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

TONIGHT I'M BACK HERE AT FARMER.

WE'LL DO SOME SCOUTING FOR DISEASE ISSUES IN OUR GARDEN AND LEARN HOW TO DIFFERENTIATE GRASS PLANTS.

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

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF BACKYARD FARMER.

I'M ELIZABETH EXSTROM SITTING IN FOR KIM THIS WEEK, AND I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE NEXT HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY DIALING.

1(800) 676-5446 OR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A PICTURE, YOU CAN EMAIL US FOR A FUTURE SHOW AND THAT ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

BE SURE TO TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR QUESTION, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE, AND WE'LL INVITE YOU TO CHECK OUT OUR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND ON FACEBOOK.

AND WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND JUMP IN WITH SOME SAMPLES.

AND JODY, WHAT DID YOU BRING US TONIGHT?

>> THE PLANT OF THE WEEK.

JUST KIDDING I, I BROUGHT A CATERPILLAR.

SO I BROUGHT A MONARCH CATERPILLAR THAT I FOUND IN MY YARD FINALLY.

AND I JUST WANT TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THERE ARE ADULT BUTTERFLIES FLYING AROUND LAYING EGGS.

SO IF YOU'VE GOT MILKWEED IN YOUR LANDSCAPE, GO CHECK OUT SOME EGGS AND CHECK OUT SOME OF THOSE SMALL LITTLE CATERPILLARS.

AND THEN IN THE LATE SUMMER AND FALL, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'VE GOT SOME FALL BLOOMING PLANTS, WHICH MILKWEEDS WON'T BE AROUND BY THEN.

BUT THAT'S WHEN THAT FOURTH GENERATION OF MONARCHS WILL BE COMING BY AND FEEDING, AND THEY'LL NEED THAT NECTAR FOR THAT MIGRATION DOWN SOUTH.

BUT A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE MAY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE MONARCHS IS THAT WHEN THEY DO, WHEN THE CATERPILLARS DO GET LARGE ENOUGH TO WANT TO PUPATE, THEY MOVE OFF THE HOST PLANT SO YOU MAY SEE LARGE CATERPILLARS AND THEN GO BACK AND THEY'RE GONE.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE, WELL, PREDATION IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT THEY OFTEN WILL GO AND FORM THEIR LITTLE POTS OR CHRYSALISES SOMEWHERE THAT IS PROTECTED.

AND SO DON'T ALWAYS BE ALARMED, AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE THEM INSIDE IF YOU WANT TO COVER THEM WITH A MESH OR SOMETHING, BUT LEAVE THEM OUTSIDE, THAT'S PROBABLY BEST SAYING THEY NEED THAT TEMPERATURE.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

I'M GLAD THAT THEY'RE OUT AND ABOUT.

AND YOU BROUGHT THEM TO SHOW AND SHARE WITH US.

AND MATT, I HATE TO SAY I DON'T REALLY LIKE YOUR SAMPLE VERY MUCH.

>> MINE'S WAY COOLER THAN ANY.

>> NO.

OKAY.

>> IT'S PROBABLY THE BEST WEED EVER.

IT'S PURSLANE.

AND WHAT I'M SHOWING HERE IS JUST THIS WAS A PURSLANE PLANT THAT WAS TREATED A COUPLE DAYS AGO WITH A HERBICIDE.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT BURNED THE LEAVES OFF.

THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH DEAD ON THE TIPS.

IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE THE PLANT IS DYING, BUT THEN YOU HAVE ALL THIS NEW GREEN SHOOTS COMING OUT.

AND THAT'S THE ONE THING I JUST WANTED TO SHOW, IS WHEN WE GET INTO THESE LATER PARTS OF THE YEAR.

AND THIS PURSLANE IS, YOU KNOW, MAYBE GROWING TO A FOOT OR MORE IN DIAMETER AND WE TREAT IT WITH A HERBICIDE.

ODDS ARE WE'RE GOING TO SET IT BACK, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO KILL IT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO REGROW FROM THE STEMS.

AND EACH PIECE OF THE STEM, IF IT'S, YOU KNOW, TRANSPLANTED, IT CAN REGROW.

SO JUST BE OBSERVANT.

AND MAYBE NEXT YEAR IF YOU HAVE AREAS THAT ARE BAD, USE A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE SUCH AS ISOXABEN IN THOSE AREAS.

AND IF IT'S A NEW SEATING GENERALLY YOU WILL NOT SEE THESE WEEDS NEXT YEAR IF THE LAWN IS THICK AND HEALTHY, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE THERE IN A NEW SEATING THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR THEY MIGHT NOT BE AN ISSUE.

SO JUST SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR.

AND THEN ANOTHER ONE I HAD QUICKLY.

THIS IS GOOSEGRASS TREATED WITH ANOTHER PRODUCT AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S BLEACHED WHITE.

BUT THIS WAS A BIG PLANT WHEN IT WAS TREATED.

SO WE HAVE THIS GREEN GROWTH COMING OUT.

SO WE SET THE PLANT BACK.

BUT GIVE IT ANOTHER TWO WEEKS AND MOISTURE AND IT'S GOING TO GROW OUT OF IT.

SO JUST BE YOU KNOW WHAT THE HERBICIDES CAN DO.

SOMETIMES WHEN THE PLANTS ARE HUGE IT'S REALLY TOUGH TO KILL THEM UNLESS YOU GET A PERFECT APP OR MAYBE TWO APPS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANKS FOR THAT LITTLE WORDS OF WISDOM.

>> BIT OF DOOM AND GLOOM.

>> THERE, KYLE.

WHAT DID YOU BRING TONIGHT?

>> I GUESS IT'S NOT AS GLOOMY, AND IT'S KIND OF PRETTY TOO.

I HAVE GUIGNARDIA LEAF BLOTCH ON A HORSE CHESTNUT.

AND SO THIS IS A THIS IS A FUNGAL PATHOGEN.

OFTEN IT'S KIND OF CHARACTERIZED WE'LL GET THIS BLACK OR THIS BROWN DISCOLORATION THAT NORMALLY IT WILL HAVE A NICE YELLOW MARGIN ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT.

AND THEN SOMETIMES IT CAN ACTUALLY COALESCE INTO FAIRLY LARGE LESIONS.

AND THEN IN THOSE LARGER LESIONS WILL MAKE THE LEAVES CURL AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

NOW IT CAN LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR TO DROUGHT INJURY ON HORSE CHESTNUTS.

BUT IN ABOUT 2 TO 3 WEEKS WHEN LOOKING AT THIS TREE, WE'LL START TO SEE KIND OF A BUNCH OF BLACK LITTLE PIMPLES INSIDE OF THESE, INSIDE OF THESE LESIONS.

AND THOSE ARE THE FUNGAL FRUITING BODIES GETTING READY TO CAUSE MORE DISEASE.

IT'S WORSE IN WHEN WE HAVE WET SPRINGS, WHICH WE HAD A WET SPRING.

IT'S WORSE WHEN WE HAVE WET SUMMERS.

WE'VE HAD A WET SUMMER SO FAR IN LINCOLN.

SO THIS IS THIS IS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S OUT THERE.

NOTHING TO DO ABOUT IT.

IF YOU DON'T CONTROL EARLY IN THE SPRING AT BUD BREAK, YOU'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO GET ADEQUATE CONTROL ANYWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANKS, KYLE AND TERRI, YOU BROUGHT A WEIRD LOOKING SAMPLE TONIGHT.

>> SO A FEW WEEKS AGO, WE ACTUALLY HAD SOMEBODY SEND IN A PICTURE OF THIS.

THIS IS DAUGHTER.

SO WE TALKED ABOUT IT THEN.

AND ONE OF MY MASTER GARDENERS BROUGHT THIS TO ME TODAY, SO I WAS VERY EXCITED.

THIS IS A PARASITIC PLANT.

SO IT STARTS THE SEED STARTS AS A LITTLE ROOT, BUT ONCE IT GETS BIG ENOUGH AND IT GETS ON TOP OF ITS HOST PLANT, THE ROOT DIES BACK AND IT LIVES OFF OF THE OTHER PLANT.

SO IF THEY CAN SQUEEZE IN CLOSE ENOUGH, YOU CAN KIND OF SEE RIGHT HERE THAT'S THE SEEDS.

SO IT'S JUST A VERY COOL PLANT.

YOU'LL JUST SEE LIKE THE LITTLE WISPS OF THE YELLOW OR ORANGE OR WHATEVER COLOR YOU WANT TO CALL THIS.

AND YOU NEED TO GET RID OF IT RIGHT AWAY AND GET RID OF ALL OF IT.

AND DON'T THROW IT IN THE COMPOST.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU BAG IT UP AND THEN THROW IT IN THE GARBAGE IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

BUT YOU KNOW, KYLE FEEDS HIS.

DISEASES.

I WOULD PROBABLY FEED THIS ONE IF I COULD.

>> NO, I WAS GOING TO SAY IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, GIVE IT TO ME.

OH, OKAY.

WELL.

>> WE'LL SHARE IT.

>> OKAY.

>> SO ONLY ON BACKYARD FARMER.

SO WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO QUESTIONS NEXT.

SO JODY YOU GET THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

WE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF IDS FOR YOU.

SO FOR STARTERS WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM BRADY THAT SENT US THIS PICTURE OF THIS COLORFUL BEETLE.

AND THEY WERE WONDERING IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY IT FOR THEM.

THEY THOUGHT IT COULD BE EAB, BUT THEY WEREN'T SURE.

