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

>>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER", WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM HASTINGS COLLEGE CAMPUS WHERE WE'LL CHECK OUT THEIR WONDERFUL ARBORETUM.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ APPLAUSE ] >>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

COMING TO YOU FROM HASTINGS COLLEGE.

I'M YOUR HOST, KIM TODD.

WE'RE SO GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US FOR THIS GREAT HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

THIS IS A TAPED SHOW, SO WE CANNOT TAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS TONIGHT.

THAT DOES NOT KEEP YOU FROM SENDING IN THOSE EMAILS AND THOSE QUESTIONS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

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

MAKE SURE YOU ALSO FOLLOW US ON YOUTUBE AND BECOME A FACEBOOK FAN.

ALL THOSE GREAT VIDEOS AND PREVIOUS SHOWS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR USE.

SO, WAYNE, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU FOR THE VERY FIRST QUESTION TONIGHT.

AND THIS COMES TO US FROM LOUISVILLE, NEBRASKA.

SHE SAYS THEY HAVE SEEN TWO OF THESE MONSTERS IN THE GARAGE THIS WEEK, ANOTHER BETWEEN THE SCREEN AND THE GLASS LIVING ROOM WINDOW.

ARE THEY CARPENTER ANTS?

>> THEY ARE CARPENTER ANTS.

THEY ARE THE LARGER REPRODUCTIVES, SO NOT SURPRISING THAT YOU WOULD FIND THEM DISPERSED SOMEWHERE.

THE ONLY TIME YOU NEED TO BE WORRYING ABOUT CARPENTER ANTS IS IF YOU HAVE WATER PROBLEMS IN THE HOUSE.

IF YOU HAVE WATER PROBLEMS, WET, DAMP WOOD, THEN YOU GOT A PROBLEM.

TAKE CARE OF THE WOOD.

>> MANY PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THIS YEAR.

>> WE HAVE MORE RAIN THAN WE HAVE HAD FOR A WHILE.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS SORT OF RELATED, MAYBE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM NEWMAN GROVE, ALBION AREA, HAS A CEDAR THAT HAS SAWDUST AT THE BASE, PLANTED THE TREE -- I'M SORRY.

EXCUSE ME.

INSTEAD, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A REVERSE OF A PICTURE, AND THIS ONE ACTUALLY SHOWS THE INSECT, I THINK, THAT IS COMING TO US FROM AINSWORTH.

WHAT IS THIS INSECT?

>> THIS IS AN ELM LEAF SAW FLY.

THEIR LARVA LOOK KIND OF LIKE CATERPILLARS, AND THEY FEED ON THE LEAVES OF ELMS, USUALLY NOT TO THE POINT OF BEING DAMAGING.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO A BEAUTIFUL THING, BUT NO BIG DEAL.

>> NO BIG DEAL.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION, I DO BELIEVE, IS THE ONE THAT COMES TO US FROM -- WHERE'S THIS ONE?

THIS ONE IS TONS OF THESE LITTLE BUGS FLOATING IN OUR POOL, AND THEY LIKE TO CLIMB ON TO THE RAFT AND STING.

THEY LEAVE RED BUMPS THAT ITCH FOR A WEEK OR SO.

WHAT ARE THEY, AND IS THERE A WAY TO STOP THEM?

>> WELL, THESE ARE SOLITARY BEES, AND THEY VISIT THE POOL FOR WATER, AND THEY FALL IN, THEY CAN'T GET OUT, SO THEN WHEN THAT RAFT IS FLOATING BY IN THE POOL, THEY CLIMB UP ON THAT, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO HELP GET THEM OUT OF THERE, LEAVE SOMETHING FLOATING IN YOUR POOL, WHETHER IT BE LIKE A BOOGIE BOARD OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT WAY, THEY HAVE SOMETHING LOW DOWN TO THE WATER THEY CAN CRAWL UP ON TO, DRY OFF AND FLY OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, THE RED ITCHY BUMPS ARE JUST -- >> THEY'RE STINGS, AND MOSTLY PROBABLY BECAUSE WHEN THEY'RE ON YOU, YOU HANDLE THEM, AND THEY FEEL TRAPPED, SO THEY DEFEND THEMSELVES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, WAYNE.

LET'S SEE, ROCH, I THINK WE HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR YOU ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OGALLALA.

IT IS UNWANTED GRASS IN THE BLUE GRAMA LAWN.

IT'S INVADED MOSTLY ON THE PERIMETER BUT ALSO IN THE CENTER AND IN OUTLYING AREAS.

IT PULLS EASILY, BUT SHE'S SAYING NOW IT IS AN INVASION AND SHE WONDERS WHETHER THE BLUE GRAMA WILL WIN.

>> COUPLE OF GREAT QUESTIONS.

ACTUALLY, I SEE TWO ANNUAL GRASSES IN HERE.

I SEE DOWNEY BROME, WHICH IS THE ONE WITH THE SECOND PICTURE, THE KIND OF LEANING OVER, LOOKED LIKE WEEPING SEED HEAD, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS MORE WHITE IS -- IT LOOKS LIKE WINTER WHEAT TO ME.

YOU'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THINGS GOING ON IN THERE, BUT REGARDLESS, THEY'RE BOTH WINTER ANNUALS, SO YOU COULD -- THE BLUE GRAMA IS PROBABLY GOING TO WIN, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO DIE WITH THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER, TURN BROWN, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS SUPERIOR GENETICS IN THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER.

IF THEY WANT TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT FURTHER INVASION, SINCE THESE ARE WINTER ANNUALS, THEY CAN USE A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE.

ANY OF THOSE WILL DO A GOOD JOB CONTROLLING DOWNEY BROME AND THAT WINTER WHEAT.

I'LL BE SURPRISED IF THEY SEE THE WINTER WHEAT, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LIKE MOWING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ROCH.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT QUESTION.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BEATRICE.

THEY'RE SAYING THIS GRASS HAS BEEN SPREADING IN THE LAWN SINCE THEY OVERSEEDED BARE SPOTS A FEW YEARS AGO, GROWS FASTER THAN THE OTHER TURFS, LIGHTER GREEN, AND THE LAST PHOTO IS IN A SPOT WHERE THEY BELIEVE THE SEED CULPRIT WAS ORIGINALLY SCATTERED.

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

>> SO THIS IS ORCHARD GRASS, AND YOU KNOW -- FLATTENS STEMS, WIDE AT THE BASE, AND I'M NOT SAYING THEY BOUGHT BAD SEED, BUT WHEN YOU DO OVERSEEDING AND YOU START SEEING A GRASS THAT YOU DON'T NORMALLY SEE THERE, PERHAPS THAT GRASS -- IT CAME IN THE GRASS SEED THAT YOU BOUGHT.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT DEFINITELY HAPPENED HERE, BUT ORCHARD GRASS IS COMMON IN SOME OF OUR LESS EXPENSIVE, NOT PREMIUM GRASS SEED MIXES, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT CAN BE DONE, BECAUSE IT'S A PERENNIAL GRASS.

IT WILL ALWAYS BE FIRST TO GREEN UP IN THE SPRING, BUT WITH THAT KIND OF YELLOWISH, UGLY GREEN COLOR RATHER THAN THE COLOR OF THE OTHER GRASSES, AND THERE IS NO SELECTIVE CONTROL, SO IT'S EITHER GOT TO BE HAND DUG -- IT IS A BUNCH GRASS, SO IT CAN BE HAND DUG OR SPOT SPRAYED IF THEY REALLY WANT TO ERADICATE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ROCH.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WAKEFIELD.

IS THIS A PERENNIAL GRASS OR A WEED?

>> THIS IS FOXTAIL BARLEY, SO IT'S NEITHER A BARLEY NOR A TRUE FOXTAIL.

IT'S A WINTER ANNUAL ONCE AGAIN.

IF THEY WANT TO CONTROL IT, JUST KEEP IT MOWED.

IT SHOULD BE FINE.

IT SHOULD HAND-PULL RELATIVELY EASILY OR ONCE AGAIN A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE IN THE FALL OF THE YEAR, RATHER THAN THE NORMAL TIME FOR CRAB GRASS AND OTHER OF THE ANNUAL SUMMER GRASSES.

>> AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL ALONG THE ROADSIDES.

>> LOOKS REALLY PRETTY ALONG THE ROADSIDE, BUT IT CAN BE -- IT PRODUCES A LOT OF SEED, AND THAT SEED'S GOING TO ULTIMATELY GERMINATE, MAYBE NOT THIS YEAR, MAYBE NOT NEXT YEAR, MAYBE NOT FOR THREE YEARS, BUT IT'S GOING TO GERMINATE.

THEY REALLY DON'T LIKE ITS APPEARANCE BUT YOU GENERALLY YOU CAN MOW IT OUT OR HAND PULL IT.

>> THANK YOU, ROCH.

>> YEP.

>> KYLE, THREE PICTURES FOR THIS ONE.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN, PLANTED STRAWBERRIES LAST SPRING, GREAT STAND OF JUNE-BEARING PLANTS THIS YEAR.

THEY HAD LOTS OF FLOWERS, LOOKED PROMISING.

NOW, ALL THE FRUIT IS EITHER DRYING UP OR SOFTENING TO GUNK BEFORE IT TURNS RED.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

>> THIS IS MOST LIKELY BOTRYTIS BLIGHT OF STRAWBERRIES.

