(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> BACKYARD FARMER IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'LL CHECK OUT A LEGENDARY NURSERY IN CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

AND WE'LL SEE WHAT'S TROUBLING THIS EVERGREEN.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> HELLO, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT AS WE TAKE THE NEXT HOUR TO ANSWER YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

CALL US AT 1-800-676-5446.

AND OUR VOLUNTEER PHONE PANEL WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR QUESTION.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT PICTURES AND QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

WE NEED TO KNOW AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN GIVE US ABOUT YOUR SITUATION, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

DO NOT FORGET TO FOLLOW US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND YOUTUBE.

AND OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW, TIME FOR SAMPLES.

JODY'S IS ATTEMPTING TO ESCAPE.

>> I'VE GOT HER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY >> THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING SAMPLE I'VE EVER BROUGHT IN THE HISTORY OF MY LIFE.

THIS IS A NORTHERN MOLE CRICKET.

IF ANYONE CAN SEE IT, SHE IS ONE OF THE STRANGEST CREATURES WE'VE EVER SEEN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GETS REPORTED TO ME.

AND PICTURES ARE SENT, UM, BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY UGLY.

BUT IT IS VERY, VERY CUTE TO ME.

SOMETIMES THEY CAN BE PASSIVE TURF BECAUSE THEY DIG.

AND IF YOU CAN SEE HER FOUR LEGS OR HER FRONT LEGS.

THEY ARE SHOVEL-LIKE.

SO SHE'S GOT THESE DIGGING LEGS.

AND THEN IF YOU CAN SEE THE REST OF HER BODY, SHE'S ACTUALLY GOT WINGS AND A REALLY HEAVY LOOKING BODY.

ANYWAY, I'M GOING TO COVER HER.

THERE SHE GOES.

BUT WE DO HAVE THESE IN NEBRASKA.

THEY ARE, UM, THEY'VE GOT SMALL EYES.

THEY CAN CALL.

THE MALES CAN CALL.

I'VE DETERMINED THAT SHE'S A FEMALE BECAUSE OF HER WING VENATION.

UM, THEY DON'T HAVE OVIPOSITORS LIKE OTHER ORTHOPTERANS, LIKE GRASSHOPPERS AND KATYDIDS, BUT THEY ARE TYPICALLY UNDERGROUND OR SUBTERRANEAN, SO WE DON'T NORMALLY SEE THEM IN THE REST OF THE PANEL.

DIDN'T THINK THAT THEY WERE THIS FAR NORTH.

>> YEAH.

>> SO YEAH.

>> FUN AND STRANGE.

ALL RIGHT.

JEFF.

NOT NEARLY AS FUN.

>> NO.

YOU KNOW, AND I TYPICALLY FEEL SAFER WITH DENNIS WITH LIKE A RATTLESNAKE THAN I DO WITH JODY WITH THAT.

BUT ANYWAY, SO GLAD IT DIDN'T ATTACK ANYONE.

>> GLAD YOU DIDN'T STEP ON IT.

>> I KNOW, RIGHT.

WELL, I BROUGHT A SOAKER HOSE HERE TO TALK ABOUT OUR LACK OF RAIN.

I KNOW WE'VE JUST HAD SOME REALLY BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.

IT'S LOW HUMIDITY.

TEMPERATURES ARE GREAT, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY DRY.

WHERE MUCH OF THE STATE IS IN A SERIOUS DROUGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS JUST A REMINDER TO BE STRATEGIC IN HOW WE'RE USING OUR WATER.

UM, OUR, OUR JUST EVEN IN YOUR YARD, YOU KNOW, YOUR LITTLE LANDSCAPE AROUND YOUR YARD, THE SOIL CAN BE DIFFERENT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

THE PLANTS AND ALL THAT AFFECT HOW WATER IS USED AND HOW IT IS ABSORBED BY OUR SOILS.

SO THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GO OUT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THINGS AND JUST SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR YARD BEFORE YOU START TO JUST KIND OF UNIFORMLY APPLY WATER WHEN MAYBE YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT.

>> GOOD ADVICE.

THANKS, JEFF.

OKAY, MIKE.

BRING IT.

>> YEAH.

WELL, THIS IS A NIGHT FOR UNUSUAL SAMPLES THAT WE GET EXCITED ABOUT.

SO TO BE CANDID WITH YOU, I THINK WE'RE ILL TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

KIM FOUND THIS WHILE SHE WAS WORKING IN THE GARDEN, AND, UM, IT HAS MADE THE ROUNDS.

I'LL SHOW THE.

THE BOTTOM'S GOT A LITTLE BIT OF ALGAE.

THE TOP.

IT'S EXTREMELY RUBBERY.

UM, YOU CAN SEE THAT MOVEMENT.

WE THINK THAT THIS IS EITHER SOME TYPE OF A SLIME MOLD OR IT IS SOME KIND OF A PUFFBALL.

AND THIS DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A PUFFBALL, BUT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MAYBE AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT THIS IS FOR.

NOW WE'RE CALLING IT LARRY.

(LAUGHING) >> AND IF IT PROPAGATES, THEN WE'LL.

>> YES, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT LARRY DOES.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT LARRY ES.

>> OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M WE'RE DOING, YOU KNOW, INTERESTING SAMPLES AND THEN BORING SAMPLES AND INTERESTING.

AND I'VE GOT KIND OF A BORING ONE, BUT IT COULD BE FUN.

UM, REMEMBER WE TALKED ABOUT TEMPERATURES AND YOUR TOMATOES.

AND THIS TONIGHT I'VE BROUGHT MY FRIEND BOB.

UM, THAT THIS IS BOB ROSS.

THERE WE GO.

UM, YEAH, I'M NOT THE BEST AT OUR SAMPLES, BUT THE POINT OF THIS IS THAT I COULDN'T FIND FLOATING ROW COVER IN THE SHED.

UM, BUT TEMPERATURES ARE DROPPING.

IF YOU'VE ALREADY PLANTED YOUR TOMATOES, WE'RE, YOU KNOW, HEADING INTO SOME 40 DEGREE EVENINGS AND WE WANT TO JUST COVER UP OUR PLANTS A LITTLE BIT.

YOU WANT TO DO THIS WHEN IT'S WARM OUTSIDE, GIVE THEM A LITTLE COVER AS WE'RE HEADED TO THE EVENING, YOU KNOW, DO SOME DRAPING IF YOU NEED TO PUT A BUCKET OR SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NICE AND LOOSE, UM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF PUT SOME ROCKS OR SOMETHING, HOLD THINGS DOWN AND THEN TAKE IT OFF IN THE MORNING BECAUSE THESE 40 DEGREE NIGHTS CAN DO SOME STUNTING OR PURPLING.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, DON'T REGRET YOUR LIFE CHOICES.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO WITH QUESTIONS.

LET'S SEE, JODY.

OGALLALA, WHAT ARE THESE TINY ANTS CARRYING UP HER PERGOLA POST?

SO I THINK WE HAVE JUST ONE PICTURE ON THIS AND YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE CARRYING SOMETHING.

WHAT?

WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE THEY DOING?

>> YEAH.

SO THESE ANTS ARE CARRYING THEIR BROOD.

SO THAT MEANS THEY'RE EITHER THE LARVAE.

THE PUPAE OR THE EGGS.

AND SO THEY ARE NOT LIKING WHERE THEY WERE.

MAYBE THEY WERE DISTURBED AND THEY'RE MOVING NEST.

SO MAYBE IT'S SOMEWHERE JUST THAT'S BETTER TEMPERATURE, YOU KNOW, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION.

THEY'RE GOING SOMEWHERE BETTER.

THEY'RE GOING UP.

YES.

THEY'RE GOING TO THE PENTHOUSE.

THAT'S A GOOD ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

OMAHA.

HOW CAN I GET RID OF THESE ANTS UNDER OUR DRIVEWAY AND THE ANTHILLS IN THE LAWN?

SO BOTH.

(RUSTLING) >> WHY DO YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THEM?

WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GO IN THE HOUSE AND THEY CAN'T GO IN THE DRIVEWAY AND THE LAWN, THEY ARE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE.

SO IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVEWAY, YOU CAN FIX THAT CRACK.

THESE ARE PAVEMENT ANTS, AND SO THEY NATURALLY NEST UNDER THE SLAB OR SIDEWALKS.

SO THAT'S WHAT THEY DO.

IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO GET RID OF THEM, YOU CAN DO LIKE A BAITING WITH ANT BAIT, BUT YOU'LL BE CONSTANTLY BAITING BECAUSE ANOTHER COLONY WILL MOVE IN AFTER THAT ONE LEAVES OR GETS KILLED BECAUSE IT'S LIKE A HOUSE THAT'S UP FOR SALE.

(FABRIC RUSTLING) YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT NEIGHBOR, BUT IF THE HOUSE IS UP FOR SALE, SOMEONE ELSE IS GOING TO BUY THE HOUSE AND MOVE IN.

SO IT'S SOMETHING YOU'LL CONSTANTLY HAVE TO DO.

>> OKAY.

THANKS, JODY.

OMAHA.

WHAT IS THIS BUG ON HER HERBS?

