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

(UPBEAT MUSIC) TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'LL TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS AT A LOCAL PRODUCE FARM AND CHECK OUT A MYSTERY AT OUR GARDEN.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT, RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER (UPBEAT MUSIC) >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'RE SO GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US FOR ANOTHER HOUR OF THE BEST GARDENING ADVICE ON TELEVISION.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, OUR VOLUNTEER PANEL IS STANDING BY.

TO TAKE YOUR CALL, JUST DIAL 1-800-676-5446.

IF YOUR QUESTION CAN WAIT FOR A FUTURE SHOW, YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL AND THOSE PICTURES TO BYF@UNL.EDU OR FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE AND INSTAGRAM.

PLEASE GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

SO LET'S START WITH SAMPLES.

AND DENNIS, YOU BROUGHT MANY INTERESTING THINGS.

>> WELL, IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR WHEN BIRDS ARE STARTING TO NEST.

NOW, MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, BUT IF IT'S A NATIVE BIRD OR MIGRATORY BIRD, IT'S PROTECTED BY THE 1974 MIGRATORY BIRD ACT.

ANYTHING LIKE A ROBIN OR A BARN SWALLOW.

ONCE THEY COMPLETE THEIR NEST, YOU CANNOT TOUCH IT UNTIL THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT NEST AND LEAVE IN THE FALL.

SO THIS THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO IS STOP THEM FROM BUILDING THAT NEST.

AND THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS TO DO THAT.

YOU CAN USE THE PORCUPINE WIRE LIKE THIS.

PUT IT ABOVE A LIGHT.

IT JUST GOOGLE PORCUPINE WIRE.

THIS IS THE BETTER ONE.

THAT STAINLESS STEEL WILL LAST PRETTY MUCH FOREVER, BUT IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE TYPE.

AND YOU JUST PUT THIS WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO NEST AND THEY WON'T NEST ON IT.

AND IF GRANDPA SITS IN THE YARD AND DOESN'T MOVE A LOT, YOU CAN JUST HOOK IT ONTO GRANDPA.

THEN THE BIRDS WILL NEST ON HIS HEAD.

NOW, IF YOU ALSO HAVE THINGS LIKE WOODPECKERS, LIKE I HAVE DRUMMING, HITTING YOUR GUTTERS AND MAKING A NOISE, YOU NEED TO EITHER HANG SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM THE GUTTER OR IN THAT PART OF THE HOUSE, HANG ONE OF THESE SCARY BALLOONS.

AND THIS WORKS FOR WOODPECKERS AND FLICKERS.

JUST HANG THIS FROM THE EAVES WHERE THEY'RE PECKING ON THE HOUSE AND THEY'LL GO THE OTHER WAY.

SO AGAIN, DETER THEM BEFORE THEY BUILD THAT NEST BECAUSE ONCE THEY BUILD THAT NEST BY REGULATION, YOU HAVE A RENTER THAT DOESN'T PAY.

>> THANK YOU DENNIS.

YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THAT.

REALLY.

JEFF.

>> BUT WOW.

>> YEAH, I KNOW.

WELL TO BRING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

>> BACK TO REALITY.

>> LITERALLY, LITERALLY TO GROUND COVER.

SO.

I BROUGHT IN SOME LILY OF THE VALLEY HERE JUST TO TALK ABOUT GROUND COVERS.

YOU KNOW, A QUESTION WE'LL GET A LOT OF TIMES IS THAT THE GROUND COVER IS KIND OF SEEPING INTO YOUR LAWN AREA.

WHAT DO I DO?

AND THAT SORT OF THING.

A LOT OF THEM ARE RHIZOMATOUS AND AND SO YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO START SPRAYING THEM.

YOU'LL END UP TAKING OUT ALL OF THE PLANT.

SO, YOU KNOW, SIMPLE THINGS ARE REALLY JUST TO MOW IT OFF, USE YOUR STRING TRIMMER, THAT SORT OF THING TO CUT IT BACK.

BUT I REALLY LIKE GROUND COVERS IN PLACE OF MULCH.

A LOT OF TIMES IT REALLY HELPS.

SO IT'S NOT A GOOD REPLACEMENT FOR LAWNS, QUITE HONESTLY.

I KNOW PEOPLE WILL TALK ABOUT THAT, BUT YOU CAN'T RUN AND YOUR KIDS CAN'T PLAY SOCCER ON IT.

THE DOG CAN'T RUN ON IT VERY WELL AND IT WON'T LAST LONG.

BUT GROUND COVERS ARE SOMETHING TO KIND OF WATCH AND TAKE CARE OF.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

JEFF.

OKAY, LOREN.

>> TAKING IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT LOWER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE TURF NOW.

AND I BROUGHT ALONG SOME POWDERY MILDEW TONIGHT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN GET CLOSE UPS ON THIS OR NOT.

BUT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT KIND OF WHITE POWDERY DUST LIKE APPEARANCE ON MANY OF THE LEAVES IN THERE.

AND WHEN WE'RE SEEING THAT, YEAH, YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE IT, BUT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE YOU JUST TOOK LIKE BABY POWDER AND DUSTED THE PLANT.

THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE POWDERY MILDEW THAT WE SEE ISN'T THE SAME, BUT A DIFFERENT ONE.

THE POWDERY MILDEW WE SEE ON LILACS IN THE FALL, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAVE THAT POWDERY GROWTH.

AND IF WE THINK ABOUT THIS DISEASE, IT'S USUALLY IN AN AREA WHERE THERE'S STRESS.

SO IN LILACS, WHEN WE SEE POWDERY MILDEW, IT'S AFTER SUMMER SOLSTICE.

IT'S AS LIGHT DURATION TIMES ARE DROPPING AND TEMPERATURES ARE DROPPING MANY TIMES IT'S DRIER.

AND WE'LL SEE A LOT OF POWDERY MILDEW IN THERE.

IN TURF, WE'LL SEE IT IN SHADED AREAS, AREAS WHERE THEY'RE STRESSED, MAYBE LOWER FERTILITY AREAS.

SO WITH THIS, I'M SURE SOME OF OUR VIEWERS ARE SEEING THIS TOO.

AND BIGGEST THING TO TRY TO OPEN UP ANY CANOPY YOU CAN TO GET MORE LIGHT PENETRATION IN THERE, AND THEN MAKE SURE YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO JUST MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY TURF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND DOWN.

>> FURTHER DOWN, EVEN FURTHER DOWN, WE'RE GOING SOIL THERMOMETER.

I BROUGHT THIS BECAUSE.

>> WE DIDN'T PLAN THIS.

>> NO, NO.

YEAH.

BUT MY NUMBER ONE QUESTION IS CAN I PLANT MY TOMATOES AND TOMATOES AS WE KNOW ARE WARM SEASON PLANTS.

THEY LIKE SOIL TEMPERATURES AT LEAST 60 DEGREES, IF NOT 65.

AND AIR TEMPERATURES, DAYTIME WOULD BE NICE IN THE 70S AND NIGHTTIME HIGHER THAN THE 50S.

SO IT'S BEST TO SORT OF CHECK THAT BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, THEN WE'RE GOING TO END UP WITH THINGS LIKE STUNTED PLANTS THAT KIND OF SIT AND SULK, OR THAT TURN PURPLE FROM PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY.

AND YOU'LL JUST, YOU KNOW, SORT OF START TO WONDER ABOUT ALL OF YOUR LIFE DECISIONS.

SO, YOU KNOW, JUST BEST TO SORT OF, YOU KNOW, USE THIS AT FOUR INCHES AND, YOU KNOW, FOLLOW THIS DATA AND THE WEATHER DATA AND YOU'LL GET YOUR PLANTS OFF TO A GOOD START.

>> AND THIS WEEKEND IS NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD TIME.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

RIGHT.

THIS IS WHY I BROUGHT THIS BECAUSE FOR MOST OF US IN THE STATE, IT'S IT'S BEST TO WAIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, DANA.

QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

YOU'RE UP.

COZAD, NEBRASKA.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT CREATURE IT IS.

A POSSUM, A SKUNK OR A RACCOON THAT HAS DONE THIS IN HIS PROPERTY.

THEY HAVE A HAVAHART TRAP, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT BAIT TO USE BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHO DID THIS.

WHATEVER IT IS, IT IGNORES DRY OR WET PET FOOD, EGGS, EVEN SARDINES.

AND APPARENTLY IT IS QUITE EXTENSIVE.

>> WELL, WHAT I CAN SEE IS NO HOLES, BUT BIG MOUNDS THAT ARE FAN SHAPED AND ALMOST I CAN FIND A PLUG AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NEAR AN ALFALFA FIELD.

SO THAT'S SAYING PLAINS POCKET, GOPHER, PLAINS POCKET GOPHER.

SO IT'S NOT GOING TO EAT ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

IT'S GOING TO EAT ALFALFA ROOTS.

AND SO BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO GET IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES CARE OF POCKET GOPHERS.

THERE ARE TRAPS THAT YOU PUT DOWN IN THE BURROW, THE ACTIVE BURROW THAT WILL GRAB THEM AND CAPTURE THEM, OR THERE IS A TOXICANT ON THE MARKET FOR PLAINS POCKET GOPHERS THAT YOU CAN USE IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ALFALFA GRAZED, OR IF IT'S NOT IN THE ALFALFA FIELD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS CULPRIT COCOON.

