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

COMING UP ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL HELP YOU GET YOUR UNDERGROUND SPRINKLER READY AND SEE WHAT'S NEW AT THE GARDEN CENTER.

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

♪ >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD AND WE HAVE ANOTHER GREAT SHOW PLANNED FOR YOU AS WE ANSWER ALL THOSE GARDENING QUESTIONS.

IF YOU'VE BEEN WAITING ALL WINTER LONG TO ASK A QUESTING, CAN GIVE US A CALL AT OUR 1-800- 676-5446.

OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU.

AS YOU KNOW, WE LOVE TO GET THOSE PICTURES FROM YOU, SO IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE, OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

WE DO NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, AND GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR PARTICULAR ISSUE.

ALSO, WE WANT TO INVITE YOU TO FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, SO YOU CAN ENJOY ALL OF OUR PAST VIDEOS AND FEATURES.

SO, KYLE, THE FIRST SHOW OF THE SEASON, AND A LOVELY BEASTIE, SO WHAT DO WE HAVE?

>> YEAH, SO IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WERE TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING UP AND CRITTERS ARE FINDING THEIR WAY INTO OUR HOUSE.

SO I HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THOSE TONIGHT -- BROWN MARMORATED STINKBUGS.

AND SO THESE ARE RELATIVELY NEW -- NEW INSECTS HERE IN NEBRASKA.

THEY'VE ONLY BEEN IN THE STATE FOR ABOUT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS AND THEY ARE AN INVASIVE.

THEY CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT PEST IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY, BUT HERE IN THE MIDWEST MOSTLY JUST A NUISANCE PEST THAT LIKES TO COME INTO OUR HOMES FOR THE WINTER, AND THEN AS TEMPERATURES WARM UP THEY -- THEY FIND THEIR WAY INTO OUR HOME.

SO REALLY WITH THESE, YOU KNOW, CONTROLLING THESE, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THEM RIGHT NOW AND HOMES AND HOPEFULLY IT'S GONNA START DYING DOWN.

BUT TO MITIGATE THIS, REALLY THE BEST THING TO DO IS TRY TO EXCLUDE THEM FROM ENTERING THE HOME IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THEY GET INTO THOSE WALL VOIDS, ATTICS, UNHEATED GARAGES TO SPEND THE WINTER.

SO REALLY THINK ABOUT THIS SUMMER BEFORE THE FALL, SEALING UP ANY GAPS AROUND WINDOWS, DOORS.

ANY UTILITIES GOING INTO THE HOUSE, SEALING AROUND THOSE, CAULKING, JUST MAKING SURE THAT IS NICE AND TIGHT TO EXCLUDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

OTHERWISE, RIGHT NOW, REALLY THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS TRY TO VACUUM, SWEEP THOSE UP.

IF YOU DO HAVE BROWN MARMORATED STINKBUGS IN YOUR HOUSE, THEY CAN PRODUCE A FOUL SMELL, SO YOU MAY CONSIDER USING A SECONDARY VACUUM IF YOU HAVE IT SO IT DOESN'T MAKE THAT VACUUM SMELL BAD.

BUT JUST CLEAN THOSE UP AND DISPOSE OF THEM OUTSIDE AND IT SHOULD GO AWAY SOON.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR A LOT OF GREAT STUFF IN MY HOUSE.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT ROCH, WHAT DO WE HAVE FOR WEED CENTRAL?

>> WE'VE GOT TWO.

AND IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR WE TEND TO SEE A PLETHORA OF WEEDS COMING FROM VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

THE FIRST ONE I AM SHOWING IS PROSTRATE KNOTWEED.

THIS IS THE FIRST SUMMER ANNUAL TO GERMINATE IN THE SPRING AND YOU OFTEN SEE IT GROWING AS THE SNOW RECEDES, YOU CAN PROSTRATE KNOTWEED GROWING.

THIS WEED IS VERY TYPICAL IN HEAVILY TRAFFICKED AREA ALONG SIDEWALKS, YOU KNOW, IN PATHS IN A PARK, AND THAT SORT OF THING.

AND IT COULD ULTIMATELY TAKE OVER THAT AREA BECAUSE IT IS SO WELL ADAPTED TO THOSE COMPACTED SOILS.

THAT SAID, A PRE-EMERGENT APPLIED IN THE FALL, RATHER THAN WHEN YOU WOULD NORMALLY APPLY IT FOR CRABGRASS WILL DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB ON THIS.

AND THEN A LIGHT DOSE OF SOMETHING LIKE 2,4-D WILL WORK.

BUT, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE AN HERBICIDE, HOW ABOUT WE JUST TAKE CARE OF THE COMPACTION, AND IF WE CAN TAKE CARE OF THAT AND GET SOME GOOD TURF GROWING, OR MULCH THE BED IF IT'S A MULCHING BED -- BECAUSE WE SEE IT BOTH IN IN LANDSCAPE BEDS AS WELL AS THE TURF -- THEN YOU CAN GO A LONG WAY AND YOU CAN SEE FAR LESS OF THIS WEED.

SO PROSTRATE KNOTWEED, SO THAT'S A SUMMER ANNUAL.

AND HERE IS ONE MOST OF OUR VIEWERS KNOW ABOUT, IT'S HENBIT.

HENBIT IS A WINTER ANNUAL, SO IT GERMINATED LAST SPRING -- LAST WINTER, OR EARLY, LATE FALL.

GERMINATED AND THEN IT GOES INTO A RESTING PHASE OVER THE WINTERTIME AND THEN IT POPS IMMEDIATELY IN THE SPRING.

THIS IS AN ANNUAL CALLED HENBIT, AND AT THE VERY TIPS, WHAT YOU'LL FIND IS THAT'S WHERE THE -- THE FLOWERS ARE GONNA RISE.

THEY'RE GONNA BE REALLY PRETTY PURPLE.

YOU CAN GO BY FIELDS ALL OVER NEBRASKA AND EASTERN NEBRASKA, AND THEY'LL ALMOST BE PURPLE, THEY'RE SO PRETTY.

BUT WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DO IS, YOU DON'T -- IT'S A MINT, SO IT'S GOT A SQUARE STEM, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO MISTAKE THIS FOR CREEPING CHARLIE, WHICH IS A PERENNIAL AND REQUIRES A MUCH MORE AGGRESSIVE WAY TO GET IT CONTROLLED.

AND CREEPING CHARLIE, THE FLOWERS, INSTEAD OF ARRIVING AT THE TIPS, THEY ARRIVE AT THE CROTCH RIGHT WHERE THE LEAF, STEM, AND THE MAINSTEM COME IN.

SO THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES OUT OF.

SO THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO.

AND ONE OF THEM IS A PERENNIAL AND ONE OF THEM IS OBVIOUSLY AN ANNUAL.

BUT THIS ALSO COULD HAVE BEEN CONTROLLED WITH A FALL APPLICATION OF A PRE-EMERGENT.

SO YOU COULD GET BOTH THIS WEED AND THIS WEED, WHICH ARE VERY DIFFERENT BIOLOGICALLY -- ONE'S A SUMMER ANNUAL AND ONE IS A WINTER ANNUAL -- SIMPLY BY ACCURATE TIMING OF THOSE PRE- EMERGENT HERBICIDES.

NOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR YOU WANT TO CLIP THIS ONE BACK BEFORE -- OR MOW IT, OR SPRAY IT IF YOU NEED TO GO THAT ROUTE -- BEFORE THEY PUT SEEDHEADS ON 'EM, BECAUSE THEY ARE PROLIFIC SEED PRODUCERS.

A SINGLE PLANT CAN PRODUCE FROM 2000 TO 3000 SEEDS.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT A LOT OF THE FIELDS RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF HENBIT PLANTS.

SO THOSE ARE OUR TWO WEEDS OF THE DAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU ROCH.

LOREN?

>> AWESOME.

>> WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OUT CLEANING UP THEIR FLOWERBEDS, DOING SOME PRUNING.

A GREAT TIME TO GET RID OF THAT DISEASE INOCULUM.

SO I BROUGHT ALONG TONIGHT -- A COUPLE OF -- IF YOU HAVE RED TWIG DOGWOOD AND YELLOW TWIG DOGWOODS, OTHER SHRUBS THAT CAN GET THIS AS WELL.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THIS DEAD- ENDS THAT WE SEE.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME LESIONS ON THERE, AND THE CHALLENGE WITH THIS IS IF WE DON'T PRUNE THAT AWAY WHEN THESE MATERIALS GET OLDER -- I'M GOING TO JUST SHOW YOU ALL OF THE SPORES THAT ARE THERE.

SO ON THESE TWO SIDES OF THE BRANCH, I THINK YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE IF THEY ZOOM IN ON HERE.

ON HERE, ON HERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET CLOSER OR NOT, BUT YOU WOULD JUST SEE LITTLE BLACK SPECKS LIKE PEPPER, ALL OVER THOSE.

AND THOSE ARE LITTLE PYCNIDIA FROM THE FUNGUS THAT ARE ON THE WOOD THAT IS PRODUCING MILLIONS OF SPORES.

SO ALL THOSE LITTLE DARK SPOTS THAT WE SEE ALONG IN HERE AND HERE.

SO WE JUST WANT TO REMOVE THAT, AND THAT'LL REMOVE THAT INOCULUM SOURCE.

SO WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT CLEAN UP, IF YOU'RE STILL AT IT -- MAYBE YOU'RE BEHIND LIKE I AM AND YOU ARE DEFINITELY STILL AT AT IT -- GREAT TIME TO PRUNE OUT THAT DISEASE INOCULUM.

>> THANK YOU, LOREN.

ALL RIGHT JEFF, YOU GET THE BEAUTY OF THE DAY.

>> WELL, I'VE GOT A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS HERE.

IF WE CAN GET THIS TURNED AROUND.

SO I HAVE TWO THINGS -- I HAVE THE TALLER PLANT IS PURPLE APRICOT.

SO, IT'S KIND OF FUN, THE LEAVES ARE PURPLE, AND THE FLOWERS ARE A LIGHT PURPLE, AND THEN THE FRUIT IS PURPLE AS WELL, SO -- AND IT'S ONE OF THESE PLANTS THAT, LIKE MANY PRUNERS KEEPS GIVING AND GIVING.

SO THE PLANT, PLANTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO, IT GOT BORES, I DIDN'T TREAT THE BORES, DECIDED TO GET RID OF IT.

AND, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT SPRING THERE WAS FIVE MORE OF THEM GROWING UP IN THE YARD WHERE THE SEEDS, BECAUSE IT WAS A PROLIFIC FRUIT.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE PROGENY OF THAT TREE.

SO WHICH IS FINE.

AND THEN THE SMALLER FLOWER I HAVE HERE, THE GREEN PLANT, IS PETASITES, OR BUTTERBUR.

AND BUTTERBUR IS A KIND OF A GROUNDCOVER, LIKES, I WOULD GIVE IT, YOU KNOW, HALF DAY'S SUN AT THE MOST, KEEP IT OUT OF THE LATE DAY SUN CERTAINLY.

IT CAN LIKE A WETTER AREA.

BUT IT PRODUCES VERY LARGE LEAVES, 20 INCHES ACROSS AT LEAST.

THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS VARIEGATED YELLOW AND GREEN.

IT GOES WELL WITH FERNS AND OTHER, KIND OF THINGS THAT WILL DEAL WITH MAYBE A DRIER SHADE TOO, SO -- >> EXCELLENT.

THANKS, GUYS.

ALL RIGHT YOUR FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS, KYLE.

THE FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY.

WHAT IS IT, AND DID IT COME IN WITH THE FIREWOOD?

AND I THINK THEY THEY SENT ONE PICTURE.

>> YEP.

IT'S A BANDED ASH BORER.

AND MOST LIKELY IT DID COME IN WITH THE FIREWOOD.

THEY ARE PRETTY NOTORIOUS FOR THAT, FOR EMERGING FROM FIREWOOD, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT, ONE OF THOSE BORE THINGS.

YOUR SECOND ONE IS -- SHE FOUND THIS IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

WHAT IS IT, WHY IS IT HERE SO EARLY, AND WHAT SHOULD WE DO ABOUT TO AVOID DAMAGE TO OUR PLANTS?

>> YEAH, THIS IS A COLORADO POTATO BEETLE.

AND THEY CAN BE PRETTY NASTY PESTS.

SO THEY OVER WINTER AS ADULTS, THEY DIG DOWN INTO THE SOIL SEVERAL INCHES.

SO THEY ARE ONE OF THE, YOU KNOW, EARLY SEASON PESTS WE SEE SHOWING UP.

THINGS YOU CAN DO TO AVOID INJURY IN THE GARDEN -- SO THEY FEED ON POTATOES, AS THE NAME IMPLIES, AS WELL AS OTHER SOLANACEOUS PLANTS -- TOMATOES, PEPPERS, BUT REALLY PREFER POTATOES.

SO ONE THING WE CAN DO IS MAKE SURE, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THOSE SOLANACEOUS CROPS ARE IN -- YOUR POTATOES AND TOMATOES -- THERE'S NO WEEDS IN THE GARDEN, ANY SORT OF WEEDY HOST THAT WOULD PROVIDE SORT OF GREEN BRIDGE FOR THEM, LIKE NIGHTSHADE.

SO, YOU KNOW, BEFORE THOSE ARE IN THERE, MAKE SURE ALL THOSE WEEDS ARE CLEARED OUT.

THEY ARE ALSO ATTRACTED TO THE COLOR YELLOW.

SO REALLY EARLY IN THE SPRING WE CAN PUT YELLOW STICKY TRAPS UP AND THAT WILL HELP ATTRACT SOME OF THOSE ADULTS AND TRAP THEM.

OTHERWISE, FOR TREATING THEM IN THE GARDEN, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WATCH THEM THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON AND SEE -- MONITOR ANY DAMAGE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE RESISTANT TO PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE CLASS OF SYNTHETIC INSECTICIDE.

SO THERE'S VERY LIMITED OPTIONS FOR TREATING THEM ONCE THEY'RE A PROBLEM.

YOU CAN USE SPINOSAD, IT SHOULD BE RELATIVELY EFFECTIVE.

THAT'S WHAT I WOULD PROBABLY GO WITH IF I WERE TREATING.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

I'LL JUST HANG MY SHIRT OUT THERE, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.

>> YEAH.

>> JUST WALK AROUND AND WEED, AND JUST COLLECT THEM.

>> OH, GREAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT, ROCH.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WESTERN NEBRASKA.

FRONT YARD, WEST SIDE OF THE HOUSE, SUN ALL DAY.

THIS IS HOW IT ALWAYS LOOKS, WHAT IS THE BEST TURF FOR IT?

AND THIS IS UP NORTH, WESTERN NEBRASKA.

>> SO, IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW WHAT THEY HAD THERE.

I'M ASSUMING BLUE GRASS, THAT IS WHAT SEEMS TO BE PREVALENT IN THE WESTERN TOWNSHIP IN THAT AREA.

SO I'M GONNA PROBABLY SUGGEST A TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE, WHICH IS MUCH MORE HEAT TOLERANT.

BUT, YOU KNOW, BLUEGRASS GROWS GREAT IN THE FULL SUN, SO I'M QUESTIONING WHETHER THEY MAYBE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON.

ARE THEY WATERING IT, ARE THEY FERTILIZING IT, ARE THEY MANAGING IT?

AND IF THEY'RE NOT MANAGING IT, THEN MAYBE THAT'S ALL IT'S GONNA TAKE, BECAUSE BLUEGRASS IS REALLY RESILIENT WHEN IT COMES TO RECOVERY FROM A DROUGHTY TIME.

SO IF LAST SUMMER THEY DIDN'T IRRIGATE AT ALL, AS DRY AS WE WERE, YOU KNOW, I'D GET SOME WATER ON IT AND SEE WHAT RECOVERS.

BUT IF THEY REALLY THINK THAT'S A WESTERN EXPOSURE THAT'S FULL SUN ALL THE TIME, THEN THE TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE PROBABLY IS A BETTER BET FOR THAT.

AND JUST LEAVE THE BASE THERE AND DRILL THE SEED IN RIGHT AWAY.

AND THEY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT SPRAYING, I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT YOU WOULD BE SPRAYING FOR.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, AND THEN WE HAVE A ZOYSIA GRASS PROBLEM.

SHE EXPECTED IT TO TURN BROWN LAST FALL BUT LARGE PATCHES APPEAR TO HAVE TURNED GRAY.

LIGHTLY FERTILIZED LAST YEAR, WAS THAT THE PROBLEM, OR WHAT DO WE HAVE GOING ON HERE?

>> SO GREAT FOR THEM TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, ZOYSIA GRASS GOES DORMANT, IT'S NOT DYING, IT JUST GOES DORMANT.

BUT IN THIS CASE THE ZOYSIA LOOKS TO ME LIKE IT HAS LARGE PATCH, WHICH IS A PATHOGEN THAT EFFECTS ZOYSIA PRIMARILY SOUTH OF HERE -- KANSAS, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, ET CETERA.

SO WE DON'T REALLY SEE IT FREQUENTLY HERE, BUT WHEN WE DO SEE IT, WE SUGGEST THAT YOU LET IT GROW OUT OF IT.

IT'LL PROBABLY FILL IN EVEN WITH THE SLOW GROWTH OF ZOYSIA GRASS.

AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO OTHER THAN, IF THEY WANTED TO PLUG INTO THAT PATCH, BUT I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S GOING TO RECOVER BY LATE MAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT THAT'S NOT GONNA SHOW UP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF LOREN WANTS TO COMMENT.

WE DON'T SPRAY FOR LARGE PATCH IN ZOYSIA GRASS IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.

>> OKAY.

HE'S NODDING HIS HEAD YES.

>> SPOT ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF THAT, LET'S SEE.

THIS IS WAYNE, NEBRASKA, LOREN.

A BROWN BRANCH ON A SPRUCE TREE ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE.

TREE IN THE GROVE WITH OTHER SPRUCE.

>> SO IF WE LOOK AT THIS PICTURE CLOSELY YOU CAN SEE THAT SINGLE BRANCH BEING AFFECTED.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BRANCH, THE WHOLE BRANCH IS BEING IMPACTED.

SO I THINK THIS IS SOME SORT OF CANKER, OR SOME INJURY TO THAT BRANCH.

IF THEY'D FOLLOW IT BACK THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE SOME PITS OR RESIN AT SOME POINT.

I WOULD JUST FOLLOW THAT BRANCH AND GO ALL THE WAY BACK, YOU KNOW, TO THE CROTCH IN THE TREE WHERE IT MEETS, AND SEE IF YOU SEE ANY INJURY ON THAT BRANCH.

>> OKAY, AND THEN YOU -- >> AND JUST PRUNE IT OUT.

>> YET AGAIN, ANOTHER SPRUCE, THE TOP BRANCH OF A 15-YEAR-OLD BLUE SPRUCE IS DYING.

WHAT IS IT?

SHOULD THAT BRANCH BE CUT OUT?

AND THIS IS PLATTSMOUTH.

>> YEAH, IN THIS ONE, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE THE LEADER ON THE TREE.

SO THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO WORK ON THAT AND GET A NEW LEADER TO TAKE OVER.

BUT THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER SITUATION WHERE MOST LIKELY YOU'VE GOT SOME INJURY, AND I WOULD FOLLOW THAT BACK.

THIS THE TIME OF YEAR WERE YOU TEND TO SEE THESE THINGS.

THESE THINGS ARE STARTING TO FRESHEN UP, AND MAYBE YOU'RE JUST GETTING OUT AND LOOKING AT THE LANDSCAPE MORE.

