKS LIKE COFFEE GROUNDS AND IT'S PUSHED OUT WITH A LITTLE GROOVE, THAT IS A WASP AND NOT AN ANIMAL.

>> OKAY.

>> THAT EXIT HOLE IS PROBABLY WAS THE SIZE OF A NICKEL.

>> OKAY, THANKS GUYS.

OKAY, JEFF, YOUR FIRST ONE FOR THE 70TH SEASON IS THIS VIEWER HAS RE-RAISED GARDEN BEDS THAT WERE BUILT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, NOTHING TO GROW IN THEM.

24 BY 24 BY EIGHT FEET.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE LINER WHICH IS POLY AND THEN ROCKS AND THE SOIL IS 40% COMPOST AND WHAT SOUNDS LIKE GARDEN SOIL, NOT PLANTER SOIL.

>> RIGHT.

>> THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD MAKE THE BEDS BIGGER, START OVER WITH THE SOIL, WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY WENT TO A LOT OF WORK AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DID A LOT OF RIGHT THINGS.

LOOKING AT THIS PICTURE, I SEE REALLY A CRUST ON TOP.

SO I THINK WHAT I WOULD DO IS REMOVE THE SOIL THAT YOU HAVE THERE WITHOUT REMOVING THE BASE AND THE DRAINING SYSTEM THAT YOU PUT IN.

AND COME IN WITH MORE OF A LOAMY SOIL WITH SOME COMPOST MIXED INTO IT.

SOMETHING THAT WON'T IDEALLY PROBABLY HAVE AS MUCH SILT OR CLAY IN IT THAT IS CAUSING SOME OF THIS.

AND I THINK THIS MAY BE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH GERMINATION, OR THE SEEDS ARE GERMINATING BUT CAN'T BREAK THROUGH THE CRUST.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JEFF.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS ALLIUM, I AM SORRY, WONDERING WHAT THIS PLANT IS.

>> IT'S A CLEMATIS.

A SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS.

>> AND IS IT ONE THAT IS A GOOD THING OR IS IT ONE THAT IS INVASIVE?

>> WELL, IT CAN BE INVASIVE.

IT'S FUN TO HAVE.

IT CAN BE VERY PRETTY.

BUT OVER TIME IF THE PLANTS THRIVE, THEY WILL TEND TO HAVE SEEDLINGS COME UP.

SO IT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON BUT A LOT OF OUR REALLY GREAT PLANTS WILL GENERATE SOME SEEDLINGS OVER TIME.

BUT YEAH, IT IS A GREAT PLANT, WHAT'S NICE ABOUT IT IS IT BLOOMS IN THE FALL AND THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED THE FOOTBALL CLEMATIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, I HAVE NOT LEARNED THAT ONE.

>> THAT'S HOW I LEARNED THAT.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE ANOTHER IDENTIFICATION BUT IT'S ALSO -- HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THIS PARTICULAR ALLIUM.

AND THEN THERE'S ANOTHER PERSON WHO SENT US A SIMILAR QUESTION WHICH IS, THEY HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO GET RID OF THIS PARTICULAR ALLIUM AND HOW DO YOU GET RID OF IT IF YOU DON'T WANT IT?

IT SPREAD ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> YOU KNOW, WHAT ROCH WAS DESCRIBING WITH THE NUTSEDGE WOULD BE PROBABLY THE SAME SORT OF PRODUCT I WOULD USE ON THE ALLIUM QUITE HONESTLY.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S THE ISSUE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER BULB-FORMING PLANT THAT HAS A LOT OF ENERGY.

IT IS ABLE TO HANDLE SOME HERBICIDE TREATMENTS OVER TIME.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE ROUNDUP WILL SET IT BACK.

THE THREE-WAY KILLERS WILL SET IT BACK.

BUT SOME OF THESE OTHER CHEMISTRIES WITH THE MESOTRIONE WILL PROBABLY BE THE TICKET TO GET THROUGH THOSE.

BUT AGAIN IT'S MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND NOT LETTING IT FLOWER.

THAT'S THE KEY TO SOME OF THESE WEEDY PLANTS.

DO NOT LET THEM FLOWER.

>> YEAH I WANT TO STRESS THAT BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE 10,000 SEEDS PER STOCK AND ONCE YOU'VE GOT THE SEEDS THEN YOU'RE GONNA STRUGGLE THE ENTIRE TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, GUYS.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY OUR LANDSCAPE PLAN TO HAVE TAKEN A BEATING THIS YEAR WITH THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

LILACS HERE ON CAMPUS AND PRETTY MUCH ALMOST ALL OVER NEBRASKA HAVE HAD SOME SERIOUS ISSUES.

SO HERE TO TELL US MORE ABOUT LILAC MANAGEMENT ARE JEFF AND KYLE.

♪ >> WE ARE OUT HERE ON EAST CAMPUS AT OUR HISTORICAL LILACS COLLECTION.

SO, THESE ARE OLD LILACS THAT WE HAVE ON CAMPUS AND A LOT OF US HAVE LILACS AT HOME.

YOU MAY HAVE HAD SOME PROBLEMS THIS YEAR.

I'M HERE WITH KYLE.

AND FIRST, KYLE, I KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM THIS YEAR.

WE HAD, KIND OF, A WEIRD SPRING AND A WEIRD SUMMER.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH OUR LILACS THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, THERE'S A FEW THINGS GOING ON THIS YEAR AS -- AS YOU'VE ALLUDED TO, YOU KNOW?

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD, THAT -- THOSE -- THAT LATE NEAR FROST THAT WE HAD WERE -- HAS REALLY -- IS SHOWING UP AND CAUSED A LOT OF INJURY THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY SHOW UP RIGHT AWAY BUT ONCE WE GOT INTO THE HEAT OF SUMMER, WE'RE NOW STARTING TO SEE SOME FAIRLY SEVERELY BLIGHTED -- BLIGHTED BRANCHES.

YOU KNOW, ADDITIONALLY, THE HEAT THAT WE HAVE HAD, THE HEAT AND THE DROUGHT.

AND SO, IF YOU'RE LIKE ME AND YOU HAVEN'T BEEN WATERING YOUR LILACS NEAR AS MUCH AS YOU SHOULD, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING TO DIE BACK.

COMBINE THAT WITH THE DRY WINTER WE HAVE HAD, THE DROUGHT CONDITIONS, A LOT OF -- A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS LEADING TO JUST POOR-LOOKING LILACS.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU KNOW, BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD DISEASES SHOW UP.

>> OKAY.

>> SO, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LILAC DISEASES, POWDERY MILDEW IS ONE OF THE FIRST THAT COMES TO OUR MIND.

AND POWDERY MILDEW IS THAT WHITE SUPERFICIAL GROWTH ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE LEAF.

NORMALLY IT'S NOT A MAJOR PROBLEM BUT IT CAN LEAD TO SOME EARLY DEFOLIATION.

THE OTHER -- THE MORE PROBLEMATIC DISEASES THAT WE TEND TO SEE ARE BACTERIAL BLIGHT CAUSED BY A PSUEDOMONAS BACTERIA AND A FUNGAL DISEASE CALLED PSUEDOCERCOSPORA LEAF BLIGHT.

>> OKAY.

>> FOR THE -- FOR THE BACTERIAL LEAF BLIGHT, THAT'S A DISEASE THAT TENDS TO BE FAVORED BY COOLER TEMPERATURES.

>> OKAY.

>> AND SO, WE SEE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE SPRING.

>> SURE.

>> AND IT, KIND OF, WILL LEAD TO SOME BROWN SPOTS ON THE LEAVES AND MAYBE SOME LEAF -- SOME LEAF DEFOR -- DEFORMATION, DEPENDING ON WHEN THAT INFECTION OCCURRED.

>> OKAY.

>> NOW, THE ONE THAT I'VE SEEN A LOT MORE OF RIGHT NOW IS OUR FUNGAL DISEASE AND THAT IS, AGAIN, OUR PSUEDOCERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT.

NOT A WHOLE LOT IS KNOWN ABOUT THIS -- ABOUT THIS DISEASE.

WE DIDN'T REALLY SEE IT UNTIL ABOUT THREE TO FOUR YEARS AGO.

IT JUST, KIND OF, SHOWED UP AND IT SHOWED UP EVERYWHERE IT SEEMS.

>> OKAY.

>> IT TENDS TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE ON PLANTS THAT ARE STRESSED DUE TO -- DUE TO DROUGHT, INJURY.

MAYBE THERE ARE SOME HERBICIDE DAMAGE AS WELL.

SO, YOU KNOW, I AM REALLY NOT THAT GREAT AT PRUNING MY LILACS.

HOW COULD I DO SOME RENEWAL PRUNING AT HOME TO PREVENT THIS FUNGUS FROM TAKING OVER?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SO THIS -- THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THIS PARTICULAR COLLECTION, WE HAD ALLOWED -- IT'S BEEN HERE FOR A LONG TIME, FOR 30 PLUS YEARS.

WE ALLOWED IT TO GET LARGER AND LARGER OVER TIME.

IT WAS VERY POPULAR, FLOWERED REALLY NICE.

WE FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE JUST LIKE, KIND OF, AT HOME, YOU FELT LIKE "OKAY, I NEED TO GO IN AND START DOING SOME PRUNING.

I -- I FINALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT."

WE STARTED DOING SOME CANING IN HERE AND IT GOT PRETTY AGGRESSIVE WITH THAT.

TRIED TO BRING THE HEIGHT DOWN SO THEY'RE BACK DOWN TO A MANAGEABLE LEVEL INSTEAD OF BEING 12, 15 FEET TALL, WE WANTED TO GET MORE IN THE 6 TO 7, 8 FOOT RANGE.

SO, THAT'S GONE ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, YOU KNOW.

AND I THINK, TOO -- SO WE HAVE DONE THAT, WHICH YOU WOULD THINK IN SOME WAYS WOULD HELP.

UNLESS OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, ONE THING WE DIDN'T DO WOULD MAYBE SANITATION BETWEEN CUTTING AND IF -- IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO BE DOING SANITATION, IS THAT A CONCERN?

>> PROBABLY -- PROBABLY NOT.

YOU KNOW?

AND IT'S -- IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA TO BE -- TO BE CLEANING YOUR CLIPPERS OR PRUNING TOOLS BETWEEN -- BETWEEN PLANTS BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ONE THAT WE WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE SURVIVE TOO MUCH ON THE -- ON THE PRUNING -- PRUNING EQUIPMENT.

>> OKAY, GOOD.

>> ALSO, IT'S PRIMARILY GOING TO INFECT THE LEAVES.

>> OKAY.

>> AND SO, WE DON'T REALLY -- WE'RE NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT FUNGAL DISEASE GETTING INTO THE -- INTO THE PLANT AND CAUSING AVASCULAR WILT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> OKAY.

SO, AS WE GO INTO THE FALL, I RECOMMEND -- YOU KNOW, WE SEE SOME DEAD HERE.

CERTAINLY, YOU WANT TO PRUNE OUT ANY DEAD BRANCHES THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO A LOT OF PRUNING THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT WILL AFFECT YOUR -- YOUR FLOWER IN THE SPRING, OBVIOUSLY.

SO WE TYPICALLY PRUNE -- DO OUR MAJOR PRUNING AND LILACS IN THE SPRING.

AND AGAIN, WE LOOK AT THAT, KIND OF, CATING THING.

BUT RIGHT NOW, NOT A LOT OF PRUNING, JUST TAKING OUT THE DEAD FOR FUNGUS CONCERNS TO GO AWAY IN THE FALL.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS GOING TO BE MANAGING HOW WE WATER.

AND SO, TRYING TO MAKE IT SURE THAT WE'RE USING SOAKER HOSES, NOT THAT OVERHEAD WATERING THAT CAN SPLASH THOSE FUNGAL SPORES UPON TO OTHER HEALTHY LEAVES.

AND HOPEFULLY, IF YOU FOLLOW SOME OF THOSE TIPS, YOUR LILACS WILL COME BACK GREAT NEXT YEAR.

>> THESE TIPS SHOULD HELP YOUR LILACS SURVIVE THIS HOT WEATHER AND HOPEFULLY NEXT SPRING THEY WILL BOUNCE BACK TO LIFE.

ALL RIGHT.

BANG, BANG, WAYNE.

YOUR FIRST ONE IS OMAHA.

IS THIS A GOOD GUY OR A BAD GUY IN THE GARDEN?

FOR THIS PARTICULAR PICTURE?

>> AILANTHIS WEBWORM, SO WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKE TREES OF HEAVENS, IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER IT'S GOODBYE -- GUY OR BAD GUY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM BELLEVUE.

IT'S ON THE SIDING OF THE GARAGE.

>> GIANT WALKING STICK.

>> VERY COOL.

THIRD ONE ON A RED BUG.

SHE HOPES IT'S A FRIEND.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> EH, IT'S, KIND OF, A BENIGN WESTERN LEAFFOOTED BUG.

>> OKAY.

AND FINALLY, ONE A LITTLE BIGGER THAN A QUARTER, A SPIDER BUILDING A WEB.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ONES I WISH WE HAD A PICTURE OF THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SPIDER.

YOU CAN'T I.D.

FROM THE BOTTOM.

YOU GOT TO LOOK AT THE PATTERNS ON TOP, SO IT'S AN ORB-WEAVER.

NO MORE I CAN TELL YOU.

>> HAVE SOME SORT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ROCH, NEW SOD LAID A MONTH AGO AND IN THIS PICTURE, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO RESCUE IT OR SHOULD THEY START OVER?

IT'S NOT IRRIGATED.

>> YEAH, THAT'S -- THAT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BRING THAT FROM THE DEAD.

PROBABLY WAS EITHER THAT ON THE PALLET OR THE GROUND WAS DRY WHEN THEY PUT IT DOWN AND SET THE MOISTURE RIGHT OUT OF THERE.

BUT THAT'S GOING TO HAVE BE RE-SODDED OR RE-SEEDED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

NOW, THEY DESCRIBE THIS AS WIRY AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT OFF-AIR.

WE DON'T THINK IT'S WIRY, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S RESISTANT TO HEAT AND DROUGHT AND LINCOLN DOESN'T GET ANY WATER.

>> YEAH, IT'S AN ANNUAL BARNYARD GRASS.

VERY SALT-TOLERANT, AND CERTAINLY, IF IT WOULD BE LIVING FROM YEAR-TO-YEAR, IT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU MIGHT WANT IN A LAWN.

BUT RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED OR -- OR SPRAYED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DENNIS, THIS IS -- YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS -- WE DON'T KNOW WHERE BUT NEIGHBORHOOD IS FULL OF GREAT BIG OAKS AND THESE BRANCHES KEEP FALLING.

THEY WONDER, IS THE SQUIRREL DAMAGE?

AND WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

AND HOW DO YOU STOP IT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SO, THIS IS JUST LIKE A SLICE, SO IT IS DEFINITELY A TREE SQUIRREL.

NOT AN OAK GIRDLER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEY NEED TO GET THESE TO GET EITHER NUTS.

THE YOUNG MALES, LIKE, JUST VERY NUTS AND THE CLUMPS OF ACORNS.

BUT THEY ALSO NEED TO START BUILDING NESTS FOR THE WINTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO THEY DROP -- THEY'LL DROP TWICE AS MANY AS THEY PICK UP AND USE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

PEOPLE WONDER IF A CREATURE TOOK THIS OR WAS IT A TWO-LEGGED CREATURE?

>> IF A TWO-LEGGED CREATURE WITH A CHAINSAW.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CHAINSAW, KIND OF, HIT THOSE AT POINTS.

THE TIP OF THE CHAINSAW -- THE TIP OF THE CHAINSAW HITTING THOSE POINTS.

AND THAT -- THERE'S NOTHING THAT WOULD CUT THAT BRANCH THAT EVEN THAT WAY BUT A CHAINSAW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO, UNLESS YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF BEAVER THAT KNOWS HOW TO USE A -- A STEEL CHAINSAW.

>> NO.

OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S A TWO-LEGGED CREATURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ON THAT NOTE, JEFF, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

IT'S SCOTCH PINE AND, KIND OF, GOING DOWNHILL.

HE'S WONDERING IF THESE -- IF THIS IS PINE WILT OR WHAT CAN WE TELL FROM THESE THREE PICTURES?

>> IT'S, KIND OF, HARD TO TELL.

>> YEAH.

>> I MEAN, CERTAINLY, IF IT'S PINE WILT BY MAY, YOU WILL KNOW FOR SURE.

SO, ONCE WE HAVE SOME WARM WEATHER, TYPICALLY IN THE SPRING, THAT'S THE TIME THAT THEY WILL -- >> SHOW UP.

>> YEP.

>> OKAY.

AND THEN WE HAVE A DENTON VIEWER WHO SENT THIS PICTURE OF A PINE THAT CAME DOWN.

WHAT -- WHAT WAS THAT PROBABLY?

>> WELL, IT PROBABLY WAS PINE WILT.

THAT BLUE STATE IS WHAT WE TYPICALLY SEE IN DEAD SCOTCH PINE, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT, TWO MORE.

AND THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER THAT HAS A BIG OLD SHADE MASTER HONEY LOCUST WITH A DEAD BRANCH WITH FUNGUS ON IT.

SHOULD THEY REMOVE THAT BRANCH NOW OR WAIT TILL SPRING?

>> YEP.

YEP.

I WOULD TAKE IT OUT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

>> YEAH.

>> NICE JOB, GUYS.

OKAY, AND WE DO NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP ON THE SHOW, WE HAVE THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND THE FINAL PLANTS OF THE WEEK FOR THIS YEAR.

THERE IS MUCH MORE TO COME 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."

COMING UP LATER, WE'LL HAVE OUR YEARLY "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN REVIEW.

AND YOU CAN STILL GET YOUR QUESTIONS IN.

DIAL 1-800-676-5446.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS TIME FOR THE 70th YEAR LIGHTNING ROUND.

>> WOW.

>> JEFF, 70 QUESTIONS IN A MINUTE.

>> OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THIS PERSON WANTS TO KNOW, CAN THEY PRUNE THEIR JUNIPERS THAT HAVE GOTTEN READY RIGHT NOW?

>> LIMITEDLY, THEY CAN.

YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A BURNING BUSH PRUNING QUESTION.

AND IT IS, IF IT'S 15 YEARS OLD AND GROWN TOGETHER AND THEY WANT TO PRUNE THEM ENOUGH TO SEPARATE THEM, CAN THEY DO THAT NOW?

>> SURE.

IF THEY WANT TO DO A LITTLE SEPARATING, GO AHEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DOES YOU AND L TEAM WITH RESTAURANTS TO ACCEPT COMPOSTABLES?

>> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OMAHA, WHEN DO YOU TREAT PIN OAK FOR CHLOROSIS WITH THE TRUNK CAPSULES AND THEN DO YOU SEAL THEM?

>> YOU WOULD DO THAT IN -- YOU WOULD DO THAT IN MAY.

YOU, KIND OF, WANT IT WARMER TEMPERATURES, SO -- AND THEN JUST FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE PART OF TREE YOU ARE USING.

>> AND DO NOT SEAL, RIGHT?

>> WELL, IT WOULD DEPEND ON THE PART.

LIKE, THEY MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING PUPUROTARY.

>> THE CAP.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY, HAVE YOU HEARD OF RED OAK WILT IN OUR PART OF -- ON CAMPUS YET?

THIS IS IN DAVID CITY.

>> I HAVE HEARD OF OAK WILT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'VE HAD IT ON CAMPUS.

I DON'T THINK SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS IT -- [ PHONE TONE ] -- LESS HILLS?

[ THUNDER ] IN LOGAN, IOWA, HOW DO YOU PREPARE NEW PLUM TREES FOR WINTER?

>> WELL, I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WELL-WATERED.

THAT YOU CONTINUE TO WATER THEM, KIND OF, AGAIN THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AS WE GO THROUGH THE SEASONS, SO THAT WAY, YOU DON'T FORGET TO GIVE THEM A LITTLE DRINK THROUGH THE WATER.

THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON.

>> EXCELLENT.

WE WON'T COUNT THAT ONE BUT THANK YOU FOR ANSWERING.

>> OKAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY DENNIS, ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M ALWAYS READY.

>> OH, YEAH.

OKAY, SO, WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE TO LEAVE THOSE NESTS ALONE WHILE THERE ARE BABIES IN THEM, BUT THIS IS A ROBIN'S NEST.

THE FLEDGLINGS FLEW AND I WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S OKAY TO TAKE THE NEST DOWN?

>> SURE.

BY NOW, THE SECOND CLUTCH IS DONE, SO NOW YOU CAN TAKE DOWN THE NEST OF MIGRATORY BIRDS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A ST. PAUL VIEWER WHO SAID -- WHO HAD US A PICTURE THAT WAS TOO FUZZY, BUT IT LOOKED LIKE A GIANT TURTLE WAS SHEDDING ITS SHELL.

DO THEY DO THAT?

>> YES, TURTLE SHED THE SCOOT.

UH-HUH.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A COUNTRY ACREAGE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW, IS THERE ANY WAY TO DETER RABBITS FROM EATING THEIR PLANTS WITHOUT -- OTHER THAN FENCING INDIVIDUAL PLANTS?

>> NOT REALLY.

UNLESS YOU KNOW A CUP OF REALLY NICE COYOTES THAT WANT TO HELP YOU.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THE EXPLODED POPULATION OF FOXES WILL DIE OR WILL THEY MOVE ON THIS WINTER?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT IS EXPLODED.

I DON'T EVEN THINK IT'S NEAR PROPER CARING CAPACITY, BUT THEY WILL GO UP AND DOWN WITH THE RABBITS.

THE RABBITS WERE HIGH, SO THEY WENT HIGH.

AND NOW THE RABBITS SCUBA DOWN, THEY'LL GO DOWN.

>> OKAY.

McCLELLAND, IOWA.

WHAT WILL GET RID OF POCKET GOPHERS?

>> THERE IS A BAIT THAT YOU CAN PUT IN THERE IN THE TUNNELS.

[ THUNDER ] >> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB.

ROCH, ARE YOU READY?

>> UH-HUH.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER WEED AND FEED SHOULD BE PUT DOWN NOW OR DO WE WAIT?

OR IS IT TOO LATE?

>> THEY CAN PUT DOWN A FERTILIZER APPLICATION NOW.

WE'RE NOT BIG FANS OF WEED AND FEED BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE FIVE WEEDS ON A LAWN, YOU'RE PUTTING A BUNCH OF HERBICIDE OUT THERE YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO USE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT FALL PRE-MERGE FOR WINTER ANNUALS BECAUSE WE SAY, "DO THAT."

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW, "WHAT DO WE MEAN BY FALL?

IS THAT NOW OR LATER?"

>> LATE, LATE AUGUST DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES INTO MID-SEPTEMBER, SO THEY HAVE AN APP DOWN BY NOW OR IN THE NEXT WEEK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A GRAND ISLAND VIEWER WHO WANTS TO DIY THEIR LAWN CARE.

THEY WONDER WHAT THE STEPS ARE?

HOW MANY?

AND START AT THE BEGINNING AND YOU COULD JUST -- >> YEAH, THAT'S A CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ONE-ON-ONE, BECAUSE IF THEY WANT A REALLY GREAT IMMACULATE LAWN, IT'S SIX STEPS.

IF THEY'RE HAPPY WITH MY LAWN, IT'S THREE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

WE HAVE A STURGEON BAY WISCONSIN VIEWER WHO WATCHES AND WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE PRODUCTS WE USE IN THE FALL FOR VIOLET CONTROL?

>> I'M GOING TO USE ANYTHING AS A MESOTRIONE BASE PRODUCT OR A MATRICLAFER BASE PRODUCT FOR WILD VIOLETS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL BLUFFS.

MOWING HEIGHT FOR THE LAST MOWING OF THE SEASON?

>> THE SAME HEIGHT YOU'VE BEEN MOWING ALL YEAR LONG.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT, NICE JOB.

READY WAYNE?

>> LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST.

>> HERE WE GO.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO USED A SYSTEMIC IN MAY AROUND HER ROSE OF SHARON FOR JAPANESE BEATLES AND NOW SHE'S WORRIED THAT IT WILL HURT THE BEES THAT ARE ON THOSE FLOWERS.

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT IT WAS BUT BY THIS TIME, MOST OF THAT SHOULD HAVE DISSIPATED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A SOIL TREATMENT TO PREVENT BORES AND PROBABLY SQUASH VINE BORES FROM RETURNING IF THEY CAN'T ROTATE THEIR CROPS?

>> SQUASH VINE BORES ARE VERY MOBILE AND NO AMOUNT OF ROTATION FROM ONE SPOT IN THE GARDEN TO ANOTHER IS GONNA KEEP THEM AWAY.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE A LODGE POLL.

A NEBRASKA VIEWER WHO SAYS THOUSANDS OF ANT MOUNDS ARE EVERYWHERE AND THEY'VE TRIED EVERYTHING WITH ANT BATES.

HOW DO YOU -- >> IF THEY ARE OUTSIDE JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE, LET THEM DO THEIR THING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BEES AT THE FEEDER -- BEES VERSES HUMMINGBIRDS.

HOW DO YOU KEEP THE HUMMERS AND NOT HURT THE BEES?

>> NO, YOU DON'T.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A FREMONT VIEWER WHO FOUND MONARCH CATERPILLARS ON THEIR LEAVES ON SEPTEMBER 11.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY WILL SURVIVE AND TURN INTO BUTTERFLIES?

OR IS IT TOO LATE?

>> IF THEY WERE FULLY GROWN THERE'S A CHANCE IF THEY WERE QUITE SMALL, NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WILL MONARCHS STILL LAY EGGS ON AFID DAMAGED MILKWEEDS?

>> USUALLY ITS ON SOME OF THE NEWER AND THEY WON'T BE ON THE SAME POOR QUALITY PLANTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB ALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WON BUT IT LOOKED LIKE WE ALL DID -- FOR THE LAST SHOW OF THE SEASON.

>> WE ARE ALL WINNERS.

>> WE'RE ALL WINNERS.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] OKAY, JEFF, WHAT ARE THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK?

>> THESE ARE REALLY COOL PLANTS AND THEY'RE REALLY COOL FOR A COUPLE REASONS.

SO ONE WE HAVE THIS GIBRALTAR BUSH CLOVER AND IT IS, IT GOES FROM DYING BACK IN THE WINTER TO SEVEN FEET, EIGHT FEET TALL BY THE TIME IT STOP GROWING AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN IT'S GREAT.

HERE WE ARE IN SEPTEMBER AND IS BLOOMING AND DOING ITS THING.

THEN THE OTHER ONE WE HAVE HERE IS SEVENTH SONS TREE WHICH IS ANOTHER FUN TREE.

WHEN THEY ARE YOUNGER, MAYBE THE FIRST FIVE OR SIX YEARS IT SEEMS TO BE A KIND OF A WELL-MANAGED PLANT AND THEN AFTER THAT IT BECOMES QUITE LARGE.

KIND A LIKE A HONEYSUCKLE WOULD SOMETIMES.

AGAIN FLOWERS IN THE FALL AND IT HAS KIND OF A FAINT OR GARDENIA SMELL TO IT WHICH I LIKE ABOUT IT.

THE THING I LIKE ABOUT IT MOST IS THE SPECIES NAMES FOR THESE.

SO LESPEDEZA, I JUST LOVE THAT NAME AND THEN THE SEVENTH SONS TREE IS HEPTOCODIUM, SO I JUST LOVE THAT TOO.

THEY ARE JUST KIND OF FUN YOU KNOW TO BE ABLE TO SAY THAT.

SO WHEN YOU SEE YOUR FRIENDS, MENTION LESPEDEZA AND HEPTACODIUM.

>> USING THOSE SCIENTIFIC NAMES OR PART OF THEM AND THOSE ARE BOTH IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN FOR PEOPLE AND THEY ARE BLOOMING RIGHT NOW SO COME AND VISIT OUR GARDEN AS ALWAYS.

ALL RIGHT A QUESTION FOR YOU WAYNE.

THE FIRST ONE HERE COMES TO US FROM SCOTTS BLUFF.

AND HE SAYS, HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS BUT LET'S TELL PEOPLE WHAT IT IS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

>> THIS IS A VERY LIGHT PHASE WESTERN BEEN CUT WORM.

YOU HAVE TO LOOK REALLY CLOSE AND YOU CAN SEE THE TWO LINES ON THE BACK RIGHT BEHIND THE HEAD.

>> AND -- >> THEY GET INTO ALL KINDS CORN.

THEY ALSO GET INTO DRIED BEANS AS WELL AND FEED.

SO THEY CAN BE A PEST.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SENT THIS ONE WHAT ARE THESE AND DOES HE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED?

THIS IS AROUND NEW PATIO WORK AND ALL THE SUDDEN THEY CAME BOILING OUT OF THE HOLE.

>> THESE ARE ANTS THAT SWARM THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT'S JUST THEIR REPRODUCTIVES COMING OUT.

THEY DO THIS FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND THEN YOU WON'T SEE THE WINGED ONES ANYMORE.

SINCE THEY ARE OUTSIDE THEY ARE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE HERE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO SAYS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HER PATIO EGGPLANTS.

ANY IDEA?

>> THAT IS CORN EAR WORM.

SO CORN EAR WORM ALSO GETS INTO TOMATOES.

DOES THE SAME THING.

ALSO GETS INTO GREEN PEPPERS AND IT WILL DO THE SAME THING, THOSE HOLES, BORING IN LIKE THAT.

>> OKAY, THEN WE HAVE A IDAGROW VIEWER AND SHE SAYS AS IF THE GRASSHOPPERS WEREN'T EATING ENOUGH OF MY TOMATOES, WHAT FRESH HOT PLACE IS THIS CRITTER FROM AND WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THEM?

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> WOW WE SEE THESE EVERY YEAR.

THESE ARE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLES.

THEY GET INTO DAMAGED FRUITS SO IF YOU HAD SOME SWELL CRACKING ON THIS OR SOMETHING ELSE WITH A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE FEEDING HABITS GOT STARTED ON IT.

THEY'LL CONTINUEENLARGING THAT AREA AND KEEP FEEDING.

>> ALL RIGHT AND ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS A MILLARD VIEWER.

HAS DOZENS OF WASPS.

YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE LEFT I THINK.

ON THE GARLIC CHIVES.

AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ONE OF THE BANDED PARASITOIDS BUT THEY ARE WONDERING IF IT'S BALDFACE, THEY ARE SHY.

>> IT IS NEITHER OF THOSE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY -- I USE THIS AS MY ZOOM BACKGROUND WHEN I'M ON ZOOMS, IS THIS PARTICULAR WASP.

IT'S A POTTER WASP.

THEY COLLECT CATERPILLARS AND STORE THEM IN A LITTLE ROUND MUD BALL AND IT'S GOT A LITTLE FLUTE ON TOP SO IT LOOKS LIKE A OLD-FASHIONED CLAY POT SO THAT'S WHY YOU CALL THEM POTTER WASPS.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ROCH, TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS AN ELKHORN VIEWER AND HE SAYS THE TURF IS ABOUT FIVE YEARS OLD.

ITS FESCUE.

COUPLE AREAS THAT SEEM UNUSUAL WITH THESE SMALL ROUNDISH DEAD PATCHES AND HE'S WONDERING IF WE CAN IDENTIFY IT.

>> THIS IS WHAT -- WAYNE AND I TALKED ABOUT IT OFF-CAMERA BECAUSE THIS IS OFTEN WHAT HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE UNDER STRESSFUL CONDITIONS LIKE THE SUMMER WE'VE HAD FOR TURF AND FOR ANY PLANT FOR THAT MATTER.

BUT A BIRD WILL COME AND FEED ON AN INSECT THAT'S IN THE PROFILE AND WE CAN'T IDENTIFY THE INSECT BECAUSE IT IS IN THE BELLY OF THE BIRD BUT IT'S PECKING, AND IT EATS IT AND WHEN IT PECKS IT PULLS UP SOME PLANT MATERIAL AND THERE IS EVEN A LITTLE BIT OF PLUG OF DIRT DOWN WHEN WE CAN BLOW THESE UP A LITTLE BUT IT SHOWS THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT IT IS.

AND WE SEE THIS MORE ROUTINELY BUT IT'S ALWAYS EXAGGERATED UNDER THE CONDITIONS WE'VE HAD.

I DON'T KNOW IF WAYNE WANTS TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT OR NOT.

>> WELL PUT, ROCH!

WELL PUT.

DON'T EXPECT ME TO SAY THAT OFTEN.

>> I KNOW YOU DON'T SO I'M GONNA TAKE THAT ONE!

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, THREE PICTURES FOR THIS NEXT ONE ROCH.

THIS IS JUNIATA AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT CAUSES THE BROWN SPEARS IN THE GRASS.

THEY HAVE FERTILIZED, THEY'VE TREATED FOR GRUBS AND THEY HAVE HAD THIS FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

NOTHING SEEMS TO MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

>> SO THIS ONE I AM PERPLEXED ON THIS ONE.

BECAUSE I LOOKED AT ALL THE PICTURES REALLY CLOSE AND THANK YOU FOR SENDING HOW MANY YOU DID.

AND IT'S NOT UNTIL I GET TO THE LAST ONE WHERE I SEE SOME DISCOLORED CRAB GRASS SEED HEADS AND YOU HAVE TO KINDA LOOK KINDA CLOSE TO SEE THEM.

SO -- IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THE CRABGRASS HAS BEEN TREATED AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING OUT BUT I WOULD NEED A MORE DEFINITIVE PICTURE AND A LITTLE CLOSER PICTURE BEFORE I CAN SAY YEAH, THAT'S OBVIOUSLY WHAT IT IS AND I APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THEY SENT THREE PICTURES AND THEY WERE TRYING TO GET IT.

BUT WE ARE GONNA NEED A CLOSE-UP LOOK OF THE PICTURE THAT'S THE SPEAR AND THAT'S AN INTERESTING WAY TO DESCRIBE IT BUT I AM DRAWING A ZERO AND TELL I CAN -- I'M NOT COMFORTABLE SAYING IT'S CRABGRASS THAT'S BEEN TREATED WITH YOU KNOW, ON OF THE WHITENING HERBICIDES AND THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE DONE THAT.

SO THAT WOULD OBVIOUSLY MAKE THAT WRONG.

SO I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO FIGURE THIS ONE OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT THANKS ROCH.

DENNIS, YOUR FIRST ONE IS THIS LARGE TURTLE WAS SWIMMING IN A LAKE IN SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA.

AND WHAT DO WE THINK ABOUT THAT ONE?

WHAT IS THAT?

WONDER IF -- >> YEAH IT'S A NORTHERN PAINTED TURTLE.

IT'S A COMMON SPECIES IN THE STATE AND IT IS FOUND STATEWIDE.

IT'S A MALE.

IT'S A FULL-GROWN REPRODUCTIVE MALE.

>> AND IT'S A GOOD GUY?

>> YEAH.

ALL TURTLES ARE GOOD.

>> INVASIVE ONES?

>> NO.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY INVASIVE TURTLES THAT MUCH.

>> OKAY, GOOD.

AND THEN WE HAVE THREE PICTURES FROM THIS NEXT PERSON.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

FOUND JUNE SIXTH.

THE PAINTED TURTLE LAID EGGS IN THE YARD NEXT TO THE CHICKEN COOP, NO WATER SOURCE.

LOOKED UP GESTATION.

HERE CAME THE BABSTERS AND THEY DUG THEM UP, TOOK THEM IN AND THEY HATCHED.

HERE THEY CAME.

HE WONDERS HOW TO OVERWINTER THESE LITTLE GUYS.

>> WELL, IF YOU OVERWINTER YOU HAVE TO KEEP THEM REAL COLD AND THAT'S WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GIVE THEM ENOUGH ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT THAT THEY'LL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES TO MAKE THEIR SHELL.

THE BEST THING TO DO IS THE CLOSEST WATER EVEN IF IT'S A HALF MILE AWAY, LET THEM GO.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

>> SO THE FEMALE LAID THE EGGS, IT'S ABOUT 72 TO 82 SOMETIMES 90 DAYS LATER THEY HATCH AND THEN THEY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE WATER.

AND SOMETIMES A HALF MILE.

>> WOW, OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, TWO MORE ON THIS ONE AND THIS COMES TO US FROM SKYLER LAKE, A LAKE NEAR SKYLER.

WHAT KIND OF SNAKE IS THIS?

IS THIS A FRIEND OR A FOE?

>> WELL WE GOT TWO SNAKES THERE, FORTUNATELY IT IS A FOX SNAKE.

IT'S A WESTERN FOX SNAKE.

AND AGAIN, I NEVER MET A SNAKE I DIDN'T LIK AND I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR PEOPLE.

SO THEY ARE ALL FRIENDLY THEY'RE ALL GOOD BUT THAT IS A WESTERN FOX SNAKE, IT'S EXTREMELY BENIGN IN HURTING ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR RODENTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT, THANK YOU DENNIS.

JEFF, YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM OMAHA AND SEVEN-YEAR-OLD PAPA TREE TOOK WATER INTO THE TRUNK AND IT SNAPPED AND DIED LAST FEBRUARY.

AND THEN OF COURSE THE ROOTS STARTED TO SHOOT.

HE HAS ABOUT 10 OF THEM.

WONDERING CAN HE TRANSPLANT OR IS THAT ACTUALLY SUCKERING AND WHEN SHOULD HE TRANSPLANT?

>> YEAH, THESE ARE -- YEAH, THESE ARE SUCKERING OFF OF THE SYSTEM THAT WAS THERE SO NOW YOU CAN'T TRANSPLANT.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE -- PAWPAWS WANT TO CREATE A COLONY LIKE A LOT OF PLANTS DO AND THAT'S LOST ITS LEADER, AND SO NOW, IT'S SEARCHING FOR A NEW LEADER SO TO SPEAK.

SO ONE OF THESE WILL EVENTUALLY KIND OF TAKE OVER AND THE OTHERS WILL BE SUBSERVIENT TO THE OTHERS AND STAY A LITTLE LOWER.

SO THAT OR TAKE IT ALL OUT AND START OVER.

>> START OVER, OKAY.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE, THIS IS A NORTH PLATTE VIEWER.

THREE-YEAR-OLD ROSE BUSHES THAT HAVE NEVER BLOOMED.

REDDISH TINTS ON THE BIG ENDS.

SHE'S WONDERING IF SHE SHOULD JUST RIP THESE OUT?

>> SHE SHOULD.

THIS IS A ROOTSTOCK.

I THINK IT HAS REVERTED BACK TO IT.

AND SHE MAY BE ABLE TO GO BACK AND FIND THE CROWN OF THE ORIGINAL PLANT AND REALIZE IT'S ALL COMING UP FROM THEN, SO.

>> ALL RIGHT, START OVER.

>> YEAH.

>> ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE, THIS IS LILAC, KEARNEY.

BRANCHES LOOK DEAD.

SHOULD THEY PRUNE THEM NOW OR WAIT UNTIL AFTER THEY FLOWER NEXT YEAR?

>> YEAH, IF THERE'S ANYTHING DEAD, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND PRUNE ALL OF THAT OUT, SO.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE HERE, THIS IS LINCOLN.

WHEN AND HOW SHOULD A BUTTERFLY BUSH BE PRUNED IN THE FALL?

>> NO.

WELL, YOU CAN IF YOU WANT BUT YOU WOULD CUT IT BACK IN THE SPRING, SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN, AN OMAHA VIEWER HAS A CRIMSON KING MAPLE THIS YEAR.

SHOT UP SIX TO EIGHT FOOT TALL SINGLE BRANCH LEADER.

IS THIS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN AND WILL IT DO SOME SIDE BRANCHING NEXT YEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S CAUSE FOR CONCERN.

I WOULD GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT BACK TO WHERE IT ORIGINALLY CAME OFF OF THE TREE.

I MEAN, THIS IS A ROUNDED TOP TREE.

SO, IT IS JUST AN ABNORMAL GROWTH SO GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS JEFF.

WELL YOU KNOW, OUR GARDEN NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE US WITH THE INCREDIBLE BEAUTY OF THOSE ORNAMENTALS AND THE PRODUCTIVITY OF OUR HERBS AND OUR VEGETABLES.

SO LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO TAKE ONE LAST 70TH SEASON LOOK AT THE GARDEN FOR THIS SEASON.

♪ ♪ >> YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT ALL THE HEAT, DROUGHT, INSECTS AND DISEASES, OUR GARDEN REALLY PUTS ON A SHOW.

SO THANKS TO TERRY AND ALL THOSE WONDERFUL MASTER GARDENERS FOR THE HARD WORK.

JUST A REMINDER THIS IS OUR LAST SHOW FOR OUR 70TH SEASON IN 2022 BUT WE'LL STILL BE POSTING VIDEOS ON THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL THROUGHOUT THE FALL AND WINTER.

AND THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO KEEP WATCHING "BACKYARD FARMER" CONTENT.

CHECK IT OUT AFTER THE SHOW AND MAKE SURE YOU DO HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON.

ALL RIGHT GENTLEMEN, THE LAST ROUND OF THE LAST SHOW OF THE 70TH SEASON.

WAYNE, GRANT, NEBRASKA, FOUND THIS INSECT ON HIS MATERS ONE MORNING, WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S A BLACK SADDLEBAGS DRAGONFLY.

PROBABLY JUST SPENT THE NIGHT THERE.

>> OH, SADDLEBAGS, THAT'S COOL.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN, WE HAVE A PLEASANT DALE VIEWER.

COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT KIND OF GRASSHOPPER THIS IS.

SHE SAYS IT WAS SEVEN INCHES LONG AND WHEN TRIED TO PUT SOMETHING BESIDE IT FOR SCALE, IT TREATED HER WITH BODILY HARM!

>> YEAH, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE USUALLY SEE HERE.

I WAS THINKING, I WAS HOPING THIS WAS FROM FURTHER EAST.

>> UH OH.

>> THAT IS A HORSE LUBBER GRASSHOPPER.

THEY ARE NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA BUT THIS IS THE FIRST I HAVE HEARD OF ONE FROM NEBRASKA.

>> OH DEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

SO YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM GRETNA.

HE THINKS IT IS A CATERPILLAR OF THE FLORIDA FERN MOTH.

IS THAT WHAT IT IS AND IS IT A PEST OR NOT?

>> YES, IT IS A FLORIDA FERN MOTH CATERPILLAR.

HERE'S THE BEST PART.

STICK YOUR PLANT OUTSIDE IN THE WINTER AND IT WILL NO LONGER HAVE A FLORIDA FERN MOTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE A FERN WORM!

[ LAUGHTER ] THEY ARE A PROBLEM IN GREENHOUSES AND NURSERY STOCKS, SO THEY DO MOVE AROUND WITH THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN, CENTRAL CITY, SHE SENT US A PICTURE OF A SPIDER THAT SHE WOULD LIKE HAVE IDENTIFIED.

>> DESPITE WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL IT, YES, IT IS STILL YELLOW.

IT IS A WHITE MARKED CRAB SPIDER.

>> A WHITE MARKED CRAB SPIDER THAT IS YELLOW?

YES, IT'S YELLOW.

THEY DO HAVE QUITE A BIT OF COLOR VARIATION.

>> NICE JOB ON THE NAME.

>> WAS THAT IN ENTOMOLOGIST COLOR OR WHAT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU KNOW, ENTOMOLOGISTS ARE LIKE PATHOLOGISTS.

WE'RE NOT REAL CREATIVE WITH NAMES.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, ROCH, TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE AND THIS IS ONE THAT WE THOUGHT WE HAD IDENTIFIED EARLIER.

WE ASKED HER FOR A PICTURE AND A FLOWER.

STILL THE SAME PLANT, SO WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY A MEMBER OF THE GOOSEFOOT FAMILY WHICH IS THE SAME FAMILY LAMB'S QUARTER'S IN.

I'M NOT CONVINCED THIS IS LAMB'S QUARTER, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A CHENOPODIUM AND WHETHER THEY WANT TO PROPAGATE IT OR NOT, IT IS AN ANNUAL, GETS REAL TALL.

IT PRODUCES A LOT OF SEED.

I CONSIDER IT A WEED OR I WOULD CONSIDER IT A WEED, AND WOULD PROBABLY PULL IT AND ERADICATE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS FROM WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

THEY THINK IT'S CLAMMY GROUNDCHERRY AND THEY HAVEN'T REALLY ASKED FOR CONTROL BUT IS IT AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT IT?

>> IT IS CLAMMY GROUNDCHERRY AND WHEN THE FRUIT IS RIPE, AND I'M GOING TO USE THE RIPE, IT IS EDIBLE.

OTHER THAN THAT, IT IS HIGHLY TOXIC AND WILL MAKE YOU REALLY, REALLY SICK.

SO I'M GOING TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY ANIMALS, CHILDREN, WHATEVER, I WOULD PREFER THAT THIS GO AWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS.

AND SHE DID LET IT FLOWER AS WE ASKED, IT IS SIX FEET TALL, SO WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS WILD LETTUCE OR BITTER LETTUCE, ALSO KNOWN AS OPIUM LETTUCE.

FAIRLY COMMON.

THEY CALL IT OPIUM LETTUCE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO USE IT AS AN ANALGESIC OR A SEDATIVE.

I WOULD NOT SUGGEST YOU DO THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON THERE.

AND IT IS AN ANNUAL, SO IT CAN BE PULLED RELATIVELY EASILY.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE, AND THIS IS LA VISTA.

THIS VOLUNTEER SHOWED UP IN A POT ON THEIR DECK, WHAT IS THAT?

>> THIS IS AN ANNUAL, IT'S A MARE'S TAIL OR HORSEWEED, YOU KNOW, SAME COMMON NAME.

I WOULD HAVE NOT LET THEM GO TO THIS KIND OF FLOWERING CAPACITY BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM EVERYWHERE NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS ROCH.

DENNIS, THIS VIEWER SNAPPED THE FIRST PICTURE ON THE BACK PATIO BRICKS UNDER THE AWNING IN MIDTOWN OMAHA.

MY SPATS OR WABBITS?

>> BATS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR SECOND ONE IS LINCOLN.

WHAT IS THIS VERY TINY SCAT ON THE PATIO UNDERNEATH THE DECK AND WHY DOES IT KEEP SHOWING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SLAB, MOUSE, VOLE AND WHY DO THEY KEEP GOING IN THE SAME PLACE?

>> YEAH.

>> HE DID TRY AMMONIA TO GET RID OF IT.

>> I'M THINKING SOMETHING THAT'S A BUG, AND IT ALMOST COULD BE INSECT THE WAY IT'S SHAPED, MORE THAN -- HOW SMALL IT IS.

SO, I WOULD HAVE TO REALLY SEE IT OR TEASE IT APART BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS FALLING DOWN AND IT LOOKS MORE INSECT OR ORTHOPOD THAN IT DOES VERTEBRATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THEN, THE NEXT ONE HERE IS -- HE WONDERS IF THIS IS A COMMON GROUND SQUIRREL?

>> WELL, IT IS A 13 LINE GROUND SQUIRREL.

>> OKAY.

>> SO IF YOU THINK, THE 13 LINE GROUND SQUIRREL IS CALLED THE COMMON GROUND SQUIRREL, THEN YES IT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND THIS WAS HENDERSON, NEBRASKA.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND THEN, FINALLY, WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF HOSTAS IN HIS YARD AND HE ACTUALLY CAUGHT THE BUNNY IN ACTION, EATING ESSENTIALLY JUST THIS ONE.

IS THAT COMMON OR ARE THEY GOING TO EAT ANYTHING THEY CAN?

>> WELL, I'M SURE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN TASTE AND IT COULD BE THAT ONE PLACE, THEY FEEL MORE SAFE.

BUT, ONCE THEY FINISH THAT, IF THEY WANT SOME MORE, THEY MAY MOVE ON, SO YEAH, EAT MORE OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

JEFF, YOUR LAST ROUND.

SO YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES HERE COME TO US FROM NORTH PLATTE, IT'S A WHITE SPIDER BIRCH PLANTED IN APRIL.

NOTICING THIS ON THE FOLIAGE, NORTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE IN FULL SUN, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SAY?

>> I DON'T THINK I'D WORRY ABOUT IT.

IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL.

I THINK I'D MAKE THE PETAL A LITTLE BIT BIGGER AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE GIVING IT ENOUGH WATER.

THE WHITE SPIDER BIRCH IN NORTH PLATTE, THAT'S CONGRATULATIONS!

KEEP TRYING, KEEP WORKING, DON'T FORGET ABOUT IT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, ONE HERE, AND THIS IS A SPLIT BRANCH ON A REDBUD AND WONDERING WHETHER THEY CAN BIND IT TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING OR GIVE IT UP?

>> YEAH, I FEEL BAD, I THINK THEY NEED TO START OVER, THEY WOULD BE HAPPIER IF THEY DID.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND TWO QUICKLY ON THIS NEXT ONE.

SCULPTED BLUE SPRUCE SHRUBS APPEAR TO BE DYING.

THEY WONDER IF IT'S OVERSPRAY OR IS THIS PRUNING?

>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, IT COULD BE THE OVERSPRAY SINCE IT'S THAT ONE THERE, BUT THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER ONE WHERE THEY MAYBE KIND OF TOWARDS THE END AND I WOULD START OVER WITH SOME MORE BLUE SPRUCE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU JEFF.

WELL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" FOR THIS SEASON.

I DO WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SAY THANKS TO ALL OF OUR PANELISTS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE SHOW AND ANSWERING ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS.

WE ARE ALSO SO LUCKY TO HAVE A GREAT PARTNER IN NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, ALL THE TERRIFIC WORK THEY DO BEHIND THE SCENES.

AND FINALLY TO THE AUDIENCE AND THOSE MASTER GARDENERS, WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN LOYAL FOR 70 YEARS.

SO WE'RE HOPING FOR ANOTHER 70, AND WITH THAT, GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

♪ REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING ♪ REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY VITAC.

REAL-TIME CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY VITAC