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

TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'LL SEE WHAT EVERGREENS ARE BEST FOR OUR AREA.

AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT FIRE PREVENTION TIPS YOU CAN DO AROUND YOUR YARD.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'RE OFF TO ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO BE BACK.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY DIALING 1-800-676-5446.

OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU, AND WE'LL TAKE YOUR PICTURES AND EMAILS FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

OUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT THOSE QUESTIONS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ON FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE, AND INSTAGRAM.

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

WE ALWAYS START WITH SAMPLES AND JODY, YOHAVE A PLETHORA.

>> I BROUGHT A LOT OF STUFF.

SO AS AN ENTOMOLOGIST, I LIKE TO CATCH THE BUGS BEFORE THEY GET AWAY.

SO I BROUGHT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU MAY GET.

SO A LOT OF LIKE KID TOYS HAVE BUG CATCHERS.

THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY PRETTY COOL.

I LIKE THIS ONE BECAUSE IT CAN GO IN THE CORNER, BUT ESSENTIALLY YOU CAN DO THE SAME THING WITH TOOLS YOU HAVE AT HOME.

I WOULD RECOMMEND A CLEAR CONTAINER BECAUSE YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT'S GOING ON, BUT YOU SEE THE BUG, YOU PUT IT OVER TOP, YOU GET A PIECE OF CARDSTOCK OR SOMETHING THAT'S LIKE STURDY, AND YOU SLIDE IT UNDERNEAT AND THEN YOU FLIP IT OVER CAREFULLY, AND THEN YOU PUT THE LID OVER TOP.

SLIDE AWAY THE PAPER AND THEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR BUG ON MY WAY HERE TODAY FROM OMAHA.

CAUGHT THIS IN MY GARAGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN SEE IT.

CAN YOU SEE THIS WOLF SPIDER?

AND I DID IT WITH MY BUG CATCHERS.

SO THIS IS HOW YOU CAN DO THIS AT HOME.

YOU CAN RELEASE THEM BACK OUTSIDE IF YOU WANT.

AND IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO LIVE ANYMORE, YOU CAN PUT THEM IN THE FREEZER TO DO THAT HUMANELY.

BUT OR YOU CAN KEEP THEM AS A PET.

I MIGHT KEEP THIS ONE FOR THE WEEKEND AND LET IT GO WHEN I FEEL LIKE IT.

>> I CAN JUST IMAGINE WHEN MY FAMILY WOULD OPEN THE FREEZER AND THERE'S A DEAD SPIDER IN A BOX IN THERE.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> YOU PUT A SIGN, DO NOT EAT, DO NOT LOOK.

>> BUT OKAY, TERRI, WHAT DID YOU BRING?

>> SO I BROUGHT MY FAVORITE TOOL.

LAST WEEK JEFF HAD SOME WEEDS THAT HE GOTUT OF THE GARDEN.

SO THIS IS WHAT I USE TO GET ALL THOSE WEEDS OUT OF THE GARDEN.

THIS IS A SOIL KNIFE, A FANTASTIC TOOL.

I WILL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT IT ALL SEASON LONG.

IF I'M TELLING YOU TO GET WEEDS OUT OF YOUR TURF, THIS IS THE BEST THING TO USE.

IT'S GOT REALLY NICE SERRATED EDGE, GOT THE LITTLE RULER ON IT, AND THEN IT'S EVEN GOT THE LITTLE HOOK ON IT TO GET YOUR STRING OR SOMETHING.

IT CAN GET WET, IT CAN DRY.

IT IS THE BEST TOOL THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE IN YOUR GARDENING ARSENAL.

>> AND YOU HAVE MANY, MANY, MANY.

>> I DO, I HAVE SEVERAL ACTUALLY JUST FRONT YARD, BACK YARD, GARAGE AND ONE IN THE CAR.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF WEEDS IN THE CAR.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

>> OKAY, MIKE, YOU'RE UP.

>> THANKS, KIM.

I BROUGHT CROSS-SECTION OF CROWN GALL.

IT'S PRETTY, PRETTY COOL.

DON WEEKS, AN EMERITUS PROFESSOR.

HERE, LET ME BORROW THIS.

I'M TEACHING A COURSE ON BIOLOGICAL CONTROL.

SO USING BENEFICIAL MICROBES TO CONTROL PATHOGENS.

AND THIS IS A PRETTY NEAT DISEASE, IF YOU WILL, ON THE OUTSIDE.

CAN YOU GET THIS LARGE GALL?

OFTENTIMES IT'S CALLED CROWN GALL BECAUSE IT'S FOUND AT THE CROWN OF A TREE.

BUT THE NEAT THING ABOUT THIS IS THE CROSS SECTION THAT YOU CAN SEE HERE.

THIS IS CAUSED BY A BACTERIAL, BACTERIUM THAT GETS IN AND ACTUALLY DEPOSITS A PIECE OF DNA CALLED TUMOR INDUCING DNA, OR D.I.

PLASMID D.I.

DNA, AND IT CAUSES THE CELLS TO MULTIPLY RAPIDLY.

SO THAT'S CALLED HYPERPLASIA.

AND THEN HYPERTROPHY LARGE LARGE CELLS.

AND ULTIMATELY THAT CREATES A GALL.

AND I THINK THAT'LL BE IMPORTANT LATER IN THE SHOW.

>> YES IT WILL.

>> YES, MA'AM.

>> ALL RIGHT ELIZABETH, YOU GET THE BEAUTY AS ALWAYS.

>> I DO.

SO THE SAMPLE THAT I OUGHT TODAY IS BLOOMING ALL OVER LINCOLN.

THIS IS ONE OF THE SERVICE BERRIES, ALSO KNOWN AS THE JUNEBERRY.

SO WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE THE REGENT SERVICEBERRY.

THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT'S EITHER GOING TO BE A LARGE SHRUB OR SMALL TREE.

IT CAN GET 5 TO 8 FOOT TALL, 5 TO 8 FOOT WIDE.

THE BEAUTY ABOUT THIS IS MULTIPLE SEASONS OF INTEREST.

WE HAVE THESE SPRING FLOWERS FOLLOWED BY EDIBLE FRUIT IF YOU CAN BEAT THE BIRDS.

AND THEN LATER IN THE SEASON WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NICE FALL COLOR.

AND SO WITH THE SHRUB, THIS IS WHEN WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT LIKES THAT SUN PART SHADED KIND OF PLACE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE WANT IT TO BE A MULTIPLE STEMMED SHRUB, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY PRUNING IT SUCH THAT IT WILL BE A MULTIPLE STEM SHRUB, OR WE'RE GOING TO LET IT BE THAT SMALL TREE, BUT JUST A REALLY GREAT ONE TO ADD TO OUR LANDSCAPE.

>> WONDERFUL.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

AS ALWAYS, WE START WITH THE BUG CHAIR.

JODY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A BRUNING VIEWER FROM THAYER COUNTY.

AND HE FOUND THIS CRITTER IN THE BASEMENT.

AND I THINK HE GAVE US TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SO DO WE KNOW WHAT THIS ONE IS?

>> WE DO.

AND THIS IS PROBABLY THE BEST CRITTER TO FIND IF YOU DO HAVE TO FIND SOMETHING IN YOUR BASEMENT.

SO THIS IS CALLED A SOWBUG.

THEY ARE ALSO SOMETIMES CALLED ROLY POLIES, EXCEPT THIS ONE DOES NOT ROLL.

SO THIS ONE'S A SOWBUG.

THE OTHER ONE'S CALLED A PILLBUG.

WE ALSO CALL THESE WOODLICE OR WOODLOUSE.

IF THERE'S MORE THAN ONE.

THEY ARE SCAVENGERS AND WE SOMETIMES HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM IN THEIR GARDEN.

BUT IF THEY'RE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE, THAT MEANS THERE IS A GAP UNDER A DOOR AND THEY'RE COMING IN.

AND IF THERE'S HIGH MOISTURE OR DAMP AREAS, THEY'LL LIKE THOSE AREAS TOO.

SO JUST SWEEP THEM UP, PUT THEM BACK OUTSIDE OR DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT, AND THEN SEAL THOSE ENTRYWAYS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOUR NEXT ONE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON.

AND THIS IS A CAN YOU IDENTIFY THIS BUG ALSO FOUND IN HIS HOUSE.

AND WE DON'T HE DIDN'T SAY.

>> SO.

THIS IS LIKE.

THE ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS TO FIND AS AN ENTOMOLOGIST AND A NORMAL PERSON.

THIS IS A PSEUDOSCORPION.

SO THAT MEANS FALSE SCORPION.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A SCORPION AT ALL.

AND IT DOESN'T STING.

