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

♪♪ >>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL SEE HOW A FEW ORNAMENTALS CAN MAKE ANY DOWNTOWN BEAUTIFUL, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT PLANTS POISONING OTHER PLANTS.

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

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

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

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU, SO IF YOU HAVE A GARDENING QUESTION GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446.

OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS ARE STANDING BY TO HELP YOU.

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

PLEASE TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE, GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU OUR BEST ANSWER.

AND REMEMBER TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL SO YOU CAN KEEP UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST VIDEOS AND PROGRAMS.

HEAD TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE SO YOU CAN GET THE LATEST BACKYARD FARMER INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

SO, YOU GET TO START WITH THE FIRST SET OF QUESTIONS, KYLE.

THIS FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM WEST POINT.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS TINY WHITE BUGS THAT ARE THICK ON TOP OF HER PETUNIAS AND HER STRAWBERRIES.

THEY LEAVE A STICKY RESIDUE ON THE PLANT.

WHAT ARE THEY, AND HOW DOES SHE CONTROL THEM?

>> YEAH, SO, THESE LOOK LIKE CAST SKINS FROM APHIDS, SO THAT WOULD BE LIKE THE SHED SKIN AS THEY GROW OR MOLT.

AND SO FOR PETUNIAS AND STRAWBERRIES, PROBABLY POTATO APHIDS WOULD BE MY GUESS.

THEY FEED ON BOTH.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE PRETTY READILY CONTROLLED WITH SOMETHING LIKE AN INSECTICIDAL SOAP.

YOU CAN KNOCK 'EM OFF WITH THE HOSE, TRY TO GET 'EM OFF, JUST DISLODGING THEM, AND MOST OF 'EM WON'T GET BACK UP ON THE PLANT.

>> THEY CAN'T CRAWL BACK UP.

>> YEAH, THEY CAN, BUT THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT THE GREATEST.

SO A LOT OF 'EM DON'T MAKE IT BACK UP, SO IT'S NOT 100%, BUT IT DOES HELP A LOT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

THIS NEXT ONE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM GRETNA, AND SHE SAYS SHE AND HER SISTER GARDEN IN RAISED BEDS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEIR CUCUMBERS DO THIS.

THEY STILL PRODUCE CUCUMBERS, BUT NOT AS MANY AS THEY DID BEFORE.

THE GROWING SEASON IS SHORTER, BECAUSE THEY EVENTUALLY DIE OFF.

WHAT IS THIS AND HOW TO FIX THIS?

SHE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHETHER THEY ROTATE THEIR CROPS OR WHAT THEIR SANITATION IS.

>> MM-HM.

SO THESE ARE MELON APHIDS.

AND CUCUMBERS ARE FAIRLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MELON APHIDS.

THEY CAN CAUSE, YOU KNOW, A DECENT AMOUNT OF INJURY, JUST THEIR FEEDING ALONE.

IF THERE IS A HIGH ENOUGH POPULATION, THAT'LL CAUSE A CUPPING OF THE PLANT, SOME CHLOROSIS.

YOU KNOW, SO THAT COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THE YIELD.

BUT I ALSO WONDER ABOUT EITHER OTHER THINGS CONTRIBUTING TO THAT, OR THEY REALLY CAN BE PROBLEMATIC, BECAUSE THEY WILL TRANSMIT A WHOLE HOST OF VIRUSES INTO PLANTS, INCLUDING CUCUMBER MOSAIC VIRUS.

SO THAT WILL CAUSE SOME SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, I BELIEVE, AND IT MIGHT ALSO REPRODUCE THAT YIELD AND CAUSE THOSE PLANS TO DIE OFF EARLY.

SO, THEY CAN COME IN PRETTY EARLY IN THE YEAR, SO I WOULD GET OUT AND LOOK FOR APHIDS.

START LOOKING FOR THOSE THINGS EARLY, YOU KNOW, JUNE AT LEAST.

AND YOU WANT TO TRY TO CONTROL THEM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO MINIMIZE THE RISK TO THAT.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, CONTROLLING THE APHIDS DOESN'T TOTALLY PREVENT VIRUS TRANSMISSION, BECAUSE THAT PARTICULAR VIRUS CAN BE TRANSMITTED IN JUST A MATTER OF SECONDS.

SO, IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, A TOTAL CURE, BUT IT CERTAINLY WILL HELP.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM FIRTH.

IT'S A LITTLE BLURRY, BUT NOT SO BLURRY YOU CAN'T TELL WHAT THOSE BEASTIES ON HIS OAK LEAVES ARE.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE SAWFLIES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY NOT ANYTHING TO BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT.

MOST TREES, YOU KNOW, MATURE, HEALTHY TREES ARE GOING TO TOLERATE SOME OF THAT FEEDING TO FOLIATION JUST FINE.

AS LONG AS IS NOT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF A YOUNG TREE, NEWLY TRANSPLANTED, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IN THOSE CASES IT MIGHT WARRANT CONTROL.

BUT WE'RE ALSO KIND OF GETTING TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR FOR THOSE.

IT'S KIND OF TYPICAL THAT THEY'RE NOT REALLY NOTICED UNTIL END OF SUMMER WHEN THEY'RE SORT OF ALREADY ABOUT DONE FEEDING ANYWAYS.

IF SO, YOU CAN TREAT THEM WITH, YOU KNOW, A HOST OF JUST VARIOUS GARDEN INSECTICIDES.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU CAN DISLODGE WITH A FORCEFUL STREAM OF WATER, AND THEY ARE REALLY NOT VERY GOOD AT CLIMBING BACK UP ON THE PLANT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THAT IS PRETTY EFFECTIVE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO REACH 'EM WITH A STREAM OF WATER, THAT'LL WORK PRETTY WELL AS WELL.

>> GREAT, THANKS KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, MATT, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A CERESCO VIEWER.

FIRST EMAIL WAS "WHAT IS CAUSING THE THIN BLADES TO TURN BROWN?

IT'S BEEN GOING ON ALL SUMMER."

HE HAS BEEN IRRIGATING, SO WE ASKED HIM FOR BETTER PICTURES AND HE SENT ANOTHER SET.

AND THEN HE ADDED IN THAT NEXT SET A QUESTION OF "ARE THESE GRUBS?

IF SO, HOW DO YOU KILL THEM?"

BUT HE HASN'T SEEN ANY INSECTS.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT LOOKS LIKE NICE HEALTHY TALL FESCUE LAWN IN THE FIRST PICTURE.

AND THEN YOU GET INTO THESE SECOND ONES WHERE, I'M SURE IT'S PROBABLY THE LAST TWO, THREE WEEKS WHERE WE'VE HAD THE HIGH HEAT AND HUMIDITY.

SO IT CAN BE A COMBINATION OF THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHAT DISEASE IT MIGHT BE, IF IT WAS ONE.

IT LOOKED LIKE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT OF BROWN PATCH IN THE FIRST ONE, COULD BE A LITTLE BIT OF SUMMER PATCH IN THERE AS WELL.

AND IF THERE IS GRUBS, ONE WAY TO TEST THAT WOULD BE TO JUST, LIKE, TRY AND PULL UP THE TURF IN THOSE AREAS.

AND IF YOU PULL IT UP AND THERE IS GRUBS UNDERNEATH THERE, THEN THAT WOULD BE A GOOD INDICATOR THAT IT IS, YOU KNOW, A GRUB ISSUE.

AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH TOO LATE NOW.

I MEAN, YOU CAN STILL TREAT 'EM WITH A PRODUCT THAT'S GOING TO KILL 'EM IMMEDIATELY.

SOME OF THE STANDARD ONES THAT WE USE EARLIER IN THE YEAR WOULD KILL 'EM WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE GRUBS.

SO, LIKE A DYLOX PRODUCT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD BE A POST THAT WOULD KILL 'EM LATER IN LIFE WHEN THEY'RE BIG AND HUGE AND FEEDING ON OUR ROOTS.

SO ANOTHER THING TO LOOK AT, IF IT IS A DISEASE ISSUE, MAYBE GOING IN AND THERE AND DOING SOME AERIFICATION TO TRY AND PROMOTE SOME SOIL HEALTH, AIRFLOW, BECAUSE IF WE HAVE OVER-IRRIGATED TURF IN THESE SUMMER MONTHS, WE GET ROOT DYSFUNCTION, WHICH CAN CAUSE SUMMER PATCH.

SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT KEEPING IT TOO WET, MORE LIKE A DEEP, INFREQUENT WATERING.

'CAUSE WE CAN WATER THOSE ALL DAY LONG DURING THE HEAT, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA NOT GOING TO HELP 'EM, EVEN THOUGH YOU THINK IT'S DOING ITS JOB WATERING THE GRASS WHEN IT'S HOT.

IT GENERALLY DOESN'T HELP IT OUT THAT MUCH.

>> AND REALLY, IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT SUMMER PATCH AT THIS POINT ANYWAY.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD NEED TO CONTROL NEXT SPRING AND IN THAT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON IT, IN OTHER WORDS.

>> YEP.

>> ALL RIGHT, MATT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A NORTHWEST LINCOLN VIEWER.

WE'VE HAD THIS BEFORE.

AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL, AS ALWAYS.

WHAT IS THIS WEED?

IT GROWS IN THE YARD, SHRUBS, AND WINDS ITSELF AROUND ANYTHING IT CAN CLIMB.

>> YEAH, THIS IS HONEYVINE MILKWEED.

AND THIS ONE IS VERY PROLIFIC IN CLIMBING ANYTHING THAT IT CAN FIND.

SO IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, BECAUSE IT DOES SPREAD UNDERGROUND THROUGH SOME RHIZOMES, SO GETTING RID OF IT, GENERALLY CLIPPING IT AT THE GROUND, AND THEN TREATING IT WITH LIKE, A GLYPHOSATE APPLICATION, OR SOMETHING ALONG THAT NATURE, SO THAT WE CAN KILL THE PLANT AND PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING.

'CAUSE IT IS A PERENNIAL, IT'LL COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR.

IF WE CLIP IT DOWN, IT'LL JUST SPREAD OUT AND KEEP COMING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE, KYLE, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM, LET'S SEE, LINCOLN.

SHE HAS TIGER EYES SUMAC.

THEY'RE ABOUT FOUR YEARS OLD.

SHE SAYS ONE IS LOSING THE LEAVES, THE LEAVES ARE TURNING RED, SMALL BLACK SPOTS ON THE TRUNK.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT'S CAUSING THIS.

>> THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

THE -- WE REALLY DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW THERE IS A SUMAC IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN THAT'S REALLY DOING PRETTY MUCH THE EXACT SAME THING.

KIND OF, YOU KNOW, WITH THE EXTREME, THE VERY HOT TEMPERATURES THAT WE'VE HAD THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, THAT COULD BE KIND OF BURNING IT.

YOU KNOW, IF THERE IS SOME OTHER ROOT -- SOME OTHER ROOT STRESSES GOING ON, THAT CAN LEAD TO LEAVES KIND OF TURNING RED SOMETIMES.

BUT NOT -- DON'T HAVE A GREAT ANSWER.

SO I WOULD SAY JUST KIND OF BABY IT, AND IF YOU'D WANT TO SEND A SAMPLE INTO THE CLINIC, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

BUT I WOULD SAY JUST GIVE IT PLENTY OF WATER, AND TRY TO KEEP IT OTHERWISE HAPPY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

THIS IS HENRY EILERS RUDBECKIA.

THIS IS IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, OR WAS.

IT HAD A COUPLE STEMS TURN TAN AND DIE, AND THEN THE WHOLE PLANT WITHIN A WEEK COLLAPSED.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE DISCOVERED UNDERGROUND.

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO TELL PEOPLE WHO FIND THIS?

>> YEAH.

SO THIS --I'M STILL ACTUALLY STILL WORKING ON THIS SAMPLE, BUT I'M FAIRLY CONFIDENT THAT IT'S PHYTOPHTHORA ROOT ROT.

AND SO IT'S -- OR THERE'S SOME SORT OF FUNGAL ROOT ROT GOING ON.

AND WITH SOME OF THESE, THESE EXCESS RAINS THAT WE'VE HAD THAT CAN CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS WITH THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT THERE IS A SPRINKLER HEAD RIGHT NEXT TO IT.

AND SO, THAT'S MOST LIKELY A VERY WET AREA.

IS JUST CONTINUING TO BE SATURATED -- THE SOIL IS SATURATED, AND FUNGI, LITTLE MYCETES ARE COMING IN AND TAKING 'EM OUT.

UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE THE ROOT AND CROWN DIES, THE REST OF THE PLANT WILL DIE TOO.

SO YOU REALLY JUST HAVE TO DIG IT UP AND TRY TO TAKE CARE OF IT NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

SARAH, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE HERE, AND THEN IT ACTUALLY MATCHES, KIND OF, THE NEXT PICTURE.

SO THESE ARE SERVICEBERRIES.

YOU GOT IT BECAUSE SERVICEBERRIES ARE A TREE, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SOME THINGS GOING ON HERE.

BUT BOTH VIEWERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE LEAVES TURNING COLOR.

AND THEN YOU SEE SOME LEAVES A LITTLE BIT CLOSE UP ON SOME OF THESE THAT HAVE LITTLE BLACK SPOTS, AND LITTLE RUST SPOTS, AND TURNING COLOR.

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SERVICEBERRIES?

AND I THINK YOUR THIRD PICTURE IS THE SAME THING.

THIS IS LINCOLN AND OMAHA VIEWERS.

>> YEAH, SO THESE LEAVES TURNING YELLOW AND GOING OFF-COLOR, THIS IS THE THE NORMAL STRESS SYMPTOMS THAT WE SEE ON SERVICEBERRY AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

IF THEY'RE -- IF CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN ESPECIALLY HOT, WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN, OR IF THEY'VE BEEN ESPECIALLY DRY, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO SEE SOME LEAVES, YOU KNOW, TURN YELLOW AND START TO LOOK STRESSED.

THE LITTLE BLACK THINGS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE LEAVES ARE DROPPINGS FROM LACE BUGS.

SERVICEBERRIES TEND TO BE KIND OF PRONE TO LACE BUGS, AND THEY'LL CAUSE SOME YELLOW SPECKLY FEEDING THAT YOU SEE ON THE LEAVES, AROUND THE LEAF VEINS.

GENERALLY, IT'S NOT A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REALLY SPRAY THE TREES TO CONTROL.

I WOULD JUST REALLY MAKE SURE THAT THE TREES ARE VIGOROUS THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WATERING -- DEEP, INFREQUENT WATERING -- MULCH, THAT TYPE OF THING.

AND THESE ARE REALLY GOING TO BE FAIRLY MINOR ISSUES.

>> GOOD.

AND WE WERE TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SERVICEBERRIES REALLY DON'T LIKE SOME OF THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE PLANTING THEM.

>> YEAH.

YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY ARE MORE OF AN UNDERSTORY TREE.

SO THEY WOULD PREFER TO BE, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON, IN THE SHADE OF A TALLER TREE.

IF THEY'RE IN THE FULL SUN, THEN, AGAIN, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY STAY WATERED WHEN WE ARE DURING -- IN DRY PERIODS.

>> GREAT, THANKS.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, SARAH.

THIS COMES FROM PIERCE.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT IN THE WORLD CAUSED THESE HYDRANGEA FLOWERS TO LOOK LIKE THIS?

>> YEAH, I HAD TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH ON THIS.

AND I THINK ACTUALLY, UNFORTUNATELY, YOU HAVE A VIRUS.

HYDRANGEAS ARE PRONE TO SEVERAL TYPE OF VIRUSES.

THEY CAN ALSO GET ASTER YELLOWS, BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE THIS IS PROBABLY A VIRUS.

SO IF WANTED TO, YOU COULD SEND A SAMPLE IN TO KYLE AND SEE IF KYLE CAN ISOLATE WHICH VIRUS IT IS.

OR, IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME, YOU CAN LET THE PLANT GROW AND SEE IF IT DOES THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

AND I THINK IT PROBABLY WILL.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO CURE FOR A VIRUS, THE ONLY THING YOU COULD DO WOULD BE TO PULL THESE PLANTS OUT AND GET RID OF 'EM, SO IT DOESN'T SPREAD TO THE REST OF YOUR PLANTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S KIND OF AN UNUSUAL FORM, THOUGH.

>> YEAH, IT IS.

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, WELL, YOU KNOW, URBAN AREAS CAN BE REALLY DULL PLACES THAT ARE FILLED WITH CONCRETE AND TALL BUILDINGS.

BUT WE IN LINCOLN ARE REALLY KIND OF SPOILED AS WELL, BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL PLANT INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR DOWNTOWN.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO CHECK OUT 13th STREET PROJECT AND SEE HOW IT'S MAKING LINCOLN MORE WELCOMING AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

♪♪ >>> IN 2022, I WAS A STUDENT AT UNL, WORKING ON MY SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT.

AND DURING THAT TIME I WAS INSPIRED BY MY BOSS, BRIAN MONK, TO WORK ON A POLLINATOR PLANT PROJECT ON 13th STREET.

SO THAT INVOLVES ALL THE WAY FROM LINCOLN MALL, UP TO Q STREET JUST DOWN THE ROAD THERE.

AND THE PART OF THE PROJECT THAT WAS MOST IMPORTANT WAS FOCUSING ON ESTABLISHING A PLACE FOR POLLINATORS TO CREATE HABITAT, AS WELL AS LIVING AREAS TO GET NUTRIENTS FOR COLLECTING FOR THE HIVE, AND ALL SORTS OF THINGS LIKE THAT, TO INCREASE POLLINATOR ACTIVITY DOWNTOWN.

SO USING PLANTS SUCH AS ASTERS.

WE HAVE SOME FALSE SUNFLOWER BEHIND ME.

SOME NEBRASKA NATIVE PLANTS, SUCH AS LEADPLANT.

YARROW IS SOMETHING THAT CAN GROW OUT WEST, IT CAN ALSO GO DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN.

A BIG CHALLENGE WITH THE PROJECT WAS BEING ABLE TO USE PLANTS THAT CAN SURVIVE DOWNTOWN, BECAUSE IT TRULY IS A CONCRETE JUNGLE HERE IN DOWNTOWN.

EVERY PART OF THE LANDSCAPE IS SURROUNDED BY CONCRETE, ROAD, AND BUILDINGS.

SO BEING ABLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT PART WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.

SO I CREATED THE PROJECT WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AS A SENIOR, AND THEN THROUGHOUT MY TIME HERE AT THE DOWNTOWN LINCOLN ASSOCIATION, I CONTINUED THE PROJECT, AND THEN WENT OUT AND GOT A GRANT THROUGH THE GREENER TOWNS PROJECT, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO SUPPLY US WITH THE MONEY TO BUY THE PLANTS.

AND THEN JUST THIS SPRING WE DID THE WHOLE PLANTING OF THE PROJECT.

SO LINCOLN HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR ITS ADVANTAGE OF HAVING, YOU KNOW, THE UNIVERSITY HERE IN TOWN TO KIND OF PROMOTE SOME OF THESE GREAT PROJECTS.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PLANTS LIKE THIS DOWNTOWN RIGHT ALONG THE ROADSIDE, BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT IF YOU CAN TO DO IT HERE DOWNTOWN, YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY AT HOME.

SO I THINK WHAT'S SPECIAL ABOUT IT BEING HERE LINCOLN, OF COURSE THE CAPITAL OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, IS THAT IT SHOWS, YOU KNOW, ALL THE PLANTS, WE TAKE THEM FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE YARROW, YOU KNOW, LEADPLANT THAT GROWS OUT WEST, AND YOU CAN BRING IT HERE TO THE CAPITAL CITY, AND SHOW THAT IT CAN GROW RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE PLANTS LIKE THIS DOWNTOWN RIGHT ALONG THE ROADSIDE.

BECAUSE IT SHOWS THAT IF YOU CAN TO ADHERE DOWNTOWN YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD, 10 YEARS NOW FROM THE ORIGINAL PROJECT.

AND THE HOPE IS TO HAVE MOST OF THE LANDSCAPE BEDS ON 13th STREET LOOK LIKE THIS BED HERE BEHIND ME.

NICE AND FULL, PLANTS HANGING OVER THE SIDE.

ABSOLUTELY JUST FILLING UP THE BED, MAKING IT LOOK LIKE LESS OF A LANDSCAPE AND MORE OF SOMETHING OUT OF A DREAM.

AND IT GIVES YOU AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT YOU CAN DO IT HOME AS WELL AS THE IDEA OF JUST PUTTING POLLINATOR PLANTS HERE WAS TO INCREASE THE POLLINATOR ACTIVITY IN DOWNTOWN LINCOLN TO GIVE US A BETTER CHANCE OF HAVING GOOD, CLEAN AND BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS DOWNTOWN.

SO, DURING MY TIME AT UNL WHEN I WAS A SENIOR I DECIDED TO DO MY SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT AS A 13th STREET POLLINATOR PROJECT.

AND PART OF THAT I WENT OUT AND GOT A GRANT THROUGH THE GREENER TOWNS PROJECT WITH STATEWIDE ARBORETUM OF NEBRASKA.

AND THEY ALLOWED US TO BE ABLE TO USE THE MONEY TO BUY PLANTS FOR THIS PROJECT.

THAT WAS MY BIG EMPHASIS I DID THAT WHILE I WAS IN COLLEGE.

THEN, I'M NOW ALMOST TWO YEARS OR A YEAR OUT OF COLLEGE OR SO.

AND DURING THAT WHOLE YEAR I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROJECT, PLANNING IT AND THIS SPRING WE PLANTED IT.

SO, WHAT THAT BRINGS ME TO IS OUR NEXT PROJECT, WHICH WILL BE FROM Q STREET ALL THE WAY ON 11th TO 14th STREET.

AND WE HOPE TO DO SOMETHING EXACTLY LIKE THIS WHERE WE DO A LARGE REPLANTING OF POLLINATOR PLANTS.

>> IT REALLY IS AMAZING WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A FEW PLANTS TO MAKE AN URBAN AREA BE A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

WE WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS AND FUTURE PROJECTS IN DOWNTOWN LINCOLN.

ALL RIGHT, SO ROUND TWO.

LET'S SEE, KYLE.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

SHE IS FROM BENNINGTON.

SHE HAS FOUND NUMEROUS HOLES IN THE SOIL ALONG THE FOUNDATION AND IN BARE SPOTS NEAR THE FLOWERBEDS.

ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH IN DIAMETER.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS DIGGING AND HOW DOES SHE DEAL?

>> YEAH.

SO IT'S -- IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE A SOLITARY WASP.

SO, TOO SMALL FOR A CICADA KILLER.

THOSE WOULD BE PROBABLY CLOSER TO AN INCH IN DIAMETER.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS PROBABLY LIKE A THREAD-WAISTED WASP, OR A SAND WASP.

SO, INTERESTINGLY, SOME OF THEM WILL ACTUALLY DIG SORT OF THESE FALSE OR KIND OF DECOY CHAMBERS THERE.

AND I THINK THAT IS MAYBE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN THIS PICTURE?

YOU HAVE THESE THREE OPEN ONES IN THE TOP AND THEN DOWN BELOW IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE MAYBE FILLED IN.

AND SO, WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL KIND OF, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE PARASITIZED BY OTHER WASPS, AND SO THEY MAKE THESE MOCK ONES THAT WILL BE SORT OF A DECOY FOR THOSE OTHER WASPS TO GO INTO AND THEY PLUG UP THE REAL ONES.

SO I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

THEY ARE SOLITARY.

THEY'RE REALLY NOT AGGRESSIVE.

THEY ARE NOT HARMFUL.

SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT I WOULD MANAGE.

I THINK HE CAN JUST BE LEFT ALONE.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

FOUND THIS CRITTER IN A POT, THIS IS GRAND ISLAND.

AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THE REAL QUESTION HERE IS ARE WE ABOUT FINISHED WITH THESE?

>> YEAH.

YEAH, GREEN JUNE BEATLES, SO.

YOU KNOW, THEY REALLY ARE WINDING DOWN AT THIS POINT.

SO, IF YOU'VE HAD ISSUES WITH THEM, AT THIS TIME NOTHING REALLY TO BE DONE.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES WAS FROM SIOUX CITY.

SHE SAYS, CAN WE TELL HER WHAT THIS IS?

FOR OUR VIEWERS, YOU CAN SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL GREEN THING ON TOP OF THAT ZINNIAS.

>> YEAH, IT'S A KATYDID.

UNFORTUNATELY, CAN'T SAY MORE.

IF WE HAD A LITTLE BIT BETTER RESOLUTION HERE ON THIS IMAGE OF THE INSECT MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A BETTER IDEA ON THE SPECIES.

BUT IT'S A KATYDID.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND GOOD GUY OR BAD GUY?

>> UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S A GOOD GUY.

THEY DON'T REALLY HARM ANYTHING.

THEY DON'T CAUSE ANY REAL PROBLEMS, IN TERMS OF FEEDING ON THINGS IN THE LANDSCAPE.

THEY ARE HERBIVORES, BUT NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.

AND THEY'RE ONE OF THOSE INSECTS THAT MAKE UP THE CHORUS AT NIGHT.

SO I LIKE THEM FOR THAT.

>> YEAH, ME TOO.

I LIKE THE NAME.

>> RELOCATE IT TO THE NEIGHBORS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> LET'S SEE MATT, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A NORTH BEND VIEWER.

THEY HAD THEIR LAWN SODDED WITH RTF FESCUE IN OCTOBER '23.

PRE-EMERGE, WEED-AND-FEED AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN IN JUNE THEY'VE NOTICED AN EXPLOSION OF WHAT THEY THINK IS YELLOW NUTSEDGE.

THEY HAND-PULL IT AND ROGUE IT, BUT THEY ARE REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT IS IN A NEW LAWN?

WHAT SORT OF ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE THEM HERE?

>> SO, YELLOW NUTSEDGE IS EVERYWHERE.

AND JUST BECAUSE IT'S IN A NEW LAWN DOESN'T MEAN IT WAS BROUGHT IN.

SO, THE SOIL WAS THERE BEFORE THAT YOU LAID THE SOD OVER.

IT WAS PROBABLY DISTURBED AND MOVED AROUND AND LEVELED.

AND THOSE TUBERS CAN BE SPREAD VERY EASILY.

AND I THINK YOU ALSO MENTIONED THERE WAS SOME IN THE LANDSCAPE BEDS.

SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY THERE.

SO WHEN YOU GO AND YOU TILL THE SOIL UP AND MOVE IT AROUND YOU'RE GOING TO SPREAD THAT ALL OVER.

AND THEN YOU DO EVENTUALLY SEE IT POPING UP THROUGHOUT THE LONG.

SO THE BEST THING YOU COULD DO, IF YOU DO SEE IT IN JUNE, IS TO PROBABLY TO TREAT IT WITH HERBICIDE.

OTHERWISE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

AND CREATE MORE RHIZOMES.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR YOU WILL HAVE BIGGER PATCHES.

SO IF YOU DID SEE IT IN JUNE I WOULD PLAN ON NEXT YEAR TREATING WITH AN HERBICIDE I WOULD SAY SEDGEHAMMER IS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE OR HALOSULFURON.

BECAUSE IT'S SAFE ON A LOT OF ORNAMENTAL PLANTS SO YOU COULD USE IT IN THE SHRUBS OR THE ORNAMENTALS AS WELL, AND IN THE LAWN.

AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT, GENERALLY THAT JUNE TIMEFRAME, AND THEN TREAT AGAIN PROBABLY SIX WEEKS AFTER YOUR INITIAL.

AND THAT WILL HELP MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF NUTSEDGE THAT YOU HAVE.

>>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A YEAR AGO.

MATT, YOU TALKED ABOUT USING TENACITY ON BROME IN JULY TO SET IT BACK.

NOW, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY IN A STAND OF PRAIRIE GRASS.

SO IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT, BUT DO YOU WANT TO REVIEW THAT AGAIN?

THIS IS AN ASHLAND VIEWER.

>> OKAY, SO THE REASON I MENTIONED THAT ONE IS BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING AT TRYING TO REMOVE IT OUT OF A LAWN WHEN IT ENCROACHES INTO A LAWN.

SO WE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT TIMINGS, MAY, JUNE AND JULY.

AND IT SEEMED LIKE JULY WAS THE BEST TIMING, BECAUSE IT'S SLOWING DOWN, WHERAS IN MAY AND JUNE IT'S GROWING SO FAST THAT TENACITY DIDN'T WORK AS WELL.

GLYPHOSATE WAS THE SAME WAY.

IT WORKED BETTER, LATER IN THE YEAR IN JULY.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE THE PLANT TAKES IT DOWN INTO THE PLANT MORE, AND GETS IT DOWN INTO THE RHIZOME.

SO, FOR TREATING WITH TENACITY, GENERALLY THREE APPLICATIONS.

SO, IF YOU'RE STARTING IN JULY IT WOULD BE FIVE OUNCES AND THEN ANOTHER FIVE OUNCES TWO WEEKS LATER, TWO TO THREE WEEKS LATER.

AND THEN ANOTHER FIVE OUNCES.

AND THAT WOULD HELP MINIMIZE THAT IN A TURF STAND.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF THIS IS JUST A SPURGE ON STEROIDS?

IT'S ABOUT 12 INCHES TALL.

IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN A LAWN OR GARDEN BEFORE.

>> THIS IS A SPURGE.

IS NOT PROSTRATE, BUT IT'S CALLED KNOTTING SPURGE.

AND IT'S ACTUALLY ONE THAT GROWS UP RIGHT.

SO IT CAN GROW ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 20 INCHES TALL.

AND IT'S ALSO CALLED SPOTTED SPURGE SOMETIMES.

YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE THOSE LITTLE PURPLE SPLOTCHES ON THEIR.

BUT NOT SPOTTED SPURGE OF THE PROSTRATE KIND.

'CAUSE THAT ONE IS ALSO CALLED SPOTTED SPURGE, BUT IT GROWS FLAT ON THE GROUND.

SO WITH THIS ONE, SAME CONTROL METHODS, IN TERMS OF THE OTHER SPURGES.

A LOT OF THE TWO TO THREE WAY HERBICIDES WORK WELL ON IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FOR YOU, KYLE, ON THIS ONE.

ALL RIGHT, AND THESE ARE KIND OF ALTOGETHER.

YOU GOT SOME SAPPY TREES HERE.

THIS ONE COMES FROM WAHOO.

THIS IS A LINDEN.

SHE SAYS IT'S VERY WEEPY AND IT'S GOT, IN ONE OF THE WOUNDS, SHE IS SEEING WHAT SHE IS CALLING, "WHITE APPENDAGES."

SO, SHE IS WONDERING ABOUT THE WEEPING, THE HARM TO THE TREE.

IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN DO?

AND SHE DID NOT SEND US A PICTURE OF THE WHOLE TREE.

>> YEAH.

IF YOU STICK YOUR NOSE IN THEIR IT PROBABLY HAS A PRETTY NICE ODOR AS WELL.

MOST LIKELY THIS IS SLIME FLUX OR WET WOOD.

TECHNICAL, THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT IT'S BASICALLY -- TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A WOUND THERE WILL BE YEASTS AND BACTERIA THAT COLONIZE THAT TISSUE.

AND THEY BUILD UP THE PRESSURE TO A POINT THAT, EVENTUALLY THEY JUST START TO OOZE OUT OF THE PLANT.

WHETHER THROUGH PRUNING WOUNDS, OR THROUGH NATURAL OPENINGS IN THE BARK.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT IS WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

GENERALLY, WE DON'T THINK OF EITHER SLIME FLUX OR WET WOOD AS A MAJOR PROBLEM ON AN OTHERWISE HEALTHY TREE.

IN FACT, THERE IS SOME RESEARCH THAT SHOWS HAVING SLIME FLUX OR WET WOOD CAN ACTUALLY RAISE THE INTERNAL PH OF THE TREE TO A POINT THAT MAKE IT LESS HOSPITABLE TO WOOD-ROTTING PATHOGENS.

THAT SAID, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THE A TREE THAT HAS BEEN COLONIZED WITH YEAST AND FUNGI MEANS THERE IS LIKELY SOME STRESSES THAT ARE GOING ON.

THE WEEPING ITSELF IS NOT GOING TO KILL THE TREE.

BUT POTENTIALLY, THERE ARE OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES THAT ARE WEAKENING IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

IT MIGHT BE ALMOST THE SAME THING.

THIS IS AURORA.

>> AND IT IS THE SAME THING.

YEAH.

AGAIN, SAME.

IT'S VERY COMMON.

I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING WITH A PANELIST ON THIS SHOW ABOUT ONE OF THEIR TREES THE OTHER DAY, ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME THING.

AND AS THE TREES ARE ACTIVE THIS TIME OF YEAR WE ARE JUST GOING TO SEE A LOT OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM GRAND ISLAND.

THIS IS A WEEPING MULBERRY.

HE HAS TWO OF THEM.

AND THEY'RE DROPPING SOME LEAVES EARLY IN THE SPRING.

YELLOWISH SPOTS.

AND THEN ONE HAS GOT THE WEEPING ON THE TRUNK, SO.

>> YEAH.

THIS COULD BE WET WOOD AS WELL.

BUT THIS COULD ALSO BE, MULBERRIES WILL GET A BACTERIAL CANKER.

AND THAT IS KIND OF WHAT I WONDER ABOUT HERE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE ARE SEEING SOME OF THESE LEAVES THAT ARE YELLOWING AND DROPPING.

SO WITH CANKER MANAGEMENT THERE IS REALLY NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ASIDE FROM PRUNING.

AND SO IF THAT BRANCH IS CONTINUING TO DROP THOSE LEAVES EARLY OR JUST NOT PRODUCING, THEN I WOULD GO AHEAD AND GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, SARAH, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE THAT DOESN'T MATCH EVERYTHING ELSE IN THIS LIST.

BUT THIS FIRST ONE COMES TO US, LET'S SEE, I'M NOT SURE WHERE.

IT'S AN AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE PLANTED THIS SPRING.

WITHIN A MONTH ALL OF THE LEAVES TURNED RED.

THEY'RE NOT FALLING OFF, BUT NOW THERE ARE GREEN LEAVES.

>> I WOULDN'T SAY GREEN, I WOULD SAY YELLOW.

BUT OBVIOUSLY, THIS TREE IS HAVING A HORRIBLE TIME ESTABLISHING.

AND ALL OF THAT RED YOU ARE SEEING IS TELLING ME YOU THAT THIS TREES EXTREMELY STRESSED.

I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHY IT'S STRESSED.

THAT LAWN LOOKS REALLY GREEN, SO I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR IRRIGATION SCHEDULE IS.

IF YOU'RE RUNNING IT SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND YOU'RE NOT WATERING DEEPLY ENOUGH?

SO THERE NEEDS TO BE A LONGER CONVERSATION, BUT THIS TREES VERY STRESSED.

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

THIS IS GRETNA.

STORM DAMAGE, THIS WAS A CRABAPPLE.

HAD A LARGE BRANCH FALL.

THEY WONDER, DID THEY CUT IT PROPERLY?

SHOULD THEY SEAL IT, COAT IT, CLEAN IT?

CROSS THEIR FINGERS AND HOPE?

>> YOU DID A NICE JOB CLEANING UP THE WOUND.

NO, DON'T SEAL IT OR COAT IT WITH ANYTHING.

BUT DON'T PLAN ON THIS BEING A LONG-TERM TREE.

IT'S VERY LIKELY YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER BRANCH, OFF, BECAUSE THAT JUNCTION IS A VERY WEAK JUNCTION NOW AND THAT'S BEEN WEAKEND EVEN FURTHER.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A LONG- TERM TREE FOR YOU ANYMORE.

I WOULD PLAN ON TAKING IT DOWN IN THE NEXT THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS AND REPLACE WITH SOMETHING ELSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, ANOTHER STORM DAMAGE ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

WE HAD SEVERAL OF THESE, UNFORTUNATELY, IN THIS PART OF THE STATE.

WILL THIS TREE SURVIVE?

>> NO.

THIS ONE IS A GONER.

THERE'S REALLY NO WAY TO PRUNE IT TO MAKE IT BE A HEALTHY TREE AGAIN.

AND YOU'RE GOING HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WOOD ROT THAT WILL ENTER INTO THAT TRUNK FROM THAT HUGE WOUND.

SO YOU JUST NEED TO LET THIS ONE GO.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS ALSO LINCOLN.

TREE DAMAGE TO TWO TREES.

PICTURES OF THE FRONT DAMAGE?

THERE IS A SPLIT IN THIS ONE.

AND THEY ARE WONDERING, IS THIS TREE SALVAGEABLE ALSO?

>> NO.

THIS ONE IS AN IMMINENT HAZARD.

THIS ONE COULD FAIL AT ANY MOMENT.

EVEN ON A CALM DAY THIS COULD FAIL.

THERE IS NO WAY TO BOLT THAT TOGETHER OR CABLE IT TOGETHER.

THOSE SECTIONS WILL NOT GROW BACK TOGETHER AND BE STRONG AGAIN.

YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS ONE DOWN.

>> GOOD.

AND ONE MORE FOR YOU.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A VIEWER WITH PHLOX.

SHE SAYS SHE'S GOT GARDEN PHLOCKS THAT IS LOOKING LIKE THIS.

AND THE BLOSSOMS JUST ARE DOING THIS.

AND SHE'S GOT SOME IN ANOTHER LOCATION THAT LOOK JUST FINE.

>> SO MY GUESS IS THAT THIS IS PROBABLY HEAT STRESS?

I THINK MAYBE WHEN WE WERE HAVING THOSE 90+ DEGREE DAYS.

YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE DAYS IN A ROW AND THESE PLANTS WERE BLOOMING I THINK THE FLOWERS JUST COLLAPSED VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE OF HEAT AND THEY DIDN'T REALLY FALL AWAY THE WAY THEY SHOULD.

SO THAT IS KIND OF WHY YOU'VE GOT A MESSY SEED HEAD HERE.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS A DISEASE.

SO, YOU COULD JUST TRIM THESE OFF, AND LET THE PLANTS REFLASH AND SEND OUT A NEW GROWTH OF FLOWERS.

AND THEY MIGHT LOOK BETTER IN THE COOLER FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SARAH.

SPEAKING OF SWELTERING HEAT, WE'VE HAD SOME AND WE'RE NOW THANKFUL FOR A FEW COOLER DAYS HERE IN EASTERN NEBRASKA.

FOR NEXT WEEK'S FORECAST HERE'S GANNON RUSH FROM UNL'S HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER.

>> THANKS, KIM.

A COOL-DOWN HAS ARRIVED AND WE HAVE A MILD WEEKEND AHEAD OF US.

HIGHS COULD BE IN THE 60s ON FRIDAY.

WHILE TEMPERATURES THIS WEEKEND WILL BE IN THE 70s ACROSS THE STATE.

WE BEGIN TO WARM BACK UP ON MONDAY.

AND BY TUESDAY SOME PLACES COULD BE IN THE 90s.

CHANCES FOR RAIN AND A MUCH BETTER THIS WEEK WITH LARGE PARTS OF THE STATE LIKELY TO SEE AT LEAST A HALF AN INCH.

STORMS POSSIBLE EVERYWHERE IN THE STATE NEARLY EVERY DAY THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE HIGHEST AMOUNT OF UP TO TWO INCHES EXPECTED NEAR MULLEN AND THE SANDHILLS AND NEAR IMPERIAL IN THE SOUTHWESTERN PART OF THE STATE.

SEVERE STORM CHANCES ARE LOW, BUT THERE COULD BE DOWNPOURS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY OF THESE STORMS.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS, GANNON.

IT IS TIME FOR A BREAK.

DO STAY TUNED, BECAUSE THERE'S 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'LL HEAR ABOUT SOME PLANTS THAT CAN ACTUALLY POISON THEIR NEIGHBORS.

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.

SARAH, READY?

>> I'M READY.

>> THIS IS A CENTER, NEBRASKA VIEWER.

WANTS TO KNOW ARE THERE ANY VEGETABLES TO PLANT IN AUGUST THAT WILL STILL RIPEN THIS FALL?

>> YEAH, THERE'S QUITE A FEW.

LETTUCES, RADISHES, CARROTS, EVEN BROCCOLI OR CAULIFLOWER YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET A HARVEST OFF OF.

>> PERFECT.

THIS IS A FREMONT VIEWER.

SHE HAS A 25-YEAR-OLD MOCK ORANGE, JUST REGULAR OLD SPECIES?

ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT'S PUT ON REALLY LONG CANES WITH BIG LEAVES.

IS IT OKAY OR ANY IDEA?

>> WELL, YOU MIGHT JUST WANT TO HEAD THOSE BACK JUST TO SHAPE THE PLANT A LITTLE BIT, SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THESE LONG WILD HAIRS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A BELLEVUE VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW AFTER THE STORMS WHAT IS THE STRONGEST, MOST DISEASE-RESISTANT SHADE TREE YOU CAN RECOMMEND?

>> MY FAVORITE IS GINKGO, THEN I WOULD LOOK AT CHINKAPIN OAK.

I WOULD LOOK AT WHITE OAK, I WOULD LOOK AT MAYBE SOME OF THE DISEA -- DUTCH ELM RESISTANT HOMES, POSSIBLY, OR EVEN A LINDEN.

>> EXCELLENT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS AN 8-YEAR-OLD STRAWBERRY PATCH.

SHE'S WONDERING SHOULD SHE MOW IT OFF THIS FALL?.

YOU SHOULD MOW IT OFF EVERY YEAR AFTER YOU'RE DONE HARVESTING AND RENOVATE THE GARDEN, SO THAT YOU MAXIMIZE PRODUCTION.

>> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB.

[ THUNDER CRACKING ] OKAY, KYLE, READY?

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> LET'S DO IT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM NORTHEAST IOWA.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS CUTE VINES THAT GET A SPOTTED FUNGUS REALLY EARLY WHEN THEY'RE ONE FOOT TALL.

SHE WONDERS IF IT'S SOIL BORN?

CAN SHE POUR BOILING WATER IN THE SOIL TO STOP THAT?

>> IT WILL NOT STOP THE FUNGUS, NO.

NO.

THAT'S NOT GONNA WORK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A FREMONT VIEWER WHO IS SAYING NOW SHE IS GETTING BLACK SPOTS ON THE ENDS OF HER TOMATOES.

WHY WOULD IT BE NOW?

>> WE'VE HAD A LOT OF -- A LOT OF -- A LOT OF RAIN.

HEAVY RAIN EVENTS CAN LEAD TO BLOSSOM AND ROT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE POWDERY MILDEW ON A HOYA VINE HOUSEPLANT.

WOULD THAT BE TREATABLE?

>> IT'S PROBABLY TOO WET THERE.

AND SO, JUST TRY TO MOVE IT TO AN AREA WITH A LITTLE BIT MORE AIRFLOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A DAVID CITY VIEWER WHO SAYS HE'S GOT HEIRLOOM TOMATOES THAT ARE SHOWING SOME WHITE MOLDY STUFF IN THE CRACKS.

ARE THEY STILL OKAY?

>> THEY'RE -- THE TOMATOES, YEAH, I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY WON'T -- WON'T WANT TO EAT THEM, BECAUSE IT'S JUST SAPROPHYTIC FUNGI THAT ARE COLONIZING IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LEAVES OF PEONIES ARE SILVER WITH POWDERED MILDEW.

[ THUNDER CRACKING ] COULD THEY COME BACK?

>> WILL THEY COME BACK?

PROBABLY NOT THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR THEY'LL BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOU READY, MATT?

>> YEAH, LET'S DO IT.

>> LET'S DO IT.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR FIRST ONE ACTUALLY COMES TO US FROM IMPERIAL.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER USING THE GLOVE OF DEATH WOULD BE OKAY ON MULBERRY SEEDLINGS THAT ARE RIGHT NEXT TO THE MAIN TRUNKS OF GRAPES AND RASPBERRIES?

>> I WOULD USE GLUFOSINATE INSTEAD OF GLYPHOSATE.

IT WON'T SEND INTO THE PLANT AS MUCH.

>> AND A FOLLOW-UP LIGHTNING WOULD BE, IS THAT AVAILABLE TO A HOMEOWNER?

>> I WOULD THINK THERE ARE SOME FORMS THAT YOU CAN BUY IN A BOX STORE, YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO IS SEEDING FESCUE NEXT WEEK INTO AERATION CORES AND IS WONDERING HOW OFTEN THEY SHOULD WATER?

AND THIS IS AN OVERSEEDING, APPARENTLY.

>> KEEP IT WET ON THE TOP UNTIL EMERGENCE.

SO, WET TO -- USUALLY.

SO, KEEP IT WET UNTIL IT GERMINATES AND THEN MAYBE SPREAD OUT THE WATERINGS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO BURNED A STUMP USING CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES AND THEN NOW THEY WANT TO SEED INTO THAT LOCATION.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT, BUT IT'S GONNA BE REALLY DRY IN THERE, SO YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO BRING IN SOME SOIL AND MIX IT IN, SO IT'S NOT JUST CHARCOAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SHOULD A LAWN BE DETHATCHED IF IT IS NOW AT LEAST THREE INCHES ABOVE THE EDGES OF THE SIDEWALKS?

>> DEPENDS IF THERE'S -- [ THUNDER CRACKING ] IF THERE'S A LOT OF -- A LOT OF UNDERGROWTH THAT'S BUILDING UP AND YOU CAN SEE THAT LAYER, THEN DETACH IT.

BUT IF IT'S JUST GRASS, THEN THERE IS NO SENSE IN DETHATCHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, KYLE, READY?

>> READY.

>> THIS IS A PONCA VIEWER WHO ARE SAYING THEY HAVE NEVER HAD ASH-GRAY BLISTER BEATLES BEFORE AND THEY DO NOW.

HOW DO THEY GET RID OF THEM?

>> CARBARYL SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE.

YEAH, THEY'VE -- THEY'VE BEEN POPPING UP QUITE A BIT THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS IN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE JUST SENT THIS QUESTION IN.

AND SHE'S WONDERING IF SHE HAS MISSED THE TREATMENT WINDOW FOR EMERALD ASH BORER?

>> SO, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE, BECAUSE THERE IS A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMIC THAT -- THAT ARE USED BY PROFESSIONAL ARBORISTS.

SO, I -- I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND GOING WITH THE PROFESSIONAL ARBORISTS FOR TREATING THAT.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A PLEASANT DALE VIEWER WHO HAS HUGE BLACK, WHITE, AND ORANGE UNDER WING COLORED MOTHS.

ARE THOSE GOOD GUYS?

>> BLACK, WHITE AND ORANGE UNDERWINGED MOTHS?

YEAH, I MEAN, FOR UNDERWINGED MOTHS, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE -- THEY'RE FINE.

THEY'RE, I GUESS, KIND OF NEUTRAL.

MOST OF THEM ARE FEEDING ON THE LARVAE FEED ON TREES.

SO, DON'T REALLY HURT ANYTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

[ THUNDER CRACKING ] A TIE.

SO YOU TWO CAN ARM WRESTLE FOR IT.

BUT SARAH HAD THE HARDEST QUESTION.

>> FOR FREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, WE NOW GO TO OUR GARDEN MINUTE.

AND IT'S PUTTING ON A BEAUTIFUL SHOW RIGHT NOW .

SO MUCH COLOR, SO MUCH TEXTURE.

REALLY A GREAT PLACE TO TAKE A STROLL.

SO, HERE'S TERRI TO SHOW YOU AROUND OUR "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE ARE AGAIN INVITING YOU FOR THE VERY LAST TIME TO THE GARDEN TO VISIT US ON SATURDAY FOR THE EAST CAMPUS DISCOVERY DAYS.

WE'LL BE HERE IN THE GARDEN AND ALL OVER CAMPUS.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO CHECK OUT CAMPUS IN THE GARDEN FROM 10:00 TO 2:00 ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 10th.

SO, COME JOIN US AND VISIT US.

AND LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL THE GARDEN IS.

WE'RE WELL -- ALMOST TO 200 POUNDS OF PRODUCE DONATED.

OUR GROW A ROW STARTED THIS TUESDAY.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF THAT CAME IN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE WILL CONTINUE THAT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS, SO STOP BY ON TUESDAY EVENINGS FROM 4:30 7:00 TO DROP OFF YOUR EXTRA PRODUCE.

AND JUST TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THE GARDEN AND SEE HOW GORGEOUS IT IS THIS YEAR.

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

♪♪ >> WE DO HOPE YOU'LL STOP BY THE GARDEN TO SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS THIS WEEKEND.

IT'S REALLY, REALLY GREAT.

REMEMBER, EAST CAMPUS DISCOVERY DAYS IS SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO 2:00 HERE IN LINCOLN.

IT'S ALSO BUG FEST, WHICH WILL BE FUN.

SARAH, WE HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL PLANTS OF THE WEEK, SO YOUR TURN.

>> DEFINITELY.

SO, WE'VE GOT RUDBECKIA HERE IN THE FRONT, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A CULTIVAR ZINNIAS, WHICH ARE BOTH REALLY GOOD TOUGH PLANTS FOR THIS MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER GARDEN WHEN THINGS ARE HOT.

SO, THIS IS RUDBECKIA CALLED HENRY EILERS.

AND IT'S UNUSUAL.

IF I CAN BEND THIS FLOWER SO YOU CAN SEE IT.

THOSE PETALS ARE FULLY EXPANDED.

THEY'RE -- IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS AN IMMATURE FLOWER HEAD.

THESE ARE CALLED COILED PETALS IN THAT THEY ARE CURLED OR ROLLED UP THAT WAY.

AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THIS PARTICULAR FLOWER DEVELOPS.

YOU CAN SEE ON THIS FLOWER OVER HERE, YOU CAN SEE AGAIN THOSE QUILLED PETALS.

SO, THIS ONE WILL GET TO BE IN THE THREE LITTLE BIT TALLER, HEIGHT RANGE.

IT'S VERY, IT'S A GOOD, STRONG PLANT, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO LODGE AND LAY DOWN ON THE GROUND YOU.

LIKE MOST OF THE RUDBECKIAS, IT'S VERY TOUGH AND IT'S GOOD FOR -- TOLERATES DROUGHT WELL.

IT ALSO IS FAIRLY RESISTANT TO DEER.

SO, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A NICE PERENNIAL FOR MIDSUMMER COLOR, THIS HENRY EILER'S RUDBECKIA WOULD BE A GOOD ONE TO CONSIDER.

NOW, THE OTHER ONE WE HAVE HERE, IS A RUDBECK -- OR IS A ZINNIA CALLED QUEENIE FORMULA.

AND, IT'S A MIX.

SO, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS FLOWER IN THE FRONT, YOU SEE WE HAVE JUST SINGLE PETALS IN KIND OF A SALMON COLOR.

BUT IF YOU LOOK HERE AT THE ONE ON THE SIDE, WE HAVE AND MULTI-PETAL HEAD IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT COLOR.

SO, WE'VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL MIX OF COLORS HERE ON THIS PARTICULAR ZINNIA.

THIS ONE WILL BE IN ABOUT THE 18 INCH TO TWO FOOT HEIGHT RANGE.

VERY DROUGHT OR POWDERY MILDEW ASSISTANT, WHICH IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT WE SEE ON XENNIAS.

AND ZINNIA'S MAKE GREAT CUTTING PLANTS, SO THAT YOU CAN CUT THEM AND BRINGING THEM IN HOUSE AND ENJOY THEM.

>> GREAT COMBINATION.

AND COME SEE IT IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

SO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SARAH.

>>> WELL, OF COURSE, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS ALWAYS A GOOD THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

WE'RE GONNA START WITH OUR BYF GARDEN GROW A ROW AGAIN.

THIS IS OUR PRODUCE DONATIONS.

WE ARE STILL TAKING THEM.

THAT IS TUESDAYS FROM 4:32 AND THAT'S TUESDAY'S FROM 4:30 TO 7:00 IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

OUR SECOND ONE, OF COURSE, IS DISCOVERY DAYS.

EAST CAMPUS DISCOVERY DAYS.

THIS IS THE LAST ONE OF THE SEASON.

SATURDAY FROM 10:00 TO 2:00 ON EAST CAMPUS.

LOTS OF FUN FOR EVERYBODY.

AND OF COURSE, DO BUG FEST TOO, IF YOU LIKE BUGS.

ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S SEE, KYLE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THEY MIGHT BE THE SAME THING, MAYBE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT.

SO, WHAT IS THIS ONE?

WELL, THEY ARE DIFFERENT, BUT THIS IS STRAWBERRY ROOT WEEVIL.

SO, THEY'RE -- THEY'RE REALLY COMMON HOME INVADER IN THE SUMMER.

THE LARVAE FEED ON ROOTS OF A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PLANTS, INCLUDING STRAWBERRIES.

AND THE ADULTS, THEY -- THEY DON'T LIKE IT WHEN IT GETS HOT AND DRY, AND SO, THEY COME INSIDE, KIND OF LOOKING FOR A COOLER MOIST PLACE.

BUT THEY'RE TOTALLY HARMLESS.

THEY DON'T COLONIZE INSIDE.

THEY DON'T BITE OR DO ANYTHING.

YOU CAN JUST VACUUM THEM UP.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

AND THIS ONE LOOKS -- THE NEXT ONE, LOOKS A LITTLE BIT THE SAME.

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS ONE EITHER.

BUT WHAT'S -- WHAT ARE THESE THINGS?

>> YEAH.

SO, THESE ARE WHITE MARGIN BURROW BUGS.

AND THEY'RE -- AGAIN, REALLY PRETTY HARMLESS.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY SUPER COOL, BECAUSE -- SO, THEY -- THEY FEED ON SEEDS OF PLANTS IN, LIKE -- I'M BLANKING, BUT THE MUSTARD FAMILY.

AND SO, WHAT -- WHAT THE ADULT FEMALES WILL DO, IS THEY'LL ACTUALLY COLLECT SOME OF THOSE AND THEN PROVISION THEM TO THEIR NYMPHS, SO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MATERNAL CARE, WHICH IS REALLY KIND OF UNIQUE IN THE INSECT WORLD.

SO, VERY INTERESTING.

BUT THEY'RE HARMLESS.

THEY DON'T HURT THE LANDSCAPE.

THEY DON'T HARM ANYTHING.

THEY DON'T BITE.

SO -- >> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM SOUTH SIOUX.

GOOD OR BAD?

>> THESE ARE DEFINITELY NOT -- NOT GOOD.

THESE WOULD BE THE EGGS OF SQUASH BUGS.

SO, THESE ARE -- ARE BAD GUYS THAT -- >> SO SQUISH THEM.

>> YEAH.

YEAH, DEFINITELY WHEN YOU SEE THOSE EGGS YOU WANT TO SQUISH THEM.

>> SQUASH OR SQUISH.

>> IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THEM, I WOULD START LOOKING FOR THESE EGGS IN JUNE.

USUALLY THEY'RE GONNA BE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF LEAVES.

AND WHEN YOU FIND THEM IN THOSE LITTLE CLUSTERS LIKE THAT, THEY HAVE THAT CHARACTERISTIC BRONZE COLOR.

USUALLY AROUND 15 TO 20 EGGS PER MASS.

SQUASH THOSE.

THE ADULTS LIKE TO, KIND OF, HANG OUT AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANT.

SO, SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, DON'T -- DON'T MULCH.

THOSE -- THOSE CUCURBITS THAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR GARDEN, BECAUSE THAT CAN PROVIDE SOME DETECTION FOR THEM AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANT.

WHEN YOU DO TREAT WITH INSECTICIDE, YOU CAN USE SOMETHING LIKE PYRETHRINS, IF NEEDED.

SO, YOU WANT TO REALLY CONCENTRATE AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLANT WHEN DOING SO.

OTHERWISE, CULTURAL PRACTICES, LIKE CLEANING UP THAT GARDEN AS SOON AS YOU HARVEST, SO THAT YOU'RE NOT PROVIDING A FOOD SOURCE FOR THEM CONTINUING INTO THE, YOU KNOW, FALL AND WINTER.

AND CLEANUP THE GARDEN.

THEY OVER WINTER AS ADULTS.

SO, YOU KNOW, TRY TO DO SOME OF THOSE THINGS TO LIMIT THEM COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, SHE JUST WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THESE ARE?

>> THESE ARE TIGER BEE FLIES.

>> THEY'RE REALLY COOL, AND THEY'RE APPARENTLY HAVING FUN WITH ONE ANOTHER.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, SHE FOUND THIS CATERPILLAR ON A SMALL POT OF PARSLEY.

WHAT IS THIS ONE?

>> IT'S -- THIS IS THE CATERPILLAR FOR A BLACK SWALLOWTAIL.

>> SO SHE'S REALLY LUCKY ON THAT ONE.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

YOU'VE GOT ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, MATT, THIS IS FROM FREMONT.

AND THIS PLANT HAS SPROUTED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FOUNDATION.

DISTINCT ODOR.

AND IT WANTS TO VINE EVERYWHERE.

>> YEAH.

>> LET'S HEAR YOU PRONOUNCE THIS.

>> I'VE HEARD THIS ONE'S BAD.

IT'S CALLED LIKE A FISH MINT, OR A CHAMELEON PLANT, OR HOUTTUYNIA.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] OR HO-TIN-NIA, WHAT I'D CALL THAT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE, I GUESS.

BUT IT CAN SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY UNDERGROUND THROUGH RHIZOMES AND THROUGH THE ROOTS, SO YOU HAVE TO DIG THIS ONE OUT AND GET RID OF IT.

SO GET RID OF THE AREA THAT IT'S IN, OTHERWISE IT WILL CAUSE MORE PROBLEMS AROUND THE AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THE NEIGHBOR HAS TRUMPET VINE ON HIS FENCE, NO SUCKERS UNTIL THIS YEAR.

WANTS TO KNOW, CAN HE KILL THESE WITHOUT KILLING HIS NEIGHBORS VINE?

>> SEE, I -- SO IN ORDER TO GET RID OF THESE, YOU ALMOST HAVE TO CLIP 'EM AND TREAT THE CLIPPINGS.

SO IF YOU DO USE, LET'S SAY GLYPHOSATE AT A HIGH RATE, I WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD SPREAD THAT FAR TO THE PLANT, BUT TO BE SAFE YOU COULD USE FINALE OR THAT GLUFOSINATE, AND THAT WOULD KILL THAT PART OF THE PLANT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> BUT IT'S A LOT OF CLIPPIN'.

>> AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

"YOU GUYS TALKED ABOUT YELLOWING TURF A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

IS THIS THE SAME THING?

IT WAS NICE, THICK, AND THEN IT GOT LIKE THIS."

>> YEP.

EVERY TIME IN THE YEAR WE GET THAT REALLY HIGH TEMPERATURE, THE SOIL TEMPERATURES GO UP, AND IF IT'S WET, IRON BECOMES DEFICIENT IN THE PLANT.

SO IT'S IRON CHLOROSIS.

SO FIXING THAT IS GENERALLY, YOU'D HAVE TO USE CHELATED IRON, AND THAT WOULD GET RID OF IT.

BUT IT'LL LAST UNTIL WE GET COOL SOIL TEMPERATURES.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

TWO PICS FOR YOU, KYLE, ON THIS FIRST ONE.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE SAYS SOMETHING MIGHT BE WRONG WITH HER SUNFLOWERS, BLACK SPOTS.

SHE DID USE SEED FROM LAST YEAR'S CROP.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH, SO I THINK IT COULD BE A COUPLE OF -- SUNFLOWERS GET A FEW DIFFERENT LEAF SPOTS.

I THINK THAT THIS IS SEPTORIA LEAF SPOT ON SUNFLOWER.

IF YOU WANTED TO CONTROL IT, JUST A COMMON BROAD PURPOSE FUNGICIDE, SOMETHING LIKE DACONIL SHOULD WORK FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

SO, THIS ONE IS ALSO A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE SAYS BOTH HER TOMATOES AND CUCUMBERS KEEP GETTING ISSUES.

WE HAVE PICTURES OF THE TOMATOES.

SHE'S BEEN ADVISED IT'S A FUNGUS.

SHE DOES TREAT THEM WITH AN ANTIFUNGAL.

SHE HAS WAITED TO SEE IT APPEAR.

SHE WONDERS ABOUT A PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT?

>> THAT IS UNLIKELY TO BE A FUNGAL DISEASE.

OR IF IT IS IT, WOULD BE SOMETHING -- SOMETHING KIND OF IN THE CROWN OR THE ROOTS.

I ACTUALLY THINK THIS LOOKS A LOT MORE VIRAL, WHETHER IT BE TOMATO MOSAIC VIRUS, OR TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS.

TOMATOES GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF VIRUSES.

IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT VIRUS IT HAS, BECAUSE THE MANAGEMENT IS THE SAME FOR ALL OF THEM, PRUNE AT GROUND LEVEL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM CROFTON.

THIS IS SUPER BEEFSTEAK TOMATO.

>> AND IT'S ANOTHER -- >> TASTY.

>> ANOTHER ONE OF OUR VIRUSES.

THIS IS LIKELY TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS.

YOU CAN EAT THIS FRUIT.

THE LESS RED SPOTS ARE GOING TO BE GREEN ON THE INSIDE.

BUT IF YOU LIKE SOME EXTRA CRUNCH ON YOUR TOMATOES, GO AHEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SARAH, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER NORTHWEST OF TEKEMAH.

HE HAS ABOUT SEVEN VARIETIES OF OAKS, HE'S HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME KEEPING THEM ALIVE.

OKAY THE FIRST YEAR, SECOND YEAR, LEADER AND BRANCHES DO THIS AND THEN THIS.

THEY HAVE A DRIP SYSTEM.

HE DOESN'T THINK IT'S CHEMICAL.

WHAT SO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE LONGER CONVERSATION TO FIND OUT HOW THESE HAVE BEEN CARED FOR.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW IF THESE WERE CONTAINER PLANTS WHEN YOU PLANTED 'EM, IF YOU DRESSED THE CIRCLING ROOTS WHEN YOU PUT 'EM IN THE GROUND.

YOU KNOW, DUG THAT NICE WIDE HOLE TO LOOSEN UP THAT SOIL.

THERE WAS NO MULCH AROUND THE PLANT THAT WE JUST LOOKED AT, THE BROME WAS ALREADY STARTING TO GROWING BACK IN.

SO I THINK THERE ARE SOME BASIC THINGS THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT, AS FAR AS GETTING NEW TREES OFF TO A GOOD START.

PLUS, THERE COULD ALSO BE SOME HERBICIDE DRIFT THAT MAYBE IS AFFECTING THESE TREES TOO.

SO IT COULD BE A WHOLE HOST OF THINGS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SARAH.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, THIS IS -- WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDING -- RECOMMENDATION, EXCUSE ME, FOR A LIMB THAT SPLIT ON THIS PRAIRIE FIRE CRABAPPLE?

>> YEAH, THEY CAN'T -- THIS IS NOT A BRANCH YOU CAN SAVE.

YOU JUST NEED TO JUST CUT THIS ONE OFF.

>> RIGHT.

ENJOY THE REST OF THE TREE.

ALL RIGHT, AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, SARAH.

THIS COMES TO US FROM MURDOCK.

HE WANTS MOVE THIS TEN FOOT SPRUCE, AND HE FOUND MULTIPLE SUGGESTIONS.

>> SO EVERGREENS ARE IDEALLY MOVED WHEN THEY'RE DORMANT.

SO THAT WOULD BE FROM, SAY, NOVEMBER THROUGH ABOUT THE LATE PART OF APRIL.

AND IDEALLY, IF YOU CAN CHOOSE ONE OF THOSE TIMES, I WOULD SAY MOVE IT IN THE SPRING, FROM ANYWHERE FROM, SAY, END OF MARCH THROUGH THE END OF APRIL, POSSIBLY EVEN INTO BEGINNING OF MAY.

EVERGREENS DON'T GENERALLY START TO PUT ON THEIR NEW GROWTH UNTIL AROUND THE FIRST PART OF MAY.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IT DONE IN THE SPRING, BECAUSE THEN THE TREE HAS THE WHOLE SUMMER TO PUT OUT ROOTS AND ESTABLISH, BEFORE IT HAS TO GO THROUGH WINTER.

WHEREAS IF YOU DO IT IN THE FALL, THE TREE WON'T HAVE ANY ESTABLISHMENT TIME, AND SO, A LITTLE POTENTIAL FOR WINTER DAMAGE IS A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SARAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WALNUTS ARE NATIVE, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

WE LOVE OUR WALNUT TREES.

THEY ALSO CAN BE A BIT MESSY.

THEY CAN ALSO CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH OTHER PLANTS AROUND THEM.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES , OR A MINUTE AT LEAST, TO LEARN HOW THESE CAN CAUSE A PROBLEM, POTENTIALLY, IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

♪♪ >>> I'M GOING TO GUESS MOST OF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT PLANTS ACTUALLY HAVE THE ABILITY TO INFLICT CHEMICAL WARFARE ON PLANTS AROUND THEM THAT THEY DON'T WANT.

THE ONE THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS BLACK WALNUT, BECAUSE IT PRODUCES THE MOST JUGLONE, WHICH IS ALLELOPATHIC.

AND ALLELOPATHY IS ACTUALLY A BIOLOGICAL MECHANISM BY WHICH PLANTS CAN SAY, "I DON'T WANT YOU LIVING ANYWHERE NEAR ME."

THE ISSUE REALLY WITH BLACK WALNUT AND JUGLONE IS PEOPLE TRY TO GROW TOMATOES, PEPPERS, EGGPLANT, ALL SORTS OF PLANTS THAT REALLY DON'T CARE TO LIVE THERE, BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IS THE JUGLONE STARTS OUT AS HYDROJUGLONE, WHICH IS REALLY NOT VERY TOXIC.

THE SECOND OR THE MINUTE IT IS EXPOSED TO THE AIR, IT BECOMES JUGLONE.

AND JUGLONE IS EXTREMELY TOXIC.

IT IS ONE OF THOSE CHEMICALS THAT IF YOU THINK ABOUT CYANIDE POISONING, SAME THING EXACTLY.

THE INTERESTING THING THOUGH, IS THAT THERE IS NOT A LOT OF GOOD RESEARCH ON WHICH PLANTS ARE GOING TO BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE EFFECTS OF JUGLONE, WHICH CAN BE EVERYTHING FROM JUST A SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE WAY THEY GROW TO DEATH.

AND IT'S WORSE ON PLANTS THAT ARE IN A LOW-LYING, FLOODED AREA.

THAT'S WHY YOU SEE LISTS OF PLANTS THAT REALLY DON'T WANT TO LIVE THERE, AND IT INCLUDES SOME OF THE RAIN GARDEN PLANTS, BALD CYPRESS, THE ONES THAT ARE IN THOSE HEAVY SOILS.

SO, ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HAVING A WALNUT, IS THAT JUGLONE IS ACTUALLY CONCENTRATED IN THE ROOTS, IN THE HULLS, IN THE LEAVES, AND IT CAN EXIST WELL OUTSIDE THE CANOPY OF THE TREE.

SO, YOU MIGHT BE 50 OR 60 FEET AWAY IF YOU HAVE ROOTS OF A WALNUT TREE.

AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO, IF YOU WANT TO GROW PLANTS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE, GROW THEM IN A RAISED BED.

>>> AND, LIKE I SAID, IF YOU WANT THEM, GROW THEM IN RAISED BEDS.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S DO ONE QUESTION FIRST FOR YOU, KYLE.

THIS IS A WAHOO VIEWER.

HE WANTS TO HAVE IDENTIFICATION OF THE BEE IN THIS PHOTO.

>> PROBABLY A HALICTID SWEAT BEE.

>> ALL RIGHT, FUN.

HE SAYS IT'S ALL OVER HIS MOSS-ROSES.

>> VERY COOL.

>> ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LAKE ZORINSKY.

AND HE'S GOT A BEAUTIFUL BIG BUTTERFLY BUSH, BUT THIS YEAR HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY BUTTERFLIES.

AND WE'RE GETTING THE QUESTION FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ON WHERE ARE THEY?

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- I DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, YEAH, REALLY UNFORTUNATE.

BUT IT'S NOT BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THIS YEAR WITH BUTTERFLIES.

>> RIGHT, WE HAVE A LOT IN OUR GARDEN ALL OF A SUDDEN TOO.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO QUESTIONS -- OR TWO PICTURES FOR YOU ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY FROM TWO DIFFERENT VIEWERS -- ARAPAHOE AND LINCOLN.

ARAPAHOE SAYS, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL WEED THAT GROWS FAST.

WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S VENICE MALLOW.

SO IT IS CONSIDERED A WEED, OR SOMETIMES PEOPLE GROW IT FOR THE FLOWERS.

SO DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH IT.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> ENJOY IT OR KILL IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, MATT.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

THEY'RE SAYING THIS REALLY STICKERY WEED SHOWED UP ALONG THE SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF A STORE.

WHAT IS IT?

THIS IS A COMMERCIAL SHOPPING AREA, AND PEOPLE WALK UP THE SIDEWALK ALL THE TIME.

>> YEAH, SO THIS ONE IS PUNCTUREVINE, AND IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU'RE WALKING BAREFOOT, OR IF YOU HAVE PETS.

SO I WOULD SUGGEST GETTING RID OF IT.

USUALLY THEY HAVE A DEEP TAPROOT IN THE CENTER, SO CUT IT OFF AND THEN THROW IT AWAY.

OTHERWISE, IF YOU LEAVE IT THERE, ALL THOSE BURRS THAT ARE REALLY SHARP ARE GONNA FALL OFF, AND THEY'RE GONNA SPREAD ALL OVER THE PLACE.

SO GET RID OF 'EM AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

OR TREAT EARLY WHEN YOU SEE 'EM, WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG, AND BEFORE THEY START SETTING FRUIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE SOME REAL QUICK I.D.S, I THINK.

THE FIRST ONE IS -- WHAT'S THIS ONE, KYLE?

>> OH, IT'S PRETTY.

THIS IS A FLOWERPOT PARASOL, LEUCOCOPRINUS BIRNBAUMII.

WE'RE NOT INVENTIVE NAMERS.

EVENTUALLY, YOU'LL GET A NICE LITTLE CAP THAT FORMS ON THOSE.

THESE CAN BE TOXIC THOUGH, SO YOU WANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM BUFFALO.

SHE FOUND THIS IN THE MULCH, AND A PUFF OF SMOKE CAME OUT.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ONE OF OUR EARTH STARS.

THEY'RE GASTEROMYCETE FUNGI, OR STOMACH FUNGI.

THAT PUFF OF SMOKE YOU SAW WAS ACTUALLY A WHOLE BUNCH OF DRIED SPORES ERUPTING FROM THAT HOLE IN THE MIDDLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEN WE HAVE BRANCHED OAK LAKE, SOUTH SHORE.

WHAT IS THIS MONSTER?

BIGGER THAN A SIZE 9 1/2 SHOE.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS -- UM, THIN LEAF OYSTER MUSHROOM, I THINK.

SO IT'S RELATED TO YOUR TYPICAL OYSTER MUSHROOMS, BUT HAS A LITTLE BIT THINNER.

JUST SOMETHING COOL IN THE LAWN, LANDSCAPE.

>> AND ONE MORE.

IS IT NORMAL FOR HIBISCUS TO FLOWER LIKE THIS OR IS THIS FASCIATION?

>> I HAVE NEVER SEEN A HIBISCUS FLOWER LIKE THIS, SO YOU ARE VERY LUCKY, THIS IS FASCIATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SARAH, YOU GET THIS TOMATO, BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY WEIRD.

THIS IS DESHLER.

AND HE'S WONDERING WHAT THIS IS.

THE EARLIER ONES DID HAVE A LITTLE B.E.R.

ON THEM.

>> SO WE CAN GET ALL SORTS OF WEIRD POLLINATION EFFECTS ON TOMATOES, AND THIS IS ANOTHER ONE.

IT'S JUST THE PLANT POLLINATED WEIRD, AND THIS IS OVARY TISSUE THAT IS DEVELOPING, AND IT'S JUST -- >> A TOMATO?

>> YEAH, IT'S JUST A TOMATO.

IT'S JUST A WEIRD-SHAPED TOMATO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A PAPILLION VIEWER.

HE'S WONDERING IF HE SHOULD GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OUT THIS OLD LILAC DAMAGED IN THE STORM, OR SHOULD HE WAIT UNTIL SPRING, OR AFTER FLOWERING?

>> SO IF YOU HAVE BRANCHES THAT ARE ACTUALLY BROKEN THAT YOU NEED TO REMOVE, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THOSE OUT NOW.

IF YOU ARE NOT TOO CONCERNED ABOUT THE FLOWERS, AND YOU WANT TO RESHAPE IT, THEN YOU COULD DO THAT PRUNING IN THE FALL.

OTHERWISE, IF YOU REALLY WANT, IF THE MAIN GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GREAT FLOWERS NEXT YEAR, THEN LET IT GO AHEAD AND FLOWER EARLY NEXT SUMMER, AND THEN DO WHATEVER RESHAPING OR MAINTENANCE PRUNING YOU NEED TO DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE, SARAH.

THIS IS IN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE HAS TWO CORAL BELLS.

ONE'S FINE, THE OTHER ONE NOT SO MUCH.

ANY IDEA?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I WOULD LOOK FOR SOMETHING DISTURBING THE ROOTS.

I MEAN, THIS COULD BE VOLES, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING TUNNELING AROUND THE ROOTS, AND CAUSING ROOT DAMAGE, AND CAUSING THE PLANT TO WILT LIKE THAT.

YOU MIGHT ALSO JUST CHECK TO SEE IF MAYBE IT'S A ROOT ROT.

I MEAN, IF YOU PULL THE PLANT OUT REALLY EASILY AND THERE'S NO ROOTS THERE , THEN MAYBE SOMETHING ALONG THAT LINE.

SO A COUPLE OF POSSIBILITIES.

>> JUST ONE OF THOSE STRANGE THINGS ABOUT CORAL BELLS.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SARAH.

WELL, AND 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 CAROL RUSTAD, LINDA HELTON, AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'RE GOING TO HEAR A SIMPLE AND EASY METHOD FOR PROPAGATING PLANTS WITH CUTTINGS.

IT'S A GOOD WAY TO SAVE PLANS THAT YOU ENJOY FOR SEASONS TO COME.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