♪ ♪ >>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM COMING TO YOU FROM LAURITZEN BOTANICAL GARDENS IN OMAHA.

JOIN US FOR AN HOUR OF GOOD GARDENING RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ >> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING TO YOU FROM BEAUTIFUL LAURITZEN GARDENS IN OMAHA.

I'M KIM TODD.

I AM SO GLAD TO BE YOUR HOST TONIGHT AS WE ARE IN THIS ABSOLUTELY, SPECTACULAR WONDERFUL PLACE ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY, ANSWERING ALL THOSE GREAT GARDEN QUESTIONS.

THIS IS A TAPED SHOW, SO WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER ALL THOSE PHONE CALLS.

YOU CAN STILL SEND US AN EMAIL.

THAT ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

THAT WILL BE FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

PLEASE TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE AND GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A GOOD ANSWER.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE START OUR SHOW WITH SAMPLES.

KYLE, YOU'RE UP WITH A BEASTIE THAT IS PROBABLY JUST RAISING ITS UGLY HEAD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I BROUGHT SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY JUST STARTING TO COME OUT NOW.

AND SO IT'S TIME TO THINK ABOUT DEALING WITH THESE.

SO WHAT I HAVE WITH ME IS OUR FAMILIAR EVERGREEN BAGWORMS.

AND -- SO THESE EMERGE IN, YOU KNOW, USUALLY LATE MAY TO EARLY JUNE.

AND SO FOR MUCH OF THE STATE THEY'VE REALLY JUST BEEN EMERGING WITHIN THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

MAYBE THE VERY SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE STATE THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THESE LITTLE CATERPILLARS HERE.

I'LL TRY TO POINT OUT ONE HERE.

SO WE HAVE THE BAGS RIGHT HERE NEXT TO MY FINGER.

AND SO THOSE LITTLE CATERPILLARS ARE REALLY QUITE HARD TO SPOT AT THIS STAGE.

THEY'RE NOT VERY EASY TO SEE.

THEY PRODUCE THE SILK CASE.

AND THEN AS THEY'RE FEEDING ON THE PLANT MATERIAL, THEY CLIP SOME OF THAT OFF AND THEY GLUE ON THAT MATERIAL ONTO THEIR CASE.

AND SO IT MAKES THEM VERY INCONSPICUOUS, VERY WELL CAMOUFLAGED AND HARD TO SEE.

SO THESE CATERPILLARS, THEY'LL FEED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SUMMER UNTIL AT LEAST THROUGH AUGUST INTO SEPTEMBER, AT WHICH POINT THEY'LL MATURE INTO ADULTS.

AND THEN ONLY THE MALES WILL HAVE WINGS.

AND THE FEMALES ARE WINGLESS.

THEY'LL ONLY STAY IN THE BAG AND MALE MALES WILL FIND THE FEMALES, MATE WITH THEM, THEY'LL LAY NEW EGGS WHICH WILL OVER WINTER AND EMERGE AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

SO DEALING WITH THESE, THEY CAN BE QUITE PROBLEMATIC.

DESPITE THE NAME EVERGREEN BAGWORMS, THEY DO FEED ON DECIDUOUS PLANTS AS WELL.

THOUGH THEY'RE NOT REALLY A BIG PROBLEM THERE, BUT CAN CAUSE REALLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES ON ANY OF OUR EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS.

SO THE TIME TO DEAL WITH THESE IS RIGHT NOW WHEN THEY'RE VERY SMALL.

LESS THAN A HALF OF AN INCH IS GENERALLY THE RULE OF THUMB FOR TREATING THESE.

AT THIS STAGE THEY CAN BE EFFECTIVELY TREATED WITH BT.

BUT ONCE THEY START GETTING A LITTLE BIT LARGER, OVER HALF INCH, SO AS WE'RE GETTING INTO JULY FOR SURE, YOU CAN TREAT STILL WITH SOMETHING LIKE A PYRETHROID, PYRETHRIN OR CARBARYL.

BUT EFFICACY GOES SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN.

SO REALLY THING ABOUT TREATING THESE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU'VE HAD A HISTORY OF ISSUES IN YOUR LANDSCAPE TO AVOID THOSE POPULATIONS REALLY EXPLODING AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU, KYLE.

ROCH, WHAT'S UP?

>> SO, I HAVE TWO WEEDS THAT MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH.

DANDELION AND PROSTRATE KNOTWEED.

AND THE REASON I'M SHOWING THESE WEEDS IS NOT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SUGGEST ANY WAY TO CONTROL THEM BECAUSE THIS IS THE WORST TIME TO BE THINKING ABOUT CONTROLLING BROADLEAF WEEDS IN THE GARDEN, IN THE LAWN.

BECAUSE WE'VE GOT SUSCEPTIBLE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT ARE GROWING.

WE'VE GOT HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL CAUSE IT TO VOLATILIZE AND INJURE THOSE NONTARGET PLANTS.

THERE ARE OPTIMAL TIMES TO CONTROL BOTH OF THESE WEEDS, AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT PROSTRATE KNOTWEED IS A WINTER ANNUAL.

SO BASICALLY IT GERMINATES VERY, VERY EARLY.

IT'S AN EARLY SUMMER ANNUAL.

IT GERMINATES VERY EARLY IN THE YEAR.

AND BY THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S REALLY ACTIVELY GROWING.

AND IT'S AN ANNUAL SO IT'S GOING TO DIE ON ITS OWN WHEN WE GET INTO THE REALLY HOT TEMPERATURES.

WE'RE NOT THERE YET, SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE WASTING HERBICIDE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY TO NON-TARGET PLANTS.

DANDELION, ON THE OTHER HAND, THE BEST TIME TO CONTROL THAT IS IN THE FALL.

SO I CONTINUE TO GET CALLS, "OH MY LAWN IS SO THIN BECAUSE OF THE BAD WEATHER.

WHAT DO I DO TO CONTROL THESE WEEDS THAT ARE INVADING THAT DEAD TURF FROM DROUGHT STRESS?"

AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

THERE ARE OPTIMAL TIMES TO TREAT THESE WEEDS.

NOW IS NOT THE TIME.

LET'S AVOID THE INJURY TO THE SUSCEPTIBLE VEGETABLES AND OTHER BROADLEAF TREES AND PLANTS THAT WE LIKE TO GROW IN THE GARDEN.

SO, COMMON WEEDS, BUT DON'T BE TRYING TO SPRAY ANYTHING ON THEM NOW.

IT'S JUST A WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE YOU DON'T GET VERY GOOD CONTROL AND YOU CAN CAUSE SOME INJURY.

THE ONLY WEED YOU SHOULD BE CONTROLLING NOW IS YELLOW NUTSEDGE, AND YOU'VE GOT ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR THE OPTIMAL TIMING TO CONTROL YELLOW NUTSEDGE RIGHT ABOUT NOW.

DON'T HAVE A SAMPLE OF THAT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, LOREN?

>> WELL KIM, I BROUGHT ALONG TONIGHT SOME LEAF SPOTS THAT LOOK LIKE A DISEASE, BUT THEY'RE NOT.

SO ONE OF OUR GARDEN VEGETABLE PLANTS IS VERY SENSITIVE TO WATERING DURING SUNNY DAYS ARE GREEN BEANS.

THAT'S WHAT I HAVE HERE.

MOST OF OUR AVID GARDENS KNOW NOT TO REALLY WATER PLANTS WHEN THE SUN IS OUT REALLY HOT.

BECAUSE THAT HEAT WILL ACCUMULATE IN THOSE WATER DROPLETS THAT GO ONTO THE EDGE OF THE LEAVES.

AND THAT WILL BURN THAT LEAF TISSUE.

GREEN BEANS, AGAIN, ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT.

SO ON THIS YOU CAN KIND OF SEE, DISTRIBUTION-WISE, YOU CAN SEE HOW THE LEAVES ARE KIND OF ON THE EDGE.

SOME OF THEM ARE SPOTTED ALONG WHERE THERE WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, VEINS WHERE WATER WOULD ACCUMULATE.

AND THEN WHEN THE BRIGHT SUN COMES OUT, THAT WOULD THEN RESULT IN THAT TISSUE BEING BURNT.

SO IT'S JUST A PHYSICAL BURN.

IT'S JUST BASICALLY A LEAF -- SOME PEOPLE MAY CALL IT SCORCH BUT SCORCH IS ACTUALLY A DISEASE.

BUT THIS IS JUST A LEAF BURNING FROM WATER ACCUMULATION JUST FROM WATERING AT THE WRONG TIME OF DAY.

>> ALRIGHT, THANKS, LOREN.

OKAY JOHN, GREAT TOMATO PLANT.

>> RIGHT.

SO IT'S NOT THE BEST LOOKING TOMATO PLANT.

YOU MIGHT SAY, "OKAY, WELL, I PLANTED MY TOMATOES BACK IN MAY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH A TOMATO PLANT?"

I REALLY BROUGHT THIS TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO PLANT TOMATOES IF YOU DIDN'T GET THEM IN.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVE, MAYBE SOME ISSUES WITH THEIR TOMATOES.

A LOT OF THE HERBICIDE DRIFT ISSUES EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

YOU COULD REALLY PLANT TOMATOES AND SEVERAL OF THE WARM SEASON CROPS UNTIL MID JUNE TO LATE JUNE AND EVEN INTO EARLY JULY.

SO TOMATOES, PEPPERS, EGGPLANT.

EVEN THINGS LIKE BEANS AND CUCUMBERS AND SQUASH, MELONS.

ALL OF THOSE CAN STILL BE PLANTED IN THE GARDEN.

SO IF YOU MISSED THAT OPPORTUNITY OR YOU'VE ALREADY HAD SOME HERBICIDE DRIFT OR OTHER DAMAGE, YOU CAN REPLACE THINGS IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, AND FIND GOOD QUALITY.

SO THIS IS SORT OF LEGGY.