IT LIKES THE PARSLEY AND OREGANO.

DOESN'T BOTHER THE BASIL, SAGE OR THYME.

AND THEY'RE ALL OVER.

>> WELL, THAT IS GOOD BECAUSE THIS IS CONSIDERED A GOOD BUG AT THIS STAGE OF LIFE.

THIS IS A LADY BUG LARVAE AND THEY'RE PREDATORS.

AND SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE SOME KIND OF APHID ISSUE BECAUSE THE MOTHER DOESN'T LAY EGGS THERE.

IF IT'S NOT, THERE'S NOT SOMETHING FOR THEIR OFFSPRING TO EAT.

SO THIS STAGE, IN THIS SETTING, THEY ARE A GOOD GUY.

>> GREAT.

THREE PICTURES FROM ORD, JEFF.

WHAT KIND OF GRASS IS THIS?

AND THE BROWN IS FROM LAST YEAR.

IT SPREADS FAST.

HE'S JUST STARTING THIS YARD.

SO THIS FIRST ONE IS KIND OF WHAT HE'S WORKING ON HERE.

AND THEN I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE OF WHATEVER THIS IS.

>> YEAH.

IT LOOKS LIKE DALLAS GRASS TO ME, WHICH IS A PERENNIAL GRASS.

UM, AND THAT'S WHY HE'S NOTICING IT GETTING BIGGER EACH YEAR.

SO, UM, AND IT CAN BE TOUGH TO CONTROL.

UM, QUINCLORAC IS USEFUL WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, BUT AT THIS STAGE WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING AT A GLYPHOSATE PRODUCT HERE.

SO YOU'LL HAVE TO CAREFULLY KIND OF SPOT TREAT THESE AREAS.

UM, AND THEN LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE MOWING AND ALL THAT, NOT ALLOWING ANYTHING TO GO TO SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COURTLAND, WHAT IS THIS WEED OR GRASS THAT'S GROWING AND SPREADING VERY.

HE'S CALLING IT VINEY AND SAYS REGULAR WEED TREATMENT HAS NOT WORKED.

>> WELL I'M THINKING THIS IS BARNYARD GRASS.

THE WAY THOSE STEMS ARE SO LONG IS WHAT I WAS THINKING.

SO REGARDLESS, I THINK IT'S AN ANNUAL GRASS.

SO I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T LET IT FLOWER, UH, SO THAT WE'RE KEEPING IT MOWED.

AND AGAIN, USING PRE-EMERGE ON THIS, UH, YOU COULD USE QUINCLORAC AGAIN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD WORK WELL WITH THIS AS WELL.

>> OKAY.

MIKE, WALTON TWO PICTURES.

LAWN IS GENERALLY IN GOOD SHAPE.

HOWEVER, ONE SPOT IS ALREADY TURNING BROWN TRADITIONALLY GETS BROWN.

NOT THIS EARLY, THIS FAST.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE THAT'S KIND OF SIMILAR.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK THERE?

SO HERE'S JUST TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

>> YEAH.

I'M ALWAYS INTERESTED WITH THE TURF DISORDERS LIKE THIS ON THE HISTORY OF THE SITE.

BUT I WON'T I WON'T GO TOO DEEP INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.

SPRINGTIME AND MAYBE THERE ARE TWO THINGS GOING ON.

ONE IN THE SPRING, I THINK THIS IS ASCOCHYTA LEAF BLIGHT, AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT IT PRODUCES A LOT OF SPORES, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S WET.

AND IF YOU WALK OVER IT OR MOW OVER IT, YOU ACTUALLY CAN TRACK THE SPORES REALLY, REALLY EASY TO TELL IF WE GET A SAMPLE INTO THE CLINIC AND YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THAT TRACKING THERE.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT THIS DOESN'T REALLY GO AFTER THE CROWN OR THE STOLONS.

AND SO WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CULTURAL MANAGEMENT, THIS GRASS SHOULD COME BACK.

>> OKAY, FROM OMAHA.

THIS IS A BLUEGRASS LAWN.

SHE'S GUESSING A FUNGAL DISEASE.

AND WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND HERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS ACTUALLY MAYBE THE SAME THING, BUT AN EARLIER VERSION.

THERE WAS A SECOND PICTURE THAT THAT CAME WITH THIS.

AND I WAS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE LEAF BLADES AND IT LOOKED A LOT LIKE ASCOCHYTA.

SO I WOULD SAY HERE, WATCH THE WATERING AND STAY OFF OF THAT.

AS FAR AS CULTURAL PRACTICES, MOWING THAT KIND OF THING WHILE IT'S WET.

>> OKAY.

FROM BLOOMINGTON.

THIS IS A CHICAGO HARDY FIG.

THAT HE GOT TWO WEEKS AGO AND LOOKED FINE.

AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

YES, THIS IS A I'M LEARNING ALL KINDS OF NEW THINGS TONIGHT.

I HAVEN'T WORKED WITH HARDY FIGS.

ON THE SURFACE, THIS LOOKS LIKE RUST.

THE TWO THINGS, THOUGH, THAT MAKE ME QUESTION THIS A LITTLE BIT IS THAT RUST, UH, TYPICALLY SPORULATES ON THE UNDERNEATH SIDE OF THE LEAF.

AND THIS LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON THE TOP OF THE LEAF, SO I'D LOVE TO SEE A PICTURE UNDERNEATH.

SECOND, UH, FIG RUST USUALLY OCCURS IN THE FALL.

SO THIS IS OCCURRING IN THE SPRINGTIME.

I THINK THE LITTLE ANSWER THERE WOULD BE THAT THIS WAS TWO WEEKS OLD.

SO WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF THE PLANT.

AND PERHAPS THIS FIG WAS PROPAGATED IN A PART OF THE COUNTRY WHERE FIG RUST SPORES WERE ACTIVE.

AND THEN WHEN IT CAME TO NEBRASKA, WE HAVE FIG RUST.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WHEREVER THAT WAS.

PAPILLION FOR YOU, DANA.

SO 361 IRIS RHIZOMES PLANTED LAST FALL.

NEW SOIL.

THEY KNOW.

THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD IRIS PEOPLE.

>> YEAH.

>> SO LOT NOT GROWING, SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE BED.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS IS FROST.

DEAD ONES ARE NOT ALL IN THE SAME AREA, SAME VARIETY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, I'M LEANING NOT TOWARDS FROST.

GIVEN THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'D EXPECT MORE UNIFORM DAMAGE.

UM, I THINK YOU MAY HAVE JUST HAD SOME PLANT FAILURE.

UM, SO, YOU KNOW, GIVEN THAT SORT OF PAPERY DRY, YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU COULD DO IS JUST KIND OF PULL THEM UP, SEE HOW MUCH IS, IS GONE.

UM, AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEN IT'S A MATTER OF LIKE, WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

UM, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY REPLANT.

>> OKAY.

FROM OTOE COUNTY THIS IS AMSONIA APPEARED TO WILT.

IS THIS DRIFT.

THERE IS A FIELD.

>> YEAH.

THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE HERBICIDE INJURY.

UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OTHER COMMENT WAS THAT THERE LIKE, I THINK THEY SAID THEY ALREADY CUIT BACK AND THAT THE NEW GROWTH IS LOOKING GOOD.

YEAH.

SO THAT'S PRETTY TYPICAL UM, OF, YOU KNOW MORE HERBICIDE INJURY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM LINWOOD, A ONE YEAR OLD EDELWEISS GRAPE LEAVES ARE ALL CURLED.

IT'S BEEN WATERED ADEQUATELY.

THEY COVERED IT.

THEY'VE BEEN CURLED SINCE THEY GOT IT.

>> I THINK THIS ONE IS MORE COLD DAMAGE THAN THE OTHER.

UM, YOU KNOW, LEAVES CAN KIND OF EMERGE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COOL.

UM, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF LOOK FUZZY, BUT I SUSPECT THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST AS TEMPS WARM UP THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME, YOU KNOW, JUST FINE, UM, NORMAL GROWTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FOR OUR FIRST SEGMENT TONIGHT, WE TAKE YOU TO CLARKSON, WHERE A SMALL TOWN GREENHOUSE HAS GROWN INTO SOMETHING BIGGER.

BLUEBIRD NURSERY WAS FOUNDED IN 1958 BY HARLAN HAMERNIK, AND TODAY HIS SONS CHUCK AND TOM CARRY ON THAT LEGACY ROOTED IN A PASSION FOR PLANTS AND RURAL LIFE.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> IN A TOWN OF 600 PEOPLE.

GROWING IS BIG BUSINESS.

>> THIS IS A SELECTION OF ASCLEPIAS TUBEROSA.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC) >> WHAT STARTED IN 1958 WITH A SINGLE GREENHOUSE.

HARLAN HAMERNIK AND HIS FAMILY HAVE GROWN A HUMBLE SMALL TOWN BUSINESS INTO A NATIONWIDE OPERATION.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC) HE ACTUALLY TORE DOWN AN OLD GLASS GREENHOUSE IN LINCOLN, AND THEY REBUILT IT HERE IN CLARKSON AND STARTED TO GROW A FEW ANNUALS AND A FEW CUT FLOWERS.