VERY COMMON THIS YEAR.

ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HOW MUCH MOISTURE WE HAVE HAD THIS YEAR, AND WHEN WE HAVE A LOT OF MOISTURE AND SOME KIND OF CORE OF THE NORMAL TEMPERATURES, IT'S VERY COMMON, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE STRAWBERRIES.

>> AND?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S -- YOU CAN DO A -- YOU CAN DO A FUNGICIDAL SPRAY, ANY SORT OF BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDE WOULD WORK FOR THAT.

THE BEST THING TO DO THOUGH -- ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE AIR FLOW THROUGH THAT, BECAUSE THAT BOTRYTIS IS GOING TO REALLY THRIVE WHEN YOU HAVE A HIGH HUMIDITY ENVIRONMENT AND BASED OFF THAT STAND, IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE PRETTY HUMID INSIDE THOSE LEAVES.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

TWO PICTURES FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

CHIVES.

SEEDED THEMSELVES IN THE GARDEN, GREW BEAUTIFULLY, SET FLOWER BUDS, AND THEN COLLAPSED WITH THESE SPOTS.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

>> YEAH.

I AM -- I AM NOT SURE ON THIS ONE.

I HAD -- YOU KNOW, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING ONLINE, AND THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD FIND THAT WOULD GIVE BLACK SPOTS ON CHIVES OR EVEN ONIONS ARE REALLY APHIDS, AND THESE CLEARLY AREN'T APHIDS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN ONLY TELL SO MUCH FROM A PICTURE SO THIS WOULD BE A SITUATION WHERE I WOULD CERTAINLY ASK FOR A SAMPLE TO COME INTO THE CLINIC.

IF THEY ARE COLLAPSING, THOUGH, I WOULD PROBABLY JUST TRY TO REMOVE THOSE SO THAT WHATEVER IT IS DOESN'T SPREAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND DON'T EAT IT.

>> CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS ONE IS PAPILLON.

GARDEN LOOKED GREAT, HOWEVER THE ENGLISH CUKE PLANTS ARE LOOKING SICK.

ANY IDEA?

I THINK WE HAD ONE THAT HAD ANTHRACNOSE THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS LAST WEEK.

>> YEP, AND I THINK IT'S THE SAME SORT OF THING IS GOING ON WITH THIS ONE TOO.

COOL, LONG, WET SPRING, ANTHRACNOSE HAS BEEN VERY COMMON.

ONCE IT, YOU KNOW, ONCE IT STARTS TO WARM UP AND DRY OUT A LITTLE BIT, ANTHRACNOSE SHOULDN'T BE AS MUCH OF A PROBLEM ON THOSE CUKES.

>> KELLY, FIRST QUESTION, ONE PICTURE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HOSKINS NEBRASKA.

LANDSCAPE IS ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD.

THE SHRUBS, THEY'RE VIBURNUMS, WERE PLANTED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER.

THEY WANT TO DIG UP THE FAR LEFT ONE AND MOVE IT OVER WITHOUT DAMAGING THE CENTER ONE.

IS THIS POSSIBLE, AND IS THIS WHEN THIS SHOULD BE DONE?

>> OKAY, YES.

YOU CAN DIG IT UP AND MOVE IT.

YOU ARE GOING -- THOSE ROOTS ARE INTERMINGLED TOGETHER, SO YOU ARE GOING TO DAMAGE THE ROOTS OF THE ONE NEXT TO IT, BUT IF IT'S OTHERWISE HEALTHY, IF YOU KEEP THAT SOIL UNIFORMLY MOIST, NOT TOO DRY, NOT TOO WET, I WOULD THINK THAT WOULD RECOVER FOR YOU.

IF IT NEEDS TO BE MOVED, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT.

THE BEST TIME TO DO THAT WOULD BE EITHER THIS FALL, MAYBE GETTING CLOSE TO LEAF DROP, OR EVEN A LITTLE SOONER, OR YOU COULD WAIT AND DO IT EARLY NEXT SPRING.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KELLY.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE ALSO.

THIS IS A SPRINGFIELD VIEWER.

THIS IS A LILAC THEY PLANTED LAST YEAR.

THE OTHER TWO LOOKED FINE AND DIDN'T HAVE THIS STRANGE GROWTH PATTERN.

THIS ONE APPARENTLY HAS DECIDED IT WANTS TO BE A GIANT.

SHOULD SHE PRUNE OFF THOSE TWO TOP THINGS?

>> YEAH, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE THOSE ERRANT STEMS THAT REALLY GO TO TOWN.

IT WOULD BE BEST TO GO AHEAD AND CLIP BOTH OF THOSE AS CLOSE TO THE GROUND AS YOU CAN, AND THAT SMALLER TUFT, YOU'LL HAVE A NICE SMALLER COMPACT SHRUB, AND AS TIME GOES ON, YOU CAN KIND OF TRAIN THAT.

IF ADDITIONAL ONES SHOOT UP, THEN JUST KEEP CLIPPING THEM OUT.

THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE FOR THIS ONE, KELLY.

THIS IS AN AURORA VIEWER.

SHE'S WONDERING WHEN BROCCOLI IS READY TO PICK.

>> OKAY, BROCCOLI IS A CLUMP OF LITTLE IMMATURE FLOWER BUDS, SO IT'S READY TO PICK.

RIGHT NOW, THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT READY TO PICK.

WHEN IT GETS TO FULL SIZE, SO, FOUR TO EIGHT INCHES DEPENDING ON THE VARIETY THAT YOU HAVE.

USUALLY I WOULD START TO GET A NICE GREEN COLOR, LITTLE BIT DARKER GREEN COLOR, BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT IT'S THAT NICE TIGHT HEAD.

THOSE BUDS AREN'T STARTING TO GET A LITTLE BIT LARGER.

YOU WANT TO HARVEST IT BEFORE YOU GET ANY YELLOW FLOWERS.

NICE, COMPACT, TIGHT HEAD, GOOD COLOR, GOOD SIZE, AND IT WILL BE READY TO HARVEST.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KELLY.

WELL, WE ARE IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TONIGHT THAT WE THOUGHT WE'D TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE HASTINGS COLLEGE ARBORETUM SO YOU CAN ENJOY THE INCREDIBLE DIVERSITY AND BEAUTY OF THESE TREES.

♪♪ >> CHARTERED IN 1882, HASTINGS COLLEGE SAT ON A TREELESS PLAIN.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAMPUS MEANT A REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA ITSELF.

THE BEGINNING OF A TRADITION OF PLANTING TREES THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY.

>> SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 25th, 1883, PEOPLE WALKED FROM CHURCHES DOWNTOWN.

THEY DID A LITTLE CEREMONY, AND THEN THEY PLANTED 227 TREES, AND THE OCCASION WAS THE LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE FOR THE FIRST BUILDING ON CAMPUS.

THE CAMPUS IS SURPRISINGLY LARGE, OVER 100 ACRES.

WE HAVE ABOUT 1,100 TREES.

WE HAVE ALMOST A HUNDRED SPECIES AND SUBSPECIES, LIKE, 14 MAPLES, 12 OAKS, AND SO FORTH.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS OUR ARBORETUM IS KNOWN FOR.

IT'S KNOWN FOR ITS BEAUTY AND DIVERSITY.

THE ARBORETUM EXPANDED WITH FEATURES INCLUDING A RAIN GARDEN AND JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN.

>> AT THE CENTER OF CAMPUS, A LIVING MONUMENT STILL STANDS, AN AMERICAN ELM, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL TREES PLANTED IN 1883.

>> IT HAS GROWN ESPECIALLY TALL.

IT HAS THE CLASSIC FOUNTAIN SHAPE WHERE IT HAS A HIGH TRUNK.

THE BRANCHES SPILL OVER, AND I COLLECT SEED AND SEND IT TO THE NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM AND THE NEBRASKA FOREST.

AND THEY GROW FROM SEED, AND SELL THEM OR GIVE THEM, USUALLY, THEY'RE ABOUT THIS TALL, IN LITTLE POTS, ALL OVER NEBRASKA.

>> THE TREES HAVE BECOME A METAPHOR FOR LIFETIME LEARNING AND GROWTH.

THE CONTINUING TRADITION OF THE PLANTING AND THE CARE OF THESE TREES CONTINUES TO OFFER NUMEROUS BENEFITS TO THE CAMPUS AND HASTINGS COMMUNITY.

>> NEBRASKA IS KNOWN FOR THEIR PRAIRIES, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT SEEING JUST A BEAUTIFUL SHADE-COVERED LAWN.

ENVIRONMENTALLY, IT CLEANS THE AIR, PROVIDES SHADE, KEEPS THINGS COOL.

>> PEOPLE ARE HAPPIER WHEN THEY'RE AROUND TREES, SO EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IS STRONGER.

PEOPLE LIKE BEING AROUND TREES.

>> HERE AT HASTINGS COLLEGE WITH THE ARBORETUM, WE HAVE THEM ALL TAGGED SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT TYPE OF TREE IT IS.

IT'S ALSO GOOD TO EXPERIMENT.

SOMETIMES YOU GET UNIQUE TREES INTO ARBORETUMS, AND IT LETS YOU KNOW, DOES THIS TREE SURVIVE?

IS IT GOOD FOR NEBRASKA?

ESPECIALLY AS CLIMATE CHANGES, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THOSE.

>> OUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND ONCE YOU PLANT TREES, THEY WILL NEVER BE LOST ON THEM.

AND THEN THE STUDENTS HERE WILL KEEP COMING BACK TO CHECK ON THESE TREES, BECAUSE THEY HAD A HAND IN IT.

THEY GOT THEIR HANDS DIRTY IN THE SOIL.

[ APPLAUSE ] >>> AROUND US ARE MANY OF THE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL TREES IN THIS ARBORETUM, AND YOU CAN JUST IMAGINE WHAT THIS SPACE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN FUTURE YEARS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE WONDERFUL CARE FROM THE PROFESSIONALS AND THE VOLUNTEERS.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FOR YOU, WAYNE.

FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OGALLALA.

WHAT ARE THESE TINY CREATURES ON A GARDEN SHED?

I'VE SEEN THESE THESE PAST TWO YEARS.

ARE THEY FRIENDS OR ARE THEY FOE?

>> ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

THEY ARE A BUNCH OF LITTLE SPIDERLINGS.

THEY'VE PROBABLY HATCHED FROM AN EGG MASS THAT WAS LEFT FROM LAST YEAR BY THE FEMALE SPIDER, SO THEY'RE GOING TO CATCH AND EAT A LOT OF INSECTS AND OTHER THINGS IN THE AREA.

SO I WOULD GO WITH FRIEND.

>> OKAY THEN.

I DON'T LIKE SPIDERS.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> ESPECIALLY NOT THAT MANY.

BUT THREE PICTURES FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WINDSIDE.

THE LONGEST INSECT IS ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH.

HE'S CALLING THESE PODS.

THEY'RE ABOUT 3/16 OF AN INCH TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF A BUILDING.

WE HAVE A SERIES OF THREE PICTURES HERE.

WHAT ARE THEY, AND SHOULD HE BE CONCERNED WITH AN INFESTATION?

>> YOU'VE ACTUALLY GOT TWO DIFFERENT CRITTERS HERE.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE LARVA OF A SEVEN-SPOTTED LADY BEETLE, AND THE SECOND ONE IS A LARVA OF THE MULTICOLORED ASIAN LADY BEETLE THAT IS IN THE PROCESS, JUST STARTING TO TURN INTO A PUPA, AND THEN THAT THIRD PICTURE IS THE PUPA OF A MULTICOLORED ASIAN LADY BEETLE.

SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY SOME FOOD AROUND FOR THEM, APHIDS, OTHER SMALL SOFT-BODIED INSECTS FOR THEM TO EAT.

I WOULDN'T BE TOO CONCERNED WITH THEM.

THEY'RE AROUND.

THEY'RE OUT THERE EATING OTHER THINGS FOR US.

>> AWESOME.

ALL RIGHT, AND ONE PICTURE FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

SHE SAYS SHE FOUND THIS PRETTY GREEN INSECT ON HER IRIS.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT IT IS AND IS IT A DANGER TO PEOPLE OR PLANTS?

>> WELL, IT'S NOT A DANGER TO PEOPLE.

WE'LL START THERE.

IT IS A GREEN STINK BUG.

THESE ACTUALLY MIGRATE UP FROM THE SOUTH EVERY YEAR, AND THEY CAN BE QUITE THE PEST IN OUR ORNAMENTAL PLANTINGS AND OUR VEGETABLE GARDENS.

SO I WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND A SMASH ON SIGHT WHEN YOU SEE THESE.

YOU CAN ALSO, IF YOU -- THIS IS THE ENTOMOLOGIST TALKING HERE.

YOU CAN ALSO DO A SQUASH AND SNIFF.

I MEAN, THEY'RE A STINK BUG.

THEY DO HAVE AN UNUSUAL ODOR THAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND FOR YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, I LOST IT ON THAT ONE.

OKAY.

>> THAT'S THE GOAL.

>> ROCH, YOU HAVE TWO QUESTIONS, OR TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

WHAT IS THIS PLANT, AND HOW DO I GET RID OF IT?

IT GROWS EVERYWHERE, AND HE IS IN OMAHA.

>> YEAH, THIS IS DAYFLOWER.

IT'S A COMMON EXTREMELY INVASIVE, HIGHLY PROLIFIC SEED PRODUCER.

SO THE KEY IS TO GET ON IT BEFORE IT PRODUCES SEED, RIGHT?

SO DON'T LET IT FLOWER.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME RECENT WORK THAT SHOWS THERE IS A HERBICIDE OUT THERE, THE SAME HERBICIDE YOU WOULD USE ON YELLOW NUT SEDGE, FOR EXAMPLE.

IT'S EITHER SEDGE ENDER, OR THE COMMERCIAL NAME IS DISMISS.

THE COMMON NAME IS SULFENTRAZONE.

IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO BE PRETTY GOOD ON DAYFLOWER AND WILL TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS BUT FAR BETTER THAN ANYTHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE TRIED IN THE PAST.

SO THAT'S ONE POSSIBILITY IF YOU FEEL THE NEED TO GRAB THE HERBICIDE BUCKET.

BUT IF YOU DON'T, DON'T LET IT FLOWER, AND ULTIMATELY, IN 10 OR 20 YEARS, YOU'LL GET RID OF THE SEED THAT'S DOWN IN THE SOIL AND YOU WON'T HAVE ANY MORE DAYFLOWER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LOST IT ON THAT ONE TOO.

GOOD JOB, GUYS.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM VERMILION, SOUTH DAKOTA.

LOVES OUR SHOW FOR STARTERS.

THESE VOLUNTEER PLANTS CAME UP IN THE CORNER OF THE FLOWER BED.

LAST YEAR THEY GOT ABOUT SIX INCHES TALL.

THIS YEAR, THEY'RE GROWING, AND THEY'RE THREE FEET ALREADY.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT THESE MIGHT BE?

>> SO YOU AND I BOUNCED THIS AROUND ON THE CAR RIDE FROM LINCOLN BECAUSE WE DEBATED WHAT IT MIGHT BE AND WE ULTIMATELY CAME UP, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, ON A VERY COMMON WEED IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA, COMMON RAGWEED, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S JUST SO HEALTHY.

I MEAN, NORMALLY, WE SEE A SINGLE PLANT GROWING.

THIS ONE IS REALLY - SO THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB GROWING RAGWEED.

BUT THE END OF THAT STORY IS, LET'S NOT DO THAT.

SO DON'T BE LET IT FLOWER, DON'T LET IT POLLINATE.

CUT THEM BACK.

GET RID OF THEM.

MOVE THEM, BURN THEM.

LET ONE OF THE WEIRD INSECTS OR DISEASES OUT THERE TAKE IT OUT.

BUT YOU NEED TO GET IT OUT OF THERE, BECAUSE ANY KIND OF ALLERGY AT ALL IS JUST GOING TO BE AGGRAVATED BY COMMON RAGWEED.

>> THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

HE'S WONDERING WHAT IS CAUSING THE DARK, SHRIVELED PETAL EDGES OF THE 30-YEAR-OLD MR. LINCOLN ROSE.

WONDERING IS IT COMING TO THE END OF ITS LIFE?

SHOWED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST YEAR.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MIGHT HELP?

ALL THE REST OF HIS HYBRID TEAS ARE HEALTHY.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I -- IT COULD BE COMING TOWARDS THE END OF ITS LIFE, BUT THE OTHER THING THAT IT REALLY LOOKS A LOT LIKE TO ME IS THE SAME THING THAT WE SAW ON THOSE STRAWBERRIES EARLIER, BUT GRAY MOLD OR BOTRYTIS.

AND SO WE HAVE -- BOTRYTIS A COMMON FUNGAL DISEASE THAT WE CAN GET ON ROSES AS WELL.

AND I WOULD PROBABLY RECOMMEND MAYBE AN APPLICATION OF DACONIL OR SOME OTHER BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDE ON THERE JUST TO PROTECT THE REST OF THE HYBRIDS AROUND.

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

THIS IS A WEST POINT, NEBRASKA, VIEWER WHO HAS ENGLISH IVY AND HAS THESE SPOTS.

SO YOU CAN SEE THE IVY THERE.

CAN'T FIND ANY BUGS, WORMS ON THE LEAVES.

ARE THE SPOTS CONCERNING OR NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

>> UM, FOR -- YOU CAN SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT, WE'LL SAY THEY'RE NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, BECAUSE IT'S MOST LIKELY -- THIS IS BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT ON ENGLISH IVY, CAUSED BY -- THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT BACTERIA THAT CAN CAUSE THESE SIMILAR LEAF BLIGHTS.

BUT WE HAVE THAT BLACK LESION WITH KIND OF A BIG YELLOW HALO AROUND IT, VERY TYPICAL OF BACTERIAL DISEASES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS REALLY NOTHING TO DO ABOUT BACTERIAL DISEASES ASIDE FROM ENDURE THEM AND TRY TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE THE INFECTED FOLIAGE THAT YOU HAVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HARDINGTON.

NEWLY PLANTED SHRUBS DEVELOPED BRIGHT YELLOW MASS.

YOU CAN SEE IT ON THIS FINE LINE BUCKTHORN.

THEY DID HAVE A HAILSTORM.

THEY WONDERED IF THE HAIL CAUSED THIS LOVELY BRIGHT ORANGE.

>> THE HAIL DID NOT, BUT I AGREE THAT IT IS A LOVELY COLOR, AND IT REALLY CAUSES SOME COOL DEFORMATION OF THE PLANTS TOO.

BUT THIS IS BUCKTHORN RUST.

VERY COMMON RIGHT NOW.

I ACTUALLY HAD - I'VE HAD FOUR PICTURES OF IT COME IN TO ME IN THE LAST WEEK AS WELL.

ON YOUR BUCKTHORNS, REALLY NOT A WHOLE LOT TO WORRY ABOUT.

ONCE YOU'RE SEEING IT ALREADY SHOW UP, CONTROL IS TOO LATE ANYWAY.

NOW IF YOU WERE AN OAT FARMER, I WOULD BE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE ALTERNATE HOST FOR BUCKTHORN RUST IS OATS.

THAT COULD BE QUITE A PROBLEM THERE, BUT IN YOUR ORNAMENTAL BUCKTHORNS, I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND PRUNING THOSE OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KELLY, THREE PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE, AND IT'S SORT OF RELATED TO YOUR NEXT SET, BUT THESE THREE ARE -- SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD GOTTEN THESE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL HYDRANGEAS.

THEY HAD BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

SHE WONDERED IF SHE MESSED UP BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT THEY WERE SMOOTH HYDRANGEAS SO THEY'D DO THIS ALL THE TIME, AND INSTEAD, SHE GOT THIS ONE YEAR, AND THEY LOOKED LIKE THAT, AND THEN SHE GOT NOTHING.

AND IS THERE ANY HOPE OF GETTING THEM, THE BIG LEAF HYDRANGEAS, TO BLOOM LIKE THAT AGAIN NEXT YEAR?

>> OKAY, YEAH.

I THINK SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE PRUNED THEM IN THE FALL.

SO, BIG LEAF HYDRANGEA IS ONE OF THE HYDRANGEAS THAT BLOOMS ON OLDER WOOD, PRIMARILY OLDER WOOD.

AND SO BY PRUNING THEM IN THE FALL, YOU WERE REMOVING ALL THE FLOWER BUDS.

THERE'S ALSO OTHER ISSUES WITH BIG LEAF HYDRANGEA.

THAT'S HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA.

SO IF YOU KEEP THAT TAG WHEN YOU BUY IT YOU CAN SEE WHICH ONE YOU HAVE.

IS IT SMOOTH, IS IT BIG LEAF, IS IT A PANICLE?

AND THAT'LL HELP YOU TO KNOW WHEN TO PRUNE.

SO HYDRANGEA MACROPHYLLA, SOME OF THE BIG LEAF HYDRANGEAS.

AND IF YOU PRUNE THEM IN THE FALL, YOU'RE REMOVING ALL THE FLOWER BUDS.

SO THEY ALSO HAVE ISSUES WITH HARDINESS SOMETIMES HERE IN NEBRASKA.

SO YOU GET A HARD WINTER, THAT CAN -- EVEN IF YOU PRUNE THEM CORRECTLY THAT CAN AFFECT BLOOMING.

THEY DON'T LIKE HEAT AND HUMIDITY REALLY, REALLY WELL SO SOMETIMES THAT CAN AFFECT BLOOMING.

AND ONCE YOU KIND OF MESS THEM UP, THEY MAY NOT EVER BLOOM AGAIN.

SO, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN ENJOY THEM.

THEY LOOK LIKE A PRETTY PLANT, BUT THEY LIKELY WILL NOT EVER BLOOM AGAIN.

SO WITH HYDRANGEAS, AGAIN, JUST KNOW WHAT IT IS, KEEP THAT TAG, ASK AT THE GARDEN CENTER WHEREVER YOU BUY IT, WHAT AGE WOOD DO THEY BLOOM ON?

BUT THE BIG LEAF BLOOM ON PRIMARILY THE OLDER WOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OR IF YOU HAVE TO PRUNE THEM AT ALL.

WE DON'T RECOMMEND A LOT OF PRUNING ON BIG LEAF, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO PRUNE THEM AT ALL, MAKE SURE TO DO IT RIGHT AFTER BLOOMING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM MARTELL.

SHE BOUGHT MOUNTAIN HYDRANGEA AND THE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO CURL.

SO WHAT IS THE CURLING OF THE LEAVES ALL ABOUT?

>> MOUNTAIN HYDRANGEA IS A COMPACT FORM OF THAT BIG LEAF HYDRANGEA THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR THE MOST PART, THE LEAF -- THE PLANT LOOKS HEALTHY OTHER THAN THE CURLING OF THE ONE OR TWO OR THREE LEAVES, SO I DON'T SEE ANY DISEASE, INSECT, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO FIRST THING I WOULD CHECK THE SOIL TO MAKE SURE IT'S NOT TOO WET, YOU KNOW, NOT OVERLY DRY, BUT I WOULD LEAN -- MAKE SURE IT'S NOT TOO WET.

IF IT IS FAIRLY WET, PULL THAT MULCH THAT'S AROUND THAT PLANT AND ALLOW THAT SOIL TO DRY OUT A LITTLE BIT.

SEE IF THAT'LL HELP.

BUT OTHERWISE, JUST CLIP OFF THE BROWN LEAVES.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE, AND THIS IS JUST FOR FUN, AND YOU GET IT, BECAUSE LAST WEEK, LOREN GOT IT.

KYLE, A DIFFERENT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LAKESIDE, NEBRASKA.

THIS IS IN THE ASPARAGUS PATCH.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

>> THIS IS A SUPER DUPER COOL ONE.

I'M GLAD I GOT IT.

THIS IS -- >> I'M JEALOUS.

>> I KNEW KYLE WOULD BE JEALOUS.

FASCIATION IS WHAT IT'S CALLED, AND IF YOU SHOW THAT -- THE NEXT PICTURE, YOU CAN SEE THE STEM IS VERY FLATTENED AND KIND OF LOOKS RIBBON-LIKE, AND I THINK BECAUSE THE STEM IS MISFORMED LIKE THAT OR DEFORMED LIKE THAT, THAT'S WHAT MADE THOSE SPEARS GO UP AND IT LOOKS LIKE A SPIRAL.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A FLOWER.

IT'S REALLY COOL.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE'RE NOT 100% SURE EXACTLY WHY IT HAPPENS, AND KYLE, IF YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU CAN SAY, BUT USUALLY, IT'S SOME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THAT STEM.

IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE HERBICIDE, IT MIGHT BE ENVIRONMENTAL.

IT MIGHT BE MECHANICAL.

BUT SOMETHING DAMAGES THAT GROWING POINT, AND IT JUST MAKES THE PLANT GO GOOFY, AND YOU GET THIS NICE FLAT RIBBON, AND WE CALL IT FASCIATION, AND USUALLY, JUST CLIP OUT WHAT YOU SEE, BUT ENJOY IT, BECAUSE IT'S COOL.

>> YEP.

AND THERE IS A -- THERE IS A BACTERIAL DISEASE THAT CAN CAUSE SIMILAR ISSUES, BUT WE ARE YET TO CONFIRM THAT IN NEBRASKA.

SO, LET'S HOPE THAT'S NOT WHAT IT IS.

>> AND I THINK THEY JUST WANTED TO CREATE AN ASPARAGUS TREE.

>> IT LOOKED BEAUTIFUL.

>> IT'S COOL.

>> SO, WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK, BUT WE DO HOPE YOU'LL STAY WITH US.

THERE'S THE PLANT OF THE WEEK AND MUCH MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REALLY COOL SEGMENT ON SOMETHING CALLED AQUACULTURE.

NOT AQUAMAN, ROCH.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE KELLY, WHO HAS THE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> OKAY.

I THINK THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO ZOOM IN ON THEM HERE.

SO THE RED ONE IS MALTESE CROSS.

BEAUTIFUL -- HUMMINGBIRDS LOVE RED, SO I THINK THEY WOULD BE GOING AFTER THAT ONE.

AND THE GRASS IS JUNE GRASS, WHICH I TOLD KIM, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT.

I'VE MAYBE SEEN IT BUT NEVER HEARD OF IT, BUT IT'S JUNE GRASS.

IT'S A NATIVE GRASS TO NEBRASKA, AND OBVIOUSLY, IT'S BLOOMING NOW.

SO I'M GUESSING A COOL SEASON GRASS.

>> IT IS A COOL SEASON GRASS, AND IT GOES DORMANT, SO -- AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL IN THIS PART OF THE STATE.

SO, THIS IS -- SEEMS TO BE WHERE IT GROWS BEST.

I SEE IT IN THE PASTURES AND PLACES LIKE THAT.

WELL, WITH OUR GARDEN BEING INSTALLED, WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP THOSE INSECTS FROM EATING EVERYTHING AND HOPING WE GET THE GOOD BUGS AND NOT THE BAD ONES.

SO HERE'S TERRI FOR A MINUTE IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE ARE OUT SCOUTING.

ALL OF OUR PLANTS ARE IN, AND WE ARE REALLY MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR SOME OF THOSE JAPANESE BEETLES THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO BE SHOWING UP.

SOME OF THOSE SQUASH BUGS ARE GOING TO BE SHOWING UP.

AND WE'RE STILL GETTING SOME OF OUR WARM SEASON SEEDS STARTED.

SO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE OUT SCOUTING YOUR GARDEN ALONG WITH US AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE GARDEN.

MAYBE DEAD-HEAD SOME OF THOSE SPENT FLOWERS TO KEEP THOSE PLANTS LOOKING NICE.

THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP KIND OF MAKE YOUR PLANT A LITTLE MORE BRIGHT AND AIRY, AND SEND OUT SOME NEW SHOOTS ALSO TO KEEP THEM LOOKING FRESH AND INVITING ALL SUMMER LONG.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE LOTS OF COLOR IN THE GARDEN TOO, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED AS WE'RE DEAD-HEADING AND CUTTING BACK, GETTING ALL THOSE COLORS UP AND CHECKING THEM ALL OUT.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, STOP BY AND WE'LL SEE YOU THERE.

♪♪ >> WELL, AND WE DO HOPE IT IS THE GOOD BUGS THAT VISIT AND THE BAD BUGS THAT STAY AWAY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE QUESTIONS AGAIN.

WAYNE, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM COLUMBUS.

HE HAS PETUNIAS, GERBERA DAISIES, THYME AND BEGONIAS.

I THINK THEY'RE ALL IN POTS.

AND HE HAS SPRAYED WITH SEVEN.

HE'S IN COLUMBUS.

>> OH, THIS IS THE ANNUAL APPEARANCE OF THE TOBACCO BUD WORM THAT ATTACKS A LOT OF OUR POTTED PLANTS.

I HAVE PEOPLE IN NORFORK THAT HAVE GIVEN UP ON CERTAIN PLANTS BECAUSE THEY'VE GOTTEN HIT THE LAST THREE, FOUR YEARS IN THE SAME SPOTS.

SOME PEOPLE GET IT ONCE, AND THEN THEY DON'T SEE IT AGAIN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

IT JUST VARIES DEPENDING ON THE SET-UP AND WHEN THEY SHOW UP AND IF THEY FIND YOUR PARTICULAR SET OF POTTED PLANTS.

THEY ARE TOUGH TO CONTROL, EVEN WITH SPRAYS, BECAUSE THEY'RE UP FEEDING DURING THE DARK HOURS, AND THEY'RE HIDING DOWN IN THE SOIL DURING THE LIGHT HOURS.

PLUS, THEN AGAIN, WE'RE DEALING WITH FLOWERING PLANTS, AND WE HAVE OUR POLLINATORS THAT ARE VISITING, SO YOU GOT TO BE REALLY CAREFUL IF YOU'RE SPRAYING ANY INSECTICIDE ON THOSE FLOWERING PLANTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, WAYNE.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LOGAN.

SHE HAS POTTED RADISHES IN HER LITTLE GREENHOUSE SHED.

FLIES ARE LANDING ON THEM AND THEN THERE'S THESE LITTLE BROWNISH RED BUMPS ON THE UNDERSIDE.

SHE'S WONDERING, ARE THESE APHIDS?

SHOULD SHE TREAT THEM?

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> OKAY, YES, THEY ARE APHIDS.

THOSE FLIES ARE PROBABLY VISITING FOR THE HONEYDEW THAT'S COMING OFF THOSE APHIDS.

HONEYDEW IS JUST THE EXCESS SUGARS AND WATER THAT THE APHIDS DON'T NEED.

THEY'RE FILTERING THAT OUT TO TRY TO GET TO THOSE AMINO ACIDS AND SOME OF THE MORE RARE NUTRIENTS THAT THEY NEED FROM THE PLANTS.

IN TERMS OF TREATMENT, READ THAT LABEL REALLY, REALLY, REALLY CAREFULLY.

ONE, MAKE SURE IT'S LABELED FOR A GREENHOUSE USE, SINCE WE'RE IN A SEPARATE SITUATION.

AND TWO, READ REALLY CLOSELY FOR THAT PREHARVEST INTERVAL SINCE WE'RE DEALING WITH A FRESH EAT HERE.

IF THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK, I WOULD SAY, GO FOR THE HOSE.

THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES WITH APHIDS.

GO FOR A HOSE WITH A GOOD STRONG BLAST OF WATER AND BLAST THEM OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE YOUR NEXT ONE IS ACTUALLY A BELLEVUE VIEWERS THAT INSECTS/DISEASE, HONEYSUCKLE FLOWERS, WAS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME ISSUE IN ADDITION TO THE GRAYISH POWDER.

SO, SAME THING ON THAT ONE?

>> BACK TO APHIDS.

>> BACK TO APHIDS.

>> BACK TO HONEYDEW.

SO THAT HONEYDEW IS THE EXCRETION FROM THE APHIDS.

THAT'S THAT BLACK SPOT.

THEN, KYLE'S FRIENDS MOVE IN -- >> YUP.

>> -- AROUND THE FREE FOOD ON THE SURFACE OF THE PLANTS.

IT'S NOT DIRECTLY HARMFUL TO THE PLANTS, BUT IT DOES BLOCK OUT THE LIGHT AND THEN REDUCE PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AGAIN, HOSE.

>> GOOD.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE IS A TREE WITH DAMAGE AND AN OLDER SHRUB GETTING SICKER AND SICKER.

THIS IS JUST THE DWARF ALBERTA SPRUCE.

THAT IS WHAT'S LEFT.

>> AND IF I READ THE CORRECT -- QUESTION CORRECTLY, THEY FOUND WEBBING TWO YEARS AGO ON THIS.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> SO, OUR CULPRITS ARE PROBABLY ALREADY GONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THERE'S NOTHING TO TREAT.

AND KELLY, YOU CAN CORRECT ME ON THIS ONE IF YOU WANT, BUT I'M GUESSING THIS PLANT'S A GONER SINCE THE GROWING TIP IS BROWN.

>> YEP.

AND IT'S A CONIFER, AND SO ONCE YOU HAVE A CONIFER, EVEN IF YOU PRUNED OUT ALL THAT BROWN, IT WILL NEVER REGENERATE ANY NEW GROWTH.

WITH THAT TERMINAL GONE, I THINK THIS ONE IS -- A GOOD ONE TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE PICTURE FOR YOU, WAYNE.

IT'S INSECT TIME.

THIS COMES TO US FROM UTICA.

WHAT KIND OF A TREE IS THIS, AND WHAT ARE THE BUMPS ON THE LEAVES?

THE LEAVES ARE YELLOWING AND FALLING OFF.

>> WELL, THE SAD THING IS YOU CAN IDENTIFY THIS TREE BUT THESE BUMPS.

THESE ARE HACKBERRY NIPPLE GALLS.

THEY ONLY OCCUR ON HACKBERRIES.

THEY'RE CAUSE BY AN INSECT.

THET'RE A LITTLE INSECT NYMPH INSIDE THAT.

SO IF YOU WANT SOME FUN, YOU CAN SPLIT THOSE OPEN AND FIND THIS LITTLE YELLOW THING CREEPING AROUND IN THE HOLLOW SPOT INSIDE THAT GALL.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND HACKBERRY LEAVES THAT DO NOT HAVE A GALL.

YOU HAVE TO FIND THEM FIRST THING IN THE SPRING WHEN THEY'RE FIRST COMING OUT, AND VERY RARELY DO YOU FIND A MATURE LEAF THAT DOESN'T HAVE A GALL.

BUT NOTHING TO -- >> NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> -- NOTHING WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS HALL COUNTY.

HE SAYS THESE ARE COMING UP AGAIN.

HE'S WONDERING WHAT THESE TWO FLOWERS ARE.

THEY HAVE BEEN SPREADING FOR A COUPLE YEARS.

WHAT ARE THEY, AND THEY'RE TAKING OVER REALLY IN SANDY AREAS.

BEST WAY TO CONTROL?

>> YES, THIS IS COMMON MULLEN.

YOU CAN BARELY SEE ON THE TIP, IT'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A YELLOW FLOWER STARTING TO FORM.

IT'S USUALLY ONLY INVADES PASTURES AND THOSE KIND OF PLACES WHERE IT'S REALLY THIN AND THEN OFTEN IN PASTURES THAT HAVE SAND POCKETS IN THEM.

THE GRASS DOESN'T HAVE A CHANCE BECAUSE IT NEEDS A LITTLE BIT MORE WATER, AND MULLEN IS VERY DROUGHT TOLERANT.

IT CAN BE VERY INVASIVE, DOES PRODUCE A LOT OF SEED.

I'M GOING TO SAY, ROGUE THEM OUT JUST TO GET RID OF THEM IF THEY DON'T WANT ANY MORE OF THEM.

THEY REALLY HAVE ZERO PALATABILITY TO LIVESTOCK.

THEY WON'T EVEN GRAZE THEM, AND THEY HAVE ZERO NUTRITIONAL VALUE.

I'M GOING TO SAY, START KNOCKING THOSE OUT, EITHER BY MOWING OR HAND SPADING AND GETTING RID OF THEM.

>> OKAY, AND THE SECOND PICTURE WAS -- ANY IDEA?

>> I COULDN'T SEE WHAT THEY WERE POINTING OUT, UNFORTUNATELY.

SO I'M NOT SURE ON THAT.

>> SO WE'LL HAVE THEM SEND A BETTER PICTURE.

>> YEAH, SEND A BETTER PICTURE, I'LL TAKE A BETTER LOOK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> I WANTED TO AVOID THAT, BUT THANKS FOR BRINGING IT UP.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S MY JOB.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS VIEWER THINKS IT'S BIND WEED.

IMPERVIOUS TO ANY COMMERCIAL WEED CONTROL CONCOCTION.

HE'S RESORTED TO PLUCKING.

HE WANTS AN EXTINCTION-LEVEL SOLUTION.

WHAT IS IT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T GIVE HIM THE EXTINCTION-LEVEL SOLUTION SHORT OF THE END OF THE WORLD.

BUT IT'S NOT BINDWEED.

IT'S ACTUALLY MORNING GLORY.

IF IT'S SHAPED -- IF IT'S VINE-Y AND SHAPED LIKE A HEART, CHANCES ARE IT'S GOING TO BE MORNING GLORY.

IF IT'S VINE-Y AND SHAPED LIKE AN ARROWHEAD WITH THE LOBES ON THE BOTTOM THAT THEY WOULD HAVE LATCHED THE -- NATIVE AMERICANS WOULD HAVE LATCHED THE ARROWHEAD ON TO THE SHAFT OF THE ARROW WITH, THAT'S PROBABLY A BINDWEED OR A CLOSE COUSIN.

AS THEY INDICATE, VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

YOU CAN TRY -- HE MENTIONED THAT THE HERBICIDES WEREN'T REALLY WORKING.

WELL, IT'S IN AND AMONG OTHER BROAD LEAF PLANTS.

SO ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO KILL IT IS GOING TO KILL THE BROAD LEAF PLANTS.

SO EITHER HAND-PULLING, BUT THEY CAN GET REALLY AGGRESSIVE AND GET AWAY FROM YOU AND CATCH THEM EARLY, OR IF THEY WANT TO TRY THE PLASTIC GLOVE WITH THE WHITE COTTON GLOVE OVER THE OUTSIDE AND PUT, LIKE, A GLYPHOSATE MIXTURE ON -- SPRAY IT ON THERE AND THEN MAKE SURE WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF THAT Y0U WASH YOUR HANDS AND EVERTHING.

AND JUST WIPE THAT ON THERE.

BY THE TIME YOU'VE WIPED IT ON THERE AND LET IT DROP BACK TO THE DESIRABLE PLANTS, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH RESIDUAL TO CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE DESIRABLES BUT THAT'S ONE WAY TO DO IT, AND THE HERBICIDE IS JUST -- YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE TENACIOUS ABOUT IT, JUST LIKE THE WEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS VIEWER SAYS THESE WEEDS CAME UP IN A NEWLY SEEDED LAWN, KEEPS MOWING THEM OFF, BUT THEY JUST COME OFF.

THIS IS FROM ELGIN.

>> THIS IS BUFFALO BURR.

YOU CAN SEE THE SPINES ON THE LEAVES.

MOWING THEM IS A FAIRLY EFFECTIVE TOOL.

THEY WILL NOT TOLERATE MOWING, BUT THEY CAN BE PRETTY TENACIOUS UNTIL YOU GET THE TURF STAND-UP.

MOWING'S GONNA FAVOR GRASS OVER THIS BROAD LEAF ONE.

THEY'RE DIFFICULT TO PULL.

THEY DO PULL UP RELATIVELY EASY, BUT YOU BETTER HAVE ON GOOD THICK WORK GLOVES BECAUSE THOSE SPINES CAN -- YOU KNOW THEY'RE WORSE THAN A BEE BITE, IN MY OPINION, BECAUSE THEY CAN MESS WITH -- THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TOXIN ON THEM AND IT CAN INFLAME YOUR FINGERS.

SO HAND-PULLING ISN'T REALLY RECOMMENDED.

I JUST CONTINUE TO MOW.

I THINK IT WAS A NEW SEEDING IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.

SO, I WOULD CONSIDER THAT MOWING IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALL OVER IN PASTURES AND ROADSIDES IN THE GOTHENBURG AREA.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT KIM AND I HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT, BECAUSE WE ARGUED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHETHER THERE WERE THREE LEAFLETS OR FIVE.

THEN WE DECIDED THERE WERE BOTH.

SHE DIDN'T THROW ME OUT OF THE CAR, SO THANK GOD FOR THAT.

BUT THIS IS SCURF-PEA, WHICH IS A LEGUME, BUT IT'S NEITHER -- I THINK THEY THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE -- >> LESPEDEZA.

>> -- LESPEDEZA BUT IT'S NOT LESPEDEZA BECAUSE LESPEDEZA HAS THREE LEAFLETS.

THIS ONE HAS THREE AND FIVE, AND IT WASN'T THAT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE, WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN PRAIRIE ONION OR PRAIRIE TURNIP, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ONLY FIVE.

SO, THREE AND FIVE LEAFLETS.

IT'S GOING TO GET KIND OF A PRETTY FLOWER ON IT, AND IT'S KIND OF UNIQUE.

IT'S ALL OVER OUT THERE, BUT IT'S A REALLY PRETTY FLOWER.

I'D JUST LEAVE IT BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ELKHORN.

ACREAGE PLANTED IN THE '70s WITH PONDEROSA PINE.

FIVE HAVE DIED.

HAPPENS HE SAYS QUICKLY.

BUT HE'S SEEING SOME PITCH MASSES.

THERE IS A LOT OF PINE WILT AROUND.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA ON THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S MOST LIKELY SOME -- IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO BE A TREE IN NEBRASKA FOR A FEW YEARS.

AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH PONDEROSAS, BEING NATIVE, YOU WOULD HOPE THEY COULD TOLERATE THINGS A LITTLE BETTER, BUT IT'S REALLY BEEN A STRUGGLE WITH SOME OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, AND I REALLY WONDER IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH PINE WILT IS POSSIBLE, BUT WE REALLY DON'T SEE PONDEROSA SUCCUMBING TO PINE WILT.

I REALLY SUSPECT THAT IT'S JUST SOME SORT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE, AND YOU KNOW, IF YOU LOOK AROUND, THERE ARE A LOT OF STANDS OF EVERGREENS THAT HAVE DECLINED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, SEEMINGLY VERY QUICKLY AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WAYNE DID SEE THE INSECT DAMAGE.

>> YEAH, THAT PITCH IS PRETTY INDICATIVE, BECAUSE IT'S GOT THE HOLE IN IT, AND SO USUALLY, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT TREE WILL TRY TO EJECT THAT INSECT BY PUSHING ALL THAT SAP OUT, AND SOMETIMES, IT SUCCEEDS, AND THAT INSECT GETS TRAPPED IN THE PITCH TUBE, AND SOMETIMES THAT INSECT WINS AND MANAGES TO STAY IN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A COUNCIL BLUFFS VIEWER, KYLE.

BURR OAK WITH CRACK AND SEEPAGE.

LARGE CRACK, IT'S A 50-YEAR-OLD BURR OAK.

IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS.

A COUPLE OF DEAD BRANCHES, BUT THIS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

YOU CAN SEE THE CLOSE-UP HERE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS NOT A TREE THAT IS LONG FOR THIS WORLD.

SO, I WOULD, YOU KNOW, RECOMMEND GETTING RID OF IT.

THE -- WHEN YOU HAVE A CRACK THIS LARGE ON THE TREE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE SEEPAGE, THAT MUCH SEEPAGE ON IT, THAT'S A SIGN THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE THAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TREE.

WHEN WE HAVE THAT WOUND, THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER FUNGI, BACTERIA THAT CAN GET IN THERE AND CAUSE SOME MORE ROTTING.

AND IT DID LOOK LIKE IT WAS FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE AS WELL.

AND AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MANY TIMES, WHENEVER YOU HAVE A DECLINING TREE, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT THAT TREE COULD FALL ON, AND CAN YOU TOLERATE A GIANT TREE FALLING ON THAT?

IF THE ANSWER IS NO, PROBABLY TIME TO GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS NEAR LOUISVILLE ON AN ACREAGE, AND YOU GET IT BECAUSE THE CONCERN HERE IS OAK WILT ON BIG MOSTLY BURR OAK.

>> YEAH, I DON'T -- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS -- I DON'T BELIEVE THAT THIS IS OAK WILT.

BURR OAKS ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO IT, BUT REALLY, WE WOULD NEED SOME SORT OF SAMPLE IN ORDER TO REALLY JUST DETERMINE.

ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THE FUNGUS THAT CAUSES BURR OAK BLIGHT OR CAUSES OAK WILT, SORRY ABOUT THAT, IS IT ACTUALLY SURVIVES IN THE PETIAL, AND SO IF WE GET SOME LEAVES, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, AND WE WOULD NEED PETALS AND BRANCHES TO CONFIRM IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND TWO MORE PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ADAMS.

TWO MATURE CONCOLOR FIRS.

APPROXIMATELY 30 YEARS OLD.

ONE IS SHOWING A FAIR AMOUNT OF DECLINE.

>> IT'S BEEN A HARD LIFE FOR TREES IN NEBRASKA, AND YOU KNOW, THEN THIS ONE AS WELL, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THE INNER NEEDLES WERE BROWN AND KIND OF DROPPING, SIGN THAT THERE IS MOST LIKELY SOME EITHER RHIZOSPHERA OR SOME SORT OF NEEDLE CAST FUNGUS THAT IS IN THERE.

BUT THAT ONE THAT'S DECLINING, IT'S PROBABLY NOT -- YEAH.

PATHOLOGISTS DON'T LIKE TREES, BECAUSE IT'S -- BY THE TIME SOMEBODY COMES TO US WITH A TREE, MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE ANSWER IS, PROBABLY TIME TO GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF, KELLY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THEY HAD A BAD HAILSTORM.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LAKE TRENTON.

SHE WANTED TO SHOW US WHAT HAPPENED BASICALLY JUNE 29th,'23, AND THEN THIS YEAR, AND SO THEY TRIED TO SAVE THIS HONEY LOCUST, AND THIS IS THIS YEAR.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE VERY SEVERE DEFOLIATION, AND IF THE HAIL WOULD JUST DEFOLIATE IT, AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY TREE MIGHT PRODUCE SECONDARY LEAVES AND LEAF OUT AGAIN.

BUT TO DO IT REPEATEDLY, TWO YEARS IN A ROW, AND WHEN I ZOOMED IN ON THAT IT LOOKED LIKE A LOT OF THE FOLIAGE ON THERE WAS MORE SUCKER GROWTH, ALMOST.

AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS, HAIL IS -- CAUSES A LOT OF WOUNDING ON THE TWIGS, THE BRANCHES, EVEN THE TRUNK, AND KYLE WILL SAY, THEN YOU GET SOME SECONDARY ISSUES IN THERE.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND HANG ON TO THAT TREE IF IT -- IF BY ANOTHER MONTH IT PRODUCED THE SECONDARY BUDS, IT LEAFS OUT, THEN KEEP -- YOU KNOW, GO AHEAD AND KEEP IT.

AND IF IT'S THAT SPARSE-LOOKING IN ANOTHER MONTH, I HATE TO SAY IT.

WE'RE THE SAME WAY WITH TREES.

IT MIGHT BE TIME TO CONSIDER REMOVAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> GIVE IT -- MAYBE GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME HERE.

>> YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

I THINK THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE.

THIS IS A PLATSMOUTH VIEWER WHO HAS A BIRCH TREE.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF IT WOULD LIVE IF THE DEAD HALF WAS TAKEN OFF.

>> OKAY.

SO, THIS IS -- A LOT OF TIMES, RIVER BIRCH CLUMPS, YOU HAVE LIKE THREE SEPARATE OR TWO SEPARATE TRUNKS COMING OUT OF THE GROUND, AND THIS ONE IS ACTUALLY ONE TRUNK AND THEN IT'S A CODOMINANT STEM.

SO, THE SIDE THAT'S COMPLETELY DEAD, TO REMOVE THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE SUCH A LARGE WOUND ON THAT TREE THAT THEY WOULD NEVER SEAL.

IT WOULD NEVER CLOSE UP.

GET DECAY IN IT EVENTUALLY.

THE SECOND HALF LOOKS A LITTLE YELLOW TO ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MIGHT BE SOME DEAD BRANCHES IN THERE.

I LOVE TREES.

THAT'S WHAT I STUDIED IN COLLEGE, BUT SOME OF THEM, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO GO, AND IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO GROW -- PLANT ANOTHER TREE AND TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO MORE PICTURES, AND THIS IS JUST BASICALLY FOR OUR VIEWERS, KELLY.

THIS IS A LIGHTNING STRIKE, NINE YEARS APART.

AND THEY WANTED TO SHOW THE RESULTS, WHICH IS THIS FIRST PICTURE.

IT WAS A PIN OAK, AND THIS WAS THE LIGHTNING STRIKE, AND IT'S TIME FOR THAT ONE TO GO DOWN.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK THE SECOND PICTURE IS, LIKE, NINE YEARS LATER.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO, THAT REALLY SHOWS THE DELAYED RESPONSE THAT TREES HAVE TO DAMAGE, AND EVEN JUST WITH LIGHTNING, IT'S HARD TO ASSESS.

LOT OF TIMES -- IF IT'S NOT CLEAR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE BARK'S BLOWING OFF, BRANCH -- LARGE BRANCHES ARE BROKEN, SOMETIMES WE'LL SAY TAKE A WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE, BUT THEY WAITED.

NINE YEARS.

STARTING TO DECLINE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

>> HATE TO SAY IT.

TIME TO REMOVE IT.

>> THANKS, KELLY.

WE KNOW LAST TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE HAD A GREAT SEGMENT WITH DAVID HOLDINGS POND.

THIS TIME AROUND, WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE AQUACULTURE, THE WAY THAT HE IS GROWING FOOD IN HIS OWN BACKYARD POND.

♪♪ >> SO, THE MORE PLANTS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR POND, THE LESS PROBLEM YOU HAVE WITH EXCESS NITROGEN.

AND EXCESS NITROGEN MEANS YOU HAVE ALGAE GROWING AND CLOUDY WATER.

SO, AQUATIC PLANTS ARE EXPENSIVE, AND I THOUGHT, WHY NOT EXPERIMENT WITH OTHER INTERESTING VEGETABLES LIKE HAVE BEEN -- AND RED SWISS CHARD.

SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING VARIOUS THINGS.

SOME THINGS DO WELL WITH SUBMERGED ROOTS.

OTHERS, NOT SO MUCH.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THOSE -- THESE VEGETABLES ARE THRIVING, AND I HAVE NO IDEA HOW BIG THEY'RE GOING TO GET, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY HELPING TO TAKE THE NITROGEN OUT OF THE WATER.

SO, I HAVE BASIL IN THE MIDDLE, VARIOUS RED LETTUCES.

I HAVE SOME RED SWISS CHARD THAT I JUST PUT IN.

I HAVE THYME THAT SEEMS TO BE DOING OKAY.

MINT LIKES TO HAVE WET FEET.

LAVENDER HATED IT.

THAT DIED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

THERE'S SOME FENNEL GROWING IN THE FRONT AS WELL.

SO, IT'S JUST AN EXPERIMENT.

>> AND THAT WAS REALLY A VERY CREATIVE WAY -- [ APPLAUSE ] FOR DAVID TO BE ABLE TO SHOW HOW TO GROW THINGS IN KIND OF THIS FUNKY FLOATING THING.

IT WAS JUST VERY CLEVER.

HE DID SAY HE'S NOT GOING TO EAT THAT FOOD.

JUST IN CASE.

BUT YOU COULD.

ALL RIGHT.

I THINK WE HAVE MAYBE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT DIDN'T QUITE MAKE IT ON TO THE SCREEN.

SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN.

BUT WE HAVE THE WACHISKA AUDUBON SOCIETY GARDEN TOUR ON JUNE 22nd IN LINCOLN.

SEVEN PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING ESSENTIALLY CONVERTED INTO A TURF ALTERNATIVE OR THE USE OF NATIVE PLANTS.

SO, ALWAYS A GOOD ONE.

YOU CAN ALWAYS SEND US OUR ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SOMETIMES, WE JUST RUN OUT OF TIME FOR THEM.

ALL RIGHT, WAYNE, LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE PICTURES NEXT.

AND YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM AMHERST.

ONE PICTURE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE MAPLE LEAFS.

SHOULD LOOK FAMILIAR TO SOMEBODY IN OUR AUDIENCE.

>> YEAH, WE HAD SOMEBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT BROUGHT THIS WITH THEM TONIGHT.

THIS ONE'S THE COLOR I WAS REFERENCING TO.

THEIRS WERE ALL GREEN.

THIS IS MAPLE BLADDER GALL AND IT'S CAUSED BY A MITE.

AND THERE'S NOTHING WE REALLY DO ABOUT IT.

JUST SIT AND WATCH.

>> OTHER THAN ENJOY.

>> ENJOY IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM BENNETT.

AND WE DID GET ANOTHER VIEWER SEND IN A PICTURE OF SOMEBODY WHO WAS PRETTY SIMILAR BUT TOO LATE FOR US TO BE ABLE TO USE THAT ONE.

SHE IS WONDERING WHAT THIS IS.

IT'S ONE SHE'S NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

SHE SAYS THIS ONE IS TWO INCHES IN LENGTH.

THE OTHER ONE SAID IT WAS THE SIZE OF THE PALM OF HER HAND.

>> YES.

SO, THIS BELONGS TO ONE OF OUR GROUP OF LARGER SPIDERS THAT WE CAN FIND IN NEBRASKA.

SO WE HAVE WOLF SPIDERS CAN GET RATHER LARGE.

THE OTHER GROUP THAT GETS LARGE ARE THE FISHING SPIDERS AND THE NURSERY WEB SPIDERS.

THIS ONE IS A NURSERY WEB SPIDER.

ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE SPIDERS IS THEY LIKE TO HOLD THEIR FRONT TWO LEGS TOGETHER, SO YOU SAW THOSE PAIRED ON THE PICTURE THERE.

SO, THAT'S A REALLY, YOU KNOW, QUICK., YOU KNOW, RULE OF THUMB, IF IT'S HOLDING THOSE LEGS TOGETHER.

THEY DO LIKE INTERFACES BETWEEN OPEN FIELDS AND WOODED AREAS.

IT'S WHERE THEY TEND TO BUILD THEY'RE PREDATORY ON ALL KINDS OF FUN OTHER INSECTS.

ONE OF THE GOOD GUYS.

MAYBE A LITTLE LARGE AND UNNERVING FOR SOME FOLKS, BUT FUN TO SEE NONETHELESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A DESHLER VIEWER.

FOUND THIS ON A LAVENDER PLANT, AND HE'S HAD THE LAVENDER FOR A FEW YEARS.