I REMOVED ALL THE, YOU KNOW, THE BOTTOM BRANCHES HERE AND I WILL PLANT THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN JUST TO GIVE IT A GOOD START.

BUT IT WILL STILL PRODUCE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE WHOLE SEASON, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME PRODUCTION ON THOSE PLANTS.

>> ALRIGHT, THANKS, GUYS.

KYLE, YOU GET THE FIRST ROUND OF PICTURE QUESTIONS.

THE FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM A LITTLE GREENHOUSE IN OMAHA.

THEY FOUND THIS LITTLE GUY SORT OF WANDERING AROUND.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT HE IS AND WILL HE BE DAMAGING ANYTHING OR SHOULD THEY JUST LET IT BE, LET IT BE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS -- I'M NOT 100% SURE, BUT I LEAN TOWARDS SALT MARSH TIGER MOTH CATERPILLAR.

USUALLY THE HAIRS ARE LONGER TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE HEAD.

HERE IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE KIND OF SHORT.

AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S JUST KIND OF AN ARTIFACT OF THE IMAGE, THE ANGLE OF THE IMAGE OR NOT.

BUT IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS IT'S PROBABLY NOT A BIG CONCERN.

THEY DO HAVE A REALLY BROAD HOST RANGE.

USUALLY THEY FEED ON BROADLEAF, WEEDY PLANTS.

SO NOT A HUGE CONCERN.

WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG CATERPILLARS, THEY WILL FEED IN LARGE AGGREGATES.

AS THEN AS THEY MATURE, THEY KIND OF WANDER OFF AND WILL FEED INDIVIDUALLY.

SO THEY CAN GO INTO A NUMBER OF VEGETABLES, BUT IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING A LOT OF THEM, IT'S PROBABLY NOT ANYTHING I WOULD BE TOO WORRIED ABOUT.

IF YOU DO SEE ANY DAMAGE, INJURY TO VEGETABLES OR SOMETHING ELSE OR YOU'RE SEEING QUITE A FEW CATERPILLARS IN THE SETTING -- I THINK IT WAS A GREENHOUSE.

THEN AT THAT POINT YOU COULD CONSIDER TREATING WITH BT.

THAT'S PRETTY EFFECTIVE, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNGER ONES -- THE YOUNGER CATERPILLARS.

OR SPINOSAD.

>> ALRIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO MORE QUESTIONS IN THIS ROUND.

BOTH OF THERE ARE, "WHAT IS THIS CATERPILLAR?"

THE FIRST IS FROM OMAHA.

IT IS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A RHUBARB LEAF.

AND THE SECOND IS A CATERPILLAR ON A PEA VINE.

>> YEAH, SO THIS FIRST IS ANESES SPHINX MOTH.

SO THIS A HORNWORM.

THEY USUALLY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PLANTS IN THE GRAPE FAMILY.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S NECESSARILY FEEDING ON THE RHUBARB OR NOT.

MAYBE -- THERE HAS BEEN SOME REPORTS OF THEM FEEDING ON SOME PEPPERS, SOME OTHER SOLANACEOUS PLANTS, SO MAYBE.

BUT PROBABLY NOT ANYTHING TO BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT.

THEY'RE PRETTY CONSPICUOUS.

SO I WOULD SAY JUST HAND PICK THEM IF YOU'RE SEEING THEM AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THE SECOND ONE SIMILARLY LOOKS LIKE A WHITE-LINED SPHINX.

PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING.

THEY HAVE A BROADER HOST RANGE.

THEY'RE PRETTY CONSPICUOUS, EASY TO SEE.

I WOULD JUST HAND PICK THEM AND NOT BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT ANYTHING.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANKS, KYLE.

OKAY, ROCH, YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

"WHAT IS CAUSING THESE BROWN LINES IN THE TURF?"

HE'S DONE TWO OF A FOUR-STEP FERTILIZER PROGRAM.

THEY'VE HAD A LOT OF RAIN.

>> YEAH, THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE LAWN PROGRAM THAT THEY DID.

THESE ARE TRACKS FROM A RIDING MOWER.

AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY GET -- WHEN TURF GETS DROUGHT STRESSED, IT CAN GET A LITTLE BIT -- LOSE SOME WATER.

AND YOU CRUSH THAT.

IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO HOLD THE LAWN TIRE UP.

AND THEN IT DIES AND DESICCATES AND TURNS BROWN.

GOOD NEWS IS IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE CROWN OF THE GRASS PLANT.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO RECOVERY.

IT'S JUST GOING TO LOOK REALLY BAD FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND IF IT CONTINUES TO STAY HOT, IT WILL JUST BE A LITTLE BIT SLOWER TO RECOVER.

BUT THOSE ARE TRACKS FROM THE MOWER.

>> ALRIGHT.

YOUR SECOND ONE ALSO COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

THIS IS A BLUE GRASS LAWN.

SUDDEN YELLOWING.

SLOPED FRONT YARD.

THE AREA IS ABOUT FOUR TO SIX FEET WIDE.

AREAS ON BOTH SIDES ARE NORMAL.

HE DID DO WEED AND FEED TO THE YARD.

THE REST IS OKAY.

>> YEAH, IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM THIS PICTURE, KIM, PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A REAL GOOD CLOSEUP OF THE LEAF TO SEE IF IT HAS A DISEASE OR IF THERE'S SOME INSECT INJURY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE JUST HAD A REALLY ROUGH YEAR FOR A LOT OF PLANT MATERIAL BUT ESPECIALLY THE LAWNS.

ESPECIALLY LAWNS THAT WEREN'T IRRIGATED AT THE FREQUENCY WE'D LIKE.

OR IF THEY WERE OVER-IRRIGATED TO TRY AND COVER FOR THE DROUGHT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO SAY ANYTHING.

THAT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF PATHOGENS OR NON-PATHOGENIC OR NON-BIOLOGICAL ISSUES.

PLUS, EVEN IF IT WAS PATHOGENIC, I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF RECOMMENDING FUNGICIDES FOR HOME LAWNS.

IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A WASTE OF CHEMICAL FROM SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK VERY WELL.

>> ALRIGHT.

ONE MORE PICTURE.

THIS IS A ACTUALLY A LINCOLN VIEWER, AND THERE IS A FOUR FOOT SQUARE AREA BETWEEN SIDEWALK AND CURB THAT EVERY YEAR STARTS OUT GREEN AND THEN GOES BROWN.

NEVER GREENS UP AGAIN.

>> YEAH, SO THAT -- IF I LOOK REALLY CLOSELY AT THE PICTURE THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE SOME ASCOCHYTA LEAF BLIGHT WHICH IS A PATHOGEN THAT WE HAVE NO FUNGICIDES FOR.

BUT IT'S USUALLY TRIGGERED BY HEAT STRESS AND DROUGHTY CONDITIONS.

SO I THINK YOU'VE JUST GOT THAT PARKWAY THAT HEATS UP QUICKER AND, ONCE AGAIN, IT'S BEEN A BAD YEAR FOR LAWNS IN GENERAL.

THERE'S REALLY NOT MUCH CAN BE DONE.

THEY DID SAY THAT IT REPEATED OVER YEARS SO PERHAPS THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

BUT WE REALLY NEED SOMETHING TO BE TAKEN TO THE DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC SO THEY CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT IT.

BUT RIGHT NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE A PATHOGEN THAT COMES IN IN DROUGHT STRESS TURF.

SO I'M THINKING IT'S MOSTLY PHYSICAL WITH DROUGHT STRESS.

>> ALRIGHT, THANKS ROCH.

>> KIM, DID THEY SAY THAT WAS A SQUARE?

>> MM-HMM.

>> I WONDER IF IT'S SOMETHING UNDER THE GROUND, ROCH.

MAYBE A PIECE OF PLYWOOD FROM BUILDING OR SOME ROCK OR SOMETHING THAT COULD BE -- >> THAT'S ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.

>> TAKE A SCREWDRIVER OUT AND POKE AROUND A LITTLE BIT.

THEY MIGHT FIND SOMETHING.

>> I WONDER HOW SHALLOW IT WOULD BE.

>> IT COULD BE SHALLOW.

THAT WOULD STRESS MORE.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

>> JUST A THOUGHT.

>> ALRIGHT, LOREN.

YOUR FIRST COMES TO US FROM DENVER, COLORADO.

"FOUND THIS ODD, BEAUTIFUL FLORAL LIKE MUSHROOM.

WHAT IS IT?"

>> WELL, THIS IS ANOTHER JUST BEAUTIFUL FUNGUS THAT OUR VIEWER CAPTURED.

THIS IS ONE THAT'S IN OUR EARTH STAR FUNGI GROUP.

SO IF THE VIEWERS LOOK UP EARTH STARS, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPECIES AND MANY TIMES THEY WILL BE DARKER THAN THIS PICTURE.

AND AS THEY MATURE THEY WILL DARKEN AND BE KIND OF HARD ON THE SURFACE.

>> PERFECT.

>> YEAH, EARTH STAR.

>> YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT QUESTION.

IT COMES TO US FROM NORTH PLATTE.

SHE HAS MARTAGON LILIES.

THIS IS YEAR THREE.

AND THEY'RE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOOKING DREADFUL AND EVERY OTHER LILY IN THE BED SHORT OF THE MARTAGONS IS LOOKING GOOD.

>> AND KIM, I MEANT TO ASK YOU BEFORE THE SHOW.

ARE MARTAGON LILIES SUPPOSED TO BE CHLOROTIC?

>> NO.

>> OKAY.

THAT MAKES THIS QUESTION EASIER THEN.

I DO BELIEVE IN THIS CASE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME SORT OF A BULB INFECTING FUNGUS.

MOST LIKELY -- MANY OF OUR BULBS OF ARE INFECTED BY FUSARIUM SPECIES WHICH CAUSE A ROT OF THE BULB.

AND THAT WOULD RESULT IN THAT LACK OF NUTRIENT UPTAKE POTENTIALLY.

THE OTHER THING, I GUESS, WOULD BE IF IT WAS TOO WET WHERE THEY'RE AT.

TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE HAVING GOOD SOIL DRAINAGE.

BUT IT DOES LOOK -- WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MUCH OF AN EFFECT, IT REALLY MAKES ME THINK OF SOMETHING THAT'S LIMITING NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND THAT COULD BE SOME SORT OF A BULB ROT OR SOMETHING.

ESPECIALLY IF THEY JUST PUT THEY IN AND THEY'RE NEWER.

>> ALRIGHT.

AND ONE MORE PICTURE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ATLANTIC, IOWA.

SHE'S GETTING SPOTS ON HER RHUBARB.

AND SHE HAS BEEN BEEN PULLING THE SPOTTED LEAVES OFF.

>> OKAY, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING TO DO.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, WHEN WE SEE LEAF SPOTS -- PARTICULARLY IN THIS CASE WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE SOME RINGS ON THE LEAVES AND IT HAS A PATTERN TO IT -- THOSE ARE MOST LIKELY SOME SPORULATION.

THERE'S AN ASCOCHYTA LEAF SPOT THAT INFECTS RHUBARB, WHICH LOOKS A LOT LIKE THIS AND I'D SUSPECT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

A COUPLE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND -- IF YOU CAN AVOID OVERHEAD IRRIGATION, THAT'S GONNA HELP FOR ANY OF OUR LEAF SPOTS.

AND THEN REMOVING OF THOSE LEAVES, AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE USING SANITATION AT THE END OF THE SEASON TOO, WILL HELP AS WELL.

SOME GOOD MULCH AT THE BASE TO KIND OF COVER THAT UP AT THE END OF SEASON OR NEXT SPRING, MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING THAT, WILL ALSO REDUCE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, LOREN.

JOHN, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

THIS IS A MONTMORENCY CHERRY.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR IT'S HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF CHERRIES, BUT THEY'RE VERY TINY.

AND WE'VE HEARD THE SAME THING ABOUT NANKING CHERRIES.

AND THE QUESTION IS, WHY ARE ALL THESE CHERRIES SO SMALL THIS YEAR?

>> SO, THIS YEAR, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAN BE GOING ON IS THAT WE'RE VERY DRY, AND FRUITS REQUIRE A LOT OF WATER IN ORDER TO GROW AND TO SORT OF, AS THEY'RE RIPENING, ESPECIALLY, TO SORT OF -- TO BECOME BIGGER AND JUICIER.

AND SO YOU'RE LIKELY GONNA HAVE THOSE SMALLER CHERRIES BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MOISTURE.

IT'S A LITTLE TOO LATE TO GO OUT AND WATER NOW TO GET THEM BIGGER, BECAUSE THEY ARE RIPENING.

BUT KEEP THAT IN MIND FOR THE FUTURE.

ALSO, LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF CHERRIES ON THERE, THE MORE YOU HAVE, THEN THE SMALLER THEY'RE GOING TO BE.

SO SOME PRUNING MIGHT HELP WITH THAT AS WELL.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A TRICK THAT A LOT OF FRUIT GROWERS USE.

SO GRAPE GROWERS THAT GROW GRAPES FOR WINE, SPECIFICALLY UNDERWATER THEIR GRAPES BECAUSE YOU WANT MORE GRAPE, AND MORE GRAPE FLAVOR, AND LESS WATER WHEN YOU CREATE YOUR VINE.

SO YOU ARE, I GUESS, IN STORE FOR SOME MAYBE POTENT CHERRIES IF YOU CAN KEEP THE BIRDS FROM EATING THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS ALSO AN OMAHA VIEWER, JOHN.

SMOKEBUSH, THEY'VE HAD IT FOUR YEARS, IT LOOKS LIKE GOLDEN SPIRIT, MAYBE.

THE TOPS HAVE DIED BACK AND IT HAS NEVER SMOKED.

SO, WHAT'S THE DEAL?

>> WELL, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THIS WINTER DAMAGE WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT SHRUBS AND TREES.

AND SO WE GET THAT DIE BACK FROM -- FROM DRY OUT, SOME FROM FREEZING, BUT MORE FROM DRY OUT IN THE WINTER, AND WE'RE JUST SEEING LOTS OF THINGS DO THAT NOW AS, YOU KNOW, WE -- WE SEE OUR DIFFERENT WEATHER AND CLIMATE PATTERNS.

AND SO, UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SHRUBS THAT BLOOM ON OLD GROWTH.

SO ALL THAT STUFF ON THE TOP IS THE NEW GROWTH.

SO AS LONG AS IT KEEPS DYING BACK, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET BLOOMING.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KEEP TRYING FOR A FEW MORE YEARS TO SEE, BUT IF IT KEEPS DYING BACK LIKE THAT, YOU'RE NEVER REALLY GONNA GET THE BLOOMING, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET THE "SMOKE."

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE PICTURE FOR YOU, JOHN.

THIS COMES TO US FROM CENTRAL CITY.

WE HAD SEVERAL OF THESE WITH THE RED FOLIAGED MAPLES, AND THE TOP DIED.

AND HER QUESTION IS SHE'S GOT -- THE TOP'S DEAD, SHE'S GOT ALL OF THESE LITTLE BITTY PIECES OF MAPLE FROM THE BASE.

IS THIS A GONER OR GIVE IT A SHOT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, YOU CAN TRY WITH -- WITH WHAT'S COMING UP, IF YOU WANT TO PICK A NEW LEADER.

BUT WE SEE THIS HAPPEN WHEN WE HAVE TREES THAT DIE, OR WE HAVE A LOT OF DIE BACK IN THE TOP.

BASICALLY IT'S A HORMONE SIGNAL THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S HORMONES IN THE TIPS OF BRANCHES THAT CONTROL GROWTH DOWNWARD ON THE -- ON THE BRANCHES.

AND ONCE THE END OF THE BRANCHES DIE, WE GET GROWTH UP FROM THE BASE.

SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT AN IDEAL SITUATION, SO I WOULD PROBABLY NOT TRY IT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO EXPERIMENT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, THAT'S FINE TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOHN.

WELL, LIKE "BACKYARD FARMER," LAURITZEN GARDENS HAS BEEN HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT TO NATURE FOR VERY MANY YEARS.

WE HAVE SPENCER BARAK AND MARIA VELEZ WHO ARE GOING TO BE TELLING US ABOUT THEIR PARTICULAR JOURNEY HELPING PEOPLE CONNECT WITH NATURE.

♪ >> I COME ALONG THIS PATH HERE AND GO DOWN TO THE GARDEN OF THE GLEN.

THAT'S MY FAVORITE GARDEN.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE CUBBY HOLE, AND THEN YOU HEAR THE WATER RUNNING.

AND, I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S A PEACEFULNESS DOWN THERE.

>> I REALLY DO ENJOY THE SERENITY OF THE JAPANESE GARDEN IN THE MORNINGS, JUST BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT BEFORE THE SUN HAS CRESTED, YOU HAVE THE LIGHT, BUT IT'S NOT BRIGHT, AND SO YOU CAN KIND OF -- THERE'S THAT MOUND THEY HAVE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND I LIKE TO SIT THERE ON THAT LITTLE WALKWAY THAT THEY HAVE THAT GOES OVER THE WATER IN THE MORNINGS.

>> PEACE, SERENITY -- WORDS THAT MEMBERS MARIA VELEZ AND SPENCER BARAK USE TO DESCRIBE LAURITZEN GARDENS.

A BEAUTIFUL GREEN OASIS THAT BOTH WERE DRAWN TO BECAUSE OF THE 1.5 MILES OF WALKING TRAILS.

>> I'VE BEEN WALKING HERE SINCE -- WELL, ACTUALLY BEFORE IT WAS A GARDEN, WHEN IT WAS A LANDFILL.

AND WHEN THEY DID START THE GARDEN, THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE PATCH OF TULIPS.

I USED TO WALK ANYWAY.

AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, I'LL START WALKING AT THE GARDENS."

YOU KNOW, "I'LL SEE ALL THE PLANTS, AND SEE THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU DON'T SEE WALKING ON THE STREET."

>> I ACTUALLY WAS INITIALLY GIFTED A MEMBERSHIP WITH A PLUS ONE FROM A FAMILY MEMBER WHO, THEY LIVE IN ANOTHER TOWN THAT HAS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS.

AND I HAD MENTIONED WHILE VISITING THEM, THAT, "HEY, THIS IS REALLY GREAT TO HAVE SO CLOSE TO YOUR HOUSE."

AND SO THEY, IN RETURN, YOU KNOW, LOOKED INTO LAURITZEN AND GOT ME A MEMBERSHIP.

I LIKE THE JAPANESE GARDEN A LOT FOR WHEN I'M HERE EARLY, DOING MY MORNING WALK, TRYING TO RELAX.

BUT THEN THE GARDEN IN THE GLEN, AND LIKE, THE CRANE GARDEN IS WHERE I GO IF I'M REALLY TRYING TO GET IN MY WORKOUT, WHERE I -- I'LL WALK SEVERAL MILES.

>> AT OUR CORE, WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO COME HERE TO CONNECT TO NATURE IN SOME WAY, WHETHER THAT'S THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY, THROUGH BIRDING, EXERCISE.

I FIND PEOPLE READING ON A BENCH SOMETIMES, OR MEDITATING IN THE SPACE.

IT'S JUST KIND OF A SPACE WHERE YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN THING, BUT CONNECT IN YOUR OWN UNIQUE AND INDIVIDUAL WAY.

>> THOSE WALKS WERE HOW SPENCER AND MARIA STARTED CONNECTING TO NATURE.

AS THEY CONTINUE TO MAKE ROUTINE VISITS, THE PLANTS AROUND THEM HAVE COME TO HOLD A DEEPER MEANING.