COON, COON?

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> I'M THINKING SQUIRREL.

>> YEAH.

>> TREE SQUIRRELS WOULD LOVE TO GET IN THERE AND DIG AND MAYBE THINK THEY BURY THEIR NUTS THERE AND SO THEY'RE AFTER THEM.

>> SHE.

I THINK SHE HAD A PICTURE OF SCAT TO GO WITH.

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT THE SCAT OF A SQUIRREL.

THAT'S A SCAT OF A SQUIRREL.

>> I'M IN TROUBLE.

>> THAT'S THAT'S THE SCAT OF A RACCOON.

I DON'T THINK THE TWO DON'T HAVE TO BE.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THE TWO ARE TOGETHER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM LINCOLN, A BACKYARD VISITOR LEFT SOME DROPPINGS.

ONE PICTURE.

HE'S SEEN A COYOTE AND WONDERS IF THAT IS WHAT THIS IS.

AND USING.

>> THAT AGAIN LOOKS MORE LIKE RACCOON BECAUSE RACCOONS HAVE A LATRINE.

CANINES USUALLY DON'T HAVE A CENTRALIZED LATRINE LIKE THE RACCOONS DO.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL BLUFFS, JEFF, WHAT DO THESE ORANGE ROOTS BELONG TO?

THEY ARE EVERYWHERE AS HE CLEANS UP THE FLOWER GARDEN.

>> WOW.

THAT'S INTERESTING.

SO THAT'S DODDER, WHICH IS A PARASITIC PLANT.

AND WE HAD THAT A FEW YEARS AGO ON CAMPUS THAT CAME IN ON SOME ANNUALS THAT WE PLANTED.

SO IT'S NOT DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF.

YOU JUST NEED TO BE TENACIOUS.

I THINK THAT WAS A WORD USED A LOT LAST WEEK.

SO YOU NEED TO BE TENACIOUS AND JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET THROUGH IT AND JUST KIND OF STICK WITH IT BECAUSE IT'LL KEEP POPPING UP.

AND THEN A SIMPLE PRE-EMERGENT WILL HELP IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF SEED IN THERE.

SO IT WOULDN'T HURT TO PUT THAT DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS JOHNSON LAKE IN DAWSON COUNTY.

THEY ARE A MEMBER OF THE ARBORETUM.

THEY PLANTED OVER 100 TREES ALONG THEIR TRAIL.

BUT BINDWEED IS GROWING THROUGH THE MULCH.

THEIR QUESTION IS, IS CAN THEY SAFELY SPRAY 30% VINEGAR ON THE WEEDS WITHOUT HARMING THE TREES?

>> THEY COULD USE VINEGAR, BUT IT'S NOT LIKELY TO KILL THE BINDWEED.

IT MAY BURN IT BACK, BUT IT WON'T BE A CURE FOR THAT.

SO THERE ARE GOOD PRODUCTS OUT THERE.

A NONSELECTIVE WOULD BE THE SIMPLEST THING THAT YOU COULD HAVE IN A LITTLE READY TO USE SQUIRT BOTTLE AND GO AROUND AND DO IT.

AND THAT'D BE THE SAFEST, EASIEST WAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WAVERLY DID THE LAWN WITH TF FESCUE.

IT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S SO GOOD.

IT'S MIGRATING INTO EVERYTHING ELSE, AND HE WANTS TO KILL IT WITHOUT AFFECTING ALL THE GRASS IN THE LAWN.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE FROM GRAND ISLAND, WHICH IS A BED FULL OF DUTCH IRIS.

AND NOW THERE'S ONLY A FEW IN THE WEEDS, AND THE GRASSES ARE KIND OF DOING THE SAME THING.

SO EVERYBODY WANTS TO KILL THAT STUFF AND NOT HAVE IT MIGRATE OR KILL SOMETHING ELSE.

>> YEAH, I THINK WITH THE TF, I WOULD QUITE HONESTLY, I WOULD EDGE THAT BED BEFORE I DID ANY SPRAYING AND MAKE SURE THAT THERE ISN'T.

SO THAT WAY YOU COULD GO IN AND SAFELY USE A GRASS BEGONE OR A GLYPHOSATE OR FLUAZIFOP OR ONE OF THOSE PRODUCTS IN THERE, SPRAY THAT OUT SAFELY WITHOUT DAMAGING THE REST OF THE LAWN.

AND THEN WITH THE IRIS AGAIN, YOU COULD USE THAT GRASS BE GONE OR PHILOSOPHY PRODUCT.

BE CAREFUL WITH THE IRISES.

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO OVER APPLY TO THE IRISES THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY SENSITIVE TO IT, BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO OVER APPLY ANY OTHER PLANTS YOU WANT TO KEEP IN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES.

LOREN, THIS COMES TO US FROM ARAPAHO.

LEAVES ON THE PEONIES TURN WHITE AND CURL.

AND THEY ALSO LOOK LIKE THIS.

AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE SAID, CALL US.

>> YEAH.

ANY TIME WE SEE THEY ARE KIND OF.

THERE'S SOME TWISTING TO THE LEAVES TOO.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE A COUPLE THINGS.

IF IT'S ONE PLANT AND IT FROM THE PICTURE HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE SEVERAL OF THE PLANTS ON THE EDGE MAY HAVE THAT.

AND I'M WONDERING ABOUT LIKE A HERBICIDE DRIFT SCENARIO.

IF IT'S A SINGLE PLANT AND IT'S CONFINED TO THAT PLANT, WHICH I.

>> THE NEXT ONE I THINK IS FROM ORD, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE HERE.

>> YOU SEE A SINGLE PLANT LIKE THAT THAT MANY TIMES.

THAT'S SOMETHING GOING WRONG WITH THAT PLANT.

THERE ARE MANY VIRUSES THAT AFFECT PEONIES, BUT MOST OF THOSE WILL SHOW SOME SORT OF A FOLIAR SYMPTOM OF A SPOT OR A RING OR A MOSAIC PATTERN.

SO I'M REALLY ON THAT ONE.

I'M WONDERING ABOUT DRIFT IN THIS ONE POSSIBLY.

AND THEN LET'S TALK THE NEXT ONE.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS TOO, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THE NEXT ONE I THINK IS FROM ORD AND IT'S ONE PEONY THAT TURNS YELLOW.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS OKAY.

SO SOMETHING LACKING.

>> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS HERE.

THERE IS A PEONY BETWEEN THE YELLOW ONE AND THE LARGER ONE.

SO IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING IN THAT AREA THAT'S AFFECTING IT.

SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE I'M WONDERING ABOUT A SOIL ISSUE.

PEONIES CAN BE PRETTY SENSITIVE TO DEPTH.

SO WAS IT PLANTED TOO DEEP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND IN ORD WE COULD HAVE SOME SOIL VARIATION TO WHERE YOU'VE GOT A SPOT THERE THAT'S NOT UNIFORM.

SO CONSIDER HOW THE BED WAS CONSTRUCTED, WHAT IT'S PLANTED INTO, AND SEE IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING THERE.

>> OCTAVIA.

TWO PICTURES.

THIS IS RHUBARB TURNING YELLOW AND WILTING.

THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR.

>> SO IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE THERE WERE A FEW LEAF SPOTS AND I THINK THEY MENTIONED SPOTS.

THERE IS A FUNGAL LEAF SPOT DISEASE OF RHUBARB.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S TOO TOO MUCH THERE.

IT LOOKS REALLY THICK THOUGH.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GETTING WITH SOME OF THE YELLOWING OF THE LEAVES.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE ACTUALLY IN THIS CASE, I THINK I WOULD ENCOURAGE SOME HARVEST TO GET YOUR STEMS THICKER, GET SOME AIR CANOPY MOVEMENT IN THERE, AND THEN YOU CAN REMOVE THOSE DEAD LEAVES AND USE SOME SANITATION.

BUT I WOULDN'T TREAT IT WITH ANYTHING.

>> A LITTLE MUNCHING OKAY.

>> I WOULD YEAH, I WOULD DO SOME HARVEST THERE.

IT'S PRETTY THICK.

>> TWO PICTURES.

DANA FRONTIER COUNTY ASH TREES.

THEY WERE LEAFING OUT NICELY.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LEAVES ARE TURNING BLACK.

SOME ARE GREEN.

SHE THINKS IT DID NOT FREEZE, BUT DID IT.

>> BUT YOU KNOW THAT NEW GROWTH ON THOSE TREES IS PRETTY DARN TENDER.

AND THE BLACK LEAVES IS REALLY INDICATIVE OF THAT COLD DAMAGE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS REALLY DRAMATIC, BUT WITH SOME GOOD TREE CARE AND WARMER TEMPERATURES THAT SHOULD PUSH OUT SOME NEW GROWTH.

SO MULCHING, WATERING, NO FERTILIZER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES HERE.

THIS ONE IS A WHITE PINE THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS IN '21 AND THEN COMING INTO SPRING ALL OF A SUDDEN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS NEXT PICTURE.

>> YEAH.

AND ONE OF THE CLUES IN THE IN THE QUESTION WAS THAT IT WAS SOUTHWEST FACING.

SO ABOUT THE WORST POSSIBLE SPOT YOU COULD HAVE FOR A WHITE PINE IN NEBRASKA BEING EXPOSED LIKE THAT.

SO WITH, YOU KNOW, DRY SOILS, OUR FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES, ALL THAT WIND, YOU'VE JUST HAD SOME DAMAGE THERE AND JUST THE TREE COULDN'T QUITE RECOVER.

I THINK THEY ASKED ABOUT REPLACEMENT.

PROBABLY DON'T GO WITH A OR DON'T GO WITH A CONIFEROUS TREE.

GO WITH A DECIDUOUS TREE IN THAT SPOT.

>> THANKS, DANA.

WELL, TUCKED AWAY IN THE HILLS OF EASTERN NEBRASKA IS A REAL HORTICULTURE GEM.

NELSON PRODUCE FARM IN VALLEY HAS OPERATED SINCE 2019 AS THE FAMILY HAS BRANCHED OUT FROM ROADSIDE PRODUCE CARTS TO A HUGE OPERATION WITH FLOWER FESTIVALS AND YOU PICK GARDENS.

WE CAUGHT THE END OF THEIR RECENT TULIP FESTIVAL TO TALK TO OWNER PAM NELSON, WHO TELLS US HOW THEY KEEP THE FARM GOING.

>> PASSION AND CONNECTING URBAN TO RURAL, CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THEIR FOOD AND ALSO GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE TO COME.

A PLACE FOR FAMILIES.

TWO YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT CALLED MY HUSBAND OUT OF OHIO AND HE SAID, HEY, I'VE GOT ABOUT 400,000 TULIP BULBS.

THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GO TO ANOTHER FARMER IN PENNSYLVANIA.

AND THE GUY THAT FARMER BACKED OUT AND HE GOT ON THE INTERNET AND WAS LIKE, WHERE?

WHERE IS THERE A FARM THAT COULD USE THESE?

THAT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WE WERE ONE OF THE PEOPLE, OR I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HE CALLED.

AND MY HUSBAND WAS LIKE, SURE, LET'S TALK AS MY HUSBAND WOULD.

AND SO THAT'S HOW WE GOT STARTED.

SO THEY CAME OUT.

THAT GENTLEMAN CAME OUT IN THE FALL OF 2024, AND WE PLANTED 400,000 TULIP BULBS IN THE SHAPE OF A HUMMINGBIRD.

AND THEN THIS IS OUR SECOND YEAR DOING IT.

THIS IS OUR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE BLOOM ON THESE TULIPS.

AND THERE'S ABOUT 400 000 HERE.

AND THEN IT'S IN THE SHAPE OF A BUTTERFLY.

THERE'S OVER 40 DIFFERENT VARIETIES ALL AROUND THE FARM OF TULIPS.

WE'RE JUST TO THE END OF OUR TULIP FESTIVAL, RUNNING A FESTIVAL BASED ON WEATHER, BASED ON A CROP THAT DEPENDS ON WEATHER IS VERY DIFFICULT.

SO WE'RE JUST ON THE END.

WE WERE TWO WEEKS EARLY, BUT WE'LL BE DOING A LOT OF DIGGING UP OF THE BULBS AND SELLING THE BULBS.

AND SO PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE.

>> TO SEE.

>> LIKE, OKAY, THIS IS A PURPLE ONE.

I WANT TO DIG SOME OF THOSE UP AND TAKE THOSE HOME.

AND WE'LL BE DOING AN EDUCATION ON BECAUSE THE THE BULB GETS ALL THE NUTRIENTS THAT IT NEEDS ONCE THE FLOWER DIES, ACTUALLY.

AND SO WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATION FOR THE CUSTOMERS ON HOW TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN, SINCE THEY'RE TAKING THEM A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN NORMAL.

REALLY, A LOT OF THE WORK GOES IN IN THE FALL WHEN YOU PLANT THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THE SOIL HAS THE RIGHT NUTRITION, AND THEN MAKING SURE THEY GET THE GOOD WATER THAT THEY NEED.

AND THEN ONCE THEY'RE IN, WE DO MOST OF THE WORK UP FRONT, PREPPING THE GROUND AND THE SOIL AND ALL OF THAT, AND THEN MAKING SURE THE BULBS ARE HEALTHY, AND THEN WE REALLY DON'T MESS WITH THEM ALL.

MOST OF THE WINTER OR SPRING, THEY KIND OF KIND OF JUST DOES ITS THING.

SO WE HAVEN'T WATERED THEM ONCE THIS SEASON.

WE DID HAVE TO COVER THEM UP WITH STRAW BECAUSE IN MARCH WE HAD A 16 DEGREE DAY WITH 60 MILE AN HOUR WIND, AND THEN A SEVEN DAYS LATER, WE HAD 94 DEGREES.

AND SO WE COVERED THEM ALL WITH STRAW, ALL 400,000 OR 800,000 OF THEM WITH STRAW, AND THEN RAN PIVOTS OVER THEM TO KIND OF MAKE A CRUST BECAUSE THE WIND WAS GOING TO COME.

AND THE LORD WAS SO KIND AND IT WORKED.

WE WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE THEM ALL.

>> THE TULIPS AREN'T THE ONLY ATTRACTION AT THIS WONDERFUL FARM.

THEY HAVE PLENTY OF FUN THINGS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY THROUGHOUT THE SEASON.

AND WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO PAM AND THE STAFF FOR LETTING US COME OUT TO ENJOY THE DAY.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, ONE FROM WAHOO.

CHEWING LARGE HOLES IN THE DRIP IRRIGATION LINES.

LINES ARE NOT BURIED.

THEY'RE JUST ON GRADE NEAR TIMBER WITH LOTS OF VEGETATION.

ANY STRATEGIES?

>> IT'S PROBABLY SQUIRRELS OR 13 LINED GROUND SQUIRRELS.

THERE ARE SLEEVES OF STAINLESS STEEL WOOL THAT YOU CAN PUT AROUND THOSE.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WHO DO FIBER OPTICS DO TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING.

SO THESE SLEEVES, YOU CAN BUY THEM COMMERCIALLY AND YOU PUT THEM OVER THAT AND THEN THE ANIMAL CAN CHEW THROUGH THAT.

OTHERWISE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRAP THE ANIMAL AND REMOVE IT.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE WILL MOVE IN.

>> ALL RIGHT, LINCOLN, WHAT KIND OF ANIMAL MADE THIS HOLE IN THE DEN?

IT WASN'T HERE LAST FALL.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A VOLE, RIGHT?

THAT'S BEEN RAINED ON.

SO.

>> YEAH.

A VOLE AGAIN.

AND YOUR NEXT ONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VOLES IN AND BY THE GARDEN.

SHE'S TRIED COFFEE GROUNDS AND MOTHBALLS.

>> ONE, DON'T USE MOTHBALLS OUTSIDE.

IT'S NOT ON THE LABEL.

IT'S ILLEGAL OPERATION COFFEE GROUNDS.

MOST MOST VOLES DON'T LIKE COFFEE.

THEY'RE LIKE.

GET A MULTI CATCH TRAP.

YOU CAN GET THEM ONLINE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL BRANDS OF MULTI CATCH TRAPS.

AND NO BAIT.

>> OKAY.

AND FROM SHENANDOAH, IOWA.

WHAT IS DIGGING HOLES IN THE YARD.

IS IT SKUNKS LOOKING FOR GRUBS.

THEY DO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY AND OF COURSE THEY HAVE THEIR SHARE OF CREATURES.

>> IT'S PROBABLY SKUNKS OR OPOSSUMS DIGGING UP INSECTS.

IT MAY NOT BE GRUBS.

SO CONTROLLING GRUBS MAY NOT BE.

THEY MAY BE GOING AFTER WORMS.

THEY MAY BE GOING AFTER SOME KIND OF ANT.

BUT IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE EITHER A SKUNK OR AN OPOSSUM DIGGING UP INSECTS.

>> OKAY, JEFF, THIS COMES TO US FROM SOUTH OF BRIDGEPORT.

AND SO EACH FALL THEY GET A SMALL SPOT THAT STARTS EARLIER AND THEN ENDS UP DOING THIS TAKES A COUPLE OF YEARS TO COME BACK.

IT WAS ABOUT 20% OF THE FRONT YARD.

HE DOES SAY HE THINKS IT'S BELLA BLUEGRASS.

>> YOU KNOW, AND THAT PARTICULAR SELECTION IS VERY ATTRACTIVE IN THAT, YOU KNOW, IT OFFERS LOW MAINTENANCE, DOESN'T GROW VERY QUICKLY.

SO I CAN SEE WHY THAT WOULD BE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO TRY TO GROW THAT PARTICULAR VARIETY OF BLUEGRASS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S HARDINESS IN THIS AREA IS A LITTLE QUESTIONABLE.

THAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING, ALTHOUGH YOU'VE HAD IT FOR IT LOOKS LIKE MORE THAN TEN YEARS.

SO I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT IT'S HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND IT TENDS TO COME BACK EACH YEAR A LITTLE BIT, I WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON PLANT HEALTH.

SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE AERATING, THAT WE'RE WATERING APPROPRIATELY, THAT WE'RE FERTILIZING AT THE RIGHT TIMES.

LATE SEASON FERTILIZATION.

SO LATE IN THE FALL OR AFTER OCTOBER FOR THIS MAY DECREASE ITS HARDINESS.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS KIND OF THAT SORT OF SCHEDULE.

SO LET'S LOOK AT MAKING SURE WE'RE FERTILIZING AT THE RIGHT TIME, SHUTTING IT OFF EARLY ENOUGH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING ENOUGH IRRIGATION ON THAT.

>> OKAY.

TWO PICTURES FROM LINCOLN.

THEY THINK IT'S ZOYSIA BECAUSE OF THE RUNNERS AND IT'S STILL BROWN, BUT HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF IT.

MOVE.

>> WELL, THERE'S THAT.

SELL YOUR HOME.

ZOYSIA IT'S A BIT OF A PROJECT.

SO IT'S EITHER YOU KIND OF LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT AND IT'LL GREEN UP AND THEN YOU WON'T NOTICE IT QUITE SO MUCH.

OR YOU GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF, OF SPRAYING WITH A NONSELECTIVE.

WE DO THAT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN GO THROUGH AND MOW IT CLOSELY, WATER IT, LET IT REGENERATE, SPRAY IT AGAIN AND KIND OF GO THROUGH THAT AND YOU WILL EVENTUALLY GET IT SUPPRESSED, BUT IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WILL CONTINUE TO COME BACK A LITTLE BIT ALL THE TIME.

SO YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO BE TENACIOUS WITH THIS AND WORD OF THE WEEK.

>> OR FOR THE SEASON.

>> ACTUALLY, PROBABLY.

YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM OMAHA.

MIDTOWN.

THIS TREE IS 15 YEARS OLD.

IT'S A SERVICEBERRY.

IT'S NOW DEVELOPED A BLACKENED TRUNK.

IT DID BLOOM.

AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE BERRIES THAT ON IT THAT THE BIRDS LOVE.

CAN IT BE TREATED AND SAVED.

>> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THE BLACK IS ACTUALLY A DISEASE.

THERE IS A CRACK IN THE BRANCH THAT IT STARTS AT, AND I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S JUST NOT A SOOTY MOLD.

SO I WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF YOU COULDN'T JUST WIPE IT OFF FROM THE TRUNK, THE BRANCH THAT IS DAMAGED, I WOULD REMOVE THAT AND THEN I WOULD JUST ARCH IT.

IT, IT, IT LOOKS LIKE A SURFACE MOLD.

MAYBE BE FROM SAP EXUDING FROM THAT BRANCH THAT'S BROKEN.

>> TWO PICTURES FROM CEDAR BLUFF AND THIS IS A PEARS.

BARTLETT PEAR SEEMS TO HAVE A FUNGUS OF SOME SORT.

IT'S PRETTY WINDY, BUT THIS IS FROM WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE JUST LAST YEAR.

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

THERE IS SOME TWISTING ON IT.

SO I THINK THERE IS SOME HERBICIDE DRIFT GOING ON WITH SOME OF IT.

THE BLACK THOUGH REALLY SUGGESTS TO ME THAT WE COULD BE LOOKING AT FIREBLIGHT.

RIGHT.

SO I WOULD, I WOULD JUST REALLY BE CAUTIOUS WITH THAT AND TRY TO PRUNE.

IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC AREAS THAT ARE AFFECTED INITIALLY, IF THIS IS IT, I WOULD JUST PULL THE LEAVES OFF AND WATCH THAT.

BUT FIREBLIGHT CAN LEAD TO SOME CANKERS ON STEMS.

IF YOU GET THAT, YOU WANT TO PRUNE THAT OUT AND JUST USE SANITATION AT THIS POINT.

>> OKAY, FROM OMAHA, THIS IS SO COOL.

>> THIS IS REALLY COOL.

>> WHAT IS THIS THIS?

>> I HAD TO LOOK FOR THIS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CUP FUNGI.

AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT THIS IS POSSIBLY IN THE GENUS MICROSTOMA.

SO IF PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK AT THAT.

BUT THERE ARE MANY THAT ARE ENDEMIC IN NEBRASKA AND THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

IT LOOKS LIKE FLOWERS ALMOST.

SO WE COULD RECREATE THAT.

WE'D HAVE SOMETHING REALLY GREAT.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO THAT.

>> OKAY, SEWARD, ONE PICTURE AFTER A LONG WINTER, STRONG RAIN, OF COURSE.

FOUND THESE TENTACLES.

THEY'RE GUESSING IT'S A FUNGUS.

>> AND IT IS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL FUNGUS.

THIS IS CEDAR APPLE RUST.

AND WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT THIS YEAR.

AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT IT LATER.

>> YES WE WILL, UNFORTUNATELY.

ALL RIGHT.

DANA, ONE FROM POLK COUNTY.

SHE HAS A HIBISCUS, SIX YEARS OLD.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHEN AND HOW TO DIVIDE IT, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE.

IT'S JUST STARTING TO SPROUT.

>> YES.

SO YOU DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ROOTS ARE ACTIVE AND YOU'VE GOT SOME GROWTH.

NORMALLY THESE ARE PRETTY LATE TO BREAK DORMANCY.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH JOB.

I'D PULL THOSE ROCKS AWAY JUST IN GENERAL BUT ALSO A GOOD FOOT.

DIG UP THE CLUMP WITH A SHARP SPADE AND THEN TAKE A SHARP KNIFE AND DIVIDE IT.

BUT NOW'S THE TIME TO DO IT AS IT'S ACTIVELY GETTING STARTED GROWING.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES FROM MURRAY.

SO THIS IS A LILAC SHRUB THAT HAD SOME DEAD LOOKING FLOWERS AND ONLY A FEW BLOOMS THIS YEAR.

MAYBE THE BUDS FROZE.

IS THAT PROBABLY WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON AND SHOULD SHE DO ANYTHING WITH THIS SHRUB?

>> YEAH.

SO REDUCED BLOOMS CAN BE THAT YOU EITHER PRUNE TOO LATE LAST YEAR WE'VE HAD SOME WINTER INJURY OR YOU'RE GETTING SOME OLD IN AND WOODY GROWTH.

AND I WOULD PROBABLY GO WITH THE LATTER TWO BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME BLOOMS THAT HAVE HAD SOME INJURY EVEN THIS SPRING, BUT DO SOME RENEWAL PRUNING AND TAKE OUT A THIRD OF THAT ON THAT.

IT LOOKED LIKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE TO ME OF THE PICTURE.

AND YOU CAN TAKE OUT A THIRD EVERY YEAR AND JUST GOOD PLANT CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE AND THIS COMES TO US ACTUALLY FROM FALLS CITY.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW, CAN SHE TRIM THE DEAD OUT OF THIS JUNIPER SO THAT PERHAPS SHE GETS SOME NEW GROWTH?

>> YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD ALSO JUST BEFORE WE GET STARTED, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S NEAR SIDEWALK.

PAY ATTENTION IF YOU PUT ANY SALT ON THAT AND TRY NOT TO GET THAT ON THE ON THIS JUNIPER BECAUSE YOU NEED TO WAIT.

I WOULD BE CONSERVATIVE WITH THIS PRUNING, RIGHT?

BECAUSE IF YOU PRUNE BACK TO, TO OLD WOOD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET NEW GROWTH ON THAT.

SO MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT GREEN GROWTH KIND OF COMING IN.

AND THEN WE PRUNE CONSERVATIVELY BACK TO SIDE BRANCHES AND MAKE SURE WE'VE GOT THE DEAD PARTS.

AND THEN YOU CAN KIND OF CUT IT OUT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE SLOW TO FILL BACK IN.

>> IT WILL.

THAT LOOKS LIKE AN OLD GROUND COVER.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, COLDER WEATHER HAS SLOWED US DOWN A BIT AT OUR GARDEN, BUT THERE IS PLENTY OF PREPARATION THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.

HERE'S TERRI IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN TO SHOW US HOW THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE HAVE ALL OF OUR BEDS READY AND PREPPED, JUST LIKE I SHOWED YOU LAST WEEK.

WE WERE STARTING TO GET THAT EDGE DONE.

THAT IS ALL DONE.

WE'VE ADDED SOME EXTRA COMPOST AND EXTRA SOIL OUT OF OUR CONTAINERS.

SO THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO KIND OF FOCUS ON GETTING THOSE CONTAINERS PREPPED AND READY TO GO FOR OUR SUMMER PLANTINGS, FOR OUR FLOWERS.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I ALWAYS WANT TO REMIND YOU IS TO TAKE THAT OLD SOIL OUT, ADD NEW SOIL IN.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO ADD A SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER TO THAT TO GIVE US THAT WHOLE LENGTH OF SEASON FOR FERTILIZING, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND PLANT PROBABLY NOT GOING TO PLANT AS EARLY AS I ANTICIPATED, SINCE EVIDENTLY IT'S GOING TO GET COLD AGAIN THIS WEEKEND AND WE HAVE A POTENTIAL OF FROST.

