♪ >>> "BACKYARD FARMER" IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

>>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL RETURN TO THE KEIM COURTYARD POND AND WE'LL SEE WHAT TURF GROWS IN THE SHADE.

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

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

I'M KIM TODD, AND WE'RE SO GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US FOR ANOTHER HOUR OF GOOD GARDENING.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446.

PICTURES AND EMAILS FOR A FUTURE SHOW CAN BE SENT TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

WE DO NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD ANSWER.

SO LET'S START WITH THIS DISGUSTING SAMPLE.

[ LAUGHTER ] WAYNE, WHAT IS THAT?

OR WHO?

>> WELL THESE ARE -- THEY'RE CALLED OSMODERMA BEETLES.

THEY BURROW AS LARVA INTO ROTTING WOOD, IN LARGE BRANCHES.

AND THESE ARE COURTESY OF JEFF COLBERTSON FROM EAST CAMPUS AS I UNDERSTAND.

FROM A BARE OAK TREE, FROM A HIGH UP BRANCH THAT WAS DEAD.

AND THEY WERE BURROWING INSIDE THAT ROTTING WOOD.

THAT'S WHAT THE GRUBS FEED ON.

SO NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IN YOUR LAWN.

BUT WE DO SEEM TO GET THESE REGULARLY.

AS PICTURE SUBMISSIONS.

AS WELL AS THE ADULT BEETLES.

THEY'RE RATHER LARGE SCARAB.

THEY'RE NOT REAL DESCRIPT.

THEY'RE KIND OF DARK BROWN AND NOT VERY COLORFUL, COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER ONES.

BUT THEY ARE RATHER LARGE.

SO THESE ARE PART OF OUR RECYCLERS.

SO DEFINITELY GOOD GUYS.

JUST MAYBE NOT THE MOST VISUALLY ATTRACTIVE.

>> STICK YOU FINGER IN THERE AGAIN SO PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW BIG THEY ARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> BIG.

HUGE.

GIANT.

>> THEY ARE VERY GOOD SIZED.

>> AND JUICY.

>> AND JUICY.

>> AND EDIBLE I'M SURE.

>> AND EDIBLE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I AM SURE SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO EAT THEM.

KYLE?

>> OH MAYBE LATER.

I AM FULL AT THE MOMENT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, MATT.

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS IN FRONT OF YOU?

>> OH, I HAVE SOME PRIME SPECIMENS OF GOOSE GRASS.

IF YOU CAN SEE THIS ONE HERE IT'S ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW -- TWO AND HALF FOOT TALL.

IT'S PROBABLY GOT I DON'T KNOW -- 10-20,000 SEEDS ON IT.

SO IT'S READY FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO THIS IS -- I JUST WANTED TO TALK ABOUT GOOSE GRASS THAT IS ONE WEED THAT CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL.

IT STARTS OUT AT THIS LITTLE TINY PLANT.

A WEEK OF GROWTH ON THIS LITTLE GUY.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE CAMERA.

THEN YOU TWO, THREE WEEKS DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

MAYBE NOT QUITE AS BIG.

BUT IT CAN GROW VERY, VERY FAST.

IT'S A SUMMER ANNUAL THAT GERMINATES A LITTLE BIT LATER THAN CRAB GRASS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE A PERIMETER DOWN FOR IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS IN SOME OF THE THINNED AREAS.

TYPICALLY OUR -- THAT WE PUT DOWN IN APRIL KIND OF RUNS OUT.

AND THIS ONE GERMINATES MID TO LATE JUNE AND JULY.

IT THRIVES IN BARE AREAS OR DISTURBED AREAS AND THINNED OF THE LAWN.

AND THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A VERY GOOD YEAR FOR THINNED AREAS IN THE LAWN.

BECAUSE WE HAD NO RAIN, GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO JULY.

AND NOW THE RAIN IS WATERING ALL THESE PLANTS AND THEY'RE GROWING VERY, VERY FAST.

AND THEY CAN BE TOUGH TO CONTROL.

CONTROL THEM BEFORE THE WEEDS COME.

MOWING THEM IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY.

THERE'S ONLY A COUPLE HERBICIDES THAT WORK.

PYLEX IS ONE THAT WORKS VERY WELL AT CONTROLLING IT.

AND THEN SPEED ZONE IS ANOTHER ONE THAT WORKS TO KNOCK IT BACK.

AND THIS SAMPLE HERE WAS SPRAYED TWO WEEKS AGO.

YOU CAN SEE THAT IT SET IT BACK, BUT IT DIDN'T CONTROL IT.

PULL THEM OUT IF YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW.

JUST TO KEEP THE WEEDS OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS MATT.

OKAY, I'M GLAD YOU BROUGHT LILACS BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING THOSE QUESTIONS.

>> I FIGURED IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

AND THIS IS A DISEASE THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING AN INCREASING AMOUNTS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS IS CERCOSPORA LEAF BLIGHT OF LILACS.

CAUSED BY A FUNGUS.

TYPICALLY WE START TO SEE IT A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SEASON.

ONCE WE HAVE SOME MOISTURE AND THE PLANTS ARE ALREADY STRESSED, BUT WE JUST GET THESE KIND OF BROWN LESIONS ON THE LEAF.

TYPICALLY THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY SORT OF MARGIN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND IT WILL ALSO MAKE THE LEAVES KIND OF GET DEFORMED.

AND KIND OF CURL AS WELL, WHICH WE CAN SEE.

YOU KNOW THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DISEASES THAT LOOKS BAD, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT GOING TO IMPACT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE LILAC.

ASSUMING IT IS AN ESTABLISHED PLANT.

SO MAYBE IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME EARLY DEFOLIATION.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE, THAT WE CAN LET IT RUN ITS COURSE.

IF WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, YOU CAN DO SOME PRUNING TO INCREASE AIR FLOW THROUGH THE CANOPY.

BUT HONESTLY JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS TO LET GO IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN WHAT DO WE HAVE TONIGHT?

>> WELL I DON'T HAVE A CREEPY CRAWLY, BUT I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BEES A LITTLE.

I HAVE SOME PLANTS HERE.

SO THIS IS A HYACINTH BEAN.

YOU'LL SEE IT AGAIN LATER IN THE SHOW.

BUT I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOWERS.

BECAUSE THE WAY THE FLOWERS ARE MADE ON THESE, IT ACTUALLY EXCLUDES BEES.

SO THERE'S SORT OF POUCH THAT COMES UP OVER THE REPRODUCTIVE PARTS.

AND IT ACTUALLY KEEPS BEES OUT.

SO BEANS DON'T READILY CROSS POLLINATE VERY EASILY.

SO IT MAKES IT EASIER TO SAVE THEM AS HEIRLOOM SEEDS.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAVE SEEDS.

WE HAVE OUR BEANS GROWING HERE.

THIS IS A NEAT PLANT.

WE'LL TALK A LITTLE ABOUT IT LATER.

BUT ALSO ON TOMATOES.

SO THERE'S A REASON WHY BEANS AND TOMATOES ARE OUR TWO TOP HEIRLOOM CROPS.

IT'S BECAUSE THE BLOOMS ARE MADE TO EXCLUDE POLLINATORS.

SO BEES ALSO CAN'T GET INTO THE TOMATO FLOWERS.

YOU MIGHT SEE BEES BUZZING AROUND.

THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THE POLLEN BUT THEY CAN'T.

SO THEY'RE EXCLUDED FROM POLLINATION.

SO THAT KEEPS THEM FROM CROSS POLLINATING EASY.

YOU USUALLY HAVE TO DO IT BY HAND.

NOW THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE MIGHT NOT HAVE POLLINATION BECAUSE IT'S BEEN SO HOT IN NEBRASKA.

THAT ANY TIME IT'S OVER 85 TO 90 DEGREES DAYTIME AND NIGHT TIME YOU CAN ACTUALLY GET THE POLLEN SORT OF DEACTIVATED.

SO YOU MIGHT NOT BE SEEING POLLINATION ON MANY OF YOUR CROPS OUT THERE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS GUYS.

FIRST QUESTIONS GO TO YOU, WAYNE.

FIRST ONE YOU'VE GOT THREE PICTURES.

EVERGREENS ARE TURNING BROWN.

LOTS OF COCOONS HANGING ON THEM AS WELL AS ON THE HOUSE.

SO, ONE, TWO, THREE -- AND WHAT ARE THESE?

AND ARE THEY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEMISE OF THESE PARTICULAR SHRUBS?

>> THESE ARE BAG WORM SYMPTOMS.

BROWING OF THE PLANT.

ONE, THEY EAT THE GREEN AREA.

TWO, THEY WEAR THE GREEN AREA.

AND THEN THEY WANDER OFF WHEN THEY'RE DONE GROWING.

MUCH LIKE, I BROUGHT THIS ALSO TONIGHT.

I HAD IT PLANNED -- BEFORE I HAD A VIEWER BRING THIS IN TO ME AT THE OFFICE.

THIS IS A BAGWORM ON DILL.

IT WAS STILL CRAWLING AROUND WHEN I GOT IT LAST WEEK.

AND NOW THIS WEEK IT'S ALREADY SEALED OFF THE THE TOP OF THE BAG.