ANY TIME WE SEE A BRANCH THAT THE WHOLE BRANCH IS IMPACTED, USUALLY, AND THE REST OF THE TREE IS FINE, THERE IS SOMETHING GOING ON THERE THAT'S AN INJURY OR A CANKER THAT CAN IMPACT THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, LOREN.

>> AND THEN JUST A COMMENT, IF THIS IS THE LAST ONE ON THERE, OVERALL FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF CANKER TYPE FUNGI -- MANY ARE FAVORED BY DROUGHT, SO MAINTAINING ADEQUATE MOISTURE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART.

>> GREAT, THANKS, LOREN.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF, THIS IS DWARF ALBERTA SPRUCE.

SPRAYED THEM SEVERAL TIMES LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY HAD BUGS.

AND THEY LOOK AWFUL NOW, WILL THEY RECOVER?

I THINK WE HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS ONE.

>> YEAH, THEY PROBABLY HAD SPIDER MITES, I'M GUESSING.

SO I WOULD SAY NO, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO RECOVER.

SO I WOULD GO AHEAD AND REPLACE THOSE.

THERE ARE SOME GREAT DWARF CONIFERS THAT ARE BETTER THAN DWARF ALBERTA THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT.

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS A WEIRD ONE.

SHE FOUND THIS PILE ON THE SIDEWALK IN RURAL STROMSBURG.

AND SHE CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS FROM.

THE SEEDS OF SOMETHING?

>> TO ME IT LOOKED LIKE SQUASH SEEDS, PUMPKIN SEEDS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT A SQUIRREL OR SOMETHING HAD GOTTEN IN AND SHREDDED AND EATEN THE SEEDS.

SO THAT IS WHAT I AM GUESSING.

SOMETHING -- SOMETHING -- >> -- ATE IT.

>> YEAH.

A MOUSE OR SOMETHING.

>> A MOUSE OR SOMETHING, ALL RIGHT.

>> I HAD SOMETHING LOOK JUST LIKE THAT WHERE A PUMPKIN ROTTED.

>> RIGHT, EXACTLY, ME TOO.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THINGS ARE STARTING TO WARM UP THIS SPRING, AND EVEN THOUGH -- WARM UP A LOT ACTUALLY.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SOME DECENT MOISTURE IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE, YOU MIGHT NEED TO TINKER AROUND TO GET YOUR UNDERGROUND SPRINKLER SYSTEM READY FOR THE SEASON.

SO, FIRST UP TONIGHT, ROCH IS GOING TO TELL US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW TO GET THOSE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS RUNNING.

>>> 'TIS THE SEASON.

NO, IT'S NOT THE HOLIDAY SEASON OVER THE WINTER.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE TREES START TO BUD OUT, THE LAWN STARTS TO SHOW A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN.

AND IF YOU HAVE THE LUXURY OF AN IN-GROUND IRRIGATION SYSTEM, NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING, AND ALSO RECHARGE IT FOR THAT USE WHEN WE GET INTO THE STRESSFUL SUMMER MONTHS.

THERE'S A SERIES OF LOGICAL STEPS THAT NEED TO OCCUR.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, YOU HAVE TO TURN IT ON AT THE VACUUM BREAKER.

THE VACUUM BREAKER IS IN PLACE TO KEEP THE WATER FROM YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM FROM BACKING INTO THE HOUSE.

SO IT'S A VERY GOOD SAFETY, AND IT'S REQUIRED ON MOST MUNICIPALITIES.

IT'S REAL EASY TO DO, YOU SIMPLY TURN TWO SCREWS.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE HAD SHUT IT OFF FROM THE WINTER BEFORE, BUT YOU TURN OFF THESE SCREWS AND THEN THE WATER WILL THEN NOT FLOW OUT OF THEM.

IF YOU FORGET TO DO THIS, WATER'S GOING TO GO BLASTING OUT WHEN YOU DROP DOWN INTO YOUR WATER SOURCE AND TURN THE WATER ON.

SO THAT'S STEP ONE.

STEP TWO, YOU HAVE TO GO TO YOUR WATER SOURCE AND PHYSICALLY TURN IT ON.

THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WHEN YOU TURN THE WATER ON, YOU DON'T JUST FLIP IT ON AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.

BECAUSE WATER CAN BUILD UP PRESSURE AND IT CAN CREATE WHAT'S CALLED A WATER HAMMER, SO YOU WANT TO SLOWLY EASE IT OUT.

IF YOU'VE GOT A DRAIN ON YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM, WHICH MOST PEOPLE DO, MAKE SURE THAT'S OFF BEFORE YOU TURN THE WATER ON.

NOW THAT THE WATER'S ON, WE CAN GO TO THE CONTROLLER.

YOU CAN CHECK THE CONTROLLER TO MAKE SURE IT'S STILL WORKING, AND IF IT'S GOT A BATTERY BACKUP IT SHOULD HAVE WORKED OVER THE WINTER, OR IF YOU UNPLUGGED IT YOU SHOULD STILL HAVE EVERYTHING THAT YOU PROGRAMMED FROM YEARS PRIOR.

BUT, IF NOT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO REDO THAT.

YOU TAKE IT INTO THE SYSTEM, AND THIS PARTICULAR SYSTEM WE'RE WORKING ON TODAY HAS THE CAPACITY TO RUN ALL OF YOUR STATIONS IN REALLY SHORT BURSTS, LIKE TWO TO THREE MINUTES.

AFTER YOU'VE TURNED THE WATER ON, YOU TAKE IT TO THAT STAGE, AND YOU CAN TURN IT ON AND THEN IT'S GONNA GO THROUGH EVERY CYCLE.

THIS PARTICULAR CONTROLLER HAS 11 STATIONS THAT ARE ACTIVE, THAT ARE ACTUALLY SUPPLYING WATER TO THE SOURCE.

AND WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS IF THERE'S A SPRINKLER ATTACHED OR MULTIPLE SPRINKLERS ATTACHED TO THAT.

SO YOU TURN IT ON AND THEN YOU CAN WALK AROUND THE LOCATION AND WATCH THE SPRINKLERS COME UP AND DOWN.

PROBABLY NEED TO HAVE A NOTEPAD WITH YOU OR MAYBE YOUR PHONE, WHATEVER YOU LIKE TO USE TO RECORD, MAYBE, WHERE THERE IS A HEAD NOT SHOOTING THE RIGHT WAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO YOU CAN GO BACK AND FIX THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.

IF YOU ARE LUCKY AND HAVE NO REPAIRS THEN YOUR SYSTEM IS UP, CHARGED, AND READY TO GO.

SO TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER, IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD TO CHECK YOUR SYSTEM EARLY ON TO MAKE ANY OF THE NECESSARY REPAIRS IF ANY ARE NEEDED.

BUT IT IS CERTAINLY NOT TIME TO WATER YET.

WE'VE HAD A GOOD WINTER AND WATER IS IN THE SOIL AND READY TO GO.

THE GRASS ISN'T ACTIVELY GROWING SO LET'S NOT WASTE ANY WATER IN THE SYSTEM NOW.

LET'S WAIT UNTIL THE LAWN NEEDS IT, AND WHO KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL BE, IT DEPENDS ON WHATEVER OUR WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO WATER RIGHT AWAY, BUT YOU WANT TO RUN YOUR SYSTEM TO SEE IF YOU CAN FIX IT.

OR IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL TO COME IN AND DO THAT.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE RECHARGING YOUR SYSTEM, THEN CLEARLY THAT'S SOMETHING YOU CAN CONTRACT OUT WITH SOME OF THE IRRIGATION SUPPLIERS AND INSTALLERS, JUST TO MAKE YOUR LIFE A LITTLE EASIER.

>> YOU KNOW, THESE SYSTEMS CAN MAKE IT EASY TO WATER YOUR LANDSCAPE CONSISTENTLY.

BUT, LIKE ROCH SAID, KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT THE WEATHER IS DOING.

DO CONSIDER TURNING THAT SYSTEM ON ONLY WHEN YOU ACTUALLY REALLY NEED IT.

I THINK A LOT OF THINGS GET OVERWATERED.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE.

WE HAVE HERE A VERY BEAUTIFUL PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE, AND EARLY BLOOMERS, WHICH IS -- THIS IS PASQUEFLOWER -- BUT THEY ARE BEING USED BY SMALL BEES, THERE'S ACTUALLY I THINK TWO IN THIS, AND HE'S TALKING SYRPHID FLIES TOO.

WHAT YOU THINK THESE ARE EXACTLY?

>> YEAH, I DON'T -- I DON'T SEE A SYRPHID FLY IN THIS PICTURE.

BUT, YEAH, THESE LOOK LIKE SMALL CARPENTER BEES, PROBABLY.

THEY OVER WINTER -- THE FEMALES OVERWINTER AS ADULTS IN STEMS, AND SO THEY ARE ONE OF THE FIRST BEES THAT WE SEE OUT AND ACTIVE.

>> YEAH, AND HE TOOK THAT PICTURE WITH HIS PHONE.

ISN'T THAT COOL?

>> VERY NICE, YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, NOT SO PRETTY.

THIS IS KEARNEY, AND ONE OF THE DOZEN OF APPROXIMATELY 20-YEAR- OLD SCOTCH PINES HAS THESE AREAS OF EXCESSIVE SAP.

I THINK WE HAVE -- YEP, TWO PICS.

NO VISIBLE HOLES, THEY MIGHT BE COVERED BY THE SAP.

PRUNED BRANCHES WERE DONE TWO YEARS AGO.

WHAT IS THIS?

A BORE OR WHAT?

>> YEAH, IT LOOK LIKE A ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH, AND THEY DO PREFER SCOTCH PINE, SO -- AND IT'S REALLY CHARACTERISTIC THAT WE MIGHT SEE, LIKE, IN A STAND, YOU KNOW, ONE OR MAYBE A COUPLE OF TREES AFFECTED, AND, YOU KNOW, THE REST UNTOUCHED.

SO IT DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE THAT TO ME.

IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL, THE LOCATION, USUALLY WE SEE THEM, LIKE IN THE CROTCH, BUT I THINK THAT'S STILL PROBABLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

FOR CONTROL, YOU KNOW, SO THEY OVERWINTER AS REALLY SMALL LARVAE, AND THEY BECOME ACTIVE REALLY ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SO KIND OF MID TO LATE APRIL INTO MAY, IS WHEN WE SEE THEM START TO BECOME ACTIVE, AND WHEN THEY DO THAT THEY COME OUT FROM SORT OF A PROTECTED OVERWINTERING PUPARIUM, THEY WANDER ON THE BARK LOOKING FOR A NEW FEEDING SITE, AND THEN THEY'LL BORE IN AND START FEEDING THERE.

SO ONCE THEY'RE INSIDE, THERE IS REALLY NOTHING YOU CAN DO IN TERMS OF CHEMICAL TREATMENT.

SO THERE IS A NARROW WINDOW IN AROUND LATE APRIL WHERE WE CAN TREAT WITH A PYRETHROID INSECTICIDE LIKE A BIFENTHRIN OR PERMETHRIN.

BOTH OF THOSE WOULD BE OPTIONS, AND IT REQUIRES A TRUNK -- EXCUSE ME -- A TRUNK DRENCH, SO YOU HAVE TO REALLY, LIKE, THOROUGHLY COVER ALL AREAS OF THAT TRUNK.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE BRANCHES OR ANYTHING ELSE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT TRUNK IS THOROUGHLY COVERED, AND THAT WILL PROVIDE PROTECTION, AS THEY'RE OUT LOOKING FOR A NEW SPOT.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN KIND OF MONITOR IF IT'S FAIRLY, YOU KNOW, FAIRLY SMALL NUMBER, YOU CAN MONITOR FOR ANY NEW FEEDING SITES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND PEEL BACK THAT SAP AND SEE IF YOU CAN JUST BASICALLY DESTROY ANY LARVAE YOU FIND IN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU KYLE.

ROCH, LET'S SEE.

YOUR FIRST PICTURE HERE IS ONE THAT IS A STRANGE LAWN OF SOME SORT.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS, EXACTLY?

>> UM.

>> AND THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, I THINK THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT AND SAYING ON THIS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON IN THIS ONE?

>> WELL, THERE LOOKS TO BE A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT DEAD POPULATION OF PROSTATE KNOTWEED IN AND AMONG THERE, AND SO THAT WOULD KIND OF HAVE A SKELETONIZED LOOK AT THE SURFACE AS WELL AS IN THE ROOT SYSTEM.

I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY A HEAVILY COMPACTED AREA, AS WE MENTIONED EARLY ON.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT CLOSER PICTURE OF WHAT THEY EXACTLY WANT US TO IDENTIFY OR WHATEVER WOULD BE HELPFUL.

I DO SEE CLUMPS OF FESCUE AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BLUEGRASS IN THERE IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME, BUT A LITTLE BIT OF A BETTER IMAGE A LITTLE CLOSER WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL IN THAT REGARD.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND THEN YOU HAVE, I THINK, TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

AND THEY ARE -- THEY'RE NOT GREAT AS YOU CAN WELL SEE, AND THIS IS A TURF ID IN NEMAHA.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

>> I THINK THIS IS ZOYSIA GRASS.

I MEAN IT'S DORMANT NOW.

CLEARY IT'S GOT A HEAVY DENSE STAND.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHETHER THEY JUST WANTED AN IDENTIFICATION, BUT -- YOU KNOW, ZOYSIA GRASS HAS VERY FEW PROBLEMS OTHER THAN IT GETS REALLY THATCHY.

THEY MAY WANT TO CONSIDER CORE AERIFYING OR DETHATCHING, BECAUSE IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT HAS A PRETTY GOOD THATCH LAYER, AND THEY WOULD DO THAT ONCE IT IS ACTIVELY GROWING HERE IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO FULLY GREEN UP UNTIL ABOUT MID -- EVEN WITH THESE HIGH TEMPERATURES -- UNTIL ABOUT MID MAY BECAUSE WERE GOING TO GET COOL AGAIN.

SO I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT'S ZOYSIA GRASS.

>> OKAY, AND THEY COULD SEND US PICTURES WHEN IT GREENS UP, AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO TELL FOR SURE.

>> AND THEN WE'LL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO DO MORE.

>> ALL RIGHT, LOREN, SPRUCE TIME.

THIS IS ELGIN.

THIS IS APPROXIMATELY THE FOUR TO FIVE FOOT TOP OF A BLUE SPRUCE.

VERY LARGE IN THE BACKYARD.

THEY DID HAVE ONE BESIDE IT THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO THAT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING.

THEY HAD IT REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF -- IS THIS GOING TO SPREAD TO THEIR OTHER TREES.

>> IT -- MOST LIKELY, AND THIS IS A SIMILAR SCENARIO TO WHAT WE HAD IN THE PREVIOUS PICTURES.

THERE'S SOME SORT OF ACTIVITY GOING ON THAT'S PROBABLY A CANKER, IF THEY'RE NOT SEEING ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE OR, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE SOMETIMES IN THE WESTERN PORTION OF THE STATE WE SEE PORCUPINE FEEDING THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

BUT IF THIS IS A PLANTING WHERE YOU DON'T SEE ANY INJURY, THOSE FUNGI THAT ARE CAUSING THE CANKER ARE PROBABLY EXISTING ON THE BARK OF THE OTHER TREES ALREADY, AND IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT TRIGGERS A STRESS TO WHERE THAT PLANT RESULTS IN INFECTION IN THE BRANCHES IS KILLED.

SO PRUNING IT OFF, BEST THING TO DO.

IN THAT CASE WHERE IT'S AT THE TOP, MAKE SURE YOU GOT A NEW LEADER THAT CAN FORM, BUT REALITY THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO TREAT THESE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY JUST TRY TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE MOISTURE, TRY TO KEEP THE TREES FROM BEING STRESSED, AND DROUGHT STRESS AGAIN FAVORS A LOT OF THESE CANKERS.

SO, JUST A FEW THINGS THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU, LOREN.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WITH OBVIOUSLY OLD YEWS, FRONT OF THE HOUSE FACING NORTH.

THE LAST TWO OR THREE SEASONS THEY'VE HAD THIS BROWN SPOT IN THIS AND THEY END UP CUTTING IT OUT THEN ANOTHER PIECE DIES.

>> VERY SIMILAR, JUST A SHORTER VERSION OF WHAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, MOST LIKELY.

FOLLOWING THAT DOWN AGAIN, SOMETIMES IN OUR SHRUBS WE'LL SEE SOME SORT OF RODENT INJURY OR SOMETHING THAT WILL GIRDLE INDIVIDUAL TWIGS.

SO CAREFULLY LOOK FOR THAT.

BUT MOST LIKELY I THINK THIS IS A SCENARIO WHERE YOU PROBABLY HAVE, AGAIN, SOME SORT OF FUNGAL INFECTION THAT IS CAUSING THAT.

PRUNING THAT OUT ABOUT THREE TO FOUR INCHES BELOW THE INFECTED AREA, JUST LIKE ON TREES, IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION, AND TRYING TO STAY AFTER IT SO IT DOESN'T CONTINUE, 'CAUSE IT WILL PRODUCE INOCULUM JUST LIKE WE SHOWED WITH THE BRANCHES EARLIER IN THE SHOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, LOREN.

JEFF, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES OF THIS ONE.

HE IS SENDING IT FOR HIS MOTHER.

>> OKAY.

>> DOUGLAS, NEBRASKA, A 25-YEAR- OLD WHITE PINE STARTING TO TURN BROWN.

THREE OTHERS NEAR IT.

SHE IS CONCERNED THAT THIS ONE IS DYING, AND COULD CAUSE THE OTHERS TO DIE.

>> WELL, I -- IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AFTER OUR WARMER WEATHER HERE, THE TREE IS PROBABLY MOSTLY DEAD AS IT IS.

SO, LOREN, I GUESS AS FAR AS THE SAME SORT OF THING, WOULD WHITE PINE BE SHARING SOME SORT OF SPORES AMONGST EACH OTHER?

>> THEY COULD.

AND IF YOU'RE SEEING DEAD BRANCHES OR A DEAD TREE, BUT WITH WHITE PINE WE SEE THEM FAIL SOMETIMES TOO, JEFF -- >> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> -- JUST TOTALLY.

SO, I THINK SOME OF THOSE ARE SOMETIMES MORE ROOT ROT, SIGHTING, AND THING LIKE THAT.

>> SURE.

>> OR DROUGHT.

>> YEAH, OR DROUGHT.

>> REALLY SENSITIVE.

>> YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE JEFF, AND THIS IS A SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA VIEWER.

SHE HAS PEONIES, AND THEY'RE PROBABLY UP FURTHER THAN THAT IN ONE DAY, BUT SHE'S WONDERING IS IT OKAY TO SEPARATE NOW OR SHOULD SHE WAIT UNTIL FALL?

>> WELL, SHE SHOULD WAIT.

IF THE PEONIES ARE SOMETHING SHE WANTS TO KEEP, SHE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL LATE AUGUST OR EARLY SEPTEMBER TO DO THAT.

IF SHE NEEDS TO JUST MOVE THEM -- AND YOU KNOW YOU'D HAVE TO GIVE THEM EXTRA CARE, BUT YOU COULD MOVE THE THING.

I WOULD NOT SEPARATE THE PEONIES, I WOULDN'T DIVIDE THEM, BUT YOU CAN MOVE THE WHOLE PLANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND THEN GIVE IT, LIKE, NEW PLANT CARE AFTER THAT.

>> OKAY, LOVING CARE.

>> LOVING CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T PLANTED ANYTHING IN OUR GARDEN YET, BUT TERRI JAMES SAYS THERE IS PLENTY TO DO TO GET READY FOR THE SEASON.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT AT THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

>>> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN WE'RE SLOWLY MOVING OUT OF THE GREENHOUSE.