>> GIVEN WHAT I DO -- I WORK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE, I WORK IN A LOUD MUSIC VENUE EVERY DAY -- AND IT'S NICE TO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE AN HOUR AWAY TO GET THIS GREEN TIME, TO GET THE QUIET TIME THAT WE HAVE AROUND US.

AND TO KIND OF FORGET YOU'RE IN THE CITY FOR A LITTLE BIT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF WAYS TO DESTRESS, AND THIS HAS KIND OF BECOME MINE.

WE'VE HAD SOME AMAZING MOMENTS HERE.

I ACTUALLY ENGAGED TO MY PARTNER SEVERAL WEEKS HERE AGO, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET MARRIED NEXT YEAR.

THIS PLACE HAS BECOME A SPECIAL PLACE FOR US, AND SO, US BEING ABLE TO DESTRESS TOGETHER HERE, YOU KNOW, TOGETHER EVERY WEEK, HELPS A LOT.

♪ >> IT'S MY CHURCH.

THAT'S WHAT I CALL IT.

WHEN I AM TROUBLED, WHEN I HAVE A LOT OF STRESS, WHICH I DO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, WITH MY DAUGHTER, IT'S A PEACEFULNESS INSIDE.

IT CALMS ME.

♪ >> THE BIGGEST JOY OF WORKING IN A PLACE LIKE THIS THAT IS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE PUBLIC, IS SEEING THE INTERACTIONS -- HOW PEOPLE PERCEIVE THE LANDS, OF HEARING THEIR THOUGHTS.

I THINK THAT'S THE MOST MEANINGFUL PART FOR ME, IS SEEING PEOPLE KIND OF GET WHAT THE GARDEN -- HOW THE GARDEN IS INTENDED TO BE USED, WHICH REALLY IS KIND OF AN OPEN BOOK, AND REALLY IS FOR THE COMMUNITY TO USE IN THE WAYS THEY FIND MEANING IN.

LIKE, MARIA'S GROWN WITH THE GARDEN, AND THEN YOU SEE LIKE, POTENTIAL THERE, WITH LIKE, HAVE THESE BIG LIFE MOMENTS HERE IN THE GARDEN SPACE, AND THERE'S SO MUCH POTENTIAL FOR MORE, RIGHT?

AND I KNOW THE MEANING THAT THE SPACE HAS FOR BOTH OF THEM.

AND YOU JUST WANT THAT FOR EVERYONE.

♪ ♪ >> THE GARDEN CAN REALLY BE A VERY POWERFUL PLACE AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK TO MARIA AND SPENCER, FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES WITH US.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, ROUND TWO, THE FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM WAKEFIELD.

FOUND THIS LITTLE BUGGER ON THE DECK, WHAT IS IT?

>> YEAH, SO, AGAIN, ANOTHER SPHINX MOTH, BUT THIS IS THE ADULT.

THIS IS AN ACHEMON SPHINX.

>> ACHEMON SPHINX, ALL RIGHT.

EMERSON, NEBRASKA, IS NEXT.

SHE HAS A HIBISCUS THAT IS COVERED WITH, SHE'S CALLING THEM WHITE SPOTS AND INSECTS.

WHAT IS THAT AND HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF IT?

OH, DEAR.

>> YEAH, SO, THESE LOOK LIKE THEY'RE PROBABLY MELON APHIDS.

CERTAINLY SOME KIND OF APHID HERE ON THE BUD.

MELON APHIDS ARE FAIRLY COMMON ON HIBISCUS, AND WILL CONCENTRATE ON THE BUDS.

THE GOOD THING HERE IS, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M SEEING SOME MUMMIES, SO THESE ARE BASICALLY APHIDS THAT HAVE BEEN PARASITIZED BY A LITTLE WASP, AND THEY CONSUME THE INSIDE AND BASICALLY JUST TURN IT INTO A MUMMY.

SO THAT'S WHAT THOSE BIG, KIND OF WHITE SPOTS ARE.

SO THAT'S GOOD, YOU HAVE SOME BIO CONTROL ALREADY TAKING EFFECT.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN SPRAY THEM WITH AN INSECTICIDAL SOAP, THAT'S REALLY EFFECTIVE FOR APHIDS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE QUESTION.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM FREEMONT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS ALL THESE LITTLE TINY WHITE INSECTS IN HER CONTAINERS.

WHAT ARE THOSE, AND WHAT DOES SHE DO?

>> YEAH, APHIDS AGAIN.

ALL THE LITTLE WHITE SPECKS AROUND THE -- THE BASE, THOSE ARE THE CAST SKINS, SO LIKE, THAT'S THE -- AS THEY GROW, THEY HAVE TO SHED THEIR EXOSKELETON, AND SO THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE SHED AND LEFT BEHIND.

SO, IT'S APHIDS AGAIN, AND BASICALLY SAME -- THING.

YOU CAN SPRAY MANAGE WITH INSECTICIDAL SOAP, IT'S VERY EFFECTIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

ROCH, YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES COME TO US FROM BENSON -- OMAHA AREA.

AND HE'S WONDERING ABOUT SOME I.D.

HERE.

DOES HE HAVE POISON IVY AND WHAT IS THE OTHER ONE?

AND HE HAS BEEN USING A SALT, VINEGAR, DISH SOAP METHOD TO TRY TO CONTROL WHAT HE THINKS IS THE POISON IVY.

HE'S VERY ALLERGIC.

SO WHAT DOES HE HAVE AND WHAT DOES HE DO?

>> SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A PROBLEM.

THAT IS -- "LEAVES OF THREE, LET IT BE," I THINK YOU ALL KNOW THAT, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY -- DEFINITELY POISON IVY.

IN THE FIRST PICTURE THERE WAS SOME BOSTON IVY IN THERE, WHICH IS A DESIRABLE -- >> SECOND PICTURE.

>> SECOND PICTURE, SORRY.

I COULDN'T -- I CAN'T SEE IT VERY WELL HERE.

BOTTOM LINE IS, THERE WAS A DESIRABLE SPECIES IN THE SECOND ONE.

THE CONCOCTION, FOR LACK OF A BETTER TERM, THAT HE'S DESCRIBING, IS NOT GOING TO BE GOOD ON A PERENNIAL WOODY SPECIES.

BECAUSE HE'S SO HYPERSENSITIVE, YOU CAN'T GO IN WITH THE GLOVE OF DEATH, OR THE THINGS THAT WE DESCRIBE ON THE SHOW TO TRY TO GET IN CLOSE.

AND I -- WE WOULDN'T RECOMMEND THAT FOR ANYBODY, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HYPERSENSITIVE TO POISON IVY OR STINGING NETTLE.

SOME PEOPLE AREN'T.

SO THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO CUT BACK OR TRIM BACK AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN AWAY FROM -- THE, YOU KNOW, DOWN AS CLOSE TO THE GROUND AS YOU CAN, AND THEN PHYSICALLY LET IT DESICCATE ON THE VINE.

BUT THAT'S STILL NOT A VERY EFFECTIVE CONTROL, AND IT WILL GROW BACK.

SO, GIVEN THE FACT THAT HE'S HYPERSENSITIVE AND HE WANTS TO TRY AN ORGANIC METHOD, THERE REALLY ISN'T ANYTHING HE'S GOING TO BE ANYTHING HE CAN DO.

MAYBE HIRE A PROFESSIONAL, IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE THAT'S CLEARLY IN A SPOT THAT'S GOING TO BE PROBLEMATIC WITH THE OTHER PLANTS IN THE GARDEN.

SO IT'S NOT A GREAT RECOMMENDATION, BUT THAT'S REALLY ALL WE CAN DO FOR POISON IVY AND SOMEBODY THAT'S HYPERSENSITIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE A VINE NOW THAT SHE'S USED BRUSH KILLER WITH 2,4-D. SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> THIS IS CATBRIER, OR GREENBRIER, OR SMILAX.

IT'S FAIRLY COMMON.

IF -- THE BRUSH KILLERS WILL WORK ON IT.

IT CERTAINLY IS TENACIOUS, AND YOU'RE GONNA BE -- VINY PLANTS TEND TO HAVE TROUBLE TRANSLOCATING THAT HERBICIDE TO IT, BUT IF THEY'RE WILLING TO TRY THAT HERBICIDE OUT, THEY SHOULD HAVE PRETTY GOOD LUCK.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

LOREN, YOU HAVE TWO PICS ON THIS ONE, AND THEN ONE ON THE NEXT ONE, AND TWO ON THE NEXT ONE, AND ALL OF THESE ARE TOMATERS.

SO, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> 'KAY, WELL, ON THIS FIRST ONE I BELIEVE YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF LEAF CUPPING AND CURLING.

SO, IN THIS CASE, IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE WE WOULD SEE WITH THE GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE.

THE ONE THING THAT CAN RULE THIS OUT IS IF WE HAVE A GROUP OF TOMATO PLANTS AND JUST ONE OF THEM WERE TO LOOK LIKE THIS, THERE ARE SOME OF OUR TOMATO VIRUSES THAT CAN RESULT IN SOME OF THESE SYMPTOMS.

IN THAT CASE, SHE WOULD ROGUE IT OUT.

BUT IF IT'S ONE PLANT AND YOU DON'T HAVE OTHERS TO CHECK, I WOULD GUESS IT'S GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, LOREN.

YOU HAVE, I THINK TWO MORE QUESTIONS THAT ARE ALSO STILL TOMATOES.

SAME THING.

>> AND THESE ARE STILL LEAF CUPPING, CURLING.

THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT HAD SOME MILDER TURNS ON THE LEAF, WHICH COULD BE THE RESULT OF RAPID TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND MOISTURE AVAILABILITY.

SO, THE ONE THAT HAS THE -- THE LOWER LEVEL OF LEAF CUPPING AND CURLING, COULD BE JUST THE RAPID CHANGE AND RAPID GROWTH THAT WE CAN SEE.

AND THIS LEAF ROLLING AS WELL, COULD BE SIMILAR IN THE SAME WAY.

>> OKAY, AND THEN CURLY LEAF DISEASE IS MAYBE YOUR LAST TWO.

SO, THE SAME THING.

>> YEAH, SO, AND EVEN THE CURLY LEAF, THERE ARE SOME VIRUSES THAT CAN DO THIS, BUT AGAIN, IT MAY NOT BE THAT.

SO, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHEN THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN, WATER AVAILABILITY, RAPID GROWTH, THESE THINGS, YOU COULD SEE THAT.

SO, IF IT'S JUST ONE OF THE PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN THOUGH, AND AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL TOMATOES, AND JUST ONE IS EXHIBITING THESE TYPES OF SYMPTOMS WHEN WE SEE CURLING, OR ROLLING OF THE LEAVES AND THINGS, THEN I WOULD SUGGEST ROGUEING THAT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

JOHN, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LAKEWOOD, COLORADO.

IT IS EGGPLANT -- BLACK SPOTS, DOTS AND CURLING LEAVES.

>> YEAH, SO, UNFORTUNATELY EGGPLANT IS SORT OF LIKE, ONE OF THOSE MAGNETS FOR A LOT OF INSECTS.

AND I THINK WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON, THE -- THE BLACK, THE DARKNESS, I SEE SOME SPOTS.

WE CAN HAVE HAVE SOME FLEA BEETLE FEEDING.

FLEA BEETLES LOVE EGGPLANT, AND SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE LOOK OUT FOR.

AND ALSO, I THINK, MAYBE SOME APHID DAMAGE WITH, LIKE, THE DARK PATCHES THAT WE SEE ON THOSE LEAVES.

SO WHAT I WOULD DO WOULD BE TO REALLY LOOK AT THE LEAVES, SEE IF YOU SEE SOME APHIDS UNDERNEATH.

AND YOU CAN JUST SPRAY THOSE OFF WITH WATER.

YOU CAN ALSO, YOU KNOW, DO SOME -- SOME THINGS LIKE NEEM.

NEEM OIL CAN CONTROL SOME OF THOSE INSECTS, AND ALSO THERE'S PYRETHRIN, OR PYRETHRUM.

SOME OF THOSE YOU CAN GET AN ORGANIC VERSION, OR YOU CAN GET A SYNTHETIC VERSION AS WELL.

BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THOSE INSECT ISSUES, I THINK, GOING ON WITH THAT EGGPLANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES FOR THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS PEPPERS.

AND THIS IS THE MILLARD AREA.

REALLY WONDERING WHETHER THIS IS HERBICIDE DAMAGE.

>> I THINK IT IS.

SO LOREN WAS TALKING ABOUT TOMATOES, AND WE SEE THAT SORT OF WEIRD GROWTH AND THE CUPPING AND THINGS GOING ON WITH IT, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE.

THE WAY I SORT OF TELL PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN HERBICIDE DAMAGE AND OTHER THINGS, LIKE JUST CURLING FROM HEAT OR DROUGHT, IS THAT IF YOU CAN LAY THE LEAF IN YOUR HAND, AND YOU CAN SORT OF FLATTEN IT BACK TO NORMAL, IT'S PROBABLY NOT HERBICIDE.

BUT IF IT'S ACTUALLY GROWING THAT WAY, AND YOU CAN'T SORT OF FLATTEN IT BACK OUT, THAT'S PROBABLY HERBICIDE DAMAGE, 'CAUSE IT'S A GROWTH REGULATOR AND CAUSING WEIRD ISSUES WITH THE GROWTH PATTERN OF THE LEAF >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOHN.

WELL, OUR GARDEN IS IN THE GROUND AND ALREADY OFF TO A GREAT START, BUT WE ALSO HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING TREES AND SHRUBS, SO HERE'S TERRI JAMES TO TELL US WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ >>> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT OUR WOODY PLANTS.

WE HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF FRUIT TREES THAT HAVE SOME FRUIT ON IT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO THIN THOSE OUT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TOO HEAVY OF A FRUIT LOAD, AND WE HAVE SOME FANTASTIC FLOWERING SHRUBS.

OUR DOGWOODS ARE JUST ABOUT READY TO FLOWER, AND OUR BUTTONBUSH IS JUST ABOUT READY TO FLOWER.

THOSE ARE TWO FANTASTIC, GREAT POLLINATORS FOR THAT KIND OF LATE SPRING, MID-EARLY SUMMER FLOWERING.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY SHRUBS IN YOUR GARDEN, AND YOU'D LIKE TO ADD THOSE BIGGER SHRUBS, STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK 'EM OUT AND SEE IF THEY'LL WORK IN YOUR BACKYARD.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> TERRI'S RIGHT.

WE BETTER DO SOME PARING DOWN OF THAT FRUIT IN OUR GARDEN.

RIGHT NOW IT'S TIME FOR US TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

STAY WITH US, COME BACK.

IT WILL BE TIME FOR PLANT OF THE WEEK AND MORE "BACKYARD FARMER."

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ [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, KYLE BRODERICK IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT ALL THOSE TOMATOES, AND ALL THOSE WEIRD THINGS THAT CAN COME UP WITH THEM.

REMEMBER, WE'RE NOT TAKING YOUR CALLS BECAUSE THIS IS A TAPED SHOW.

YOU CAN STILL SEND US THOSE EMAILS FOR A LATER SHOW, BUT RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S TIME FOR THOSE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> WELL, THOSE WITH POLLINATOR OR BUTTERFLY GARDENS MIGHT KNOW SOME OF THESE.

SO WE HAVE OUR BUTTERFLY MILKWEED RIGHT HERE -- THAT IS OUR COMMON BUTTERFLY MILKWEED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE GROW IN THEIR BUTTERFLY POLLINATOR GARDENS.

IT IS SLOW TO BREAK DORMANCY.

IT'S FULL SUN AND SLOW TO SPREAD.

THE ONE THING IS, APHIDS LOVE IT.

SO YOU'LL OFTEN SEE THOSE REDDISH, ORANGE APHIDS ALL OVER IT LATER IN THE SEASON, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STARTS PRODUCING ITS PODS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THIS LONG-HEAD PRAIRIE CONEFLOWER, WHICH IS REALLY FUN, REALLY INTERESTING LOOKING.

IT'S A PERENNIAL, FULL SUN PLANT, AND IT CAN SURVIVE DRY AND WHAT WE COULD CALL "THIN" SOILS.

SO, DOESN'T NEED A LOT OF ORGANIC MATTER.

CAN BE A GOOD PLANT SORT OF PLANT ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE GARDEN.

>> THANK YOU, JOHN.

BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE, THIS COMES TO US FROM PIERCE, NEBRASKA.

WE SORT OF ANSWERED IT IN LIGHTNING ROUND, BUT NOT REALLY WITHOUT PICTURES.

IT'S A CITRUS, AND SHE HAS ALL THESE LITTLE BROWN DEALS ON IT.

SO WHAT IS THAT AND WHAT DOES SHE DO?

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS BROWN SOFT SCALE, AND IT IS -- IT'S HIGHLY POLYPHAGOUS, IT FEEDS ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, AND LOVES CITRUS.

SO, IT HAS OVERLAPPING GENERATIONS.

BASICALLY, LIKE, THERE'S EXTENDED EGG-LAYING SO THERE'S NOT A LOT YOU CAN DO, OTHER THAN, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS TRY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU CAN PRUNE OUT, OR LIKE, RUB, SCRAPE THOSE OFF, SMASH 'EM, THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE YOUR BEST BET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE, FROM LINCOLN, A VIEWER WHO HAS HAWTHORNS.

AND SHE'S SEEING BOTH BROWN LEAVES AND SOME LITTLE WHITE -- LITTLE WHITE THINGS.

SO WHAT'S SHE GOT GOING ON HERE?

>> YEAH, THE BROWN LEAVES ARE DEFINITELY CHARACTERISTIC OF HAWTHORN LEAFMINER.

THAT'S ACTUALLY A SAWFLY, OR THE LARVAE OF -- OF A WASP.

AND THEY FEED IN BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER LEAF SURFACE, AND, YOU KNOW, NOT REALLY A CONCERN OVERALL.

THEY'RE PROBABLY DONE FEEDING AT THIS POINT AND HAVE ALREADY LEFT THE LEAVES, SO IT'S JUST COSMETIC, IT SHOULDN'T HARM THE TREE OVERALL.

THE WHITE SPOTS ARE THE HAWTHORNE MEALYBUG, THOSE CAN BE A PROBLEM.

THEY HAVE KIND OF A COMPLICATED BIOLOGY WITH THE CRAWLERS MOVING IN SPRING AND THEN AGAIN IN FALL.

SO THOSE ARE KIND OF THE TWO TIMES TO -- YOU WOULD TRY TO TREAT.

SO YOU CAN USE, LIKE, UM, A HORTICULTURAL OIL IN LIKE, AROUND MAY OR SO, AND THEN AGAIN IN FALL.

YOU COULD ALSO TRY -- LESS EFFECTIVE PROBABLY IN THE FALL.

OR YOU COULD ALSO DO A SYNTHETIC -- OR, EXCUSE ME, A SYSTEMIC -- LIKE IMIDACLOPRID AS A SOIL DRENCH.

DO THAT AFTER BLOOM, THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ROCH, IT'S VINE NIGHT AGAIN.

THIS ONE APPARENTLY HAS COME UP IN -- OH, WE HAVE A SPIDER!

GEEZ, I FORGOT, HOW COULD I FORGET MY VERY FAVORITE BEAST.

>> THAT'S NOT A VINE.

>> WELL, HE'S GOT VINE-LIKE LEGS, SO -- THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THAT SPIDER IS, KYLE.