AT THIS POINT YOU ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO USE CHEMICAL CONTROLS TO CONTROL THEM.

YOU MUST PICK THEM OFF BY HAND IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING.

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS WAYNE.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM GOTHAMBURG.

HE WONDERS WHAT ALL THESE INSECTS ARE.

THEY'RE ON THE DECK.

THEY'RE UNDER HIS AUSTREES.

IF YOU SQUISH THEM, THEY ARE PURPLE.

>> WELL THEY'RE APHIDS.

WHICH IS REALLY STRANGE TO FIND THEM ON CONSTRUCTION TYPE LUMBER LIKE THAT.

SO I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR THE PLANT THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM.

WHETHER THEY'RE UNDER IT FROM THE TREES OR SOMETHING DOWN BELOW.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING TO TRY AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.

I LIKE THE HOSE ON APHIDS.

IT WORKS REALLY WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS WAYNE.

MATT, WE HAVE A VIEWER HERE IN LINCOLN, SO HE'S WONDERING IF THESE FLUFFY, GREEN PLANTS ARE BABY EVERGREENS.

AND THE ONES NEARBY ARE SIX YEARS OLD, THEY'RE YOUTHS BEHIND THEM.

>> YEAH THESE, THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE AN EVERGREEN ,BUT WHAT THEY'RE CALLED IS MEADOW HORSETAIL.

AND THEY GROW IN SHADED AREAS GENERALLY.

UNDERBRUSH OR LIKE IN THE YOU KNOW, KIND OF IN THE CREEKS AND ALONG THE STREAMS.

THEY'RE A PERENNIAL HERB THAT IS NATIVE TO NEBRASKA.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW BY RHIZOMES AND THEY CAN SPREAD AS WELL BY -- I THINK IT'S BY SPORES.

SO THEY CAN PRETTY MUCH TAKE OVER THE AREA.

SO I WOULD TRY TO PULL THEM OUT AND GET RID OF THEM SLOWLY.

JUST KEEP WORKING AT IT.

BUT IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE MAIN BIG ONES IT WILL BE EASIER TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE THE SAME THING.

THE FIRST ONE IS OMAHA.

SHE HAS THESE COMING UP IN A GROUP.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER PLANTING THEM.

ARE THEY A FLOWER OR A WEED.

AND THE NEXT PICTURE IS FROM PAPILLION.

SOMEBODY GAVE HER A CUTTING OF JIMSON WEED.

SO IS THAT FIRST ONE A JIMSON WEED OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK THE FIRST ONE IS JIMSON WEED.

I WAS TRYING TO FIND WHAT IT COULD BE.

I DON'T HAVE A REALLY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT IT IS.

BECAUSE IT COULD BE SOME TYPE OF PERENNIAL FLOWER THAT I JUST DON'T KNOW.

IT'S NOT BROAD LEAF PLANTAIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

JUST BECAUSE THE WAY THE LEAVES ARE.

SO IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T PLANT I WOULD SUGGEST JUST REMOVING.

AND IF YOU'RE CURIOUS LET ONE GO TO SEED AND THEN IT BE EASIER TO TELL WHAT IT IS.

>> OKAY.

AND THE JIMSON WEED, SHE'S WONDERING IF SHE SHOULD GET RID OF THAT, BECAUSE SHE'S READ THAT IT'S VERY TOXIC.

>> YES, THAT IS THE NIGHTSHADE FAMILY.

SO IT IS TOXIC.

I WAS READING THAT JUST SOME OF THE SEEDS, LIKE A COUPLE GRAMS, CAN BE FATAL.

SO BE CAREFUL WITH THAT ONE IF YOU DO HAVE PETS OR KIDS THAT ARE RUNNING AROUND.

JUST MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT CHEWING ON IT, WHICH MOST OF THE TIMES THEY'RE NOT CHEWING ON WEEDS.

BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE TO GET RID OF IF -- PLANT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT POISONOUS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

KYLE, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE, THIS WAS ACTUALLY AT SUNKEN GARDENS AND SHE CAME ACROSS THIS PARTICULAR PLANT.

THE REST LOOKED HEALTHY.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S FLOWERS GROWING ON FLOWERS.

I THINK WE HAVE ASTER YELLOWS.

VERY, VERY COMMON.

SEEN THEM ON -- MOST OF THE CONED FLOWERS THAT ARE AROUND RIGHT NOW.

I ACTUALLY HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SAMPLES OF ASTER YELLOWS IN MY CAR AS WELL, BUT REALLY NOTHING TO DO ABOUT THEM AT THIS TIME.

ONCE THE -- SO IT'S CAUSED BY A BACTERIA THAT IS VECTORED BY THE LEAF HOPPER.

UNFORTUNATELY ONCE THAT LEAF HOPPER FEEDS ON AN INFECTED PLANT, EVERY OTHER CONE FLOWER THAT IT FEEDS ON THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THAT HOPPER'S LIFE WILL BECOME INFECTED WITH ASTER YELLOWS.

SO ONCE WE HAVE IT IN THE LANDSCAPE, REALLY WE JUST WANT TO BE REMOVING THAT AS BEST WE CAN.

VECTOR MANAGEMENT DOESN'T WORK ALL THAT WEEK.

BECAUSE LEAF HOPPERS, AS WAYNE CAN ATTEST, MOVE REALLY FAST, AND THEY'RE HARD TO CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO YOU HAVE TWO MORE PICTURES.

ONE IS FROM CARNY, WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE CONE FLOWER?

AND ONE IS FROM SOUTHWEST OMAHA.

>> YEP, AND IT'S THAT EXACT SAME THING.

WE'RE SEEING THE PROLIFERATION OF FLORAL PARTS.

BUT ASTER YELLOW HAS A PRETTY BROAD HOST RANGE AS WELL.

WE ALSO SEE IT IN GARLIC AND LOT OF OTHER PLANTS.

RIGHT NOW WHEN YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE YOU WANT TO REMOVE THAT PLANT AND REMOVE THE ENTIRE PLANT, INCLUDING THE ROOT ZONE IF YOU CAN.

>> AND NOT INTO THE COMPOST?

>> AND NOT INTO THE -- YOU CAN BURY IT IN THE COMPOST BECAUSE THE BACTERIA WILL DIE, WITHOUT LIVING TISSUE.

SO AFTER ABOUT A WEEK THAT BACTERIA IS NO LONGER ACTIVE.

BUT YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S BURIED SO YOU DON'T HAVE OTHER INSECTS THAT HOP ON TOP OF THAT COMPOST PILE AND FEED ON IT WHILE THAT PHYTOPLASMA IS STILL ALIVE.

>> GREAT, THANKS.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE FOR YOU, JOHN.

THIS IS NEAR WILBUR.

SHE HAS A THREE TIERED BOXWOOD, SO THE SNOWMAN TYPE.

>> MHMM.

>> ABOUT 13 YEARS AND THEY'VE BEEN HAVING THESE STEMS DIE BACK, LEAVES TURNING YELLOW.

SHE'S BEEN CUTTING OUT THE DEAD, BUT THERE'S HARDLY ANYTHING LEFT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK SHE SHOULD DO WITH THIS?

>> SO THAT'S PROBABLY ENVIRONMENTAL.

IT LOOKS LIKE DRYING OUT DROUGHT ISSUES.

AND THAT'S COMMON IN BOXWOODS.

IF YOU PRUNE THAT OUT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR SHAPE THAT YOU HAVE.

SO YOU HAVE TO EVALUATE WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO KEEP THEM.

OF COURSE IF IT WAS MY OPINION THEY WOULD BE PRUNED AT GROUND LEVEL, BECAUSE I DON'T LIKE THEM.

I THINK THEY SMELL BAD.

NOT EVERYONE SMELLS THEM APPARENTLY.

SO YOU WOULD HAVE TO SEE, AFTER YOU PRUNE THAT OUT, WOULD YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO KEEP THAT BUSH?

THAT SHRUB, OR DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE?

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS KETONE ESTER ALL THE WAY OUT FROM SCOTT'S BLUFF.

IT'S BEEN VERY WET.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF IT'S TOO WET OR SOMETHING ELSE IS GOING ON?

>> THAT IS PROBABLY ENVIRONMENTAL AS WELL.

PROBABLY SOIL PH ISSUES.

OUR SOIL PH IS TOO HIGH FOR PLANTS LIKE THAT.

AND ALSO THE WEATHER IS JUST -- YOU KNOW OUR ENVIRONMENT ISN'T FIT FOR EVERYTHING TO GROW.

SO I THINK MAYBE FIND SOMETHING TO REPLACE THAT ONE WITH AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS JOHN.

WELL, COMING UP THIS FALL WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME RENOVATIONS IN OUR COURTYARD, BUT OUR POND REMAINS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE INSTALLATION.

WE WANT TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE POND IN KEIM HALL.

♪ >> THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN WATCHING THE PROGRESS OF OUR BEAUTIFUL COURTYARD FOR OVER A DECADE HAVE PROBABLY REALLY BEEN INTRIGUED WITH THE POND.

AND IF WE GO BACK ALL THOSE YEARS, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT WE HAD TO BUILD IT.