IT'S COMPLETELY HARMLESS.

IT LOOKS LIKE A LIGHT BULB WITH GIANT LIKE PINCHERS, BUT HARMLESS.

THEY LIKE CRACKS AND CREVICES UNDER BARK.

THEY'RE MAINLY OUTDOORS.

VERY, VERY COOL.

>> HE'S LUCKY, IN OTHER WORDS.

ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES TO US FROM SOUTH BEND.

THEY HAVE A HYPERACTIVE DOG, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A GROUND COVER THAT IS DURABLE, PREFERABLY LOW INPUT.

THEY'RE LEANING TOWARD WHITE CLOVER.

>> YEAH.

SO I WOULD, WILL AGREE WITH YOU THAT YOU COULD POTENTIALLY USE WHITE CLOVER, BUT I WOULD PROBABLY GO WITH A STAND OF TURF GRASS ALONG WH THAT CLOVER.

I THINK YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT HE WANTED TO KIND OF FEED SOME OF THE POLLINATORS AND STUFF, ESPECIALLY EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

THE ONLY THING THAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT CLOVER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE DOGS, IS THAT A IT DOES NOT HOLD OVER THE WINTER.

SOOU'RE GOING HAVE JUST DIRT OVER THE WINTER.

AND IT JUST KIND OF JUST SITS THERE.

SO I WOULD ACTUALLY PUT A BLUEGRASS FESCUE MIX.

I WOULD PROBABLY PUT SOME PERENNIAL RYE IN THERE TO KIND OF GET IT UP AND GROWING.

AND THEN IF YOU WANTED TO GO IN WITH SOME OF THAT CLOVER TOO, IF YOU WANTED TO KIND OF THAT MULTI PLANT GROWTH IN THERE, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD IDEA.

BUT I WITH DOGS, I WOULDN'T GO WITH JUST CLOVER.

I THINK YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A BIG MESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

SO THIS VIEWER EVERY YEAR HE HAS MORE HENBIT.

AND HE DOESN'T PULL UP BECAUSE HE DOES LOVE THAT THE BEES LIKE IT.

AND HE HAS POLLINATOR FRIENDLY PLANTS, BUT HE'S AFRAID THAT HE'S MAKING HIS PATCHY GRASS PROBLEM WORSE WHEN THE HENBIT DIES IN THE SUMMER.

>> YEAH, SO FUNNY THING, WE JUST HAD THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION ABOUT HENBIT MASTER GARDENER CLASS THIS WEEK.

SO THIS IS A REALLY VERY TIMELY THIS IS AGAIN, ONE OF THE FEW THINGS THAT'S ACTUALLY BLOOMING RIGHT NOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF GETTING IT UP AND GOING.

WHAT I WOULD DO IS JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TURF IS GOING REALLY WELL.

YES, YOU CAN LEAVE IT THERE, BUT IF Y GET A GOOD STAND OF TURF, THEN THAT WILL KIND OF GO AWAY, BUT YOU'LL STILL HAVE ENOUGH TO FEED THE POLLINATORS EARLY IN THE SPRING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

ALL RIGHT, MIKE, YOUR FIRST QUESTION, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

SO THIS IS FROM RURAL DAWSON COUNTY.

EXCUSE ME.

HAPPENED IN THE FESCUE FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

LOOKS LIKE THIS IN EARLY APRIL.

FACES SOUTH, NOT IRRIGATED.

THEY'RE WONDERING, IS THIS A DISEASE OR IS THIS JUST REGULAR OLD FESCUE BLADES DYING?

>> YEAH.

I THINK WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS CLOSELY, THIS IS PROBABLY RUST.

RUST IN THE FALL, ESPECIALLY ON THIS PICTURE IN THE FALL.

IF YOU NOTICED A RUSTY COLORED IF YOU WALK THROUGH THIS AREA AND YOUR SHOES, YOUR WHITE SHOES GOT A LITTLE BIT RED, THAT WOULD BE AN INDICATION IT'S RUST, BUT THE RUST FUNGUS ACTUALLY THE RED SPORES TURN INTO BLACK SPORES.

AND THAT'S HOW THE FUNGUS OVERWINTERS.

SO PRETTY SURE THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GOT HERE.

AND I'D RAKE IT OUT.

AND THIS LOOKED LIKE LOT OF TALL FESCUE.

SO JUST WHAT TERRI SAID, BLEND A LITTLE BIT OF KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS, MAYBE 20% WITH YOUR TALL FESCUE.

WORK THAT SEED BED AND PUT THAT DOWN REPLANT A LITTLE BIT.

>> EXCELLENT.

SO TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE MIKE.

BIG HACKBERRY REMOVED THREE YEARS AGO.

THEY DROWNED OUT THE STUMP, ETC.

SEATEDITH A FESCUE BLEND CAME UP.

OKAY.

OVERSEEDED FINE LAST FALL.

THEN THIS HAPPENED.

SOMETHING WRONG IN THE SOIL?

WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE?

>> YEAH, I THINK ONE OF THE TRICKY THINGS WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING TURF OVER A TREE, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF DECAYING ORGANIC MATTER THERE.

AND ONE OF THESE PICTURES I THINK SHOWS THAT PRETTY WELL.

SO YOU PROBABLY HAVE CARBON NITROGEN IALANCE IN THERE.

AGAIN, I'D PROBABLY WORK THIS UP WITH A RAKE RE BRING IN SOME COMPOST AND RESEED THAT AREA AGAIN WITH SOMETHING THAT CREEPS ALONG WITH THE TALL FESCUE THAT GIVES YOU THE DROUGHT TOLERANCE AND THE DISEASE RESISTANCE.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT ELIZABETH, TWO PICS ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A BERTRAND.

PHELPS COUNTY.

THIS IS A SYCAMORE HIT WITH HERBICIDE DRIFT.

EACH YEAR IT KIND OF ONE SIDE'S GOOD.

ANYTHING HE CAN DO.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WITH HERBICIDE INJURY IT'S GOING TO JUST BE THE THREE W'S: WATER, WATCH AND WAIT.

IF MORE THAN ONE-THIRD IS AFFECTED WE'LL SEE THAT TREE START TO, YOU KNOW, BE STRESSED BECAUSE OF THAT.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WE CAN DO IF IT'S HERBICIDE INJURY OTHER THAN JUST WAIT FOR IT TO RUN ITS COURSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

ELIZABETH.

WELL, WE HAVE EVERGREENS LIKE FIR PINE AND SPRUCE, AND THEY ARE SOME OF THE MOST USEFUL AND PRACTIL TREES AND SHRUBS AROUND OUR LANDSCAPES.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUR HOME.

SO HERE TO GIVE US SOME GREAT SUGGESTIONS IS TODD FALLER.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> I'M OFTEN ASKED EACH YEAR WHAT EVERGREENS WE SHOULD PLANT.

DUE TO A LOT OF THE INSECT AND DISEASE ISSUES WE'VE FACED OVER THE LAST DECADE OR TWO DECADES, AND I TRY TO FIND OPTIONS THAT WE CAN USE FOR BOTH WINDBREAKS AND FOR AROUND THE LANDSCAPE.

CONCOLOR FIR STILL IS PROBABLY MY FAVORITE TREE OVERALL, AND IT'S ONE OF THE BEST TREES YOU CAN USE FOR A WINDBREAK AS WELL AS A SCREEN IN A LANDSCAPE.

GETS QUITE LARGE.

IT'S A GREAT REPLACEMENT FOR BLUE SPRUCE AND GETS ABOUT THE SAME SHAPE.

SO CONCOLOR FIR IS PROBABLY AT THE TOP OF MY LIST.

I LIKE DOMINGO PINE.

IT'S A NEWER VARIETY IN THE LAST 10-15 YEARS.

IT'S ACROSS, DOES VERY WELL, DOESN'T GET THE INSECT OR DISEASE ISSUES THAT WE'VE HAD WITH THE SCOTCH OR THE AUSTRIAN PINE.

SO IT'S A FIVE NEEDLE PINE, WHICH MEANS IT'S RESISTANT TO THE BLIGHT.

DOUGLAS FIR IS ANOTHER GREAT TREE.

I NEVER GAVE CREDIT YEARS AGO.

IT TOLERATES A LOT MORE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE DISH OUT.

WE TRIED IT IN WINDBREAKS AND IT DOES A BEAUTIFUL JOB.

SO I LIKE DOUGLAS FIR.

SO THOSE THREE ARE SOME OF MY TOP ONES.

I LIKE FOR WINDBREAKS FOR UP AROUND THE LANDSCAPE.

I LIKE JAPANESE WHITE PINE FOR THE VARIETY THAT IT BRINGS.