>> IT'S A SPIDER.

I -- HONESTLY -- [ LAUGHTER ] I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT THE UNDERSIDE, AND SO I'M NOT -- I'M NOT SURE.

>> IT'S A SPIDER.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE HAVE A VINE, ROCH.

MAYBE YOU'VE GOT THE VINE SPIDER NOW.

THIS IS COMING UP IN BUFFALO GRASS, AND IN OTHER LAWN SPOTS, AND IN LANDSCAPE BEDS.

WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS HONEYVINE MILKWEED.

IT'S A -- IT'S AN ANNUAL.

THEY CAN BE CLIPPED OFF AT THE BASE AND GENERALLY DOESN'T SURVIVE THAT, RIGHT?

SO YOU WANT TO DO THAT IF YOU CAN.

CERTAINLY IT'S SUSCEPTIBLE TO HERBICIDES, BUT THIS ISN'T WHEN WE WOULD BE TRYING TO CONTROL IT.

SO, HONEYVINE MILKWEED, IT'S AN ANNUAL AND IT WILL SQUIRT A LITTLE BIT OF MILKY SAP WHEN YOU CLIP IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A VALLEY, NEBRASKA, VIEWER IS ASKING HOW TO KILL PURSLANE AND KEEP IT FROM GROWING BACK.

>> OKAY, PURSLANE IS AN INTERESTING WEED.

IT'S VERY FLESHY, ACTUALLY THERE ARE ORNAMENTAL VARIETIES OF PURSLANE.

THE HERBICIDES DON'T WORK VERY WELL ON 'EM WHEN IT'S MATURE, WHEN IT GROWS.

AND THIS -- THESE ARE TWO VERY MATURE SPECIMENS.

AND THEY JUST DON'T WORK, RIGHT?

SO, AND HERE -- YOU DON'T WANT TO HOE 'EM, BECAUSE ANY PORTION OF THE LEAF, OR PORTION OF THE STEM THAT HAS A LEAF ATTACHED WILL REGROW, ESPECIALLY IN THE MOISTER ENVIRONMENTS.

AND I'M GONNA MAKE THIS RECOMMENDATION -- IT IS VERY TASTY IN SALADS.

SO IF IT HASN'T BEEN SPRAY WITH HERBICIDES, OR YOU HAVEN'T HAD ANY IN THAT ENVIRONMENT, PURSLANE IS GREAT IN A SALAD.

PULL IT UP FROM THE TAPROOT, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T LEAVE ANY OF THE PIECES BEHIND, WASH IT OFF, CHOP IT UP, LITTLE BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE AND A NICE, BIG RIBEYE.

[ LAUGHTER ] I'M IN HEAVEN.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT.

AND ON THAT NOTE, YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM MALCOLM.

THIS IS WILDFLOWERS.

SHE THINKS THIS IS SOMETHING CALLED FIDDLENECK, AND SHE'S WONDERING, IS IT GOING TO TAKE OVER THE EARTH?

>> SO FIDDLENECK IS A REALLY INTERESTING NATIVE TO MOST OF THE UNITED STATES.

IT'S AN ANNUAL, AND A PROLIFIC SEEDER.

SO, YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO RESEED ITSELF.

BUT AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY IT IS REALLY A HUGE POLLINATOR ATTRACTANT.

SO IF YOU HAVE A POLLINATOR GARDEN, OR YOU LIKE HAVING THE POLLINATORS IN YOUR GARDEN, THEN CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING -- NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO CONTROL.

AND IF I REMEMBER RIGHT, KIM, IT WAS IN A WILDFLOWER GARDEN ANYWAY.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT BE.

>> THE VOICE IN MY HEAD IS ASKING "HOW DOES IT WORK IN SALAD?"

>> I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, I'M NOT SURE HOW IS IT IN SALAD, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A RIBEYE THERE, NOBODY CARES.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT.

LOREN, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS A SPRUCE.

AND HE'S SENT US MANY PICTURES, WE JUST PULLED THE BEST ONES.

IT'S GOT SOME ISSUESHAT THE BIG THING, ALSO, THERE'S ROSIN, I THINK, ON ONE OF THE PICTURES.

AND THEN HE HAS USED THE FOLIAGE, ALL THE SPENT NEEDLES, AS A MULCH UNDER THIS.

SO WHAT ARE WE -- WHAT ARE WE GONNA SAY ABOUT THIS?

WHAT'S CAUSING THIS DEATH HERE?

>> AND THERE'S A FEW THINGS.

SO, IN THIS CASE, YOU SEE A LOT OF NEEDLE DROP.

AND I CAN'T REALLY TELL FROM THE PHOTOS.

THERE ARE SEVERAL NEEDLE CAST DISEASES THAT COULD BE AFFECTING THIS.

IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE IT'S ON ONE SIDE MORE THAN THE OTHER, WHICH WOULD ALSO MATCH UP TO DISEASE.

SO IN THIS CASE, I'D RECOMMEND A SAMPLE BEING SUBMITTED TO ACTUALLY GET SOME GOOD MANAGEMENT.

>> AND HOW ABOUT ALL THAT, LIKE, THIS MUCH MULCH OF ALL THAT NEEDLE UNDERNEATH?

>> WELL, THAT'S ALL GOING TO END UP BEING INOCULUM TO CONTINUE AND SPREAD.

SO, IF YOU CAN -- YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET THAT RAKED UP, THOUGH, KIM.

SO I MEAN, TRY TO AVOID IT.

BUT -- YOU MIGHT TRY COVERING IT UP WITH SOME OTHER MULCH, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE BEST YOU COULD DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEN YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALSO A BLUE SPRUCE.

THEY LOST SEVERAL IN A WIND BREAK LINE.

THEY WERE IN CONSTRUCTION SOIL, BUT THEY WERE WELL CARED FOR.

THEY'RE WONDERING IS IT CANKER.

AND THEN THIS IS THE ROOT SYSTEM.

THESE WERE IN THE GROUND ALMOST EIGHT YEARS BEFORE THEY DIED.

>> YEAH, SO WITH THE CANKER THAT WAS IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURE, ANY TIME WE HAVE DRIER CONDITIONS AND STRESS, A LOT OF OUR TREES ARE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CANKERS.

SO IN THIS CASE, WHEN YOU SEE PITCH LIKE THAT ON ANY OF THE MAIN TRUNK, AND THEN THAT TREE DIES, IT'S MOST LIKELY DYING FROM THAT CANKER SITUATION.

I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING ON THE ROOTS THAT REALLY FLAGGED SOMETHING THAT I WOULD IDENTIFY AS A DIFFERENT DISEASE.

SO, I REALLY THINK YOU'RE PROBABLY DEALING WITH CANKERS.

MOST LIKELY A CYTOSPORA CANKER IS ONE WE SEE QUITE A BIT.

AND IT -- IF YOU CAN JUST TRY TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MOISTURE, THAT'S GOING TO BE YOUR BEST TREATMENT TO AVOID CANKERS IN TREES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE, LOREN.

THIS COMES TO US A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF KEARNEY.

SHE KNOWS SHE HAS CEDAR APPLE RUST, BUT HERE SIT THE GALLS.

AND THIS IS A MATURE SET OF CEDARS.

IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR CONTROL?

>> WELL, THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IN THIS CASE, IS FIND THE APPLE TREE THAT'S CYCLING THIS OVER TO THE CEDARS AND CUT IT DOWN.

>> GOOD LUCK WITH THAT.

>> BUT YOU MAY WANT TO GET RID OF THE CEDARS INSTEAD, SO, YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, LOREN.

JOHN, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS NORTHWIND SWITCH GRASS IN CONTAINERS, AND HE BRINGS THEM INTO THE GARAGE AND OVERWINTERS THEM.

A COUPLE HAVE COME BACK REALLY WELL OVER THREE YEARS.

ONE IN PARTICULAR IS REALLY STRUGGLING.

HE'S WONDERING ANY SUGGESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT COULD JUST BE DOWN TO DIFFERENCE IN PLANTS OF WHEN YOU BOUGHT THEM SOME WERE MORE THRIFTY OR HEALTHIER THAN OTHERS.

IT COULD BE INDIVIDUAL GENETIC DIFFERENCES.

SO, I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, SORT OF KEEP THEM GOING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH YOU CAN DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE, JOHN.

THIS IS A NON-BLOOMING PEONY.

IT'S A YELLOW ONE, SO IT MUST BE AN INTERSPECIFIC OF SOME SORT.

DID NOT BLOOM.

SHE DID REPLANT IT.

SHE'S WONDERING, DID SHE PLANT IT TOO DEEP, AND IF SO, WHEN CAN SHE DIG IT UP, AND HOW DEEP SHOULD SHE PLANT IT?

>> YOU COULD HAVE PLANTED IT TOO DEEP.

IT COULD ALSO BE THAT WHEN YOU REPLANTED IT, YOU JUST HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH TIME TO LET IT, SORT OF MATURE.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS, SORT OF DIG THAT UP AND, YOU KNOW, TAKE A LOOK AND SEE -- YOU SHOULD SEE WHERE THE ROOTS, SORT OF JOIN ONTO THE STEMS.

AND YOU DON'T WANT THEM -- THE STEM TO BE UNDERGROUND.

SO YOU WANT THE ROOTS JUST TO BE RIGHT AT THE GROUND LEVEL OR A LITTLE BIT UNDER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE PICTURE, JOHN.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

MOVED IN, SHE'S GOT THREE OF THESE SHRUBS, IT IS WEIGELA.

SHE SAYS THEY ALL LOOK LIKE THIS, WHERE THEY'VE GOT THIS VARIEGATED PIECE AND THEN THEY'VE GOT THE NONVARIEGATED.

SHE'S WONDERING, DOES SHE REMOVE THE VARIEGATED OR THE NONVARIEGATED, AND WHAT HAPPENED?

>> THAT'S REALLY UP TO YOU.