OUR PANSIES ARE OUT, AND THEY ARE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL WITH THAT POP OF COLOR IN OUR CONTAINERS.

THEY'RE REALLY HELPING BRING OUT THE COLOR OF ALL THE PLANTS THAT ARE STARTING TO POP IN OUR GARDEN.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING SOME OF THE RESULTS OF OUR WORK FROM LAST FALL.

IF YOU REMEMBER, OVER THE WINTER WE SHOWED YOU SARAH PLANTING OUR GARLIC IN THE FALL, AND THAT IS UP AND GOING, AND WE HAVE SOME SHALLOTS GROWING NEXT TO IT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE HOW GARLIC AND SHALLOTS GROW IN OUR PRODUCTION GARDEN.

WE'RE ABOUT READY TO FILL THE REST OF OUR RAISED BEDS.

WE REPLACED ALL OF OUR RAISED BEDS THIS FALL, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO PUT A SIXTY-FORTY COMPOST MIX IN THERE, SO WE CAN GET THOSE PLANTED LATER THIS SPRING.

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

>> IF WE GET SOME RAIN, WE MAY BE PLANTING SOONER THAN LATER, WE'LL SEE.

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

COMING UP ON THE SHOW IS THE LIGHTNING ROUND, AND THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

STAY TUNED FOR MUCH MORE "BACKYARD FARMER," RIGHT AFTER THIS.

MUCH MORE BACKYARD FARMER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL TAKE A TOUR OF THE GARDEN CENTER TO SEE WHAT'S NEW THIS SEASON.

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

SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, IT IS TIME FOR LIGHTNING.

ALL RIGHT, YOU READY JEFF?

>> UH, SURE.

YES.

[ LAUGHTER ] BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE, DO I?

>> SUCH CONFIDENCE.

ALL RIGHT, THIS CAME FROM A VIEWER.

HOW DO YOU HARVEST ASPARAGUS?

DO YOU CUT IT?

DO YOU -- WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> UH, I WOULD CUT IT.

YEAH, SO USE A KNIFE, A SHORT KNIFE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SECOND QUESTION FROM THE SAME VIEWER.

HOW MUCH CAN YOU HARVEST AT A SINGLE TIME OR SIZE?

>> YOU KNOW, IT DEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE ASPARAGUS SO THE FIRST YEAR OR TWO, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO LEAVE QUITE A BIT OF IT THERE AND ALLOW IT TO PRODUCE SUGAR FOR THE ROOT SYSTEM.

SO AS IT GETS OLDER YOU CAN HARVEST MORE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HOW LONG SHOULD WATER -- SHOULD THIS PERSON WATER TREES AND SHRUBS IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW?

>> HOW LONG?

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MONITOR IT .IT JUST DEPENDS ON YOUR SOILS AND WHERE YOUR AT.

SO YOU'LL HAVE TO DO THAT WHOLE SCREWDRIVER TEST, SEE WHAT YOU HAD BEFOREHAND AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A WAKEFIELD VIEWER WHO PLANTED CLEMATIS LAST FALL.

RABBITS ATE THEM TO THE GROUND, WILL THEY COME BACK?

>> UH, THEY MIGHT.

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

WE CUT CLEMATIS BACK RIGHT NOW ANYWAYS, SO I THINK YOU'RE FINE >> ALL RIGHT, RED TWIG DOGWOODS, ARE THERE ANY GOOD ONES OR ARE THEY ALL SUSCEPTIBLE TO CANKERS AND THINGS?

>> I'M SURE THERE'S SOME GREAT ONES.

WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEM ON CAMPUS WITH CANKERS AND SO.

[ THUNDER ] >> HARD TO KNOW.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY LOREN DOES, SO -- >> RIGHT >> I HAVE AN OLD ONE THOUGH.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LOREN ARE YOU READY?

>> KIM, I'M AS READY AS A BREADED MOREL FRIED IN DUCK FAT TONIGHT.

>> OOH.

>> COME ON.

>> HAVE YOU FOUND ANY?

DON'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

>> CAN'T SAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS, THIS VIEWER HAD GREEN BEANS THAT GOT RUST LAST YEAR.

CAN'T ROTATE THE LOCATION IN THE GARDEN, IS THERE A LIKELIHOOD THAT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN?

>> JUST MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN THE RESIDUE UP.

SOME OF THE RUST CAN SURVIVE IN TELIAL STAGE, AND THEY'LL BE THERE.

SO RESIDUE, AND SHOULD BE OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS VIEWER HAS AUSTRIAN PINES THAT HAVE WHAT THEY'RE DESCRIBING AS "THE NEEDLE DISEASE."

IS THAT SOMETHING TO TREAT NOW, AND IF SO HOW?

>> DEPENDS ON WHICH NEEDLE DISEASE.

LET'S IDENTIFY IT AND THEN WE'LL SAY HOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, WOULD CANKER ON APPLE TREE TRUNKS LOOK LIKE THESE REDDISH SORT OF AREAS?

LIKE RED INSTEAD OF BARK COLORED?

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT CANKERS THAT CAN OCCUR ON APPLE TREES, AND IT COULD BE -- IT COULD LOOK LIKE A DISCOLORATION LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A KEARNEY VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE'S SUCH A THING AS A HANDS-ON MUSHROOM COURSE, AND HOW TO I.D.

THEM, AND THEN EAT THEM?

>> WELL, I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND EATING UNLESS YOU GO WITH SOMEONE THAT IS VERY EXPERIENCED.

AND THE SAYING -- I DON'T KNOW OF A HANDS-ON MUSHROOM COURSE THERE.

[ THUNDER ] THERE ARE SEVERAL THAT I'VE SEEN AT IOWA STATE.

THERE IS ALSO A LOCAL MYCOLOGY GROUP FOR THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, SO IF THEY LOOK THAT UP THERE IS A GROUP OF ENTHUSIASTS THAT MEET, AND THEY COULD CONNECT WITH THEM.

>> NICE RUN OF NON-ANSWERS, LOREN.

>> I WAS WORKING REALLY HARD AT IT, ROCH .>> OKAY, ROCH, YOU READY?

>> SURE.

>> LET'S SEE HOW YOU DO.

>> NO PRESSURE.

>> THIS IS A BLAIR VIEWER WHO ASKS IF YOU FAVOR OVERSEEDING AN EXISTING LAWN WITH CLOVER?

>> CERTAINLY YOU CAN ADD THE CLOVER AS A POLLINATOR AND THEN MOW LESS.

AND IT'LL PUT LESS NITROGEN ON.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE A CLEANER LAWN, BUT IT'S UP TO YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, SEVERAL VIEWERS WONDERING WHAT YOUR APPEARANCES -- OR WHAT YOU'RE YOUR OPINION IS OF MICRO OR MINI CLOVERS AS LAWN.

>> SO THE MICRO CLOVERS ARE SMALLER IN STATURE, BUT THEY -- CAN BE INCORPORATED EXTREMELY WELL.

THERE'S A LOT OF DATA ON THAT, OUT IN THE INTER-VERSE OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

AND SO, YEAH, IT CERTAINLY IS AN OPTION, AND THEY DO PRODUCE FLOWERS AT A VERY SHORT MOWING HEIGHT, IF YOU WANT TO STILL MAINTAIN THE LAWN TO LOOK LIKE A LAWN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS VIEWER HAS AN RTF LAWN THAT'S IN A VERY SHADY AREA.

THE LAWN COMPANY RECOMMENDED A QUICK ACTING SULFUR TWICE A YEAR BUT THE PH IS 7.1.

>> YEAH, I'M NOT SURE WHY YOU WOULD NEED TO ALTER A PH AT 7.1.

I'M NOT SURE THE SULFUR IS NEEDED.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS AN OSMOND VIEWER WHO HAS HEAVY THATCH, WANTS TO KNOW, SHOULD POWER RAKE, AND IF SO, WHEN?

>> IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CORE AERIFYING ROUTINELY, THEN CERTAINLY POWER RAKING IS THE WAY TO GO.

[ THUNDER ] YOU'RE GOING TO PRODUCE A LOT OF MATERIAL AND ITS GOT TO BE DISPOSED OF.

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU LIVE THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO THE LANDFILL.

>> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB.

OKAY KYLE, YOU'RE LAST UP .

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAD A GREEN SPIRE LINDEN THAT WAS RAVAGED BY JAPANESE BEETLES.

WANTS TO KNOW IS THERE A SPRAY OR A DUST OF SOME SORT THAT WILL PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING THIS YEAR, AND WHAT IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT?

>> DUST, NO.

THERE'S NOT REALLY MUCH THAT YOU CAN DO ON THOSE.

SO I WOULD JUST, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST TRY TO TOLERATE.

>> ALL RIGHT WE HAVE A QUESTION WHETHER MILKY SPORE WILL CONTROL OR REDUCE THE JAPANESE BEETLE POPULATION?

>> NO, NOT REALLY.

IT CAN CONTROL GRUBS, BUT CONTROLLING GRUBS DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT THE ADULTS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY WORTH IT, UNLESS YOU ARE SPECIFICALLY HAVING GRUB PROBLEMS IN YOUR TURF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAID THERE ARE ANTS ARE SWARMING OUT OF THE PAVEMENT CRACKS IN ITHACA, AND THEN THEY'RE DEAD.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> THERE IS A QUESTION HERE ABOUT, EXCUSE ME, TRUNK DRENCH FOR BORERS IN VIBURNUMS AND LILACS, IS THERE ONE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

POTENTIALLY, BUT I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH WHAT WOULD BE -- [ THUNDER ] WHAT BORERS WOULD NECESSARILY BE A PROBLEM IN THAT, SO.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

SO, JEFF, YOU WIN THE PRIZE.

>> THAT'S TWO WEEKS IN A ROW FOR IT, RIGHT?

>> AND I DID NOT STACK THE DECK I PROMISE.

>> OH, YOU ALWAYS STACK THE DECK.

>> YOU GUYS ARE JUST TOO LONG- WINDED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SHARE IT.

>> YOU'RE TOO LONG WINDED.

>> LOSERS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, WHAT ARE THE PLANTS FOR THE WEEK, JEFF?

>> COMBINED, WE GOT EIGHT, AND WE DON'T GET THE STUPID LIGHTNING BOLT?

>> NO.

>> OKAY, FINE.

>> JEFF.

>> SO THE PLANTS THAT YOU BROUGHT IN, TWO KIND OF INTERESTING PLANTS, AND REALLY THEY MAKE KIND OF A NICE BOUQUET HERE WITH THE PINKISH ORANGE AND THE GRAY FROM THE WILLOW.

SO, WE HAVE A PRAIRIE WILLOW HERE, WHICH IS RATHER LOW GROWING, AND, AS YOU WERE TALKING EARLIER, IT'S DROUGHT TOLERANT.

SO, OBVIOUSLY WITH THE NAME "PRAIRIE," IT MIGHT BE AN INDICATION THAT IT WILL DO WELL IN DRIER AREAS IT'S NATIVE TO THE UPPER MIDWEST, THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN AREA.

SO -- AND IT CAN BE REALLY LOW GROWING, TWO FEET TALL TO MAYBE TEN FEET TALL, DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION.

SO THAT MIGHT BE AN INTERESTING PLANT TO LOOK FOR.

IS THAT COMMONLY FOUND IN THE -- YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FIND THAT IN THE GARDEN CENTERS TOO OFTEN RIGHT?

>> NO, BUT YOU'LL FIND IT WITH LOCAL SUPPLIERS.

>> OKAY.

>> YEP.

>> AND THEN THE OTHER PLANT WE HAVE HERE IS FLOWERING QUINCE.

AND, AGAIN, SO THIS IS A VERY HARDY PLANT DOES WELL HERE.

IT DOES HAVE -bÃSO IT COULD GET VERY LARGE, BUT YOU CAN MAINTAIN IT THROUGH PRUNING TO A NICE KIND OF A HEDGE, A LITTLE HEDGE -- WE'VE DONE THAT ON CAMPUS IN A FEW PLACES.

AND THE FLOWERING AGAIN IS NICE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

IT CAN BE THORNY, SO AGAIN IF YOU HAVE NEIGHBORS LIKE I HAVE, THAT WALK THROUGH YOUR YARD, YOU CAN PLANT THEM SOME PLACE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF THE YARD.

SO IT DOES WELL.

IT CAN GET VERY LARGE.

SO THAT'S ONE THING YOU WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON, AS WITH THE FLOWERING.

AND THEN IT DOES PRODUCE SOME EDIBLE FRUIT.

I'VE TRIED IT.

I DON'T KNOW, I HAD A LITTLE BIT, I WOULDN'T EAT A LOT.

[ LAUGHTER ] I'LL EAT EVERYTHING ONCE AND THEN I'LL GO, "NOT AGAIN ON THAT ONE."

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, QUESTIONS.

THIS COMES TO US FROM YAKIMA, WASHINGTON.

FOUND THIS STRANGE THING IN HIS SON'S GARAGE ON A WALL, AND YOU CAN JUST BARELY SEE IT, THAT BLACK STUFF.

I THINK -- YEP, THERE YOU CAN SEE ANOTHER GRANULAR PICTURE.

HE WONDERS IF THIS IS TERMITE DAMAGE?

>> YEAH, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TERMITES, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF LOOSE -- LOOSE DEBRIS.

SO WE WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE THAT FROM TERMITES.

THEY MIGHT PRODUCES, LIKE, MUD TUBES OR SOMETHING, BUT NOT SOMETHING LOOSE.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

I NEED MORE INFORMATION.

LIKE, IT DOES KIND OF LOOK, YOU KNOW, INSECT-RELATED.

LIKE KICK OUT FROM YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF A NEST OR CAVITY OR SOMETHING, BUT THERE'S NO, LIKE, CLEAR HOLE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM SO I'M REALLY NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR SECOND TWO ARE A BURNING BUSH PROBLEM HERE IN LINCOLN.

PEELING BARK, HOLES, ROTTEN BRANCHES, AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME BORER HOLES IN IT, AND I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA KICK IT QUICKLY TO JEFF.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY SOME BORERS IN HERE.

BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE STATE OF THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BEEN NOT IN GOOD CONDITION FOR A WHILE.

AND I THINK THOSE BORERS ARE PROBABLY SECONDARY, SO THEY'RE JUST KIND OF A SYMPTOM OF DECLINING HEALTH.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF, JEFF, IF YOU HAD ANY THOUGHTS ON WHETHER OR NOT THAT COULD BE SAVED OR WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO?

BUT I -- >> YEAH, CERTAINLY YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO PRUNE OUT ALL OF THE DEAD.

AND THEN LOOK AT HOW MUCH MULCH YOU HAVE AROUND IT.

THEY HAVE A VERY FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEM, SO -- AND IT'S SHALLOW, SO YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF YOU NEED TO PULL THE MULCH BACK A LITTLE BIT, MAKE SURE YOU GET SOME WATERING, THEN YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SALVAGE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> EUONYMUS IS TOUGH.

>> THEY ARE.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

ROCH, THIS IS A NORTHWEST OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS SOMETHING INVASIVE GROWING IN HER LAWN, AND WE HAVE TWO PICTURES OF THIS LITTLE WEED.

>> YEAH, THIS IS CHICKWEED.

THERE'S ALSO A PERENNIAL TYPE CALLED MOUSE-EAR CHICKWEED THAT HAS HAIR ON IT, THIS DOESN'T HAVE ANY HAIR ON IT.

AND CHICKWEED IS A WINTER ANNUAL MUCH LIKE HENBIT.

CAN BE CONTROLLED IN THE FALL WITH A NICE, DENSE, ACTIVELY GROWING TURF.

OR, IF YOU WANT TO USE HERBICIDES IN LATE -- YOU KNOW, RIGHT AFTER IT GERMINATES WHICH IS GENERALLY GONNA BE OCTOBER OR EARLY NOVEMBER, OR EVEN NOW IT CAN STILL BE SPRAYED AND BE RELATIVELY EASY TO CONTROL.

BUT IF YOU LET IT GO, IT WILL PRETTY MUCH SMOTHER AND TAKE OVER EVEN SMALL ORNAMENTALS AND ORNAMENTAL BEDS IF IT'S IN THAT, OR IF IT'S IN THE LAWN, CERTAINLY I WOULD GET ON A CONTROL MEASURE, AND THEN CONSIDER A FALL APPLICATION OF A PRE-EMERGENT CONTAINING PENDIMETHALIN OR DIMENSION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO KEEP IT FROM GERMINATING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS ONE THAT WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT.

CAME UP QUICKLY LAST WEEK IN "BARE SPOTS" AND IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

I THINK YOU'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH IT.

>> YEAH, IT'S HENBIT AND WE HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, PERFECT.

SO FOLLOW YOUR DIRECTIONS, RIGHT?

MAYBE.

>> OR NOT.

BUT YEAH.

>> OKAY, LOREN.

THIS IS A HASTINGS VIEWER.

AND WE LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE SEND US PICTURES FROM THE FALL AND ASK US TO HELP THEM SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN, THIS IS EXACTLY HERE.

ASPEN TREES, IT'S A SHADY YARD.

MATURE HACKBERRY BLUE SPRUCE IN LINDEN NEARBY, AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO PICTURES.

>> YEAH, IN THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU FIRST LOOK AT IT, AND IF A PERSON COMPARES PICTURES, YOU MIGHT THINK OF SCARS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT IF YOU SEE ON THESE, A LOT OF THE LESION ACTIVITY OR BLIGHTING IS THAT THE BASE OF THE LEAF.

AND THAT REALLY SUGGESTS TO ME SOME OTHER STRESS.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY APPLICATIONS MADE TO ANY OF THESE THAT COULD HAVE BURNED TISSUES WHERE SOMETHING COLLECTED AT THE BASE, OR IF THAT BRANCH HAS SOME INJURY THAT WE'RE SEEING.

IN ANY CASE, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A DISEASE.

AND I THINK IT IS RELATED TO SOME SORT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSOR, AN APPLICATION OF SOMETHING THAT MAY HAVE CONCENTRATED ON SOME OF THOSE AREAS ON THE LEAF SOMEHOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SO THIS VIEWER SAYS THIS IS THE WAY THE LEAVES OF THEIR HUGE SYCAMORE IN AURORA LOOKED LAST SPRING.

WHAT IS IT, WILL IT COME BACK THIS SEASON?

>> IT WILL DEFINITELY COME BACK.

SO THIS IS ANTHRACNOSE ON SYCAMORE.

AND WE'LL SEE ANTHRACNOSE ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT TREES.

A LOT OF TIMES THE LEAF MARGINS ARE JUST STARTED LIKE SOME OF THESE AND THEY WILL BE BLIGHTED IN DIFFERENT AREAS.

SO I WOULDN'T TREAT IT.

AND, KIM, I WANTED TO COMMENT ON ONE THING.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE MUSHROOM GROUPS, AND I JUST DID A QUICK LOOK SO I GOT IT RIGHT.

SO THE NEBRASKA MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY IS WHERE OUR VIEWERS COULD LOOK.

AND ACTUALLY ONE OF OUR EMERITUS FACULTY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY IS VERY ACTIVE IN THAT GROUP, AND THEY HAVE A CHAPTER IN NEBRASKA THAT IS VERY ACTIVE SO I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO REACH OUT TO THAT.

THEY DO A LOT OF REALLY INTERESTING THINGS AND A LOT OF JUST GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT IDENTIFICATION.

>> COOL.

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO MORE PICTURES, LOREN.

THIS IS WATERLOO, NEBRASKA.

SILVER DOLLAR EUCALYPTUS SEEDLINGS, AND THEY'RE INDOORS, SO WHAT TO DO HERE?

>> OKAY, AND THEY'RE INDOORS.

NOW, THAT -- THE QUESTION -- I LOOKED AT THIS AND TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE ABOUT IT, AND REALLY COULDN'T IDENTIFY ANYTHING THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE.

AND IT MADE ME QUESTION IF IT WASN'T SOME SORT OF PARASITIC INSECT OR SOMETHING, THE WAY THE GALLS LOOKS, OR IT'S INSIDE.

I DOUBT THAT'S THE CASE, RIGHT?

SO THE ONLY THING THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE THAT COULD FORM THOSE DISTORTED GROWTHS COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE CROWN GALL.

SO IF THEY'RE PRUNING A LOT MAYBE, AND IT'S INDOORS AND THEY'RE DOING THAT, IT IS POSSIBLE.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND CLEANING YOUR PRUNERS, TRYING TO CUT THAT MATERIAL OUT AND SEE IF IT RECOVERS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

JEFF, THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A KEARNEY VIEWER WITH A 15-YEAR-OLD REDBUD ADJACENT TO THE DECK.

ON THE NORTH SIDE THERE IS SOME BARE WOOD, DISCOLORATION.

WE CAN SEE, I THINK, IT IN THE OTHER TWO PICTURES.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

NO HOLES.

IS THIS A BARK SITUATION, A WOODPECKER?

OR IS THIS KIND OF WHAT REDBUDS DO OUT THERE IN KEARNEY?

>> WELL, I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, GREAT JOB IN KEEPING A REDBUD GOING FOR 15 YEARS IN KEARNEY.

SO -- AND I'M SURE THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE THEM.

BUT THAT'S GREAT, THAT'S KIND OF UNUSUAL.

YOU KNOW, REDBUDS WILL SHED SOME BARK, AND THEY CAN HAVE THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY WHERE THEY'LL LOSE BIG PIECES OF BARK.

I DIDN'T SEE PARTICULAR HOLES OR DAMAGE ON THE TREE, MAYBE LOWER ON THE STEM IT LOOKED LIKE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME AREA THAT HAD BEEN WOUNDED BUT WAS -- WAS -- CALLOUS TISSUE WAS FILLING BACK IN, SO I THINK WE'RE FINE THERE.

SO I THINK IT'S JUST, MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, THIS WILL PROBABLY NEED SUPPLEMENTAL WATERING, AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

BUT IT'S A SMALL ENOUGH TREE, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT HURTING SOMEBODY IF IT WOULD FAIL.

>> AND TWO MORE PICTURES, JEFF.

THIS IS A LARGE MAPLE, AUTUMN BLAZE.

NOTICED AN AREA OF LOOSE BARK AT THE BASE.

IS THIS A CONCERN?

NOW IT LOOKS WORSE.

SHOULD THEY TREAT IT?

>> AND, REALLY TO ME, I CAN -- AS I ZOOMED IN, I COULD SEE THAT IT LOOKED LIKE WE WERE GETTING SOME CALLOUS MATERIAL FORMING THERE, SO I THINK THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WOUND AT ONE POINT, SOMETHING HAPPENED, MAYBE A LITTLE SUN SCALD.

AND IT LOOK LIKE IT'S HEALING ITSELF.

THE TREE NEEDS PRUNING THOUGH, SO I THINK I WOULD CALL YOUR ARBORIST BACK AND SEE IF WE COULD, AFTER IT LEAVES OUT, DO A LITTLE PRUNING TO IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR, OUR GARDEN CENTERS ARE BOOMING WITH BUSINESS.

IT'S FUN TO ROAM AROUND THE AISLES, SEE IF THERE'S ANYTHING THAT PIQUES YOUR INTEREST.

WE TOOK OUR CAMERAS TO A LOCAL GARDEN CENTER.

WE'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE FOUND.

>>> WE KNOW GARDENERS ARE ALWAYS EXCITED FOR ALL OF THOSE NEW PLANTS IN THE SPRING, WE ARE TOO.

BUT LET'S TAKE A MINUTE AND LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER ESSENTIALS TO THE LANDSCAPE WORLD THAT EITHER YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE, OR YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU NEEDED.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE TOOLS.

THIS LINE OF TOOLS IS HEAVY, HEFTY, IT'S A WOODEN HANDLE, THEY ARE STEEL HEADS.

WITH A LITTLE BIT OF TENDER LOVING CARE, THEY ARE GOING TO LAST YOU FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

ALTHOUGH I MUST ADMIT, I DON'T TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY TOOLS.

I ALSO HAVE A TENDENCY TO GO THROUGH GARDEN HOSES LIKE NOBODY'S BUSINESS.

SO LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS JUST ABOUT LIKE PUTTING CAUTION TAPE IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN RUN OVER IT WITH THE LAWNMOWER WITHOUT ABSOLUTELY INTENTIONALLY DECIDING YOU WANT TO DESTROY THAT HOSE.

THE HOUSEPLANT CRAZE, OF COURSE, IS NOT GOING AWAY.

AND JUST LIKE HUMAN BEINGS, HOUSE PLANTS NEED THE RIGHT FOOD, OR THE RIGHT SOMETHING TO MAKE THEM GROW AND BE WONDERFUL AND HAPPY AND HEALTHY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN ORGANIC PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY ON PLANTS YOU USE IN YOUR HOUSE.

THERE IS MAYBE A NEWER LINE, OR A LOT MORE THAT ARE VERY, VERY SPECIFIC TO PARTICULAR PLANTS.

WHETHER IT'S VIOLETS, ORCHIDS, CACTI, POTTING MIXES, THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WOULD ALSO HELP WITH ANY OF THOSE INSECTS LIKE THE FUNGUS GNATS THAT TEND TO GET INTO PRETTY MUCH EVERY SINGLE HOUSEPLANT YOU CAN IMAGINE.

SO IF YOU DO LOVE HOUSEPLANTS, TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THESE NEWER OPTIONS THAT MIGHT MAKE IT A LITTLE EASIER FOR YOU TO BE COMFORTABLE TAKING CARE OF YOUR HOUSEPLANTS.

OF COURSE, IF YOU ARE REALLY GARDENING AND WANTING TO GROW FOOD TO EAT IN YOUR OWN LANDSCAPE INSTEAD OF WORKING WITH THOSE HOUSEPLANTS, YOU ARE PROBABLY EQUALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT YOUR PRODUCE IS SAFE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, FOR THOSE POLLINATORS, AND FOR THE EARTH.

AGAIN, THE LINE OF INTERESTING PRODUCTS THAT IS AVAILABLE IS GROWING EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND THAT PUN WAS, OF COURSE, INTENDED.

SO WE HAVE THINGS LIKE COMPOST TEA FOR SMALL SPACES, WE HAVE SOME NEW SORT OF BIO-FUNGICIDES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO HELP WITH TOMATOES.

AND, ACCORDING TO OUR RECORDS, THOSE TOMATOES ARE ABSOLUTELY THE PLANT THAT WE GET THE MOST QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO GARDEN PRODUCE.

SO, AGAIN, TAKE A LOOK AT LABELS, TAKE A LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT YOU SEE.

PICK OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU WITH YOUR OWN HOME LANDSCAPE, FOR YOUR GARDEN, FOR YOUR INTERIOR.

ENJOY THOSE NEW PRODUCTS.

GET OUT THERE AND GET GROWING THOSE PLANTS.

>> WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THOSE TRIPS TO THE GARDEN CENTER BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY DO.

MAYBE COME UP WITH A PROJECT PLAN FOR YOUR HOME THIS SEASON.

MAKE THAT TRIP TO THE STORE FUN AND PRACTICAL.

IT'S LIKE GOING TO THE HARDWARE STORE.

SPEAKING OF FUN, OUR "BACKYARD FARMER" YOUTUBE CHANNEL HAS HUNDREDS OF FANTASTIC VIDEOS, FEATURES, AND PAST PROGRAMS.

JUST ABOUT EVERY TOPIC IS COVERED FROM TURF TO DISEASE, INSECT PESTS, AND GROWING PLANTS THE RIGHT WAY.

TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO CHECK OUT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AFTER THE SHOW, AND DO BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE SO YOU'LL GET OUR NEW WEEKLY CONTENT AS SOON AS IT'S AVAILABLE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ONE ROUND OF QUESTIONS LEFT.

YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES, KYLE, COME TO US FROM GARLAND, NEBRASKA.

THEY FOUND THIS LITTLE GUY HANGING ON THE GARAGE DOOR ON EASTER SUNDAY.

HE'S A BIT BIGGER THAN A QUARTER, MAYBE CLOSER TO A FIFTY CENT PIECE.

SEEMS EARLY IN THE YEAR TO SEE A BUG THIS BIG.

WONDERING WHAT IT IS, AND IT IS A GOOD GUY OR A BAD GUY?

>> I THINK IT'S A GOOD GUY.

IT'S A GRASSHOPPER NYMPH.

IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BANDED WING GRASSHOPPERS, THAT THEY DO -- LIKE A CORAL-WINGED GRASSHOPPER -- SO THE ADULTS HAVE, LIKE, THESE REALLY BEAUTIFULLY COLORED UNDER WINGS.

AND THEY DO OVERWINTER AS MATURE NYMPHS, SO THEY CAN BE QUITE LARGE THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THEY'RE NOT REALLY A PEST OR ANYTHING, AND IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GRASSHOPPER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS SENT US SEVERAL.

SHE DOES TRAVEL, SHE COULD HAVE TAKEN THESE PICTURES SOMEPLACE ELSE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

WHAT IS THIS ONE?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A YELLOW SAC SPIDER.

SO PRETTY COMMON SPIDER WE SEE INDOORS.

>> HOW BIG ARE THOSE?

SHE DIDN'T PUT A LITTLE THING -- >> THEY'RE FAIRLY SMALL.

THEY ARE NOT VERY BIG.

>> YEAH, SO TINY LITTLE LEGS AND THINGS.

>> YEAH.

>> COOL.

ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T LIKE SPIDERS, BUT THAT'S A CUTE ONE.

ALL RIGHT, ROCH, THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

DANELIONS -- THE QUESTION, DANDELIONS ARE BLOOMING ALREADY IN WARM PLACES.

AND THEY SAY THAT THIS TURF, IN QUOTES, "IS ALMOST COMPLETELY COVERED WITH THEM, EVEN THE AREAS THAT WERE COVERED DEEPLY WITH MULCH LAST YEAR."

CAN THEY BE KILLED NOW AND RESEED?

DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL FALL?

IS THERE SORT OF A MINIMALLY CHEMICAL WAY TO DO THIS, OR IS THIS JUST IMPOSSIBLE?

>> WELL, SO, IN ONE OF THOSE PICTURES IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF TREE ROOT, SO I'M GOING TO SAY THEY'VE GOT TURF TOO CLOSE TO THE TREE.

RIGHT, SO THAT -- THAT WOULD PROBABLY LEND ITSELF TO ANY OF THE SHADE TOLERANT PLANTS OR JUST MULCH, RIGHT?

SO THEY SAID EVEN IN THE MULCH.

THIS IS A VERY THIN TURF STAND.

IT CERTAINLY COULD BE RENOVATED.

I'M GONNA SUGGEST, THOUGH, THAT THEY LIVE THE SUMMER OUT WITH IT.

LET THOSE DANDELIONS -- RIGHT NOW THEY'RE GETTING' READY -- YOU KNOW, THEY'VE ALREADY FLOWERED, AND THIS IS THE WORST TIME TO TRY TO CONTROL THEM WITH EVEN AN AGGRESSIVE HERBICIDE.

SO WHY DON'T WE LEAVE THEM BE?

THAT YELLOW FLOWER PRODUCES, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME POLLEN THAT'S ALREADY BEEN PRODUCED.

THEY HAVE BEEN FORAGED ON, ET CETERA, FOR THE POLLINATORS.

IT'S NOT GREAT FEED BUT AT LEAST IT DOES PROVIDE SOME FORAGE QUALITY TO THAT.

AND THEN CONSIDER SPRAYING THEM IN THE FALL WHICH IS A BETTER TIME TO CONTROL, AND THEN USE SOME OF THE MINIMALLY INVASIVE PRODUCTS THAT ARE ORGANIC IN NATURE.

THERE IS FIESTA, WHICH IS AN IRON-BASED PRODUCT THAT'LL DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB KNOCKING THEM BACK, AND THEN OVERSEED AGGRESSIVELY INTO THAT AREA WITH AN APPROPRIATE KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS OR TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

>> IF THEY HAVE A LOT OF THEM THEY CAN MAKE DANDELION WINE, ROCH.

>> WELL, THEY CERTAINLY COULD, AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT ANY HERBICIDES ON YOUR DANDELION WINE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> A LITTLE FLAVOR BUD ON THERE, RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE, ROCH.

THIS COMES TO US FROM COLUMBUS.

A SECTION OF LAWN BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE SIDEWALK THAT DOESN'T GET ENOUGH WATER AND HAS GONE TO WEEDS.

WE SEE THIS A LOT.

DO YOU EVER RECOMMEND A TURF FOR THIS KIND OF -- ?

BECAUSE I KNOW ON CAMPUS THERE HAS BEEN SOME SUCCESS.

>> CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, BUFFALO GRASS WOULD DO WELL BECAUSE IT IS A HEAT ISLAND.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GET WATER ON IT.

YOU'RE GONNA PROBABLY HAVE TO AMEND IT, BECAUSE IT TENDS TO BE THE LEFTOVERS, AND YOU GET A LOT OF RESIDUAL SALT DEPENDING UPON HOW -- IF THEY SALT THE STREETS OR NOT, DEPENDING UPON WHERE YOU LIVE.

IF THIS IS IN LINCOLN THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE FINE.

WE SEE A LOT OF BURN THERE, AND IF YOU CAN'T GET WATER TO IT DURING ESTABLISHMENT, THEN MAYBE YOU DO SOMETHING HARDSCAPE ALONG THOSE LINES OR SOMETHING THERE.

AND THEN CERTAINLY TALL FESCUE WOULD DO WELL IN THERE, BUT IT JUST IS SO SEASONAL IN GROWTH AND IT CAN SO AGGRESSIVELY GROW, SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO PUT THE MOWER OUT THERE.

SO I WOULD SAY YOU HAVE TO GO TO BUFFALO GRASS WHICH YOU MAYBE HAVE TO MOW ONCE A MONTH, AND MINIMAL FERTILIZER, AND A MINIMAL WATER ONCE YOU GET IT ESTABLISHED.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, ROCH.

LOREN, THIS APPEARED, THIS THING.

THIS IS ONE PICTURE ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, IT CONTINUES TO GET BIGGER EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

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

AND THIS IS IN SEWARD.

>> AND I THINK IN THIS CASE WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, WHERE IT'S CONSISTENT AND WE'VE GOT SOME GREEN, AS THE TURF GREENS, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA SEE IT BRIGHTER IN THE CENTER, MAYBE ON THE EDGE AND WE'RE LOOKING AT FAIRY RING.

THERE IS SOME RESEARCH SUGGESTING THAT IF YOU WOULD AERATE AND MIX THE RINGS UP IF YOU HAVE DIFFERENT ONES, THAT THEY CAN -- THEY'RE NOT COMPATIBLE.

SO THEY COULD TRY THAT IF THEY WANTED SOMETHING TO DO.

>> IT'S KIND OF COOL.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE AND THIS CAME TO US, AGAIN, FROM A VIEWER WHO HAD THIS HAPPEN LAST YEAR.

HOSTA COLLECTION IN THE ARBORETUM HAD SEVERAL PLANTS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS IN EARLY JUNE.

IS THIS A DISEASE?

AND THIS COMES TO US FROM PIERCE.

>> I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A DISEASE, KIM.

LOOKING AT THIS, IT DOESN'T REALLY MATCH MANY OF OUR LEAF SPOTS OR VIRAL INFECTIONS.

THERE ARE SOME HEALTHY LEAVES THAT LOOK A LITTLE DEEPER.

I QUESTION SOME SORT OF INJURY, OR EVEN WATER SPOT BURNS, SOMETHING, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS A DISEASE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THAT WILL MAKE THEM HAPPY.

>> YEAH.

ENJOY.

>> JEFF, THIS IS THE COLUMBUS VIEWER AGAIN.

IT'S THE SAME VIEWER THAT ROCH ANSWERED ABOUT TURF.

BUT THEY REALLY ARE KIND OF WONDERING, WOULD YOU RECOMMEND PLANTS BEYOND TURF?

AND, IF SO, WHAT KIND OF PLANTS IN THIS KIND OF -- ?

>> SO IF THEY DON'T LIKE ROCH'S ANSWER, THEN -- >> WELL, THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK HIM THAT.

BUT THERE ARE OPTIONS -- IT'S EITHER BUFFALO GRASS OR SOMETHING ELSE.

AND WE HAVE SOME PLANTS HERE.

>> WELL, I THINK, TO ME, I THINK, TOO, IF THAT'S AN AREA THAT PEOPLE ARE WALKING, IF THEY'RE PARKING THEIR CAR AND WALKING ACROSS, SO COMPACTION MIGHT ALSO KIND OF BE AN ISSUE THERE.

AND I WOULD AGREE WITH ROCH THAT WHATEVER YOU PUT IN THERE, AND THERE IS A LOT OF PERENNIAL FLOWERING NATIVE PLANTS THAT WOULD DO WELL IN A PLACE LIKE THAT, IT'S STILL GONNA NEED WATER.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO YOU HAVE TO WATER IT.

YOU KNOW, FROM A -- I NOTICED THEY ALSO HAVE KARL FOERSTER, MAYBE SOME DROPSEED IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO THEY HAVE SOME GRASSES.

ONE THAT I WOULD SUGGEST WOULD BE BLUE GRAMA.

IT'S A LITTLE TALLER.

WE USE IT IN A MIX OF BUFFALO GRASS TO KIND OF FORM, KIND OF A TURF AREA, THEN, AGAIN, MOW IT MINIMALLY, AND THAT HAS WORKED WELL FOR US.

BUT AGAIN YOU WILL HAVE TO WATER.

>> TAKE CARE OF IT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO QUESTIONS QUICKLY ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO STARTED SEEDLINGS -- SHASTA DAISIES AND RUDBECKIA.

TWENTY WILDFLOWER VARIETIES, THEY -- AND THIS IS HASTINGS.

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH THESE FROM THIS POINT FORWARD?

>> WELL, THESE ARE OFF TO A GOOD START.

I THINK WITH THE ONES IN THE LITTLE PEAT POTS, THE DAISIES, THE RUDBECKIA, THEY MAY NEED TO THIN SOME OF THOSE AS THEY GO FORWARD.

AND THEN I WOULD SLOWLY ON WARMER DAYS GET THEM OUTSIDE, KIND OF GET THEM USED TO THE OUTSIDE, THEN AS THEY GET BIG ENOUGH, THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND START PLANTING THOSE.

THE SEEDS ARE PROBABLY OVER PLANTED IN THOSE LITTLE POTS.

SO AGAIN, I THINK I WOULD, INSTEAD OF THINNING THEM, MAYBE I WOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND KIND OF GET THEM HARDENED OFF WHEN CONDITIONS ARE BETTER MAYBE IN A MONTH, I'D GO AHEAD AND PLANT THOSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, CROSS YOUR FINGERS AND GIVE THEM THAT TENDER LOVING CARE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

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

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS, ONCE AGAIN TO OUR PANELISTS FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING WE HAD TIM DUNGAN AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME GREAT TIPS FOR YOUR HOME TURF THIS SPRING.

WE'LL ALSO HELP YOU CHOOSE THE BEST BAG OF SOIL OR THE POTTING MEDIA AT THE GARDEN CENTER.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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