>> IT'S A LITTLE BIGGER THAN EAB AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S IT ACTUALLY DOESN'T HAVE A COMMON NAME.

IT'S BUPRESTIS CONFLUENTA AND IT'S THIS EMERALD GREEN.

IT'S A JEWEL BEETLE AND IT'S GOT LIKE YELLOW SPOTS.

IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

>> SO NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> NOT AS AN ADULT.

>> OKAY.

THEIR NEXT SAMPLE IS WHAT THIS VIEWER FROM OMAHA SAID WAS A HUGE BEETLE.

THEY WONDERED WHAT IT WAS AND IF THEY NEEDED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT IT.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS BEETLE.

I ACTUALLY RAISED A COUPLE OF THESE.

THIS IS A OSMODERMA BEETLE.

THEY'RE ALSO CALLED HERMIT BEETLES OR LEATHER BEETLES.

IF YOU HANDLE THEM, THEY'LL GIVE OFF THIS ODOR OF LEATHER.

IT SMELLS LIKE LEATHER.

IT'S SUPER WEIRD, BUT THEIR LARVAE ARE THOSE JUICY GRUBS THAT ARE FOUND IN DECAYING TREE HOLES OR BRANCHES THAT ARE DYING.

SO IF YOU SEE LARVAE OR POOP FROM THAT LARVAE, THAT MEANS THAT TREE NEEDS TO BE CUT DOWN.

>> AND THEN OUR LAST WHAT IS THIS BEETLE PICTURE COMES FROM OAKLAND, IOWA.

THEY'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE AND THEY'RE SEEING IT ON THEIR EGGPLANT THIS YEAR.

>> OKAY.

SO THIS IS THE DREADED COLORADO POTATO BEETLE.

SO THEY WILL FEED ON EGGPLANT TOMATO POTATO.

IF YOU'RE SEEING THEM AS AN ADULT LIKE THIS HAND PICK THEM OFF AND DROP THEM IN SOME SOAPY WATER.

AND THEIR LARVAE ARE THESE RED JUMBO ROBUST PLUMPY THINGS.

PICK THOSE OFF TO.

SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE.

>> THAT IS AN.

ACCURATE DESCRIPTION I LIKE.

IT OKAY MATT, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

FOR STARTERS WE HAVE THIS VIEWER FROM SUTTON.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF THESE VINEY WEEDS THAT ARE TRYING TO SMOTHER THEIR BLUE SPRUCE TREES AND THEY'RE WONDERING HOW THEY CAN CONTROL THEM AND KEEP THEM FROM COMING UP.

>> SO YEAH, THIS LOOKS LIKE FIELD BINDWEED.

SO THAT IS ONE THAT WILL GROW UP ON ANY PLANTS THAT ARE AROUND.

SO CONTROLLING THEM WITH THE POST NOW, ESPECIALLY ON SPRUCE IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE HAND PULLING.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR IF YOU WANT TO TREAT THAT AREA TRY AND GET AS MANY AS YOU CAN OUT.

AND THEN MAYBE PUT A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE DOWN WITH ISOXABEN.

SO LIKE PRE AND EXTENDED CONTROL AND THAT WILL WORK FOR NEW SEEDLINGS.

BUT YOU STILL MIGHT HAVE RHIZOMES THAT WILL COME UP.

SO THERE MIGHT STILL NEED TO BE SOME PULLING OFF OF THE TREES AT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

>> AND SPEAKING OF RHIZOMES COMING UP, OUR NEXT VIEWER FROM LINCOLN HAS SOME RAISED BEDS AND THEY'RE HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THE WEED THAT YOU SEE COMING UP IN THEIR RAISED BEDS FROM THEIR NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY.

AND AGAIN, THEY'RE LOOKING AT CONTROL.

>> SAME THING.

IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THIS LOOKS LIKE FIELD BINDWEED OR.

YEAH.

AND IF IT'S IN THE SOIL ALREADY, ONE OF THE ONLY THINGS YOU CAN DO IF IT'S IN YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN, I WOULD SAY WOULD BE PULLING THEM OUT, TRYING TO GET AS MANY AS YOU CAN, NOT LET THEM SEED OUT.

BUT IF IT IS A CONTAMINATED ISSUE, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU GOT YOUR SOIL, IF IT'S FULL OF SEED OR FULL OF RHIZOMES, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A PROBLEM GOING FORWARD.

BUT PULLING THEM DOES DEPLETE THEIR ROOT SYSTEM AND WILL EVENTUALLY HELP CONTROL THEM.

>> AND OUR LAST VIEWER ALSO WANTS TO GET RID OF IT, BUT IT IS GROWING ON A SPIREA.

>> YES, I JUST DID THIS THE OTHER DAY TOO.

THERE WAS A BUNCH OF BINDWEED GROWING ON SOME NATIVE GRASSES, AND I MEAN YOU COULD TREAT IF IT WAS ON A GRASS SPECIES OR A LAWN WITH QUINCLORAC, AND IT WORKS REALLY WELL AT BURNING IT DOWN AND KILLING IT.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES THOSE RHIZOMES WILL KEEP GROWING, ESPECIALLY IN THIS INSTANCE, PULLING THEM OFF, JUST FINDING WHERE THAT ROOT GOES DOWN AND IT'S A BIG PLANT AND YOU RIP IT ALL OFF.

>> AND YOUR LAST QUESTION FROM THIS ROUND IS NOT A BINDWEED QUESTION, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SO THEY'RE WONDERING IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY THIS AND IS IT A PLANT OR IS IT A WEED.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE A WEED TO ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE AN RAGWEED.

MOST OF THE TIMES IN FIELDS IT LOOKS LIKE MARESTAIL OR HORSETAIL.

IT'S A WINTER ANNUAL OR SOMETIMES A SUMMER ANNUAL AS WELL.

SO IT EITHER CAME UP LAST FALL OR EARLY THIS SPRING AND IT WILL SET OUT 100,000 SEEDS.

SO MAKE SURE YOU PULL THAT ONE OUT UNLESS YOU WANT MORE OF IT NEXT YEAR.

I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

>> THANKS, MATT.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM OMAHA.

THEY HAVE A THREE YEAR OLD OAK TREE.

AND THEY'RE CONCERNED BECAUSE IT'S TURNING YELLOW AND THEY'VE GOT SOME BROWN LEAVES ON THE TIPS.

THEY WERE WONDERING WHAT COULD BE DONE TO MAKE THIS INTO A HEALTHY TREE AGAIN.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE GOING TO BE TOUGH.

I THINK THIS TREE WAS PLANTED A LITTLE BIT TOO DEEP.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH IT.

BUT THEN THIS IS IRON CHLOROSIS AND IT'S AN ISSUE WITH THE PH OF THE SOIL.

AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO CHANGE TO REALLY TO CHANGE THE PH OF THE SOIL.

A LOT OF THE SOILS IN NEBRASKA ARE TOO HIGH FOR TO WHERE THE POINT WHERE IRON IS ISN'T TERRIBLY AVAILABLE FOR A LOT OF PLANTS.

SO THERE ARE SOME TREATMENTS THAT YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN DO SOME SOIL DRENCHES, SOME OTHER THINGS.

BUT YOUNG TREE, IT'S NOT DOING SO HOT.

I WOULD CONSIDER MAYBE SOMETHING ELSE THAT MIGHT BE BETTER ADAPTED FOR THAT AREA.

>> AND WE HAVE ANOTHER OAK QUESTION FROM LINCOLN, KYLE.

THEY WONDER ON THESE NEXT FEW PICTURES KIND OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE BIG OAK TREES.

>> YEAH, THERE'S OAK TREES THAT ARE HAVE CURLED LEAVES ALL OVER THE PLACE.

AND WHEN I ASKED WHAT MAKES OAK LEAVES CURL, EVERYBODY ON THE PANEL GAVE DIFFERENT ANSWERS BECAUSE REALLY ANYTHING DOES.

THERE ARE INSECTS THAT CAN DO IT.

THERE'S HERBICIDE THAT CAN DO IT.

WATER CAN DO IT.

SO BOTH TO LITTLE WATER AND TOO MUCH WATER CAN MAKE THESE MAKE THESE LEAVES CURL.

BUT AS LONG AS THE TREE IS HOLDING ON TO THE LEAVES, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

AND SO IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SEEING MORE OFTEN.

>> OKAY.

THANKS, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM HAY SPRINGS, NEBRASKA.

THE VIEWER HAD A NEIGHBOR THAT SPRAYED WITH 2,4D ON A HOT AND WINDY DAY, AND IT HAPPENED TO GET ON TO THEIR ASPARAGUS PATCH.

THEY WONDERED, IS THERE ANY WAY TO SAVE THEIR ASPARAGUS PATCH?

OR IF THERE'S OTHER THINGS IN THEIR GARDEN THEY NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> SO A COUPLE OF THINGS I WOULD PROBABLY MAKE SURE THAT ASPARAGUS STAYS UP AND GOING AS WELL.

IT DIDN'T LOOK TOO TOO BAD.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW ACTUALLY BAD OF A DRIFT THEY GOT ON IT, SO I WOULD PROBABLY CUT IT BACK A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, THOUGH I DID DO A LITTLE RESEARCH, AND THEY ARE SEEING THAT YOU CAN SPRAY.

THEY CUT IT.

THEY THE RESEARCH, CUT IT ALL BACK, SPRAYED IT DIRECTLY ON IT AND IT CAME UP AND IT ACTUALLY GREW OUT OF ALL OF THE HERBICIDE THAT THEY PUT ON.