WE HAD NOTHING IN HERE AND WE CERTAINLY DIDN'T HAVE THE BEAUTIFUL RUNNING WATER.

SO ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS OF COURSE ABOUT THE LANDSCAPE IS THAT OVER TIME, IT CHANGES.

AND WE HAVE GONE FROM ALMOST FULL SUN, WHICH REALLY WAS AN ISSUE WITH OUR POND.

WE HAD STRING ALGAE.

WE WOULD TRY TO CLEAN THAT ALGAE OUT AND EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE HAD MORE AND MORE OF IT.

WE TRIED BARLEY BALES.

WE GOT OUR COPPER ION EXCHANGER, WHICH ACTUALLY WORKED.

BUT THE THING THAT HAS WORKED THE BEST OF COURSE IS NOW WE HAVE SHADE.

MAYBE ALMOST TOO MUCH IN SOME INSTANCES AS YOU'LL SEE WHEN WE REDO THE TURF OUT HERE.

BUT THE POND ITSELF HAS CONTINUED TO ACTUALLY CAUSE ALL OF THIS WONDER AND JOY AS WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO NATURE.

IT'S THE SOUND.

IT'S THE BEAUTY OF THE WATER ITSELF.

IT'S THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TURTLES, AND THE TURTLES OF COURSE COME UP TO GET THOSE WORMS.

WE STILL FEED THEM.

THEY'RE STILL THERE.

THEY HIBERNATE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE POND.

WE HAVE HAD SOME CHALLENGES OF COURSE AS ANYONE DOES WITH ANY SORT OF A WATER FEATURE IN THE LANDSCAPES -- WITH THE PUMP KICKING OFF WITH WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER TIME AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POUND, YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT IT'S ACTUALLY FEEDS UNDERGROUND INTO A STORAGE UNIT THEN PUMPS BACK UP AGAIN, SO WE'RE CAPTURING THAT WATER.

WE'RE CLEANING THAT WATER, BUT WITH ALL THE LEAVES OFF THE TREES NOW AND ALL THE DEBRIS THAT BOTTOM AREA SORT OF FILLS UP WITH ALL THAT DEBRIS.

THEN INSTEAD OF GOING DOWN INTO THAT CHAMBER AND BACK UP INTO THE WATERFALL, THAT WATER GOES UP AND UNDER THE LINER.

SO, THIS YEAR IN PARTICULAR WE'VE HAD TO DO A LOT OF RAKING OUT, CLEANING OUT OF THE BOTTOM TO BE ABLE TO KEEP IT WORKING.

WE STILL RUN THIS POUND 365, 24/7.

SO, IN THE WINTER, WHEN WE PUT THAT HEATER IN, THAT HEATER IS REALLY NOT SO MUCH FOR THE TURTLES, ALTHOUGH WE DO WANT TO KEEP AN AIR -- SORT OF AN AIR CHAMBER FOR THEM OR LET THEM COME UP TO GET THAT AIR.

WHAT IT REALLY DOES IS IT KEEPS THE FALLS RUNNING.

SO, WE CAN HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL WATER UNDER THE ICE IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO THIS COURTYARD AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS, THEY ALMOST AUTOMATICALLY TURN AND GO DIRECTLY TO THE POND.

WE'VE LOST SOME PLANTS OF COURSE.

A LOT OF OUR PLANTS HAVE MOVED THEMSELVES AROUND.

WE STILL HAVE TO FIGHT SOME OF THOSE SPECIES THAT EITHER BLOW IN OR COME IN ON THE WINGS OR THE BEAKS OF A BIRD.

WE WATCH OUR CAT TAILS.

WE'VE GIVEN UP ON WATER LILLIES AND THE KIND OF PLANTS THAT ARE AQUATIC BECAUSE THE TURTLES LOVE TO EAT THEM.

BUT GIVEN ALL OF THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH KEEPING A POND LOOKING BEAUTIFUL WE WOULDN'T GIVE IT UP FOR ANYTHING.

A LITTLE BIT OF A CAUTIONARY NOTE FOR ANYONE THAT HAS A HOME POND, THIS IS NOT A SET IT AND FORGET IT.

YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE MANAGEMENT ON THE POND.

YOU CAN EITHER DO IT YOURSELF.

IT WILL NEED TO BE CLEANED OUT.

YOU CAN HIRE SOMEONE WHO CAN DO IT FOR YOU IN A VERY PROFESSIONAL WAY, BUT YOU GOT TO GET THAT DONE AT LEAST EVERY OTHER YEAR IF NOT EVERY YEAR.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF OUR POND AND PEOPLE LOVE IT.

IT MAKES A GREAT FOCAL POINT FOR THE COURTYARD.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

ALRIGHT, WAYNE WE ARE BEGINNING TO GET PICTURE OF CLUMPS OF LEAVES ON OAKS.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES HERE AND I'VE SEEN THEM ALL OVER LINCOLN AS WELL.

THE ONE, TWO, THREES.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS?

IS IT YOURS TO TALK ABOUT?

>> IT IS DEFINITELY NOT KYLE'S.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

>> NOT FOR YOU, KYLE.

>> YUP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, THEY ARE EVERYWHERE ALL OVER THE TOWN.

IT DID SOME BUZZING AROUND TOWN BEFORE I CAME INTO THIS STUDIO AND -- YES ALMOST EVERY THIN OAK HAS THEM EVERYWHERE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND THAT'S OAK TWIG GIRLDER.

JUST A LITTLE BEETLE LARVAE THAT TUNNELS IN THERE.

GIRLDES THE INSIDE OF THE STEM AND YOU END UP WITH A DEAD TIP.

NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

JUST WATCH IT.

YOU CAN ALWAYS PLAY A PRANK ON YOUR NEIGHBORS.

MAKE THEM THINK THEY GOT SOMETHING A WHOLE LOT MORE HORRIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM RURAL SYRACUSE FOUNDED ON THE POTATO PLANTS.

GOOD GUY OR BAD GUY?

>> GOOD OLD FASHION COLORADO POTATO BEETLE.

THAT'S THE LARVAL STAGE.

AND YES, THEY ARE VERY AVID FEEDERS ON POTATOES.

HANDPICK IF YOU ONLY GOT A FEW OF THEM.

BUCKET OF SOAPY WATER FOR THE RECEPTACLE FOR THEM AFTER YOU HANDPICK THEM.

THEY HAVE DEVELOP A LOT OF RESISTANCE TO INSECTICIDES OVER THE YEARS.

SO, IF YOU CAN DO SOME NON-CHEMICAL METHODS IT MIGHT BE THE BEST.

>> AWESOME.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

ALL WE KNOW ABOUT THIS IS IT IS OVERIRRIGATED TURF.

>> YEAH, THIS ONE COULD BE KYLE'S.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

YOU ZOOM IN AND IT GETS TO BE A FUZZY WHITE FUZZBALL.

AND YOU JUST CAN'T SEE ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND I DON'T KNOW OF ANYTHING THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT IN TURF.

MAYBE IT'S ONE OF KYLE'S LOVELY SLIME MOLDS.

>> IT DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE A SLIME MOLD.

I'M NOT SURE.

>> SOME SORT OF SCALE?

>> NO.

MAYBE MEALYBUG.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING FELL OFF A TREE RIGHT THERE.

LIKE A MEALYBUG OR A REALLY FUZZY WOOLLY APHID BUT -- >> MORE INFORMATION OR A BIGGER SAMPLE OR BOTH.

>> SAMPLE PROBABLY BE THE BEST WAY TO GO ON THAT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

ALL RIGHT, MATT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

THE BEST WAY OF GETTING RID OF LARGE PATCHES OF WILD STRAWBERRIES, MOSTLY ON THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST.

>> OH YEAH.

LOOK AT THAT NICE CROP.

YOU CAN JUST EAT THEM AND LEAVE THEM THERE.

BUT YEAH, SPRAY THEM WITH A THREE-WAY HERBICIDE, SOMETHING LIKE TRIMAC, SOMETHING WITH SPRAY 240 MCPP WOULD A GOOD JOB.

BUT YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO GO IN THERE AFTER THAT AND PROBABLY SEED THIS FALL JUST SO THEY CAN UP THE LAWN AND DON'T COME BACK FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOU CAN'T LEAVE THEM BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING IN THE WINTER OR YOU DEAL WITH NOTHING IN THE WINTER.

>> YEAH, I MEAN IT'S -- YOU CAN SEED INTO IT IF YOU WAIT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

YOU STILL HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET SEED IN THE GROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM COOK.

WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT TO DO TO CONTROL IT?

SHE DOES SAY IT PULLS EASILY.

>> YES.

PROSTRATES SPURGE OR SPORTED SPURGE, THEY'RE JUST TWO OF THE SAME WEEDS AND DO HAVE A NICE TAPROOT THAT MAKES EASILY EASY TO PULL WHICH IS NICE.

BUT THEY DO GROW, YOU KNOW, 3-4 FOOT AROUND AND IT'S TOUGH WHERE THE ROOT IS SOMETIMES.

SO, GET THEM WHEN THEY'RE SMALL AND SAME THING, EITHER PULL THEM OR USE THREE-WAY HERBICIDE.