IT CAN BE A LARGE TREE TO A SMALL SPREADING TREE.

THERE'S ALL TYPES OF CULTIVARS FOR THE JAPANESE WHITE PINE.

SO THE JAPANESE WHITE PINE IS UP THERE.

SWISS STONE PINE, VERY COLD, TOLERANT, JUST LIKE THE NAME IMPLIES WRE IT'S NATIVE TO.

SO IT CAN TAKE A LOT OF ROUGH CONDITIONS THAT THE NEBRASKA PRAIRIE DISHES OUT TO IT.

SO I LIKE THE SWISS STONE PINE, THREE CULTIVARS WE USE OF THOSE.

AND THEN FINALLY THE SILVER RAY KOREAN PINE, A BEAUTIFUL, LAYERED, SLOWER GROWING PINE FIVE NEEDLE, AGAIN SO RESISTANT TO THE THE BLIGHTS AND GIVES YOU A BI COLOR ON THE NEEDLE BECAUSE OF THE THE WHITE UNDERSIDES.

SO THOSE ARE SIX TREES.

WE'RE, WE'RE KIND OF LOOKING AT AND USING QUITE A BIT JUST TO, TO GIVE A VARIATION TO, TO WHAT'S OUT THERE AND MAYBE OVERUSED AT TIMES.

AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT TREES TO USE, KIND OF CONSIDER WHERE YOU'RE PUTTING THEM.

THE THING I REMIND CUSTOMERS IS EVERGREENS WOULD RATHER GO A LITTLE TOO DRY THAN TOO WET.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THINK WHERE THEY COME FROM.

MOST OF THEM ARE FROM ROCKY SLOPES GROWING IN ROCK OR SHALE OR SANDSTONE, OR AROUND THE GREAT LAKES, GROWING IN 100% SAND.

SO THEY REALLY AREN'T AFTER A LOT OF WATER MOST OF THE TIME.

SO OUT OF YOUR WHOLE LANDSCAPE, THOSE ARE THE PLANTS YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO WATER THE LEAST.

AND AGAIN, WITH OUR HEAVY CLAY SOILS, IT'S EASIER TO OVERWATER THAN UNDERWATER.

BUT AGAIN WITH OUR DROUGHT YEARS, WE ARE WATERING, WATERING THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE, MAYBE ONCE A MONTH ON SOME OF THE NEWER PLANTED TREES.

>> IF YOU NEED MORE, SOME MORE IN-DEPTH FORMATION ON GOOD SELECTIONS FOR EVERGREENS, USE THAT SMARTPHONE TO SCAN THE QR F COURSE, THANKS TO TODD FALLER FOR HELPING US WITH THESE GREAT SUGGESTIONS.

SO THERE YOU GO.

SCAN THAT QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

REALLY A COOL THING WE'VE ADDED.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH, WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK TO YOU TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A REDBUD THAT CAME UP AS A VOLUNTEER.

AND THEN IT STARTED SLOUGHING OFF AT THE BASE.

DARK TRUNK IS FIRM, BUT IT GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE BASE OF THE TREE.

THIS IS IN BELLEVUE.

SO ARE WE GOING TO SAY OFF WITH HIS HEAD OR.

>> I THINK EVENTUALLY YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT TREE DECLINE TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT.

IF WE TE A CLOSE UP PICTURE, WE'LL SEE THAT THAT BARK IS COMPLETELY GONE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S EITHER STRING TRIMMER OR MOWER CAUSED DAMAGE TO THAT CAMBIUM LAYER.

ONCE THAT'S GONE COMPLETELY AROUND THE TREE, EVENTUALLY THE TOP IS GOING TO DECLINE WITH TIME, SO REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT WILL BE THE EVENTUAL.

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

THIS IS FUN.

THIS IS SIDNEY, NEBRASKA A WINDOW WELL AND HE'S GOT LAMB'S EAR GROWING IN THE SIDE BETWEEN.

AND SHE'S JUST WONDERING, SHOULD SHE JUST LET IT GO AND LET IT GROW?

BECAUSE IT'S OKAY.

>> I MEAN, IF YOU LIKE IT THERE, I'D LEAVE IT.

JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT LAMB'S EAR DOES SPREAD VERY READILY.

BUY SEEDS AND YOU WILL HAVE IT EVERYWHERE.

AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS ON CONTROL.

AND IF YOU DO CHOOSE TO CONTROL IT, YOU'LL EITHER PULL IT OUT OR YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE A BROADLEAF WEED KILLER THAT CONTAINS TRICLOPYR, BUT YOU HAVE TO ADD THE SURFACTANT OR THE SPREADER STICKER BECAUSE OF IT'S SO FUZZY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, JODY, YOU HAVE FOUR PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS CLOVER MITES.

AND THEY ARE EVERYWHERE.

AND THESE ARE YOUR PICTURES.

SO YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT REALLY QUICKLY.

>> THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE AS AN ENTOMOLOGIST WHO GETS ASKED ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME.

AND WHEN I GO HOME.

SO I'VE GOT THESE CLOVER MITES.

SO THIS IS THIS FIRST PICTURE IS THE OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE.

THERE'S A COUPLE PICTURES OF THEM IN THE INSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

SO I ABSOLUTELY UNDERSTAND WHAT HOMEOWNERS ARE WORRIED ABOUT, EXCEPT THAT THEY DO NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE.

THEY DON'T BITE.

THEY CAN STAIN THE WALLS IF YOU TRY TO SQUISH THEM.

BUT WHAT, THE BEST THING TO DO, WHICH IS ORGANIC, IS TO USE THAT SOFT VACUUM TOOL AND VACUUM THEM UP, AND THEN PUT SOME LITTLE GLUE BOARDS OR STICKY TRAPS BY THE WINDOWSILLS TO CATCH THEM BEFORE THEY COME INTO THE HOUSE.

SO THEY'VE BEEN OVERWINTERING ON, ON THE HOUSE OR INSIDE THE WALLS.

AND SO WHEN THEY COME OUT, WHICH THEY'RE WORSE IN THE SPRING, THEY COME IN AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IN THERE.

SO IT IS A PROBLEM, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MANAGE OUR EXPECTATIONS.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO COMPLETELY ELIMINATE THEM.

BUT THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WHITE WINDOWSILLS, THEY GET BOTHERED MORE THAN PEOPLE THAT JUST CHOOSE NOT TO LOOK OR CAN'T SEE THEM.

>> AND I ALWAYS THINK IT'S SO MUCH FUN WHEN THE PANEL ITSELF SAYS, OH MY GOODNESS, LOOK WHAT WE HAVE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S MY HOUSE.

>> OKAY, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS NEXT ONE.

JODY, THIS VIEWER IS BEING DRIVEN CRAZY BY THE MASSIVE NUMBER OF ASIAN LADY BEETLES, AND SHE WONDERS WHERE THEY ORIGINATED.

AND SHE'S WILLING TO TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> OKAY.

SO THE DRASTIC MEASURES SHOULDN'T COME RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE THE MULTICOLORED ASIAN LADY BEETLES.

I ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM ACTUALLY AT MY FARMHOUSE.

IT'S TERRIBLE.

SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT THEY GOT IN IN THE FALL, SO THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET OUT AND THEY'RE BEING REALLY ANNOYING NOW BECAUSE EVERY TIME WE GET A WARM DAY, THEY'RE UP IN THE ATTIC AND OTHER PLACES MOVING AROUND.

SO THEY JUST WANT TO GET OUT, DON'T DO ANYTHING WITH ANY INSECTICIDES OR KILLING THEM, BECAUSE THEN YOU'LL HAVE DEAD BUGS IN THE WALL AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE OTHER PROBLEMS.

SO THE BEST THING TO DO.

WAIT FOR THE FALL WHEN THEY'RE COMING IN, THAT'S WHEN YOU SEAL THINGS UP.

AND IF YOU DO NEED TO TREAT, YOU WANT TO TREAT ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOUSE.

>> I THINK THEY'RE FUN.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE IN MY HOUSE.

ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

LET'S SEE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WONDERING, IS THIS AN ORNAMENTAL FOUNTAIN GRASS.

AND IT WAS LEFT STANDING OVER THE WINTER.

IF NOT, WHAT IS IT?

AND WILL IT SEED ITSELF INTO EVERYTHING ELSE?

>> YEAH.

THIS UNFORTUNATELY IS NOT ORNAMENTAL.

I GUESS IT COULD BE IF YOU LIKED IT, BUT IT'S FOXTAIL, MOST LIKELY.

YES, IT WILL GO ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THIS ONE IS ONE WHERE NORMALLY WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT PRE-EMERGENT FOR CRABGRASS AND THEN TELLING YOU TO DO THAT SECOND KIND OF APPLICATION.

THIS IS THAT ONE THAT WOULD CATCH THAT SECOND APPLICATION, BECAUSE THIS ONE'S GOING TO GERMINATE AT ABOUT 65 DEGREES VERSUS THE 55 FOR CRABGRASS.

SO I WOULD REMOVE THIS AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

I COULDN'T QUITE TELL IF THIS WAS LIKE IN TURF OR IN A LANDSCAPE BED OR WHAT ACTUALLY IT WAS IN.

BUT IF IT'S IN TURF, THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND USE THE PRE-EMERGENT.

YOU'LL MAKE THOSE TWOAPPLS ALREADY UP AND GROWING AND YOU NEED TO GET RID OF IT, THEN QUINCLORAC WOULD BE ONE OF THE CHOICES THAI WOULD DO THAT.

OR YOU CAN USE THE SOIL KNIFE TO GET THAT OUT TOO.

>> SO OKAY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

TERRI, THIS IS VIEWER ALSO IN LINCOLN.

IS THERE A WAY TO GET RID OF GRASS IN A FLOWER BED THAT JUST KILLS THE GRASS?

OR DOES HE NEED TO SPRAY IT ALL WITH ROUNDUP AND START FRESH?

>> IT'S JUST REALLY HARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE DIFFERENT KINDS OF PLANTS IN THERE.

YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET A LITTLE RAIN THIS WEEKEND, IT'S A LITTLE BIT EASIER.

THE SOIL KNIFE WILL WORK, BUT YOU CAN TRY LIKE, LIKE THE GRASS BE GONE.

IT HAD TO BE A SPOT TREATMENT.

SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY YOU WANT TO PUT INTO IT.

SO YES, IT CAN BE DONE, BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

OKAY, MIKE, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

SHE DESCRIBES THIS AS ANY IDEA WITH THIS COW PIE LOOKING THING IS IN HER CANADIAN CHERRY.

AND THIS IS IN TORRINGTON, WYOMING.

SHE HAS HAD THEM INJECTED FOR THOSE FUNGAL DISEASES.

>> YEAH.

I WISH I COULD SEE ALL THREE TREES BECAUSE I THINK THAT WAS PART OF IT.

AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS WOULD SPREAD AND KILL THE HERE.

ONE, THIS COULD BE CROWN LL.

THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT IN THE SAMPLE THAT I DID.

THAT'S BACTERIAL.

SO THE FUNGICIDES AREN'T REALLY GOING TO DO ANYTHING THERE.

IT COULD BE THERE'S BLACK KNOT THAT ATTACKS PRUNUS TREES, BUT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANY BLACK.

NOT THAT I'VE EVER SEEN.

THAT'S USUALLY RESTRICTED TO TREE, TO THE TWIGS.

AND THEN I'D KICK IT OVER TO JODY ON THE INSECT SIDE.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET INSECT GALLS, BUT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A TYPICAL INSECT GALL.

SO I'M GOING WITH CROWN GALL AND GUESSING THAT'S THE ONLY LOCATION IN YOUR THREE TREES, IT'S A PRETTY COOL ANOMALY.

JUST MAKE SURE THAT THE TREE IS THE TREE STRUCTURALLY SOUND?

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU.

MIKE.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

LARGE ROW OF EVERGREENS.

THIS IS IN OMAHA.

LOST ONE DURING A STORM.

AND THEN SHE'S SHE'S GOT SOME FUNGAL DISEASE GOING ON A LITTLE BIT WITH THE INTERIORS.

WONDERING WHAT TO DO HERE.

DIDN'T SEND ANY OTHER PICTURES.

>> YEAH.

THIS WAS A TOUGH ONE BECAUSE IT REALLY, THE PICTURE LOOKED PRETTY GOOD TO ME.

SO MAYBE ELIZABETH SEES SOMETHING IN THERE.

CALL TODD, USE THE QR CODE.

TAKE A LOOK.

YOU KNOW, I DID TALK WITH KYLE AND THE CLINIC AND BLUE SPRUCE IN PARTICULAR.

WE'VE GOT SOME IN OUR YARD.

IF THERE ARE, IF THEY'RE CROWDED, IF THEY GET UNEVEN SUN, YOU CAN GET SOME DISTORTION AND SOME DEAD BRANCHES IN THERE.

BUT WHAT KYLE SEEMED TO INDICATE WAS THEY DO FINE PRETTY WELL TILL ABOUT TEN YEARS.

AND THEN SOMEWHERE IN THAT 10 TO 15 YEAR RANGE, THEY EITHER, YOU KNOW, MAKE IT OR MAYBE PETER OUT.

SO IT WAS KIND OF TOUGH WITHOUT SOME MORE PICTURES.

>> THANKS, MIKE.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE FOUR PICTURES ON THIS, BUT I THINK YOUR ANSWER IS PRETTY OBVIOUS.

TWO WHITE PINES.

ONE STRUGGLED AND DIED ALREADY.

THEY'RE OOZING.

WHITE COLORING HAS LIGHTENED.

IS THIS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP IT ALONG, OR DO WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH PLANTING IN THE TOP OF A BERM?

>> SO THERE'S MULTIPLE THINGS GOING ON, AND IF WE TAKE A LOOK CLOSER WHERE THE TRUNK ENTERS THE GROUND, WE CAN SEE THOSE STEM GIRDLING ROOTS.

SO THOSE ROOTS CROSSING OVER THE TRUNK OF THE TREE, IT'S LIKE KINKING A HOSE.

IT STOPS THE SAP FLOW IN THE TREE WHEN THEY PUSH AGAINST EACH OTHER.

AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE SEEING THAT SAP OOZING.

WE'RE SEEING THAT CHLOROSIS.

WE'RE SEEING ALL THESE ISSUES.

AND THAT'S RELATED TO THOSE STEM GIRDLING ROOTS.

SO UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NOT A LOT THAT WE CAN DO.

IT'S GOING TO BE REPLACEMENT REMOVAL BECAUSE EVENTUALLY THEY ARE GOING TO DECLINE TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO COME OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, THIS IS A YOU IDENTIFY BASICALLY IDENTICAL TO THE ONE IN THE BACKGROUND, STARTED DYING LAST FALL AND NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.

WHAT WOULD CAUSE ONE TO DIE AND NOT THE OTHER.

>> SO THIS IS WHERE MAKING SURE THAT WE IDENTIFY THE PLANT PROPERLY IS GOING TO BE KEY.

THAT IS ACTUALLY A PINE.

MY GUESS IS PROBABLY A MUGO PINE.

JUST BASED TO HOW SMALL IT IS.

AND MUGO PINE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO PINE WILT.

AND SO THAT WOULD BE MY GUESS IS WE'RE PROBABLY HAVE ONE INFECTED WITH PINE WILT AND THE OTHER ONE NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, EVERY YEAR WE PLANT OUR GARDEN TO GROW THE VEGETABLES AND ORNAMENTALS RIGHT ALONGSIDE WITH OUR AUDIENCE, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WE MAKE A MISTAKE NOW AND THEN.

HERE'S TERRI OUT AT THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR WHOOPS.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF OUR FAILURES.

YES, WE DO HAVE FAILURES HERE IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

WE WERE SO EXCITED WHEN THAT WEATHER STARTED CHANGING.

IT GOT REALLY NICE AND WARM OUT.

YES, WE DID PUT OUR PANSIES AND VIOLAS OUT JUST A LITTLE TOO SOON.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM SOME OF OUR CONTAINERS, OUR PANSIES REALLY DIDN'T DO VERY WELL.

SO YOU CAN SEE THEY'RE COMING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET MUCH OF A BEAUTIFUL CROP THAT WE HAD HAD WHEN WE TOOK THEM OUT OF THE GREENHOUSE AND PLANTED THEM, BUT OUR VIOLAS ACTUALLY WEATHERED THAT REALLY COLD SNAP BACK AROUND SAI PATRICK'S DAY.

SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WEATHER KIND OF THAT COLD UP AND DOWN THAT WE HAVE IN THE SPRINGTIME, MAYBE TRY SOME OF THESE JOHNNY JUMP UPS.

SO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A BAD THING, IT ACTUALLY TURNED OUT TO A GOOD THING.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THANKS, TERRI.

I'M SURE WE'LL RECOVER FROM A FEW PANSIES IN THOSE COLD TEMPERATURES.

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

EACH WEEK WE PICK A QUESTION FROM OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, FEATURE IT ON THE SHOW.