SO I THINK YOU'LL BE OKAY.

THEY ALSO HAD SOME CARROTS AND SOME DILL.

I DID DO.

AND LOOK, YOU CAN GET DILL LEAVES WITHIN 60 TO OR 6 TO 8 WEEKS.

SO YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND REPLANT THE DILL AND GET AT LEAST THE LEAVES OUT OF IT.

YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE SEEDS IF YOU'RE MAKING PICKLES.

AND THEN YOU'D BE ABLE TO GET SOME CARROTS AND STUFF IN FOR A FALL CROP.

SO DEPENDING AGAIN, WHAT WAS ALL IN IT?

IF IT WAS JUST 2,4D IT SHOULDN'T STAY IN THE SOIL, BUT IF THERE WAS OTHER ONES THAT WERE IN THE SOIL, I WOULD PROBABLY DOUBLE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE WAS GOING TO BE ANYTHING TO STAY IN THAT SOIL FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.

>> YOUR NEXT QUESTION COMES OUT OF OMAHA.

THIS VIEWER PLANTED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WERE RED POPPIES, AND THEY'RE SEEING A BUNCH OF THESE SMALL GREEN LEAF PLANTS COMING UP.

THEY WONDER, IS IT A WEED?

DO WE HAVE POPPIES?

WHAT?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YEAH, THESE ARE POPPIES.

A COUPLE OF THINGS.

USUALLY WE RECOMMEND PLANTING POPPIES BY SEED IN THE FALL.

THEY ACTUALLY KIND OF LIKE A COLD STRATIFICATION.

AND THEY LIKE TO SIT OVER THE WINTER.

AND THERE ARE VERY, VERY TINY SEEDS.

SO NORMALLY WE RECOMMEND ACTUALLY PUTTING SOMETHING ELSE WITH THEM LIKE SAND OR SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING THEM DOWN SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM A LITTLE BIT BETTER AND GET THEM SPREAD OUT.

YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED TO THIN THEM QUITE A BIT.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IS THAT A LOT OF POPPIES ARE MORE LIKE AN ANNUAL, SO SOMETIMES YOU'LL GET THEM GOING IN THE FIRST YEAR AND YOU WON'T SEE THEM COME BACK THE SECOND YEAR.

SO, FYI.

>> SO AND YOUR LAST QUESTION FROM THIS ROUND IS FROM SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA.

THEY WERE WONDERING HOW WHAT THIS PURPLE FLOWER COULD BE GROWING ON THEIR HILLSIDE.

>> SO YEAH, I ANSWERED YOUR GRASS QUESTION LAST WEEK AND I'M ANSWERING YOUR PLANT QUESTION THIS WEEK.

THIS IS A BELLFLOWER.

CAMPANULA.

SUPER NICE.

IT'LL LOOK GREAT NEXT TO THOSE WHEAT GRASSES THAT YOU HAD GROWING OUT THERE.

SO FANTASTIC.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, THANKS, TERRI.

SO WHEN KEVIN WAS WITH US LAST WEEK, HE DID A LITTLE SCOUTING FOR DISEASE ISSUES IN THE GARDEN.

NOW KYLE IS GOING TO SHOW A FEW MORE THINGS THAT WERE FOUND HERE ON CAMPUS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER.

>> NOW, THIS WHOLE MONTH ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'VE KIND OF BEEN FOCUSING ON SCOUTING.

AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT CLOSER LOOK AS TO WHAT DISEASES ARE WE STARTING TO SEE SHOW UP IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR A PATHOLOGIST, WE HAVE HAD SOME GREAT, GREAT DISEASE WEATHER THIS YEAR FROM ALL THE MOISTURE THAT WE'VE HAD TO THE COOLER TEMPERATURES, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF REALLY FUN STUFF THAT'S HAS BEEN SHOWING UP AND IS NOW JUST STARTING TO SHOW UP AS WELL.

CASE IN POINT HERE AT THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE ZINNIAS EARLIER, AND ONCE I STARTED TO LOOK DOWN INTO THE BOTTOM OF THESE PLANTS, YOU KNOW, FROM THE TOP THEY LOOK PRETTY GOOD.

BUT THE LOWER LEAVES, WE HAVE A LOT OF DISCOLORATION AND EVEN SOME NECROSIS THAT IS STARTING TO OCCUR.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THIS IS A BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT.

ONE OF THE WAYS WE CAN TELL THAT THE SMALL THE SMALL LESIONS WITH A LARGE CHLOROTIC HALO VERY COMMON FOR BACTERIAL LEAF SPOTS.

UNFORTUNATELY NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THESE.

JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO ENDURE FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.

AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN SEEING SOME DISEASES ON ONE OF EVERYBODY'S GARDEN FAVORITES, TOMATOES, ONE OF THE DISEASES THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SHOW UP ON TOMATOES RIGHT NOW IS EARLY BLIGHT.

THAT'S A FUNGAL PATHOGEN, TENDS TO START IN THE LOWER LEAVES AND THEN WORK ITS WAY UP THE CANOPY.

NORMALLY WE SEE IT A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE SEASON, BUT BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE COOLER TEMPERATURES, IT JUST DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO GET GOING.

LUCKILY, RIGHT NOW ON THESE TOMATOES HERE IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE HAVE A LOW ENOUGH INCIDENCE THAT THE BEST CONTROL IS JUST GOING TO BE TO PULL OFF SOME OF THOSE INFECTED LEAVES.

NOW, IF YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE A LOT OF THESE LEAF SPOTS IN YOUR FIELD OR IN YOUR CROP, AND YOU WANT TO YOU WANT TO DO SOME SORT OF CHEMICAL CONTROL, REALLY, ANY OF OUR BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDES THAT WOULD CONTAIN CHLOROTHALONIL SHOULD BE FAIRLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST THIS PATHOGEN.

AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING SOME FUNGAL DISEASES SHOW UP ON OUR RHUBARB AS WELL.

ONE OF THOSE IS RAMULARIA LEAF SPOT.

IT CAUSES SOME NICE KIND OF PURPLE LESIONS ON THE LEAF.

ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THIS ONE, THOUGH, IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE DISEASES THAT PRETTY MUCH JUST MAKES THE LEAVES NOT LOOK TOO GREAT, TENDS NOT TO AFFECT THE OVERALL YIELD OR QUALITY OF THE RHUBARB.

SO AGAIN, JUST ONE OF THOSE DISEASES TO DEAL WITH BUT DON'T NEED TO CONTROL.

NOW WE ALWAYS GET THE QUESTION ON BACKYARD FARMER.

IS THIS AN INSECT.

IS IT DISEASE.

IS IT SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL.

AND THE WAY THAT WE CAN REALLY TELL THAT IS BY BEING OUT IN OUR GARDEN AND SCOUTING EARLY AND SCOUTING OFTEN.

A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE NOT JUST GOING TO FIND ONE THING ON THE PLANT.

AND FOR THE CASE OF THESE ROSES, WE HAVE A LOT OF JAPANESE BEETLE FEEDING WHERE WE CAN SEE WITH THE SKELETONIZATION OF THE LEAVES.

BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE ROSE ROSETTE VIRUS THAT'S GOING ON TOO.

BUT AGAIN, IF YOU'RE NOT ACTUALLY OUT SCOUTING IN YOUR GARDEN, IT'S EASY TO MISS A LOT OF THIS STUFF.

>> THIS MID-SEASON CHECKUP IS OUR WAY OF REMINDING YOU TO DO THE SAME AROUND YOUR HOME IN ORDER TO KEEP THINGS LUSH AND GROWING, YOU NEED TO PERIODICALLY CHECK YOUR GARDEN IN THE LANDSCAPE FOR THESE ISSUES.

SO MOVING ON TO OUR SECOND ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

JODY, THIS IS THE LARVAE ROUND OKAY.

BRADSHAW VIEWER FOUND THESE LITTLE GUYS FEEDING ON SOME CONE FLOWERS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY ARE A FRIEND OR A FOE.

>> WELL SO AT THIS STAGE THEY CAN SEEM LIKE A FOE BECAUSE THEY FEED LIKE IN A GANG LIKE THIS ON LIKE OUR CONE FLOWERS, OUR SUNFLOWER AND OUR BLACK EYED SUSANS.

BUT I ACTUALLY BROUGHT A PICTURE TO SHOW PEOPLE WHAT THE BUTTERFLY LOOKS LIKE, AS LIKE A LIKE, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE GROW UP TO LOOK LIKE.

DON'T KILL ME OR PUT ME ON A PLANT THAT YOU'RE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THE LEAVES.

SO THOSE ARE CHECKERSPOT CATERPILLARS, AND THEY WILL TURN INTO CHECKERSPOT BUTTERFLIES.

AND THEY JUST HAPPEN TO FEED ON, YOU KNOW, SOME OF OUR PERENNIALS.

>> SO SACRIFICE.

>> NO.

SAME THING, SAME THING.

>> NEXT ONE'S YOUR NEXT SET OF PHOTOS COMES FROM ROCA, NEBRASKA.

AND AGAIN THEY FOUND THESE CATERPILLARS AND THEY WANT TO KNOW IF THEY'RE A FRIEND OR A FOE, IF THEY NEED TO GET RID OF THEM OR KEEP THEM.

>> SAME ANSWER THAT I JUST GAVE.

SO PLEASE JUST KEEP A LITTLE BIT OF THEM.

JUST KEEP A LITTLE.

THAT PLANT WILL STILL LIVE.

THE LEAVES WON'T LOOK VERY GOOD, BUT.

>> AND YOUR NEXT PHOTO COMES FROM BY BRADY NEBRASKA.

THEY GET THESE LITTLE LARVAE ON THEIR WALNUT TREES ALMOST EVERY SUMMER.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY THEM AND IF THEY'RE GOING TO ATTACK THEIR WALNUTS.

>> OKAY.

SO THESE ARE CALLED WALNUT CATERPILLARS.

AND THEY TURN INTO MOTHS.

THEY SEEM REALLY SCARY BECAUSE THEY DO FEED AGAIN IN THESE LARGE CLUSTERS OR COLONIES AND THEN THEY GO TO THE TRUNK TO PUPATE.

AND IT'S KIND OF GROSS AND HAIRY, BUT THEY WON'T KILL THE TREE.

THEY WILL ALSO SOMETIMES BE ON HICKORY OR PECAN, BUT THEY DO LIKE WALNUT.

>> OKAY.

YOUR NEXT PHOTO IS FROM A CUSTOMER THAT HAS A POND.

AND THESE LITTLE BLACK CATERPILLARS ARE EATING ON THE EQUISETUM OR MARESTAIL SCOURING RUSH, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE AND IF THEY NEED TO TREAT THEM.

>> SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY VERY COOL.

I KNOW THEY'RE ON LIKE THIS, THIS POND PLANT CALLED MARESTAIL, WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN THE MARESTAIL WEED.

I HAD TO LOOK ALL THAT UP, BUT THESE ARE COMMON BUCKEYE CATERPILLARS.

AND I BROUGHT A PICTURE OF THE BUTTERFLY.

THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

SO IF YOU DON'T, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL THEM, THIS IS THE BUTTERFLY THAT THEY TURN INTO.

SO OTHER THINGS THAT THEY MAY EAT.

SO IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO EAT THE MARESTAIL IN THE POND, YOU CAN GET SOME FOXGLOVES OR SOME PLANTAIN AND THEY'LL EAT THAT INSTEAD.

>> OKAY.

AND THEN LASTLY, THEY WANT AN IDENTIFIER ON THIS FUZZY LITTLE CREATURE.

>> OKAY.

SO IT'S REALLY COOL LOOKING, BUT DON'T TOUCH IT.

SO THESE ARE ONE OF THOSE CATERPILLARS THAT HAVE URTICATING HAIRS.

THIS IS A WHITE MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH.

CATERPILLAR TURNS INTO A BROWN MOTH WHICH IS KIND OF BORING CONSIDERING THIS THING LOOKS REALLY COOL.

BUT DON'T TOUCH IT.

>> OKAY?

THANKS, JODY.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

MATT.

THIS NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM LINCOLN.

THEY HAVE THIS PLANT BY THEIR POND.

THEY WERE TRYING TO TELL IF IT'S A PLANT OR A WEED.

>> I THINK IT'S THE SAME ONE THAT WE HAD EARLIER.

IT MIGHT BE MARESTAIL.

JUST BY THE LOOKS OF IT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S HOW IT'S GROWN.

THE SIZE OF IT LOOKS ABOUT RIGHT FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SO IF IT'S GOING TO SEED OUT AND IT'S GOING TO SPREAD ALL OVER.

SO I WOULD SAY GET RID OF IT UNLESS IT'S SOME SORT OF SOME SORT OF ORNAMENTAL OR SOMETHING.

BUT I DOUBT IT.

I THINK IT'S MARESTAIL.

>> SO GET RID.

>> OF, GET RID OF IT, PULL IT OUT, CHOP IT OUT.

>> YOUR NEXT PHOTO COMES FROM LINWOOD, NEBRASKA.

THEY NEED SOME HELP IDENTIFYING THIS LITTLE GRASS IN THEIR GRAVEL DRIVEWAY, AND THEY WANT TO TRY TO GET RID OF IT IF THEY CAN.

>> SO THIS ONE TO ME LOOKS LIKE IT IS BARNYARD GRASS.

AND IT'S PRETTY OPPORTUNISTIC ON BARE GROUND OR NEW SEEDLINGS.

SO THE WAY TO TELL ON THAT ONE IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LEAF WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STEM, THERE'S NOTHING ON THERE.

IT'S ALMOST SMOOTH, THERE'S NO HAIRS OR ORACLES WHERE THAT LEAF TOUCHES THE MAIN PLANT.

SO IT'S NOT SAND BUR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, I DON'T THINK, I THINK IT'S JUST A BARNYARD GRASS AND IT WILL SEED OUT AND CREATE A LOT MORE SEED FOR NEXT YEAR.

SO YOU CAN USE THE NONSELECTIVE GLYPHOSATE ON THIS ONE.

IT'LL KILL IT EASILY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES FROM BENNINGTON.

THEY SEEDED AN AREA WITH BUFFALO AND BLUE GRAMA.

THEY APPLIED MESOTRIONE AT SEEDING, BUT NOW THEY'RE FIVE WEEKS IN AND THEY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF PURSLANE.

AND THEY WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT BECAUSE IT'S AN ANNUAL DO THEY SPOT TREAT IT?

DO THEY WAIT FOR A PRE-EMERGE LIKE WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL IT RIGHT NOW?

>> YEAH, THIS ONE'S TOUGH BECAUSE THEY'RE BIG ENOUGH ALREADY TO WHERE WHATEVER WE USE, WE MIGHT KNOCK IT BACK, BUT THEY WILL MOST LIKELY GROW OUT OF IT.

WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MONTHS LEFT IN THE GROWING SEASON, SO IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH JUST PULLING SOME OF THE BIGGER ONES WHERE THE BERRIES ARE NEXT YEAR, YOU PROBABLY WILL NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

PUT A PRE DOWN NEXT YEAR.

NEXT SPRING WHEN YOU ARE SEEDING THIS.

IF YOU DID USE TENACITY IT WORKS WELL, BUT IT ALSO REQUIRES A SECOND APP, USUALLY LIKE 30 DAYS AFTER EMERGENCE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DID THAT ONE OR NOT, BUT IT WOULD HELP IF YOU'RE GOING TO SEED IN THE FUTURE.

>> OKAY.

AND YOUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM MALCOLM.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF RAGWEED.

IT IS CROWDING OUT THE GRASS IN THEIR YARD AND STARTING TO TAKE OVER.

THEY REALLY NEED YOUR HELP.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS A GOOD INFESTATION.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PRETTY MUCH THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE LAWN.

SO MOWING IT IS GOING TO HELP PREVENT IT FROM SEEDING OUT.

BUT IT STILL CAN BUSH OUT AND SEED.

SO A BROADCAST APPLICATION OF A BROADLEAF HERBICIDE MOST OF THEM WORK PRETTY WELL ON IT.

SO GET THE WHOLE LAWN.

MAYBE WAIT FOR A DAY THAT'S NOT ABOVE 90, AND THEN MAYBE DO A LITTLE BIT OF FERTILIZER AS WELL TO TRY AND THICKEN THAT LAWN.

SO YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ISSUE NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE, YOUR QUESTION COMES FROM WAHOO.

ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO THEY HAD A TOP BRANCH ON THEIR LOCUST TREE BEGAN TO TURN YELLOW.

WITHIN A FEW DAYS, THE COLOR SPREAD DOWN THE BRANCH AND INTO THE TRUNK.

AND NOW THE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO FALL.

THEY ALSO HAD SOME INDENTATIONS ON THE TRUNK THAT WERE KIND OF OOZING AND DAMP, AND IT ATTRACTED SOME ANTS.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS TREE.

DO THEY NEED TO PRUNE OFF THE AFFECTED BRANCHES OR SHOULD THEY WAIT?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THOSE THAT BRANCH LOOKS PRETTY DEAD.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO COME BACK.

SO IF YOU CAN TOLERATE HALF OF HALF OF THAT TREE, THAT WOULD BE OKAY.

BUT THESE OTHER WOUNDS TOWARDS THE BASE OF THE TREE ARE ALSO A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING.

I WONDER IF THERE'S JUST SOME SORT OF SAPWOOD ROT THAT'S GOING ON.

THERE'S MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT FUNGI THAT CAN CAUSE CAUSES SORT OF INJURY IN HONEY LOCUSTS.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS GANODERMA.

SO MAYBE THERE ARE MUSHROOMS THAT ARE SHOWING UP AROUND THE BASE OF THAT TREE.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT I WOULD THAT I WOULD LOOK FOR.

BUT ON THE ON THE FOR THE WHOLE, I WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THIS TREE.

>> OKAY.

SO WAIT.

>> YEAH, YEAH, WAIT.

BUT I'D PROBABLY HAVE AN ARBORIST COME OUT AS WELL.

AND JUST TO TAKE A BETTER TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, YOU DON'T WANT YOU KNOW, WE HAD SOME PRETTY INSANE STORMS IN LINCOLN LAST NIGHT, I THINK, ACROSS THE STATE WITH A LOT OF TREE DAMAGE.

AND YOU DON'T WANT THAT TO FALL ON A HOUSE OR CAR OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> YOUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM ARLINGTON.

THEY HAVE AN EIGHT YEAR OLD PEAR TREE.

SOME OF THE LEAVES HAVE STARTED TO TURN BLACK AND ARE FALLING OFF THE PEARS NEVER REALLY STAY ON THE TREE VERY LONG TO GET FULLY MATURE.

CAN YOU CONFIRM WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE GOING ON?

>> IT LOOKS LIKE FIREBLIGHT YOU KNOW, HAVE THE BLACK LEAVES.

THE PETIOLES ARE ALSO BLACK AND THEY'RE KIND OF HAVE THAT SHEPHERD'S CROOK DOWN.

PRETTY INDICATIVE OF FIREBLIGHT.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT SPRING FOR BACTERIAL DISEASES.

SO YEAH, YOU CAN TRY TO PRUNE IT OUT, BUT IT'S YEAH, THERE'S NOT REALLY A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PRODUCTS THAT CAN BE APPLIED, MAYBE COPPER IN THE SPRING, BUT YOUR CONTROL WILL PROBABLY BE LESS THAN ADEQUATE.

>> OKAY.

AND WITH YOUR LAST QUESTION, KYLE, THIS IS FROM JOHNSON, NEBRASKA.

THEY HAVE SOME FRUIT TREES.

THEY PRODUCE VERY LITTLE TO NO FRUIT.

SOME TREES ARE STARTING TO DIE.

THEY'RE HAVING A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THESE TREES.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS I THINK FIRE BLIGHT AS WELL.

WE HAVE THE BLACK LEAVES.

THE PETIOLES ARE BLACK.

THERE'S ALSO LOOKS LIKE SOME INJURY TO THE BASE OF THE TRUNK HERE.

I WONDER IF THERE'S SOME THAT'S PROBABLY CONTRIBUTING TO IT.

I KNOW THEY ALSO I THINK HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT RUST.

AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LOT OF JUNIPERS OR CEDARS IN THE AREA, THIS IS NOT THIS IS NOT INJURY FROM CEDAR, APPLE RUST OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S REALLY LOOKS LIKE FIRE BLIGHT WITH THE THE WHOLE TREE BEING INFECTED.

I WOULD PROBABLY TRY TO CUT IT OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KYLE.

TERRI, THERE IS A QUESTION ABOUT THESE PETUNIAS.

THEY ALL GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF WATER.

ONE LOOKS OKAY.

ONE LOOKS, AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS DEAD.

WHAT COULD BE GOING ON WITH THESE PETUNIAS?

>> I'M NOT REALLY EXACTLY FOR SURE WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO KIND OF ACTUALLY DIG IN THERE AND LOOK AT THAT.

BUT THEY DID SAY THAT THEY DID USE NEW SOIL, WHICH I WOULD HAVE RECOMMENDED.

DON'T USUALLY YOU REUSE THE SOIL FROM THE YEAR BEFORE IF YOU'RE WORKING WITH ANNUALS, IF YOU DID HAVE SOME KIND OF DISEASE OR SOMETHING IN THERE AND YOU'RE GOING TO USE THE SAME CONTAINER, I WOULD VERY HIGHLY SUGGEST USING LIKE A 10% BLEACH SOLUTION TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CLEANING THAT OUT.

THE COUPLE THINGS THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IS THAT ALWAYS USE NEW SOIL.

MAKE SURE THAT IT HAS SOME NICE WOOD BARK IN IT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE GOOD DRAINAGE.

I USUALLY DON'T RECOMMEND THE SOIL THAT HAS THE FERTILIZER IN IT.

GO GET YOUR OWN FERTILIZER AND PUT IT IN THERE AND USE THAT EXTENDED RELEASE ONE.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S JUST KIND OF THAT'S THE WAY IT IS.

SO WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO ACTUALLY PULL IT APART AND TELL YOU, THAT'S THE BEST I CAN GIVE YOU FOR THAT ANSWER.

>> YOUR NEXT PHOTO COMES FROM RALSTON.

THEY HAVE EIGHT YEAR OLD HARDY HIBISCUS AND THEY LOOK GOOD AT SOME POINT IN TIME.

BUT THEN THEY START TO GO DOWNHILL AND THEY WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> YEAH.

SO WE'RE SEEING THIS QUITE A BIT.

WE ACTUALLY HAD ONE IN THE COURTYARD THAT KIND OF DID THE SAME THING WHERE IT WORKED.

IT WAS REALLY GOOD FOR 3 OR 4 YEARS, AND THEN IT KIND OF STARTED DWINDLING DOWN.

PART OF IT IS THAT YOU NEED TO SOMETIMES DIVIDE THEM, BUT I THINK A LOT OF IT IS OUR WARM, OPEN WINTERS.

THEY'RE JUST REALLY NOT SURVIVING VERY WELL FOR THOSE.

SO IF YOU CAN JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WATERING IT WELL AND GOING INTO FALL AND GIVING IT AS MUCH LOVE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN BEFORE WE GET REALLY COLD, THAT MIGHT HELP YOU MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CUTTING IT BACK AND JUST GIVING IT THE BEST MANAGEMENT YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

>> YOUR LAST QUESTION COMES FROM BELLEVUE.

THEY HAVE A ROSE OF SHARON, AND WITH THE RECENT STORMS IT HAS ALMOST BLOWN OVER.

THEY WANT TO TRY TO SAVE IT, BUT THEY'RE NOT REAL SURE HOW OR IF THEY NEED TO PRUNE OR WHEN.

>> SO YOU CAN PRUNE BACK WHAT YOU CAN.

I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND PRUNING TOO MUCH BACK, BECAUSE ONCE YOU START PRUNING, THEN IT'S GOING TO KIND OF START REASSERTING, RESORTING AND PUTTING NEW GROWTH ON IT.

AND THAT'S GOING INTO WINTER OR INTO FALL.

YOU REALLY WANT YOU DON'T WANT ANY NEW GROWTH ON IT.

SO PRUNE BACK WHAT'S KIND OF BROKEN AND STUFF AND THEN DO SOME GOOD PRUNING THIS WINTER WHEN IT'S IN THE DORMANT STAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

WE'VE GOT A BREAK COMING UP.

BUT BEFORE WE DO THAT, LET'S HEAR FROM GANNON RUSH WITH THE HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FOR THE COMING WEEK.

>> THANKS, ELIZABETH.

I HOPE EVERYONE'S ENJOYING THE NICE DAY WE'RE HAVING, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET A LITTLE TOASTY.

TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY AND OVER THE WEEKEND WILL BE IN THE 80S INTO THE MID 90S.

ON MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 90S AND EVEN INTO THE HUNDREDS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE.

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, THE DEW POINTS WILL BE FAIRLY HIGH AND THE HEAT INDEX IS EXPECTED TO REACH DANGEROUS LEVELS AND NOT TO KEEP PILING IT ON.

BUT THE HEAT IS LIKELY TO STICK AROUND FOR A WHILE.

THE RAIN FORECAST FOR THIS WEEK IS TRICKY, WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT COULD PLAY OUT OFFICIALLY.

AROUND AN INCH IS EXPECTED UP IN THE VALENTINE AREA.

THE CURRENT TREND IS FOR HIGHER AMOUNTS AROUND NORTH PLATTE AND THE OMAHA AREA.

FROM STORMS THIS WEEKEND.

AFTER THIS, A LOT OF IT'S GOING TO DEPEND ON HOW THE WEEKEND STORMS PLAY OUT.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEK WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, ELIZABETH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, GANNON.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK NOW.

BUT COMING UP IS THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK AND THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

LIGHTNING ROUND.

HOW ABOUT THERE'S MUCH MORE BACKYARD FARMER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT HOW TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TYPE OF GRASS YOU HAVE BY TAKING AN UP CLOSE PICTURE AT THE PLANT STRUCTURES, AND YOU CAN STILL CALL IN YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS AT 1(800) 676-5446 OR YOU CAN SEND US EMAIL PICTURES AT BYF@UNL.EDU AND RIGHT NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

SO TERRI, YOU READY?

>> SURE.

>>OKAY.

HERE WE GO.

SO YOUR FIRST QUESTION WHEN DO I TRANSPLANT LAVENDER SEEDLINGS THAT COME UP IN LOCATIONS WHERE I DON'T WANT THEM TO?

>> IN THE FALL USUALLY.

>> DO I NEED TO REPLACE MY SOIL IN MY CONTAINERS EVERY YEAR?

>> YES.

>> KOHLRABI AND BEETS JUST WENT TO ALL TOPS WITH NO ACTUAL ROOT ON THEM.

WHY?

>> IT GOT TOO HOT.

>> ZUCCHINI IS YELLOW, BUT I BOUGHT AND PLANTED THE SEEDS THAT WERE GREEN ONES.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> POOR POLLINATION.

>> BUR OAK PLANTED THIS SPRING, BUT NOW THE LEAVES ARE BROWN ON THE EDGES AND YELLOWING.

IT'S BEEN WATERED WITH A WATER BAG.

IS THIS AN OAK DISEASE OR A WATER ISSUE?

>> I COULD BE A WATER ISSUE.

IT COULD BE TOO MUCH OR MOST LIKELY NOT ENOUGH.

>> OKAY, MY PEPPER PLANTS ARE HEALTHY, BUT THE FLOWERS KEEP FALLING OFF.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT'S TOO HOT.

>> CAN I PLANT MY SPINACH AND LETTUCE THIS FALL IN THE SAME RAISED BEDS THEY WERE IN THIS SPRING?

>> SURE.

>> MY TOMATOES ARE BLOOMING, BUT THEY ARE NOT SETTING ON FRUIT.

>> IT'S TOO HOT.

>> OKAY.

GOOD JOB TERRI.

>> IT'S TOO HOT FOR.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, IT'S TOO HOT.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M JUST.

>> I HAVE MY ANSWERS READY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE.

>> IT'S TOO HOT.

>> NOT WRONG.

ANYWAY, MY PLANTS ARE GETTING BLACK.

MY TOMATO PLANT TOMATOES ARE GETTING BLACK ENDS ON THEM.

HOW CAN I FIX THAT.

>> AT THIS POINT?

YOU CAN'T.

THAT'S BLOSSOM END ROT.

>> MY CUCUMBERS HAVE WHAT LOOKS LIKE CLAW MARKS ON THEM, BUT THERE'S NO CRITTERS AROUND.

AND THEY HAVE A TRAIL CAM.

IS THIS A DISEASE?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

NO.

>> MY ASPARAGUS PLANTS ARE PUTTING UP THESE WILD, CURLED SPEARS.

IS THIS A DISEASE?

>> NO, THEY'RE MOST LIKELY FASCIATED.

SO THAT'S REALLY FASCINATING.

>> IF I PUT ALL THOSE BIG BROWN EAR LIKE MUSHROOMS UNDER MY ASH IN THE COMPOST AND THEN USE COMPOST IN THE GARDEN, WILL I TRANSFER THOSE MUSHROOMS TO MY GARDEN?

>> UNLESS YOU ARE GROWING ASH TREES IN YOUR GARDEN?

NO.

>> OKAY.

THE TOPS OF MY POTATO PLANTS ARE YELLOWING WITH SUNKEN IN BROWN SPOTS ON THE LEAVES.

WILL THIS MAKE MY POTATOES HAVE SCABBY SKINS?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

THAT'S PROBABLY EARLY BLIGHT THAT'S ON YOUR POTATOES.

THE SCABBY SKINS COME FROM FUSARIUM AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO WIN ANYWAY.

SO I CAN JUST KEEP TALKING.

>> OKAY.

MATT, IS IT TRUE THAT PRE-EMERGENCE FOR LAWNS ARE KILLING BIRDS BECAUSE THE BIRDS EAT INFECTED WORMS?

>> NEVER HEARD OF THAT.

>> I ACCIDENTALLY SPRAYED WEEDS WITH TRICLOPYR AND 2,4D TILLED PLANTED TOMATOES, PUMPKINS ALL DIED.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY NEED TO DO FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> DON'T APPLY TRICLOPYR.

IT STAYS IN THE SOIL FOR A TIME, BUT NEXT YEAR YOU SHOULD BE FINE.

>> PURSLANE IS PROLIFIC IN OMAHA.

HOW CAN I CAN I SPRAY NOW TO KEEP IT FROM SEEDING ALL OVER.

SOMETHING THAT IS QUICK HAS CARFENTRAZONE IN IT, WORKS WELL IF IT'S ON A BARE AREA.

>> GLUFOSINATE I WANT TO PLUG THE BUFFALO GRASS INTO AN IRRIGATED YARD.

CAN I DO THAT THIS FALL AND IF SO, HOW EARLY?

AND THEY'RE IN HASTINGS.

>> ANYTIME I MEAN, MOISTURE IS BETTER, BUT IF IT GOES DORMANT AND YOU PLUG IT, IT MIGHT SURVIVE.

IF IT HAS ENOUGH WATER THROUGH THE WINTER.

>> THE LINCOLN LAWN IS REALLY LUMPY FROM SQUIRRELS AND OTHER ANIMALS.

BUT IF I HAVE IT ROLLED, WILL IT BE COMPACTED?

>> PROBABLY, BUT IT'S PROBABLY FROM WORMS.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK.

EARTHWORMS WOULD BE MY GUESS FROM ALL THE BUMPS.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

JODY, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE SWALLOWTAIL CATERPILLARS TO PUPATE AND TO TURN INTO BUTTERFLIES.

>> DURING THE PUPATIONS?

ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

>> SO WHAT CAN THIS LA VISTA VIEWER SPRAY ON THEIR PURPLE LEAF, SAND CHERRY AND CRABAPPLES TO KEEP THE JAPANESE BEETLES OFF?

>> YOU CAN DO NEEM OIL.

>> WHAT CAN I SPRAY IN MY YARD TO HELP WITH CHIGGERS AND OTHER PESTS?

PREFERABLY SOMETHING THAT WON'T HARM PEOPLE OR PETS.

>> JUST WEAR DEET.

I WOULDN'T SPRAY THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> OKAY, HUGE JUNE BEETLES THAT LOOK LIKE JAPANESE BEETLES ARE INFESTING THEIR YARD, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> THOSE ARE GREEN JUNE BEETLES, AND YOU DON'T NEED TO GET RID OF THEM.

THEY'LL JUST FLY AWAY AND THEY DON'T DO ANY DAMAGE.

>> WHAT ARE THE GIANT BLUE BLACK WASP LIKE INSECTS?

AND WHY WOULD THEY BE FIGHTING WITH CICADA KILLERS?

>> SO THOSE ARE THE GREAT, THE GREAT BLACK WASPS.

AND THEY'RE JUST FIGHTING WITH THEM FOR TERRITORY OVER THEIR NECTAR SOURCES.

>> OKAY.

>> WE CAN'T.

>> COMPETE WITH CHERRY.

CHERRY, OBVIOUSLY.

>> ONE, BECAUSE.

>> SHE'S TOO HOT.

TOO HOT.

>> IT IS HOT OUT.

>> SO OUR GARDEN IS REALLY STARTING TO PUT ON A SHOW THIS TIME OF YEAR AND HERE'S TERRI TO HIGHLIGHT ONE OF OUR ALL AMERICAN SELECTIONS IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

>> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE LOOKING AT OUR ALL-AMERICA SELECTION 2025 PLANT WINNERS.

THIS WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT A NEW DAHLIA CALLED BLACK FOREST RUBY.

KIND OF IMPRESSED WITH THIS ONE.

I MUST SAY IT.

WE WERE ABLE TO START IT WITH SEED.

DIDN'T HAVE TO GET IT IN TOO EARLY.

PROBABLY MID FEBRUARY I THINK IS ABOUT WHEN WE PLANTED IT.

BUT THIS ONE IS LOOKING GREAT ACCORDING TO ALL OF THE JUDGES.

I'M GOING TO AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAID.

THIS ONE HAS STAYED UPRIGHT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY DISEASE ON IT SO FAR AND YOU ALL KNOW THAT WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF DISEASES THROUGHOUT OUR GARDEN THIS YEAR, WITH ALL OF OUR HIGH HUMIDITY AND RAIN.

IT HAS NOT FLOPPED.

IT HAS A SEMI-DOUBLE FLOWER, SO IT'S LOOKING REALLY NICE.

IT HAS THESE GORGEOUS BLACK LEAVES WITH THESE REALLY BRIGHT KIND OF ALMOST HUSKER RED-RED.

SO AN IMPRESSIVE ONE.

IT WILL DEFINITELY MAKE A STATEMENT IN THE GARDEN.

SO TRY TO FIND THE DAHLIA BLACK FOREST RUBY FOR NEXT YEAR IN YOUR GARDEN, AND STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN AND CHECK IT OUT.

>> WE'RE SO PROUD OF OUR GARDEN AND ALL THE GORGEOUS PLANTS WE CAN SHOW YOU EACH WEEK.

SO RIGHT NOW WE HAVE THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK AND TERRI'S GOING TO TELL US MORE ABOUT THEM.

>> YEP.

SO THESE CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE GARDEN TODAY.

SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY TWO ANNUALS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

THE TOP TALL ONE IS CHAMOMILE.

SO THIS ONE IS GREAT.

IT CAN BE A PERENNIAL HERE.

AND IT'S A GREAT HERB.

YOU CAN MAKE SOME TEAS BUT IT'S ALSO A GREAT POLLINATOR.

AND THEN THE FRONT ONE THE ORANGE ONE.

THIS IS A COSMOS.

THIS IS COSMIC ORANGE COSMOS.

THIS ONE IS A REALLY NICE ONE.

DOESN'T GET A LOT OF DISEASES.

THERE'S MULTIPLE DIFFERENT COLORS FOR THIS ONE.

SO IT'S A GREAT SERIES IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOME COSMOS IN THE GARDEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL THANKS TERRI FOR SHARING THOSE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS.

FIRST IS THE MONUMENT VALLEY IRISH SHOW.

IT IS SATURDAY JULY 19TH FROM 10 TO 1.

THAT'S AT THE NEBRASKA RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER.

THE NEXT ONE IS GOING TO BE THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE THEATER WEST GARDEN WALK.

THAT IS ALSO SATURDAY, JULY 19TH FROM 8:30 TO 12.

THE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT SEVERAL GERING AND SCOTTSBLUFF BUSINESSES.

AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS DAYLILY DAYS AT HARMONY NURSERY AND DAYLILY FARM THAT IS JULY 7TH THROUGH THE 26TH, AND IT'S AT SEVERAL TIMES DURING THOSE DAYS.

THAT'S IN BRADSHAW, NEBRASKA.

THEY HAVE OVER 550 DAYLILY VARIETIES.

SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

JODY, YOUR FIRST ONE IS THIS GIANT MOTH.

THEY WONDER WHAT IT IS, WHAT IT EATS AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S NATIVE.

>> IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL.

IT IS NATIVE.

IT'S CALLED A PANDORA SPHINX MOTH.

AND IT WILL EAT AS LARVAE, GRAPEVINES, PEPPER VINES WHICH WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.

AND WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE?

VIRGINIA CREEPER VIRGINIA CREEPER.

I'M NOT A PLANT.

>> PERSON.

>> BUT THOSE ARE WHAT THEY EAT.

>> YOUR NEXT ONE COMES FROM LINCOLN.

THEY GOT THIS GRAY HUMMINGBIRD LOOKING MOTH ON THEIR BEEBALM.

THEY'RE TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHAT EXACTLY IT IS.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS ONE IS A TITAN SPHINX MOTH AND IT DOES COME UP THIS NORTH, BUT IT'S MOSTLY GOING TO FEED AS LARVAE ON TROPICAL PLANTS LIKE MADDER AND BEDSTRAW.

BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THAT THERE IS A NEBRASKA LEPIDOPTERA WEBSITE.

IF YOU WANT TO SEE ALL THE DIFFERENT MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES IN NEBRASKA, THERE'S A 40 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPHINX MOTHS AND THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL.

>> I NEVER KNEW.

>> NOW I KNOW.

SO I'M TELLING YOU.

>> YOUR NEXT PHOTO COMES FROM OMAHA AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS SOLDIER BEETLE.

>> OKAY, SO EVERYONE'S HEARD OF THE FLY FUNGUS.

THIS IS A SOLDIER BEETLE FUNGUS?

FUNGUS?

SO THIS FUNGUS DOES, LIKE MIND CONTROL.

TAKES OVER THIS SOLDIER BEETLE.

IT MAKES IT CLIMB UP TO THE TOP OF, LIKE VEGETATION, DIG IN ITS MANDIBLES, IT GETS STUCK THERE, ITS BODY SPREADS APART, AND SPORES TRICKLE DOWN, INFECTING.

IT ONLY WORKS ON SOLDIER BEETLES, THOUGH.

>> AND YOUR LAST PICTURE IS FROM OMAHA.

THEY FOUND THESE ON THE UNDERSIDES OF THEIR REDBUD AND THEY WONDERED WHAT IT IS.

>> SO THIS USED TO BE A CATERPILLAR THAT WAS TAKEN OVER BY A PARASITOID WASP.

SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE PUPA OF THE PARASITOID WASP OFFSPRING AFTER IT ATE THE CATERPILLAR.

>> AND MATT, NOW IT IS YOUR TURN.

>> AWESOME.

>> WE'LL TAKE THOSE DOWN.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE.

NEXT ONES.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THEY FOUND THESE COCKLEBUR LOOKING WEEDS IN THEIR YARD AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT IT IS.

>> YEAH.

AND THIS ONE DOES LOOK LIKE COCKLEBUR.

BUT IT'S NOT THAT I THINK IT IS THE WHAT IS IT, THE SNAKE CANADIAN BLACK SNAKE, RIGHT.

IS WHAT IT IS.

AND IT IS KIND OF A NATIVE PERENNIAL.

AND IT'S GROWN PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

SO I WOULD SAY IF YOU DON'T WANT THAT THERE, EACH ONE OF THOSE HAS TWO SEEDS IN IT, AND IT CAN SPREAD AND THRIVE IN THOSE AREAS THAT ARE JUST KIND OF BARE.

SO PULL IT OUT AND GET RID OF IT.

IF YOU DON'T WANT THOSE IN THERE.

>> YOUR NEXT PHOTO IS AN IDENTIFICATION AS WELL.

ON THIS LARGE LEAF FUZZY PLANT THAT'S KIND OF HIDING BACK IN THERE.

>> AND THIS ONE, I'M PRETTY SURE THIS ONE'S BURDOCK.

AND IT DOES.

IT'S A PERENNIAL.

SO IT'LL SET THOSE BIG LEAVES.

AND THEN NEXT YEAR IT'LL SET THOSE KIND OF COCKLEBUR LOOKING THINGS TOO.

AND THEY STICK TO YOU WHEN THEY DRY UP AND THEY SPREAD AROUND THROUGH YOU OR THE ANIMALS.

SO I'D SAY DIG THIS ONE OUT AND GET RID OF IT.

>> AND YOUR NEXT ONE, WHAT IS THIS WILDFLOWER.

>> SULFUR CINQUEFOIL.

SO CINQUEFOIL IS WHAT IT'S CALLED.

SO I DON'T I'M NOT TOO I DON'T REALLY SEE THIS ONE VERY MUCH.

>> BUT IT'S A NOXIOUS WEED.

>> IT'S AN HERB TOO, ISN'T IT?

>> IT NEEDS TO BE.

>> CONTROLLED SO IT'LL SPREAD IN NATIVE AREAS.

SO I GUESS YOU SHOULD GET RID OF IT.

>> AND THEN THE LAST ONE IS THIS PLANT THAT CAME UP IN A FLOWER BED.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT IT IS.

>> I THINK YOU CAN EAT THESE ONCE THEY PRODUCE FRUIT.

I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S A TOMATO.

IT'S PROBABLY LIKE A CHERRY TOMATO OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE, THEY HAVE THIS HONEYSUCKLE.

IT'S BEEN THRIVING FOR TEN YEARS, BUT FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THEY SAY IT GETS THIS FUNGUS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW KIND OF WHAT THEY NEED TO BE DOING FOR THEIR HONEYSUCKLE.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS HONEYSUCKLE LEAF BLIGHT IN THE PSIDIUM DEFORMANS.

KIND OF A COOL NAME AS FAR AS WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

I WOULD JUST TRY TO THIN IT OUT IF YOU CAN.

IT'S GOING TO THRIVE WHEN THOSE LEAVES STAY WET.

AND SO TO SOME SELECTIVE PRUNING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT FEW PHOTOS IS THERE'S HOSTAS IN THIS YARD.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE BEEN SPRAYED WITH BLEACH OR HERBICIDE BUT THEY'VE DONE NEITHER.

>> IT'S BEEN HOT.

THIS IS SORRY BUT THIS IS HEAT DAMAGE.

MOST LIKELY THE AREAS KIND OF UNDER THAT, UNDER THAT OVERHANG WHERE THEY WERE SHADED WERE IN AFFECTED AREAS WHERE THEY WERE CLOSER TO CEMENT THAT WOULD HOLD HEAT TENDS TO BE AFFECTED.

SO IT'S MOST LIKELY HEAT DAMAGE.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RECOVER FROM THAT RIGHT NOW.

>> SO YOUR NEXT PHOTO COMES FROM OMAHA.

THEY'VE GOT THESE SPOTS OF BROWN DEAD GRASS IN THEIR BLUEGRASS LAWN.

THEY'RE KIND OF WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS SUMMER PATCH.

AND SO RIGHT NOW THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT NEXT SPRING YOU WOULD WANT TO APPLY A FUNGICIDE.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT WOULD CONTAIN CHLOROTHALONIL.

ONCE THOSE TEMPERATURES GET TO ABOUT 65 DEGREES FOR FIVE DAYS IN A ROW.

>> AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER PHOTO OF BROWN SPOTS IN THE LAWN AGAIN.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK THIS ONE IS DOLLAR SPOT.

DOLLAR SPOT IS GOING CRAZY NOW.

IT HAS LIKED THE HAS LIKED THE HEAT, HAS LIKED THE MOISTURE.

VERY COMMON.

ANY OF YOUR BROAD SPECTRUM FUNGICIDES WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN CONTROLLING THAT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT TERRI YOU'VE GOT A FEW PICTURES OF FROM A VIEWER IN BLAIR.

THEY HAVE AN AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE.

IT STARTED OFF BUT THEN IT STARTED TO GO DOWNHILL.

THEY WONDERED WOULD THIS TREE RECOVER FROM THIS?

HOW DO THEY PRUNE IT?

>> I THINK THIS IS BASICALLY A FORMER TREE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A PLANTED A LITTLE TOO DEEP.

IT'S GOT SOME WOUND ON IT, WHICH PROBABLY HAPPENED OVER THE WINTERS.

SO I WOULD PROBABLY, IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO KEEP IT.

IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS SOME THAT WERE KIND OF MATCHING.

YOU CAN TRY TO KEEP IT, BUT MOST LIKELY IT'S JUST GOING TO KEEP DECLINING.

SO I WOULD PROBABLY JUST GO AHEAD AND GET A NEW ONE.

>> YOUR NEXT PHOTO IS FROM A VIEWER THAT HAS A SWAMP WHITE OAK, THAT HAS THIS CRACK THAT HAS SHOWED UP A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING ANY WORSE, BUT THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW IS IT SOMETHING THAT THEY NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT?

>> YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW, KYLE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS ABOUT THE TREE THAT HE HAD.

ALSO I THE ONLY THING THAT I'D BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOT AN OPEN WOUND.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S KIND OF HEALING AND IT HASN'T GOTTEN WORSE.

KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

MAKE SURE GOING INTO WINTER, YOU'RE WATERING THEM.

IF WE DON'T GET RAIN, IF THE RAIN STOPS.

BUT JUST KEEP A REALLY CLOSE EYE ON IT.

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO GET AN ARBORIST IN THERE, JUST TO HAVE A GOOD LOOK AT IT, TO KIND OF SEE FOR SURE HOW DEEP IT IS AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

>> SO AND YOUR LAST PHOTO IS A VIEWER IN ARLINGTON.

THEY HAVE A LARGE MAPLE TREE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

IT'S DEVELOPED SMALL YELLOW LEAVES ON THE NORTH SIDE.

AND THEN IT KIND OF WORKS ITS WAY AROUND THE TREE.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS TREE.

>> YEAH, I'M WONDERING IF THIS MIGHT ACTUALLY BE A ROOT ISSUE.

I THINK THAT THE WAY IT'S KIND OF LOOKING, THERE MIGHT BE MAYBE SOME GIRDLING ROOTS OR SOMETHING ON THE ONE SIDE THAT'S KIND OF IMPEDING SOME OF THE NUTRIENTS AND STUFF GOING UP.

THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD TRIED TO PUT SOME IRON OR SOMETHING DOWN ON THE TURF, AND I JUST I THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE AGAIN, I WOULD MAYBE CALL AN ARBORIST AND HAVE THEM COME TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE A ROOT ISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

SO IDENTIFYING CERTAIN TYPES OF GRASSES AND WEEDS CAN BE REALLY HELPFUL WHEN IT COMES TO HOW YOU CARE FOR YOUR TURF OR HOW YOU ELIMINATE THESE WEEDS.

SO HERE'S CHERYL DUNN TO TELL US MORE.

>> GRASSES HAVE AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF VARIETY.

AND IF YOU KNOW JUST A FEW THINGS TO LOOK FOR, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY YOUR GRASSES TOO.

SO LET'S START OFF FIRST WITH THE INFLORESCENCE.

NOW, I KNOW YOU MIGHT SAY THAT YOU WORK IN A YOU'RE IN A GRAZED OR YOU'RE IN A MOWED SYSTEM, BUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN YOU'RE GOING TO GET AN INFLORESCENCE.

AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF INFLORESCENCES, THEY CAN BE WIDE OPEN OR THEY CAN LOOK ALMOST VERY SPIKE LIKE.

SO MAKE NOTE OF WHAT YOU HAVE.

THEN AS YOU MOVE DOWN THE PLANT ITSELF, YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO THE COLLAR OF THE LEAF.

AND THAT'S AT THE VERY END OF THAT LEAF BLADE.

THAT COLLAR HOLDS A LOT OF INFORMATION.

AND IF IT'S MOST MOTOR GRAZED, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO LOOK AT.

AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO PULL THAT LEAF BACK AND LOOK AT FOR THE LIGULE THAT LIGULE IS GOING TO BE AT THE END OF THAT LEAF AND IT'S GOING TO BE HAIRY, IT'S GOING TO BE MEMBRANOUS, OR IT'S GOING TO BE MISSING SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND MAKE NOTE OF IT.

ALSO HERE AT THIS COLLAR THEY COULD HAVE ORACLES.

AND WHAT ARE ORACLES?

ORACLES ARE JUST FINGER LIKE PROJECTIONS RIGHT AT THAT AREA THAT MIGHT BE CLASPING AROUND THE STEM.

AND SO YOU WANT TO MAKE NOTE OF THAT, TO ALSO LOOK AT THE TIP OF YOUR LEAF TO SEE IF IT'S BOAT SHAPED.

THAT'LL HELP WITH IDENTIFYING CERTAIN GRASSES TOO.

SO GO DOWN THE REST OF THE STEM.

NOTE ANYTHING THAT'S HAIRY, MAYBE CUT OPEN THE STEM TO SEE IF IT'S ROLLED, IF THE LEAF BUDS ARE ROLLED IN THERE, OR IF IT'S FLATTENED, THAT'S WHAT WE CALL VERNATION.

AND BEFORE YOU GO AWAY FROM YOUR PLANT, DIG UP SOME OF IT, SEE IF IT'S GOT A RHIZOME OR MAYBE SOMETHING ABOVEGROUND CALLED A STOLEN, OR IT'S JUST A BUNCHGRASS.

EITHER WAY, IF YOU CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT YOUR GRASS IS, MAKE SURE YOU SEND US SOME INFORMATION OR PICTURES IN THOSE AREAS AND WE CAN HELP YOU GET THOSE IDENTIFIED.

>> THANKS, CHERYL, AND HOPEFULLY THAT WILL HELP YOU TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF GRASS YOU HAVE AND HOW TO BETTER TAKE CARE OF IT.

AND WE'VE GOT A FEW A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR SOME PICTURE QUESTIONS.

SO JODY, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM OMAHA.

THEY FOUND THIS HUGE INSECT THAT WAS 5 OR 6 IN LONG, AND THEY WERE ALL WORRIED IT WAS GOING TO EAT THEIR HOUSE.

>> OKAY.

IT'S NOT GOING TO EAT YOUR HOUSE.

IT IS A GIANT ICHNEUMONID WASP.

AND MOST OF THAT INCHES IS THAT OVIPOSITOR WHICH IT USES TO BORE INTO WOOD TO FIND ITS PREY, WHICH IS A WOOD WASP.

>> OKAY.

YES, MATT, WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER.

THEY HAVE THIS HALF MOON DEAD CIRCLE OF BROWN TURF, AND THEY WERE WONDERING WHAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY HAPPENED IN THAT AREA IN ONE LARGE SWEEP LIKE THAT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, IT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT WAS APPLIED.

IT COULD ALSO BE FAIRY RING.

IT COULD JUST BE THE HALF LIKE ONE SIDE OF IT WORKING ITS WAY OUT.

SO IF YOU CHECK AND SEE IF IT'S REALLY DRY WHERE THAT SPOT IS, IT COULD BE HYDROPHOBIC.

AND THAT WOULD BE A TYPICAL SIGN OF FAIRY RING.

OTHERWISE SOMETHING WAS APPLIED AND A HALF MOON AND FERTILIZE THAT AREA AND LET IT GROW IN OTHERWISE WATERED.

IF IT'S FAIRY RING.

>> OKAY KYLE, WE HAVE A VIEWER THAT WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEIR ZUCCHINI.

THE PLANT LOOKS HEALTHY, IT'S PRODUCING SOME NORMAL FRUIT, BUT THESE ARE OBVIOUSLY NOT NORMAL.

>> YEAH, THE BLOSSOM ENDS ARE ROTTING.

THIS IS BLOSSOM END ROT AGAIN.

AND IT'S BEEN INFECTED WITH OTHER SECONDARY FUNGI.

THAT'S WHAT ALL THE FUZZY STUFF IS.

REALLY NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW.

MOISTURE CONTROL IS THE BEST THING TO DO WHEN WE GET AN INCH OF RAIN AT A TIME, IT'S REALLY HARD TO MANAGE HOW MUCH MOISTURE WE'RE GETTING.

WE'RE GETTING GIVING OUR FRUIT.

SO WE WHEN IT WHEN THE WHEN IT DOES DRY OUT MORE, WE JUST WANT TO MANAGE OUR WATER BETTER.

>> OKAY, TERRI, FOR YOUR LAST QUESTION, THERE'S A FEW QUESTIONS ON THIS.

THEY SENT SOME PICTURES OF SOME TREES THAT ESCAPED THEIR YARD.

ONE OF THEM IS GOING TO BE THE TREE OF HEAVEN, AND THEY WANT TO CUT IT DOWN.

AND THEN THEY'RE ALSO DEALING WITH VOLUNTEER KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE.

SO HOW WOULD THEY CONTROL THOSE?

>> SO THE VOLUNTEER, THE COFFEE TREE, YOU CAN JUST CUT THOSE BACK AND YOU CAN JUST USE LIKE A GLYPHOSATE BECAUSE IT WAS JUST BASICALLY ON A STUMP.

IT WAS ALREADY CUT BACK.

YOU CAN USE SUCKER STOP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ON IT TO THE SEEDS THAT ARE IN THE TURF.

I WOULD PROBABLY USE BOTH A PRE-EMERGE IN THE SPRING TO HELP CONTROL THAT, AND THEN A BROADLEAF WEED KILLER TO GET RID OF THAT BECAUSE IT WAS PRETTY PROLIFIC THROUGHOUT THE TURF.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET AND KEEP MOWING IT.

AND THAT SHOULD HELP ALSO.

>> OKAY, SO KYLE, I HAVE SOME MORE QUESTIONS.

BACK TO THE BLOSSOM END ROT.

YES.

DOES IT AFFECT JUST ZUCCHINIS OR WHAT ALL DOES IT COVER AND WHAT DOES IT AFFECT?

>> I MEAN, MOST OF THE FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN.

SO I MEAN TOMATOES, PEPPERS, ZUCCHINIS, OTHER CUCURBITS PROBABLY OTHER STUFF AS WELL.

I MEAN, I WOULD THINK ANYTHING THAT ANYTHING THAT HAS A BLOSSOM THAT IN THE FRUIT FORMS FROM THAT BLOSSOM, I THINK THE BLOSSOM END ROT CAN BE SOMETHING.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

CAN I PUT CAN I PUT EGGSHELLS DOWN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT DOES THERE'S NOT ADEQUATE EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT ANYTHING LIKE THAT WORKS.

THE BIG THING IS JUST TRYING TO BE CONSISTENT WITH YOUR WATERING, NOT OVERWATERING, NOT UNDERWATERING.

JUST BE CONSISTENT.

IT'S EASY.

RIGHT?

>> SURE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND ON THAT NOTE, UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK'S BACKYARD FARMER.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED A QUESTION THIS WEEK, AND A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES TONIGHT WAS TIM DUNGAN AND GARY BELL.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT A CONSERVATION PROJECT AT BESSEY NURSERY IN THE SANDHILLS.

THEY ARE SAVING AND GROWING SEEDS THAT WILL HELP PRESERVE THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF NATIVE PLANTS AND TREES.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER WEBSITE AT BYF@UNL.EDU AND SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

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