>> TODAY, BLUEBIRD NURSERY GROWS 1500 DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PLANTS ACROSS MULTIPLE GREENHOUSES (CLASSICAL MUSIC) STRETCH THE LENGTH OF SIX FOOTBALL FIELDS.

(CLASSICAL MUSIC) >> IT ALL STARTS WITH THE PRODUCTION PLAN.

THEY LOOK AT THE LAST THREE OR 4 OR 5 YEARS OF WHAT WE SOLD IN A PARTICULAR YEAR AND START THEIR PRODUCTION PLANNING.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> STARTING FROM SEED CUTTINGS OR TRANSPLANT.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

>> IS IT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO BY SEED?

DO WE HAVE TIME?

IS IT DONE BY CUTTINGS?

DO WE HAVE THE CUTTINGS OURSELVES?

CAN WE SOURCE THE CUTTINGS FROM PUERTO RICO OR GUATEMALA?

CAN WE MAKE THEIR SHIP DATE.

>> INSIDE THE GREENHOUSE, PLANT PRODUCTION DEPENDS ON PRECISION, EXPERIENCE, BUT MOST OF ALL, PEOPLE.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE GREENHOUSE IS THE.

IS THE PERSON ON THE END OF THE HOSE.

THEY CONTROL YOUR QUALITY.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THE PLANT MATERIAL.

THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE WEATHER'S GOING TO BE TODAY AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO BE THIS COMING WEEKEND.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> EVERY DETAIL MATTERS.

SUNLIGHT, TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE LEVELS ALL MONITORED BY THE CARETAKERS AT BLUEBIRD NURSERY.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> BLUEBIRD MEANS A LOT.

I MEAN, IT'S BEEN HOME BASE FROM DAY ONE.

WE'RE JUST A SMALL FAMILY THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT EVERYBODY AND KIND OF THE GLUE THAT HOLDS A TOWN TOGETHER.

>> GENERATIONS HAVE GROWN UP HERE, LANDING THEIR FIRST JOB, BUT SOME STAYING FOR DECADES.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THE REAL CHALLENGE BEGINS WHEN THE PLANTS ARE READY TO LEAVE.

(SCRAPING SOUND) THAT EVERYTHING IS DELIVERED BY FRIDAY.

>> EVERY WEEK, HUNDREDS OF BOXES AND MASSIVE PALLETS LEAVE CLARKSON FOR DESTINATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> SOME WITH OUR OWN TRUCKS, SOME IN SMALL BOX WITH FEDEX.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR US TO PACK 20-25 PALLETS IN A DAY ALMOST EIGHT FEET TALL.

WE CAN GET A LOT OF MATERIAL OUT OF HERE WITH A SMALL CREW PRETTY QUICKLY.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) IT'S A VERY BUSY PLACE.

IT'S A HECTIC PLACE.

THERE'S A LOT OF CHANGING PRIORITIES.

WE DON'T SHIP WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE COLD OR WHEN IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY HOT.

WE KNOW A TRANSIT ROUTE GOES THROUGH A MOUNTAIN PASS IN WYOMING.

WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THAT AND ORDERS THAT ARE GOING TO THE WEST COAST.

THERE'S JUST A LOT OF DETAILS.

>> EVERY DETAIL CALCULATED.

SO EACH PLANT ARRIVES ALIVE AND THRIVING.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THESE BOXES GO ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

WE SHIP TO AS FAR WEST AS CALIFORNIA AND AS FAR EAST AS MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, AND DOWN TO FLORIDA.

>> IT'S JUST FULFILLING TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A NEED FOR THE PLANT MATERIAL THAT WE GROW ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> WITH A BUSINESS MODEL THAT EXTENDS COAST TO COAST.

BLUEBIRD'S REAL PASSION IS CLOSER TO HOME.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THIS IS HARLAN'S DREAM, AND HE NEEDED SOMEBODY TO DO THE REST OF THE WORK.

AND SO HERE WE ARE, YOU KNOW, 50, 60 YEARS LATER, STILL PLUGGING AWAY AT IT, GETTING IT DONE.

I'M FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH A REALLY GOOD GROUP OF PEOPLE.

(GENTLE MUSIC) (LAUGHTER) I ALWAYS FELT FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN MY HOMETOWN.

THAT'S THE THING I'M MOST ECSTATIC ABOUT, TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY, TO RAISE MY KIDS HERE, TO WATCH MY GRANDKIDS GROW UP HERE.

(GENTLE MUSIC) THAT TO ME, IS REALLY SPECIAL.

(GENTLE MUSIC) >> FROM CLARKSON, NEBRASKA, TO GARDEN CENTERS AND OUTDOOR SPACES ACROSS THE NATION, BLUEBIRD NURSERY, ROOTED IN TRADITION AND CARRIED FORWARD BY THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

(GENTLE MUSIC) >> A BIG THANK YOU TO BLUEBIRD NURSERY FOR ALLOWING US TO SHARE THAT STORY.

THEY'RE TRULY ONE OF NEBRASKA'S GREAT LEGACY BUSINESSES, AND IT'S CLEAR THE IMPACT THEY HAVE ON CLARKSON DOES GO BOTH WAYS.

ALL RIGHT.

SOUTHWEST OMAHA TWO PICTURES.

COLUMBINE,JODY.

SOMETHING WAS EATING IT.

IT'S IN A RAISED BED.

WE HAD 2 OR 3 PEOPLE SEND THIS.

>> YES.

SO I, I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

USUALLY WITH COLUMBINE.

THERE'S EITHER TWO THINGS.

IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE THE COLUMBINE LEAFMINER THAT FEEDS IN BETWEEN THE LEAVES.

AND THEN THERE'S THE COLUMBINE SAWFLY, WHICH EATS THE LEAVES FROM THE EDGE ALL THE WAY TO THE MIDVEIN.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HAPPENED HERE THAT HAPPENED TO ONE OF MINE.

THEY SHOULD STILL SURVIVE IF THE PLANT'S HEALTHY, YOU CAN CUT THAT BACK AND HAVE NEW GROWTH COME UP.

UMM.. BUT I CHECKED THOSE PICTURES AND THEY'RE NOT THERE NOW.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO.

>> GONE.

>> YEAH.

SO THERE'S NOTHING TO SPRAY WITH OR PICK OFF.

>> TWO PICTURES, EAST LINCOLN ASSUMING THIS IS NOT A GOOD SIGN FOR THE YARD, ALTHOUGH IT'S A GOOD GRASS, SHE DOESN'T HAVE A GOOD GRASS LAWN.

SHE SAID THE BIRDS REALLY LIKED IT.

>> OH YEAH.

THE BIRDS WOULD LIKE IT.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE CUTWORMS.

THIS IS A BRONZE CUTWORM.

IT'S A MINOR PEST OF TURF.

BUT USUALLY YOU HAVE TO HAVE LIKE HIGH ENOUGH NUMBERS TO DO ANY TREATMENT.

SO YEAH, THAT'S.

>> GIVE THEM TO THE BIRDS.

>> AND YEAH, THEY'RE CALLED CUTWORMS BECAUSE THEY, THEY'RE JUST ON THE SOIL SURFACE AND THEY USUALLY CUT DOWN PLANTS.

>> OKAY.

JEFF.

A SAWFLY THAT WAS ON.

OH, JODY.

SORRY.

(CHUCKLING) ONE MORE.

ONE MORE ON THIS ONE.

SO WHAT DO WHAT DO WE THINK IS GOING ON HERE?

>> OKAY.

SO THIS IS A CURRENT, RIGHT.

SO THIS IS THE GOOSEBERRY.

>> IT'S JEFF'S CURRENT.

THAT'S WHY I SAID IT'S JEFF.

(LAUGHING) >> SO THESE ARE SAWFLY LARVAE AGAIN.

SO THEY LOOK LIKE CATERPILLARS BUT THEY ARE NOT THE LARVAE OF A BUTTERFLY OR MOTH.

THEY'RE LARVAE OF A STINGLESS WASP.

SO THAT'S WHY IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ID THESE.

SO IT'S CALLED A GOOSEBERRY SAWFLY.

AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT A SAWFLY IS COMPARED TO A CATERPILLAR, YOU HAVE TO COUNT THE NON-THORACIC LEGS.

AND IF THERE'S MORE THAN SIX, IT'S A SAWFLY.

SO WHAT JEFF SHOULD HAVE DONE IS PICK THEM OFF BY HAND OR HOSE THEM OFF WITH SPRAY WATER.

IF ANYONE DOES WANT TO TREAT, THEY CAN USE INSECTICIDAL SOAP OR NEEM OIL.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JEFF, FOR SENDING THAT (LAUGHING) FROM ORD.

NOPE.

SORRY NOT ORD.

PRAGUE.

PRAGUE.

TWO PICTURES.

WHAT IS THIS?

AND HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF IT?

FROM TAKING OVER HER LAWN?

SO IN THE ROSETTE.

AND THEN THE NEXT ONE, I THINK SHOWS THE FLOWERS.

>> YEAH.

SO THAT'S THE BEAUTIFUL HOARY CRESS.

SO IT'S A BRASSICA AND IT PRODUCES A LOT OF SEED.

IT'S A PERENNIAL.

IT DOES QUITE WELL HERE.

I BELIEVE IT'S EDIBLE.

I THINK MOST OF THE WEEDS I HAVE TODAY ARE EDIBLE.

UM, BUT ONCE YOU LET IT GET ESTABLISHED, IT CAN BE A BIT OF A CHALLENGE.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO AGAIN USE A, PROBABLY A THREE WAY HERBICIDE ON THIS.

YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO MAKE SURE AGAIN, IT DOESN'T FLOWER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP ON TOP OF THAT, NOT ALLOW IT TO PRODUCE ANY MORE SEED.

AND IT'LL PROBABLY BE HARD TO KILL.

SO YOU MAY DO A ROUND OF SPRAYING NOW AND THEN AGAIN LATER THIS FALL.

>> OKAY.

THIS VINE WITH SHARP THORNS SIX FEET LONG GROWING AGAIN.

THIS IS OMAHA.

>> YEAH.

COOL.

GREENBRIER.

I LOVE THIS PLANT.

SO IT'S GREAT IF YOU HAVE, LIKE, CHILDREN YOU WANT TO KEEP OUT OF YOUR YARD, YOU CAN PLANT IT AROUND THE PERIMETER OF YOUR YARD.

THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH IT.

UMM.... SO AGAIN, IT'S, IT'S A, UM, A PERENNIAL.

IT'S A VINEY PLANT.

IT'S VERY THORNY.

I WOULD CUT THIS AND THEN TREAT THE STUMPS WITH A, OH, LIKE A STUMP KILLER.

YOU CAN GET, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ONES OUT THERE.

BUT PAINT THAT ON THERE.

>> OKAY.

FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

WHAT IS THIS WEED IN THE FESCUE LAWN?

>> YEAH.

THIS IS VERY COOL.

SALSIFY.

SO IT'S AND IT'S AN INTRODUCED PLANT.

IT HAS A NICE FLOWER.

UM, AND AGAIN, THEY'VE, THEY'RE DEMONSTRATING THEIR LOVELY WEED KNIFE THERE AND THEY CUT THE ROOT.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY THE EASIEST WAY TO DEAL WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

IT SHOULDN'T BE INVASIVE OR ANYTHING, BUT SOME PEOPLE ENJOY IT.

>> IT'S KIND OF FUN.

IT'S A BIG OLD DANDELION HEAD.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

THREE FROM MCCOOK, MIKE.

UM, TREE PLANTED.

LOOKED LIKE THIS.

GOT SOME COLD, WET WEATHER.

TRUNK IS COVERED WITH CANKERS.

SHE DID SAY, BECAUSE I ASKED HER, DID THEY HAVE HAIL?

SHE DID SAY THERE WAS A HAIL EVENT LAST FALL.

IF THAT HELPS.

>> YEAH, I THINK THE THREE.

THIS IS THE FIRST PICTURE.

AND THEN THERE'S A CLOSE UP OF THE FOLIAGE AND THEN ALSO A CLOSE UP ON THE STEM, WHICH TO ME WAS THE MOST SEVERE.

AND I'LL DEFER TO MY HORTICULTURACOLLEAGUES HERE, BUT HAIL KNOWING ABOUT HAIL DAMAGE.

THAT SURE LOOKS LIKE IT.

TOOK A TOLL ON THIS PLANT.

THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY CANKERS THERE.

PEARS ALSO ARE PREDISPOSED TO INFECTION BY BACTERIA, AND GIVEN THE LOCATION OF SOME OF THESE CANKERS, AS THAT PLANT GROWS, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME VERY WEAK POINTS.

AND SO, UM, I HATE TO BE THE BEARER OF BAD NEWS, BUT I MIGHT CONSIDER TAKING THAT OUT WHILE IT'S SMALL AND PUTTING IN A REPLACEMENT.

>> OKAY.

GOOD ADVICE.

UH, LINCOLN, TWO PICTURES.

CHERRY TREE HAS SAP COMING OUT OF IT.

>> YEP, YEP.

GUMMOSIS IS WHAT I'D GO WITH HERE AND HOW THIS GOT CAUSED.

THERE WAS USUALLY STRESS RELATED.

UM, THIS TREE IS IN A BED, SO IT'S NOT SURROUNDED BY TURF, SO IT'S NOT GETTING HIT WITH THE WEED WHACKER OR THE MOWER.

HARD TO TELL WHAT CAUSED THOSE CANKERS, BUT REDUCING THE STRESS.

IT'S A PRETTY MATURE TREE.

SO JUST KIND OF WATCH IT AND UM, YEAH, IT SHOULD BE OKAY.

>> OKAY.

THANKS, MIKE.

STEEL CITY, DANA.

HAD A GREAT PUMPKIN PATCH IN '24.

USED SOME WATER.

ALL THE PUMPKINS DIED.

HE'S WONDERING IF IT WAS A CONTAMINANT THAT WAS LEACHING LESS WEED GROWTH IN THE GENERAL AREA.

SO WONDERING, DOES THE CONTAMINANT REMAIN IN THE SOIL?

WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE?

>> SO I THINK PART OF THE QUESTION TO THE GIVEAWAY FOR ME WAS THAT THE TANK WAS BORROWED FROM A LOCAL FARMER.

SO I WONDER, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS IN THAT TANK.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I PROBABLY WOULDN'T PLANT THE PUMPKINS YET.

I'D DO SOMETHING LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A SAMPLE LIKE BIOASSAY WHERE YOU'RE JUST, YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME SOIL FROM THAT SPACE WHERE THINGS ARE LOOKING KIND OF DEAD.

PLANT SOMETHING LIKE THE PUMPKIN, TOMATOES, BEANS, WHATEVER IN THAT, UM, TAKE SOME, YOU KNOW, LIKE POTTING MIX THAT, YOU KNOW, IS NICE AND CLEAN.

DO THE SAME THING AND THEN JUST KIND OF LOOK AT HOW THE PLANTS ARE GROWING UP.

AND THEN LET THAT BE YOUR GUIDE.

IF YOU'VE GOT STUNTING OR TWISTING OR CURLING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT MEANS, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY DON'T PLANT THERE.

MAYBE SOIL SAMPLE.

>> OKAY.

OMAHA, SO THESE FLOWERS ARE POPPING UP IN WOOD MULCH.

AND THEY'RE THE, THEY'RE THE INVADING ASTERS THAT HE WANTS TO KILL ON THIS SIDE OF THE FENCE WITHOUT KILLING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

>> RIGHT AND I THINK IT'S BY SOME, SOME BERRY BUSHES.

UH, AND SO YEAH, I THINK THEY'RE COMING FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE.

UH, JUST DO SOME, YOU KNOW, DIGGING, PULLING, YOU KNOW, KEEP WITH THE NEW SHOOTS.

UM, YOU KNOW, CUT IT DOWN AND JUST KEEP AFTER IT.

>> I'M ABOUT READY TO SAY IF YOU HAVE ASTERS, YOU SHOULD MOVE.

(LAUGHING) LIKE.

TERRIBLE IN OUR GARDEN.

(LAUGHING) WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S GETTING TO BE THAT TIME OF YEAR.

IN A FEW DAYS WE HOPE TO PLANT OUR GARDEN.

BEFORE THAT HAPPENS, WE MUST TAKE OUR PLANTS OUT OF THE COMFORT OF THE GREENHOUSE AND HARDEN THEM OUTDOORS.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM TERRI IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE ARE READY TO START HARDENING OFF ALL OF OUR PLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE.

LIKE MANY OF YOU, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE UP AND DOWN TEMPERATURES AND THOSE LOWER TEMPERATURES HAVE REACHED ALMOST THE FROST TEMPERATURE.

SO WE'VE LEFT OUR NEW PLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE, AND THEY'RE READY TO COME OUT AND START HARDENING OFF.

REMEMBER, THE HARDENING OFF PROCESS IS KIND OF WEANING THEM OFF, BEING IN THE GREENHOUSE AND BEING LIKE REALLY NICE AND PROTECTED ALL WINTER LONG.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF BRING THEM IN AND OUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF PLANTS WE HAVE IN THE GREENHOUSE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO PULL THEM OUT AND PUT THEM IN A VERY PROTECTED AREA UNDERNEATH THE TREES.

SO THEY'LL BE IN THE SHADE AND THEY CAN START HARDENING OFF WELL OUTDOORS.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT GETTING ALL OF OUR NEW PLANTS IN THE GARDEN, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE ALL OF OUR NEW ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE FOR 2026.

SO STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN THIS WEEK TO CHECK IT OUT.

>> THANKS, TERRI.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK FROM JOE GROTELUESCHEN.

SHE'S WONDERING IF THIS THING ON HER FINE LINE.

BUCKTHORN IS A DISEASE, AN INSECT.

WHAT IS IT EXACTLY?

SO, JODY, WE THINK THIS FELL TO YOU TO ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

SO IT'S NEITHER A GOOD GUY OR A BAD GUY.

IT'S NO GUY RIGHT NOW, BUT THEY WERE PARASITOID WASPS.

AND THOSE ARE THE COCOONS.

SO THE LARVAE PREYED ON THE CATERPILLAR.

AND THE CATERPILLAR HAS SINCE DECOMPOSED.

AND THEY WENT INTO PUPATION.

SO COCOONS AND WE CALL THAT LOG PILING.

SO THEY ALL JUST CREATE THIS COCOON UNDER THE CATERPILLAR.

(SHARP BREATH IN) AND THEN THE HOLES THERE SHOW THAT THEY'VE EMERGED.

>> SO THAT THEY HAVE NOW, THEN GONE WHERE.

>> THEY'VE GONE TO PARASITIZE OTHER CATERPILLARS.

>> AND SO THAT'S, WAS IT A GOOD GUY BEFORE THEY KILLED IT, OR IS IT.

WAS IT A BAD GUY?

>> THEY WERE BENEFICIAL PARASITOIDS.

SO PREDATORS.

SO IT'S THE CIRCLE OF LIFE HAPPENING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND SO NOTHING SHE SHOULD DO ABOUT THAT.

>> NO.

SHE CAN REMOVE THAT IF SHE WANTS.

IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT ANYTHING.

ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANKS, JODY.

THAT'S KIND OF FUN.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND POST A QUESTION AND PICTURE, AND YOU MIGHT SHOW UP ON THE BIG BOARD NEXT WEEK.

JUST ADD YOUR QUESTIONS AND PHOTOS IN THE COMMENTS ON ONE OF OUR POSTS.

IT'S TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP, WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTNING ROUND PLANT OF THE WEEK AND THE WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> WELCOME BACK TO BACKYARD FARMER.

LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT ANOTHER RUST PROBLEM ON OUR JUNIPERS.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN QUESTIONS TO 1-800-676-5446, OR SEND US PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

JODY.

JODY.

DANA.

>> I WAS LIKE.

WOULDN'T IT BE FUN TO GO THE WRONG WAY?

(LAUGHING) >> OKAY.

UM, PIONEER PARK OR ANYONE WITH SPRUCE, SHOULD THEY PRUNE THE DEAD LOWER BRANCHES OUT?

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE COMPLETELY DEAD.

OTHERWISE, LET THEM, LET THEM, LET THEM BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BEATRICE, HACKBERRY WITH ONE SIDE, IS LOSING ALL ITS BARK AROUND A VERY LONG WOUND.

>> YEAH, I'D PROBABLY HAVE AN ARBORIST OUT THERE TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROSES HAVE REALLY LONG DEAD LOOKING CANES.

IS IT TOO LATE TO PRUNE THOSE LONG CANES OUT?

>> IF IT'S DEAD, TAKE IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OUR ASPARAGUS CROWNS.

EASY TO FIND IN OMAHA RIGHT NOW.

SOMEBODY WANTS 32 BY FOUR.

FOUR.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE TO PIECE IT TOGETHER, BUT I'D GIVE IT A TRY.

>> OKAY.

A CIRCLING ROOT ABOUT 3 TO 4IN IN DIAMETER IS AROUND A BIG TREE IN UNDERWOOD.

CAN HE CUT IT OR SHOULD HE?

>> THREE INCHES IS PRETTY BIG.

I'D HAVE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST OUT TO GIVE IT A LOOK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

UM.. CERAMIC, CLAY OR TERRACOTTA POTS?

BEST FOR PLANTS IN LINCOLN.

(THUNDER) >> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE GROWING.

IF IT'S CERAMIC, IT'S GOING TO HOLD A LITTLE MORE MOISTURE THAN THE OTHERS.

SO IT DEPENDS ON THE PLANT.

>> NICE JOB.

>> WOW.

>> MIKE.

READY?

>> YEAH.

I'M READY.

IS THERE A MULTIFUNCTION DUST THAT CAN BE USED FOR ALL THE ROSE DISEASES?

(SILENCE) >> NO.

(LAUGHTER) >> ASPENS HAD BLACK SPOTS LAST AUGUST.

AND SHE IS SAYING THEY ALREADY HAVE BLACK SPOTS ON THE LEAVES.

DID THEY OVERWINTER?

(SILENT) >> UGH, ASPENS?

I'D SAY NO, BUT SEND IN A SAMPLE SO THAT WE COULD TAKE A LOOK.

CURLY TOP LEAVES, IS THAT A DISEASE?

THERE ARE DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

AND THIS IS UNDERWOOD.

>> DIFFERENT VARIETIES.

HMM.

GOOD QUESTION.

I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING CULTURAL.

>> OKAY.

IRIS HAD FREEZE DAMAGE.

SHE'S NOW SAYING BROWNISH SPOTS AND STREAKS IN THE GREEN OF THE LEAVES.

IS THAT STILL FREEZE DAMAGE?

>> MM-HM.

(SILENT) I DON'T KNOW, I'D HAVE TO REALLY TAKE A SAMPLE.

SEND IT IN.

LET US TAKE A LOOK.

>> PERFECT.

GOOD.

YOU'RE DOING A NICE JOB.

SINCE YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT PATH ON ANYTHING BUT TURF.

>> THIS IS ROUGH, WHEAT AND TURF.

(LAUGHING) >> YEAH, PATH ALWAYS DOES THIS, SO DON'T FEEL BAD.

JEFF.

>> YES.

>> YES.

SHE WANTS TO COVER THE TREE ROOTS OF A BIG MAPLE WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF SOIL.

SINCE SHE CAN'T SEEM TO GET TURF TO GROW THERE.

>> I WOULD SAY COVER IT WITH A COUPLE INCHES OF MULCH.

AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TURF.

YOU'LL BE HAPPIER.

>> SHE WANTS THE MOST SHADE TOLERANT GRASS TO PUT IN THAT SOIL.

>> WELL, I THINK ANY ANY GRASS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO DO OR PLANT THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

IT'S JUST NOT GOING TO COMPETE WITH THE TREES.

SO FESCUE IS TYPICALLY MORE SHADE TOLERANT THAN BLUEGRASS, BUT YOU COULD GO OUT TEN FEET AND PLAY YOUR GRASS THERE.

>> OKAY.

HOW MANY TIMES A YEAR SHOULD YOU AERATE AND WHEN?

>> UM, I WOULDN'T DO IT ANY MORE THAN ONCE A YEAR, EITHER IN THE SPRING OR IN THE FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO CONTROL YELLOW NUTSEDGE IF IT HAS INVADED THE ORNAMENTAL SEDGES?

(RUSTLING) >> UH, YOU COULD VERY CAREFULLY.

YEAH.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SPOT TREAT.

SO USE A GLOVE METHOD.

>> OKAY.

UM, NO MOW MAY IS NO MO.

BECAUSE I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT NO MOW MAY THIS YEAR.

>> HUM.

(THUNDER) >> YES, (LAUGHING) I GET CREDIT FOR THAT.

RIGHT.

>> YES.

(LAUGHING) JODY, READY.

>> SURE.

>> HOW DO YOU DISCOURAGE WASPS FROM NESTING UNDER THE DECK?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW THERE'S USUALLY PROBABLY JUST ONE FEMALE THAT YOU CAN KNOCK DOWN, SO JUST KEEP KNOCKING HER DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT?

>> YOU CAN HIT HER WITH A FLY SWATTER, TOO.

>> HE SAW THIS GUY, SAW BEES GOING INTO A GREAT BIG HOLE.

HE THINKS THE VOLES MADE IT, BUT HE WONDERS, CAN BEES MAKE HOLES BIGGER, IN THE SOIL?

>> UM, THAT MIGHT BE A YELLOW JACKET OR A BUMBLEBEE.

SO IT DEPENDS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THOSE ARE SOCIAL INSECTS THAT DO LIKE ABANDONED RODENT BURROWS.

>> BUT THEY WON'T MAKE THEM BIGGER.

>> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ANT BAITS.

ARE THEY SPECIFIC TO ANTS OR DO THEY KILL OTHER INSECTS?

>> THEY'RE SPECIFIC TO ANTS.

SO THEY'RE FORMULATED EITHER AS A SUGAR BAIT OR PROTEIN DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF ANT.

BECAUSE ANTS HAVE DIFFERENT PREFERENCES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHEN SHOULD SHE START SEEING CODLING MOTHS?

SHE ESN'T HAVE ANY IN HER PHEROMONE TRAPS.

(RUSTLING) >> WELL, THEN THEY'RE NOT THERE YET.

(THUNDER) SO WE'VE GOT THE TRAPS OUT.

THAT'S A GOOD, THAT'S GOOD.

>> THAT'S GOOD.

>> THAT IS THE MONITOR OF WHEN THEY'RE OUT.

>> OKAY.

SO WHO WON THIS TIME?

WAS IT DANA AGAIN?

>> TWO WEEKS IN-A-ROW.

(WHISPERS) >> TWO WEEKS IN-A-ROW.

WELL, I'M GOING TO STACK THE DECK.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

>> I THOUGHT YOU WERE ACTUALLY STACKING IT IN MY FAVOR.

>> NOPE.

THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

ROUND THREE HERE.

ELM CREEK.

(BREATHING) OH, PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

SORRY, I FORGOT ALL ABOUT PLANT OF THE WEEK.

SO LET'S HEAD TO FALLER LANDSCAPE IN YORK TO SPOTLIGHT A BEAUTIFUL PERENNIAL, WHICH IS DWARF BAPTISIA.

HERE'S TODD FALLER WITH OUR PLANT OF THE WEEK.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK'S PLANT OF THE WEEK IS DWARF BAPTISIA OR BAPTISIA MINOR.

YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THE THE TALLER GROWING BAPTISIA OR FALSE INDIGOS.

THIS IS A DWARF ONE THAT'S NATIVE TO THE NEBRASKA PRAIRIE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BAPTISIA.

IT COMES UP ALMOST LOOKING LIKE ASPARAGUS IN THE SPRING.

A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSE IT WITH ASPARAGUS HERE IN THE NURSERY, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY JUST A LOVELY PERENNIAL, ONE OF THE FIRST ONES TO BLOOM.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PLANT IS SOMEWHAT HARD TO FIND.

WE'RE GROWING A LOT OF OUR OWN FROM SEED.

WE SEE THEM A YEAR AHEAD SO THAT THEY'RE READY THE NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE IT TAKES ABOUT TWO YEARS TO BE RETAIL READY, AND WE OFFER THEM IN A ONE GALLON PLANT, AND THEY SHOULD BLOOM ANOTHER YEAR AFTER THAT.

SO TY'RE ABOUT A 2 TO 3 YEAR BEFORE YOU START SEEING THE BLOOMS.

BUT LOVELY BLOOMS IN THE FALL.

IT GETS LARGE BLACK SEED PODS ON IT.

THEY DISMEMBER FROM THE BASE IN THE FALL.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TUMBLEWEED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRUNE IT IN THE SPRING.

IT JUST DETACHES FROM THE BASE AND ROLLS AWAY WITH THE WIND.

SO A BEAUTIFUL PERENNIAL THAT'S NATIVE TO NEBRASKA.

NOW LET'S HEAD OVER TO GANNON FOR THE WEATHER.

(SILENT) >> HEY.

GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

IT'S ALMOST THE WEEKEND.

TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE PRETTY PLEASANT THROUGH SUNDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S FOR MANY.

ON MONDAY, WE'LL HAVE OUR HOTTEST DAY OF THE WEEK WHERE HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 90S WEST OF KEARNEY.

FOR THE REST OF THE WEEK, TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE IN THE LOW TO MID 80S.

THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST THIS WEEK IS LESS THAN STELLAR CONSIDERING WE'RE HITTING OUR WETTEST POINT OF THE YEAR.

THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF AROUND A HALFNCH ARE EXPECTED UP IN THE NORTHWESTERN AND SOUTHEASTERN CORNERS OF THE STATE.

MOST OF THIS IS EXPECTED TO FALL BY SUNDAY BEFORE THINGS BEGIN TO WARM UP.

I ALSO WILL SAY THE COMPUTER MODELS HAVE STRUGGLED THIS YEAR WHEN IT COMES TO PRECIPITATION, SO THINGS COULD CHANGE IN THE COMING DAYS.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

(RUSTLING) >> OUR FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT IS THE NEBRASKA DAYLILY SOCIETY BARE ROOT DAYLILY SALE SATURDAY THE NINTH AT THE DOUGLAS COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE UNTIL THEY'RE SOLD OUT.

THE LINCOLN IRIS SOCIETY IS ALSO HAVING THEIR IRIS SHOW SATURDAY, MAY 9TH.

(SILENT) TILL 5:00.

ST.

ANDREW'S LUTHERAN CHURCH.

THIRD ONE IS US.

BACKYARD FARMER IS GOING TO BE AT SCHRAMM STATE PARK.

IT'S GOING TO BE A FABULOUS THING.

GAME AND PARKS, ALL SORTS OF OTHER THINGS IN NEBRASKA INVASIVE SPECIES.

YOU CAN COME.

IT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC AND THERE IS NO GATE FEE.

IT WILL JUST BE A BLAST.

SO THERE YOU GO.

PUT THAT ON YOUR CALENDAR.

OKAY, JODY.

LET'S SEE.

ELM CREEK JAPANESE BEETLES HAVE BEEN BAD FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING, IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO STOP THEM BEFORE THEY MOVED INTO THE TREES?

THEY'VE SPRAYED SEVEN ON THE LOWER BRANCHES, BUT THEY CAN'T SPRAY THE TOP.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THE TREE IS GOING TO RECOVER.

AND I DON'T THINK IT'S ECONOMICAL TO SPRAY THE TR.

I WOULD CONTACT A CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND SEE IF OR A TREE COMPANY, SEE DO WHAT KIND OF PRODUCTS THEY HAVE, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF TREE YOU ARE TREATING.

AND IF IT'S A LINDEN, YOU CAN'T USE A SYSTEMIC.

SO I MEAN, IT SHOULD RECOVER THE NEXT YEAR.

IT WILL BE FINE.

JUST GOT TO WAIT A COUPLE MORE YEARS.

AND THEN WHEN THAT LIKE THAT, LIKE WE DON'T WE HAD A LOT OF PROBLEMS HERE IN EASTERN NEBRASKA.

AND NOW.

>> NOW WE DON'T.

>> NOW WE DON'T.

LIKE WE'RE JUST WE SEE THEM, WE'RE LIKE, OKAY, HI.

AND THEN CARRY ON SO.

JUST STICK IT OUT.

>> OKAY.

BEATRICE, SHE SAW THIS AND THOUGHT IT WAS A PIECE OF FUZZ AND THEN IT MOVED.

>> THIS IS A SILVERFISH.

SO IT'S A WEIRD CARROT LOOKING THING.

UM, IT'S AN INSECT.

IT'S GOT LIKE ANTENNA AND LIKE THREE LITTLE TAIL APPENDAGES.

THEY ARE VERY PREVALENT IN HOMES THAT HAVE CEDAR SHAKE ROOFS BECAUSE IT'S LIKE ROTTING WOOD ON YOUR HOUSE.

SO DAMP AREAS, HIGH HUMIDITY.

UM, THEY, THEY WILL FEED ON LIKE GLUE PASTE, HIGH STARCH, WALLPAPER, GLUE.

UM.

SO.

>> OKAY.

>> VACUUM THEM UP.

>> GREAT.

DESHLER FOUND THIS BEETLE SLASH BUG.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY IT?

DEFINITELY CURIOUS, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF A BIG ONE.

IT'S BIG AND IT'S COOL.

I USED TO HAVE ONE NAMED GEORGE.

THIS ONE IS CALLED THE WATER SCAVENGER BEETLE.

AND YOU PROBABLY FOUND IT BECAUSE IT'S ATTRACTED TO LIGHT AND FLIES AT NIGHT, BUT IT IS PARTIALLY AQUATIC.

WHEN IT'S LARVAE, IT'S VERY PREDACIOUS AND THAT IS A GOOD INDICATOR OR IDENTIFIER.

IT'S GOT THIS SPINE THAT GOES ON THE UNDERSIDE OF ITS BODY.

SO IT'S LIKE IT'S CALLED A HYDROPHILUS.

IT MEANS WATER LOVING.

>> PRETTY NEAT.

>> VERY COOL.

>> FROM COLUMBUS, JEFF.

UH, THREE PICTURES OF A GRASS THAT IS TAKING OVER THE FLOWER BED.

SHE USED GRASS BE GONE, BUT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

>> RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER PICTURES IN PARTICULAR, IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE NUTSEDGE TO ME.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY EVERYTHING ELSE IS DYING.

BUT THE NUTSEDGE.

SO THEY'LL WANT TO USE SOMETHING WITH HALOSULFURON UH, SLEDGEHAMMER IS KIND OF THE BRAND NAME THAT'S OUT THERE FOR THAT.

SO THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NORTH PLATTE FRONT LAWN HAS BEEN TOUGH TO MAINTAIN.

HE KNOWS HIS 40 FOOT BLUE SPRUCE TAKES A LOT OUT OF IT.

BUT TWO QUESTIONS.

ARE THEY MISSING SOMETHING IN THE SOIL.

AND THEN WHAT ARE THE CLUMPY, BUMPY THINGS HE DID OVERSEED WITH SOMETHING CALLED PICTURE PERFECT.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

WELL, I THINK THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF RIGHT THINGS HERE.

AND MAYBE YOU COULD ADD AGAIN, YOU DID YOUR NICE THING ON ADDING COMPOST TO THE SOIL.

SO YOU COULD CERTAINLY DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THAT WILL DEFINITELY HELP.

I THINK PROBABLY THE BIGGER ISSUE IS FOR ANY OF US, WHEN WE PURCHASE A SEED MIX, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PERENNIAL OR ANNUAL RYEGRASS IN IT, ESPECIALLY IN THE WEATHER WE'VE HAD THAT WILL FADE OUT AND DIE PRETTY QUICKLY.

IT'LL COME UP AND LOOK GREAT AND THEN IT'LL BE GONE.

SO I THINK THAT MAY BE THE BIGGEST ISSUE.

>> OKAY.

WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS PLANT THAT TURNS HER ORGANIC LAWN PURPLE IN EARLY SPRING?

>> WELL, I MEAN, SHE'S FORTUNATE SHE HAS FLOWERS ALL OVER HER LAWN.

SO THAT'S THE COOL PART.

BUT IT'S CREEPING CHARLIE.

SO IT IS A HARD PLANT TO GET RID OF.

AND SINCE SHE HAS AN ORGANIC LAWN, SHE'LL HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME RIDDING HER LAWN OF THIS.

IF SHE HAND PULLS IT NOW, SHE'LL JUST KIND OF HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT OR, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THINK ABOUT MAYBE USING SOME SORT OF HERBICIDE, A THREE WAY HERBICIDE.

LATER THIS YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, MIKE, WE HAVE FOUR PICTURES THAT ARE DWARF KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUM, KIND OF A TWO PLUS TWO.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON WITH THE FIRST SET AND THEN THE SECOND SET HERE.

>> YEAH.

THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL CUPPING OF THE LEAVES A LITTLE BIT LIKE THE PICTURE THAT DANA SAW EARLIER.

SO EITHER COLD OR SOME KIND OF A HERBICIDE DRIFT IN THERE WOULD BE MY GUESS.

I MEAN, APHIDS CAN CAUSE, UH, VIBURNUM LEAVES TO CURL, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE NOTICED THE APHIDS.

AND MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE EARLY.

I'D DEFER TO JODY ON THAT.

>> OKAY AND THEN THIS ONE.

>> SOME OF THAT CUPPING.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY UNDER AND WITHIN.

AND THEN THEY SAY A LOT OF TWIG DIEBACK HAPPENED.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS WHERE I THOUGHT MAYBE THE HERBICIDE DRIFT.

WAS THE CAUSE.

I DIDN'T SEE ANY APHIDS IN THERE.

>> OKAY.

THANKS, MIKE.

FROM PIONEERS PARK.

ALL OF THESE SPRUCE LOOK SICK, AND SHE'S SEEN A LOT AROUND TOWN WITH THE SAME THING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS CAUSING IT?

>> YEAH.

SO THREE THINGS ON THIS ONE.

UM, EVERY TREE HAS A NORMAL LIFE CYCLE AND AGE.

SO AGE OF THE PLANT.

THESE LOOK PRETTY MATURE SPRUCE, ESPECIALLY COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE.

THEY DON'T LIKE TO BE SO CROWDED.

SO THE MICRO-CLIMATE BECOMES VERY, VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.

AND THE THIRD PART IS THAT THERE ARE SOME NEEDLE CAST FUNGI THAT WORK FROM TYPICALLY THE GROUND UP FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TRUNK OUT.

AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME OF THAT YELLOWING ON THE THE VERY TIP, SOMETIMES SPIDER MITES CAN BE A PROBLEM.

BUT AGAIN, PROBABLY TOO EARLY.

AND IF YOU HAD A PIECE OF WHITE PAPER AND YOU COULD JUST KIND OF HIT IT, IF YOU SEE SMALL LITTLE BLACK DOTS THAT ARE CRAWLING, THAT WOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA THAT SPIDER MITES.

>> OKAY, DANA, SHE'S SAYING HER HOLLY IS NOT SO GOOD.

SHE DID USE FERTILIZER STAKES.

AND THIS IS, I DON'T KNOW WHICH HOLLY, BUT ONE OF THE BROADLEAF EVERGREENS, OBVIOUSLY.

>> YEAH WHICH ARE PRETTY SUSCEPTIBLE TO SOME WINTER INJURY OR DESICCATION.

AND I SUSPECT THAT'S MORE OF WHAT SHE'S GOT.

UM, I DON'T THINK THE FERTILIZER STAKES CAUSE THIS.

BUT IN GENERAL, WE DON'T RECOMMEND USING THOSE.

THAT REALLY JUST CONCENTRATES A PRODUCT IN ONE SPOT, BUT JUST GOOD PLANT CARE, YOU KNOW, WATER THIS WE'VE HAD SOME DRY CONDITIONS, SO WATER IT AND SOME MULCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM NEMAHA COUNTY TWO MAHONIA'S EAST-FACING SLOPE, SAME THING.

IS IT MOSTLY JUST WINTER INJURY?

THINKING.

>> YES.

WINTER INJURY.

AND I THINK THIS ONE THEY ASKED ABOUT PRUNING AND I WOULDN'T DO ANY SEVERE PRUNING ON THIS.

JUST WAIT AND SEE WHAT COMES UP NICE AND GREEN.

UM, IF YOU'RE EVER IN DOUBT, JUST DO THE SCRATCH TEST ON THE STEM TO SEE IF IT'S A LITTLE GREEN UNDERNEATH, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS PRUNE OUT DEAD PARTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM WEST OMAHA, THIS BIRCH HAD OYSTER SHELL INFECTION.

IT'S BEING TREATED GETTING IRON.

IT WAS TRIMMED.

HE'S WONDERING BASICALLY SHOULD HE TAKE THE RING AROUND THE BASE OFF AND EXTEND IT.

>> I THINK HE'S GOT THE RIGHT IDEA THERE.

I WILL SAY YOUR LAWN LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THAT CAN ALSO HELP OR CAUSE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CHLOROSIS.

SO TAKE THE PAVERS OUT, EXPAND YOUR MULCH RING AND MAKE A BETTER SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TURF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

RUST IS A DISEASE THAT SEEMS TO MAKE ITS WAY INTO A HUGE NUMBER OF PLANTS.

WE HEARD QUITE A BIT ABOUT CEDAR APPLE RUST LAST WEEK, BUT KYLE SAW ANOTHER RUST.

THAT'S QUITE COMMON.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT CEDAR APPLE RUST, A PRETTY COMMON DISEASE ON BOTH OUR JUNIPERS AND OUR APPLES, CRABAPPLES, ORNAMENTAL PEARS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

TODAY, THOUGH, I'M GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

AND SO TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CEDAR QUINCE RUST CAUSED BY THE FUNGAL PATHOGEN GYMNOSPORANGIUM CLAVICEPS.

VERY CLOSELY RELATED TO CEDAR APPLE RUST, BUT HAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT INFECTION PROCESS.

CEDAR QUINCE RUST HAS A HOST RANGE OF OVER 400 DIFFERENT SPECIES WITHIN THE ROSACEAE FAMILY.

BUT JUST LIKE CEDAR APPLE RUST, THIS FUNGUS NEEDS TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT HOSTS IN ORDER TO COMPLETE ITS LIFE CYCLE.

FIRST HOST IS THE JUNIPER, WHERE WE FORM THESE KIND OF YELLOW, THESE ORANGE SWELLINGS ON ON YOUNG BRANCHES AND TWIGS.

THESE SWELLINGS THEN PRODUCE BASIDIOSPORES, WHICH CAN REMAIN INFECTIVE FOR 4 TO 6 YEARS.

IN SOME CASES, THEY CAN REMAIN INFECTIVE FOR UP TO 20 YEARS.

BUT THEN THOSE BASIDIOSPORES IN THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE BLOWING ONTO OUR ROSACEOUS HOSTS AGAIN.

SO APPLES, CRABAPPLES, COTONEASTER, HAWTHORNS, KENTS AND QUITE A FEW OTHERS.

NOW, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT THIS?

WELL, ONE THING THAT WE CAN DO IS WE CAN JUST COEXIST, LEARN TO SURVIVE WITH IT.

ONE OF THE OTHERPTIONS, THOUGH, IS A PREVENTATIVE FUNGICIDE APPLICATION.

WE TYPICALLY DON'T NEED TO APPLY A FUNGICIDE TO OUR JUNIPERS, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO APPLY A FUNGICIDE, SOMETHING SUCH AS CAPTAN OR MANCOZEB OR CHLOROTHALONIL TO PROTECT THOSE ROSACEUS HOSTS.

(TRAFFIC SOUNDS) (RUSTLING) >> AS KYLE SAID, THE SPREAD OF QUINCE RUST CAN BE REDUCED BY PRUNING OUT INFESTED PLANT PARTS.

AND THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH IS SCOUTING THAT LANDSCAPE ON A REGULAR BASIS.

ALL RIGHT, ROUND FOUR SOUTH OF GERING.

JODY, THIS MOTH WAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

WHAT KIND?

WHAT DOES IT EAT AND HOW CAN SHE ATTRACT MORE OF THEM?

IT WAS ABOUT AN INCH AND A HALF LONG.

>> IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY FOUND BY THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

>> OH, MY.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS GLOVER'S SILKMOTH.

YOU'RE SO LUCKY.

>> A SILK MOTH.

OH MY GOODNESS.

>> AND THEY DO NOT HAVE FUNCTIONAL MOUTHPARTS, SO THEY DON'T EAT AS ADULTS, BUT AS LARVAE.

THIS CATERPILLAR FEEDS ON WILLOWS AND SOMETHING CALLED BUFFALO BERRY AND WILD OLIVE.

SO YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO BE IN WESTERN PARTS OF THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS.

AND SO I PROBABLY WON'T SEE ONE OF THOSE.

>> WONDERFUL.

ALL RIGHT.

WAVERLY FOUND THIS LARGE MOTH AND IT WAS AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.

>> YEAH, I THINK EVERY WEEK THAT WE'VE HAD AN ENTOMOLOGIST, THERE HAS BEEN A POLYPHEMUS MOTH ON THE SHOW.

I'M THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS NOT SEEN ONE OF THESE, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

ANOTHER SILK MOTH.

SO POLYPHEMUS, IT'S NAMED THAT BECAUSE THAT WAS THE NAME OF THE CYCLOPS FROM THAT EYESPOT ON THE ON THE BACK WING.

>> MU..HUM.. (BREATHING) GORGEOUS.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> JUST GORGEOUS.

>> YEAH AND THEY'RE LIKE, THE WINGSPAN IS LIKE FOUR INCHES.

>> YEAH.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

AND AS LONG AS WE'RE ON A MOTH ROLL.

OMAHA, THIS ONE SHE'S SAYING IS WHITE AND THE HEAD LOOKED LIKE IT'S COVERED WITH WHITE FUR.

>> YEAH, THIS ONE'S KIND OF BORING COMPARED TO THE OTHER ONES.

THIS IS THE VIRGINIA TIGER MOTH.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF THESE.

IF YOU ACTUALLY PICK IT UP AND LOOK AT IT, IT'S GOT A CUTE FACE AND YOU'LL SEE SOME ORANGE PATTERNS.

IT'S GOT A BLACK BLACK SPOTS ON THE BODY.

THESE ARE THE ADULTS OF THOSE YELLOW WOLLY BEAR CATERPILLARS.

>> OH, FUN.

OKAY, LET'S SEE.

JEFF, THIS IS A LONG RIVER PROPERTY NEAR LEXINGTON, AND IT'S ONE OF OUR PRICKLY PEARS.

AND THEY'RE SAYING.

>> SO WE GO FROM BEAUTIFUL MOTHS TO PRICKLY PEAR.

WHY DO I GET THE PRICKLY PEAR?

>> WELL, YOU'RE TURF GUY, YOU KNOW.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO KNOW HOW TO KILL THIS STUFF OR KEEP IT.

IT'S NATIVE.

>> YEAH, WELL, I SUPPOSE YOU COULD KEEP IT.

WE'VE ACTUALLY GROWN IT INTENTIONALLY ON CAMPUS FROM TIME TO TIME, SO.

>> MIGHT BE SOME IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

>> THERE MIGHT BE.

WELL, I GUESS WE'LL BE CAREFUL WHEN WE'RE WALKING AROUND IN THERE.

UM, BUT THE PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO HANDLE THIS IS TO GRUB IT OUT, ASSUMING YOU DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH AND TO CAREFULLY TRY TO TAKE IT OUT THAT WAY, UM, YOU CAN USE UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S KIND OF A SERIOUS HERBICIDE PICLORAM, WHICH A LOT OF TIMES YOU'LL HEAR IS CALLED TORDON.

THERE'S A READY TO USE VERSION OF THAT.

UM, AND THAT WOULD BE THE PRODUCT IF YOU FELT LIKE YOU REALLY NEEDED TO USE ONE.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF CAVEATS WITH THAT, YOU KNOW, TIME.

YOU CAN'T REALLY GROW ANYTHING IN THAT SPOT AGAIN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME UNTIL IT, TILL IT FINALLY BREAKS DOWN.

SO.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH, YEAH.

WE'RE NOT REAL FANS OF TORDON ON THIS SHOW.

>> NO, NO, I MEAN, IT'S VERY LIMITED USE.

THERE'S A FEW USES AND THAT'S ONE OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE FROM DORCHESTER, THIS WEED HAS POPPED UP ALL OVER, ESPECIALLY WHERE THEY HAD TO DUG UP AN OLD SEWER LINE.

HE SPRAYED WITH 2,4D, BUT ROOT SYSTEM IS MORE LIKE A SHRUB.

>> YEAH.

THESE ARE THESE ARE HEALTHY MALLOW.

UH, AND AGAIN, IT'S A PERENNIAL.

THEY CREATE AN EXTENSIVE ROOT SYSTEM.

UM, AND SO AGAIN, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO USE LIKE A TRICLOPYR OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THERE.

UH, AND YOU MAY WANT A, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO END UP DOING SOME DIGGING TO GET SOME OF THAT STRUCTURE OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> OKAY.

FROM OMAHA.

MIKE, WHAT CAUSES THIS GROWTH ON A JAPANESE MAPLE?

YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IT IN THIS ONE.

BUT THE NEXT PICTURE YOU CAN.

>> THE NEXT PICTURE IS A NICE CLOSE UP.

AND YOU KNOW, FROM LAST MONTH WHEN I WAS ON, I SAY THIS WAS CROWN GALL, MOST LIKELY.

A BACTERIAL INFECTION THAT ONCE IT GETS IN THERE, THE BACTERIA DIES.

BUT IT CHANGES THE THE TISSUE AND IT GROWS BIGGER CELLS AND LOTS OF THEM.

>> RIGHT AND SO, UM.

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU COULD PRUNE IT OUT OR YOU COULD LIVE WITH IT AS A CURIOSITY, IT LIKELY WILL DEGRADE ITSELF AND FALL OFF WITH TIME.

>> OKAY.

FROM FREMONT, A REDBUD IS 25 TO 30 YEARS OLD.

IT'S GOT BUMPS.

>> YEAH.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON HAVING THAT LARGE OF A REDBUD.

UM, OUR REDBUDS IN OUR YARD ALSO HAVE THESE BUMPS.

UH, OFTENTIMES, I DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE BURLS TECHNICALLY, BUT THAT'S WHERE I WOULD GO.

AND THEY SOMETIMES YOU'LL HEAR THEM DESCRIBED AS THEY'LL HAVE CAULIFLOWER FLOWERS IN THE SPRING.

JUST A LOT OF FLOWER BUDS.

UM, SO THEY'RE KIND OF COOL.

THE TREES OBVIOUSLY DOING PRETTY, PRETTY GOOD.

SO JUST INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN THE TREE GETS CUT DOWN THOUGH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO CAPTURE THOSE BURLS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOOD FOR WOODWORKING.

>> OKAY.

SO IN THE COUNTRY SOUTH OF CRETE, DEAD SPOTS IN THE LAWN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK, UM, JEFF MENTIONED THIS POSSIBLE DISEASE A WHILE AGO THAT FROGEYE LEAF SPOT, THAT GREEN WITH KIND OF A LIFESAVER OF TAN NECROTIC RING SPOT WOULD BE MY GUESS.

SEND IN A SAMPLE.

IT'S PRETTY EASY TO DIAGNOSE.

UM, DARK RUNNER HYPHAE ON THE ON THE ROOTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

MIKE FROM LONGMONT, COLORADO.

DANA BOK CHOY AND CHARD GOT GNAWED ON.

AND WHAT DO WE THINK?

>> WELL, I'M NOT DENNIS FERRARO, SO I CAN'T GET YOU AN EXACT ANSWER, BUT I THINK YOU'VE GOT A VERTEBRATE PEST.

PROBABLY RECOMMEND SOME FLOATING ROW COVER INSECT NETTING IF YOU'VE GOT RABBIT, IF YOU THINK AT ALL, IT COULD BE RABBIT SOME FENCING.

>> AND A TRAIL CAM.

>> YES.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE FUN PART.

>> SEE WHO'S MUNCHING.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS IS IN THE COUNTRY OUTSIDE OF CRESCENT, IOWA.

IT'S OKTOBERFEST MISCANTHUS.

THEY CAN'T GET IT TO COME BACK.

OTHER ORNAMENTAL GRASSES IN THIS LOCATION, SAME THING.

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY'VE GOT A SLIGHT PROBLEM THERE WITH THAT CLAY.

I COULDN'T QUITE SEE THE CROWNS, BUT I'D SUGGEST SOME WET CLAY AND JUST TRY SOMETHING ELSE.

MAYBE A LITTLE BLUE STEM OR DIFFENT GRASS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM LINCOLN.

IS THERE ANY SCIENCE BEHIND WHY DWARF IRISES SOMETIMES HAVE FOUR FALLS INSTEAD OF THREE?

>> YEAH.

I FEEL LIKE WE COULD END ON A GOOD NOTE AND JUST SAY THAT'S NATURE'S WONDROUS PAGEANTRY.

>> TO STEAL SOMETHING FROM ETYMOLOGY.

>> YEAH.

UM, YOU KNOW, I COULDN'T SEE IF THAT'S THE SAME RHIZOME, BUT THAT COULD BE A GENETIC MUTATION OR, UM, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, BUT JUST ENJOY IT.

>> EXACTLY.

FUN, FUN.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE COME TO THE END OF ANOTHER BACKYARD FARMER.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS.

AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES WERE MASTER GARDENERS JOHN CARIOTTO, TIM DUNGAN, AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'LL LEARN THE BEST WAY TO SEND IN A GOOD SAMPLE TO THE PLANT AND PEST DIAGNOSTICS CENTER HERE ON CAMPUS.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC)