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

>>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'LL HEAR ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO GROW AN ALTERNATIVE TO BLUEBERRIES, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT KIND OF GRASSES ARE GROWING IN OUR PRAIRIE ON CAMPUS.

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

♪♪ >>> HELLO AGAIN AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD, AND I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE NEXT HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY DIALING 1- 800-676-5446.

THOSE PHONE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR QUESTIONS.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A FEW PICTURES FOR A FUTURE SHOW, OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

WE DO NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE.

GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR ISSUE OR YOUR QUESTION.

YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS "BACKYARD FARMER" ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

SO, KAIT, YOU GET TO START OFF THE ROUND TONIGHT WITH QUESTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> OUR FIRST ONE, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS ONE, COMES TO US FROM SEWARD.

And HE SAYS OUR CONCORD GRAPES ARE DOING THIS.

THEY MOSTLY APPEAR ON THE NEW GROWTH.

WHAT IS IT AND IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO PREVENT IT?

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A BAD CASE OF GRAPE PHYLLOXERA.

THEY'RE SMALL, APHID-LIKE INSECTS, AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY OVERWINTER ON THE WOODY PART OF THE VINES.

AND THEN WHEN THEY HATCH, THEY'LL START FEEDING ON THE LEAVES, FORM THESE GALLS, LAY EGGS.

THOSE GALLS WILL HATCH, MORE FEEDING WILL HAPPEN, AND MORE GALLS WILL HAPPEN, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL GENERATIONS PER YEAR.

SO IT'S KIND OF A DIFFICULT THING TO MANAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE IS GRO-LOW SUMAC AND TINY LITTLE GALLS THAT MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE THE PLAGUE.

NOTHING IS CHEWING ON THE LEAVES.

THE SHRUBS APPEAR TO BE OKAY.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSES THIS, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT HE CAN DO ABOUT THIS?

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE ALSO GALLS, BUT INSTEAD THESE ONES ARE CAUSE BY ERIOPHYID MITES.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE SAME TYPE OF MITES THAT WILL ALSO CAUSE GALLS ON POISON IVY AS WELL.

SO LUCKILY THESE GALLS ARE SIMPLY COSMETIC, THEY DON'T REALLY AFFECT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE PLANT.

BUT IF IT DOES BECOME AN ISSUE YEARS ON FROM NOW, AND THE PLANT STARTS TO LOOK LIKE IT'S STRUGGLING, YOU CAN DO A HORTICULTURAL OIL IN THE SPRING AS ACTIVITY BEGINS.

>> AND I THINK, JEFF, WE HAVE THOSE GALLS ON CAMPUS.

>> YEAH.

RIGHT, IT'S NOT UNUSUAL TO SEE THAT IN SKUNKBUSH -- >> RIGHT.

>> THOSE SORT OF THINGS.

>> RIGHT, RELATED TO POISON IVY.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON YOUR FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES FROM GRAND ISLAND.

AND HE SAYS THIS LITTLE FLOWER HAS BEEN IN OUR DITCHES THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

HE'S CONSIDERED TRYING TO MOVE IT INTO A FLOWER BED AS AN ODDITY.

HE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS.

AND HE SAID GOOGLE DOESN'T LISTEN WELL.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO HE CAME TO US INSTEAD.

>> YEAH SOMETIMES GOOGLE LENS, YOU KINDA HAVE TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF SEARCHING SOMETIMES.

BUT THIS IS BUCKHORN PLANTAIN.

SO IT PROBABLY IS MORE FOUND IN THE WEEDS WORLD THAN IT IS NECESSARILY IN THE WILDFLOWER WORLD.

MOST PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF IT.

IT USUALLY LIVES IN LIKE, TURF AND GOLF COURSES AND STUFF, SO PEOPLE ARE USUALLY TRYING TO REMOVE IT, NOT TRYING TO PUT IT IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

IF YOU WANT IT THERE, PERFECTLY FINE.

IT CREATES KIND OF A NICE LITTLE ROSETTE, AND THEN IT'LL SEND UP THOSE SEEDS, AND IT'LL PUT OUT A LOT OF SEEDS.

>> IS IT A PERENNIAL?

>> IT IS A PERENNIAL, YEP.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO IF YOU'VE GOT IT, YOU'VE GOT IT.

>> YES.

WELL -- YES.

>> YES.

>> FOR A WHILE, ANYWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

TERRI, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM EWING.

SHE THINKS SHE HAS POISON HEMLOCK IN HER PASTURES AND HER HAY MEADOWS, AND SHE ALSO KNOWS IT'S TOXIC TO HUMANS AND LIVESTOCK.

>> SO ACTUALLY, THIS IS NOT POISON HEMLOCK, BUT IT IS A HEMLOCK.

IT'S SPOTTED WATER HEMLOCK.

SO A POISON HEMLOCK WOULD BE DONE BLOOMING NOW.

THE SPOTTED WATER HEMLOCK BLOOMS BASICALLY FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO MANAGE IT BASICALLY THE SAME.

AND YES, YOU ARE CORRECT, IT WILL ALSO HAVE THOSE TOXINS IN IT.

SO YOU CAN DIG IT UP.

BUT IF YOU DO DIG IT UP, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE USING GLOVES, LONG SLEEVES, ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

YOU CAN CONTINUALLY MOW IT, AND KEEP IT MOWED WELL DOWN, AND THAT WOULD ALSO HELP.

AND YOU CAN USE SOME CHEMICAL TREATMENTS IF YOU NEED TO, LIKE A GLYPHOSATE, WHICH WILL KILL EVERYTHING, OR YOU CAN USE LIKE A 2,4-D IF YOU WANT TO KEEP SOME OF THE GRASSY AREAS AROUND ALIVE.

>> AND THAT ONE WILL ALSO PRODUCE MONSTER SEEDS.

>> CORRECT, YES.

>> YEAH, OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE HERE.

THIS IS A VIEWER IN LINCOLN.

HE HAS A BEAUTIFUL HEDGE THERE OF OLD TAYLOR JUNIPERS.

>> YES, THEY DO.

>> YEAH.

AND HE SAYS OLD GROWTH IS KIND OF DROPPING.

IT STARTED LAST SEASON.

HE DID TREAT WITH A FUNGICIDE EARLY IN THE SEASON WHILE HE WAS SPRAYING FOR CEDAR APPLE RUST, SO WE KNOW THAT'S PROBABLY NOT AN ISSUE.

BUT HE'S NOT SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

THIS IS THE NORTH SIDE OF HIS YARD, AGAINST A FENCE.

HE DID SOFT SCALE FOUR SEASONS AGO THAT -- BUT HE HASN'T HAD THAT FOR THREE YEARS.

>> YEAH, AND UNFORTUNATELY, AFTER WE LOOKED AT THESE PICTURES, AND HAVE KIND OF TALKED AMONGST THE REST OF THE TABLE AS WELL, AND CAN'T COME UP WITH A GOOD ANSWER AS TO WHAT'S GOING ON.

IT DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE DISEASE IS THE MAJOR PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW, THE REST OF THEM ARE ALL DOING PRETTY WELL.

WONDERING EVEN IF IT'S JUST THEY'RE KIND OF TOO CLOSE TOGETHER, AND WE HAVE SOME SHADING OUT THAT'S OCCURRING ON THE LOWER BRANCHES.

ONE THING TO BE MINDFUL OF IS JUST TO LOOK FOR ANY NEEDLES THAT ARE TURNING BROWN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND ON THOSE ONES THAT ARE ON -- THAT HAVE THE LOWER NEEDLES GONE, I'M REALLY ONLY SEEING GREEN NEEDLES TOO.

SO I THINK IT MIGHT JUST BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND HE CAN BRING A SAMPLE IF HE'S REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, CORRECT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOU ALSO HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALSO A LINCOLN VIEWER.

HE'S SEEING PROGRESSIVE BLACKENING ON HIS LILACS.

HE THINKS IT'S EITHER BACTERIAL OR FUNGAL.

JUST A COUPLE OF LEAVES A WEEK AGO, BUT NOW IT'S THROUGHOUT THE PLANT.

HE SAID IT WAS A GREAT PLANT THIS SPRING.

>> YEP.

AND THIS IS VERY COMMON, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF IT RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS A CERCOSPORA LEAF BLIGHT OF LILACS.

AND SO IT'S CAUSE BY A FUNGAL PATHOGEN.

CONTROL FOR IT IS DIFFICULT.

SANITATION IS REALLY IMPORTANT, SO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE REMOVING THOSE INFECTED LEAVES AT THE END OF THE SEASON AS THEY DROP.

THAT'S WHERE THE FUNGUS OVERWINTERS AND THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS UP AGAIN IN THE SPRING.

THERE IS SOME RESEARCH LOOKING AT A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION.

MOST LIKELY -- THE MOST LIKELY TIME FOR THAT FUNGICIDE APPLICATION WOULD BE KIND OF IN THE LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.

BUT THAT'S STILL KIND OF OUT.

SO RIGHT NOW THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN REALLY RECOMMEND FOR THAT IS SANITATION.

BUT THEN ALSO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PRUNING THOSE LILACS REGULARLY, MAKING SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF AIR FLOW THROUGH THE CANOPY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

JEFF, THREE PICTURES ON YOUR FIRST ONE.

AND I GAVE THIS ONE TO YOU ON PURPOSE, 'CAUSE THIS IS ALSO LILACS.

SHE'S GOT THREE IN A ROW, ONE IS SHRIVELING.

SO YOU CAN KINDA SEE THE PROGRESSION HERE ON THESE THREE.

AND THEN SHE'S ASKING WHY THE ONE THAT IS SHRIVELING IS SHRIVELING.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO SAY.

UNLIKE KYLE'S, WE'RE NOT SEEING ANY REAL DISEASE WITH THESE PLANTS.

YOU KNOW, LILACS HAVE VERY FIBROUS, RELATIVELY SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEMS.

SO I WOULD WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE EVENLY IRRIGATING ALL THREE PLANTS.

MAKE SURE WE HAVEN'T INADVERTENTLY PERHAPS OVERDONE, IF YOU'VE PRE- EMERGED THE BED, MAYBE OVERDONE THE PRE-EMERGENT IN ONE AREA.

SOMETIMES PLANTS CAN BE SENSITIVE TO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, IF, AGAIN, IF YOU'RE FINDING THAT SOME ARE A LITTLE DRYER THAN THE OTHERS, UP THAT A LITTLE BIT.

AND IF YOU GO THROUGH THE SEASON, IF THEY DON'T IMPROVE, IF THEY WERE MY PLANTS, MAYBE FIRST WEEK OF SEPTEMBER, IF THINGS HAVE COOLED OFF A BIT, I MIGHT GO AHEAD AND DIG UP SOME OF THE PLANTS AND LOOK AT THE ROOT SYSTEM AND JUST SEE WHAT WE HAVE, SEE IF THERE'S MUCH OF A ROOT SYSTEM THERE.

IF THERE'S NOT, THEN THAT WOULD BE A SIGN TO ME THAT IT'S TIME TO REPLACE 'EM.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ELKHORN.

THIS IS A FREEMAN MAPLE CALLED MATADOR, AND IT WAS PLANTED IN OCTOBER OF '23.

CARED FOR PROPERLY.

HE SAYS SEVERAL BRANCHES ARE ALREADY SHOWING FALL COLOR.

DOESN'T SEEM TO SEE ANYTHING PARASITIC.

HIS WIFE HAS ALSO SEEN SOME OF THIS IN THE OMAHA AREA.

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE SHOW.

WITH THE HYBRID MAPLES, WE SO SEE SOME OF THIS EARLY FALL COLOR.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE MAY BE JUST THEIR ADAPTABILITY TO OUR ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S BEEN REALLY HOT AND WINDY.

THIS IS A HOT AREA.

THESE'LL PROBABLY DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER FURTHER NORTH.

SO THERE'S THAT ISSUE.

BUT ALSO, WITH OUR EARLY SPRINGS, YOU KNOW, LEAVES ONLY LAST SO LONG.

SO IF THOSE LEAVES CAME ON VERY EARLY THIS YEAR, IN EARLY APRIL, LATE MARCH, YOU KNOW IT MAY BE THAT THEY'RE JUST DONE FOR THE YEAR.

AND SO YOU MAY FIND THAT THESE TREES HAVE LOST MOST OF THEIR LEAVES BY THE TIME WE GET TO SEPTEMBER.

SO, DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S REALLY ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TREE.

IF THERE'S GOOD BUDS ON IT, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL PROBABLY BE FINE.

BUT YOU MAY SEE THAT WITH THESE MAPLES.

AND I'VE SEEN THAT ON CAMPUS TOO.

>> AN HARBINGER OF AN EARLY FALL.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> OOF, WE'RE NOT READY FOR THAT.

WELL, YOU KNOW BLUEBERRIES CAN BE SOMEWHAT OF A CHALLENGE TO GROW HERE IN NEBRASKA, BUT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE THAT HAS BEAUTIFUL, EDIBLE, BLUE FRUIT.

THEY ARE A LITTLE EASIER TO GROW.

OUR FIRST FEATURE TONIGHT TAKES A LOOK AT HONEYBERRIES AND HOW TO GROW THEM.

♪♪ >>> HONEYBERRIES ARE ORIGINALLY FROM RUSSIA, SIBERIA, AND KIND OF THE NORTHERN AREA IN EUROPE.

AND THEY ALSO ORIGINATE IN JAPAN.

THEY'RE A BERRY THAT IS SIMILAR IN SHAPE TO A BLUEBERRY, BUT A LITTLE BIT MORE ELONGATED.

THEY'VE BEEN COME TO BE KNOWN AS THE BLUEBERRY OF THE PRAIRIE.

THEY'RE A VERY SWEET BERRY THAT DOESN'T REALLY HAVE A FLAVOR SIMILAR TO ANY OTHER BERRY OUT THERE, ACTUALLY.

THE REASON I PICKED HONEYBERRIES TO START GROWING HERE IN NEBRASKA, IS WE'RE ABOUT AS FAR SOUTH AS THEY CAN GROW IN THEIR -- IN THIS CLIMATE.

ONCE IT GETS WARM IN THE SUMMER, THEY TEND TO LOSE THEIR LEAVES AND NOT LOOK SO GREAT, BUT THEY GROW REALLY, REALLY WELL HERE IN NEBRASKA.

OUR HARVEST TIME FOR HONEYBERRIES IS ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEFORE STRAWBERRIES.

SO WE'RE ABOUT MIDDLE TO LATE MAY NORMALLY, BEFORE OUR HONEYBERRY HARVEST.

HONEYBERRIES CAN GROW IN A WIDE RANGE OF SOILS, ANYWHERE FROM A 5.5 pH ALL THE WAY TO 8s.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY PREFER AN ALKALINE SOIL, BUT THEY'LL GROW RATHER WELL IN ALKALINE SOIL.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS THAT BLUEBERRIES DO, WHERE YOU NEED A REALLY ACIDIC SOIL, AND TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THAT ACIDITY TO BE ABLE TO GET A GOOD HARVEST.

WITH HONEYBERRIES, THEY JUST TEND TO HAVE -- THEY TEND TO REALLY LIKE A LOAMY, CLAY SOIL THAT RETAINS A LITTLE BIT OF WATER, BUT ALSO HAS GOOD DRAINAGE.

THUS FAR, OUR HILLS HERE IN NEBRASKA HAVE BEEN PERFECT FOR 'EM.

HONEYBERRIES ARE COMMERCIALLY HARVESTABLE AFTER FIVE YEARS.

SO THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT LONGER OF A CROP THAT TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET TO FULL MATURITY.

WHEN PLANTED THE FIRST YEAR, AND INCLUDING THE SECOND YEAR, THERE'S NOT VERY MUCH OF A HARVESTABLE AMOUNT OF BERRIES, DUE TO THE BERRY PLANTS PUTTING MOST OF THEIR ENERGY INTO ROOT PRODUCTION.

THE HONEYBERRIES ONLY NEED TO BE IRRIGATED FOR THE FIRST YEAR AFTER BEING PLANTED.

AFTER THAT, THEY'RE VERY DROUGHT RESISTANT.

SINCE THEY PRODUCE BERRIES IN THE SPRING, NORMALLY WE GET ENOUGH RAIN TO NOT HAVE TO IRRIGATE BEFORE OR DURING FRUIT SET, SO THAT'S ALSO A BIG PLUS FOR HERE IN NEBRASKA.

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT WITH HONEYBERRIES IS A HAILSTORM, A HEAVY WINDSTORM, OR EVEN A HEAVY RAINSTORM.

THEY CAN KNOCK THE BERRIES OFF THE PLANTS BEFORE WE'RE ABLE TO HARVEST THEM.

BUT WITH THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES THAT WE'RE WORKING ON CURRENTLY, THE RETENTION ON THE PLANTS ARE A LOT BETTER THAN WHAT THEY USED TO BE.

WE'RE THE LARGEST HONEYBERRY FARM IN NEBRASKA, AT FIVE ACRES.

WE'LL HAVE EIGHT ACRES PLANTED AFTER THREE YEARS FROM NOW.

WE'LL BE, I BELIEVE THE SECOND LARGEST HONEYBERRY FARM IN THE U.S.

MOST PRODUCERS RIGHT NOW ARE PRETTY SMALL SCALE.

UNTIL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO READ INTO HIGHER, LONGER-LASTING -- LONGER SHELF LIFE HONEYBERRY.

EFFORTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN ARKANSAS AT BERRIES UNLIMITED TO GROW HONEYBERRIES THAT HAVE A SHELF LIFE OF FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS.

AND THERE'S REALLY PROMISING CULTIVARS COMING FROM THEIR RESEARCH THAT SHOULD HAVE SOME GREAT HONEYBERRIES.

HONEYBERRIES ARE ACTUALLY VERY DEER RESISTANT.

I'VE HAD THIS PLOT OF 75 HONEYBERRIES UNPROTECTED FROM DEER FOR TWO YEARS NOW, AND HAVE ONLY NOTICED A LITTLE BIT OF PREDATION IN THE EARLY SPRING, WHEN THE BERRY PLANTS ARE THE FIRST THINGS TO TURN GREEN.

THE DEER TEND TO COME OVER AND TAKE A TASTE, AND THEY HAVE A VERY BITTER, NOT PALATABLE LEAF.

THEN THE DEER TEND TO REALIZE THAT, AND THEY DON'T COME BACK FOR ANYMORE.

THAT'S AS FAR AS I'VE SEEN.

OUR BIGGEST PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE THE BIRDS.

AS SOON AS THE BERRIES START TO TURN PURPLE, THEY'RE JUST LIKE GRAPES, AND THE BIRDS SHOW UP LIKE CRAZY AND START EATING EVERYTHING THAT THEY CAN.

>> SO, THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING FRUIT FOR YOU TO TRY IN YOUR OWN LANDSCAPE IF YOU WANT TO, ALTHOUGH IT DOES TAKE AWHILE FOR THEM TO DEVELOP THAT FRUIT AS GARRET SAID.

THEY ARE ALSO DROUGHT TOLERANT, AND THEY'RE NOT QUITE AS FINICKY ABOUT THAT SOIL PH AS THE BLUEBERRIES ARE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE QUESTIONS AGAIN.

LET'S SEE, KAIT, YOUR FIRST ONE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON.

THIS IS A McCOOK VIEWER, AND HE'S -- HE'S SIMPLY SAYING, "WHAT ARE THESE BROWN SPOTS."

AND HE'S CALLING THEM WARTS ON THE LEAVES OF HIS ELM TREES.

>> SO, THE WARTS ARE ACTUALLY GALLS.

AND THE GALLS AREN'T REALLY AN ISSUE, BUT THE BROWN SPOTS ARE CAUSED BY THE ELM LEAF BEETLE.

AND IF THE TREE IS MATURE, OLD ENOUGH, IT'S USUALLY A NONISSUE.

THEY'RE GONNA BOUNCE BACK TOTALLY FINE AND TOLERATE THAT FEEDING.

IF IT IS A YOUNGER TREE, THE RULE OF THUMB IS IF THERE'S DAMAGE ON OVER 50% OF THE CANOPY, YOU'RE GONNA WANNA CONSIDER TREATING.

AND TO DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING IN THE SPRING.

YOU CAN DO A FOLIAR CONTACT SPRAY JUST ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE LEAVES.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS A -- ACTUALLY A FOLLOW-UP.

WE -- KYLE LAST WEEK ANSWERED A QUESTION THAT HAD TO DO WITH APHIDS ON THE LEAVES.

BUT THIS IS A RED OAK IN KEARNEY.

IT'S ABOUT 9-YEARS-OLD.

HE -- HE IS SEEING THESE STRANGE, SORT OF, HOLES.

AND WE ASKED HIM FOR MORE PICTURES SO THAT YOU COULD, KIND OF, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BASE.

AND HE FOUND HOLES IN THE TRUNK AND THEN SAWDUST AT THE BASE.

SO, HE'S WONDERING IS THIS A PARTICULAR ISSUE THAT YOU WOULD BE CONCERNED WITH.

>> YEAH, SO, MY BEST EDUCATED GUESS IS THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY A RED OAK BORER, WHICH IS A TYPE OF LONGHORN BEETLE.

VERY CHARACTERISTICALLY BORE INTO THE BASE OF THE TRUNK AND PUSH OUT THIS FIBROUS, FRASS MATERIAL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT USUALLY NATURE TAKES CARE OF IT.

WE HAVE WOODPECKERS, THERE IS A PARASITOIDS, AND PREDATORS.

BUT ONE FUN THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS TAKE A METAL WIRE, STICK IT IN THOSE HOLES, AND POKE THOSE LARVAE TO KILL THEM.

SO, IF YOU'RE AMBITIOUS ENOUGH, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

OTHERWISE JUST KEEP THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE TREE UP.

YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE IT'S WELL WATERED.

MAYBE CONSIDER PUTTING A MULCH RING AROUND THAT TREE TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KAIT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE FOR YOU.

AND THIS IS A GRETNA VIEWER.

SAID THIS GUY HAS BEEN HANGING AROUND THE BASIL PLANT FOR DAYS.

IS THIS A FRIEND OR IS THIS A FOE?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

IF YOU ARE A PEST OR A CATERPILLAR, IT'S PROBABLY A FOE.

BUT FOR US, IT'S FRIENDS.

IT IS AN IMMATURE WHEEL BUG, WHICH IS A TYPE OF ASSASSIN BUG, SO THEY'RE JUST GENERALIST PREDATORS THAT HAND OUT IN THE GARDEN.

I WOULD CAUTION YOU THOUGH, DON'T TRY TO TOUCH, JUST LOOK AT IT, BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE QUITE A NASTY BITE TO THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KAIT.

TERRI, THREE PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A NEW HOMEOWNER IN OMAHA.

INHERITED A LAWN, WHICH IS APPARENTLY MORE CRAB THAN GRASS.

AND HE'S BEEN TRYING HERBICIDE FERTILIZER TREATMENTS SINCE MAY 1st.

ANYTHING FOR MANAGEMENT THIS FALL TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN NEXT SPRING?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT YOU COULD DO.

FIRST, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY WERE MAKING APPLICATIONS THIS SPRING, IT'S REALLY A TIMING ISSUE.

SO, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IT ON BEFORE IT ACTUALLY STARTS TO GERMINATE.

ONCE IT GERMINATED, THEN THAT'S PRETTY MUCH DONE FOR.

I WOULD ALSO PROBABLY SUGGEST DOING IT TWO APPLICATIONS.

SO, YOUR BAG IS GONNA TELL YOU APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT ON, OR EXACTLY HOW MUCH YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT ON.

SPLIT THAT IN HALF.

SO, PUT IT ON WHEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT IT THE FIRST TIME.

SO WHEN YOUR SOIL TEMPERATURES ARE ABOUT ALMOST 55 DEGREES, THAT'S WHEN THIS CRAB GRASS IS GONNA GERMINATE.

AND THEN WAIT 45 TO 60 DAYS AND PUT THAT OTHER HALF OF THAT APPLICATION IN.

SO, THAT'S GONNA EXTEND THAT WINDOW A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT PREEMERGENT.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW, IS ACTUALLY YOU CAN LOOK FOR EITHER QUINCLORAC OR MESOTRIONE, AND YOU CAN PUT THOSE ON NOW.

SO, THOSE ARE GONNA BE POST-EMERGENTS TO KIND OF CUT THAT BACK.

DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED.

TRY TO KEEP THAT SEED BANK AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

IF YOU SEE THOSE SEEDHEADS COMING UP, CUT THEM OFF, GET RID OF THEM, MOW THEM DOWN, WHATEVER YOU CAN DO.

AND YOU'RE USUALLY GONNA SEE -- I SAW IT, LIKE, ON THE EDGES, SOMETIMES WE DON'T HIT THE EDGES AS WELL WITH THAT APPLICATION OF CHEMICALS.

SO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE GETTING IT ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, TERRI.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A HOOPER VIEWER.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT THIS IS.

IS IT CLUMPING TALL FESCUE?

AND SHE SAID IT'S SHOWING UP MORE AND MORE IN THE LAWN.

IT'S EASY TO PULL, BUT SHE'D RATHER CONTROL IT SOME OTHER WAY.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS SAY THAT IT'S REALLY NICE TO GO OUT THERE WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND, YOU KNOW, TEN MINUTES AND YOUR FAVORITE ADULT BEVERAGE AND JUST HAVE FUN PULLING WEEDS.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE, AGAIN, LIKE -- MOST LIKELY GONNA HAVE TO USE, LIKE, A NONSELECTIVE.

SO, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO USE A GLYPHOSATE BECAUSE IT'S NOT GONNA COME OFF WITH ANYTHING ELSE.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA KILL EVERYTHING AROUND IT.

BUT IF IT'S EASY TO PULL, I WOULD JUST GO OUT AND PULL IT.

SO, BASICALLY, IT'S JUST AN OLDER VARIETY OF FESCUE THAT JUST DOESN'T LOOK AS GOOD AS THE NEWER VARIETIES DO.

>> BUT IT LIVES.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> IT DOES.

>> IT LIVES.

>> SO, YOU KNOW -- >> IN THE DROUGHT, IN THE HEAT.

>> IT DOES, YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE.

KYLE, YOU HAVE, I THINK, THREE QUESTIONS ON THIS ONE, THREE PHOTOS ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS VIEWER IS SAYING WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON WITH HER PEPPERS?

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH HER TOMATOES?

>> YEAH, THERE'S -- I THINK THERE'S -- I THINK THERE'S A FEW THINGS GOING ON.

I KNOW THE -- THE FIRST PICTURE WITH, KIND OF, THOSE YELLOW -- ALL THOSE YELLOW SPOTS ON THE -- ON THE PEPPER LEAVES.

WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT ON PEPPERS RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE TO ME, ESPECIALLY WITH THOSE LARGE YELLOW HALOS AROUND THOSE LESIONS.

NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT WE CAN DO TO CONTROL THOSE.

YOU KNOW, SAY -- IF YOU -- AN APPLICATION OF A COPPER PRODUCT OR BORDEAUX'S MIXTURE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT EFFECTIVE.

BUT THE BIGGEST THING WILL BE REMOVING THOSE REALLY HEAVILY INFECTED LEAVES, AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE WATERING FROM THE BASE, WHICH IT DOES LOOK LIKE WE HAVE SOME -- SOME IRRIGATION TAPE AROUND THERE.

SO, IT SHOULD -- THAT SHOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, WITH THE -- BOTH THE -- THIS TOMATO AND THEN THAT OTHER PEPPER WHERE WE JUST HAVE, KIND OF, ABNORMAL GROWTH AT THE TOP, REALLY IT CAN BE CAUSED BY A FEW THINGS.

THERE ARE SOME VIRUSES.

THERE'S ALSO SOME HERBICIDE INJURY THAT -- THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE.

IF IT GROWS OUT OF IT, THEN IT'S MOST LIKELY HERBICIDE AND AS LONG AS THERE'S NO FRUIT THAT WAS SET WHEN THE HERBICIDE, THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD -- GO AHEAD AND CONSUME THAT.

IF IT DOESN'T GROW OUT OF THIS ABNORMAL GROWTH, THEN IT'S MOST LIKELY VIRAL AND GO AHEAD AND DITCH THAT PLANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE ON THE NEXT ONE -- LET'S SEE, ONE PICTURE.

AND THIS -- THIS VIEWER IS SAYING WHAT IN -- WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON WITH THE LEAVES HERE OF THIS PARTICULAR PLANT?

AND THEN THE ONE THAT FOLLOWS THAT, HERS IS A SQUASH.

AND THE ONE THAT FOLLOWS THAT IS ALSO A SQUASH.

>> AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME THING.

AND IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF OUR BACTERIAL DISEASES.

THIS IS ANGULAR LEAF SPOT.

IT DOES REALLY WELL IN -- IN HOT AND WET CONDITIONS.

AND, SO, WE'VE -- HAD -- HAD HAD PRIME CONDITIONS FOR THAT.

AGAIN, NOT A WHOLE LOT THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

IT SHOULDN'T IMPACT THE FRUIT A WHOLE LOT, UNLESS YOU HAVE A REALLY SEVERE INFECTION.

BUT AGAIN, REMOVING THOSE LE -- THOSE LEAVES IS ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

JEFF, YOU HAVE PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE, TWO OF THEM.

AND THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A HEADSCRATCHER.

>> MM-HM.

THIS IS ASHLAND, AND THEY'RE SAYING THESE WALNUTS, THIS NICE STAND OF WALNUTS, IS JUST DYING.

>> YEAH.

>> ANY IDEAS ON THIS ONE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL?

>> YEAH, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU WONDER IF -- AND THERE'S NO REAL EVIDENCE OF SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE CAME THROUGH THERE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- YOU KNOW, WALNUTS CAN HANDLE WET SOIL.

>> MM-HM.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK IF THAT'S AN AREA THAT HAD SOME STANDING WATER IN IT, MAYBE, FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, IF THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

I'D BE CURIOUS -- I THINK ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT IS REMOVING THE DEAD PLANTS JUST FOR SAFETY'S SAKE.

MAYBE ONE OF THOSE THINGS, DEPENDING ON HOW THAT AREA IS BEING USED, BUT ALSO TO SEE IF THE PLANTS MAY RESPROUT.

I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE, IF THE ROODS ARE ALIVE, IF SOMETHING -- SOME -- FOR SOME REASON, KILLED THE MAIN STEMS AND IF THEY'LL COME BACK FROM THE ROODS.

SO -- PERHAPS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THAT MIGHT NEED A SAMPLE AT SOME TIME TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE, ON YOUR NEXT ONE, THIS IS ALSO A TREE QUESTION.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS AN OAK.

AND HE'S -- HE'S WONDERING ABOUT WHETHER THE DAMAGE ON THIS -- YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT ON THE TRUNK.

AND I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

IS THAT DEER DAMAGE, OR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT?

IS THERE A GONER, OR IS THIS A TREE THAT DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE?

>> WELL, I THINK IT -- I THINK RIGHT NOW IT DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE.

YOU KNOW, I'D WANT TO PROTECT THAT STEM, SO WHETHER -- AND I WOULD -- I WOULD TEND TO PUT -- GET SOME RABBIT FENCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HIGH ENOUGH THAT IT PROTECTS THAT WOUND.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD WANT TO WRAP IT NECESSARILY.

BUT YOU COULD PUT SOME SORT OF CAGE AROUND THAT TO PROTECT THAT AREA, THAT MAIN STEM, IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE DEER PROBLEMS.

I'D PULL THE MULCH BACK A LITTLE BIT, MAKE OUR MULCH RING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER, MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT STEM BURIED -- >> MM-HM.

>> IF THE -- IF THE TREE IS -- IS PLANTED A BIT TOO DEEP.

SO, I THINK I'D WORK ON THOSE TWO THINGS, CONTINUE TO CARE FOR THE TOP.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF GREEN LEAVES, SO IT LOOKS GOOD FROM THAT STANDPOINT, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HERSHEY.

THIS IS A CRIMSON FROST BIRCH.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A COUPLE OF THEM.

THEY DIDN'T SEE ANY INSECTS, BUT THE TOP APPEARS DEAD.

THEY'RE WONDERING IS THIS A GONER AND WHAT HAPPENED?

>> YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE -- YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- I THINK HERSHEY, THAT'S -- THAT'S IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY'RE TRYING TO -- TO GROW BIRCHES IN THAT AREA.

THAT'S A -- THAT CAN BE A TOUGH PLACE IN THE STATE TO GROW THINGS.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE A NICE LAWN THERE, AND THE TREES AND THE YARD LOOK REALLY NICE.

SO -- SO, I APPLAUD THEIR EFFORTS THERE.

I WOULD BE TEMPTED TO TRY PERHAPS AN ASPEN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT WOULD BE SIMILAR.

IT MAY DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN THAT PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT, SO -- BUT, YEAH, I THINK THAT THAT -- THAT BIRCH HAS PROBABLY HAD IT.

>> THOSE WOULD BE PRETTY LOGS BY THE FIREPLACE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> THEY WOULD BE PRETTY LOGS.

YOU COULD DECORATE YOUR FRONT PORCH WITH THE -- WITH THE STEMS, FOR SURE.

>> THOSE ARE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THEY ARE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> WELL, OF COURSE IT'S BEEN HOT, AND THEN COOL, AND STORMY, AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO GET HOT AND STAY HOT FOR AWHILE AGAIN.

PERHAPS GANNON RUSH FROM UNL'S HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER CAN TELL US A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT STORY.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR HIS FORECAST FOR THE WEEK.

>> THANKS, KIM.

IT'S BEEN PRETTY TOASTY THIS PAST WEEK, AND WILL LIKELY WILL BE THAT WAY FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE 90s AND LOW 100s.

BUT THERE IS RELIEF ON THE HORIZON.

SO, ON WEDNESDAY PARTS OF THE STATE BEGIN TO DIP INTO THE 80s.

EXTREME WINDS IMPACTED THE LINCOLN AND OMAHA AREAS LAST NIGHT WITH ROUGHLY 250,000 PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER.

IT'LL BE MUCH QUIETER IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE THIS WEEK WITH ONLY CHANCES OF SCATTERED STORM.

OUT WEST, OVER AN INCH OF MUCH NEEDED RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE IN THE PANHANDLE.

AND GOOD NEWS, THERE IS A CHANCE OF ABOVE NORMAL RAINFALL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THANKFULLY DROUGHT HAS NOT BEEN A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE THIS YEAR, BUT WITH RECENT CONDITIONS, IT'S WORTH TALKING ABOUT.

SEVERE DROUGHT IS IMPACTING THE SCOTTS BLUFF AREA, WITH THE HEAT AND DRYNESS TAKING A TOLE ON SOILS IN THE AREA.

THE UPCOMING RAINFALL COULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL IF THE SOILS CAN ABSORB IT.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS, GANNON.

IT'S TIME FOR A BREAK.

STAY TUNED.

THERE IS MUCH MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW WE'RE GOING TO STROLL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK OUT OUR PRAIRIE AREA.

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

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

AND OF COURSE RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

JEFF, ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M READY.

>> OKAY.

>> WE'LL FIND OUT.

>> WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO SAYS SHE GROWS LOTS OF TOMATOES, REGULAR ONES ARE JUST FINE, BUT HER GRAPE TOMATOES ARE SPLITTING.

AND SHE HAS NEVER HAD THAT HAPPEN BEFORE.

>> HMM, INTERESTING.

WELL, I SUPPOSE WITH THE VARYING TEMPERATURES WE'VE HAD AND THE HIGH HEAT YOU WOULD SEE A LITTLE BIT.

I'VE SEEN THAT ON MY CHERRY TOMATOES.

I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST MAYBE PICKING THEM JUST A TAD EARLIER, MAYBE THE DAY BEFORE, THAT MIGHT HELP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM KEARNEY WHO HAS BEEN GROWING HEAVENLY BLUE MORNING GLORIES.

MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT HOUSE.

FOLIAGE NOW AND NO FLOWERS.

SHE'S WONDERING IF SHE HAS BAD SEED?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I GUESS IF SHE BOUGHT HER SEED FROM THE SAME SOURCE THAT SHE'S BOUGHT BEFORE, THEN I WOULD THINK THAT IT SHOULD BE FINE.

SO, JUST GIVE IT TIME.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS A ROSE THAT IS LISTED AS A ZONE 7-9.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT KIND OF WINTER PROTECTION IT MIGHT NEED IN NEBRASKA?

>> INSIDE THE HOUSE MIGHT BE -- [ LAUGHTER ] FOR A ZONE 7.

I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY TOUGH.

YOU CAN TRY INSULATING IT AND PUTTING SOMETHING AROUND IT BUT ALSO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE MAINTAINING THE SOIL MOISTURE THROUGH THE YEAR TOO.

[ THUNDER CLAP ] >> ALL RIGHT.

THOSE WERE NICE ANSWERS.

THAT WAS HEAT LIGHTNING.

ARE YOU READY, KYLE?

>> ALWAYS.

>> ALWAYS, UH-HUH, WE'LL SEE.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM GOTHENBURG.

THE QUESTION IS CAN THE LEAVES OF PLANTS THAT HAVE RUST BE SAFELY COMPOSTED WITHOUT SPREADING THE RUST?

>> IF YOU COMPOST CORRECTLY, MEANING IT GETS TO THE TEMPERATURE THREE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THEN YES YOU CAN.

OTHERWISE, IF YOU'RE LIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO COMPOST, YOU PROBABLY SHOULD NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT AND WE HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION FROM A DIFFERENT VIEWER.

THIS IS UNDERWOOD, IOWA, WHO DOES HAVE RUST ON HIS RHUBARB.

HE'S WONDERING SHOULD HE JUST GO AHEAD AND PICK OFF THOSE RUSTY LEAVES OR JUST SACRIFICE THE PLANTS?

HE HAS LOTS OF RHUBARB.

>> I WOULD GO AHEAD AND JUST CUT OFF THOSE LEAVES AND THEN EAT THE RHUBARB AFTERWARDS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A NEBRASKA CITY VIEWER WHO SAID THEY GOT SWEET CORN.

THEY HUSKED IT STRAIGHT OUT OF THE FIELD, BUT IT SMELLED BAD.

WOULD THAT BE A PATHOGEN THAT WAS IN THE HUSKING?

>> POSSIBLY.

IT COULD BE.

THERE IS A LOT OF BACTERIAL STALK ROT SHOWING UP IN THE CORN WORLD RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT STINKS AND SMELLS AWFUL.

BUT, YEAH, I WOULD HAVE TO -- SEND A SAMPLE IN.

I LOVE GETTING STINKY STUFF.

[ THUNDER CLAP ] >> AND TASTING IT, PERHAPS.

>> YOU KNOW?

WHEN IN ROME.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, ARE YOU READY?

>> GOSH.

>> SURE.

STOP GIGGLING SO WE CAN GO.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST ONE, THIS IS A KEARNEY VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER IF THEY PLANT LOW SEDUMS AND THINGS LIKE THYME WILL THEY TOLERATE OCCASIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC IN FULL SUN OR IS THAT A POOR CHOICE?

>> YEAH, IT SHOULD.

I MEAN, OCCASIONAL FOOT TRAFFIC WOULD WORK.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ARE TRYING IT IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

SO I'LL LET YOU KNOW IN A COUPLE YEARS.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF FOOT TRAFFIC UP THERE.

>> THIS IS A BANCROFT VIEWER WHO HAD LARGE EVERGREENS REMOVED LAST YEAR AND IS WONDERING WHETHER THE SOIL BENEATH THEM WILL BE REALLY ACIDIC THAT WOULD LIMIT WHAT THEY CAN GROW?

>> NO, IT SHOULDN'T.

MOST SOILS GO BACK TO WHAT THEIR PARENT MATERIALS ARE.

SO IT MAY BE A LITTLE ACIDIC FOR A YEAR OR TWO, BUT IT SHOULD NORMALIZE BACK TO WHAT YOUR PARENT MATERIAL WAS ORIGINALLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER FROM McCOOK WHO WANTS TO OVERSEED THIS FALL.

BUFFALO GRASS INTO REAL THIN FESCUE.

IS THAT A GOOD IDEA FOR FALL OR IS THAT SOMETHING WE WAIT 'TIL SPRING?

>> NOPE, YOU'RE GONNA WAIT UNTIL ACTUALLY SUMMER IF YOU'RE DOING BUFFALO GRASS.

BUFFALO GRASS IS A WARM SEASON GRASS SO YOU'RE GOING TO DO THAT LIKE IN JUNE.

[ THUNDER CLAP ] >> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB.

OKAY, KAIT, THREE, THREE, THREE, ALL YOU NEED IS ONE MORE.

>> ONE MORE.

I CAN DO IT.

>> OKAY.

THIS VIEWER, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS ONE'S FROM, BUT THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER REGULAR OLD DISH SOAP WOULD BE A GREAT SUBSTITUTE FOR MOSQUITOS DUNKS AND KEEPING MOSQUITOES OUT OF THEIR GARDEN.

>> I'D BE CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TREATING.

BUT I'M SURE DISH SOAP WOULD KILL ANYTHING IN THE WATER.

BUT I DO RECOMMEND THE MOSQUITO DUNKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE VIEWERS WONDERING WHY SPIDERS ARE BEGINNING TO COME INTO THE HOUSES NOW OR HAVE THEY BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.

>> THEY VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN BEEN THERE ALL ALONG.

BUT AS TEMPERATURE CHANGES, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE THINGS INDOORS AND THERE'S POSSIBLE FOOD SOURCES IN THERE AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER IS WONDERING WHAT WOULD CAUSE PUMPKIN VINES TO WILT WITHOUT A BORE HOLE?

>> THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR THE HORTICULTURE CHAIR.

BUT IF IT WAS A BUG IT WOULD BE THE SQUASH VINE BORER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A WAYNE VIEWER WHO HAS CHERRIES AND SHE SAYS THIS YEAR THEY ARE TOTALLY WORMY.

SHE'S USED CARBARYL ON THE GROUND AND AS A TRUNK DRENCH.

SHOULD SHE SPRAY AND IN PARTICULAR WHAT SHOULD SHE DO NEXT YEAR?

>> OH GOSH, I THINK I'M GOING TO HAVE TO USE MY FIRST EVER PASS ON THIS ONE.

>> IT WAS A TIE.

>> I KNOW.

[ THUNDER CLAP ] THERE WAS TOO MUCH PRESSURE.

>> EITHER YOU ALL GET IT OR NONE OF YOU.

>> SHE'S A TEAM PLAYER.

>> PUT IT IN THE CENTER AND WE CAN SHARE.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN JUST PASS IT, RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

WELL, JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE, IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING OUT IN OUR GARDEN DUE TO THE HEAT.

FORTUNATELY, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH THE WATERING AND OUR PRODUCE LOOKS FANTASTIC.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO HEAR FROM TERRI OUT IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪♪ >>> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE ARE AGAIN LOOKING AT THE BEAUTY OF THE GARDEN.

I AM SO AMAZED AT HOW GREAT THIS GARDEN LOOKS THIS YEAR.

I KNOW A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH SOME OF THOSE GREAT RAINS THAT WE'VE BEEN GETTING, BUT MOST OF IT HAS TO DO WITH OUR INTERN AND OUR MASTER GARDENERS.

THEY PUT IN A LOT OF TIME IN OUR GARDEN AND IT JUST MAKES IT LOOK FANTASTIC.

WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF PRODUCE, AS I SAID.

AND I WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT STARTING NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 6th, WE'LL HAVE OUR GROW-A-ROW STARTING.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY EXTRA ZUCCHINIS, OR CUCUMBERS, OR TOMATOES, OR PEPPERS, PLEASE BRING THEM DOWN TO THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, AND WE'LL GET THEM DONATED TO A LOCAL FOOD BANK.

I ALSO WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GIVING A LITTLE EXTRA TLC TO YOUR CONTAINERS.

GIVE THEM A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FOLIAR FEED, AND THEN THAT WAY THEY WILL JUST KEEP BLOOMING FOR YOU THROUGH ALL THESE HEAT IN THE SUMMER.

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

♪♪ >>> SO STARTING NEXT TUESDAY, AUGUST 6th, BRING THAT EXTRA PRODUCE TO THE GARDEN BETWEEN 4:30 AND 7:00.

WE DONATE IT, IT'S GREAT.

WE, OF COURSE, ARE GONNA LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

AND WE ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO PLANTS OF THE WEEK, AND YOU ACTUALLY BROUGHT THEM IN.

>> YEAH, I KNOW, SURPRISE!

>> I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO SEARCHING.

>> WELL, WE'LL MAKE IT EASY FOR YOU TODAY.

>> THERE WE GO.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> WELL, WE HAVE THREE GRASSES.

SO THIS TALL PURPLE ONE IS AN ORNAMENTAL MILLET, JADE PRINCESS.

SO IT'S KIND OF A FUN PLANT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS KINDA SUMMERTIME, AND SO NOW THE GRASSES ARE IN BLOOM, THE WARM-SEASON GRASSES.

SO WE HAVE THE MILLET, WE HAVE SIDEOATS GRAMA HERE, THIS OTHER TALL ONE THAT'S KIND OF ALSO IN FLOWER RIGHT NOW.

SO AGAIN, THIS GETS UP MAYBE TO 30 INCHES.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A GOOD KIND OF VERGE PLANT BETWEEN THE CURB AND THE SIDEWALK, OR A PLACE THAT YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO HAVE TO WATER IT ONCE IT GETS ESTABLISHED.

AND THEN WE HAVE BLUE GRAMA, WHICH IS KINDA THIS EYEBROW, LITTLE IN FLUORESCENCE THERE.

AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT SHORTER.

SO THEY KIND OF DO WELL TOGETHER.

SO YOU HAVE A COUPLE LITTLE HEIGHT DISTANCES.

YOU CAN THROW SOME BUFFALO GRASS IN THERE TOO, TO COVER THE REST OF THE GROUND, SO -- >> AND THESE ARE NATIVE?

>> THESE ARE NATIVE.

THESE TWO ARE NATIVE.

THIS ONE IS NOT.

>> THAT ONE IS WAY TOO INTERESTING TO BE A PRAIRIE NATIVE.

>> IT'S A FUN PLANT THOUGH, SO.

>> ALL RIGHT., EXCELLENT.

WELL, THANKS, JEFF.

THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

AND ALWAYS, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF WONDERFUL THING GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

SO WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR VERY FIRST ONE, WHICH IS THE GREATER OMAHA IRIS SOCIETY SALE, AND THIS IS FRIDAY, AUGUST 2nd, FROM 2:00 TO 7:00.

WE HAVE AN ADDRESS ON THE SCREEN FOR ALL OF YOU WHO ARE IRIS AFICIONADOS.

OUR SECOND ONE IS OUR BYF GARDEN GROW-A-ROW PRODUCE DONATIONS THAT TERRI TALKED ABOUT.

AUGUST 6th IS THE START IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

AND OUR THIRD ONE, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF STORM DAMAGE, WE HAVE CREATED A QR CODE FOR YOU THAT WILL LET YOU GET TO A '24 AND A '23 STORM DAMAGE TREES VIDEO, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW TO MANAGE THOSE.

AND OF COURSE, ON OUR YOUTUBE WEBSITE WE ALSO HAVE GREAT VIDEOS OF MANAGING EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAD STORM DAMAGE, WHETHER IT'S VEGETABLES, PRODUCE, OR WHATEVER.

SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT IF YOU HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION OF DAMAGE.

ALL RIGHT, SO, KAIT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A SMALL BEE THAT LIKES TO TAKE THE FUZZ OFF THE DUSTY MILLERS.

SHE JUST WONDERS HOW MUCH FUZZ THOSE BEES NEED.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THAT FUZZ BALL ON THAT ONE.

AND WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A WOOL CARDER BEE.

AND SO, AS YOU CAN SEE, THE FEMALES WILL USE HER MANDIBLES, AND SHE'LL SCRAPE OFF ALL THAT FUZZ, OR THE TRICHOMES OF THE LEAVES, AND SHE'LL ACTUALLY USE IT FOR NESTING MATERIALS.

THEY'LL LAY EGGS IN VOIDS, EMPTY PLANT STEMS, HOLLOW PLANT STEMS.

BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE POLLINATORS, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A LITTLE UNSIGHTLY, THEY'RE ALSO REALLY CUTE, SO JUST LEAVE THEM BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, KAIT.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO FOUND THIS ON A GLASS DOOR.

HE SENT ONE PICTURE ON A FRIDAY AND ONE ON A SATURDAY.

HE DIDN'T THINK THEY WERE THE SAME INSECT, AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE VERY FUN TO WATCH, BUT WHAT IS IT?

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE BAGWORMS.

THEY ARE FUN TO WATCH, BUT THEY CAN BE SERIOUS PESTS OF EVERGREENS, SO I WONDER IF THERE'S AN EVERGREEN NEARBY.

SOMETIMES WHEN THEY'RE READY TO TIE OFF THAT BAG, THEY'RE GOING TO START WANDERING AWAY FROM THE PLANTS, SO WE CAN SEE THEM IN KINDA WEIRD AND UNUSUAL PLACES.

I SEE THEM COVERING A FLAG POLE AT MY CHILDREN'S SCHOOL ALL THE TIME.

BUT IF YOU WANT TO HELP THE NEARBY EVERGREEN, YOU CAN SIMPLY JUST PICK THESE OFF, THROW IT IN SOME SOAPY WATER, AND THAT'LL DO THE TRICK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE FOUND THIS GUY ON HER DILL, AND SHE'S NEVER SEEN THIS.

SHE THINKS IT'S A GREEN CLOVERWORM.

>> SO SHE'S CLOSE.

IT'S NOT A GREEN CLOVERWORM, IT'S ONE OF THE LOOPERS, KINDA SIMILAR TO A CABBAGE LOOPER.

AND WE CAN TELL BECAUSE IT HAS JUST A COUPLE FEET BACK THERE, AND SO IT'S GONNA CRAWL IN A LOOPING MOTION.

BUT IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING ANY PLANT DAMAGE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD JUST LET THINGS BE UNLESS THERE IS DAMAGE.

IF YOU DO SEE A LOT OF FEEDING HAPPEN, YOU CAN JUST SIMPLY HAND PICK THESE CATERPILLARS OFF AND ONCE AGAIN USE SOAPY WATER.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE, AND THIS COMES TO US FROM GLENWOOD, IOWA.

SAW THIS GUY ON THE HOUSE SIDING, WHAT IS IT?

>> I LOVE THIS.

IT'S SO COOL LOOKING.

THIS IS A BOXWOOD LEAFTIER MOTH, ALSO CALLED A BOXWOOD WEBWORM.

EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE WEBWORMS OF BOXWOODS, THEIR DAMAGE IS REALLY INSIGNIFICANT, SO IT'S JUST A COOL, NEAT LITTLE MOTH TO LOOK AT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THANKS, KAIT.

TERRI, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A BENNINGTON VIEWER.

SHE SAID, WHAT IS THIS, AND HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF IT?

BECAUSE OF COURSE IT IS FILLING UP HER FLOWER BEDS.

>> WELL, THIS IS YELLOW NUTSEDGE.

SO WE'RE PROBABLY SEEING THAT A LOT RIGHT NOW IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES.

IT'S ACTUALLY ALMOST TOO LATE TO BE TREATING IT WITH ANY CHEMICAL.

YOU'RE GOING TO USE WHAT THEY CALL SEDGEHAMMER, WHICH IS HALOSULFURON, ON THAT.

BUT YOU NEED TO DO THAT BEFORE THE LONGEST -- OR THE SHORTEST -- BEFORE THE DAYS CHANGE.

SO, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO DO THIS, BUT YOU CAN CONTINUALLY KEEP PULLING THAT.

THERE'S THESE LITTLE NUTLETS THAT LIVE UNDERNEATH IT.

YOU KEEP -- IT TAKES ENERGY AWAY EVERY TIME YOU PULL THAT OUT, SO THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE, AND THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU ALSO.

SO -- AND THEY'RE REALLY EASY TO PULL, SO JUST GO OUT THERE AND JUST PULL 'EM OUT, AND THEN JUST THROW 'EM IN THE COMPOST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES FROM NEW BALTIMORE, MICHIGAN.

AND HE'S GOT THIS WIDER GRASS IN HIS KENTUCKY BLUE.

HE WONDERS WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, AND SHOULD THEY BE TREATED?

>> SO I THINK THIS IS JUST LIKE ONE OF THE OLDER VARIETIES OF KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS.

FROM WHAT I CAN TELL FROM THE PICTURE AND STUFF, BUT SINCE YOU ARE IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GROWING ENVIRONMENT THAN WE ARE HERE IN NEBRASKA, WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU TO DO IS GO TO YOUR EXTENSION OFFICE IN MACOMB COUNTY IN CLINTON.

I LOOKED IT UP FOR YOU.

SO JUST GO TO THE CLINTON TOWNSHIP.

THERE'S -- YOUR EXTENSION OFFICE IS THERE.

AND TAKE A SAMPLE IN, AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE OF OUR KIND COURTYARD.

WE SEEDED LAST FALL WITH A SHADE-TOLERANT FESCUE, AND THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

SO PEOPLE WHO WANT A SHADE-TOLERANT GRASS, WHAT SHOULD THE MANAGEMENT BE?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME -- AND IOWA STATE'S DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH, AND WE'VE FOCUSED THAT, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE SEGMENTS THAT YOU CAN GO BACK TO YOUTUBE AND WATCH, ON SPECIFIC TYPES THAT YOU CAN -- THAT WILL WORK BETTER IN SHADE.

BUT NORMALLY I RECOMMEND MOST GRASSES LIKE SUN.

AND IF YOU HAVE SHADE, THEN I WOULD RECONSIDER PUTTING TURF GRASS THERE.

EVEN THOUGH I SO LOVE TURF GRASS, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT IT'S PROBABLY BETTER JUST TO MAKE THAT INTO A LANDSCAPE BED, AND CHOOSE MAYBE SOME PERENNIALS AND MAKE KIND OF A GROUNDCOVER.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE SEDGES OR VINCA, OR SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT CREATE A LANDSCAPE BED AND GO WITH SOMETHING BESIDE TURF GRASS.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE FIRST ONE FOR YOU, KYLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THIS COMES TO US FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

THIS IS AN ASIAN GREEN BEAN THAT HIS WIFE WAS GIVEN.

IT'S PRODUCED A BUNCH OF BEANS, BUT WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS ON THE BEAN LEAVES?

>> NOT ENTIRELY SURE.

THE ONE THING I DO WONDER ABOUT IS, AND IF THERE'S BEEN ANY SORT OF -- TREATED WITH THOSE PLANTS WITH ANYTHING RECENTLY.

WHEN WE HAVE THE CURLS OF THE TOP LEAVES, MAKES ME WONDER IF THERE ISN'T ANY SOME HERBICIDE INJURY GOING ON.

BUT IF WE'RE NOT SEEING IT ON ANY OTHER PLANTS, THEN MOST LIKELY IT'S SOMETHING VIRAL.

AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW VIRUSES THAT WILL ATTACK BEANS AS WELL.

SO, IF IT'S -- AS LONG AS IT'S PRODUCING AND THEY TASTE GOOD, I WOULD SAY GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE TO EAT THEM.

BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO CAN THE BEANS OR WANT TO STORE THEM LONG TERM, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND DOING THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BELLEVUE.

HER GREEN BEANS ARE DONE FOR THE SEASON.

SHE WAS CLEANING UP THE BED AND NOTICED THIS.

THESE NODULE THINGS.

SHE DOES SAY SHE PLANTED THEM CLOSE TOGETHER.

THE RAISED BED SOIL IS MANURE, SOIL, RAISED BED POTTING SOIL, PEAT MOSS AND SUNSHINE MIXED WITH MYCORRHIZAE.

>> AND THOSE THINGS ARE AWESOME.

THAT IS -- THAT IS CROWN GALL.

AND SO IT'S A VERY, VERY COMMON BACTERIA THAT'S FOUND EVERYWHERE IN THE SOIL.

IT CAN ATTACK PRETTY MUCH EVERY PLANT THAT'S OUT THERE.

AND IT JUST FORMS THOSE LITTLE GALLS AROUND IT.

TYPICALLY IT'S NOT GOING TO CAUSE MAJOR, MAJOR ISSUES.

AS FAR AS WHAT TO DO NEXT YEAR, NOT A LOT.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN THE SOIL.

SO IF YOU CAN KEEP THOSE PLANTS UP OFF OF THE SOIL AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE NOT SPLASHING SOIL ON THE PLANTS, THAT WILL HELP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM NORTHWEST IOWA.

THIS IS WHAT THE HOLLYHOCKS DID LOOK LIKE AND THIS IS WHAT THEY DO LOOK LIKE ON THE NEXT ONE.

>> THEY LOOKED SO BEAUTIFUL AND NOW THEY DON'T.

>> SHE'S GROWN THE FOR 40 YEARS.

SHE'S NEVER HAD THE RUST BEFORE.

SHE KNOWS WHAT IT IS.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO.

>> YEAH, AND AT THIS TIME OF YEAR, IT'S REALLY TOO LATE.

AND SO WHAT WE CAN DO IS, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO REMOVE ALL OF THOSE LEAV -- THOSE INFECTED LEAVES AS BEST WE CAN.

CLEAN THINGS UP.

BUT THEN, NEXT YEAR YOU'LL WANT TO COME BACK AND THEN REALLY PROBABLY ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JULY, OR FIRST PART OF JULY, TO MIDDLE OF JULY, APPLY A BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDE AND THAT SHOULD HELP WITH THE HOLLYHOCKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> I'VE SEEN A LOT OF HOLLYHOCK RUST THIS YEAR.

>> YEAH, WE SURE HAVE.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

JEFF, THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM COUNCIL BLUFFS.

HE SAYS THIS TREE HAS BEEN WEEPING AND YOU GET IT BECAUSE KYLE'S BOX WAS FULL WHEN WE HAD SOME OF THESE ON CAMPUS.

SO SHOULD SOMETHING BE DONE OR IS THIS AN OKAY TREE?

>> WELL, IF IT'S FAR ENOUGH FROM ANY STRUCTURE -- EXCUSE ME -- AND THEN WE SHOULD BE FINE.

EXCUSE ME.

I GUESS I WOULD JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

IF YOU START HAVING DYE BACK IN THE CROWN OF THE PLANT, THEN MAYBE HAVE AN ARBORIST COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

BUT IF ALL WE'RE DOING IS SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF WET WOOD THERE, I DON'T THINK I'D WORRY ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BELLEVUE.

THIS IS A CHINKAPIN OAK.

OR, SORT OF.

WHAT CAN HE DO ABOUT THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS IS PROBABLY A REPLACEMENT AT THIS STAGE.

IF THEY ARE INTENT IN TRYING TO SAVE THE TREE, OAKS RESPOND PRETTY WELL TO IRON TREATMENTS.

SO YOU MAY WANT TO LOOK INTO SOME SORT OF SOIL DRENCH WITH AN IRON PRODUCT JUST TO SEE IF THAT HELPS GREEN IT UP AND MAYBE MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE THRIFTY.

BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK GREAT.

SO -- >> ALL RIGHT AND TWO MORE ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS ALSO OMAHA.

HE BOUGHT A MULTI-STEM RED BUD.

IT AHD ALREADY LOST THE MAIN BRANCH WHEN THEY BOUGHT IT.

THIS YEAR ANOTHER ONE BROKE OFF.

AND HE'S WONDERING, WHAT.

START OVER OR WHAT DO WE DO HERE?

>> WELL, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY HAD KIND OF INCLUDED BARK ON THAT OTHER BRANCH.

YOU KNOW, I GUESS YOU CAN -- SINCE THAT ONE IS GONE, YOU CAN SEE IF IT CONTINUES TO DO WELL.

BUT, AGAIN, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS NEXT SPRING WILL TELL YOU IF THE TREE IS STILL ALIVE AND ALL THAT.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD PROTECT THE BASE OF THAT TREE FROM ANIMALS, RABBITS, THAT SORT OF THING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JEFF.

WELL WE'RE ALWAYS HAPPY TO HAVE ANYONE STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

DID YOU KNOW WE ALSO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL PRAIRIE AREA JUST SOUTH OF THE GARDEN?

HERE'S JEFF TO SHOW US ALL THE GRASSES IN THIS PRAIRIE.

♪♪ >> SO IF YOU'RE OUT LOOKING AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, IF YOU TURN TO THE SOUTH, JUST ACROSS THE STREET, YOU'LL SEE OUR PRAIRIE AREA HERE ON EAST CAMPUS.

SO THIS AREA HAS BEEN HERE FOR A FEW DECADES, 30 YEARS OR SO.

AND WE HAVE A VARIETY OF GRASSES GROWING IN HERE.

AND THIS IS REALLY -- IT'S REALLY COMING INTO ITS OWN THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SO IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT ADDING A PRAIRIE DISPLAY, IF YOU HAVE A HARD AREA TO KIND OF GROW STUFF IN, YOU CAN SEE SOME OF THE GRASSES, THE SHORTER GRASSES IN FRONT OF US, ARE NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT DOING REALLY WELL IN THIS 100 DEGREE HEAT.

BUT BOY, THE PRAIRIE GRASSES ARE REALLY KICKING INTO GEAR RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS THEIR GREAT TIME OF YEAR.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT A SPOT, YOU MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER ADDING SOME OF THESE GRASSES TO THAT AREA.

SO A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE VERGE AREAS BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE CURB.

SO IN HERE, SO THIS PLANT RIGHT HERE, WHICH IS JUST A FUN PLANT, THIS IS EASTERN GAMAGRASS.

IT'S KIND OF RELATIVELY LOW GROWING, BUT IT HAS A FUN SEED HEAD.

WE HAVE PRAIRIE CORDGRASS OUT HERE, ANOTHER REALLY TALL GRASS.

THERE'S BIG BLUE STEM, LITTLE BLUE STEM, SIDE OATS GRANDMA.

WE ALSO HAVE SWITCHGRASS.

SO THAT'S ALSO A FUN GRASS TO HAVE AND THEY'LL COME IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT COLORS, ESPECIALLY AS THEY GO INTO FALL.

BUT IT CAN BE A LITTLE INVASIVE.

SO USE THAT MINIMALLY.

DON'T GET TOO CARRIED AWAY WITH THE SWITCHGRASS.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO ADD TO YOUR YARD THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, AND A LOT OF FUN, RELATIVELY LOW MAINTENANCE, THINK ABOUT A LITTLE PRAIRIE SPOT IN YOUR LAWN.

>> AND IS A GREAT PLACE TO STROLL THROUGH.

AFTER VISITING THE GARDEN, GO TO THE DAIRY STORE ON THE WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

KAIT, YOU'VE GOT ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BRIDGEPORT.

SHE PULLED UP COLUMBINES.

THEY HAVE MONSTER ROOT SYSTEMS FOR COLUMBINE AND SHE SAW THIS.

WHAT ARE THESE THINGS ON THE ROOTS?

>> THESE ARE ROOT APHIDS.

IF THE COLUMBINES ARE NOT DOING WELL, I DON'T SEE TOO MANY APHIDS ON THIS PHOTO.

SO I WOULDN'T SUSPECT THAT IT'S THEM.

AND I WOULD ALSO HESITATE TO DO ANY PESTICIDE TREATMENTS BECAUSE LIKE A SYSTEMIC JUST BECAUSE COLUMBINES ARE GOOD POLLINATOR FLOWERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HER HONEY BEES.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> THAT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

THESE ARE JAGGED AMBUSH BUGS.

AND SO AS THEIR NAME SUGGESTS, THEY'RE JUST LIE IN WAIT PREDATORS.

AND SO THEY CAN BE BENEFICIAL IN SOME GARDENS, BUT THEY DON'T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST POLLINATORS OR PESTS.

SO JUST SOMETHING COOL TO HAVE AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT AND ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE'S WONDERING ABOUT THIS AS EGGS.

SHE FOUND THEM AFTER PICKING OFF TOBACCO WORMS AND JAPANESE BEETLES.

>> YEAH, SO THESE LOOK LIKE -- IF THEY WERE IN THE SOIL, WHICH IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN, THESE WERE EGG CAPSULES OR COCOONS OF EARTHWORMS IT LOOKS LIKE.

>> OH COOL.

ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, TWO PICS ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS VIEWER HAS A DRY SUNNY AREA BETWEEN THE STREET AND THE SIDEWALK.

SHE'S PLANTED ALL SORTS OF DRY LAND THINGS IN HERE.

SHE'S JUST WONDERING WHAT KIND OF MULCH SHOULD SHE USE?

YOU GOT IT BECAUSE -- JUST BECAUSE.

LHLH >> SO, I PROBABLY WOULD BE VERY SPARRING ON ANY MULCH.

YOU CAN PUT SOME WOOD MULCH ON THERE, KEEP IT AWAY FROM THE PLANTS THAT YOU PLANTED TO KIND OF HELP JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY WEEDS GROWING IN THERE TO HELP CONTROL IT.

AND THEN JUST LET IT DECOMPOSE AND LET THOSE BECOME LIKE THE LIVING MULCH IN THAT LANDSCAPE BED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A COLUMBUS VIEWER.

DRIED GRASS PATCHES ALL OVER.

HER NEIGHBOR'S LAWNS DON'T HAVE THIS.

THEY'RE WATERING AROUND THREE TIMES A WEEK AROUND 4:00.

SHE CAN'T PULL THIS TURF UP.

30 MINUTES PER RUN ON THIS.

>> YEAH, SO, IT COULD BE A DISEASE, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS.

I THINK IT'S MORE MANAGEMENT.

SO I THINK DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT AND DON'T RUN YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

YOU ONLY NEED ABOUT AN INCH A WEEK.

AND IF IT'S RAINING AND STUFF, THEN YOUR SYSTEM DOESN'T NEED TO RUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, TWO PICS ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM FARRAGUT.

THIS IS AN ASIAN LILY.

AND SHE WONDERS WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

>> SHE GOT LUCKY IS WHAT HAPPENED.

THIS IS A FASCIATION AND IT'S JUST A GENETIC ABNORMALITY.

CHANCES ARE IT WON'T SHOW UP AGAIN.

JUST ENJOY IT.

YOU HAVE A LOT MORE FLOWERS THAN YOU WERE BARGAINING FOR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHENANDOAH, IOWA VIEWER.

ONE PICTURE.

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A PURPLE FLOWERING MENARDA, BUT THIS IS WHAT SHE'S GOT.

THREE TO FOUR YEARS OLD.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH AND THESE ARE MORE FLOWERS THAN SHE WAS BARGAINING FOR AS WELL.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS ASTER YELLOWS.

AND SO IT'S A PHYTOPLASMA.

IT'S A BACTERIA THAT KIND OF BEHAVES LIKE A VIRUS.

FAIRLY COMMON.

WE SEE IT ON A LOT OF HOSTS.

IT'S SPREAD BY INSECTS, BUT THE REAL -- ONLY THE REAL -- THE REAL THING TO CONTROL THEM IS TO REMOVE THOSE PLANTS.

AND SO THAT PHYTOPLASM IS SYSTEMIC WITHIN THAT PLANT.

SO YOU'LL NEED TO REMOVE THAT ENTIRE PLANT.

>> WELL AND I'M SURPRISED I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE EVER SEEN IT IN MENARDA.

>> IT'S NOT COMMON.

IT TOOK ME SOME DIGGING TO MAKE SURE THAT IT ACTUALLY DID SHOW UP IN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

JEFF, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES AND YOUR FIRST ONE HAS TWO PICTURES.

THIS IS A PAPILLION VIEWER.

THIS IS A HEALTHY EARLY GIRL TOMATO.

LOST AND LOTS OF FLOWERS.

NO MATERS.

SHE -- HE HAS BEEN ACTUALLY TICKLING THE BLOSSOMS TO POLLINATE.

SO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

TOMATOES DO THAT SOMETIMES.

YOU KNOW, THEY'LL TELL YOU THAT IF IT'S TOO HOT OR TOO COLD, TOO WET, TOO DRY, THESE ARE ALL REASONS WHY YOUR TOMATOES DON'T FLOWER.

BUT I WOULD SAY JUST BE PATIENT.

IT MAY JUST BE A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE SEASON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GRAND ISLAND VIEWER, ONE PICTURE.

THE ROOTS ARE EXPOSED.

SHOULD SHE PUT SOIL OR MULCH OVER THEM OR BOTH?

>> SHE CAN MULCH OVER THEM.

I WOULD NOT APPLY ANY HERBICIDES AROUND THERE.

SO DON'T SPRAY THE WEEDS.

JUST GO DOWN, PUT A COUPLE INCHES OF MULCH AROUND.

THAT'LL PROTECT THE ROOTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

HE FOUND THIS FLOWER OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN CHALCO HILLS PARK.

HE'S WONDERING IS THIS A WOOD LILY OR IS IT AN ESCAPED ORNAMENTAL?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EITHER.

IT'S A BLACKBERRY LILY.

SO IT'S NOT A NATIVE PLANT.

IT'S AN ESCAPED ORNAMENTAL.

SO IT'S A FUN THING.

I'D KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE A LITTLE BLACKBERRY LIKE FRUIT THAT PRODUCES A LOT OF SEED.

SO YOU MAY END UP WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF THEM NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS OKAY.

BUT THE NEXT YEAR AFTER THAT, THEY'LL BE FIVE TIMES THAT.

SO YOU MAY WANT TO PULL SOME OF THOSE SEEDS BEFORE WE GET INTO WINTER.

>> WELL AND WE DID HAVE A CONVERSATION OFF AIR ABOUT THE BLACKBERRY LILY AND HOW COOL IT IS UNTIL IT ISN'T.

>> UNTIL IT ISN'T.

UNTIL YOU GOT ALL -- MORE THAN YOU WANT.

>> IN ALL SORTS OF PLACES WHERE MAYBE YOU DON'T WANT THEM QUITE SO MUCH.

>> IT CAN MAKE A NICE GROUND COVER.

>> THEY CAN.

ALL RIGHT.

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

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE PICTURES AND QUESTIONS THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING, WE HAD GARY BELL, TIM DUNGAN AND GEORGE MALY.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT A PROJECT DESIGNED TO MAKE OUR URBAN CITIES LOOK A LITTLE MORE WELCOMING.

THIS 13th STREET PROJECT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS NOW IN LINCOLN, AND WE'LL HEAR FROM A STUDENT ABOUT HOW PLANTS ARE VITAL TO MAKE OUR CITIES MORE BEAUTIFUL.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