SO THOSE ARE REALLY UNSTABLE, SO WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE BREED NEW PLANTS, WE BREED ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF TRAITS INTO THEM.

AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE, SORT OF, SOME RECESSIVE GENES.

AND SOMETIMES WE CAN GET THESE LITTLE MUTATIONS THAT LOOK -- ALLOW THOSE TO POP OUT.

SO IF YOU LIKE IT, LEAVE IT.

YOU COULD ALSO, YOU KNOW, SORT OF PRUNE THAT OUT.

IT'S REALLY NOT DOING ANY HARM.

BUT IT'LL BE VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE PLANT THAT YOU PLANTED.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOHN.

WELL, YOU KNOW, MOST PEOPLE LOVE TOMATOES, OR AT LEAST THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM, LOVE TO GROW THEM, AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT WHEN THEY GET THOSE DISEASES.

SO HERE IS KYLE BRODERICK TO TELL US WHY THOSE TOMATO LEAVES ARE ACTUALLY CURLING.

♪ ♪ >> SO, WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT TOMATOES WITH CURLED LEAVES.

AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW REASONS WHY TOMATOES WILL HAVE LEAVES THAT CURL.

WE CAN HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS, SUCH AS MOISTURE, HEAT, NUTRIENTS.

WE CAN HAVE PATHOLOGICAL REASONS, LIKE VIRUSES.

AND THERE'S EVEN SOME INSECTS THAT DO IT.

SO, SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN LEAD TO TOMATOES WITH CURLED LEAVES -- WELL, EXCESS HEAT.

WE'VE HAD A LOT OF EXCESS HEAT THIS YEAR.

AND THAT'S -- AS THOSE LEAVES CURL, THEY'RE USING LESS MOISTURE, AND THOSE CURLED LEAVES ARE ACTUALLY ABSORBING LESS HEAT FROM THE SUN, COOLING DOWN THE PLANT.

AND THAT'S SO -- PHYSIOLOGICALLY, THAT'S WHY THOSE PLANTS ARE TRYING TO CURL THOSE LEAVES.

NOW, IN ADDITION TO THE HEAT, WE CAN ALSO HAVE SOME MOISTURE REASONS WHY WE HAVE TOMATOES WITH CURLED LEAVES.

EXCESS MOISTURE, BUT ALSO NOT ENOUGH MOISTURE CAN REALLY LEAD TO THOSE CURLED LEAVES.

SO, AS YOU'RE DOING YOUR WATERING, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CHECKING THAT SOIL PROFILE WITH EITHER A FINGER OR SCREWDRIVER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE ADEQUATE MOISTURE OUT THERE, AND WE'RE NOT JUST PUTTING WATER ON THERE FOR THE SAKE OF PUTTING WATER ON THOSE PLANTS.

HAVING A CONSISTENT WATERING IS REALLY THE BEST WAY TO AVOID THAT PHYSIOLOGICAL LEAF ROLL.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE LEAF CURLS WITH SOME EXCESS FERTILIZER.

AND SO, NITROGEN IS THE BIG CAUSE OF -- OF THAT.

BUT REALLY, ANY OF THESE REASONS WHY WE WOULD SEE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CAUSING THE LEAF CURL.

TYPICALLY, THOSE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO CURL FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PLANT UP.

AND THOSE LEAVES, THEY MAY BE A LITTLE BIT LEATHERY, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT, KIND OF, JUST FEEL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THE LEAVES AT THE TOP OF THE PLANT DO.

WE ALSO MAY SEE THOSE LEAVES UNCURL IN THE MORNING, BUT THEN AS THE HEAT OF THE DAY GOES ON, WE GET THOSE LEAVES TO CURL.

NOW, THE BIOLOGICAL REASONS FOR LEAF CURL, SUCH AS INSECTS OR PATHOGENS, IS A DIFFERENT STORY.

IF WE HAVE ANY OF OUR VIRUSES, AND TOMATOES HAVE A LOT OF VIRUSES THAT CAN CAUSE THOSE LEAVES TO CURL, TYPICALLY, THOSE SYMPTOMS ARE GOING TO START AT THE TOP OF THE PLANT IN THE NEWEST GROWTH, AS OUR VIRUSES HAVE TO UTILIZE THE PLANT'S OWN CELL MACHINERY TO REPRODUCE.

THAT'S WHERE WE SEE THE MOST VIRUS PROBLEMS, IS IN THAT NEWER GROWTH.

WE TYPICALLY WILL NOT SEE VIRUS PROBLEMS IN LOWER GROWTH.

NOW, IF IT'S INSECT ISSUES, SUCH AS MITES OR APHIDS, CAUSING THOSE LEAVES TO CURL, THAT MAY KIND OF BE THROUGHOUT THE PLANT.

SO YOU MAY ACTUALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THOSE LEAVES UNDERNEATH SOME MAGNIFICATION TO SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THOSE -- FIND THOSE INSECTS.

THE FINAL REASON THAT WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF LEAVES CURL RIGHT NOW, IS HERBICIDE INJURY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF HERBICIDES FLOATING AROUND RIGHT NOW, NOT JUST FOR THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, BUT ALSO FROM URBAN LANDSCAPES.

MOST OF OUR HOME -- MOST OF OUR HOME AND GARDEN HERBICIDES INCLUDE SOME GROWTH REGULATORS THAT CAN CAUSE THOSE LEAVES TO CURL.

BUT WITH THOSE -- IF WE HAVE LEAF CURL CAUSED BY A HERBICIDE, THAT IS GOING TO OCCUR AT A SINGLE POINT IN TIME.

AND SO, TYPICALLY, THOSE LEAVES WILL GROW OUT OF IT.

AND SO, WE MAY HAVE THE LEAVES CURL, BUT THEN I ALWAYS RECOMMEND WAITING TWO TO THREE WEEKS TO SEE IS THE NEW GROWTH LOOKING GOOD?

AND IF NEW GROWTH IS LOOKING GOOD, THEN THOSE TOMATOES SHOULD COME OUT OF THAT JUST FINE.

NOW, WE DO HAVE TO RECOMMEND IF YOU HAVE A PLANT WITH -- HAS RECEIVED HERBICIDE DRIFT, THAT HAS ALREADY SET FRUIT, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND CONSUMING ANY OF THAT FRUIT NOT KNOWING WHAT EXACTLY THAT HERBICIDE IS.

SO, AS I'VE SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF REASONS THAT CAN CAUSE THESE LEAVES TO CURL.

WE JUST HAVE TO DO SOME INVESTIGATING.

AND EVEN SEND A SAMPLE IN TO YOUR FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD PLANT DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC IF YOU NEED TO.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> WELL, HOPEFULLY THAT HELPS FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE CURLING TOMATO PROBLEMS.

YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY IS TO KEEP SCOUTING IN THE GARDEN.

REMEMBER ALL THOSE FARMER'S MARKET PEOPLE THAT GROW TOMATOES, YOU CAN EAT THEM THERE.

ALL RIGHT, SO, YOU HAVE, FOR THE LAST PICTURE ROUND, KYLE, THIS IS OMAHA.

THEY FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL WASP.

BRIGHT, IRIDESCENT BLUE, GREEN BODY AND WINGS.

WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THEY'LL FIND A NEST AND ARE THEY GOOD POLLINATORS.

>> UM, SO, I THINK IT'S A COMMON BLUE MUD DAUBER, MOST LIKELY.

ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS FOUND AROUND DWELLINGS.

PROBABLY NOT A GREAT POLLINATOR.

THE ADULTS DO -- THEY DO VISIT FLOWERS TO GET NECTAR, BUT PROBABLY NOT PROVIDING MUCH POLLINATION.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE KIND OF GOOD TO HAVE AROUND THE LANDSCAPE.

THEY'RE SOLITARY.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.

THEY'RE NOT AGGRESSIVE OR ANYTHING.

AND THEY -- THEY ACTUALLY PROVISION THEIR NESTS WITH SPIDERS, SO THEY PARALYZE SPIDERS, AND THAT'S WHAT THE LARVAE FEED ON.

SO, YOU COULD FIND A NEST AROUND -- THEY LIKE TO BUILD LIKE -- THEY BUILD A MUD NEST, OFTEN, LIKE UNDER EAVES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AROUND YOUR HOUSE OR GARAGE, THAT SORT OF AREA.

THAT COULD BE WHERE YOU LOOK FOR IT.

BUT, NOT ANYTHING THAT'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, AGGRESSIVE OR PROBLEMATIC AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

LITTLE COOL STRANGE HOLES.

THIS IS WEST POINT, NEBRASKA.

WHAT IS IT?

>> THESE ARE ANTLION PITS.

SO, THE ANTLIONS, THE ADULTS, THEY LOOK A LOT LIKE -- LIKE A DAMSELFLY OR A DRAGONFLY, BUT THEY'RE RELATED TO, LIKE, LACEWINGS.

AND, SO, THE LARVAE ARE LIKE LITTLE LACEWINGS, BUT THEY MAKE THESE PITS IN SANDY SOIL AND THEN WHEN OTHER INSECTS ARE WALKING AROUND AND FALL IN THAT PIT, THEY BECOME UNWITTING PREY FOR A LITTLE LION THAT'S WAITING DOWN AT THE BOTTOM OF THAT PIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOUR FINAL ONE, SPEAKING OF SPIDERS AND THINGS, THIS IS SOME SORT OF A SPIDER.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH.

SO, I -- I DON'T THINK THERE'S A COMMON NAME FOR THIS, THIS GENUS, BUT IT'S SOME TYPE OF A GROUND SPIDER, BASED ON THE KIND OF, LONG SPINNERETS ON THE BACK.

SO, PRETTY COOL LITTLE -- LITTLE SPIDER, BUT -- >> IT'S A SPIDER.

>> YEAH, IT'S A SPIDER.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, TWO PICS FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM KENNARD, OR KENNARD, SINCE I PRONOUNCED PRAGUE AND PRAGUE WRONG THE OTHER NIGHT AND GOT YELLED AT.

SO, OBNOXIOUS WEED.

AND THEY HAVE A WEDDING EVENT.

THEY WONDER WHAT THIS AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT?

>> IT'S WILD BARLEY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PARENTS OF CULTIVATED BARLEY, WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE WITH HOPS AND YOUR RIBEYE STEAK AND THE -- SALAD WE MENTIONED EARLIER.

BUT WILD BARLEY IS VERY TENACIOUS.

PROLIFIC SEEDER.

IT'S A WINTER ANNUAL.

SO, IT IS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT NOW OTHER THAN HAND PULL IT OR HOE IT, AND IT WON'T SPREAD ITS SEED THAT AGGRESSIVELY.

BUT IF THEY'VE GOT A WEDDING COMING UP, YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT PEOPLE WALKING ON THAT GROUND, 'CAUSE IT CAN BE KIND OF SPIKEY.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT TWO PICS ARE FROM PLEASANTON.

AND THIS TYPE OF GRASS IS INVADING THEIR LAWN.

SHE WONDERS WHAT THIS ONE IS, AND WHETHER SHE SHOULD KEEP IT OR KILL IT.

>> I WOULD KILL THAT.

THAT'S TUMBLE WINDMILL GRASS.

IT IS A WARM SEASON GRASS.

IT'S VERY TENACIOUS, ESSENTIALLY IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEBRASKA.

IT'S MOVING INTO THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AGGRESSIVELY, BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHTY CONDITIONS WE'VE BEEN HAVING.

AND THERE'S ONLY ONE HERBICIDE.

IT CAN'T BE DUG UP VERY WELL.

THERE'S ONLY ONE HERBICIDE THAT'S VERY EFFECTIVE ON IT, CALLED MESOTRIONE OR TENACITY.

YOU CAN BUY THIS ONLINE.

OR THERE'S ALSO A GRANULE FORMULATION THAT MANY OF THE GARDEN STORES WILL HAVE ON.

I'D ACTUALLY RECOMMEND THE GRANULAR FORMULATION ONLY, BECAUSE YOU LIMIT -- IT ALSO HAS BROAD LEAF ACTIVITY, SO, YOU LIMIT THE POTENTIAL FOR HERBICIDE INJURY TO NONTARGET PLANTS.

>> APPARENTLY THAT ONE'S NOT GOOD IN SALAD.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND IT'S A TURF IF YOU LIKE IT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, THAT ONE'S NOT GOOD IN SALAD.

>> WELL, MAYBE, IF YOU'RE THAT HUNGRY.

>> IT MIGHT BE GOOD WITH A RIBEYE.

I THINK EVERYTHING IS GOOD WITH A RIBEYE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, ROCH.

LOREN, YOU HAVE TWO PICS FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS FROM OAKLAND, IOWA.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT THESE ORANGE THINGS ARE ON THEIR BUCKEYES.

AND WE JUST HAPPEN TO SEE, NOT QUITE THIS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE SAME THING AS WE'RE WANDERING THROUGH LAURITZEN GARDENS TODAY.

>> YEAH.

SO, THIS -- THIS IS ONE OF OUR RUST FUNGI ON BUCKEYE.

THIS ONE CYCLES FROM, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH GRASS, BUT ONE OF THE NATIVE GRASSES AND THEN GOES TO BUCKEYES.

SO, NOTHING -- NOTHING REALLY TO DO ABOUT IT AT THIS POINT.

>> ALL RIGHT, WILL IT -- WON'T HURT THE TREE, TOTALLY.

>> MOST OF THE TIME NOT.

I'VE SEEN SOME SEVERE CASES, AND EVEN THEN, THE TREE IS GONNA LIVE FINE.

SO, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS NEXT ONE ALSO, LOREN.

THIS COMES TO US FROM CROFTON.

HE HAS THE 30-YEAR-OLD RASPBERRY PATCH.

HE'S NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE.

HE DID SAY THAT SOME OF HIS OTHER GARDEN PLANTS LOOKED LIKE SOME HERBICIDE DRIFT, BUT THE GRAPES LOOKED GREAT.

AND HE'S WONDERING IS THIS ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE OR HERBICIDE.

>> JUST FROM THE LOOK OF IT, IT MAKES ME QUESTION IF IT'S NOT A LEAF BURN OF SOME SORT FROM MAYBE WATER OR SOMETHING.

IT COULD BE, DEPENDING ON WHAT WAS SPRAYED, A CONTACT BURN.

BUT IT WOULDN'T LOOK THIS WAY.

THE OTHER THING IN LOOKING AT THIS, RUN -- WHERE IT'S AN OLDER STAND, LOOK AT THE CANES OF THE PLANTS THAT HAVE LEAVES LIKE THIS.

AND YOU MAY FIND SOME LESIONS ON THE STEMS OF THOSE FOR THE CANES.

AND THAT COULD BE LIKE AN ANTHRACNOSE INFECTION, OR SOMETHING THAT COULD RESULT IN THOSE NEW GROWTHS BURNING AT THE TIPS LIKE THAT.

>> AND IF THEY SEE THAT ON THE CANES?

>> IF HE SEES THAT ON THE CANE, IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO MANAGE.

IF IT'S A SECOND YEAR CANE BEARING RASPBERRY, IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE, BECAUSE IT'S -- IT'S GONNA BE IN THE CANES.

IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S A FIRST YEAR CANE BEARER, THEY CAN USE SANITATION AND CUT THAT OUT IN THE FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE PICTURE.

AND THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL FUNGUS, AS WELL, IN NEBRASKA CITY.

WHAT IS IT?

>> AND I BELIEVE THIS IS ONE OF OUR PLEUROTUS MUSHROOMS.

THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES.

USUALLY THIS INDICATES SOMETHING THAT'S DEAD.

SO, MOST OF THE TIME, THESE ARE ON DEAD TREES.

IF IT'S NOT, AND IT IS A TREE IN A LANDSCAPE, IT'S A HAZARD TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> DOES THAT GO WELL WITH A RIBEYE STEAK?

>> YOU COULD -- WELL, I'M NOT GOING TO SAY THAT.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] YOU -- YOU POTENTIALLY COULD, BUT JUST BE REALLY CAREFUL ABOUT EATING WILD MUSHROOMS.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND THERE'S TOO MANY THINGS THAT LOOK ALIKE THAT WILL MAKE YOUR RIBEYE STEAK LOOK DIFFERENT THAN IT DID THE FIRST TIME.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AS I TELL PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ALL MUSHROOMS ARE EDIBLE.

SOME ARE ONLY EDIBLE ONCE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

SO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, JOHN, TWO PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BLADEN, NEBRASKA.

A MAPLE WITH A VERTICAL SEAM BETWEEN TWO MAIN TRUNKS.

THERE WAS A DOG CHAIN WRAPPED AROUND ONE TREE TRUNK, AND IT DID THAT.

IS THERE A CONCERN ABOUT THIS TREE CRASHING DOWN?

>> NOT IMMEDIATELY, BUT I THINK THIS TREE IS DEAD AND DOESN'T KNOW IT YET.

WE HAVE THAT BIG CRACK, WHICH IS ALWAYS A SIGN OF DAMAGE.

AND IF WE HAD A DOG CHAIN THAT HAS GROWN INTO THAT TRUNK, YOU KNOW, ALL OF OUR CAMBIUM, OUR XYLEM AND PHLOEM THAT TAKES WATER AND NUTRIENTS UP AND DOWN THE TRUNK ARE RIGHT AROUND THAT EDGE.

AND, SO, I THAT IS DAMAGE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY, ONE DAY SOON, CAUSE THAT TREE TO DIE AND FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM OMAHA WHO HAS THREE MAPLES.

THEY'RE ABOUT 12ISH-YEARS-OLD.

PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH DIEBACK ON THE TOP.

HE KNOWS HE NEEDS TO CUT THAT DIEBACK OUT.

BUT HE'S WONDERING SHOULD HE FERTILIZE THESE TREES.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT FERTILIZATION IS GOING TO HELP.

I MEAN, YOU CAN DO A SOIL TEST TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT I THINK MOST OF THIS DAMAGE IS FROM JUST WINTER INJURY.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE JUST SEEING THIS A LOT MORE, ESPECIALLY WITH A LOT OF MAPLES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND FINALLY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WITH BURNING BUSH OR EUONYMUS.

IT'S GOTTEN LEGGY AND TALL.

HE WONDERS CAN HE PRUNE THIS ALL THE WAY BACK DOWN TO THAT NEWER GROWTH AT THE BASE AND POTENTIALLY START THIS SHRUB OVER AGAIN.

>> YOU CAN DEFINITELY GIVE THAT A TRY.

I MEAN, WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO WORK.

BUT, I MEAN, WHAT IS DEAD IS DEAD.

AND IT'S NOT GOING TO REALLY COME BACK.

SO, YOU CAN PRUNE THAT OUT.

AND IF YOU LIKE WHAT'S LEFT AND YOU SEE NEW GROWTH, THEN THAT'S FINE.

AND IF YOU DECIDE TO, I GUESS, PRUNE IT AT GROUND LEVEL, AND DIG IT OUT, THAT'S FINE TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOHN.

>>> WELL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE, COMING TO YOU FROM BEAUTIFUL LAURITZEN GARDENS IN OMAHA.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY, THAT'S THE LAURITZEN GARDEN STAFF, OF COURSE, TO OUR FABULOUS PARTNERS WITH NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT YOU.

♪ SO, WE DO WANT YOU TO JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER SHOW OF "BACKYARD FARMER."

WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT, BUT WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR THE GREAT SHOW.

AND WE KNOW THAT NEXT WEEK WILL BE A GOOD ONE AS WELL.

[ APPLAUSE ] SO, GOODNIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