TONIGHT'S QUESTION COMES FROM JACK HURLEY ON FACEBOOK.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THE SPOTS ON HIS APPLE TREE AND HOW TO TREAT IT.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS IS THIS WAS LAST FALL BECAUSE NOBODY HAS APPLES RIGHT NOW UNLESS THEY'RE SITTING IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

AND THERE ARE LOTS OF ISSUES PROBABLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS, BUT THIS IS LIKELY INSECT DAMAGE.

SO THE TIME TO TREAT FOR INSECT DAMAGE IS 90% PETAL DROP.

AND THEN YOU DO IT AND YOU DO IT AND YOU DO IT AND YOU DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WE ARE LIKELY TO ALSO BRING TS UP AGAIN NEXT WEEK OR THE WEEK AFTER, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN REALLY GET EXCITED ABOUT AND DO THE RIGHT THING WITH THEIR APPLE TREES.

I ALSO WANT TO CALL OUT JACK FOR SENDING US SENDING THIS TO US, JACK HURLEY, AND THIS IS FROM JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SO HE'S REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHERE HE IS AND WHAT HIS APPLES ARE DOING.

YOU KNOW, ALSO YOUR QUESTION MIGHT BE FEATURED ON A FUTURE SHOW, AND YOU JUST NEED TO SEND A QUESTION TO ANY OF THE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT WE HAVE.

WE'LL PICK ONE A WEEK TO BE FEATURED.

NOW, OF COURSE, IT IS TIME FOR US TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP, WE DO HAVE THE LIGHTNING ROUND THE PLANT OF THE WEEK AND THE WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

WE WILL ALSO BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, ELIZABETH WILL GIVE US SOME PRACTICAL TIPS TO HELP KEEP ANY FIRE AWAY FROM YOUR HOME.

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 IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

ELIZABETH, ARE YOU READY?

>> AS READY AS I'M GOING TO BE.

>> OKAY.

WE WILL START WITH A QUESTION FROM CENTRAL CITY.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TWO VARIETIES OF CUCUMBERS IN HIS GARDEN, BUT HE'S WORRIED ABOUT CROSS-POLLINATION.

>> DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT UNLESS YOU KEEP E SEEDS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM OMAHA WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF MULCH TO USE ALONG THE HOUSE, NEAR POURED CONCRETE.

>> HARDWOOD MULCH.

>> ANOTHER ONE HERE, AND WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE THIS ONE IS FROM.

WONDERS.

OKAY.

IS IT OKAY TO HAVE A VEGETABLE GARDEN NEXT TO A LAWN THAT'S BEEN SPRAYED WITH CHEMICALS?

OR SHOULD THERE BE LIKE A ZONE?

>> DEPENDS ON HOW GOOD YOUR SPRAYER IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A BELLEVUE VIEWER WHO DOES WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO SPRAY ON A 25 YEAR OLD FEMALE GINKGO TO PREVENT THE FRUITING.

>> NOT POSSIBLE.

>> WE ALSO HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS SAYS THEY DID NOT FERTILIZE THEIR ASPARAGUS IN THE FALL.

SHOULD THEY GO AHEAD AND FERTILIZE THAT ASPARAGUS W IN THE SPRING, OR SHOULD THEY ACTUALLY WAIT UNTIL NEXT FALL?

>> I MEAN, IF YOU WANTED TO DO A WATER SOLUBLE NOW, YOU COULD, BUT I WOULD NOT USE MANURE NOW.

>> OKAY.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

OKAY, MIKE.

>> ALL RIGHT, KIM.

>> YOUR FIRST ONE.

LET'S SEE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER MATTED LEAVES LEFT ON THE LAWN ARE GOING TO CAUSE EARLY DISEASES IN THEIR TURF.

OR SHOULD THEY RAKE, SHRED, OTHERWISE DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY?

>> NO, I THINK IF THEY JUST START MOWING HERE, THE LEAVES WILL GET TAKEN CARE OF.

>> OKAY.

>> NO PROBLEM.

GOOD FERTILIZER.

>> THIS IS A WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS VIEWER IS FROM EITHER, BUT THEY'RE WONDERING, ARE THERE PLACES IN NEBRASKA RIGHT NOW WHERE WE MIGHT EXPECT TO SEE SNOW MOLD THIS YEAR?

>> WELL, MAYBE UP IN NORTH CENTRAL, NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA, BUT WE HAD RELATIVELY LIGHT SNOWFALL HERE.

SO I LOOK FOR SNOW MOLD IN MY OWN YARD AND ALL THE INDICATOR SPOTS, AND I DON'T SEE IT.

>> OKAY, THIS IS A WAVERLY VIEWER WHO'S HAD A FUNGUS IN HIS FESCUE LAST YEAR.

SHOULD HE GO AHEAD AND COUNT ON DOING SOME SPRAYING OR DOING SOMETHING THIS YEAR FOR IT?

IT'S RESIDENTIAL.

>> I WOULD SAY RATHER FOCUS ON SOLID NUTRITION AND NOT THINK ABOUT SPRAYING ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> OKAY.

KEARNEY VIEWER DOES AERATION SPREAD DISEASE ON THE TINES?

>> NO.

>> NICE JOB FOR BEING BRAND NEW IN THE CHAIR.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> OKAY, TERRI, ARE YOU READY?

>> SURE, SE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A LAKE VIEW IOWA VIEWER, WHICH IS NORTHWEST IOWA, WONDERING ABOUT THE BEST TIME TO SPRAY CREEPING CHARLIE.

>> IN THE FALL.

>> IN THE FALL.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS GRAND ISLAND VIEWER, ELIZABETH.

SO THIS IS KIND OF YOU, BUT IT'S TERRI'S QUESTION.

THEY'RE WONDERING, WILL COMPOST WORK TO COVER SEED PLANTED IN GRAND ISLAND OVER SANDY SOIL?

>> IT SHOULD.

>> OKAY, THIS IS A SOUTH OF BENNETT VIEWER WHO BOUGHT SOME SUNDANCE OR BUFFALO GRASS, WHICH IS ONE OF OURS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG TO WAIT UNTIL THEY ACTUALLY SEE THE BUFFALO GRASS.

>> YOU NEETO WAIT A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

THAT'S A WARM SEASON, SO THE SOIL TEMPS NEED TO GET A LITTLE BIT HIGHER.

>> OKAY, AN EASTERN NEBRASKA VIEWER IS WONDERING WHAT IS THE MOST SHADE AND DROUGHT TOLERANT TURF THEY CAN POSSIBLY USE?

>> MULCH.

>> THAT DOESN'T COUNT.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WANTS TO USE VINEGAR FOR WEED CONTROL.

WHAT IS THE PERCENT?

>> IT'S USUALLY AT LEAST A 20%.

THERE'S ACTUALLY A HORTICULTURAL SPECIFIC VINEGAR THAT YOU WANT TO FIND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

OKAY, JODY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST, READY?

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SAID THEY HAD TERRIBLE GRUBS LAST YEAR AND THEY WERE ANXIOUS TO CONTROL THEM IN THE LAWN.

IS IT TOO EARLY?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SEEING SLASH GETTING TICKS ATTACHED TO THEMSELVES.

IS IT EARLY OR YEAR-ROUND.

>> TICKS EVERYWHERE.

AND YES, THERE'S TICKS EVERYWHERE.

SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE WEARING REPELLENT AND CHECKING YOURSELF.

CHECK EVERYWHERE.

REMOVE THOSE TICKS.

WEAR PERMETHRIN TREATED CLOTHING IF POSSIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A FOLLOW UP FROM ANOTHER VIEWER WHO WONDERS IF TICK SPRAYS WORK ON THE LAWN TO KEEP THEM OUT OF YOUR LAWN.

>> SO THAT'S IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO, YOU KNOW, TICK CHECKS AND WHATNOT.

BUT IF YOU ARE GOING TO TREAT SOMETHING, IT'S GOING TO BE THAT TRANSITION AREA OUTSIDE IF YOU ARE LIKE BY A WOODED AREA.

SO LIKE OFF THE PROPERTY.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE VIEWERS SEEING BIG WADS OF WHITE SAP ON PINES.

IS IT TIME TO TREAT FOR ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH?

>> OH IT MIGHT BE.

IT'S USUALLY IN APRIL.

SO YEAH, IF YOU'VE GOT THAT PITCH MESS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

ALL.

LET'S SEE WHO WON.

>> TERRI AND I GET TO SPLIT.

>> YOU COULD PUT IT RIGHT HERE.

>> IN FRONT OF MIKE.

>> IN BETWEEN, MY QUEEN.

>> MIKE CAN REFEREE BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU EACH EQUAL TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOME GREAT FLOWERING SHRUBS.