SOMETHING WITH CARFENTRAZONE IN THEM IF THEY'RE A LITTLE BIGGER WORKS A LOT FASTER THAN KILLING THEM BEFORE THEY SET SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE AND TWO PICTURES ACTUALLY AND THIS IS SOUTH OF HICKMAN.

WHAT ARE THESE?

THEY START COMING IN RIGHT NOW AS THEY GET BIGGER AND BIGGER.

>> YEAH, AND THEY'RE GETTING TALLER ALREADY.

POKEWEED.

AND THIS ONE IS ALSO A LITTLE BIT POISONOUS, SO IT'S ONE YOU WANT TO GET RID OF.

IT JUST HAS A TAPROOT AND YOU CAN SEE THOSE SEEDS HANGING THERE AND THAT'S WHAT IT WILL USE FOR NEXT YEAR'S CROP.

SO, KIND OF MAYBE DIG IT OUT, GET THAT TAPROOT OUT AND YOU'LL BE BETTER OFF FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MATT.

KYLE, EXCUSE ME.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM NORFORK.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE TOMATERS.

>> IT'S MOST LIKELY SOME SORT OF VIRUS.

WHICH ONE, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE.

I WOULD LEAN TOWARDS TOMATO MOSAIC VIRUS.

BUT REALLY TO CONFIRM WHICH VIRUS IT IS WOULD BE A LABORATORY TEST.

REGARDLESS, MANAGEMENT'S THE SAME.

ONCE THE PLANT HAS THE VIRUS IT WILL ALWAYS HAVE THAT VIRUS.

THE TOMATO ITSELF IS SAFE TO EAT.

IT WILL HAVE SOME UNEVEN RIPENING, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO USE ANY VIRUSY TOMATOES FOR CANNING BECAUSE IT CAN REALLY EFFECT YOUR ACID LEVELS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM PAPILLION.

GRAPE TOMATOES WAS GROWING WELL AND THEN THE ENDS OF THE BRANCHES TURNED BLACKED AND NOW IT'S ALL OVER -- THE TOMATOES LOOK LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER VIRUS.

I THINK THIS TOMATO SPOTTED WILT.

AND SO, AGAIN, JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE VIRUSES THEY ARE VECTOR BY APHIDS, LEAF HOPPERS, THRIPS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS.

THERE'S ABOUT 10-15 DIFFERENT VIRUSES THAT TOMATOES COMMONLY GET.

AND REMOVAL OF THE PLANT IS THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM PAPILLION.

IT'S A DRAGON ROLL PEPPER.

THE LEAVES ARE TURNING YELLOW AND BROWN.

WHAT IS THIS AND CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

>> I DON'T THINK IT CAN REALLY BE PREVENTED.

AS I WAS ZOOMING IN, IT LOOKED A LOT OF BACTERIAL SPOT ON PEPPERS.

SO WE HAVE NICE SPLARGE CHLOROTIC HALO AROUND THOSE LESIONS.

TYPICALLY, NOT A WHOLE LOT TO DO.

ONE THING THAT THE PERSON MENTIONED THAT THEY WERE GETTING GOOD PRODUCTION OUT OF IT.

SO, I WOULDN'T REALLY WORRY ABOUT IT AND JUST ENJOY THE DRAGON PEPPERS.

IS THAT WHAT THEY WERE CALLED?

>> DRAGON ROLL.

>> DRAGON ROLL PEPPERS.

SO, NICE.

>> AND THEN ONE MORE AND THIS IS ALSO PEPPERS.

THIS IS BELL PEPPERS.

THIS IS MADARIN IN SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I THINK THAT THIS IS ANOTHER BACTERIAL DISEASE BUT I'M LEANING TOWARDS BACTERIAL SPECK.

IN THIS CASE, BACTERIAL SPECK TENDS TO CAUSE A LITTLE BIT MORE SUNKEN LESIONS.

AGAIN IT'S -- BOTH DISEASES WILL SET FRUIT AND YOU CAN CUT ANY OF THE DISEASE PORTIONS OF THE FRUIT OUT AND EAT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

JOHN, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS FROM SCRIBNER.

SHE HAS A 3-YEAR-OLD HENS AND CHICKS.

THEY FORM THE BUDS BUT THEY DON'T OPEN AND THE FLOWER STOCKS LEAN HORIZONTALLY.

HOW DOES SHE GET THESE TO OPEN?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE IS A WAY YOU CAN OPEN THEM.

THEY JUST DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

SO I THINK JUST ENJOY THEM THE WAY THEY ARE AND -- YEAH, I DON'T THINK THERE IS MUCH YOU CAN DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE AND THIS IS A 25-YEAR-OLD 150-FOOT-LONG ROW OF VIBURNUMS AND THEY'RE BEGINNING TO KIND OF DO THIS.

THESE ARE AMERICAN CRANBERRY BUSH.

THEY'RE WONDERING SHOULD THEY GIVE UP THE GHOST AND START OVER?

4-5-FOOTER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE?

>> YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE PROBABLY STARTING OVER.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOME MISMANAGEMENT.

SOME MISPRUNING.

COULD HAVE BEEN SOME BORER IN THERE AS WELL.

AND SO, CAN START THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THERE ARE SOME NEW HYDRANGEAS THAT WOULD DO WELL THERE THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE HEARTY.

I THINK WOULD BE ONE THING THAT YOU COULD THINK ABOUT PUTTING THERE.

BUT YEAH, IT'S DEFINITELY TIME TO PULL THOSE OUT AND START REPLACING THEM.

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

IT SORT OF BELONGS TO KYLE BECAUSE SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THE FUNGUS ON THE TRUNK THERE.

BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT TREE.

WHAT SHOULD SHE DO?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE FUNGUS IS SORT OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT ABOUT THE ISSUES WITH THE TREE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT DOING WELL AT ALL.

YOU HAVE THAT -- WHAT WAS THAT BIG, PROBABLY BRANCH THAT FELL OFF AND JUST -- IT'S NOT THRIVING IN THAT AREA.

AND THEN THE FUNGUS GROWING AT THE BOTTOM IS PROBABLY FEEDING ON SOME DEAD WOOD.

SO IT'S -- THE TREE IS ALREADY HAVING AN ISSUE AND THE FUNGUS IS JUST THERE SORT OF AS A RIDE ALONG.

IT'S NOT DOING ANY DAMAGE ITSELF.

>> FREE LUNCH.

>> YEAH, IT'S HAVING FREE LUNCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TIME TO START OVER WITH THAT ONE.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JOHN.

WELL YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS SIT BACK AND ENJOY YOUR GARDENS.

WE'RE HAVING ANOTHER GREAT YEAR WITH OUR PRODUCE AND OUR ORNAMENTALS.

TERRI IS GOING TO TELL US ABOUT THAT OUT IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ ♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN WE'RE KIND OF STATUS QUO BUT REALLY KIND OF GETTING READY FOR THAT FALL PLANTING.

WE'RE ALSO CONTINUALLY HARVESTING OUR PRODUCE.

WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 50 POUNDS OF PRODUCE GO TO THAT UNL FOOD PANTRY.

SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT NEW COLLABORATION THAT WE HAVE.

BUT IT'S JUST AGAIN, STATUS QUO.

MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DEAD HEADING OUR PLANTS, LOOKING AT WHAT LOOKED GOOD, LOOKING AT WHAT WE MAY NOT WANT TO USE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

SO KIND OF THAT HOUSEKEEPING KIND OF JOURNALING PROCESS TO SEE WHAT WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO FOR THE 2024 GARDEN SERIES.

SO, ONE THING THAT I DO KNOW THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD IS OUR WHITE COSMOS.

THEY ARE MUCH BIGGER THAT WE EVEN ANTICIPATED BUT THEY REALLY DO SHOW OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR GARDEN.

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

♪ >> WELL, IT'S TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK.

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

STAY TUNED FOR MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW ROCH IS GOING TO SHOW US SOME SHADE TURF TRIALS FROM A RECENT TRIP TO IOWA STAT UNIVERSITY.

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

SEND THOSE PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

RIGHT NOW, IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

ALRIGHT, JOHN, YOU ARE IN THE HOTSEAT FIRST.

ARE YOU READY?

>> I LIKE MY CHANCES LOOKING AT THIS PANEL.

THIS IS -- YOUR FIRST ONE COMES FROM AN OMAHA VIEWER.

THEY HAVE ONE RASPBERRY PLANT IN A GREENHOUSE, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY FLOWER AND IT'S NOT PRODUCING RASPBERRIES.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IF IT'S IN A GREENHOUSE IT'S PROBABLY NOT GETTING COOL ENOUGH IN THE WINTER.

IT NEEDS COLD WEATHER TO SET FLOWERS.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A GRAND ISLAND VIEWER WHO HAS HAD NAKED LADY BULBS FOR 21 YEARS.

SOMETIMES THEY ALL FLOWER AND SOME YEARS ONLY ONE FLOWERS.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I THINK IT'S JUST, SOME YEARS THEY REALLY PRODUCE AND SOME YEARS THEY DON'T.

IT'S SORT OF A THING THEY DO.

>> ALRIGHT.

THIS IS A LOGAN, IOWA VIEWER.

HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO START TRUMPET VINE FROM AN EXISTING PLANT.

>> YOU CAN SAVE SEED BUT THEY'RE KIND OF INVASIVE, SO I WOULDN'T DO THAT.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A KEARNEY VIEWER WHO HAS PLUMS THAT GOT CUT DOWN AND NOW THEY'RE SPROUTING ALL OVER THE YARD.

HOW DO YOU PERMANENTLY GET RID OF THEM?

>> YOU WOULD WANT TO USE SOME SORT OF HERBICIDE.

PROBABLY 24D OR DICAMBA IN THE FALL.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A MADRID VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THEY CAN PRUNE THE DEAD LEADER OUT OF A CRABAPPLE RIGHT NOW AND START A NEW LEADER.

>> YOU CAN GIVE THAT A TRY BUT I WOULD WAIT UNTIL IT'S ACTUALLY DORMANT.

>> ALRIGHT, NICE JOB.

OKAY KYLE, READY?

>> I'M BORN READY.

>> WE'LL SEE.

OKAY, SO YOUR FIRST ONE -- >> NOT A LOT OF FAITH IN ME, I GUESS.

>> YOUR FIRST ONE HERE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM BUT -- THE NEW GROWTH ON HER APPLE TREE IS YELLOWING AND CURLING.

IS THIS A DISEASE ISSUE, AN INSECT ISSUE, ANY IDEA?

>> COULD BE ALL OF THE ABOVE WITHOUT A SAMPLE, OR HAVING A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A RALSTON VIEWER WHO HAS A WHITE FUNGUS OF SOME SORT ON THE BASE OF AN OLD JUNIPER.

IS THAT SOMETHING TO BE TREATED?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT IS ALSO JUST ALONG FOR A FREE LUNCH.

I WOULD MONITOR THAT JUNIPER TO LOOK FOR SIGNS OF DECLINE.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WONDERS ABOUT LAWNMOWER TRACKS.

WHERE THE LAWNMOWER WAS IT LOOKS RUSTY.

IS THAT A DISEASE?

>> YOU MAY HAVE BEEN SPREAD RUST ACROSS THE LAWN.

>> ALRIGHT.

AND THEIR SECOND QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS, IF IT IS HOW DO YOU TREAT IT?

>> LET IT DRY OUT AND THE RUST WILL GO AWAY.

>> ALRIGHT.

SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED US, WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY SLIME MOLDS AND FUNGI SHOWING UP FROM BAGGED MULCH THIS YEAR?

>> BECAUSE WE HAD -- IT WAS HOT, THEN WE HAD A LOT OF GREAT MOISTURE AND THERE'S JUST ALWAYS GOING TO BE A LOT OF SPORES IN THE MULCH.

AND THEY JUST -- WE HAD GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS FOR MUSHROOMS, SLIME MOLDS ALL THE REALLY FUN STUFF.

>> AND IT RAINED EVERY DAY.

>> AND IT RAINED EVERY DAY FOR THE PAST MONTH.

SO YEAH.

>> THANKS FOR ASKING MY SLIME MOLD QUESTIONS SO WE CAN CATCH UP.

>> ALRIGHT.

ARE YOU READY, MATT?

>> YEAH.

FIVE SHOULDN'T BE TOO HARD TO BEAT.

>> WE -- THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT, IS THERE A BENEFIT TO SPRAYING CRABGRASS IN AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER BECAUSE APPARENTLY MESOTRIONE IN THE SPRING WORKED, BUT THEN HE SEEDED.

>> IT CAN SET BACK THE SEED SET BUT IT WILL NOT CONTROL IT VERY WELL.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SHOULD BE USED IN THE SPRING TO CONTROL CRABGRASS IF THERE IS A NEW GRASS SEEDING GOING ON?

>> NEW GRASS SEEDING, YOU WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM YOUR STANDARDS AND GO TO TENACITY, MESOTRIONE, OR PYLEX, TOPRAMEZONE, OR TUPERSAN WHICH IS SIDURON.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A BELLEVUE VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW -- HAS READ SOMETHING ABOUT DOING DEEP INTEGRATION BEFORE SEEDING.

IS THAT GOOD IDEA FOR HEAVY CLAY SOIL.

>> NEVER HURTS TO GET MORE AERIFICATION IN AND IT HELPS THE SEED.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A SEWARD VIEWER WHO KNOW THAT'S AUGUST 1st IS A LITTLE LATE FOR NUTSEDGE CONTROL, BUT WHAT COULD THEY DO NOW?

>> YEAH, SEDGEHAMMER DOES WORK THIS LATE.

IT WILL KNOCK IT DOWN AND HOPEFULLY GET RID OF SOME OF THOSE TUBERS.

>> ALRIGHT.

AND HAVE YOU HEARD OF USING CALCINED CLAY AS A SOIL MODIFIER?

>> I HAVE NOT.

AND THE REASON BEHIND THAT WOULD BE?

TO WHAT?

ABSORB MORE -- >> TO FILL THOSE DEEP INTEGRATION HOLES.

>> I WOULD STICK WITH SOME GOOD SOIL.

>> OKAY, EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB, FIVE, FIVE, FIVE AND FIVE.

>> IT WAS HARDER THAN I THOUGHT.

>> I SWEAR I ANSWERED SIX.

>> OKAY, ALRIGHT.

>> I NEED A RECOUNT.

>> WAYNE, ARE YOU READY?

>> WELL, I USUALLY AT LEAST TIE JOHN.

>> ALRIGHT, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE.

THIS IS A LA VISTA VIEWER WHO REMEMBERS THE HUGE DRAGONFLY MIGRATION FROM LAST YEAR.

WE'RE COMING UP ON IT NOW.

IS IT SOMETHING THAT GETS PUBLICIZED.

>> IT DOESN'T GET PUBLICIZED BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH THE GREEN DARNER DRAGONFLIES.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW IN THE WORLD CAN YOU CONTROL THE BITING MITES IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT HARMING THEIR HOUSECATS.

>> BITING MITES, THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT.

ONE, DRY IT OUT.

YOU MAY SOME LUCK WITH SOME INSECTICIDAL CLAYS.

OTHERWISE, LOTS OF VACUUMING WITH A HEPA FILTER.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SORT OF INSECTS WOULD BE ATTACKING MARIGOLDS.

>> NOT MUCH.

THERE'S A FEW -- SOMETIMES GRASSHOPPERS WILL NIBBLE ON THEM.

>> ALRIGHT.

WHAT IS A WAY OF CONTROLLING ROLLIE POLLIES?

PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE DOING ALL SORTS OF DAMAGE.

>> IT'S TOO WET.

>> OKAY.

>> DRY IT OUT.

>> WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY HAVE SWEET CORN.

THEY ENDED UP WITH A WORM IN THE TIP.

CAN THEY PUT THE TIPS AND THE WORMS IN THE COMPOST OR WILL THE WORMS TURN INTO SOMETHING AND THEN THEY'RE IN TROUBLE.

>> IT DEPENDS ON HOW FAR ALONG THE CATERPILLARS ARE.

IF THEY'RE FULLY GROWN THEY CAN PROBABLY STILL PUPATE AND TURN INTO THE ADULT MOTH.

IF THEY'RE STILL FAIRLY SMALL, TAKING THEM OFF, THROWING THEM IN THE COMPOST PILE WILL BE FINE.

>> AWESOME.

A FOUR-WAY TIE.

>> DEATHMATCH.

WE'VE GOT TO GO TO DEATHMATCH.

>> CAGE MATCH.

>> RIGHT.

>> JOHN, WHAT ARE THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> SO WE HAVE TWO.

THEY ALL COORDINATE WITH MY OUTFIT HERE.

SO WE MET THE HYACINTH BEAN EARLIER IN THE EPISODE WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT SAMPLES.

BUT IT IS A VERY INTERESTING PLANT.

IT IS NATIVE TO AFRICA.

AND IT IS THIS GIANT VINE THAT'S BEAUTIFUL IN THE GARDEN, CAN BE LIKE 12, 15 FEET TALL.

AND IT DOES CREATE -- IT DOES GROW BEANS THAT ARE EDIBLE.

THEY'RE A LITTLE BETTER WHEN THEY'RE YOUNGER.

IF YOU HARVEST THEM WHEN THEY GET OLDER, THEY DO HAVE SOME TOXIC GLYCOSIDES IN THEM.

SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY, REALLY, REALLY COOK THEM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO EAT THEM WHEN THEY'RE OLDER.

A LONG TIME BOILING, COOKING.

AND THEN WE HAVE GARDEN PHLOX.

YOU KNOW, IT'S VERY COMMON.

THIS IS SORT OF LIKE THE COMMON PINK COLOR.

I JUDGE A COUNTY FAIR LAST WEEK AND THERE WAS AN ORANGE ONE THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN.

THERE'S NEW COLORS COMING OUT.

I THINK THAT ONE WAS NAMED TEQUILA SUNSET, WAS THE NAME OF IT.

BUT REALLY FUN.

AND IT'S VERY ODIFEROUS.

IT SORT OF SMELLS LIKE -- WE HAD SOME IN OUR OFFICE LAST WEEK, AND I WAS LIKE, "IT SMELLS LIKE FUNERAL FLOWERS."

THAT SMELL.

SO VERY, VERY ODIFEROUS.

>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU JOHN.

ON THAT NOTE.

OKAY, LET'S SEE.

WAYNE WE HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

WHAT IS THIS LARGE INSECT?

AND OF COURSE WE HAVE LOTS OF THESE THIS WEEK.

>> OH YEAH.

ONE, IT IS NOT THE GIANT INVASIVE ONE THAT I'M NOT GOING TO NAME BECAUSE THEN EVERYONE'S GOING TO FREAK OUT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THIS IS A CICADA KILLER WASP.

VERY COMMON.

THEY CHASE CICADAS.

THEY'D RATHER RUN AWAY FROM YOU THAN STING YOU.

>> PERFECT, ALRIGHT.

THEN YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE CALLED THIS A GRIZZLY LOOKING SPIDER ON HER SPIDER PLANT.

AND SHE WONDERS IF IT'S GOOD, BAD OR JUST UGLY.

>> MAYBE ALL OF THE ABOVE.

DEPENDS ON WHO YOU'RE TALKING TO.

THIS IS A LONG-JAWED ORB-WEAVER.

THEY GET THE NAME BY THE OBVIOUS, VERY LONG ENLARGED JAWS ON THE FRONT OF THE SPIDER.

THIS ONE'S A MALE BECAUSE OF THE BIG PEDIPALPS THERE STICKING OUT FRONT.

THEY'RE PREDATORY ON OTHER CRITTERS SO, GOOD GUY.

>> GOOD GUY.

ALRIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN ALLIANCE VIEWER.

THIS WAS ON THE TOMATO PLANT.

WHAT IS THIS AND IS IT HARMFUL?

>> IT IS NOT HARMFUL TO HIS TOMATO PLANT.

IT WOULD MUCH RATHER BE LAYING ITS EGGS ON A VIRGINIA CREEPER.

THE VIRGINIA CREEPER CLEARWING.

SOMETIMES THEY REPLACE CLEARWING WITH BORER BECAUSE THE LARVAE BORE IN THE ROOTS OF VIRGINIA CREEPER.

AND WE NEVER THOUGH ANYTHING WOULD ACTUALLY ATTACK IT.

>> WELL, THERE WE GO.

THEN WE HAVE A FUN ONE FOR YOUR FOURTH PICTURE.

THIS WAS TAKEN AT INDIAN CAVE STATE PARK SWINGING FROM THE WEB.

SO THEY PUT A LEAF UNDER IT SO YOU CAN SEE IT.

>> YES.

SO THIS IS FUN ONE BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY MIMICS A DRIED UP SPIDER KILL DANGLING FROM A PIECE OF SOME THREAD.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A PARASITIC WASP THAT HAS COME OUT OF THE CATERPILLAR AND IS IN THE PUPAL STAGE HANGING BY THAT THREAD.

SO, A REALLY FUN ONE.

IT WAS A FUN CONVERSATION WITH JODY ABOUT THAT THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

>> FUN, COOL, ALRIGHT.

MATT, YOU'RE FIRST ONE HERE.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

THEY SAW THIS GRASS ON CAMPUS IN LINCOLN IN KIND OF A TOUGH SUNNY SPOT.

WHAT IS IT?

WOULD IT BE A GOOD LAWN TURF AND CAN YOU PLANT IT FROM SEED?

>> YOU CAN PLANT THIS ONE FROM SEED, BERMUDA GRASS.

BUT A LOT OF THE ONES THAT ARE ON, LET'S SAY, GOLF COURSES ARE SPRIGGED IN.

THIS IS A WARM SEASON GRASS THAT IS TYPICALLY NOT GROWN IN NEBRASKA.

WE'RE A LITTLE BIT TOO FAR NORTH.

IF YOU GO SOUTH DOWN INTO KANSAS OR OKLAHOMA AND IT'S REALLY WIDESPREAD DOWN INTO TEXAS EVEN.

IT'S A GREAT SUMMER GRASS, WARM SEASONS GRASS.

BUT HERE IT DOESN'T GREEN UP VERY WELL AND IT WINTER KILLS PRETTY EASY BECAUSE IT DOESN'T TOLERATE OUR COLD WINTERS.

SO SOME OF THAT COMMON BERMUDA GRASS YOU'LL SEE AROUND HERE IN MAYBE WARM SPOTS.

ESPECIALLY ON EAST CAMPUS, IT'S PROBABLY OVER THOSE STEAM TUNNELS WHERE IT STAYS WARMER OVER THE WINTER.

SO IT DOES WELL.

WE DO HAVE SOME IN OUR TURF POTS, IN OUR RESEARCH FARM AND IT ALWAYS GREENS UP MAYBE MID TO LATE-MAY.

AND THEN GOES DORMANT FIRST FROST.

SO IT'S NOT IDEAL, THERE'S OTHER NATIVE WARM SEASONS LIKE BUFFALO WHICH IS A GOOD ONE TO PUT IN THOSE SUNNY AREAS.

>> ALRIGHT.

THEN YOUR NEXT ONE IS ONE PICTURE.

THIS GRASSY WEED IS ALL ALONG THE EDGES OF A NEWLY SEEDED AREA IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT IS THIS ONE AND WILL IT SPREAD?

>> YEAH, THIS ONE IS MATURE BARNYARD GRASS.

YOU CAN SEE THAT SEED HEAD STICKING UP AT THE TOP THERE.

AND ONE WAY TO CONTROL THIS IN A NEW SEEDLING OR -- A NEW SEEDING IS TO JUST MOW IT OFF.

IT DOES GET REALLY, REALLY BIG THIS FIRST YEAR.

BUT IF WE DO HAVE A THICK LAWN FOR NEXT YEAR GENERALLY IT'S NOT AN ISSUE UNLESS WE HAVE THINNED AREAS OR PATCHES OF DEAD GRASS.

BUT GENERALLY IT DOESN'T COMPETE GERMINATING INTO A LAWN STAND.

SO THAT FIRST YEAR IS TOUGH WHEN YOU'RE SEEING WEEDS LIKE THIS.

>> ALRIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

WHAT IS THIS FLAT, UGLY GRASS.

>> YEAH, IT IS FLAT AND UGLY.

AND IT'S ANNOYING.

AND IT DOES THE SAME THING.

IT GROWS ON THESE BARE AREAS OR DISTURBED SOILS OR NEW SEEDLINGS.

AND IT'S GOOSEGRASS, THE ONE I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

YOU CAN SEE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE HOW IT -- IT'S KIND OF A PROSTRATE GROWTH WITH A REALLY BRIGHT WHITE CENTER.

AND MOWING THIS ONE TO KEEP THE SEEDS FROM SETTING IS IDEAL.

IF YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW CUT THEM OUT BECAUSE CONTROLLING THEM AT THAT STAGE REALLY ISN'T EASY.

>> ALRIGHT.

AND TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COME TO US FROM KEARNEY.

THESE WEEDS ARE GROWING PROLIFICALLY IN THE YARD.

WHAT ARE THEY?

DID USE A PRE-EMERGE AND A GRANULAR WEED AND FEED.

THEY'VE BEEN DIGGING THEM OUT, BUT ANY OTHER OPTIONS ON THIS?

>> YEAH, SO THESE -- THIS LOOKS LIKE CRABGRASS.

LARGE CRABGRASS.

YOU CAN SEE THE HAIRS ON TOP OF THE LEAVES AND ON THE STEMS.

AND THIS ONE STARTING JULY 1, AND NOW WE'VE HAD ALL THIS RAIN.

IT'LL GROW REALLY, REALLY FAST AND IT TILLERS OUT.

AND IT KIND OF OUT-COMPETES THE GRASS.

THE GRASS IS STILL UNDER THERE BUT IT JUST CAN'T GROW BECAUSE IT'S GROWING TOO FAST.

MAYBE THE PRE-EMERGE DIDN'T WORK AS WELL, JUST BEING SUCH DRY YEAR, IF IT DIDN'T GET WATERED IN OR WHATEVER.

SO NEXT YEAR, PLAN TO PUT A GOOD PRE DOWN WITH A HIGHER LABEL RATE IN THIS AREA.

AND FOR NOW, IF IT HASN'T STARTED SETTING SEED YOU CAN USE A PRODUCT WITH QUINCLORAC IN IT AND IT'LL KNOCK THIS BACK AND HELP PREVENT IT FROM SEEDING.

IF IT'S YOUNG ENOUGH, IT'LL STILL DO ITS JOB.

>> ALRIGHT, THANKS.

TWO PICS ON THIS FIRST ONE FOR YOU, KYLE.

THIS IS ELKHORN.

BURNING BUSH.

HE DOES SAY HE HAS DONE THE TAP TEST, NO SPIDER MITES.

THIS DISEASE BASED OR ENVIRONMENTAL?

>> I THINK IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL.

OR IF IT IS DISEASED BASED MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE GOING DOWN -- SOMETHING ELSE A BIT FURTHER DOWN IN THE CROWN OR MAYBE EVEN THE ROOT SYSTEM.

SO I WAS LOOKING AT THIS, LOOKS LIKE KIND OF THE UPPER LEAVES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE ALL TURNING.

AND SO IT MAKES ME THINK WHEN WE HAVE STRESSED PLANTS THEY OFTEN WILL TURN COLORS EARLY.

SO YOU MAY JUST HAVE A NICE FALL BURNING BUSH FOR THE REST OF AUGUST.

>> ALRIGHT.

WE HAVE ONE PICTURE AND SHE THINKS THIS LOOKS LIKE AN ASTER WITH A DEFORMITY.

>> IT DOES AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS DEFORMITY IS.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME LOOKING.

I ALMOST WANT TO BLAME ASTER YELLOWS BECAUSE WE CAN GET -- MOSTLY WE SEE THAT ATTACKING THE FLOWERS BUT WE CAN SEE IT ON THE LEAVES AS WELL.

AND THEN ALSO THE TOP LEAF HAS A BIT OF A PURPLE COLOR WHICH WE CAN GET WITH ASTER YELLOWS AS WELL.

JUST REMOVE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE TWO PICTURES FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS PLATTSMOUTH VIEWER, A 15-TO-20-YEAR-OLD FLOWERING PEAR, DEAD LEAVES AND BRANCHES.

THE TOP IS DEAD, NO INSECTS.

WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

>> WELL I THINK RIGHT HERE WERE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT SOME FIRE BLIGHT.

IF YOU ZOOM IN WE HAVE THE BLACK PEDALS AND KIND OF THE NICE SHEPHERDS HOOK.

VERY TYPICAL SYMPTOMS FOR THAT BACTERIAL DISEASE FIRE BLIGHT.

BUT ON A TREE OF THIS AGE I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT CONTROLLING IT.

YOU KNOW, THAT FLOWERING PEAR HAS LIVED A GOOD LIFE.

SO I WOULD MAYBE START TO THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE IF YOU HAVE THE THINNING CROWN OF THE PLANT, IT'S PROBABLY TIME FOR SOMETHING ELSE THERE.

>> ALRIGHT AND ONE MORE PICTURE, THIS COMES TO US FROM GREENWOOD, BUT APPARENTLY IN EVERY PARK IN THAT AREA.

SCOTCH PINE, WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

TAKE THIS OUT?

>> YEAH, WHENEVER YOU HAVE A TREE THAT IS LOSING LARGE PIECES OF BARK LIKE THIS ONE IS THAT'S NEVER A GOOD SIGN FOR THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE TREE.

WHENEVER I HEAR ABOUT SCOTCH PINE ISSUES I IMMEDIATELY GO TO PINE WILT NEMATODE.

WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON HERE BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE KEEPING AN EYE ON.

THIS TREE I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF ITS NOT TOO LONG FOR IT'S WORLD EITHER.

>> ALRIGHT, JOHN TWO PICS ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PAPILLION BELL PEPPERS, ORANGE AND YELLOW, BUT THIS IS WHAT HE GOT INSTEAD.

ANY IDEA?

>> I THINK THIS IS PART OF WHAT I TALKED ABOUT THE LAST SHOW I WAS ON, LAST MONTH, PEPPER-GATE.

TURNS OUT IT WAS MORE THAN JALAPENO.

THERE WERE BELL PEPPERS THAT GOT MIXED UP WITH HOT HUNGARIAN WAX.

COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER MIX UP AT THE GARDEN CENTER AS WELL.

THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PEPPERS THAT ACROSS THE U.S. THAT GOT MIXED UP.

IT WAS A SEED DISTRIBUTION ISSUE.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS KUKES, THEY'RE REGULARLY WATERED, BUT THEY'RE BURIED IN CRABGRASS AND THEY RARELY HAVE A CHANCE TO DRY OUT, WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

>> KYLE AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS WE DON'T THINK IT'S A DISEASE GOING ON.

WE THINK IT'S MORE ENVIRONMENTAL, COULD BE SOME SUNSKULLED OR SOME SORT OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE.

AND THEN YOU KNOW AS THAT DAMAGE OCCURS AND YOU SORT OF GET LIKE BREAKDOWN FROM DECOMPOSITION.

SO I WOULD JUST SEE IF THERES ANYTHING IN THE AREA THAT COULD BE DAMAGING THOSE.

>> ALRIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, THESE ARE CROCKETT GREEN BEAN, BUT SOME ARE KIND OF LOOKING LIKE THIS.

ANY IDEA?

YEAH, AGAIN WE DON'T THINK THAT'S A DISEASE THING.

WE THINK ITS EITHER AN AGE THING AS SOME BEANPODS GET OLDER THEY'LL GET LEATHERY LIKE THAT.

COULD ALSO BE A GENETIC THING.

SOME BEANS HAVE PREDISPOSITIONS TO BE SORT OF TOUGH AND LEATHERY.

SO I WOULD JUST TRY THEM AND SEE.

WE DON'T THINK THERE A DISEASE GOING ON OR ANYTHING WITH THOSE.

>> ALRIGHT THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS PAPILLION, MONSTER PUMPKIN PLANT, BUT THEN TINY PUMPKINS, THEY TURN YELLOW, SHRIVEL UP AND FALL OFF THE VINE.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

I THINK THAT'S A WATER ISSUE.

THAT'S A MONSTER PUMPKIN PLANT THAT TAKES A MONSTER AMOUNT OF WATER, AND IF YOU'RE NOT IRRIGATING IT ENOUGH THEN PROBABLY AS THOSE FRUITS SET THEY'RE PROBABLY ABORTING BECAUSE THERES NOT ENOUGH WATER TO SUSTAIN THEM.

>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH JOHN.

WELL AS YOU MAY KNOW WERE GOING TO BE REINVATING THE TURF IN THE COURTYARD HERE ON EAST CAMPUS.

WE TOOK OUR CAMERAS TO AMES, IOWA TO HEAR FROM ROCK AND ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES ABOUT WHICH TURF GROWS BEST IN THE SHADE.

♪ >> WERE PRIVILEGED TODAY TO BE AS IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY AT THE TURF GRASS RESEARCH FARM.

WITH ADAM THOMES EXTENSION TURF GRASS SPECIALIST.

WE ARE WORKING ON THE PROJECT TO RENOVATE THE GROUNDS IN THE COURT YARD BETWEEN KEIM AND PLANT SCIENCE HALL.

WE WERE THINK OF JUST GOING WITH TRADITIONAL TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE, BUT WERE THINKING THERES GOT TO BE OTHER THINGS GOING ON, AND SO I FOUND OUT ABOUT DR. THOMES WORK AND HOW THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE FINE FESCUES WHICH WE NORMALLY WOULDN'T RECOMMEND.

AND THEY HAVE AN IDEAL LOCATION HERE IN AMES WHERE THEY'VE GOT HEAVY SHADE-—HEAVY TREE SHADE WHICH WE HAVE IN THE COURTYARD, AND SO WERE GOING TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH ADAM ABOUT WHAT MAYBE HE WOULD THINK AS AN EXPERT SHOULD WE PLANT IN THE COURTYARD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN.

ADAM TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS TRAIL AND WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHY YOU DEVELOPED IT THE WAY YOU DID?

>> IT'S THE NATIONAL TURF GRASS EVALUATION PROGRAM.

THE SHADE TRIAL.

SO IT'S AN ANCILLARY PROGRAM.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WANT IS COMPETITION FOR LIGHT, OBVIOUSLY WITH TREES.

SO THIS IS OUR SHADE TRIAL, AND DR. ISLES, OUR DEPARTMENT HEAD, HAS BEEN STUDYING SHADE TREE CULTIVARS AT THIS SITE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND SO WE HAVE GOOD MATURE TREES HERE, AND HE ALLOWED US SOME SPACE TO HAVE THAT COMPETITION FOR LIGHT BETWEEN TREES AND SHADE.

SOMETHING THAT OFTEN TIMES TURF LOOSES OUT ON, AND SO WE LOOKED AT PLANTING THIS FINE FESCUE ANTEP TRIAL HERE.

>> WHAT AN IDEAL OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO COME LOOK AT THIS TRIAL AND HAVE YOU SHARE THE INFORMATION THAT YOU HAVE ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE BEST BET FOR OUR INSTILLATION AT NEBRASKA.

SO IF YOU HAD TO MAKE A CHOICE TODAY AND YOU'VE GOT TWO YEARS WORTH OF REALLY GOOD DATA, WHAT WOULD YOU THINK WOULD BE IN A SHADED AREA VERY TYPICAL TO THIS, SIMILAR SPECIES OF TREES, WHAT WOULD YOU RECOMMEND, ADAM?

>> WELL I WOULD LOOK AT THE FINE FESCUES FOR SURE.

THEY HAVE DONE REALLY WELL FOR US.

I REALLY LIKE THE CREEPING FINE FESCUES.

I THINK THAT THEY CAN RECOVER FROM DAMAGE, FILL BACK IN NICELY IF YOU HAD SOME DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED, AND THEY'VE DONE REALLY WELL IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

>> I LOVE HEARING THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE WEVE REALLY RECOMMENDED THE FINE FESCUES, BUT NOW WE HAVE THE DATA TO BACK IT SO WE HAVE DATA DRIVEN INFORMATION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PUT IN THE RIGHT SPECIES THAT WILL DO THE BEST IN OUR VERY SHOWY INSTILLATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERTISE AND THE DATA WITH US, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE END RESULT WHEN WERE RENOVATE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS ON CAMPUS.

THANKS AGAIN FOR OPPORTUNITY.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR COMING TO VISIT.

>> OF COURSE, WE HAD A FUN TRIP TO AMES, WE ALSO LEARNED A LOT ABOUT WHICH TURF WE'RE GOING TO USE UNDER OUR MATURING TREES IN THE COURTYARD.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO ADAM AT IOWA STATE FOR SHOWING US THOSE TURF PLOTS.

A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS TONIGHT AND, OF COURSE, FUN THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

THE GREATER OMAHA IRIS SOCIETY ANNUAL RHIZOME SALE AUGUST 4th, AND WE ARE COMING UP ON DISCOVER DAYS AGAIN, AUGUST 12th, 10:00 A.M. TO 2:00 P.M. ON EAST CAMPUS.

THE LAST ONE OF THE SUMMER.

ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE FOR YOU, WAYNE.

THIS IS ASTERS.

SHE SAYS NO SIGNS OF BUGS OR INSECTS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I WOULD SAY LOOK A LOT CLOSER.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ASTERS, ACTUALLY MORE THAN A COUPLE OF ASTERS, IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE THAT START LOOKING LIKE THIS AND IT IS FROM LACE BUGS.

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

A LITTLE CRITTER ON THE ZINNIAS, WHAT IS THAT AND THIS IS IN LA VISTA.

>> THIS IS ONE OF OUR GEOMETERED INCHWORMS, IT'S HARD TO TELL WHICH ONE FROM THIS.

>> AN INCHWORM.

>> SHOULDN'T DO TOO MUCH DAMAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE, HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BUTTERFLY ENJOYING THE ZINNAS AND DOES THE CATERPILLAR BELONG TO THE BUTTERFLY?

>> THE ANSWER TO THE SECOND QUESTION FIRST, NO.

THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE ONES AND THE CATERPILLAR SHOWN IS A BLACK SWALLOWTAIL CATERPILLAR.

AND THEN THE BUTTERFLY SHOWN IS THE BLACK FORM OF THE EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL FEMALE.

ONLY THE FEMALES HAVE THE BLACK FORM, THE MALES DO NOT.

>> FINE.

>> IF YOU GO FURTHER SOUTH IN THE U.S., YOU GET MORE BLACK FORM.

>> FINE, ALL RIGHT.

MATT, THREE PICS ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS TREE SPROUTS SMALL TREES EVERYWHERE 40 FEET FROM THE BASE.

THEY'RE GOING TO REMOVE THE TREE AND THE STUMP.

HOW DO THEY KEEP THE SPROUTS FROM DOING THEIR SPROUTY THING?

>> OKAY, SO IF THERE'S TREE SPROUTS IN THE AREA THAT YOU'RE TAKING THE TREE OUT AND NOT PLANNING TO PUT A TREE IN THERE, YOU CAN USE REMEDY, WHICH IS TRICLOPYR, AND THAT'S A BRUSH KILLER SO IF YOU SPRAY IT ON THE LEAVES IT'S GOING TO KILL WHAT YOU SPRAY IT ON.

IT GENERALLY DOESN'T LAST TOO LONG IN THE SOIL SO YOU COULD POTENTIALLY PLANT ONE IN THERE LATER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE, AND YOU GET THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS A FUNGUS AMONG US IN THE GRASS.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS EVERYWHERE.

SLIME MOLD.

AND IT'S DUE TO JUST HAVING LEAF WETNESS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, DAY AND NIGHT, AND WE'VE BEEN IN THAT RAINY SPELL FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, SO IT IS POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.

IT GENERALLY DOESN'T DO ANY DAMAGE.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LOOKS OF IT, JUST HIGH PRESSURE WATER OR KIND OF SWEEP IT OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE FROM ASHLAND.

WANTS TO GET RID OF THE BINDWEED AND THE PALE GRASS AND KEEP THE CLOVER IF POSSIBLE.

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

KEEPING THE CLOVER, YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT AND MOW IT OFF.

CLOVER, GENERALLY IF YOU LEAVE IT A LITTLE BIT HIGHER HEIGHT OF CUT WILL OUTCOMPETE A LOT OF THOSE WEEDS FOR NEXT YEAR BUT USING AN HERBICIDE OTHER THAN MAYBE 2,4-D WON'T KILL CLOVER VERY EASY, SO YOU COUD USE THAT FOR OTHER BROAD LEAVES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MATT.

OKAY.

KYLE.

SHE FOUND THIS WHITE AND ORANGE FUNGUS.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S A STINKHORN.

SHE MAY HAVE SMELLED IT AS WELL.

THE TOP OF IT IS BLACK AND SLIMY TO ATTRACT INSECTS TO SPREAD ITS SPORES.

>> THIS IS A GRETNA VIEWER.

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS SCAT.

WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS DOG VOMIT SLIME MOLD.

TYPICALLY IT IS YELLOW BUT AS IT MATURES WE WILL GET THIS ORANGE COLORATION AS WELL.

>> THEN WE HAVE ONE THAT COMES TO US FROM LONG PINE.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS WAS A REALLY COOL ONE, THIS IS A PEPPERPOT EARTHSTAR.

I THINK THE VIEWER HAD BEEN TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING IN THE GRISTAOUS GENERA BUT YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE A BUNCH OF LITTLE HOLES ON THOSE AND EACH OF THOSE WILL OPEN AND SPORES WILL COME OUT OF THAT AS IT MATURES.

>> ONE MORE AND THIS COMES TO US FROM CLARKSON.

>> NOT ENTIRELY SURE WITHOUT SEEING THE SIDE OR THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAP, REALLY HARD TO SAY, BUT BASED ON THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE TOP, I WOULD GUESS IT IS ONE OF OUR COMMON LEPIOTA MUSHROOMS.

BIG -- WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE THE SIZE OF A DINNER PLATE, WHICH WE HAVE HERE.

>> JOHN, THREE PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

UNUSUAL PLANT.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

>> IT IS UNUSUAL AND IT'S UNUSUAL THAT IT'S HERE.

BECAUSE THIS IS ORIENTAL PLANE TREE, PLANTANUS ORIENTALIS, AND IT'S NOT REALLY HARDY HERE.

IT'S HARDY TO ZONE 7 AND SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING AND MUST HAVE A PERFECT MICROCLIMATE TO KEEP THAT THING GOING.

>> PERFECT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SHE IS WONDERING IF THERE IS A DISEASE AFFECTING CEDARS IN NEBRASKA OR IS THIS ENVIRONMENTAL?

THIS IS ST. PAUL, ALONG THE RIVER IN SANDY LOAM.

>> I THINK THAT IS JUST ENVIRONMENTAL.

IT HAS BEEN HOT AND DRY AND EVERGREENS DON'T LIKE THAT.

>> ONE LAST QUESTION, THIS IS A VIEWER FROM OMAHA.

SHE HAS OVER WINTERED A BANANA TREE ROOT CORM FOR THREE YEARS.

SHE PLANTS THEM OUTDOORS, ONE SPROUTED AND SHE THINKS IT IS PRODUCING A FLOWER.

WHAT IN THE WORLD?

>> IT IS PRODUCING A FLOWER.

SO THAT IS VERY UNUSUAL, INTERESTING.

THEY HAVE THESE FLOWERS.

THEY ARE USUALLY A LITTLE LONGER THAN THAT.

BUT THEY WILL BASICALLY HAVE THIS LONG FLOWER THAT KEEPS SORT OF OPENING UP AND IT GETS POLLINATED AND BUNCHES OF BANANAS FORM ALONG THE FLOWER THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME.

SO IT DOESN'T JUST ALL BLOOM AND POLLINATE AT ONCE, IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

COUNT YOURSELF LUCKY AND IF YOU HAVE ANY PUPS, THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CALLED, THE LITTLE BABIES, FEEL FREE TO DIG ONE UP AND DROP IT BY OUR OFFICE AT 80th AND CENTER IN OMAHA BECAUSE I HAVE A GREENHOUSE AT HOME THAT WOULD JUST LOVE THAT.

>> AND THAT KIND OF ON THE GROUND THING IS A LITTLE UNUSUAL FOR BANANAS, ISN'T IT, FOR THE FLOWER TO BE THAT LOW?

>> WELL, IT PROBABLY IT IS IN CAPTIVITY OR THE WAY IT IS GROWING HERE VERSUS WHERE WOULD GROW NATIVELY.

MOST PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY ARE TREES, BUT THEY ARE NOT BUT THEY ARE JUST HERBACEOUS PLANTS SO IT'S NOT REALLY A TREE.

SO IT IS PROBABLY FORMING WHEREVER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JOHN.

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

THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE GREAT QUESTIONS.

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND OF COURSE TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES THIS EVENING WE HAD GEORGE MALY, CAROL RUSTAD, NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE ARE GOING OUT WEST TO SHOW YOU A WIDE DIVERSITY OF TREES.

THE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE SO DIFFERENT OUT WEST.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT TREES THAT THRIVE IN THAT AREA.

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

♪ ♪