HE WONDERS WHAT IN THE WORLD THIS IS AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO, AND IS IT YOURS OR KYLE'S?

>> IT'S MINE.

IT'S ALL MINE.

ALL MINE.

>> WE HAVE A FIGHT GOING ON.

>> NOT KYLE'S.

THIS IS FUN.

YOU WOULD HAVE HAD A CATERPILLAR HERE AT ONE POINT.

SO, THIS IS A MASS OF PARASITIC WASP COCOONS.

SO THAT'S THE SILK THAT'S ALL AROUND THOSE.

WE KNOW THEY'RE COCOONS BECAUSE THEY'RE ELONGATED.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF MOTHS THAT WILL LAY EGGS IN CLUSTERS THAT WILL WEB IT OVER LIKE THIS, BUT YOU WON'T HAVE THAT ELONGATED PIECE IN THE MIDDLE.

SO, WE KNOW THEY'RE THE COCOONS OF THOSE PARASITIC WASPS.

THEY'RE GOOD GUYS, AND THEY'LL GO OFF AND FIND SOME MORE CATERPILLARS TO EAT FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

>> IN OTHER WORDS, THERE WAS A CATERPILLAR.

>> THERE WAS ONE.

>> OKAY.

>> THERE IS NO MORE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM CAMBRIDGE, NEBRASKA.

THIS PLANT SHOWED UP IN THE FLOWER GARDEN.

SHE SAYS IT SEEMS TO BE INVASIVE.

SHE KEEPS CUTTING IT BACK.

THREE YEARS AND IT STILL COMES BACK.

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO USE GROUND KILL BECAUSE SHE HAS PEONIES ON ONE SIDE, ASPARAGUS ON THE OTHER.

IS THIS A GOOD PLANT OR A BAD ONE?

OR THE FACT THAT IT'S INVASIVE AND WOODY, SHOULD SHE JUST GET RID OF IT.

>> YEAH, I'M GOING TO SAY GET RID OF IT.

IT'S CHOKECHERRY, YOU KNOW, AND I'M NOT EVEN GOING TO GET INTO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER YOU SHOULD EAT CHOKECHERRY OR NOT.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT IT CAN BE VERY POISONOUS IF HARVESTED AT THE WRONG TIME, ET CETERA.

BUT REGARDLESS, I KNOW IT'S IN AND AMONG THE PEONIES AND SHE TALKED ABOUT GROUND CLEAR, WHICH IS A LONG RESIDUAL SOIL STERILANT.

BUT SHE COULD USE SOMETHING LIKE GLYPHOSATE.

BECAUSE GLYPHOSATE HAS NO SOIL RESIDUAL.

SHE JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET IT ON THE PEONIES.

SO, KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE PEONIES.

SOMETIMES CLIPPING THE CUT STEM OF THAT WOODY PLANT AND THEN DABBING ON ROUND-UP ON THERE, ALONG WITH TOUCHING THE LEAVES AS WELL WITH THE GLYPHOSATE-TYPE APPLICATION, WILL DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

AVOID ANY OF THE GLYPHOSATE PRODUCTS THAT ALSO CONTAIN SOMETHING LIKE DICAMBA, OR LIKE THAT.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET PURE GLYPHOSATE, DILUTE IT AS PER DIRECTIONS, AND THEY CAN DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB SELECTIVELY -- NONSELECTIVELY REMOVING THAT FROM THE PEONIES.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE GOTTEN RID OF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE THINKS THIS IS A BUCKTHORN GROWING UP IN THE MIDDLE OF HER PEONIES.

SAME ISSUE, SAME QUESTION?

THE BLOOMS ARE FINISHED.

>> YEAH, SO, ONCE AGAIN, IT NEEDS TO BE CONTROLLED AND SHE WANTS IT OUT OF THERE.

AND ONCE AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SELECTIVELY HIT IT WITH THE GLYPHOSATE.

AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, THAT'S A ROBUST PLANT THAT NEEDS A -- AND KEEP IT OFF THE PEONIES.

NOW, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, PEONIES CAN AFFORD A LITTLE BIT OF DRIPPING ON IT BUT NOT EXCESSIVE.

SO, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE THAT WITHOUT BEING REALLY AGGRESSIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO MORE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER.

SHE HAS WHAT SHE THINKS IS WINTER WHEAT AND SHE'S WONDERING IS IT EDIBLE.

>> THAT IS WINTER WHEAT, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT.

AT THE VERY LEAST, IT'S A SMALL GRAIN THAT HAS AWNS ON IT.

BUT I'M THINKING IT IS WINTER WHEAT, AND I'M NOT SURE SHE WANTS TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME PROCESSING THE WHEAT TO MAKE IT FLOUR, BUT CERTAINLY, THERE'S PLENTY OF WEB RESOURCES TO DO THAT.

AND THAT FLOUR FROM THAT, WHETHER IT'S WINTER WHEAT OR ANOTHER ONE OF THE WHEATS.

BUT FOR IT TO LOOK LIKE IT DOES RIGHT NOW IN THAT PICTURE, I'M GONNA SAY, AND WHO KNOWS WHERE IT CAME IN FROM.

WHERE WERE THEY FROM?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> OKAY.

>> SOMEWHERE.

>> OUT WEST SOMEWHERE.

IT'S PROBABLY WINTER WHEAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES, KYLE.

AND THIS IS JUST, WHAT ARE THESE?

THEY WERE TAKEN LAST JULY AFTER THE RAIN.

>> OH.

PRETTY.

SO, THESE ARE PROBABLY A -- AN APRICOT JELLY FUNGUS.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEY PROBABLY DON'T TASTE AS GOOD AS REGULAR APRICOT JELLY, BUT YES, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM SOUTHERN BROWN COUNTY.

WHICH IS A RAISED BED.

WHAT ARE THESE?

AND I THINK THE NEXT ONE IS PRETTY SIMILAR AND WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE NEXT ONE COMES FROM.

>> WELL, AND THEN, YEAH.

THIS ONE IS -- I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT THIS ONE IS.

AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS SOME SORT OF PLEUROTUS.

BUT I WASN'T ENTIRELY SURE.

SO WE WOULD NEED BETTER PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

>> AND THE NEXT ONE IS WHAT KIND OF MUSHROOM IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A COMMON JELLY EAR OR COMMON WOODEAR FUNGUS.

LOOKS LIKE AN EAR, GROWS ON DEADWOOD.

>> AND YOUR NEXT ONE IS, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT THIS IS AND WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, EITHER A DOG WENT ON A BENDER LAST NIGHT OR YOU HAVE SLIME MOLD.

REGARDLESS, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

AND SO, IT WILL DRY UP AND DISAPPEAR.

>> AND AS OPPOSED TO LAUREN, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TASTE THIS.

>> CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KELLY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS -- THEY PLANTED THIS TREE LAST SPRING, HAD TWO BRANCHES ON THE TOP.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A RISING SUN RED BUD, AND FILLED IN, AND THEN THE TOP BRANCHES SEEM TO HAVE WINTER KILLED.

THEY KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO SAY THIS IS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA, DON'T DO IT, BUT CAN THEY GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THE TOPS OUT OF THESE AND START KIND OF A NEW -- >> YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

IT'S YOUNG ENOUGH, IT'S SMALL ENOUGH, YOU CAN REMOVE THE DEAD.

YOU CAN TRAIN, YOU KNOW, STAKE ONE OF THE SIDE ONES UP AND TRY TO GET IT TO BE A CENTRAL LEADER, BUT IT'S STILL A REDBUD FROM A SOUTHERN SOURCE.

SO YOU MAY DO ALL THAT WORK AND ACHIEVE, AND IT MAY STILL EVENTUALLY WINTER KILL DOWN THE ROAD.

OR KEEP DYING BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND WE HAVE ABOUT ONE MINUTE, AND WE HAVE TWO PICTURES, AND THIS COMES TO US ALSO FROM LINCOLN.

WHAT IS CAUSING THE LEAVES ON THIS OAK TO DROP?

THIS IS HERBICIDE'S BEING SPRAYED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE HERBICIDE INJURY TO ME.

AND IF IT'S SEVERE ENOUGH, YOU'LL GET SOME LEAF DROP, BUT HOPEFULLY, THE TREE WILL TOLERATE, AND IT WILL BE FINE NEXT YEAR OR MAY PUT ON SOME NEW LEAVES THIS YEAR.

BUT EVERYBODY BE -- ESPECIALLY NOW THAT IT'S GETTING NICE AND HOT, BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT APPLYING HERBICIDES BECAUSE THEY CAN DRIFT MORE READILY IN THE HEAT OR VOLATIZE.

>> WELL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DO THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT HERBICIDES DRIFTS SO QUICKLY, ESPECIALLY IN THE HEAT.

SO, BE CAREFUL WITH -- JUST YELL AT YOUR NEIGHBORS.

JUST GO YELL AT YOUR NEIGHBORS.

TELL THEM NOT TO DO THAT, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE IN THE HEAT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING TO YOU FROM HASTINGS COLLEGE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

THANK YOU TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR BEING HERE.

GREAT AUDIENCE IN A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] MAN.

THANK YOU ALSO, OF COURSE, TO EARL MAY FOR PROVIDING THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS.

THANKS TO OUR GREAT PARTNERS FROM NPM.

WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT EVERYTHING THEY HAVE TO DO TO GET IT SET UP.

SO, GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

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

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