ELIZABETH HAS TWO SELECTIONS THAT SHOULD DO WELL IN JUST ABOUT ANY LANDSCAPE.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO HEAR ABOUT THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> SO FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING A COUPLE OF FLOWERING SHRUBS.

AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE GREAT ADDITIONS TO YOUR LANDSCAPE.

THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE A VIBURNUM.

IT'S GOING TO BE ONE OF THE VIBURNUMS THAT HAS A VERY PLEASANT SMELL BECAUSE NOT ALL VIBURNUMS SMELL GOOD.

THIS IS ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE SUGAR AND SPICE, AND THIS ONE'S GOING TO SMELL SIMILAR TO CLOVES.

NOW YOU HAVE TO READ THE TAG.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE VIBURNUM.

THIS ONE IS GOING TO GET EIGHT FOOT TALL AND EIGHT FOOT WIDE.

SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE ROOM FOR THIS SIZE OF ONE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK FOR A SMALLER ONE, LIKE A BURKWOODII OR A JUDD VIBURNUM.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE SMALLER IN SIZE.

THE OTHER SHRUB THAT WE HAVE OVER HERE IS GOING TO BE A FLOWERING QUINCE.

NOW THIS ONE IS TOUGH AS NAILS MOST OF THE TIME.

THE OLD FASHIONED ONE IS GOING TO BE LIKE AN ORANGE OR A RED BLOOMER, BUT THIS IS ONE THAT'S GOING TO BLOOM WHITE.

NOW WITH FLOWERING QUINCE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT PRICKLY.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THORNS PER SE, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ONES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO WALK THROUGH.

NOW IT CAN PRODUCE A FRUIT.

IT'S GOING TO BE SIMILAR TO AN APPLE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF SUGAR IF YOU WANT TO CONSUME OR EAT THAT ONE.

SO BOTH OF THESE ARE GREAT RUBS TO GO AHEAD AND ADD TO YOUR LANDSCAPE.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO THROW IT OVER TO GANNON FOR WEATHER.

>> HEY GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.

I HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT WEEK SO FAR.

OVERALL, WE DO HAVE A BIT OF A WARMER WEEK AHEAD OF US, BUT THANKFULLY WE'LL START OFF WITH OUR COOLEST DAY ON FRIDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 50S AND 60S.

WE'LL WARM UP A LITTLE BIT ON SATURDAY, FOLLOWED BY OUR TWO WARMEST DAYS ON SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 80S STATEWIDE, BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, THINGS WILL BE NEAR NORMAL WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S.

PRECIPITATION FORECAST THIS WEEK IS A BIT OF FEAST OR FAMINE.

IF YOU'RE EAST OF GRAND ISLAND, THERE'S NEAR DAILY CHANCES OF RAIN AND UP TO TWO INCHES OF MORE POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON WHERE THE THUNDERSTORMS ARE AT OUT WEST WHERE THEY DESPERATELY NEED THE RAIN.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S ONLY SCATTERED CHANCE OF STORMS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> AND WE'RE HOPING, OF COURSE, THAT EVERYBODY GETS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT RAIN.

ALL RIGHT, JODY, ONE QUESTION HERE ON THE FIRST ONE.

FOUND IT WHILE WORKING OUT IN THE PASTURE IN THEIR GOLDEN ROD.

WHAT IS THAT, ENVIRONMENTAL OR AN INSECT?

>> IT'S AN INSECT.

BUT THAT'S A GALL.

SO THIS IS A GOLDENROD GALL FLY.

THAT'S WHAT MADE THAT HAPPEN.

EACH ONE OF THOSE GALLS WILL PRODUCE A FLY, BUT IT WILL STILL BLOOM AND EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

EVEN THOUGH THE LEAVES AROUND THAT GALL WILL FALL.

BUT IT'S EVIDENTLY FOOD FOR LIKE BIRDS.

SO KEEP IT AROUND.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

HELLO.

ARE THESE GROWTHS ON MY YOUNG OAK TREE CALLED GALLS?

AND ARE THEY PROBLEMATIC?

>> THESE ARE ALSO GALLS.

W SAY THEY'RE NOT HARMFUL, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OAK TREES THAT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY TAKEN OVER.

AND IT'S THE NEW GROWTH THAT THESE GALLS GET FORMED ON.

SO THESE ARE ROUGH BULLET GALLS AND THE ONES THAT HAVE HOLES IN THEM, A WASP HAS EMERGED SO YOU CAN PRUNE THEM OUT OR REMOVE THEM.

BUT THAT'S REMOVING SOME OF THE NEW GROWTH.

THERE ARE SOME TREES THAT ARE RESISTANT TO IT AND WE ACTUALLY DON'T KNOW WHY.

>> OKAY.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING SHE FOUND ON THE GROUND UNDER HER SPRUCE TREE.

SHE THINKS IT'S A NEST.

THIS IS FROM SYRACUSE.

>> IT'S NOT A NEST, BUT IT IS A FORMER COCOON, PROBABLY FROM A POLYPHEMUS MOTH.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S EMPTY OR NOT, BUT THEY'RE PRETTY COOL.

THEY STAY IN THAT COCOON THROUGH THE WINTER, EITHER ON A TREE BRANCH OR IN THE LEAF LITTER.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOU HAVE THREE PIURES ON THIS ONE.

WE DID TALK ABOUT STAR OF BETHLEHEM LAST WEEK.

AND SHE'S WONDERING, IS IT SORT OF THE SAME TREATMENT FOR SCYLLA OR SIBERIAN SQUILL?

AND YOU SAID WE SAID ROUNDUP.

ARE THERE OTHER OPTIONS?

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO HURT THE TREE ROOTS.

>> SO ROUNDUP, IF YOU DON'T SPRAY IT ON THE TRUNK.

AND IF IT'S A IT'S AN OLDER TREE, YOU SHOULD BE OKAY IF YOU'RE VERY CAREFUL AROUND IT.

I WOULD REALLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE MOWING IT BEFORE OR RIGHT AFTER THE.

THE FLOWERS ARE DONE BLOONG SO THAT.

BECAUSE YOU CAN GET SEEDS FROM THE FLOWERS ALONG WITH THE BULBS INCREASING ALSO.

SO KIND OF CONTROLLING IT THAT WAY WOULD BE WHAT I WOULD PROBABLY DO.

BUT BEING VERY CAREFUL AROUND THE TREE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SPRAY IT OUT IF YOU REALLY NEED TO.

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

HAD A COUPLE OF THESE IN THE LAWN LAST YEAR AND NOW THEY'VE SPREAD.

WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW CAN SHE CONTROL THEM.

THIS IS AN ASHLAND VIEWER AND KEEP THEM FROM COMING BACK.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IS A PLANTAIN.

AND YOU KNOW A JODY KEPT TALKING ABOUT ALLTI HAVE THESE AT MY HOUSE.

SO REALLY THE BEST TREATMENT TO GET RID OF THESE IS TO HAVE A REALLY NICE BIG STAND OF TURF.

SO IF YOU CAN INCREASE THE STAND OF TURF, GO OUT WITH MY SOIL KNIFE AND I PULL THEM OUT AS MUCH AS I POSSIBLY CAN.

THEY ALSO LIKE KIND OF COMPACTED AREAS.

SO IF YOU CAN KIND OF AERATE IT AND KIND OF OPEN THAT UP, THAT WILL ALSO HELP YOU AND THAT WILL HELP WITH THE STAND OF TURF GETTING.

GOING, GOING IN THAT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

SO MIKE, WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WAS HUNTING IN WILSON COUNTY, KANSAS IN DECEMBER AND FOUND THIS MOREL.

BUT THEN IT WAS A FLUID GREEN STUFF.

SO IS THIS COMMON TO SEE MORELS IN DECEMBER OR ISN'T THIS ONE.

>> YEAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WITH THINGS CHANGING SOMETIMES IN DECEMBER MAYBE.

BUT THIS IS NOT A MOREL.

THIS IS A COMMON STINK.

BLANKING STINKHORN.

THANK YOU EVERYONE.

PHALLUS IMPUDICUS.

AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO EAT.

AT THIS STAGE.

REALLY COOL BIOLOGY THOUGH.

THE SLIME ACTUALLY IT SMELLS.

THAT'S WHERE STINKHORN COMES FROM.

SMELLS LIKE A ROTTEN CORPSE IF YOU WILL OR ROTTEN MEAT.

ATTRACTS FLIES THAT THEN RRY THE SPORES AND SPREAD THE FUNGUS.

PRETTY NIFTY.

BUT IF YOU CATCH THIS EARLY AND THEY'RE CALLED EGGS AND IT'S PRETTY COOL, AND IT'S A DELICACY IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE WORLD.

>> PERFECT.

THREE, THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A SILVER MAPLE REMOVED AND THEN HAD ALL THESE SHROOMS COMING UP.

ARE THEY DANGEROUS?

THEY'VE BEEN PULLING AND DISPOSING.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THIS IS A TRICKY ONE BECAUSE ON A CLOSE UP THERE'S AT LEAST THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES.

NOT DANGEROUS.

DON'T EAT THEM, BUT YOU COULD PULL THEM OUT BY HAND IF YOU HAVE PETS OR YOUNG CHILDREN.

NOT A BAD IDEA JUST TO PULL THEM OUT AND REMOVE THEM.

BUT I NEED TO SEE MORE TO BE ABLE TO SPECIATE THESE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MIKE.

TWO PICS FOR YOU.

FIRST ONE HERE, ELIZABETH.

SO THIS IS A PRUNING QUESTION ON THESE PECANS AND OAKS AND BEST TIME OF YEAR TO DO THE PRUNING ON THESE.

THEY'RE 12 TO 15 YEAR OLD TREES.

>> SO WITH THE OAKS WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING IT IN THE WINTER.

WE'RE LOOKING AT NOVEMBER.

SO IT'S NOT THE BEST TIME TO DO THAT.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET IT DOWN TO ONE CENTRAL LEADER.

SO WHEN SOME OF THESE INSTANCES, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUBORDINATE SOME OF THOSE BRANCHES.

SO IT PUES UP THROUGH THE CENTRAL LEADER.

I SEE THIS VIEWER IS FROM GRAND ISLAND, SO THEY COULD REACH OUT TO THEIR LOCAL EXTENSION AGENT, AND SHE WOULD BE HPY TO HELP WITH A MORE IN-DEPTH ANSWER.

>> PERFECT.

THANK YOU ELIZABETH.

SO WE HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

HIS GRANDPA WANTS TO PRUNE THESE OLD BURNING BUSHES.

HE WANTS TO JUST BASICALLY FLAT TOP THEM AT THE TOP OF HIS DECK RAILING.

I THINK WE HAVE A PICTURE THAT SHOWS THAT TOO.

THEY'VE NEVER BEEN CANED OUT.

THERE'S A LOT OF DEAD SHOOTY.

JUST CUT THEM OFF.

OR WHAT SHOULD HE DO?

THAT'S MAYBE A BETTER IDEA.

>> YOUR BEST BET IS TO REMOVE ONE THIRD OF THE CANES AND REMOVE ANYTHING DEAD, DAMAGED, OR DISEASED FIRST, AND THEN REMOVE ONE THIRD OF THE CANES.

EVENTUALLY, OVER THREE YEARS, YOU'RE GOING TO COMPLETELY REJUVENATE THAT SHRUB FROM SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THEIR BURNING BUSHES TOPPED AROUND THEIR DECK.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND BECAUSE IT CREATES A WHOLE FLUSH OF NEW GROWTH RIGHT AT THE DECK LEVEL.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN THAT.

SO BY, YOU KNOW, SLOWLY REJUVENATE PRUNING THOSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BETTER RESULT IN THE END.

>> SO YOU DIDN'T DO THAT TO.

>> I DID NOT LET.

I LET THEM GROW.

AND THEN I'VE BEEN REJUVENATING THEM SLOWLY.

BUT WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE, THEY WERE SHEARED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE, I THINK, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, ELIZABETH, ON THIS ROUND.

THIS IS A TREE FORM, PANICLE HYDRANGEA.

AND YOU CAN SEE THERE IT IS IN ITS SPACE.

AND THEN I THINK OUR NEXT PICTURE SHOWS US THE ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PARTICULAR HYDRANGEA.

SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO RECOMMEND TO THE VIEWER ON THIS ONE?

>> GRAFTED HYDRANGEAS ARE REALLY TOUGH.

YOU KNOW WE CAN HAVE ISSUES WITH THE GRAFT UNION.

SO YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY WHEN IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE WE'RE HAVING THAT ISSUE WHERE THAT GRAFT UNION IS FAILING, YOUR BEST BET IS GOING TO BE REPLACEMENT AND REMOVAL.

JUST GO BACK IN WITH THE STRAIGHT LIKE PANICULATA HYDRANGEA.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A TREE FORM.

AND YOU'LL HAVE MUCH MORE FLOWERS, MUCH BETTER RESULT, A LITTLE BIT NICER, FULLER LOOKING PLANT.

>> WELL, THAT IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE GRAFTED TREE FORM HYDRANGEA TREES AND THEY, THEY JUST DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ELIZABETH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD SOME PRETTY DRY CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE FALL AND WINTER.

AND THIS HAS UNFORTUNATELY CONTRIBUTED TO THOSE RECENT WILDFIRES THAT DAMAGED MORE THAN 900,000 ACRES, INCLUDING PASTURES, CROPLAND AND RURAL COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU CAN TAKE STEPS TO PREVENT FIRE FROM TOTALLY DESTROYING YOUR HOME AND ONCE AGAIN, HERE'S ELIZABETH TO GIVE YOU A FEW PRACTICAL TIPS.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> WILDFIRES HAVE BEEN HAPPENING ALL ACROSS NEBRASKA.

WHILE THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN REALLY DO WHILE THE FIRES A BURNING, THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT FIRE SMART LANDSCAPING TIPS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP KEEP YOUR LANDSCAPE SAFE FROM WILDFIRES.

SOME OF THOSE INCLUDE CREATING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE WHEN IT COMES TO CREATING A DEFENSIBLE SPACE, THERE ARE THREE ZONES.

ZONE ZERO IS LOCATED FROM 0 TO 5FT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.

ZONE ONE IS 5 TO 30 FT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE, AND ZONE TWO IS 30 FT TO THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY LINE.

NOW WITHIN ZONE ZERO.

ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE YOUR SPACE A DEFENSIBLE SPACE IS TO INCLUDE ROCK MULCH OR NON-FLAMMABLE LCH UP TO FIVE FEET AWAY FROM THE FOUNDATION.

WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP OUR PLANTS UNDER 18 IN TALL, AND THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE KIND OF SPREAD OUT THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE.

IF WE'RE GOING TO PUT TALLER WOODY TREES AND SHRUBS, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE IN ZONE ONE, WHICH IS 5 TO 30FT AWAY FROM THE HOUSE.

WE REALLY WANT TO AVOID ANY TREES OR SHRUBS NEXT TO WINDOWS OR NEXT TO THE HOUSE, AND WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR LANDSCAPE IS KEPT UP WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ANY LEAVES NEXT TO THE FOUNDATION OR ANY DEAD WOOD IN OUR LANDSCAPE PLANTS.

SO THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO KEEP A DEFENSIBLE SPACE AROUND YOUR HOUSE.

>> WILDFIRES HAVE BECOME SUCH SERIOUS BUSINESS HERE IN NEBRASKA, AND IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING TO B PREPARED FOR THIS KIND OF A DISASTER, EVEN IN TOWN.

SO USING THESE TIPS AROUND YOUR HOUSE COULD MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

THE NEXT TIME ANY WILDFIRE BREAKS OUT.

ANY OLD WHERE?

ALL RIGHT, SO LAST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

OH, THIS IS A FUN ONE, JODY.

ONE PICTURE.

THIS IS FROM OMAHA.

WHAT COULD BE MAKING THESE SQUIGGLY MARKINGS ON THE GAZEBO SCREEN.

THEY DON'T WASH OFF AND THEY DON'T GO THROUGH TO THE FURNITURE OR THE INSIDE.

>> SO IT'S VERY CURIOUS.

>> I TALKED TO KAIT.

WE THINK IT'S LIKE EITHER A SNAILS OR A SLUG IS.

>> THAT'S WHAT WE THINK.

>> YEAH.

SPEECHLESS.

BECAUSE WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS VIEWER ACTUALLY CUT DOWN.

THIS IS WINTER WOOD.

CUT DOWN A HEALTHY OAK, SPLIT IT, AND THEN NO BUGS SEEN AND THEN STARTED BURNING THE WOOD.

OAK IS A FAVORITE.

HE'S WONDERING WHETHER WHAT WAS PRESENT IN THERE WILL MIGRATE TO OTHER WOOD THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN IT.

SO THESE ARE THE LITTLE BEASTIES THAT.

>> YEAH.

SO THESE ARE NOT WOOD BORING BEETLES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THESE ARE A TYPE OF BUG THAT PROBABLY JUST GOT INTO THE, INTO THE WOOD WHEN IT WAS LIKE KIND OF CUT AS FIREWOOD.

SO THESE ARE CALLED FLAT BUGS.

SO NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

LET'S SEE, TERRI, YOU HAVE THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

HE'S SAYING HIS LAWN EDGE IS UNIFORMLY LOOKING BAD.

AND THIS IS THE FRONT WALK IN HIS GARAGE SIDE.

HE DOES SAY GUTTER WATER RUNS ALONG THE FRONT WALK AND HE IS NOT EDGED OR MOWED YET.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

>> IT COULD BE A COUPLE THINGS.

AFTER I KIND OF LOOKED AT IT.

IT COULD BE MAYBE JUST SOME DAMAGE THAT HAPPENED FROM THE SALT AND STUFF.

THE HANDFUL OF TIMES WE ACTUALLY HAD TO PUT THAT DOWN THIS WINTER.

BUT MY, MY MAIN GUESS IS THAT IT COULD BE JUST REFLECTIVE HEAT OFF OF THE SIDEWALK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

WHAT I WOULD ACTUALLY HONESTLY DO IS GO OUT WITH A PITCHFORK AND TRY TO KIND OF AERATE THAT EDGE, AND THAT SHOULD HELP OPEN IT UP AND THEN MAYBE SEE IF THAT DOESN'T HELP YOU A LITTLE BIT FOR THIS COMING SUMMER.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAID THEY SAW THIS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING, IS THIS THE WAY SEED AND WHATEVER THE ROUND BEADS ARE SHOULD BE SPREAD?

>> NO, THIS IS NOT HOW YOU SHOULD BE SPREADING YOUR SEED.

AND THEN THE ONLY THING THAT I COULD THINK IS, AND WE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THIS, I THINK IT MIGHT BE LIKE A SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER IN THERE.

THAT WAS THE ONLY THING I COULD FIGURE OUT.

SO BUT NO, IT SHOULD BE MUCH THINNER AND SPREAD OUT, NO.

>> OKAY, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A RURAL OTOE COUNTY VIEWER.

BALES OF OLD STRAW THAT SAT OUT ALL WINTER.

IS IT SAFE TO USE IT AS A COVER FOR NEWLY SEEDED AREAS?

>> IT SHOULD BE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, IN MY PATHOLOGIST COULD HELP ME WITH THIS.

THERE ARE NO PATHOGENS THAT SHOULD BE ABLE TO MOVE FROM THAT TO THE TURF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF PATHOGENS, PATHOLOGISTS.

>> STINKHORNS.

>> TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, MIKE.

THIS WHOLE LAWN TURNED BLUE OR BLUE GREEN.

AND THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

WAS IT WOULD IT HAVE BEEN A DISEASE OR WHAT DO WE THINK GOT SPRAYED HERE?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THE ONLY BLUE THING THAT PEOPLE WOULD SPRAY WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE COPPER SULFATE OR MAYBE SOME,OU KNOW, THEY WERE SEEDING, BUT SOMETHING WAS APPLIED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WOULD BE DOING EXCEPT TO GET THEIR GREEN TO LOOK KENTUCKY BLUE GREEN.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, MIKE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY FERTILIZE IN THE FALL, NOT THE SPRING.

THIS LAWN IS IN A LOT OF SHADE, HAS SORT OF THIS POWDERY MILDEW LOOKING THING COMING BACK IN THE SAME SPOTS.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS ONE'S TOUGH.

I MEAN, IT LOOKED LIKE POWDERY MILDEW TO ME.

I TRIED TO LOOK FOR SOME SOME FRUITING STRUCTURES.

IT LOOKS LIKE A BLEND OF BLUEGRASS AND SOME RYE GRASS IN THERE.

MAYBE SOME TALL FESCUE.

TRY TO OPEN UP THE CANOPY A LITTLE BIT, GET SOME AIRFLOW IN THERE.

AND IF IT'S A PERENNIAL PROBLEM, MAYBE THINK ABOUT SOME SHADE TOLERANT GRASSES LIKE ROUGHSTOCK BLUEGRASS AND TRY YO LUCK THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT AND ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT DISEASE OR HERBICIDE DRIFT HAPPENED ALMOST OVERNIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK THIS IS HERBICIDE DRIFT.

I YOU KNOW, THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN ERRATIC THESE HIGH 90 DEGREE DAYS AND THEN CRASHING AND BURNING.

THERE ARE LOTS OF LEAF SPOTS LIKE BYE POLARIS.

IF YOU LOOK CLOSE.

I ACTUALLY SAW SOME MARGINS IN THERE.

SO I WOULD SAY THIS IS PROBABLY A LEAF SPOT PATHOGEN.

IF IT WERE HERBICIDE I'D EXPECT MORE UNIFORM CHLOROSIS YELLOWING OR PERHAPS SOME TWISTING OF THE TISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, MIKE.

TWO PICTURES.

ELIZABETH.

SO THIS IS A SOUTH LINCOLN VIEWER.

STARTED OUT CLEANING VOLUNTEERS, CLEANING UP A 60 YEAR OLD WINDBREAK.

WHAT TO ADD IN HERE?

>> SO ANY BRANCHES THAT ARE DEAD, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THEM FROM THAT DEAD ZONE.

WE WOULD REPLACE AND PUT SOME SHRUBS DOWN IN THERE TO HELP FILL IN THAT LOWER SIDE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING LIKE SOME OF THE DOGWOODS, WITCH HAZEL, SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO LIKE THAT SHADED ENVIRONMENT IN THAT LOCATION.

>> AND THAT'S REALLY KIND OF A BEAUTIFUL LITTLE ALLEY UNDER THERE.

EVEN THOUGH THOSE HAVE LIFTED THEMSELVES UP.

ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE GOT TWO PICTURES ON YOUR LAST QUESTION, ELIZABETH.

THIS IS A RHODODENDRON/AZALEA IN A FRONT YARD FACING NORTH IN LINCOLN.

IT'S BEEN THERE EIGHT YEARS.

AND THEN THESE TWO BRANCHES CAME UP IN THE MIDDLE.

HE DOESN'T THINK THEY BELONG INHE PLANT.

THEY'RE NOT STRAIGHT, BUT A COUPLE OF THEM ARE.

YOU CAN SEE THE STRAIGHT ONES PRETTY WELL IN THE PICTURE.

THEY CAME FROM THE BOTTOM.

WHAT?

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

>> SO IT IS A RHODODENDRON AZALEA ONE OF THE TWO.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A SPORT OR AN OFFSHOOT.

SO IT MIGHT BE COMING FROM THE ROOT SYSTEM.

IT'S HARD TO TELL EXACTLY, BUT IT IS A RHODODENDRON OR AN AZALEA.

SO I'D GO AHEAD AND JUST LEAVE IT AND LET IT DO ITS THING.

>> SO AND THE REASON YOU KNOW THAT IT IS A RHODODENDRON OR AN AZALEA IS WHAT?

>> WE LOOK AT THE BUDS.

SO THE BUDS ARE GOING TO BE THE BUDS THAT ARE LIKE, YOU KNOW, SHINGLES ON A HOUSE THAT ARE SCALED.

VERY WONDERFUL INSTRUCTOR TAUGHT ME THAT IN LANDSCAPE PLANTS.

>> KIND OF, A KIND OF INSTRUCTOR.

>> A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> AND IT IS SORT OF INTERESTING AND UNUSUAL THAT A RHODODENDRON.

AND I THINK THIS WAS AN AZALEA, SINCE IT'S DECIDUOUS, PEOPLE GET MIXED UP BECAUSE OF COURSE, AZALEA, RHODODENDRON ARE BOTH RHODODENDRONS, BUT ONE'S DECIDUOUS AND ONE IS NOT.

BUT TO HAVE IT DO THAT, I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN THAT HAPPEN IN AZALEAS ON CAMPUS.

>> AS STRAIGHT AS IT IS.

IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE.

>> IT'LL BE NICE AND INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT ONE FLOWERS.

MAYBEHAT VIEWER COULD SEND US A PICTURE OF OKAY, IS IT THE SAME OR WHAT COLOR DID THIS ONE DECIDE TO BECOME, AS AN AZALEA OR RHODODENDRON?

WELL, AND ON THAT NOTE, OF COURSE WE ARE.

MORE QUESTIONS.

BUT NO MORE TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER TONIGHT.

SO THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW HELPING US ON THE PHONES.

WE HAD MASTER GARDENERS JOHN CARIOTTO, CAROL RUSTAD AND LINDA HELTON.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER JEFF CULBERTSON GUIDES US THROUGH SOME HERBICIDE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALTERNATIVES TO THE ORIGINAL FORMULA OF ROUNDUP.

JEFF WILL HELP YOU SELECT EFFECTIVE REPLACEMENTS.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC)