>> BACKYARD FARMER IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'LL SEE WHAT PRODUCTS AT THE GARDEN CENTER HAVE REPLACED GLYPHOSATE AND WILL TOP DRESS A YARD WITH COMPOST.

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

(MUSIC) >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO BACKYARD FARMER.

I'M KIM TODD AND WE'RE BACK FOR ANOTHER HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US TONIGHT BY DIALING 1-800-676-5446.

THOSE PHONE VOLUNTEERS ARE STANDING BY TO TAKE YOUR CALL.

IF YOUR QUESTION CAN WAIT OR YOU'VE GOT SOME PICTURES YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE, SEND US AN EMAIL TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT THOSE QUESTIONS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, INSTAGRAM, AND X. PLEASE GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, OF COURSE, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

KNOWING YOUR LOCATION LETS US GIVE YOU A BETTER RECOMMENDATION.

SO LET'S START WITH SAMPLES.

WAYNE.

SUCH A COOL ONE.

WHAT IS IT?

>> SO I BROUGHT IN A COCOON OF A CECROPIA MOTH FROM OUR GROWING TOGETHER NEBRASKA GARDEN NEXT TO OUR BUILDING THERE IN NORFOLK AND THIS ONE IS BEEN LIVING IN MY HOUSE FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

WE WERE EAGERLY WAITING TO SEE WHAT COMES OUT OF IT, WHETHER WE GET THE FULL BLOWN MOTH OR IF WE GET A PARASITIC WASP OR FLY INSTEAD OUT OF THIS.

THIS WAS ON ONE OF THE APPLE TREES AND IT WAS TRIMMED OFF AS PART OF THE NORMAL PRUNING PROCESS.

SO IF YOU DO FIND ONE OF THESE AT HOME AND YOU ARE PRUNING OFF, JUST SET IT DOWN TO THE SIDE AT THE BASE OF THE TREE AND IT'LL BE FINE.

>> HOW FREQUENTLY DO YOU FIND NO MOTH AND SOME NAST THING IN THERE?

>> MORE OFTEN THAN I WOULD LIKE.

>> OH, THAT'S SO BAD, BECAUSE THOSE ARE SUCH GORGEOUS MOTHS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

WAYNE.

OKAY, JEFF, WHAT DO WE HAVE?

>> WELL, THIS IS JUST ONE OF THESE LITTLE REMINDERS OF FOLKS.

SO THERE ARE SO MANY PRODUCTS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

WHEN YOU GO OUT TO BUY SOME WEED KILLER, THEY ALL COME IN THESE READY TO USE SORT OF SPRAYERS AND THERE'S BIGGER ONES WITH KIND OF A LITTLE ELECTRIC SPRAYERS WITH THEM.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW, EVEN THOUGH THIS ONE HAS A VERY NATURAL SORT OF NAME TO IT, THAT THEY ARE ALL PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

SO EVEN THOUGH A PRODUCT MAY BE NATURAL AND MAY BE SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK, OH, OKAY, I FEEL PRETTY SAFE WITH IT.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN KIND OF WILLY NILLY SPRAY AROUND AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT.

IT WILL PROBABLY KILL WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU'RE SPRAYING.

SO THAT'S JUST A REMINDER.

IT MAY LOOK SAFE, BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU TAKE CARE AND READ THE LABEL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

READ IT MORE THAN ONCE >> RIGHT.

>> AND THEN MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SHOOTING AT.

ALL RIGHT.

AMY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TONIGHT?

>> I ACTUALLY BOUGHT BEAUTY THAT EVERYBODY ENJOYS.

SO THESE ARE SOME APPLE BLOSSOMS OUT OF THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

AND WHAT I'M REALLY WANTING TO REMIND YOU GUYS.

SO THIS IS ABOUT 50% PETAL DROP.

AND SO IF YOU'RE NEEDING TO SPRAY DUE TO CEDAR APPLE RUST, APPLE SCAB, FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE LINCOLN AND METRO AREA, YOU'RE GETTING TO THE END OF THAT WINDOW AND YOU NEED TO BE MAKING THAT APPLICATION HERE BY THE END OF THE WEEK OR BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE A LITTLE FURTHER NORTH, WE'RE GOING TO SHOOT FOR WHEN WE'RE AT JUST WHEN THAT BLOSSOM IS BUDDING AND ABOUT READY TO COME OUT.

AND THEN AS WE LOOK AT ANY OF THOSE FRUIT TREES, WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT FRUIT TREE SPRAY SCHEDULE.

I LIKE TO USE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA SCHEDULE.

THEY HAVE NICE PICTURES IN THEIR PUBLICATION ON WHAT PETAL DROP, WHAT PINK DROP IS AND THE TIMING AND WHAT INSECTS AND DISEASES YOU'RE TARGETING TO PROTECT THOSE FRUIT.

SO YOU'RE NOT SENDING US PICTURES IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER GOING, WHY DOES MY FRUIT LOOK GROSS?

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> FOLLOW THOSE SCHEDULES.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANKS, AMY.

OKAY.

DANA, WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT'S DEAD SQUID.

NO, I'M JUST KIDDING.

THESE ARE ASPARAGUS CROWNS.

SO THESE ARE BARE ROOT PLANTS AND THIS IS HOW WE CAN PLANT ASPARAGUS.

SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS THEY NEED A VERY SUNNY SPOT, WELL-DRAINED SOIL.

YOU DIG A TRENCH 12IN WIDE.

AND EN FOR MORE CLAY TYPE SOILS 6 TO 8IN DEEP OR FOR SANDIER SOILS 10 TO 12IN.

AND THEN WHAT I WANTED TO SHOW YOU IS THAT, YOU KNOW, OLDER RESEARCH SAID TO JUST, YOU KNOW, SPREAD THESE OUT AND THAT'S NOT THE BEST WAY TO DO IT.

AND ALSO YOU CAN JUST LAY THEM, I SAY HEAD TO TOE.

AND WHEN YOU KIND OF STRETCH THIS OUT, YOU KNOW, THEN YOU'LL GET GOOD, YOU KNOW, 12 INCH SPING BETWEEN THOSE.

SO THEN JUST COVER THEM UP WATER WELL, MANAGE THE WEEDS.

AND THEN AT THE END OF SEASON, JUST CLEAN UP YOUR FURNACE BECAUSE THAT'S A GOOD WAY FOR ASPARAGUS BEETLES TO OVERWINTER.

AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT.

>> EXCELLENT.

AND OURS IS IN OUR BACKYARD.

FARMER GARDEN IS ALREADY EDIBLE AND WONDERFUL, ESPECIALLY THE PURPLE ONES.

>> THIS IS THIS IS PURPLE PASSION.

>> YEAH.

PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO TO QUESTIONS.

SO LET'S SEE, WAYNE NO LOCATION ON THIS.

THIS IS A WHO IN THE WORLD EATS RHUBARB LEAVES?

WHO DID THIS.

>> THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON?

PROBABLY NOBODY.

THIS IS LIKELY ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE DUE TO FLUCTUATING TEMPERATURES WHERE THERE'S THE HOT OR THE COLD THAT GOT THAT SHOOT WHEN IT WAS TENDER AND CAUSED ALL THOSE UNDULATIONS IN THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE TOO GREEN AND CLEAN AND CRISP FOR IT TO BE INSECT DAMAGE WITHOUT YOU FINDING SOMETHING THERE.

>> AND YOU THINK IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A MARAUDING MOUSE OR SOMEBODY.

>> NO, NO, NO.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

NO LOCATION ON THIS ONE.

WAYNE, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS THESE LITTLE BUGS CAN RUIN PATIO TIME IN A HEARTBEAT.

THEY FLY AROUND, THEY LAND ON THEIR CLOTHES, AND THEY GET IN THEIR DRINK.

SO WHAT IS IT?

AND HOW DO WE GET RID OF IT?

>> IT'S A SAP BEETLE, AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT THEM OTHER THAN MAYBE A SCREENED IN PORCH WHERE YOU CAN EXCLUDE THEM OUT THERE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ATTRACTED TO THOSE SWEET SMELLING ANYTHING BECAUSE THAT'S ONE OF THEIR MAIN FOODS IS SAP AND SO THEY'RE ATTRACTED TO THAT.

AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OMAHA, ONE OF THE PLANTS THAT OVERWINTERED IN HER KITCHEN, HAD A LITTLE TINY BATCH OF GRASSHOPPERS IN THE KITCHEN.

SO, OKAY OR NOT.

>> THIS THIS IS TYPICAL FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE OUTDOOR PLANTS DURING SUMMER THAT BRING THEM IN LATE FALL WHEN THINGS START TO GET A LITTLE TOO CHILLY FOR THEM.

THOSE GRASSHOPPERS LAY EGGS IN THOSE POTS IN THAT FALL, LATE SUMMER TO EARLY FALL TIME FRAME.

AND SO THIS IS THEY COME OUT EARLIER WHEN THEY'RE INSIDE.

>> OKAY, THREE PICTURES JEFF, OMAHA.

THIS VIEWER IS SEEING PATCHES IN HIS BACKYARD.

LIGHTER SHADE IN THE SPRING, THEN TURNS DARKER.

WONDERS.

DOES IT NEED TO COME OUT OR IS THIS ONE OF THOSE CLASSIC NUTRITION THINGS EARLY IN THE SEASON?

>> WELL, IT'S KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

IT LOOKS LIKE ROUGH BLUESTEM OR BLUE BLUEGRASS, SORRY.

AND SO THEY CAN LEAVE IT, HE SAID.

IT DARKENS UP AS THE SEASON GOES ON.

OR THEY CAN USE A NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE.

I WOULD PROBABLY SELECT SOTHING LIKE SOMETHING OR USE GLYPHOSATE IN IT, JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN RESEED INTO IT PRETTY QUICKLY.

AND THEN THEY MAY WANT TO LOOK AT USING PRE-EMERGENT LIKE MESOTRIONE IF THEY'RE GOING TO RESEED THAT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS LINCOLN.

VERY SMALL PRICKLY TYPE SHRUB TAKING OVER THE YARD.

SHE'S TRIED GENERIC LAWN WEED CONTROL.

SHE SHOVELS IT.

THIS IS NOT A SHRUB.

>> IT'S NOT A SHRUB.

WELL, COULD BE.

>> IT'S RED CEDAR.

SO.

AND I KNOW FOLKS WITH PASTURES THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.

SO I WOULD USE A PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS TRICLOPYR IN IT.

SO TO TAKE CARE OF THE THE WOODY, THE WOODY PLANTS AND I WOULD APPLY IT SHORTLY AFTER MOWING AGAIN JUST SO THAT WE HAVE SOME CUT, CUT SURFACES ON THE, ON THE RED CEDAR AND MAKE SURE AGAIN, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE LABEL.

SO IF YOU HAVE TURFGRASS, YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL THAT, THAT THE PRODUCT DOESN'T KILL GRASS AS WELL.

SO.

>> ALL RIGHT, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE GOING ON WITH EASTERN RED CEDAR IN TOWN.

YEAH.

OKAY.

AMY.

EAST LINCOLN, THEY PLANTED A BLUE ARROW JUNIPER O YEARS AGO.

IT'S LOADED WITH RUST.

IS IT WORTH KEEPING?

THEY ALSO PLANTED THREE COLUMNAR APPLE TREES ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE YARD.

AND THEY WONDER, IS IT GOING TO CAUSE TROUBLE WITH OTHER PLANTS?

>> IT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS WITH YOUR APPLES BECAUSE OF THE CEDAR APPLE RUST.

BUT AS YOU LOOK AT THE GOALS ON HERE, THEY'RE NOT VERY BIG.

IF YOUR JUNIPER IS LOOKING FINE, I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT.

INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE APPLES YOU NEED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE IF YOU HAD VARIETIES THAT ARE RESISTANT TO CEDAR APPLE RUST.

IF NOT, GOING RIGHT BACK TO MY SAMPLE, GET BACK ON THAT FRUIT TREE SPRAY SCHEDULE AND PROTECT THOSE APPLES.

THERE'S ENOUGH SPORES COMING IN, NOT JUST FROM YOUR YARD, BUT FROM NEIGHBORS AND FROM OUTSIDE TOWN.

SO YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE EXPOSED TO CEDAR APPLE RUST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, AMY LINCOLN VIEWER HERE HAS THIS GROWTH ON A RIVER BIRCH ALONG THE TRUNK.

AND SHE WONDERS WHAT IS IT AND WHAT ARE HER NEXT STEPS IF IT IS DISEASED.

>> SO WE KIND OF DISCUSSED THIS A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE SHOW.

RIVER BIRCH TYPICALLY DON'T GET TOO MUCH FOR DISEASE ALONG THE TRUNK, SO THE CONSENSUS IS PROBABLY THE TREE IS DECLINING AND YOU'RE MOST LIKELY BETTER OFF JUST REMOVING THE TREE.

BECAUSE WHEN WE START SEEING ANYTHING ON BIRCH, IT'S USUALLY AN INDICATION OF INTERIOR ROT IN THE TREES.

IT'S NOT GOING TO SURVIVE.

SO TIME TO SELECT SOMETHING NEW.

>> AND IT WOULD BE NICE IF THEY WOULD SEND IN THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT.

YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO EMPATHIZE WITH TO OUR VIEWERS, SEND US THE CLOSE-UP, BUT SEND US WHERE IT IS.

THAT REALLY HELPS US.

ALL RIGHT.

GLENWOOD, IOWA ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS BOXWOOD 12 YEARS AGO.

THEY'RE STARTING TO LOOK A BIT THIN.

WHAT'S THE BEST APPROACH TO RESHAPE AND ENCOURAGE THICKER GROWTH?

>> I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THEY LOOK PRETTY GOOD GIVEN THE KIND OF NARROW SPACE THEY'RE IN AND THE DRIVEWAY AND THE WALL BEHIND IT.

BUT THAT CAN HAPPEN TO OLDER BOXWOODS.

IT WOULD BE SORT OF SELECTIVE PRUNING, IF YOU'D LIKE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO KIND OF REACH IN THERE, GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND KIND OF PRUNE THAT OUT.

YOU'RE GOING TO ONLY TAKE A THIRD AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST WANT TO DO THAT.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE THREE YEARS TO KIND OF GET THROUGH ALL OF IT, BUT YOU JUST WANT TO SHAPE IT UP AND YOU DON'T WANT TO DO JUST USE YOUR BEST JUDGMENT BECAUSE YOU CAN GO THROUGH AN UGLY HAIRCUT PHASE IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL.

BUT I ALSO JUST ONE FINAL THING IS THAT THEY LOOK A LITTLE CHLOROTIC.

AND I WOULD JUST WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE USING ON THE DRIVEWAY.

WHAT COULD BE FORCING THAT SOIL TO BE A LITTLE HIGHER PH.

SO A SOIL TEST MIGHT NOT BE A BAD IDEA.

>> GREAT.

THANKS DANA.

THIS IS A CAN YOU TELL ME IF THIS IS A WEED OR A FLOWER?

>> WHAT I CAN TELLOU IS THAT IT'S A FLOWERING PLANT.

IT'S ONE OF OUR NATIVES.

IT'S THIS IS LIKE COMMON EVENING PRIMROSE.

AND BECAUSE IT'S A NATIVE, I CAN'T TELL YOU IF IT'S A WEED.

YOU DECIDE THAT PART.

BUT IT'S A PROLIFIC SELF-SEEDER.

>> EXCELLENT.

IT'S ALSO PRETTY.

>> IT'S PRETTY YELLOW FLOWERS.

>> WELL, SINCE BECOMING THE GO-TO PRODUCT FOR WEED CONTROL IN HORTICULTURE, THE NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE GLYPHOSATE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCT NAME ROUNDUP.

RECENTLY, BAYER HAS DIVERSIFIED ITS PRODUCTS AND ELIMINATED GLYPHOSATE FROM MOST OF THEM.

THIS CAN GET CONFUSING, SO WE ASKED JEFF TO EDUCATE US AND GIVE US SOME ALTERNATIVES TO GLYPHOSATE.

(MUSIC) >> MANY TIMES ON THE SHOW, YOU'LL HEAR TERRI OR I OR ONE OF THE OTHER PANELISTS MENTION USING THE PRODUCT GLYPHOSATE TO TO KILL WEEDS.

SO IT'S A NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE, ONE OF THE PRODUCTS ROUNDUP HISTORICALLY HAS BEEN REALLY SYNONYMOUS WITH THE WITH THE CHEMICAL GLYPHOSATE.

SO MAYBE IN YEARS GONE PAST, PEOPLE WOULD HAVE SAID, GET SOME ROUNDUP AND SPRAY THAT WEED WITH ROUNDUP AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT USING GLYPHOSATE.

CURRENTLY ROUNDUP.

THAT BRAND ROUNDUP NOW IS REALLY MADE UP OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT CHEMICALS, SO IT CAN BE MANY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU PICK UP A BOTTLE THAT SAYS ROUNDUP ON IT, THAT YOU LOOK AT THE LABEL CLOSELY AND LOOK AT THE PLANTS OR PESTS THAT IT MAY CONTROL TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THE RIGHT PRODUCT.

BECAUSE NO LONGER IS GLYPHOSATE IN THE RECIPE FOR ROUNDUP PRODUCTS.

AND AGAIN, SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THAT LABEL, LOOK AT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS THAT THOSE MANY DIFFERENT CHEMICALS NOW WILL HAVE WHEN YOU'RE USING SOME OF THESE COMBINATION PRODUCTS.

THAT ROUNDUP NOW PRODUCES.

THERE ARE, HOWEVER, OTHER VERSIONS OF NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDES OUT THERE.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S WHEN YOU GO TO THE NURSERY AND LOOK AT YOUR PRODUCTS, THERE'S, THERE'S REALLY A LOT OF THINGS TO CHOOSE FROM.