SO WE LEARNED OUR LESSON WITH THE PANSIES, AND WE'RE GOING TO HOLD OFF ON GETTING SOME OF THESE CONTAINERS PLANTED, BUT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THEM ALL READY AND PREPPED.

OUR SPRING VEGETABLES ARE UP AND GOING, AND WE'RE JUST KEEPING AN EYE ON THEM.

AND WE ARE ALSO KEEPING AN EYE ON THOSE PEAS THAT WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH.

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

>> THANKS, TERRI.

IT'S TIME FOR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK FROM ANDREA RUSSO ERICKSEN.

SHE HAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE SLIMY STUFF ON HER SKYROCKET AND TAILORED JUNIPERS.

WILL IT KILL HER TREES AND SPREAD TO OTHERS SHOULD SHE SPRAY WITH SOMETHING?

LOREN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SINCE YOU ARE OUR ROTS AND SPOTS GUY TONIGHT?

>> WELL, KIM, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE DISEASES, CEDAR APPLE RUST AND FOR THIS ONE, IT CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE TREE IF THEY'RE AN ORNAMENTAL LIKE TAYLOR JUNIPER, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WE WOULD WANT TO MAKE A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION OR PRUNE THOSE GALLS OUT.

THE KEY IS IT'S NOT GOING TO REINFECT THAT TREE AT THIS POINT.

SO IT'S COMING OFF OF AN APPLE TREE OR CEDAR QUINCE RUST, WHICH WOULD COME OFF OF A QUINCE.

SO IF THERE'S THOSE TREES ARE IN THE LANDSCAPE AND CLOSE, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO BE CAREFUL AND REALLY TRY TO MANAGE THIS ON THE CEDAR PART.

NOW, THE OTHER PART IS IT'S GOING OVER TO APPLE.

SO ANYONE THAT HAS APPLE TREES THAT THEY ENJOY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE TREATING THOSE AT THIS POINT.

IF THEY'RE TRYING TO CONTROL CEDAR APPLE RUST.

>> AND IT'S TOO LATE NOW TO SPRAY A FUNGICIDE, RIGHT?

>> IT'S TOO LATE TO SPRAY FOR THE CEDAR.

>> RIGHT, FOR THE CEDAR.

WHEN THOSE TILIA, THOSE ORANGE MASSES COME OUT RIGHT AT THIS POINT.

NOW THAT'S WHEN THOSE SPORES ARE BEING PRODUCED, WHERE THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN MAKE THAT APPLICATION ON THE APPLE SIDE OF THAT DISEASE CYCLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND IT'S SO INTERESTING TO SEE THE DIFFERENCES BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE ONES THAT ARE GIANT LIKE THIS, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE LITTLE BITTY ONES ON THE TWIGS.

SAME THING THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> IT CAN BE THE SAME, BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME THAT ARE MORE OF A CANKER FORMING, WHICH IS CEDAR QUINCE, WHICH CAN TAKE OUT BRANCHES.

SO THAT WOULD BE A DIFFERENCE THERE TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND MINE AT HOME THIS YEAR ARE JUST COVERED.

SO YOU EITHER LOVE IT OR YOU HATE IT AND YOU LIKE IT.

>> I ENJOY IT BECAUSE IT ALSO MEANS IT'S MOREL SEASON, KIM.

>> OKAY.

THANKS, LOREN.

>> YOU BET.

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

NOW IT'S TIME TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

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

WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL SEE WHAT MIGHT BE EATING OUR NEWLY PLANTED PEA PLANTS.

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

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

AND RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

DANA.

>> OKAY.

>> CEDAR BLUFF, WHEN SHOULD STAKE SLASH BRACES BE REMOVED FROM TREES.

>> WITHIN A YEAR?

>> IDEAL DEPTH FOR TOMATOES IN ANY RAISED BED.

>> 12 INCHES.

>> MAX OR MINUS?

>> OH MINIMUM.

MINIMUM.

>> FREMONT.

IS IT STILL OKAY TO PRUNE A SPRUCE THAT IS OVERHANGING THE SIDEWALK?

>> WELL, THAT'S KIND OF A. IF IT'S GOT TO GO, IT'S GOT TO GO.

>> ASHLAND.

SHOULD THIS PERSON PUT SOIL ENHANCERS IN THE GROUND TO PLANT HIS PEACH SEEDLINGS THAT HE PRODUCED?

>> NO.

>> LINCOLN.

ARE ORGANIC PINE SHAVINGS OKAY AS A VEGETABLE GARDEN MULCH?

>> SURE.

I JUST WOULDN'T MIX THEM IN TO THE SOIL BECAUSE THEN THAT CAN BIND UP SOME NITROGEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ASPARAGUS IS SPINDLY AND HAS GONE TO TOPS.

SHOULD HE FERTILIZE IT OR STOP CUTTING IT?

>> OH, STOP CUTTING IT.

AND THEN WE'LL LET IT FERN OUT AND THEN FERTILIZE IT.

>> NICE JOB.

OKAY, LOREN.

LUNCH MEAT?

>> YEP.

>> OKAY.

RURAL HICKMAN.

ONCE HE WANTS TO KEEP PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS.

BUT THERE IS ONE NATIVE GRASS IN THE ADJACENT PRAIRIE THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A RUST HOST PLANT.

IS IT HOPELESS FOR HIM TO KEEP HIS POLLINATORS GARDENS?

>> I WOULD KEEP THEM ALL.

>> OKAY.

>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> NEBRASKA CITY DISEASED APPLES WENT INTO THE COMPOST BIN.

IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR OTHER PEOPLE?

>> NO I WOULDN'T.

IT TYPICALLY ARE COMPOSTED IN THE BREAKDOWN OF THE PROCESS OF THAT.

IT WOULD GET ENOUGH HEAT AND BREAK DOWN TO WHERE IT WON'T BE AN ISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> RED WILLOW, NEBRASKA.

A PEAR WAS FINE AND NOW WITH THE RAIN, IT SEEMS LIKE IT HAS CANKERS ON THE TRUNK AND SPOTS ON THE LEAVES.

IS THAT A DISEASE?

>> IT COULD BE.

IF IT HAS CANKERS THAT ARE OBVIOUS.

CANKERS.

I WOULD PRUNE THEM OUT ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES BELOW THE AFFECTED AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELKHORN WILL COPPER, FUNGICIDE AND HORTICULTURAL OIL APPLIED TOGETHER CAUSE ISSUES AS FUNGICIDES.

>> YOU USUALLY DON'T SEE THAT COMBINATION.

YOU COULD GET SOME BURNING WITH THE OIL AT THIS POINT.

>> OKAY.

>> JEFF.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS PERSON OVERSEEDED THE RAIN CAUSED FAST GROWTH OF THE EXISTING GRASS.

HOW CAN ONE BE MOWED WITHOUT HURTING THE OTHER?

>> WELL, KEEP YOUR DECK HIGH, SO JUST AND JUST BE CAREFUL AND MAKE SURE THAT THINGS HAVE DRIED OUT BEFORE YOU DO SOME MOWING.

IF YOU HAVE TO, ROLL OVER THE NEWLY SEEDED GRASS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

CREEPING CHARLIE IS NOW FLOWERING FROM THREE PEOPLE.

TREAT IT OR NOT.

>> TREAT IT.

>> WITH WHAT?

>> WELL YOU COULD, YOU KNOW, ANYTHING WITH TRICLOPYR WOULD BE THE WOULD BE THE CHOICE.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRODUCTS THAT YOU CAN USE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THERE IS A PEE SPOT MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL THAT USES POWDERED GYPSUM.

AND HE SAYS IT'S WORKED FOR 20 YEARS.

HAVE YOU TRIED THIS.

>> I HAVEN'T TRIED IT.

BUT YOU KNOW I'M SURE IT'S WORKED WELL FOR THEM.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY A MORE EFFECTIVE THING YOU CAN DO IS JUST FLUSH THE AREA.

AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT'S REALLY HOT OR REALLY COLD, THE PEE SPOTS ARE MORE PRONOUNCED THAN THEY ARE DURING A WET PERIOD.

>> SO ALL RIGHT, DENNIS >> YEP.

LINCOLN, IS THERE ANY ALGAE EATING FISH THAT COULD BE INTRODUCED INTO A DEEP POND IN AN HOA AREA?

>> NO, THERE IS, BUT YOU DON'T INTRODUCE FISH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LINCOLN, DO URBAN COYOTES USE THE SAME SPOT TO SLEEP AND DEN AND ALL THOSE THINGS, OR DO THEY TRAVEL?

>> URBAN COYOTES NEST IN ONE AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GRETNA DO FOXES RETURN TO THE SAME DEN EVERY YEAR OR DO THEY GO OTHER PLACES?

>> FEMALE.

SAME DEN.

MALES ARE MORE WANDERERS.

>> LINCOLN WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO HAZE SQUIRRELS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WITH LARGE TREES?

>> A WATER SQUIRT GUN?

>> JOHNSON LAKE CAN YOU TELL MALE AND FEMALE TURKEYS APART BY THEIR CLAW PRINTS?

>> NO, NOT BY CLAW PRINTS.

>> OMAHA VIEWER WANTS TURTLES AND FROGS IN A BACKYARD POND.

CAN HE PURCHASE THEM?

>> YES, IF YOUR YARD IS FENCED IN AND YOU.

YOU CAN'T GET NATIVES.

YOU CAN'T PURCHASE NATIVES.

THAT'S ILLEGAL.

BUT YOU CAN PURCHASE DOMESTICATED TURTLES OR PET SHOP TURTLES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I CAN'T SEE WHO WON, BUT.

I THINK IT WAS DANA.

>> I THINK IT'S DANA.

>> I THINK IT'S DANA.

ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

ALL.

>> POWER.

SORRY.

GOT EXCITED.

>> RIGGED.

TOTALLY RIGGED.

>> IT'S ALWAYS THE GIRL ON THE PANEL WINS.

>> I WONDER WHY.

NO.

WELL, ANYONE TAKING A STROLL AT MAXWELL ARBORETUM HERE ON EAST CAMPUS WILL IMMEDIATELY SEE A BURST OF COLOR COMING FROM OUR AZALEA PLANTS.

THEY'RE IN FULL BLOOM NOW AND PUTTING ON QUITE A SHOW.

LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK FOR THIS WEEK'S PLANT OF THE WEEK.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) IF YOU'VE TRAVELED IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE SPRING, YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN SOME OF THE WONDERFUL NATIVE AZALEAS IN NEBRASKA.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY.

BUT BEHIND ME IS NARCISSIFLORA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE NATIVES.

THIS BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL YELLOW.

EVERYTHING ELSE IN HERE, FOR THE MOST PART, IS WHAT WE CALL THE LIGHT SERIES, THE NORTHERN LIGHT SERIES.

THEY WERE BRED FOR NORTHERN CONDITIONS, WHICH OF COURSE WE ARE AND WERE.

AND THE BEAUTY OF THIS COLLECTION BEHIND ME, THESE ARE ALMOST 40 YEARS OLD.

YOU CAN GET THESE WONDERFUL COLORS.

THEY TAKE LITTLE, NY, CARE IF YOU GET THEM IN THE GROUND PROPERLY.

WE STARTED WITH GOOD SOIL, A LITTLE BIT OF ACIDITY.

WE KEEP THEM MOIST BUT NOT TOO MOIST.

WE DON'T DO ANY PRUNING TO SPEAK OF BECAUSE THEY DON'T NEED MUCH PRUNING.

SO IF YOU WANT TO USE AZALEAS, MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE WISELY.

PUT THEM IN GREAT LOCATIONS.

ENJOY THIS INCREDIBLE BEAUTY OF THE FLOWERING BEFORE THEY GO QUIET FOR THE SUMMER, WHICH THEY WILL, AND THEN DON'T REALLY DO ANYTHING IN THE WINTER AT ALL.

YOU'LL YOU'LL SEE THOSE FLOWER BUDS SET ON OLD WOOD.

IF YOU DO ANY PRUNING AT ALL, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DESTROY THEM.

SO ON THAT NOTE, GANNON, LET'S HEAR ABOUT THE WEATHER THIS WEEK IN NEBRASKA.

>> HEY, GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I HAVE A BIT OF GOOD AND BAD NEWS, SO WE'LL START OFF WITH THE GOOD NEWS.

TEMPERATURES THIS WEEK WILL BE NEAR NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S AND 70S STATEWIDE.

OUR TWO WARMEST DAYS LOOK TO BE SUNDAY AND MONDAY, WHERE A FEW PLACES IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE COULD GET INTO THE 80S.

THERE ISN'T MUCH TO TALK ABOUT WHEN IT COMES TO PRECIPITATION THIS WEEK OUTSIDE OF A SCATTERED STORM OR TWO.

SO WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT DROUGHT.

OUT WEST NEAR SIDNEY EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST CLASSIFICATION, WAS INTRODUCED THIS WEEK.

MEANWHILE, NEARLY 60% OF STAYS IN EXTREME DROUGHT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE SINCE 2022.

BASED ON WHAT I HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE WITHIN EXTENSION, AS WELL AS MY OWN FAMILY NEAR MCCOOK, THE SITUATION OUT WEST IS GETTING PRETTY DIRE RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> LOTS OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THE FIRST HOLY TRINITY ARTS FESTIVAL MAY 2ND.

THE SECOND ONE IS 27TH ANNUAL PERENNIAL PLANT SALE, THE MAIN MUSEUM IN FREMONT.

ANOTHER ONE IS NEAR SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION PLANT SALE.

ALSO ON SATURDAY, MAY 2ND HERE IN LINCOLN, THE NEBRASKA HERBAL SOCIETY ANNUAL PLANT, CRAFT AND BAKE SALE MAY 2ND.

NEW HOPE CHURCH IN LINCOLN.

NEBRASKA DAYLILY SOCIETY BARE ROOT DAYLILY SALE.

DOUGLAS COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE ON MAY 9TH.

AND THE LINCOLN IRIS SOCIETY IRIS SHOW SATURDAY, MAY 9TH IN LINCOLN.

LOTS OF FUN STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.

DENNIS, OMAHA ONE PICK.

SHE STARTED TO PICK A ROCK UP OFF HER PLANTER EDGE, AND THEN SHE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AND SAW IT HAD EYES.

WHAT IS IT?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A IT'S NOT A TOAD.

IT'S A TREE FROG.

SO IT'S A NATIVE TREE FROG.

THE COPE'S GREAT TREE FROG.

>> FUN.

ONE PICTURE FROM BURT COUNTY.

SO WHAT ABOUT THIS SNAKE?

>> YEAH.

>> THE GRANDDAUGHTER IS.

>> WELL, IT'S A JUVENILE HOMOSAPIEN, AND IT'S HOLDING A PLAINS GARTER SNAKE.

AND I HAVE TO SAY, THAT YOUNG PERSON IS HOLDING THAT SNAKE JUST PERFECTLY.

YOU NEVER TOUCH A SNAKE BEHIND ITS HEAD.

YOU ALWAYS CRADLE IN THE MIDDLE.

SO KUDOS TO THAT YOUNG PERSON FOR PROPERLY HANDLING THAT SNAKE.

AND YOU CAN GET NO GERMS AND VIRUSES FROM SNAKES BECAUSE THEY'RE ECTOTHERMS HAVE NUCLEATED BLOOD CELLS.

>> ONE PICTURE FROM WAHOO FOUND THIS TEN INCH SNAKE IN THE BACKYARD.

WHAT'S THIS?

>> THE CASE BROWN SNAKE EATS SNAILS AND SLUGS.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES.

JEFF FROM OMAHA.

FULL SUN.

CLAY KILLED THE LAWN.

HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO.

HE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT HOW TO GET RID OF THE WOOD SOIL.

OR DOES HE NEED TO?

AND HE DOES NOT WANT TO SPRAY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH SPRAYING AND KILLING EVERYTHING ELSE.

>> OKAY.

AND I THINK THEY HAVE A WARM SEASON GRASS THEY WANT TO SEED IN THERE, OR THEY SEEDED IT AND THEY WANT TO RESEED IT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO I THINK IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, YOU COULD USE A PRODUCT WITH MESOTRIONE AS A PRE-EMERGENT THAT WILL HELP SET THAT BACK AND ALLOW THE GRASS TO TO DO WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE FROM BELLEVUE.

WHAT IS THIS?

HOW DOES HE GET RID OF IT?

WE KIND OF LOOKED AT THIS LAST WEEK, BUT WE HAVE A BETTER PICTURE.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

SO THIS IS CHICKWEED.

SO IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE FUN LITTLE WEEDS.

YOU CAN YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LOOK IT UP.

YOU COULD EAT IT AND DO ALL KINDS OF FUN THINGS WITH IT.

I'LL BRING A CASSEROLE NEXT WEEK WITH CHICKWEED.

BUT ANYWAY, >> AWESOME.

>> BUT THE SIMPLEST THING IS JUST PULL IT AND USE SOME PRE-EMERGENT IN THOSE AREAS BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE A LOT OF SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM PROSSER.

HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF THIS?

SHE SAYS ONE LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO HAVE YELLOW FLOWERS, BUT IT SMELLS LIKE PINEAPPLE.

>> YEAH.

SO IT'S PINEAPPLE WEED.

SO IT'S A FUN WEED.

AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF THESE HERBAL SORT OF THINGS YOU CAN LOOK UP BUT YOU KNOW, PULL IT IF YOU NEED.

IF YOU HAVE A LOT, YOU CAN SPRAY THEM AGAIN.

THEY PRODUCE A LOT OF SEEDS.

SO YOU WANT TO USE A PRE-EMERGENT IN THOSE AREAS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FROM BOULDER, COLORADO.

LOREN, A TEN YEAR OLD TREE THAT HAS THIS WOUND ON ITS TRUNK.

IT'S A BUNCH OF GRAFTED APPLES ON IT.

HE'S WONDERING IF THE WOUND ON THIS IS GOING TO ACTUALLY PRODUCE ANY DISEASE.

SO.

>> WELL, THE ACTUAL DAMAGE WHEN WE SEE THAT PICTURE IS, IS PRETTY EXTENSIVE.

SO I, I REALLY DON'T KNOW LONG TERM IF THIS TREE IS GOING TO MAKE IT.

YOU CAN WATCH THAT AND BE CAREFUL, BUT THAT THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.

AND THAT TREE COULD, IF IT GETS ANY SIZE TO IT, IT'LL, IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY PRONE TO, TO FALLING OVER AND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NORTH OF ALBION.

SO THESE FUNKY SWOLLEN THINGS ON FOUR YEAR OLD HONEYCRISP APPLES.

WHAT DO WE THINK HERE.

>> WELL AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE DEAD ENDS TO THAT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF SOMETHING'S KILLED THAT AND THAT'S A REACTION.

BUT I WOULD JUST PRUNE THOSE OUT JUST TO BE SAFE.

>> OKAY.

DANA, TWO PICS FROM OMAHA.

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THIS HYDRANGEA?

IT'S BEEN IN THIS SPOT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

DEAD BRANCHES, BUT NOT THIS MANY.

>> SO JUST JUST A LITTLE WINTER INJURY.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THAT AT ALL.

JUST BRING THAT BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

WONDERING WHETHER SHE SHOULD CUT OFF THE LEAVES OF HER ENDLESS SUMMER HYDRANGEAS THAT WERE FROSTBIT LAST YEAR.

>> JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

BOTH OF THEM JUST MULCH AND GOOD PLANT CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT?

SOMETHING SNEAKY HAS DECIDED OUR NEWLY PLANTED PEAS WERE JUST TOO DELICIOUS TO PASS UP.

WE AREN'T EXACTLY SURE WHAT IT WAS, BUT TERRI SAYS IT'S A GOOD REMINDER TO REGULARLY SCOUT YOUR GARDEN FOR THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS.

>> WE ARE ALWAYS TELLING (UPBEAT MUSIC) >> WE ARE ALWAYS TELLING YOU TO SCOUT YOUR LANDSCAPE AND YOUR GARDEN, RIGHT?

WELL, WE WERE OUT IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN AND WE WERE CHECKING OUT ALL THE PLANTS THIS SPRING, AND WE FOUND SOMETHING VERY PARTICULAR.

OUR PEAS IN ONE RAISED BED ARE GETTING EATEN AND CRAZY ENOUGH.

IT'S ONLY IN THIS ONE RAISED BED.

THE BED IS NOT QUITE AS TOO TALL, I THINK, FOR RABBITS TO GET IN.

SO WHO KNOWS WHAT IT COULD BE.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO GROW OUT OF IT.

BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING THIS IN OTHER BEDS, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A BIG LOSS OF PRODUCTION.

BUT AS A REMINDER, THIS IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT TO KEEP GOING OUT AND SCOUTING YOUR LANDSCAPE.

THINGS CAN HAPPEN COMPLETELY OVERNIGHT, SO CHECK OUT YOUR GARDEN ON A DAILY BASIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> NOT SURE IF WE'VE FIGURED THAT OUT YET OR IF THE PEAS WILL MAKE IT, BUT WE WILL CHECK BACK AND EITHER FIGURE IT OUT OR WE WON'T.

TERRI IS ACTUALLY RIGHT TOO.

REGULAR SCOUTING WILL HELP YOU STAY ON TOP OF YOUR PROBLEMS.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, ONE PICTURE OF A NEWPORT PLUM THAT THE SQUIRRELS HAVE BEEN CHEWING ON THIS WINTER.

HIGH IN THE TREE AND WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS FROM ALL OVER THE STATE, WONDERING IF THEY WILL DAMAGE THE WHOLE TREE.

AND SHE DOES FEED THE SQUIRRELS PEANUTS AND PROVIDES THEM WATER.

>> RIGHT, SO YOU'RE PROVIDING THEM MOST OF THE THINGS, EXCEPT THAT THEY GET A LOT OF SUGARS FROM RIGHT UNDER THE BARK, AND THEY USUALLY DON'T DO THAT TO NATIVE TREES.

THEY DO IT TO NON-NATIVE TREES.

THEY PROBABLY WON'T DO IT AS MUCH IN THE SUMMER, BUT THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN NEXT WINTER.

>> INTERESTING.

SO NON-NATIVE, EVEN THOUGH NEWPORT.

WELL, I GUESS IT IS A NON-NATIVE.

IT'S NOT CHOKECHERRY.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM LINCOLN.

SQUIRRELS ARE TEARING HUGE STRIPS OF BARK OFF THE LILAC.

WILL IT RECOVER?

AND IS THAT SQUIRRELS OR IS THAT DEER?

>> WELL, IT'S TOO LOW TO BE DEER.

I MEAN, DEER USUALLY DON'T PUT THEIR ANTLERS TO THE GROUND, BUT IT'S A LOT FOR SQUIRRELS.

BUT I HAVE SEEN SQUIRRELS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S HOT AND DRY.

DO THAT FOR MOISTURE.

REALLY STRIP IT FROM MOISTURE.

>> OKAY, SO WHO KNOWS?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL THAT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.

THE SQUIRRELS WILL LIVE OKAY.

THAT'S THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION.

>> SO CAN YOU SPRAY SO THEY'LL STOP.

>> YEAH.

USE VEGETABLE OIL AND GHOST PEPPER SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY HOT AND JUST PAINT IT ON THERE.

VEGETABLE OIL MIXED WITH HOT CAYENNE PEPPER OR GHOST PEPPER.

FIRST TIME THE SQUIRREL GOES TO DO SOMETHING, IT'S GOING TO KNOW IT.

>> OKAY, TWO PICKS FROM OMAHA WHO KILLED WHAT?

THEY'VE SEEN CATS, RACCOONS AND OPOSSUMS.

SNOW FOX.

SO IT'S SHE'S CALLING IT A LARGE CIRCLE OF DEATH WITH FEATHERS AND TRAILS AND SOME DOWN.

AND THEN IT GOT ANOTHER.

>> YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE A DOVE AND I WOULD SAY CATS.

>> REALLY?

>> YEAH.

I WOULD SAY MORE CATS THAN ANYTHING ELSE BECAUSE MOST WILD ANIMALS ARE GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY TO THEIR FAMILY.

A CAT WILL PLAY WITH IT AND KILL IT ON SIGHT.

>> AND THEN JUST SORT OF ALL THOSE OTHER FEATHERS ARE THE DEATH DANCE.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> IT PROBABLY STRUGGLED A LOT IF IT'S A CAT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM MURRAY AREA.

JEFF.

SEVERAL YELLOW SPOTS.

WONDERED WHAT IT MIGHT BE.

AND YOU GOT THIS TO SEE WHETHER YOU'VE HAD WHAT THEY THINK IS ARMYWORM EGG PATCHES.

AND HAVE YOU SEEN THESE ON CAMPUS OR ANYTHING SIMILAR?

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON CAMPUS.

I GUESS IF THEY THINK IT'S ARMYWORM, WHICH IT SEEMS EARLY FOR ARMYWORM, YOU KNOW, MAYBE JUNE OR JULY YOU'D START SEEING THE SPRING ARMYWORM, BUT NOT NOW.

BUT IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT, AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME WEIRD WEATHER MIX UP, 3 OR 4 GALLONS OF SOME SOAPY WATER, PUT SOME DISH SOAP IN SOME WATER AND SOAK THAT AREA DOWN.

GIVE IT ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND SEE IF YOU START SEEING ARMYWORM LARVAE COMING TO THE SURFACE.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING IS TO KIND OF EXPOSE THEM.

OKAY.

AND IF YOU HAVE IT, THEN AN INSECTICIDE WITH BIFENTHRIN WOULD CONTROL THAT.

AND I WOULD HIT THE WHOLE YARD WITH THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> IF YOU DON'T SEE THAT, THEN IT COULD BE A FUNGUS, SOME SORT OF, OR IT COULD BE DOG PEE SPOTS.

IT COULD BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT AERATING OVERSEEDING SOME FERTILIZER, THAT KIND OF THAT SAME SORT OF THING OF DOING SOME GOOD TURF CARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICS FROM WAHOO.

AND THIS IS ALSO YELLOW SPOTS.

ONE STARTED SMALL AND IT'S GETTING BIGGER.

IT'S GOT SEVERAL OF THESE.

SOME PEOPLE SAY GRUBS SO SORT OF ROUND.

>> IT'S TOO EARLY.

>> YEAH.

>> SO I WAS THINKING BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF THAT WINDOW PANE THING.

WOULD THAT BE LIKE NECROTIC RING SPOT.

>> IT COULD BE YOU TYPICALLY SEE IT WHERE THERE'S SOME HEAT STRESS.

SO DEPENDING ON EXPOSURE THERE, IF THAT'S IF THAT'S ON A SOUTH, DOES IT SAY SOUTH FACING OR.

I MEAN THAT WOULD BE TYPICAL.

IF IT'S IN THE SHADE, IT WOULDN'T BE NECROTIC RING SPOT.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT.

I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TOO UNIFORM.

DID SOMEBODY SPRAY DRYING OR SPRAY.

>> YEAH.

HAVE ROUND UP ON EIR SHOES AND ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO AGAIN AERATE, OVER SEED, CLEANING IT UP AND IT'LL PROBABLY BE JUST FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LOREN FROM SEWARD WONDERING WHY THEIR GRASS IS WHITE.