THERE'S SOME THAT MAY BE ADVERTISING THAT IT'S MORE NATURAL PRODUCT, IT MAY CONTAIN CERTAIN SALTS OR OILS AND CERTAIN PRODUCTS LIKE THAT.

SO AGAIN, WHILE THEY MAY SOUND VERY FRIENDLY TO US AND THEY MAY BE AGAIN, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT E LABEL, LOOK AT SOME OF THE RESTRICTIONS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE APPLYING IT TO THE RIGHT PLANT AND THAT IT WORKS WELL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION.

SO AGAIN, THERE'S, THERE'S PRODUCTS OUT THERE THAT ARE EASY FOR US TO USE.

THEY COME IN READY TO USE FORMAT, WHICH IS VERY CONVENIENT.

AND THERE ARE JUST REALLY A LOT OF VARIETY OF PRODUCTS OUT THERE ON THE SHELF TODAY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT THE LABELS CAREFUY AND NOT JUST LOOK AT THE BRAND OF IT.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NEVER FORGET THAT.

LIKE TERRI LIKES TO PROMOTE THE USE OF A WEED KNIFE.

THAT'S REALLY YOUR SIMPLEST, SAFEST WAY TO GET RID OF WEEDS.

AND SOMETIMES IT MAY SEEM A LITTLE MUCH TO GO OUT AND DIG UP A BUNCH OF DANDELIONS.

BUT I CAN TELL YOU, ONCE YOU'VE SPENT 15 OR 20 MINUTES, YOU'D BE SURPRISED HOW MANY DANDELIONS YOU CAN DIG UP AND GET THEM OUT OF THERE, AND YOU WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM AGAIN.

>> DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK THOSE ESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF THOSE PESTICIDE PRODUCTS YOU ARE PURCHASING.

AND OF COURSE, AS JEFF REMINDED US, EVERYTHING YOU NEED TONOW THOSE PRECAUTIONS IS ON THAT LABEL.

MAKE SURE YOU ALSO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TREATING BEFORE YOU'RE APPLYING ANYTHING, SO YOU'RE NOT DOING A PESTICIDE ON SOMETHING THAT'S NOT A PEST.

ALL RIGHT.

QUESTIONS.

LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE A UNION, CASS COUNTY.

SO TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THESE WERE INSECTS CRAWLING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE DINING ROOM WINDOW.

HE THOUGHT THEY WERE YELLOW JACKETS.

AND HE THINKS THEY'RE PAINTED HICKORY BORER.

HE COUNTED 49 AT LEAST.

WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?

WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

AND WHAT SHOULD HE WORRY ABOUT?

>> WELL, THEY'RE ALL INTERESTED IN EACH OTHER.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO PUT IT.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THE HOME, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.

AND YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB OF GETTING THEM DOWN TO PAINTED HICKORY BORER.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE CALL APOSEMATIC COLORATION.

IT'S JUST THEY'RE TRYING TO IMITATE SOMETHING THAT IS DANGEROUS SO THAT THINGS LEAVE THEM ALONE LIKE BIRDS, AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE GETTING INTO THOSE DYING OR RECENTLY DEAD HARDWOODS IN TERMS OF THAT.

SO MAYBE CHECK THE YARD, MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE A RECENTLY OR A DYING OR RECENTLY DEAD HARDWOOD IN YOUR YARD, >> ALL RIGHT.

DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A HICKORY.

>> NO THEY GET INTO A WIDE VARIETY.

IT'S JUST PROBABLY THE FIRST TREE THEY WERE DESCRIBED FROM OR HICKORIES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

OMAHA VIEWER IS SAYING THAT NEBRASKA'S SPIDERS DO NOT BITE OR HARM HUMANS AS WE DO NOT HAVE BLACK WIDOW OR BROWN RECLUSE.

IS THIS VIEWER CORRECT?

AND SHE HAS SENT A PICTURE OF A WOLF SPIDER THAT SHE HAS NAMED BOB, AND HE LIVED IN A SINK AND THEN HE MOVED HIM INTO THE GARAGE.

SO SHE LIKES SPIDERS.

>> WELL, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH SPIDERS.

IN FACT, I'M THE ONE WHO SPENT THE HALF HOUR TALKING ABOUT SPIDERS AND IN THE DIGGING DEEPER, ON THIS SHOW.

SO NO, WE DO HAVE BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS AND BLACK WIDOWS.

BLACK WIDOWS CAN BE FOUND ACROSS THE STATE.

THE BROWN RECLUSES ARE MORE A SOUTHEASTERN PORTION OF THE.

OF THE STATE.

THEY COME UP TO ABOUT LINCOLN AS THE NORMAL OUTDOOR NATIVE RANGE.

YOU CAN GET THEM IN BUILDINGS AND I DID END UP IN A SITTION IN NORFOLK WHERE WE HAD SOME.

IN SOME BUILDINGS IN NORFOLK WHERE THEY CAN SURVIVE THE WINTERS MUCH MORE EASILY.

SO THEY ARE THERE.

AND YES, YOU DO NEED TO USE SOME CAUTION WHEN WORKING AROUND THOSE TWPARTICULAR TYPES OF SPIDERS.

>> ALL RIGHT, WAYNE, ONE PICTURE FROM LINCOLN, JEFF, IS THE REASON DANDELIONS ARE POPPING UP MORE THAN USUAL IN THE GRASS THIS EARLY DUE TO THE WARM, DRY WINTER.

AND HE'S ALSO SAYING IT'S EASY TO TELL WHAT AREA IS USED TO PRE-EMERGE AND WHICH ONES DIDN'T.

BUT HE'S CURIOUS ABOUT.

JUST SEEMS LIKE SO MANY.

>> SURE, RIGHT.

WELL, I THINK THE WEATHER CONDITIONS DID CONTRIBUTE TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE SEEING A BIT MORE IN THE WAY OF DANDELIONS.

IT WAS A WARMER, DRIER WINTER, SO THAT PROBABLY CONTRIBUTED TO PLANTS SURVIVING THROUGH THE WINTER MONTHS.

BUT I WOULD SAY THINGS LIKE LOW FERTILITY COMPACTION, SOME OF OUR MAINTENANCE PRACTICES PROBABLY CONTRIBUTE MORE TO THE FACT THAT YOU MAY BE SEEING THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF GET A LITTLE LAZY AND THINGS GO WELL AND WE HAVE SOME GOOD WINTERS AND WE DON'T SEE DANDELIONS UNTIL WE HAVE THAT.

AND THEN YOU'RE LIKE, OH, THAT'S RIGHT, WE SHOULD BE AERATING AND FERTILIZING MORE.

>> OKAY, OMAHA MIDTOWN VIEWER.

THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS CREEPING BUTTERCUP.

IT'S IN HER RASPBERRY BED, WELL, SEPARATED FROM THE LAWN.

SHE'S WONDERING, WILL IT WORK AS A GROUND COVER OR IS THIS A NOXIOUS WEED?

>> YES.

SO IN SOME WAYS, YES IT WILL PROLIFERATE AND SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE RASPBERRY BED AND AND PROBABLY COVER THINGS UP WOULD BE A GOOD GROUND COVER.

BUT IT IS A WEED.

IT IS A NOXIOUS WEED IN SOME AREAS, ESPECIALLY ON THE WEST COAST, IT'S A PROBLEM.

AND ONCE YOU LET IT GET TOO ESTABLISHED, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING RID OF IT, ESPECIALLY IN THE RASPBERRY BEDS.

SO I THINK I WOULD PHYSICALLY REMOVE IT, DIG IT OUT NOW BEFORE YOU HAVE TO USE SOME SORT OF PRODUCT IN AN AREA WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO GROW FOOD.

>> GOOD.

THANKS, LINCOLN.

THIS SHORT, FINE GRASS COMES UP IN SIDEWALK CRACKS BETWEEN THE PATIO BRICKS, GOES TO SEED EARLY.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW CAN THEY GET RID OF IT ONCE AND FOR ALL?

>> SO THAT'S AN ANNUAL BLUEGRASS.

AND SO AGAIN, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT ESPECIALLY IF IT'S JUST SPOTS, LET'S DIG IT UP AND THEN MAKE SURE WE'RE USING A PRE-EMERGE IN THOSE AREAS.

NOW, YOU KNOW, I WOULD BE DOING IT NOW AND THEN AGAIN IN AUGUST AND KIND OF GET ON THAT CYCLE AND YOU SHOULD GET IT CONTROLLED.

BUT THEY PRODUCE A WHOLE BUNCH OF SEEDS.

SO YOU WANT TO GET THAT EARLY.

>> AND PROBABLY WILL NEVER, EVER GO AWAY FOR REAL.

>> YEAH, YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

>> YES.

RIGHT.

>> ONE PICTURE.

AMY, THIS YEAH.

ONE PICTURE.

THIS IS WEST POINT, HOSTA TEN YEARS IN THE SAME LOCATION.

THIS YEAR, THE MAJORITY OF THE CENTER IS GONE.

CAN THIS BE PREVENTED?

IS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO DIG AND REPLANT?

AND IF SO, WHEN?

AND YOUR SECOND PICTURE IS NO LOCATION, BUT IT'S.

WHY IS THIS HOSTA GRADUALLY MIGRATED INTO A CIRCULAR SHAPE?

>> SO I'LL START WITH THIS PICTURE HERE FIRST.

THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME CAUSE AND I'LL GET THERE IN A SECOND.

WITH THIS PICTURE, YOU HAVE ALL THAT LANDSCAPE FABRIC AROUND THAT HOSTA AND ALL THAT ROCK.

THAT HOSTA IS BEING VERY COMPACTED IN THERE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY ROOM TO GROW.

I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND PULLING SOME OF THAT BACK, ALLOWING THAT HOSTA SOME SOME BREATHING ROOM.

IT DOESN'T LIKE TO BE ULTRA CROWDED.

NOW FOR BOTH OF THESE, THEY'RE GOING TO SURVIVE.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LITTLE BIT OF BACK WORK.

THEY NEED TO BE DIVIDED.

ONCE HOSTAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR 5 TO 6 YEARS, THAT CENTER, IT JUST GETS TOO TIGHT.

THERE'S TOO MANY FAMILY MEMBERS THERE AND IT NO LONGER IS ABLE TO GROW.

AND SO IT GOES.

I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF BREAK FROM THE FAMILY.

AND SO WITH A VERY SHARP SHOVEL, MAKE SURE IT'S SHARP, DIG IT UP AND THEN YOU SPLIT THEM UP.

YOU CAN SPLIT THEM INTO TYPICALLY I DO QUARTERS OR UP TO SIX PIECES DEPENDING ON IT, AND THEN YOU'RE ABLE TO REPLANT THEM.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU GO FROM ONE HOSTA TO SIX AND YOU HAVE LOTS OF WONDERFUL NEW SPACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, PLATTSMOUTH IS YOUR NEXT ONE.

THESE STARTED APPEARING IN THE YARD LAST SUMMER.

THEY HAVE 7 TO 8 OF THEM SCATTERED AROUND THEIR YARD.

SHE'S JUST KIND OF CURIOUS.

>> IT'S SOME TYPE OF MUSHROOM.

I WASN'T I WASN'T ABLE TO REALLY IDENTIFY IT.

MOST LIKELY IT'S AN INDICATION THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE TREE ROOTS OR SOME OTHER MAJOR ORGANIC MATTER UNDERNEATH THAT SOIL.

THAT'S AND IT'S BREAKING IT DOWN AND PUTTING IT INTO CARBON AND NITROGEN, WHICH IS BENEFICIAL FOR THE GRASS AND THE OTHER PLANT MATERIAL.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, JUST TAKE A SHOVEL AND KIND OF SCOOP IT OFF.

OR SOMETIMETHE MOWER WILL GET RID OF IT TOO.

>> THANKS.

ONE PICTURE.

DANA.

THIS IS WASHINGTON COUNTY, ABOUT FIVE MILES WEST OF FORT CALHOUN.

HE DID RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A COVER CROP USED ANNUAL RYE IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

IT DID A GREAT JOB, BUT IT DIDN'T DIE.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER SHE WANTED TO LEAVE THE DEAD GRASS, BUT NOW SHE'S TRYING TO TILL AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE SO SHE DOESN'T BRING UP THE WEED SEEDS.

>> YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, I APPLAUD YOU FOR USING A COVER CROP.

YOU WERE DOING A GOOD JOB FOR BUILDING YOUR SOIL HEALTH.

THE CHALLENGE WITH THOSE RYE GRASSES IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK IN THE SPRING.

AND A LOT OF TIMES IT'S USUALLY A CEREAL RYE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THE POINT BEING IN THE HOME GARDEN, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE EQUIPMENT LIKE A CRIMPER UNLESS YOU DO HAVE AN A CRIMPER, BUT YOU CAN JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, WEED, WHACK IT DOWN, COVER IT UP, AND IT PROBABLY TAKE A MONTH, BUT SMOTHER IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM YORK.

IN THE PAST, NEW ASPARAGUS ROOTS HAVE BEEN PLANTED AMONG THE EXISTING ONES WITH VARIED SUCCESS.

SO IS IT POSSIBLE TO PUT THE NEW INTO THE OLD HERE?

>> I THINK YOU'VE IDENTIFIED THAT IT'S A VARIED SUCCESS.

IF YOU DO THAT, I WOULD SAY VE 3 TO 4FT TO EITHER SIDE AND THEN JUST START WITH A NEW TRENCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A MALCOLM AREA, NORTHWEST LANCASTER COUNTY HAS A SIX FOOT SPRUCE WITH A DOUBLE TOP.

SHE DOES KNOW SHE NEEDS TO CHOOSE A LEADER AND THEN PRUNE.

THE OTHER IS CAN SHE DO IT NOW OR IS THERE A BETTER TIME TO DO THIS?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO DO THAT BEFORE YOU GET A LOT OF NEW GROWTH IN THE SPRING.

AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, JUST PICK THE BEST ONE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE'S DOWN THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT ALSO MAYBE REMOVE THOSE STAKES AND WIRES TO THE TREES.

TREES READY FOR IT.

>> PROBABLY ABOUT TIME.

THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THIS TIME OF YEAR IS FULL OF EXCITEMENT AND POTENTIAL OUT IN OUR GARDEN.

WE'VE BEEN BUSY IN THE GREENHOUSE AND OUTSIDE GETTING PREPARED FOR THE GROWING SEASON.

HERE'S TERRI IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN TO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE CHORES GETTING DONE BEFORE WE PLANT.

(MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE'RE DOING ALL THAT FINE TUNE UP CLEANING.

WE'RE CUTTING BACK THOSE SUFFERING SHRUBS.

THOSE ARE THOSE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF THAT IN-BETWEEN, LIKE REALLY WOODY SHRUBS AND KIND OF HEACEOUS SHRUBS.

SO WE'RE CUTTING ALL THOSE BACK, CUTTING BACK ALL THOSE PERENNIALS THAT WE LEFT STANDING UP FOR ALL THE INSECTS TO KIND OF WINTER OVER IN.

WE'RE ENJOYING A LOT OF COLOR IN OUR GARDEN WITH THE HANDFUL OF TULIPS THAT WE STILL HAVE BLOOMING IN OUR GARDEN.

WE ARE WATCHING ALL THOSE TINY LITTLE COOL SEASON SEEDS COMING UP IN OUR RAISED BEDS.

SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE JUST OUT REALLY ENJOYING THE WEHER.

MAYBE A LITTLE BIT EARLY, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GO AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT NONE OF THAT COLD COMES BACK AND SNAPS ANYTHING BACK.

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

(MUSIC) >> YOU KNOW, IT'S GREAT TO SEE WHAT HAS ALREADY GOTTEN PLANTED AND CLEANED UP.

AND NOW, OF COURSE, IT'S TIME TO TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK.

EACH WEEK WE PICK SOMETHING FROM THOSE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES AND WE FEATURE IT ON THE SHOW.

TONIGHT'S SUBMISSION IS REALLY MORE OF AN SERVATION FROM TREY LAMKINS.

AND THIS IS IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

HE SENT US GREAT IMAGES OF A QUEEN BUMBLEBEE RIGHT HERE ON EAST CAMPUS.

AND THE FUN THING ABOUT THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS POST, TREY WAS OUT WITH STUDENTS WANDERING ABOUT HELPING OUT A LITTLE BIT.

HERE ARE BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL AZALEAS.

AND THESE GREAT NATIVE BUMBLEBEES ARE ON THOSE AZALEAS.

SO IT'S A WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR FOR SOME OF THOSE EARLY OR EARLIER POLLINATORS TO BE VISITING ALL THOSE GREAT PLANTS.

AND IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE, WHAT TREY IS REALLY TRYING TO POINT OUT IS IF YOU GIVE THOSE POLLINATORS A LOT OF VARIED FOOD SOURCES HERE, YOU'RE GOING TO ATTRACT A LOT MORE OF THEM INTO YOUR OWN LANDSCAPE.

SO IT'S RLLY KIND OF A PRETTY NEAT THING IN THIS INSTANCE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR GARDEN.

WE WANT TO SEE IT.

SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GROWING, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING EXCITING, UNUSUAL OR EVEN A TOTAL GARDEN DISASTER, DO BE SURE TO INCLUDE WHERE YOU'RE LOCATED.

POST THAT TO OUR BACKYARD FARMER, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, OR X. YOUR POST MIGHT BE THE ONE THAT IS FEATURED ON A FUTURE SHOW.

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

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

(MUSIC) >> WELCOME BACK TO BACKYARD FARMER.

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU HOW TO TOP DRESS YOUR TURF WITH SOME COMPOST.

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

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

OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW, TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

STARTING THERE DANA.

>> I KNOW.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMIND ME.

NO LOCATION THIS CLEMATIS.

HER QUESTION IS, WILL IT SURVIVE BEING DUG UP NOW AND HELD OR RELOCATED BECAUSE SHE HAS TO BUILD A FENCE?

>> IF YOU'VE GOT TO BUILD A FENCE, YOU GOT TO BUILD A FENCE.

>> SO YES.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, SHOULD SHE PUT A CLOTH LINER IN THE BOTTOOF HER RAIS BED?

SHE WANTS TO DO RAISED BEDS.

>> NO, THAT'S NOT NECESSARY.

THE ONLY TIME WOULD BE IF YOU YOU WERE PRETTY CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE LEAD OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, SAME VIEWER STRAW IN THE BOTTOM ON.

>> YEAH.

YOU CAN DO KIND OF PSEUDO HUGELKULTUR AND PUT SOMETHING DEPENDING ON HOW TALL YOUR BED IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHAT IS A MOTHER'S DAY PLANT TO PUT IN THE GARDEN?

SHE DOESN'T WANT AN ANNUAL.

>> THAT'S TOO MANY CHOICES.

>> OKAY.

GOTHENBURG.

IS IT OKAY TO PLANT TOMATO PLANTS NOW?

IF THEY'RE COVERED FOR WHATEVER MOTHER NATURE IS THROWING AT US.

>> YOU KNOW, ONLY PLANT WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD TO LOSE.

>> GREAT IDEA.

OMAHA.

IS THIS A GOOD OR BAD YEAR FOR ACORNS?

HELICOPTERS?

>> AGAIN, IT DEPENDS.

SOME OF OUR TREES, YOU KNOW, PUT OUT FLOWERS SO EARLY.

AND SO I SEE TREES THAT WILL NOT HAVE HELICOPTERS.

IT'S GOING TO BE HIT OR MISS.

>> GREAT.

AMY.

>> OKAY.

RTHEAST BELLEVUE LILAC FUNGUS LAST YEAR THAT TURNED EVERYTHING BLACK.

IS THERE A PREVENTATIVE TREATMENT OTHER THAN SIMPLY CLEAN UP?

>> YOU COULD, BUT IT'S ALL GOING TO BE CONTACT AND YOU COULD BE GETTING RAIN.

AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS IT GOES AWAY.

SO NOT WORTH THE EFFORT.

>> SAME VIEWER.

IS THERE A FUNGAL TREATMENT WHEN IT FIRST APPEARS?

>> YES.

YOU COULD DO A COPPER TYPE BASED PRODUCT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NELIGH VIEWER SHE COMES UP.

THE MORELS IN PARTICULAR.

>> MORELS ARE NOT UP IN THE NELIGH AREA YET.

IT'S STILL A LITTLE CHILLY.

GIVE ANOTHER WEEK AND THEN YOU SHOULD BE STARTING TO FIND THEM.

>> PENDER.

IF ONE PEACH TREE FLOWERED AND THE OTHER ONE DIDN'T.

IS THAT AN INDICATION OF DISEASE?

>> NO.

PROBABLY FROST.

>> WILCOX, PEONY PLANTS ARE TURNING RED.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

>> MINE ARE ALWAYS RED.

IT'S THE VARIETY OR WEATHER RELATED.

>> YEAH.

>> A RIGHT.

PENSTEMON WITH LEAF SPOTS.

WILL THE SEEDLINGS ALSO GET IT IF THEY'RE DUG UP AND MOVED AWAY?

>> NO, NO.

IF YOU MOVE THEM, YOU'LL BE FINE.

>> NICE.

>> DANG.

>> OKAY, LET'S DO THIS.

>> OMAHA AREA.

WHEN IS IT TIME TO SEED THAT GRASS?

>> I THINK WE'RE ANYTIME NOW.

YES.

WE'RE GOOD.

SO TIPS ARE GOOD.

>> NO LOCATION HERE, BUT SANDBURG CONTROL.

IS THERE A PRE-EMERGE THAT WILL WORK?

AND WHEN SHOULD IT GO DOWN?

>> THERE ARE SOME.

YES THERE ARE.

AND AGAIN I WOULD DO THAT NOW.

>> NO LOCATION.

ALSO SAME VIEWER CONTROL AFTER SANDBARS ARE UP AND GROWING.

>> I THINK THAT THERE'S YOU KNOW, YOU COULD USE GLYPHOSATE, YOU COULD USE SOME SORT OF NONSELECTIVE.

I THINK I WOULD DO THAT.

>> NO LOCATION.

IS IT NECESSARY TO POWER RAKE EVERY SINGLE YEAR?

>> I'D NEVER POWER RAKE ONLY AERATE.

>> BLAIR HAS BUFFALO GRASS LOW ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS HIGH POTASSIUM NEUTRAL PH.

SHOULD HE FERTILIZE HIS BUFFALO GRASS?

>> YEAH, YOU SHOULD FERTILIZE YOUR BUFFALO GRASS.

BUT WAIT TILL JUNE LATE JUNE.

>> OMAHA WILL THE SOIL BE ACIDIC, WHERE A SPRUCE WAS REMOVED?

>> MIGHT BE TEMPORARILY, BUT LIKE THE FAMOUS RAGUSA WOULD ALWAYS SAY, IT'S AN OCEAN OF HIGH PH.

THAT THAT LITTLE PLACE ISN'T GOING TO STAY ACIDIC FOR VERY LONG.

SO.

>> OKAY, OCEAN.

ALL RIGHT, WAYNE.

>> LET'S GO.

>> SYRACUSE HAS SHE HAS ASIAN LADY BEETLES ALL OVER HER HOAS.

>> THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT THE HOSTAS.

THEY'LL BE FINE.

>> HENDERSON.

WILL A TREE BORER SPRAY WORK FOR IRIS BORERS?

>> NO.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE USING THE APPROPRIATE PRODUCT THAT IS LABELED FOR WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO APPLY IT.

>> SAME VIEWER.

TOO LATE TO SPRAY OR TREAT FOR POTENTIAL IRIS BORERS.

>> NO.

>> LINCOLN HAS THE SPRAY WINDOW CLOSED FOR WORMS IN GREEN APPLES?

>> WELL, IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU'RE AT.

>> LINCOLN.

>> LINCOLN?

NO, ACTUALLY, FOR INSECT PESTS IN YOUR APPLES, YOU DON'T WANT TO START FOR THAT.

FRUIT IS SET AND ALL THE PETALS HAVE DROPPED.

>> ALL RIGHT, QUESTION ABOUT.

EXCUSE ME.

ASPARAGUS BEETLE CONTROL.

WILL SOAPY WATER WORK?

>> ONLY IF YOU KNOCK THEM INTO IT?

>> AND SECOND QUESTION FROM SAME PERSON.

HOW ABOUT CHEMICAL CONTROL?

>> CHEMICAL CONTROL.

I DON'T USUALLY RECOMMEND A LOT OF CHEMICAL CONTROL BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY NOT ENOUGH OF THEM.

THE CULTURAL CONTROL THAT DANA MENTIONED EARLIER IS MORE APPROPRIATE OR THE BUCKET OF SOAPY WATER.

>> NICE.

GOOD JOB.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WON.

SOMEBODY.

>> THERE ARE THREE OF US.

>> YOU GUYS TIED.

>> WELL, THEN GIVE IT TO GIVE IT TO DANA.

>> I DIDN'T WIN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, LAST WEEK, ELIZABETH SHOWED US TWO FLOWERING SHRUB SELECTIONS.

TONIGHT TERRI FOLLOWS THAT UP WITH ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL SHRUB.

HERE'S TERRI WITH THIS WEEK'S PLANT OF THE WEEK.

(MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK.

OUR PLANT OF THE WEEK IS ONE THAT IS IN OUR BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

IT IS IN FULL SPLENDOR RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS PEARL BUSH.

THIS IS A FANTASTIC SHRUB IN THE ROSE FAMILY.

AS YOU CAN SEE IT IS OUTSTANDING IN ITS FULL BRILLIANT WHITE FLOWERING RIGHT NOW.

WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE THIS.

THIS SHRUB GETS TO BE ABOUT 5 TO 6FT TALL AND WIDE.

SO NOT TOO BIG THAT YOU CAN KIND OF USE STILL A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE HOUSE IF YOU'D REALLY LIKE, BUT IT IS TOUGH AS NAILS DOES GREAT PRETTY MUCH IN A FULL SUN TO PART SUN ENVIRONMENT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE TO REMEMBER IS THAT THIS ONE BLOOMS ON OLD WOOD.

SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS PLANT AND YOU NEED TO KIND OF TRIM IT BACK A LITTLE BIT, YOU NEED TO DO THAT AS SOON AS THE FLOWERING IS DONE TO GET THOSE BUDS SET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THEY BLOOM ON OLD WOOD.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT IS REALLY GREAT ABOUT THIS PLANT IS THE SEED HEADS.

THEY ARE THESE KIND OF REALLY COOL, TINY CAPSULES.

THEY'RE GOING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF KIND OF WINTER INTEREST FOR YOU ALSO.

BUT THIS IS A GREAT ONE.

I REALLY THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO ADD INTO YOUR LANDSCAPE.

SO WHY DON'T YOU TRY PEARL BUSH IN YOUR LANDSCAPE THIS YEAR?

AND WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT OVER TO YOU NOW, GANNON, FOR THE WEATHER.

>> HEY EVERYBODY.

IT'S ALMOST THE WEEKEND.

WE'VE GOT A LOT TO COVER TONIGHT, SO LET'S DIVE RIGHT ON IN.

WE'RE GOING TO START OFF ON A COLDER NOTE WITH HIGHS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY IN THE 50S AND MAYBE EVEN INTO THE 40S IN SOME PLACES.

THE THING TO KNOW IS THAT A LOT OF PLACES ARE GOING TO BE BELOW FREEZING BOTH NIGHTS, SO BE SURE TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS AFTER THIS.

IT SHOULD BE NEAR NORMAL, WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND INTO THE LOW 80S.

ON THE PRECIPITATION FRONT, THINGS ARE PRETTY QUIET.

THERE'S A CHANCE OF A WINTRY MIX, MAYBE SOME SNOW OUT IN THE PANHANDLE TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW.

BUT OUTSIDE OF THIS, THERE'S NO REAL WIDESPREAD CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION UNTIL MID TO LATE NEXT WEEK.

I'VE KIND OF ALLUDED TO IT THESE PAST FEW WEEKS, BUT THE DROUGHT SITUATION IS LESS THAN IDEAL.

OVER 80% OF THE STATE IS IN SEVERE DROUGHT OR HIGHER, AND MANY PLACES ARE BELOW 50% OF THEIR NORMAL PRECIPITATION SO FAR THIS YEAR.

IF WE DON'T GET MOISTURE HERE IN THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP FOR A PRETTY BAD SUMMER.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEK OF WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> WELL, THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS, BUT WE DO HAVE GREAT ANNOUNCEMENTS.

THREE OF THEM.

WE HAVE THE UNL HORTICULTURE CLUB SPRING BEDDING PLANT SALE THURSDAY, APRIL 30TH.

FRIDAY, MAY 1ST, 9 TO 4 EAST CAMPUS TEACHING GREENHOUSES WEST.

THAT'S A GREAT ONE.

OUR SECOND FUN THING IS THE NORTHEAST EXTENSION MASTER GARDENERS PLANT FAIR AND VENDOR MARKET.

FRIDAY THE 24TH OF APRIL 5 TO 8.

SATURDAY, APRIL 25TH 9 TO 3.

NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN NORFOLK AT THE CHUCK PULLMAN AG COMPLEX.

AND OUR THIRD ONE IS PLANT.

NEBRASKA'S SPRING AFFAIR.

APRIL 23RD TO 25TH SANDHILLS GLOBAL EVENT CENTER IN LINCOLN.

PLANTNEBRASKA.ORG FOR MORE GARDENING WORLD.

THINGS HAPPENING NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

THAYER COUNTY TO PICTURES, WAYNE.

THEY RECENTLY MOWED THEIR LAWN FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS SEASON.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, SWARMS OF THIS FLYING INSECT APPEARED ALL OVER THE LAWN.

ANY IDEA?

ARE THEY BITERS OR ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THERE ARE SOME KIND OF MIDGAND THEIR EARLY SEASON.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE FIRST FLYING THINGS OUT, SO I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THESE AT ALL.

THEY DO LIKE TO DO.

IF YOU GO STAND OUT IN THE YARD, THEY LIKE TO DO WHAT WE CALL HILL TOPPING, WHERE THEY'LL FLY UP ABOVE YOUR HEAD BECAUSE YOU'RE THE TALLEST POINT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YARD.

>> OH MY GOODNESS, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.

WELL, MAYBE THEY'LL DIE IN THE FROST OR THE FREEZE.

ALL RIGHT, LINCOLN, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE IDENTIFY THESE TWO MOTHS SLASH BUTTERFLIES?

THEY'RE HANGING OUT WHERE THE SIDING STOPS ON THE HOUSE.

>> THESE ARE TWO OF OUR GIANSILKWORM MOTH SPECIES.

THIS IS MOST LIKELY A POLYPHEMUS PAIR.

I KNOW WE HAD EARLIER IN THE THE SEASON.

WE HAD SOME EMERGED COCOONS ON THE SHOW FOR PICTURES.

AND SO IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT WE'RE SEEING THE ADULTS OUT.

SO UNLIKE MY CECROPIA MOTH, THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

>> A LITTLE EARLIER.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

WE HAVE ON THIS ONE FOR YOU ONE PICTURE FROM EMERSON SEEKING ADVICE.

JEFF, A WHITE ROCK DRIVEWAY.

IT'S A NEVER-ENDING JOB TO KILL.

HE'S BEEN USING THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO DO THE JOB.

HE WANTS TO KNOW, IS HE NOT SPRAYING OR MIXING IT STRONG ENOUGH?

HE WANTS ADVICE TO NOT HAVE TO MOW HIS ROCKS.

>> SURE.

RIGHT.

WELL, BASED ON THE DESCRIPTION THAT HE GAVE YOU, HE'S NOT MIXING IT STRONG ENOUGH.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THESE WE'VE BEEN I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ALL EVENING.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO READ THE LABEL.

AND SOME OF THESE LABELS, LIKE YOU SAID EARLIER, CAN BE KIND OF CONFUSING.

AND SO YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH IT PRETTY CAREFULLY, BUT IT'S REALLY PROBABLY DOUBLE THE RATE THAT YOU'RE USING RIGHT NOW.

>> AND IT IS A STERILANT AND IS.

>> THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S A STERILANT.

SO YOU AGAIN, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THIS DOWN ANYWHERE WHERE YOU MAY BE NEAR AG LAND OR YOUR LAWN OR GARDEN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, ANYTHING THAT YOU WANT THINGS TO GROW, YOU DON'T WANT IT ANYWHERE NEAR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE FROM ELKHORN.

DOES THE CHEMICAL IN WEED AND FEED AFFECT MAPLE TREE ROOTS?

I THINK WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE ABOVE GROUND LEVEL.

SO BIG, BEAUTIFUL MAPLE.

AND THEN HE'S GOT ALL SORTS OF.

HE'S WONDERING ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

WELL ANY HERBICIDE.

SO THERE'S TYPICALLY A 2,4-D OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND WEED AND FEED.

SO ANY HERBICIDE IS GOING TO AFFECT THE EXPOSED ROOTS OF ANY PLANT.

SO AGAIN, READ THE LABEL, BUT I WOULD NOT BE APPLYING ANY HERBICIDE TO THE ROOT ZONES OF ANY PLANTS.

>> ESPECIALLY A BEAUTIFUL MAPLE.

>> LIKE ESPECIALLY A NICE MAPLE.

YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY, ONE PICTURE FROM KEARNEY, 25 FOOT TALL BLUE SPRUCE THAT HAS A DEAD TOP.

SHOULD THIS BE CUT OUT OR LEAVE IT AND DOESN'T THINK THERE'S A SECOND TOP.

IS THIS.

>> SO SORRY TO TELL YOU.

YOU HAVE CYTOSPORA CANKER, WHICH IS VERY COMMON.

YOU CAN REMOVE IT FOR AESTHETIC PURPOSES IF IT'S EASY FOR YOU TO ACCESS IT.

THE TOP IS DEAD.

IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE A DIFFERENCE.

LIKE I SAID, IF IT'S EASY, IF IT'S A DIFFICULT PROCEDURE, LEAVE IT BE.

NO REASON FOR ANYBODY TO GET HUR THE REST OF THE TREE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

THE CANKER COULD MOVE DOWN, BUT HOW LONG THAT WILL TAKE, I DON'T KNOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTUR HERE AND IT'S FOUND WHAT THEY THOUGHT WERE CHICKEN EGGS BURIED IN THE GARDEN.

FIRST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

FOUND ONE IN A RAISED BED AND THEN NEAR THE ASPARAGUS.

WHO DID THIS?

>> DID YOU FORGET YOU HID THE EASTER EGGS THERE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

AND THEY'RE STARTING TO BREAK DOWN.

NO, NO, THEY'RE NOT EASTER EGGS.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY STINKHORN EGGS.

AND SO THEN WE'RE GOING TO GET THAT WONDERFUL STINKHORN POPPING UP HERE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS WITH THE WARMER TEMPERATURES.

>> IT'S A GOOD YEAR FOR IT.

WE HAD THEM LAST WEEK AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES FROM SUTTON.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF THESE MUSHROOMS?

THEY'RE FROM AN OLD GROUND DOWN STUMP AND THEY'RE APPARENTLY SPREADING THROUGH THE YARD.

>> SO THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO FOR THIS.

THESE ARE LITTLE BROWN MUSHROOMS.

AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE BREAKING DOWN ALL THAT ROOT MATERIAL FROM THAT TREE THAT YOU REMOVED.

ONCE ALL THAT DEAD ORGANIC MATERIAL IS GONE, THE MUSHROOMS WILL DISAPPEAR.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, JUST MOW THEM OFF AND YOU'LL WAIT FOR OUR NEXT FLUSH AND YOU KEEP MOWING.

>> ALL RIGHT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, DANA, THREE PICTURES, A COUPLE APPLE E TALKED ABOUT.

BUT THIS ONE HE HAS IS ABOUT PRUNING.

SO WE HAVE, I THINK, A COUPLE PICTURES OF UNPRUNED.

AND THEN WE HAD A GREAT PICTURE OF WHERE TWO.

>> YES.

SO THIS IS THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WITH THIS TREE.

THERE'S NO CENTRAL LEADER.

THERE'S A LOT OF STUBS.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A MULTI YEAR PROCESS.

SO START BY ONLY TAKING OUT A THIRD.

AND YOU WANT TO FOCUS ON CLEANING UP SOME OF THOSE STUBS.

YOU KNOW NOT MAKING FUTURE STUBS AND WORKING TOWARDS, YOU KNOW, OVERALL KIND OF SOME REJUVENATION.

BUT LUCKILY FOR THIS VIEWER, THE TEAM SENT IT TO VAUGHN HAMMOND, AN APPLE AND TREE PRUNING EXPERT WHO DID MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE THIRD PHOTO OF WHERE THIS VIEWER CAN START.

SO THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE, THOUGH, FOR ME IS HE'S DOWN SOUTH IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT TIMING.

SO IF YOU'VE STARTED TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE LEAVES AND BUD BREAK, IT'S PROBABLY WE WANT TO GET STARTED ON THIS NEXT LATE WINTER.

>> RIGHT, LATE WINTER.

AND AGAIN, AS YOU SUGGEST.

AND AS VAUGHN SUGGESTED, YOU DON'T JUST GO IN THERE AND START CHOPPING AWAY ON THIS THING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT GOING TO WORK.

>> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, DANA.

ONE PICTURE, THIS IS BEATRICE PLANTED TWO.

OH, THERE'S THE PRUNING.

CUT ONE.

THERE IT IS.

ISN'T THAT GREAT?

>> YEAH.

SO LUCKY.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN.

>> YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE WHERE THE SLASH MARKS ARE TO BE ABLE TO DO THE PRUNING.

SO WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT ONE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYBODY ELSE WHO HAS AN OLD APPLE TREE, INCLUDING US IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW WE HAVE ONE PICTURE HERE.

THIS IS BEATRICE, TWO SHADBLOW SERVICEBERRIES IN FALL OF 2022.

THOUGHT THEY WOULD GROW AS A TREE, BUT THEY'VE SHRUGGED AND PUT COMPOST AND WATER.

DID THEY REALLY GET ONE THAT WAS A SINGLE STEM OR DID THEY GET THE SHRUB FORM?

>> THEY GOT THE SHRUB FORM, AND THIS IS NOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR NUTRIENTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THATTH IS, IT'S A SHRUB, >> RIGHT.

AND A BEAUTIFUL ONE AT THAT.

>> YES, YES.

>> YEAH.

WE VE THESE IN THE BACKYARD FARMER OR NO, IN THE ARBORETUM, JEFF.

>> OH.

>> THE BIG REGION OF SERVICEBERRY.

>> RIGHT?

YES, SURE.

>> SHRUB FORM.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY ALMOST PRETTIER THAN THE TRUNK FORM.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, GOOD GARDENERS KNOW THAT GOOD PLANTS NEED GOOD SOIL.

IF YOUR TURFGRASS HAS BEEN LOOKING A LITTLE WEAK, A GREAT THING TO TRY IS TOP DRESSING WITH COMPOST.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO CHECK OUT THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROCEDURE.

(MUSIC) THERE ARE SOME GOOD REASONS TO COMPOST AND THAT IS TO TOP DRESS WITH COMPOST.

IT IS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH.

GET THOSE SOIL MICROBES WORKING ON ALL THE GOOD STUFF IN YOUR LAWN.

NOW THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPOSTING IN A GARDEN OR A LANDSCAPE BED AND THE TURF, BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE ACTUALLY TOP DRESSING AND HALF AN INCH TO ABOUT AN INCH.

NO MORE THAN THAT.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT COMPOST ACTUALLY GETS DOWN AND HAS CONTACT WITH THE SOIL.

SO WE'RE NOT BURYING THE TURF WITH THIS COMPOST.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN SPREAD IT.

ONE OF THEM IS TO GET ACTUALLY COMPOST ROLLER.

IT'S KIND OF A BIN LOOKING THING.

YOU CAN RENT THOSE.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUY ONE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVELY IF YOU HAVE A LARGE AREA, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMPOST IS REALLY FINE.

OR YOU CAN USE ONE OF MY FAVORITE GARDENING TOOLS, WHICH IS A GRADING RAKE.

YOU JUST DUMP THE COMPOST OUT, YOU SPREAD IT, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU GET ITS EVEN AN AMOUNT OF COVERAGE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

YOU DRAG THAT RAKE DOWN SIDE AS OPPOSED TO WITH THE TINE AND THAT WILL GET THAT COMPOST DOWN WHERE IT BELONGS.

LET IT DO IT'S WONDERFUL THING TO HELP MAKE YOUR TURF AND YOUR SOIL, OF COURSE, LOOK A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

YOU CAN AERATE FIRST.

THE COMPOST WILL GO INTO THE HOLES YOU CAN SEED AND THEN COMPOST.

YOU CAN COMPOST AND THEN SEED.

THE RULES ARE JUST THE SAME HALF AN INCH TO AN INCH, SPREAD IT SMOOTHLY AND ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR.

APPLYING A THIN LAYER OF COMPOST TO YOUR SOIL CAN REALLY HELP WITH THE STRUCTURE THAT ORGANIC CONTACT AND OF COURSE, ESTABLISHING THE SEED.

LE I SAID, YOU CAN AERATE FIRST, BUT SPREADING IT LIKE WE SHOWED YOU WORKS JUST FINE, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S HARD TO GET SOMEBODY TO COME AERATE FOR YOU, WHICH SOMETIMES IT IS.

AND WE DID HAVE SOMEBODY ASK US TODAY ABOUT OUR COMPOST IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

WE MAKE OUR OWN.

DON'T MAKE NEARLY ENOUGH TO USE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE A LAWN AND YOU WANT TO COMPOST THE WHOLE THING, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PURCHASING SOME COMPOST, WHICH IS STILL A GREAT IDEA.

ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES FROM KEARNEY, WAYNE.

THIS IS A WHITE STUCCO WALL FACING SOUTH.

AND THE BUGS LOVE IT.

THEY HAVE LOTS OF PRAYING MANTISES.

SHE FOUND THIS ONE CLEANING UP PLANT DEBRIS.

WHICH ONE IS THIS?

SHE SAYS IT'S THE BIGGEST ONE SHE HAS EVER SEEN.

>> THIS IS OUR CHINESE PRAYING MANTIS.

AS THE NAME IMPLIES, IT IS NOT FROM NORTH AMERICA.

>> YEP.

SO IS IS THE ONE THAT SUPPOSEDLY CAN EAT A HUMMINGBIRD?

>> THEY DO EAT HUMMINGBIRDS.

>> OH GOSH, THAT'S WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS.

>> THEY DO LEARN WHERE THE BEST PLACE TO GET FOOD IS.

AND THEY WILL PERCH AND HANGUT OVER A HUMMINGBIRD FEEDER AND WAIT FOR THE LARGE MEAL TO COME.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

OH MY GOODNESS.

ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS SOMEONE WHO FOUND MANTID EGG SACS WHEN CUTTING DOWN PLANTS.

KEPT ONE GAVE ONE TO A NINE YEAR OLD.

SO THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

THEY HATCH, SHE SAYS.

THEY HATCHED WITH A VENGEANCE OVERNIGHT, AND THEY'RE GOING TO.

SHE'S WAITING UNTIL IT WARMS UP ENOUGH TO TURN THEM OUT.

SHE'S THINKING MAYBE THEY'RE NOT THE NATIVE MANTIDS DUE TO THE LARGE SAC.

IS SHE CORRECT ON THAT ONE?

>> DUE TO THE SHAPE OF THE EGG CASE, YES.

THIS IS ANOTHER CHINESE PRAYING MANTIS AND THEY WILL EAT EACH OTHER IN THAT JAR IF THEY'RE HELD IN THERE.

NORMALLY WHEN I WHEN PEOPLE ASK ME ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH PRAYING MANTIS EGG CASES, I TELL THEM LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE SO THEY HATCH AT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> THEY HATCHED IN MY OFFICE LAST YEAR.

>> OH.

>> AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE LEFTER NOT VERY LONG.

I DIDN'T KILL HIM.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE.

THIS IS LINCOLN INSECT IN THE HOUSE.

IT'S A SLOW CRAWLER.

WHAT IS IT?

AND ARE THERE MORE OF THEM?

SOMEWHERE?

>> THERE MAY BE MORE OF THEM SOMEWHERE, BUT IT IS NOT ONE WE NEED TO BE CONCERNED WITH.

THIS IS A WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG.

THEY'RE COMMON, ESPECIALLY IN HOMES, BECAUSE THEY FIND THEIR WAY IN, BECAUSE THEY JUST LOOK FOR A GREAT PLACE TO SPEND THE WINTER.

THEY'RE MORE INTERESTED IN EATING THE SEED OF A SPRUCE OR PINE OR A FIR, AS OPPOSED TO.

>> WHATEVER IS ON THAT RUG OR.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN ANY OF YOUR PETS OR YOU.

>> OKA THREE PICTURES, JEFF.

RURAL SARPY COUNTY.

IF THIS IS POISON HEMLOCK, HOW DOES SHE DISPOSE OF IT?

IT'S BEEN A VOLUNTEER GROWING IN THE FLOWERBED.

>> SO I GUESS FIRST OF ALL, IF IT'S IN YOUR FLOWER BED, AGAIN, I THINK WE WANT TO AVOID USING ANY SORT OF HERBICIDE ON THAT.

SO THIS WILL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'LL CAREFULLY DIG OUT.

IT HAS A REALLY LONG TAPROOT, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE RETURNING HEMLOCKS BECAUSE THEY'LL BE PERENNIAL LIKE BIENNIAL LIKE SO THEY'LL COME BACK AGAIN AND AGAIN.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT TO DO THAT IF, IF IT'S TOO MUCH RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE OTHER PART IS NOT LETTING IT FLOWER OR PRODUCE SEED.

AND IF YOU HAVE ANY IN THE AREA, MAKING SURE YOU GET THOSE CUT DOWN BEFORE WE DO THAT.

AS FAR AS DISPOSING OF IT, I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ANYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO COMPOST.

SO THIS WOULD GO IN THE TRASH.

>> AND WEAR GLOVES.

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

YES.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO WEAR SOME SORT OF PROTECTIVE THING ON YOUR HANDS AND MAYBE EVEN ON YOUR, YOUR EYES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

TWO PICTURES FROM ELKHORN, AND THEY'RE WONDERING IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THIS WEED WEEDY GRASS AND OFFER SOME ADVICE ON CONTROLLING IT.

>> YEAH.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE SOME CRABGRASS.

SO IT'S NOTHING TOO SERIOUS AT THIS POINT.

I THINK AGAIN, LOOK AT A SPRING PRE-EMERGE IF IT'S A POST-EMERGE ISSUE, THESE LOOK A LITTLE LITTLE BIG FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SO THAT MAY BE FROM LAST YEAR.

BUT QUINCLORAC DRIVE IS ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT WORKS VERY WELL FOR CRABGRASS, THAT'S ALREADY BEEN UP AND ESTABLISHED, BUT GETTING YOUR PRE-EMERGE DOWN NOW, KEEP AN EYE ON THOSE SPOTS WHERE YOU'VE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AND YOU SHOULD BE FINE.

>> AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF CHEATGRASS OR DOWNY BROME FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW.

>> SURE.

>> HEADING OUT.

>> YEAH.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

AS WARM AS IT'S BEEN, YOU'RE RIGHT.

IN CERTAIN PLACES ON CAMPUS, WE HAVE SOME AREAS WHERE DANNY BROWN HAS REALLY POPPED UP FAST.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, ONE PICTURE FROM YORK.

WHAT TYPE OF MUSHROOM IS THIS AND IS IT EDIBLE?

>> SO IT'S SOME TYPE OF SHELF FUNGUS.

I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT THE TYPE OF TREE IT WAS FROM THE PICTURE.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO EATING THEM, A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T RECOMMEND EATING MUSHROOMS UNLESS YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE ON IDENTIFICATION.

MY PERSONAL OPINION, IT'S A SHELF FUNGUS.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF LIGAND IN IT.

YOU HAVE TO SOAK THEM A LONG TIME.

IT'S GOING TO BE HARD AND CHEWY IN MY OPINION.

NOT VERY NOT VERY PLEASURABLE VERSUS A MOREL MUSHROOM.

SO THAT YOU DIP IN EGG AND CRACKER AND FRY.

>> ONE PICTURE HERE.

NO LOCATION.

CURIOUS ABOUT THIS MICRO MUSHROOM SPROUTED IN THE POTTING SOIL.

IT'S ABOUT THE SIZE OF A PENCIL ERASER.

ISN'T THAT A KIND OF A FUN LITTLE THING?

>> THIS IS A FUN PICTURE AND THESE ARE REALLY FUN LITTLE MUSHROOMS.

ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE AN ID WHERE WE GET THE SOILS FROM.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT FUNGI THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THOSE SOILS, BUT THIS IS REALLY COOL.

AND IF THE VIEWERS AT HOME CAN BLOW IT UP, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE IT HAS LITTLE PEARLS ON IT FROM THE DEW.

FROM THE GREENHOUSE OF THEIR PLANTING, IT'S REALLY CUTE FUN.

>> ANOTHER SD THIS IN THE YARD LAST FALL.

IN THE FLOWER BED.

THEY GET SMALL PUFFBALLS, BUT THEY'VE NEVER HAD ONE THIS BIG OR THIS COLOR.

>> LAST YEAR WAS A GREAT YEAR FOR PUFFBALLS AND PEOPLE FOUND REALLY BIG PUFFBALLS.

THEY DON'T DO ANY DAMAGE.

TECHNICALLY THIS IS ONE THAT YOU CAN EAT.

IT IS EDIBLE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED IT, DO SMALL PIECES, BUT YOU NEED TO DO IT BEFORE YOU HAVE ALL THAT BLK STUFF COMING OUT.

ONCE IT'S BLACK, IT'S NO LONGER EDIBLE, JUST FUN TO MOW AND HAVE IT GO POOF.

>> YOU KNOW, NO, NOT, NOT EATING THAT ONE.

I DON'T CARE.

>> NOT GOING TO TO THE PUFFBALL FESTIVAL IN MICHIGAN.

>> NOPE, NOPE.

NOT GOING.

NOT GOING.

ALL RIGHT.

DANA, PANAMA, IOWA.

AND SHE SAYS THIS LOOKS TO BE SOME SORT OF A COLUMBINE.

IT HAS SPREAD NEAR HER GRAPES AND RASPBERRIES.

SHE'S WONDERING WHETHER THE COLUMBINE WILL AFFECT THEM PRODUCING FRUIT.

IS THERE ANY ISSUE WITH PERENNIALS UNDER THE OTHER VINES HERE?

>> NO.

AND YOU KNOW, COLUMBINE IS A SHORT-LIVED PERENNIAL.

IT WILL KIND OF BOUNCE AROUND WITH SEATING, BUT THAT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE THE BUTTERCUP.

THAT JEFF HAD EARLIER, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WOULDN'T LET GROW.

BUT THIS IS FINE, >> RIGHT.

AND ONE OF THE FUN THINGS ABOUT COLUMBINE IS IT SEEDS ITSELF IF YOU LET IT.

SO DON'T PRE-EMERGE.

AND THEN YOU'VE GOT LOTS OF COLUMBINE.

>> YEAH.

I ALWAYS SAY THEY LIKE TO DANCE AROUND THE YARD.

YOU KNOW, THEY'RE HERE.

THEY'RE THERE.

>> YEAH, I GUESS THAT'S.

I DON'T THINK OF THEM AS DANCING.

I THINK OF THEM AS, OH MY GOSH, THERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

I WONDER WHAT COLOR THAT ONE'S GOING TO BE, WHICH IS ALSO FUN.

ALL RIGHT, THREE PICTURES.

THIS IS TWO MAPLES IN THE BACKYARD.

OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE BARK HAS REALLY STARTED TO SPLIT.

THEY READ EVERYTHING FROM IT'S OKAY TO THE TREE IS GOING TO DIE.

CUT IT DOWN.

>> YEAH.

AND YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S NOT NORMAL.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT MAPLE.

AND SO THAT'S JUST IT'S NOT A NORMAL SITUATION.

AND WHEN YOU'VE GOT THAT MUCH TISSUE THAT IS KIND OF OPENED UP, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALSO HARD TO SAY, BUT I MEAN, THE TREE LOOKS LIKE IT'S PLANTED A LITTLE DEEP.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

AND, YOU KNOW, SEEING A LITTLE KID WALKING NEAR THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THAT COULD STAY UP.

IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU WANT TO THINK ABOUT BRINGING DOWN AND PLANTING SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT YOU KNOW, IF IN DOUBT, HAVE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST COME AND, YOU KNOW, PROVIDE A STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, DANA.

WE HAVE MORE OF YOUR FARMER TONIGHT.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW HELPING US ON THE PHONES.

WE'RE MASTER GARDENERS.

TIM DUNGAN, GARY BELL AND EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, JODY WILL GIVE YOU GOOD TIPS FOR PROTECTING OURSELVES FROM TICKS.

AS THE WEATHER WARMS UP, SHE WANTS TO REMIND US TO BE PREPARED AS WE ENJOY THAT TIME OUTDOORS.

SO GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

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

(MUSIC)