SEVEN YEAR OLD TURF, THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GARAGE.

SON WATERS AND FERTILIZES AND SAYS HELLO TO KYLE BRODERICK BECAUSE THIS WAS HIS SECOND GRADE TEACHER.

>> AWESOME.

>> AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A GREAT PICTURE AND LOOKS BETTER THAN WHAT I SHOWED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

AND WITH POWDERY MILDEW, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS.

NORTH SIDE OF THE GARAGE.

PERFECT PLACE.

IT'S GOING TO BE IN MORE SHADE PRONE AREAS.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE LIGHT IF YOU HAVE TREES AND LOTS OF SHADE, OPENING UP THE CANOPY WITH THAT, IF IT'S ON THE NORTH SIDE OF A BUILDING, WHICH IS VERY COMMON, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO GET OVER THAT.

YOU MAY HAVE AN AREA WHERE THERE'S JUST NOT ENOUGH SUN, AND YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO PUT A MULCH BED OR DO SOMETHING ELSE THERE, AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO MANAGE THIS EVERY YEAR.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HAVE GOOD QUALITY TURF IS THE BIGGEST THING TOO.

SO MAKING SURE YOU'RE MAINTAINING ADEQUATE FERTILITY AND EVERYTHING IS IS DOING WELL THERE, AERATION, ALL THOSE THINGS.

BUT IF ALL THAT'S GOING ON AND YOU'RE STILL FIGHTING THIS, THEN YOU MAY DECIDE TO PUT SOMETHING ELSE IN THAT REALLY HIGH SHADE AREA.

>> ONE OF JEFF'S GROUND COVERS.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

GROUND COVER.

GREAT PLACE FOR A SHADE LOVING GROUND COVER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FROM YORK TO PICTURES HIGH SCHOOL AG TEACHER GREENHOUSE.

THIS IS A HOUSE PLANT.

IT'S CALLED BAT-FACED CUPHEA.

AND SHE SAYS IT'S JUST AWFUL WITH THESE.

YOU GOT THIS GALL LIKE LOOKING STUFF.

SHE SAYS IT'S AWFUL IN THE GREENHOUSE AND NOT WHEN SHE GOES OUTSIDE AND PLANTS THEM OUTSIDE.

>> I THINK IT'S THEY SAID IT WAS LIKE THIS.

AND THEN ONCE THEY GET OUTSIDE, THEY'RE FINE.

I BELIEVE THIS IS EDEMA.

AND SO EDEMA IS WHEN YOU HAVE EXCESSIVE WATER ABSORPTION BUT THE PLANT CAN'T TRANSPIRE.

AND THEN IT FORMS THESE ALMOST BLISTERY LITTLE CORKY STRUCTURES.

WE SEE IT ON A LOT OF DIFFERENT SPECIES.

I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS PARTICULAR ONE.

IF IT'S MORE COMMON IN THERE OR NOT, BUT THEY MIGHT LOOK AT JUST TRYING TO WATCH HOW THEY'RE WATERING THE PLANT.

>> ONCE A DAY.

>> IS IT.

YEAH.

IF IT'S EXCESSIVE WATER, THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE PRONE TO THE EDEMA SCENARIO.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU JUST TO, TO KIND OF MAYBE I WOULD SAY, PULL THE WATER BACK A LITTLE BIT ON THIS IN THIS CASE.

AND THEN IT'S PROBABLY NOT, BUT NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

AS FAR AS THE DISEASE LOOKS GREAT.

YOU MIGHT CONSIDER IT LOOKING LIKE A, YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT INSECT, DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARASITIC WASP GALLS AND THINGS THAT MAY LOOK SIMILAR TO THIS.

BUT IN THIS CASE, IT'S WAY TOO MUCH INTO UNIFORM.

IT'S EDEMA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO HAVE THINGS FROM PEOPLE.

THAT IS IT A ROT.

IS IT A SPOT?

IS IT AN INSECT.

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A LOGICAL >> SOMETHING THEY'RE DOING WRONG?

>> RESPONSE TO FUN CONDITIONS.

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

DANA POLK COUNTY, SHE FOUND THIS ON HER DECK ONE MORNING.

I MEAN.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE PLANT PARTS TO ME.

AND SO MY RECOMMENDATION, UNLESS DENNIS HAS GOT AN IDEA.

BUT I THINK IT'S PLANT PARTS, AND I'D JUST BE A GOOD DETECTIVE OR SCOUT, AS EVERYBODY KIND OF MENTIONED EARLIER AND SEE, WAS IT SOMETHING ROOTING AROUND IN A POT YOU'D LEFT OR IS SOMETHING BLOOMING?

>> SO YEAH, DID IT FALL OUT OF A TREE?

AND IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO TELL.

IT'S PROBABLY A SIX INCH DECK BOARD OR EIGHT INCH DECK BOARD.

>> SO YEAH.

>> IT LOOKED LIKE PLANT PARTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> DEFINITELY IS.

>> FROM NORTH OF ALBION.

THIS IS AN APPLE TREE.

IT'S CALLED MOUNTAIN ROSE APPLE TREE.

DEVELOPED A LEAN OVER THE WINTER AND SHE'S WONDERING SHOULD SHE STAKE IT TO TRY TO STRAIGHTEN IT UP.

>> I'M MORE I'M THERE'S OTHER THINGS I THINK I'D BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT.

IT'S KIND OF SUNKEN WHERE IT'S PLANTED.

IT'S HARD TO SEE.

LOOKS LIKE.

COULD BE CODOMINANT LEANERS AND BAD BRANCH ANGLES.

SO IF THEY COULD REMOVE THE GUARD AND SEND SOME PICTURES TO BACK TO BACKYARD FARMER, OR YOU'VE GOT A NEW EDUCATOR IN COLUMBUS, TAYLOR.

BUT WE NEED SOME MORE PICTURES.

I THINK THERE'S OTHER THINGS I'D FOCUS ON FIRST.

>> AND WE DON'T TYPICALLY RECOMMEND YANKING.

>> RIGHT.

RE-YANKING A TREE.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

ONE FROM LINCOLN.

HE'S GOT A ZEBRA GRASS THAT GETS ABOUT SIX FEET HIGH EVERY YEAR, AND THE CENTER IS NOT FILLING IN.

HE DOESN'T FERTILIZE.

HE DOES DIVIDE IT ABOUT EVERY FIVE PLUS YEARS.

HE'S WONDERING, IS THIS FERTILIZER OR DOES THIS ONE JUST NEED TO BE DIVIDED?

>> YEAH, THAT'S A KIND OF MISCANTHUS.

AND THOSE ARE PRETTY QUICK GROWING GRASSES.

SO I THINK EVERY FIVE YEARS TO DIVIDE IS WAITING A LITTLE TOO LONG.

IT MIGHT BE MORE LIKE 2 OR 3 YEARS.

THIS IS ABOUT THE TIME I WOULDN'T LET IT GET TOO MUCH BIGGER, BUT JUST SHARP SPADE, PULL IT OUT, SHARP KNIFE AND DIVIDE THAT, SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND STILL HAVE SOME TO WORK WITH.

>> AND GIVEAWAY.

PUT BY THE CURB.

WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO GET RID OF IT, TO PASS IT ALONG.

>> THANKS, DENNIS.

WE'RE GOING TO COME FOR ABOUT A MINUTE OR LESS TO YOU.

WITH A QUESTION.

SO THIS IS KIND OF THE BLUE VALLEY LAKES OR SOMEWHERE UP THERE NEAR VALLEY, WHATEVER THOSE LAKES ARE CALLED.

I DON'T KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.

>> THERE'S A LOT OF LAKES.

>> THEY HAVE HOLES ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE BANK, NOT BEAVER DAM LIKE HOLES.

>> HALFWAY AT THE BANK.

HOW WHAT'S THE DIAMETER OF THE HOLES?

>> THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT WHAT IS THAT?

FOUR INCHES.

FIVE INCHES.

>> COULD BE MUSKRAT.

>> OKAY.

AND ARE THEY GOING TO CAUSE THE SAME ISSUES THAT A BEAVER DAM WOULD CAUSE, OR ARE WE?

>> WELL, BEAVER DAM HOLDS BACK.

THE WATER THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO DO IS MAYBE CAUSE EROSION ON THE BANKS THAT YOU DON'T SEE WITH BEAVER.

SO MUSKRAT, THEY DO HAVE HUTS, BUT THEY DO GO INTO THE BANKS AS WELL.

MUSKRATS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO JUST THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS.

AND THAT'S YEAH.

ENJOY IT.

ENJOY IT.

ALL RIGHT.

>> PEOPLE DO WORSE THINGS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR THIS WEEK'S BACKYARD FARMER.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED A QUESTION.

AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW HELPING US ON THE PHONES.

WE'RE MASTER GARDENERS GARY BELL, TIM DUNGAN AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE WILL SEE ANOTHER REMARKABLE HORTICULTURE LANDMARK HERE IN NEBRASKA.

BLUEBIRD NURSERY IN CLARKSTON HAS BUILT A NATIONWIDE REPUTATION FOR PLANT PRODUCTION FOR OVER 60 YEARS, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP IT GOING.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC)