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

TONIGHT ON "BACYKARD FARMER" WE'LL TAKE A TOUR OF HARRIS PRAIRIE AT ARBOR LODGE, AND WE'LL SORT OUT WEED KILLER PRODUCTS.

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

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD AND I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE NEXT HOUR OF GOOD GARDENING.

WE'RE STILL GETTING SETTLED INTO OUR NEW STUDIO SURROUNDINGS HERE AT NEBRASKA PUBLIC TELEVISION AND WE HOPE YOU LIKE IT AS MUCH AS WE DO.

IF YOU'VE GOT THOSE GARDENING QUESTIONS, WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

THAT NUMBER IS 1-800-676-5446.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT A FEW PICTURES FOR A FUTURE SHOW THAT E-MAIL ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

WE DO NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE, DON'T FORGET THAT.

AND GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR QUESTION SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BEST SOLUTION.

"BACKYARD FARMER" IS ALSO ON YOUTUBE WITH VIDEO FEATURES AND PAST PROGRAMS.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON FACEBOOK.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE START WITH QUESTIONS.

JODY, YOU HAVE A REALLY FUN SET OF WEIRD INSECTS THIS WEEK.

>> I LOVE IT.

IT'S GREAT.

>> SO THE FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

SHE SAYS WE FOUND THESE ATTACHED TO OUR MILKWEED PLANT AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE THE EGGS OF A LACEWING.

MANY EGGS.

SOMETIMES YOU JUST FIND ONE.

BUT THEY'RE LAID THERE BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF OLEANDER APHIDS, THOSE YELLOW APHIDS ON THE MILKWEED.

SO THE LACEWING FEMALE, SHE LAYS HER EGGS THERE SO THAT WHEN THEY EMERGE THEY'RE VERY PREDACIOUS AND THEY WILL FEED ON THOSE APHIDS.

AND THEY'RE LAID ON THOSE STALKS BECAUSE THEY WILL CANNIBALIZE EACH OTHER SO THEY NEED TO BE SEPARATED RIGHT FROM EMERGENCE.

>> OH, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.

SO EVERYBODY WITH THOSE APHIDS CAN HOPE THEY HAVE THESE.

>> YEAH, THEY'RE GOOD GUYS.

WHEN YOU SEE THEM, THEY LOOK LIKE LITTLE ALLIGATORS WITH BIG MANDIBLES SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT YOUR FINGERS NEAR THEM.

BUT THEY'RE GOOD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR SECOND PICTURE, JODY, COMES TO US FROM RURAL DWIGHT.

THESE ARE BUR OAK LEAVES.

SHE SAYS THOSE LITTLE SPHERES ARE HARD AND THEN THE LIGHTER CIRCLES ARE SOFT AND THEY HAVE SORT OF THAT INDENTED CENTER.

SHE'S WONDERING DID SOMETHING HATCH?

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE GALLS.

IT'S THE WIDE WORLD OF LEAF GALLS.

AND SO ON THIS OAK, IT COULD BE FLAKEY OAK GALL OR IT COULD BE THE JEWEL OAK WASP.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT ONES.

BUT, YES, SO THE PLANT RESPONDS TO FEEDING FROM THE CYNIPID WASP AND CREATES THOSE LITTLE GROWTHS AND OUT WILL EMERGE AN ADULT.

AND THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HARM THE TREE AT ALL.

IT'S JUST AESTHETICALLY STRANGE.

>> AND FUN.

>> KIND OF FUN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM NICKERSON, FOUND THIS BEASTY ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM MAPLE CREEK.

AND THEY SAID HE'S ABOUT TWO INCHES LONG.

>> YES.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PREDATOR.

THIS IS A DRAGONFLY.

AND IT'S CALLED RED SADDLEBAGS.

SO IT'S A RED SADDLEBAG DRAGONFLY.

>> I ASSUME THE SADDLEBAGS MEANING THOSE -- >> YEAH, SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT DRAGONFLIES THAT HAVE PATTERNS ON THEIR WINGS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SHOWING ME RECTANGLES, THEY'RE SEEING DIFFERENT STRIPES AND STUFF AND THIS ONE HAS THE DARK MARKS ON THE HIND WINGS, SO THEY CALL IT SADDLEBAGS.

>> PRETTY COOL.

EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES TO US FROM WATSON, MISSOURI.

SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD CATTAIL INVADING HER BROME.

I THINK SHE'S TALKING ABOUT WHAT LOOKS LIKE CATTAILS STICKING UP.

BUT THOSE ARE NOT CATTAILS.

SO WHAT ARE THOSE, AND HOW DOES SHE GET RID OF THAT SO SHE CAN KEEP THE BROME?

>> USUALLY WE'RE BEING TOLD AND ASKED TO GET RID OF BROME, SO GOOD FOR YOU THAT YOU WANT TO KEEP IT.

BUT THAT'S JUST GIANT FOXTAIL.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE AN ANNUAL.

I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE ACTUALLY SAYING THAT YOU'RE CUTTING OFF THE HEADS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

SINCE IT'S AN ANNUAL, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY MORE SEED DOWN THERE.

IF YOU JUST KEEP DOING THAT, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET RID OF IT EACH YEAR AND YOU'LL HAVE LESS AND LESS SEED BANKS.

SO JUST KEEP WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> SHOULD THEY PRE-EMERGE TOO?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHAT ELSE WAS IN THERE.

I KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT MAYBE A PRE-EMERGENT IN THE SPRING BUT IT KIND OF DEPENDS ON WHAT ELSE IS IN THERE.

SO IF THERE ARE OTHER ANNUALS THAT SHE WANTS TO COME UP, THEN IT DEPENDS.

>> THEN NO.

OKAY.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, TERRI.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

A HUGE OAK WAS REMOVED IN APRIL.

YOU CAN SEE THE STUMP BACK THERE.

SHE DID NOT PUT DOWN WEED AND FEED THIS SPRING SINCE THEY WERE TAKING OUT THE TREE.

NOW SHE'S GOT A LAWN THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS AND WHAT LITTLE GRASS SHE HAS LOOKS LIKE THIS.

SO SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO AND HOW THIS IS GOING TO AFFECT FALL SEEDING.

>> WELL, SO -- HMM.

THIS LOOKS LIKE MY YARD.

I KIND OF HAD THE SAME THING.

I HAD ABOUT SIX TREES TAKEN DOWN A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND I'VE BEEN FIGHTING WEEDS EVER SINCE.

SO I FEEL YOUR PAIN.

THIS IS CRABGRASS.

YOU CAN TRY A POST-EMERGENT IF YOU WANT LIKE A MESOTRIONE THAT MIGHT KIND OF CUT IT BACK A LITTLE BIT.

BUT IF YOU KIND OF MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT MOWED, DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY THERE.

IT'S AN ANNUAL, SO IT WON'T COME BACK UP IN THE SPRING.

YOU COULD OVERSEED IN THE SPRING AND DO ALL YOUR SOIL PREP AND STUFF THIS FALL AND THEN YOU'LL SOIL PREP.

AND YOU CAN USE THAT FIRST STEP WITH THE MESOTRIONE IN IT WHEN YOU DO SEED AND THAT WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PRE-EMERGE FOR THIS ALSO IN THE SPRING.

SO LOOK FOR THE FIRST STEP WHERE IT'S GOING FOR SEED STARTER.

IT WILL HAVE MESOTRIONE ON IT.

THAT WILL WORK FOR YOU IN THE SPRING ALSO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, TWO PICTURES ON YOUR FIRST QUESTION.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

IT IS STRAWBERRIES WITH THESE SPOTS ON ALL THE LEAVES.

AND THE QUESTION -- AND THAT'S NOT STRAWBERRIES.

THAT'S A HACKBERRY.

SO THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT -- THERE WE GO.

IF THAT'S A STRAWBERRY, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

>> WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY TALL STRAWBERRIES GROWING NOWADAYS.

>> THAT'S GOOD PLANT BREEDING.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO HERE ARE THE STRAWBERRIES.

AND THIS IS LINCOLN.

THERE ARE A COUPLE PICTURES.

I THINK THEY HAVE SPOTS ON ALL THE LEAVES.

AND HIS QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THIS?

AND WILL THIS AFFECT THE FRUIT OR THE HEALTH OF THE PLANT?

>> SO WHAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH HERE IS A FUNGAL DISEASE CALLED LEAF SCORCH AND OUR WEATHER CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN REALLY CONDUCIVE FOR IT.

IT LIKES WARM, MOIST CONDITIONS.

AND SO WHEN I SAY WARM, IT LIKES THAT 68-84 DEGREES AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE BEEN SITTING THE LAST WEEK OR SO AND THEN AGAIN THIS UPCOMING WEEK.

IT DOESN'T AFFECT THE FRUIT AT ALL.

OVERALL IT CAN DECLINE THE PLANT.

MANAGEMENT-WISE, WE TRY TO CLEAN OUT THOSE BEDS AS BEST AS WE CAN AND YOU CAN USE A FUNGICIDE TREATMENT, A COPPER-BASED PRODUCT.

MAKE SURE YOU READ THE LABEL AND FOLLOW THE PRE-HARVEST INTERVALS ON THOSE STRAWBERRIES.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM HIAWATHA, KANSAS.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THESE RADISHES AND WILL IT OCCUR NEXT YEAR IF SHE PLANTS THEM IN THE SAME PLACE?

>> SO THIS IS ACTUALLY A PICTURE THAT HAD ME STUMPED A LITTLE BIT AND HAD TO DO A LITTLE INVESTIGATION ON.

SO THE ONLY THING I CAN FIND IS ENVIRONMENTAL.

INFREQUENT WATERING AND THEN MAYBE THE RADISHES BEING A LITTLE MATURE AND WOODY WITH THAT GROWTH.

AND SO WITH THAT INFREQUENT WATERING, THE AMOUNT OF WATER AND TISSUE THAT WAS BEING PRODUCED BY THE RADISH PRODUCED THESE LINES.

AND IT CAN ALSO PRODUCE HOLLOW SPOTS WITHIN IT.

WE SEE THE SAME THING IN POTATOES TOO WITH RAPID GROWTH OR LACK, OR TOO MUCH WATER ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

I WOULDN'T PREDICT THAT YOU WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM NEXT YEAR.

JUST MAKE SURE YOU HARVEST A LITTLE BIT SOONER AND YOU WON'T HAVE AN ISSUE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, AMY.

SARAH, NOW I THINK WE HAVE HACKBERRIES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM SCOTTS BLUFF.

BEAUTIFUL BIG 60 TO 70-YEAR-OLD HACKBERRIES IN A CEMETERY.

SHE SAYS THEY LEAFED OUT IN THE SPRING, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GOT ALL YELLOW LIKE THIS.

THE LEAVES STARTED FALLING AND I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE HERE THAT SHOWS ISSUES ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

SHE SAYS THEY'RE DOING BETTER NOW.

BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE GOT SOME HERBICIDE DRIFT HERE.

THERE ARE SOME PRODUCTS THAT ARE USED IN CORN AND SOYBEANS THAT ARE CALLED PIGMENT INHIBITORS.

AND WHEN YOU SPRAY IT ON PLANTS OR YOU SPRAY IT ON THE WEEDS, IT TURNED THE FOLIAGE WHITE AND THAT'S HOW KILLS IT.

AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN YOUR TREES.

SO YOU'VE GOTTEN SOME DRIFT.

FORTUNATELY IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TREES ARE GROWING OUT OF THE DAMAGE NOW.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THE ONLY THING YOU COULD DO WOULD BE JUST GENERAL MAINTENANCE CARE WHICH WOULD BE MULCH, WATERING DURING DRY PERIODS JUST TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY TRY TO GROW OUT OF THIS DAMAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND 60 TO 70 YEARS OLD IS GREAT FOR A TREE.

>> YEAH.

>> THANKS, SARAH.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES FROM CARLTON.

THIS IS THE FIRST ONE.

YOU CAN SEE THE COLOR OF THE FOLIAGE BECAUSE HIS QUESTION IS THIS SILVER MAPLE IS CHANGING COLOR, BUT HE'S NOT SURE WHY.

>> MM-HMM.

SO WHEN LEAVES TURN COLORS LIKE THIS EARLY IN THE SUMMER, IT'S A STRESS RESPONSE.

THE TREE IS INDICATING THAT IT'S UNDER SOME KIND OF STRESS.

SO I THINK THAT THAT PICTURE -- THE FIRST PICTURE WE LOOKED AT WAS SHOWING US ONE OF THE CAUSES OF STRESS, WAS THAT BIG SECTION OF DEAD BARK ON THE TRUNK.

AND THAT COULD BE SUN SCALD DAMAGE WHICH THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF MAPLE IS VERY PRONE TO.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THERE'S A LOT OF LOST TISSUE THERE TO MOVE WATER AND SO DURING DRY PERIODS THIS TREE IS GOING TO BE HAMSTRUNG A LITTLE BIT IN THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MOVE WATER WELL.

PLUS THIS MAY BE RESIDUAL STRESS FROM THE LAST TWO YEARS THAT WE'VE HAD OF EXTREME DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

SO IF THIS TREE WAS NOT GIVEN SOME GOOD, DEEP WATERINGS TO HELP IT GET THROUGH THAT THOSE DROUGHT YEARS THIS DEAD SECTION ON THE BARK PLUS THE DROUGHT ON TOP OF THAT COULD BE CAUSING ALL THESE SYMPTOMS.

SO AGAIN -- MULCH, DEEP WATERING WHEN IT'S DRY, GOOD SUPPORTIVE CARE.

MAYBE THIS TREE CAN RECOVER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, SARAH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT THINK OF HEADING TO NEBRASKA CITY TO VISIT ARBOR LODGE FOR ALL OF THE TREES AND THE ORCHARDS.

BUT A FEW YEARS AGO A PRAIRIE PROJECT WAS UNDERTAKEN AND THAT HAS BECOME ANOTHER FANTASTIC FEATURE AT THE LODGE.

FOR OUR FIRST FEATURE TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM THE ARBOR LODGE DIRECTOR OF HORTICULTURE MARK CANNY AS HE TAKES US ON A TOUR OF HARRIS PRAIRIE.

DIRECTOR OF ♪♪ >>> MOST OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF ARBOR DAY, THEY THINK OF TREES.

TODAY WE'RE AT THE HARRIS PRAIRIE, WHICH IS PART OF ARBOR DAY FARM.

AND WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS PRAIRIE IS IT'S 11 ACRE TRACT OF LAND THAT WAS FORMALLY AG LAND AND HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO WHAT WE SEE NOW AS A MIXED PRAIRIE.

THIS PRAIRIE STARTED FOUR YEARS AGO AND IT WAS FORMERLY CROP LAND.

AFTER SOME HARD WORK INTO REGRADING AND RESEEDING, FOUR YEARS WENT BY AND IT HADN'T BEEN BURNED.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BURNING A PRAIRIE IS TO REGENERATE AND BRING BACK THE DESIRABLE SPECIES.

WE DID THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOUR YEARS THIS YEAR IN MARCH.

UPON BURNING THE PRAIRIE WE ALSO OVERSEEDED IT, INCORPORATING OVER 40 DIFFERENT TYPES OF WILDFLOWERS, FORMS, AND GRASSES.

WHAT WAS ONCE CONSIDERED PASS-THROUGH OR FLYOVER COUNTRY IS NOW LOOKED AT DIFFERENTLY.

THE PRAIRIE IS CONSIDERED THE SECOND MOST DIVERSE ECOSYSTEM JUST OUTSIDE THE BRAZILIAN RAIN FOREST.

AND OFTEN AT FIRST GLANCE YOU JUST SEE GRASSES.

BUT IF YOU GO INTO THE DETAILS OR THE PRAIRIE ITSELF, YOU'LL NOTICE INSECTS, ALL KINDS OF LIFE, ALL DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF FLOWERS.

SO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PRAIRIE WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH AND OBSERVE THE VARIOUS INSECTS THAT ARE ACTIVE.

WE'RE TRANSITIONING INTO WHAT IS CONSIDERED WARM SEASON PLANTS AT THIS TIME.

EARLY SEASON PRAIRIE YOU'LL SEE THINGS LIKE SPIDER WORT.

WE'RE NOW TRANSITIONING INTO THE WARM SEASON PLANTS INCLUDING RUDBECKIAS, HOARY VERVAIN, AND PURPLE COMBFLOWER AMONGST OTHERS.

THERE'S A PERCEPTION WHEN YOU PLANT NATIVE PLANTS THAT YOU JUST PLANT AND WALK AWAY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY MANAGEMENT OR MAINTENANCE AND UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT TRUE.

NATIVE PLANTS ARE A VALUABLE PART OF OUR ECOSYSTEM, BUT JUST LIKE EVERYTHING THEY NEED A PROPER MANAGEMENT PLAN.

AFTER YOUR PRAIRIE GETS ESTABLISHED, IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME WEED MANAGEMENT, COMING IN AND CUTTING OUT.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE'D WANT TO CUT OUT SOME OF THE RAGWEED AND OTHER UNDESIRABLE PLANTS TO GIVE -- A, TO STOP THEM FROM RESEEDING, AND B, JUST TO OPEN UP AREAS SO YOU GET THE DESIRE PLANTS.

OUR PLAN FOR MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE BURNING EVERY OTHER YEAR AND DOING SOME OVERSEEDING SO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE WILD FLOWERS.

GRASSES TEND TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND CAN TAKE OVER A PRAIRIE.

AND THAT'S NOT THE GOAL OF THIS PARTICULAR 11-ACRE TRACT.

WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SEASONAL COLOR.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS LIKE RUDBECKIA, COMBFLOWER.

BUT AS WE MOVE INTO THE LATER SEASON, WE WILL START TO SEE SAGES AND ASTERS -- PLANTS THAT ARE GREAT FOR LATE-SEASONAL POLLINATORS.

THOSE PASSING THROUGH, MONARCHS, BUMBLEBEES, NATIVE BEES, PROVIDING THE PROPER PLANTS AND NECTAR SUPPLIES FOR THEM.

SO THE HARRIS PRAIRIE IS SURROUNDED BY THE CONSERVATION TRAIL HERE AT ARBOR DAY FARM AND IT ALLOWS THE VISITOR, OR THE GUEST TO COMPLETELY EITHER WALK AROUND THE PRAIRIE OR CUT THROUGH THE PRAIRIE SO YOU CAN BE IMMERSED IN THE LANDSCAPE ITSELF.

THE IDEA IS REALLY TO GET PEOPLE CONNECTED TO THE PRAIRIE AND IMMERSED IN NATURE.

>>> THERE ARE A LOT OF FUN ACTIVITIES AT ARBOR LODGE, BUT WE WERE REALLY IMPRESSED AT HOW THE PRAIRIE HAS MATURED.

AND THAT DIVERSITY THAT MARK MENTIONED MEANS THERE WILL BE PLANTS BLOOMING AND MATURING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, WHICH DOES MEAN YOU'LL HAVE PLENTY TO LOOK AT IF YOU GO VISIT.

AND -- I MEAN, I WAS JUST STUNNED.

IT'S A REALLY, REALLY BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

I LOVE THE PRAIRIE ANYWAY.

EVEN THOUGH I LIVE IN THE WOODS SORT OF IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

QUESTIONS NEXT.

JODY, YOU HAVE JUST ONE PICTURE.

THIS MIGHT COME TO US FROM SOMEBODY THAT AMY KNOWS PRETTY WELL.

HER DAUGHTERS FOUND THIS LITTLE BEASTIE IN CHAMBERS, WHICH IS WHERE AMY LIVES, AND FOUND IT ON A CRIMSON MAPLE.

THE QUESTION, OF COURSE, IS WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT TURN INTO?

>> SO, THIS IS AN AMERICAN DAGGER MOTH CATERPILLAR.

SO, IT WILL TURN INTO A MOTH.

IT WILL BE NOT AS COOL OR PRETTY AS A MOTH, MEDIUM BROWNISH MOTH.

THESE ARE REALLY COOL.

THEY'RE CALLED TUSSIC MOTHS.

AND THESE CATERPILLARS ARE REALLY FURRY AND YOU CAN SEE ITS GOT THOSE SPINES.

AND THOSE SPINES CAN CAUSE IRRITATION IF THEY GET ON YOUR SKIN.

SO, MAKE SURE THEY'RE NOT PETTING IT.

BUT MAPLE IS ONE OF THEIR HOST PLANTS.

>> WERE THEY PETTING IT?

>> NOT YET.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE A FAIR PROJECT.

YOU KNOW, A LITTLE POCKET PET.

>> YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO KEEP IT LIKE THAT INSTEAD -- SAY, DON'T TURN INTO A MOTH.

>> YOU NEVER KNOW.

MAYBE THEY'LL DEVELOP A LITTLE HALTER FOR IT.

>> I REQUEST A PICTURE.

>> OR A KRAFT PROJECT WITH A LITTLE HOUSE.

>> RECREATE IT.

>> TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE FOR YOU, JODY.

SO THIS IS A BLACK SWALLOWTAIL CATERPILLAR ON HER DILL.

AND SHE SAYS WHAT IS THIS OTHER INSECT AND IS IT REALLY EATING THE CATERPILLAR?

SHE WAS EXCITED TO WITNESS THIS AND SAD IF IT'S EATING THE CATERPILLAR.

>> BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

THIS IS A SPINE SOLDIER BUG.

SO, IT IS A PREDATORY STINKBUG.

NORMALLY IT'S A GOOD GUY BECAUSE IT'S A NATURAL ENEMY AND IT CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR POTATO BEETLE LARVAE AND OUR SQUASH BUGS.

HOWEVER, WE CAN'T TELL IT WHAT TO EAT.

AND SO IT IS KIND OF SUCKING THE LIFE OUT OF THAT CATERPILLAR.

AND THE CATERPILLARS RIGHT NOW, YOU CAN GO OUT AND SEE A DOZEN MAYBE ON SOME DAYS AND THEN THEY GET TAKEN BY WASPS AND OTHER PREDATORS.

SO, IT'S COOL THAT YOU GOT TO WITNESS THIS, BUT YEAH, THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> WE HAVE DEATH BY BUG.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE ALSO.

JODY, THIS COMES TO US FROM NEAR VALLEY.

SHE THINKS THIS IS AN ASH GRAY BLISTER BEATLE.

SHE FOUND IT ON HER TOMATOES AND EGGPLANTS, A FAIR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE.

SHE WONDERS IF THERE ARE NON-PESTICIDE OPTIONS TO CONTROL AND IS THIS DANGEROUS TO HUMANS AND PETS?

>> SO THIS IS AN ASH GRAY BLISTER BEETLE.

THE NON-CHEMICAL WAY IS TOPUT GLOVES ON AND PICK THEM OFF, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE THAT YOU'RE ALREADY DOING THAT.

YOU CAN DROP IT INTO SOAPY WATER.

WHEN THEY COME, THEY COME IN MASS AND THEY JUST EAT A LOT.

AND THEY DO LOVE EGGPLANT.

NONCHEMICAL-WISE THERE'S SPINOCIDE.

I MEAN, I WOULD STILL CONSIDER IT A CHEMICAL, BUT IT'S NOT -- IT'S MORE NATURAL.

AND THAT MAY WORK.

BUT WHEN YOU SEE THEM AND THEY'RE EATING, IT'S PROBABLY EASIER AND FASTER TO REMOVE THEM AND PUT THEM IN SOAPY WATER.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS JODY.

TERRI, YOU HAVE JUST ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

IT COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

THIS VIEWER SAYS SHE NEEDS A SOLUTION FOR KEEPING THE GRASS AND THE SOIL ON THE BANK.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE A SLOPE.

IT'S A LITTLE HARDER TO TELL FROM THIS ANGLE.

SHE'S HAD ABSOLUTELY NO LUCK SO FAR.

AND SHE SAYS THE ROOT INVASION FROM THE TREE HAS BEEN A PART OF THE ISSUE, AND IT MEANS NO MORE NICE LAWN.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK HERE?

>> WELL, SO THIS IS -- I'M GOING TO KIND OF MOVE OVER INTO THE HORTICULTURE SIDE OF MY JOB.

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT YOU SHOULDN'T BE GROWING TURF THERE.

NORMALLY TURF IS A FULL SUN PLANT, AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF SUN THERE.

SO MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE TO MAYBE CREATE A NICE LITTLE RETAINING WALL UP AGAINST THE SIDEWALK TO KIND OF HELP HOLD THAT IN, AND BASICALLY MAKE THAT WHOLE THING A REALLY NICE LANDSCAPE BED.

IT WOULD BE REALLY INTERESTING, ESPECIALLY UP AGAINST YOUR SIDEWALK.

YOU COULD GET SOME NICE LITTLE SHORT FLOWERS TO KIND OF SPILL OVER A LITTLE RETAINING WALL AND CREATE A REALLY NICE LANDSCAPE UNDERNEATH THAT TREE.

THAT WOULD HELP BOTH KEEPING THAT SOIL IN PLACE AND IT WOULD ALSO HELP WITH THAT ROOT SYSTEM.

AND THEN YOU WOULDN'T BE HAVING ALL THAT COMPETITION WITH THAT TRYING TO GET THAT TURF TO GO.

>> YEAH, AND GROUND COVERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT WILL COVER THOSE ROOTS.

>> YEAH, GROUND COVERS.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE.

SO SHE APPARENTLY HAS A HACKBERRY.

THE BIG TREE IS A -- I'M SORRY, MULBERRY.

SHE HAS A MULBERRY.

AND THEN SHE HAS HACKBERRIES THAT ARE ACTUALLY INVADING KIND OF THE WEIRD SPOT BETWEEN THOSE MULTIPLE TRUNKS.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER SHE CAN CUT OFF THE HACKBERRIES AND USE TORDON WITHOUT IT GETTING INTO THE OTHER TREE AND SHE ALSO HAS SOME OTHER PLANTS AROUND IT.

>> I WOULDN'T SUGGEST USING TORDON.

TORDON ACUALLY, IF YOU PUT THAT ON A PLANT, IT WILL TRANS LOCATE THROUGH TO OTHER PLANTS.

SO, MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO TAKE JUST YOUR HAND PRUNERS, GO DOWN BELOW THE SOIL LINE AND JUST KIND OF CUT THAT OUT.

YOU MAY BE CUTTING IT A COUPLE TIMES, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE CUTTING ALL OF THE GROWTH OFF THAT.

SO YOU'RE TAKING ALL THE ENERGY AWAY FROM THE PLANT AND IT'S EVENTUALLY GOING TO DIE OFF, ESPECIALLY IF YOU GET IT BELOW THAT SOIL LINE.

YOU CAN IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A WICK AND USE MAYBE SOME GLYSOPHATE, LIKE RIGHT AFTE YOUR CUT AND JUST KIND OF PAINT IT ON THERE IF THAT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANNA DO.

BUT I THINK YOU COULD GET AWAY WITH JUST CUTTING IT.

LIKE I SAID YOU MAY DO IT A COUPLE TIMES, BUT IT SHOULD BE OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

AMY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

ON THIS FIRST ONE, THIS IS A TOMATO ISSUE, ONE OF MANY.

THIS VIEWER SAYS THEY BOOSTED THE DAILY WATERING.

THIS IS LAST WEEK BEFORE IT GOT TO BE 190 DEGREES HERE.

AND THEN THEY LEFT FOR THREE DAYS AND IT WAS THE HOT ONES.

AND THEY CAME BACK AND THEIR TOMATOES LOOKED LIKE THIS.

THEY'RE WONDERING -- THERE'S NO FRUIT DAMAGE.

WAS THIS THE HEAT?

HE'S SAYING THE SOIL MOISTURE LOOKED GOOD.

OR IS THIS THE START OF DISEASE HERE?

>> SO, IF YOU REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THE BOTTOM LEAVES, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ALL THESE BLACK SPOTS ON THEM.

AND THIS IS OUR DREADED NEMESIS, EARLY BLIGHT.

SO THAT FUNGAL DISEASE, IT'S IN THE SOIL.

WE HAVE IT AROUND ALL THE TIME.

AND SO, KEEP IN MIND THIS IS GOING TO START AT THE LOWER PART OF THE PLANT AND WORK ITS WAY UP.

I SEE SOAKER HOSES, WHICH IS AN EXCELLENT WAY OF MANAGING IT.

BUT WHENEVER WE GET A RAIN EVENT, THE SPORES ARE GOING TO MOVE THEIR WAY UP.

IT DOES BECOME A CHALLENGE, AND IT CAN CAUSE THAT PLANT TO TURN YELLOW AND START FALLING OFF PREMATURELY.

SO ONE OF THE MANAGEMENT THINGS WE CAN DO IS YOU CAN ACTUALLY BE FAIRLY AGGRESSIVE WITH YOUR TOMATO AND YOU CAN PINCH OFF ALL OF THOSE LEAVES AMD REMOVE THEM SOURCE OF SPORES AND DISPOSE OF THEM.

THEY CAN GO IN THE COMPOST PILE.

THE OTHER OPTION, YOU CAN GO PN THE FUNGICIDE ROUTE.

ONCE AGAIN, WE CAN GO WITH A COPPER-BASED PRODUCT.

COPPER IS A NICE FUNGICIDE TO USE.

IT'S A CONTACT SPRAY, BUT WHENEVER WE HAVE A RAIN EVENT IT'S GOING TO WASH OFF.

AS I STATED EARLIER, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE LOOK AT PRE-HARVEST INTERVALS AND MAKING SURE WE'RE GIVING ALOTTED AMOUNT OF TIME FROM THE TIME THAT FUNGICIDE APPLICATION UNTIL YOU CAN HARVEST THE FRUIT.

>> AND I KNOW THAT IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, OUR MASTER GARDENS HAVE PINCHED OFF ALL THE BOTTOM LEAVES.

SORT OF PREVENTATIVE ON THEIR END.

>> IT DOESN'T HURT THEM ONE BIT.

IT ACTUALLY HELPS WITH AIR MOVEMENT TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF DISEASES IN OUR TOMATOES.

SO, IF YOU'RE IN LINCOLN, STOP BY AND VISIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS YELLOW SPOTS ON THE TOMATOES.

AND THIS IS FROM PAPLLION.

HE WONDERS HOW TO AVOID HAVING THIS HAPPEN?

>> SO THE DISEASE SIDE, I'M GOING TO LEAD TOWARD TOMATO-SPOTTED WILT, WHICH IS A VIRUS.

THE PLANT CAME WITH IT AND THERE ISN'T ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

BUT AS I LOOK AT IT, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S NECESSARILY TOMATO SPOTTED WILT.

THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO GO.

THE OTHER CULPRIT IS ACTUALY A JODI PEST, AND IT'S STINKBUGS.

STINKBUGS WILL PROBE LOOKING FOR A FOOD.

THEY DON'T LIKE TOMATOES, BUT THEY WILL PROBE.

AND WHEN THEY PROBE, THEY MAKE THESE LITTLE YELLOW SPOTS.

AND THE REASON I'M SAYING IT MIGHT BE STINKBUGS IS IT'S A NICE YELLOW RING.

TO BE THE SPOT IN WILT, USUALLY WE GET MORE OF A RING PATTERN.

SO WE HAVE YELLOW AND ORANGE AND RED.

AND SO, MAYBE TAKE A LOOK FOR STINKBUGS AND YOU CAN REMOVE THOSE AND THROW THEM IN SOAPY WATER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

SARAH, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS -- WE'VE HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE TELL US THEIR BIG LEAF HYDRANGEAS HAVE ACTUALLY BLOOMED THIS YEAR.

HE SAYS THEY'RE USUALLY BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS ENDLESS SUMMER.

HE SAID THEY ARE NOW SICKLY GREEN INSTEAD OF A RICH GREEN AND THIS IS TWO OF THREE PLANTS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> SO WHAT I THINK WHAT YOU'RE HAVING HERE IS YOU'RE HAVING SOME ROOT PROBLEMS ON THIS PLANT.

AND IT COULD BE DUE TO ALL THE RAIN THAT WE'VE HAD THIS SPRING THAT HAS KEPT THE ROOT SYSTEMS SO WET.

AND YOU MAY EVEN HAVE SOME ROOT DIE BACK THAT'S HAPPENING ON THESE PLANTS.

BUT WHEN THE ROOTS AREN'T FUNCTIONING WELL, THEN THEY DON'T PICK UP THE NUTRIENTS THE WAY THEY SHOULD AND IT CAN RESULT IN YELLOWING LIKE THIS.

SO, I WOULD DO SOME INVESTIGATION.

I'D PULL THAT MULCH BACK.

I WOULD SEE HOW WET THAT SOIL IS DOWN UNDERNEATH THERE.

IF IT IS VERY, VERY WET, I WOULD MAKE SURE THAT YOU LET THAT DRY OUT.

MAYBE KEEP THE MULCH OFF -- OUT FROM AWAY FROM THE BASE OF THESE PLANTS AND LET THAT SOIL DRY OUT.

AND SEE IF THAT HELPS THE PLANTS IMPROVE A LITTLE BIT.

YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT LOOK AT THAT AND THINK THIS IS A NITROGEN DEFICIENCY.

BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S FERTILIZER BASED BECAUSE WE'RE NOT SEEING THE VEINS OF THE LEAVES BE A DARKER GREEN, WHICH WE NORMALLY WOULD SEE IF THIS WAS A NITROGEN PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, SARAH.

SPEAKING OF HYDRANGEAS, YOUR NEXT QUESTION, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PAPILLION.

THESE ARE LITTLE QUICK FIRES, WHICH IS A PANICLED TYPE, THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR FOR THE WHOLE PLANTING.

HE PRUNED THEM ALL THE SAME IN MARCH.

AND THEN THE ONE KIND OF SECOND FROM THE FRONT OF THIS SCREEN THERE IS NOT FLOWERING, NOT DOING ANYTHING.

WH DO YOU THINK?

>> SO, I'M THINKING THIS IS A ROOT RELATED ISSUE TOO, PROBABLY.

AN ESTABLISHMENT MORE TO THE POINT.

THIS PLANT SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE SMALLER THAN THE OTHERS.

IT'S NOT GROWING AS WELL.

SO, MAYBE THIS PLANT HAD A SMALLER ROOT SYSTEM WHEN IT WAS PLANTED.

BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT'S JUST NOT UP TO THE STAGE AS THE OTHER PLANTS.

I THINK IF YOU GIVE THIS PLANT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME WITH GOOD CARE, IT'LL GET THERE.

SO I THINK IT JUST HASN'T GOTTEN TO THAT BLOOMING POINT YET.

>> IT'S THE RUNT OF THE FAMILY.

>> YEAH, IT CAN BE THE RUNT, IF YOU WANT TO THINK OF IT THAT WAY.

>> TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BURWELL.

THIS OAK OF HERS, SHE'S HAD FOR A WHILE.

SOME OF THE BRANCHES LEAFED OUT.

OTHERS DID NOT.

THERE ARE NO INSECTS.

SHE KNOWS SHE NEEDS TO HAVE THE DEAD ONES PRUNED OUT.

BUT SHE IS WANTING TO WAIT BECAUSE SHE WONDERS WHETHER THOSE QUESTIONABLE BRANCHES WILL LEAF OUT.

>> SO, IF THEY HAVEN'T LEAFED OUT BY NOW, THEN I THINK THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO PUT OUT ANY FOLIAGE AT THIS POINT, IS REALLY, REALLY LOW.

SO I WOULD GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THEM OUT.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT FIRST PICTURE, THE THING THAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO ME THERE IS HOW GREEN THE LAWN IS BENEATH THIS TREE.

SO MY QUESTION FOR THIS HOME OWNER WOULD BE TO TALK ABOUT THEIR IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, THEY MAY BE WATERING FREQUENTLY, YOU KNOW, THREE, FOUR OR MORE TIMES A WEEK, KEEPING THAT LAWN AS GREEN AS IT IS, WHICH IS REALLY NOT A GREAT WAY TO WATER TO KEEP OAKS HEALTHY.

AND IT CAN CAUSE ROOT DIE BACK IN THE LONG RUN.

AND THEN THAT TRANSLATES INTO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE CANOPY WITH BRANCH DIE BACKS.

SO, I WOULD REALLY WANT TO KNOW HOW THE IRRIGATION IS HAPPENING AROUND THIS TREE TO FIGURE OUT THE UNDERLYING REASON FOR THIS BRANCH DIE BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SARAH.

WELL BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM GANNON RUSH FROM UNL'S HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER ABOUT WHAT WE CAN EXPECT ON THIS WEEK'S WEATHER FORECAST.

>> THANKS, KIM.

I HOPE EVERYONE WAS ABLE TO KEEP COOL DURING THE HEAT WAVE THIS PAST WEEK.

THEY GET PRETTY BRUTAL AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

THE GOOD NEWS IS TEMPERATURES WILL BE MUCH COOLER THIS WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.

ON FRIDAY, TEMPERATURES WILL BE 80s AND INTO THE LOW 90s OUT WEST.

BUT THEN WILL DROP DRASTICALLY ON SATURDAY.

MUCH OF THE STATE WILL BE IN THE 70s AND STAY THAT WAY THROUGH MONDAY.

TEMPERATURES LIKE THIS ARE PRETTY RARE IN JULY, SO GET OUT AND ENJOY IT.

ON TUESDAY WE'LL HEAT BACK A LITTLE BIT BACK INTO THE 80s.

CHANCES OF RAIN ALSO RETURN THIS WEEK WITH THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE STATE MOST LIKELY RECEIVING MOISTURE.

THE BULK OF THIS WILL OCCUR IN SHOWERS ON FRIDAY EVENING INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BE SEVERE AND THERE COULD BE HEAVY RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

AFTER THIS, CHANCES FOR STORMS ARE PRETTY SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE WEEK.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS, GANNON.

IT IS TIME FOR A BREAK.

STAY TUNED BECAUSE THERE IS MUCH MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRAND NAMES AND ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ON HERBICIDE LABELS.

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

SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND E-MAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

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

SARAH, YOU ARE UP FIRST, AS ALWAYS, THE HORT CHAIR.

>> OKAY.

>> THE FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM A SCRIBNER VIEWER.

SHE HAS A LOT OF HENS AND CHICKS.

AND SHE SAYS THE ISSUE THOUGH IS THE LONG ROOSTER BUDS WHICH MUST BE THE NECK.

THEY DON'T OPEN.

WHAT'S THE DEAL?

>> OH, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M STUMPED ON THAT ONE.

THEY'RE PRETTY TOUGH, PRETTY EASY TO GROW.

SO THAT'S SURPRISING THAT THEY'RE NOT OPENING.

SORRY, I DON'T HAVE A GREAT ANSWER ON THAT ONE.

>> NO WORRIES.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE, WHICH IS, CAN YOU PRUNE THE LONG NEW GROWTH ON EWES RIGHT NOW?

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

>> TECHNICALLY YOU COULD.

NOT THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO PRUNE.

YOU MAY END UP -- IF WE GET SOME REALLY HOT WEATHER THAT COMES UP QUICKLY, YOU COULD END UP WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BURNING ON THOSE TIPS WHERE YOU MAKE THE CUTS.

SO IT'S NOT THE IDEAL TIME TO DO IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAID HE HAS HEARD THAT A STUMP ACCELERATOR COULD BE STRAIGHT NITROGEN ON THE STUMP AND COVER IT WITH A TRASH CAN LID TO GET RID OF YOUR STUMPS QUICKLY.

>> INTERESTING.

NEVER HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.

YEAH, SORRY.

>> IT'S A WEIRD YEAR -- IT'S A WEIRD WEEK FOR QUESTIONS.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO PLANTED DRAGON TONGUE BEANS AND SHE GOT A CLIMBER WITH RED FLOWERS.

ANY IDEA ON THAT ONE?

[ THUNDER ] >> I AM THREE FOR THREE.

I HAVE NO IDEA ON THAT ONE.

SORRY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> MAYBE WE HAVE A LIGHTNING ROUND SOMETIMES WHERE IT'S LIKE OKAY, WHATEVER YOU SEND, CAN ANY OF US ANSWER ANYTHING.

YOU GUYS HAVE SOME WEIRD ONES TONIGHT, TOO.

>> OH, GREAT.

THERE'S A TREND TONIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY.

YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS A FESCUE RYE MIX LAWN.

THIS IS IN LINCOLN.

IT SEEMS TO BE MELTING OUT.

IS THAT DISEASE?

>> YES.

IT IS MOST LIKELY DISEASE.

GET A SAMPLE INTO KYLE SO HE CAN I.D.

IT OR DROP IT OFF BY SARAH AND SHE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A BLAIR VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER SOLARIZING THE SOIL WILL KILL ALL OF THOSE SOIL-BORN PATHOGENS.

>> IT'S A GREAT CONCEPT.

WE TYPICALLY DON'T GET WARM ENOUGH FOR A LONG ENOUGH TIME TO KILL EVERYTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SAYS THE BASAL FOLIAGE OF THEIR ASTERS AND CONEFLOWERS ALL JUST TURN BROWN AND COLLAPSED.

WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?

>> NO IDEA.

>> OKAY.

>> THEY'RE JUST TIRED.

IT COULD BE INSECT RELATED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS ONE'S COMING FROM, BUT THEY'RE ASKING IF OAK WILT HAS ACCTUALLY BEEN CONFIRMED IN NEBRASKA.

>> I WANT TO SAY YES IN THE OMAHA AREA, BUT I WANT TO SAY NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE LOTS OF TOMATOES THAT ARE CURLING LIKE THIS.

IS THAT DISEASE?

>> HERBICIDE DRIFT AND LOTS OF IT FOR SURE.

[ THUNDER ] >> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, AMY.

LET'S SEE.

WE HAVE TURF NECKS.

TERRI, ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M SCARED.

>> WELL AT LEAST IT'S, YOU KNOW, JUST GREEN STUFF ON THE GROUND, RIGHT?

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

ROLL IT.

>> THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAD A TREE REMOVED THIS SPRING.

LEFT ALL THE SAWDUST THERE FROM GRINDING OUT THE STUMP OR, YOU KNOW CUTTING DOWN THE TREE.

AND THEY'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR TO SEED BECAUSE THE NITROGEN IN THE SOIL WILL DIMINISH THEIR SEEDABILITY.

IS THAT CORRECT OR NOT?

>> YEAH, MOST LIKELY.

I WOULD PROBABLY WAIT.

GET YOUR SOIL PREPPED FOR FALL AND THEN SEED IN THE SPRING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO BUILD A RAISED BED AROUND A STUMP SIX INCHES HIGH AND THEN PUT SOIL OVER THE STUMP.

ANY THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> SURE.

GO AHEAD.

>> HOW DEEP SHOULD THAT SOIL BE?

>> SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW TALL THE STUMP WAS.

DID IT SAY HOW TALL THE STUMP WAS?

>> SIX INCHES.

>> SIX INCHES.

SO YOU ACTUALLY CAN GO BACK AND WATCH MY WHO CULTURE IN RAISED BEDS AND TALK ABOUT THAT.

AND THEN IT'S USUALLY ONE-THIRD.

SO IF IT'S SIX INCHES, THEN YOU'RE GONNA WANT AT LEAST 18 INCHES DEEP.

>> THAT SOUNDS MORE HOARDY THAN TURFY, BUT -- >> IT IS, YES.

>> WHAT IS THE BEST BROAD LEAF AND GRASSY WEED PRODUCT TO USE WITHOUT HURTING ORNAMENTALS?

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

>> TO CONTROL WHAT?

[ THUNDER ] >> ALL OF THEM.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> LIKE I SAID, IT'S BEEN AN INTERESTING WEEK FOR QUESTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY.

OR, AMY, SORRY, JODY.

GOING THE WRONG WAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] GOING THE WRONG WAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST ONE HERE.

THIS IS A SHENANDOAH VIEWER SAW A GIANT TOMATO HORNED WORM AND IS WONDERING WHERE THAT THING CAME FROM.

>> YOUR TOMATO PLANT LIKELY, JUST KEPT EATING AND EATING.

THEY'RE VERY CAMOUFLAGED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS ASKED US HOW YOU CAN RID GARBAGE CANS OF MAGGOTS.

IS THERE A SPRAY?

>> JUST RINSE EVERYTHING OUT.

JUST WASH -- WASH IT OUT SO THERE'S NO RESIDUE OR ANY STUFF FOR MAGGOTS TO BREED IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A WEST POINT VIEWER WHO HAS GARLIC.

AND SHE IS WONDERING HOW SHE CAN HARVEST IT WITHOUT DISTURBING THE BUMBLEBEE NEST THAT IS APPARENTLY RIGHT THERE IN THE GARLIC.

THAT'S YOUR WEIRD QUESTION.

>> YOU CAN GET A BEE SUIT?

MAYBE.

YOU JUST WANT TO DO IT SAFELY.

DO IT AT NIGHT MAYBE WITH A RED HEAD LAMP.

THIS IS JUST GETTING WEIRD, BUT YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

BEE SUIT, RED HEAD LAMP, NIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW DO YOU KEEP HONEY BEES AWAY FROM FEEDERS FOR ORIOLES?

[ THUNDER ] >> OH, FEED THEM SOMETHING ELSE.

GET LIKE A SIDE -- A SIDE FOR THE HONEY BEES THAT THEY LIKE.

>> A SIDE DISH.

GIVE THAT TO AMY.

>> WOOHOO.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

SHE KIND OF HAD THE EASY ONES.

WE ALL KINDA -- >> YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT WORKS.

I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T JUST PLANT IN THE SPRING AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

THIS WEEK WE'RE INSTALLING A FEW MORE PLANTS THAT WE HOPE YOU'LL ENJOY LATER IN THE SEASON.

HERE'S TERRI TO TELL US MORE IN THE GARDEN.

♪♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU WHO CAME OUT AND VISITED US AT EAST CAMPUS DISCOVERY DAYS LAST WEEKEND.

WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL OF YOU COME AND VISIT THE GARDEN.

REMEMBER, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SPECIAL OCCASION TO COME AND VISIT US.

YOU KNOW WE'RE ALL PLANT GEEKS HERE.

SO OF COURSE WE'VE GONE OUT AND WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL THE NURSERIES AND WE'VE PICKED OUT A BUNCH OF NEW PLANTS TO ADD.

MOST OF THEM ARE PERENNIALS, SO WE'LL BE SEEING THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEARS IN OUR GARDEN AND WE ARE INSTALLING THEM THIS WEEK.

SO WE WON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE PLANT TAGS ON THEM QUITE YET, BUT THEY'LL ALL BE MARKED WITH FLAGS.

SO IF YOU'RE STOPPING BY WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE THOSE NEW PLANTS THAT WE HAVE.

WE'VE ALSO GOTTEN ABOUT 40 POUNDS NOW OF PRODUCE DONATED OUT OF OUR GARDEN, AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF OUR VEGETABLES GETTING RIPE.

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

♪♪ >> EVERYTHING LOOKS FANTASTIC WITH THE COOLER WEATHER.

AND IT'S MUCH MORE PLEASANT TO STROLL AROUND AND ENJOY THAT GARDEN.

SO NOW, SARAH, THIS IS MUCH MORE PLEASANT, TOO.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT ARE DO WE HAVE FOR PLANTS OF THE WEEK?

>> WE'VE GOT THREE GREAT PLANTS MAKING UP THIS NICE ARARNGEMENT HERE.

THIS ONE IN THE FRONT IS -- SHOULD BE RECOGNIZABLE TO A LOT OF OUR GARDENERS.

THIS IS A BUTTERFLY BUSH.

VERY -- KIND OF A -- A WOODY PERENNIAL.

COMES IN LOTS OF DIFFERENT FLOWER COLORS AND VARYING HEIGHTS.

GREAT FOR POLLINATORS AND BUFFERFLIES.

BLOOMING RIGHT NOW.

VERY, VERY PRETTY.

THE YELLOW FLOWERS HERE ARE A TYPE OF RUDBECKIA.

THIS IS SWEET CONEFLOWER.

ACTUALLY NATIVE IN THE U.S.

IN THE SOUTHWEST.

AND SO IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF A NATIVE, OR A NEAR NATIVE, THIS WOULD BE A NICE ONE.

GETS TO BE ABOUT THREE TO FIVE FEET TALL.

PREFERS SORT OF MOISTURE SOILS, BUT IT IS VERY ADAPTABLE, SO IT CAN GROW IN DRIER LOCATIONS TOO AS WELL AND TOLERATES OUR SOIL VERY WELL.

SO THAT'S GREAT.

THEN HERE IN THE FRONT, WE HAVE A FUN LITTLE FILLER.

AND YOU MAY RECOGNIZE THIS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A DILL HEAD WITH SOME DILL SEEDS ON THERE.

AND THEY'RE GETTING PRETTY MATURE.

SO THEY'RE ALMOST TO THE POINT WHERE YOU COULD HARVEST THESE AND SAVE THEM FOR COOKING LATER ON IN THE SUMMER.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THE SEED HEADS MAKE A NICE LITTLE FILLER AND KIND OF ROUND OUT THIS ARRANGEMENT WITH OUR BUTTERFLY BUSH AND OUR SWEETCONE FLOWER.

>> YEAH AND IT'S JUST -- THESE ARE ALL IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, SO PEOPLE CAN COME ENJOY IT AND IT'S A GREAT COMBINATION.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SARAH.

WELL OUR NEXT ONE IS A QUESTION FOR YOU, JODY.

AND THIS ONE, LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BIG MAC BASICALLY.

SO WE'RE IN THE -- IN KIND OF THAT PART OF THE STATE.

AND HE HAS EVIDENCE OF ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH.

AND HE'S WONDERING -- HE'S GOT A LOT OF PINES.

SO, LOTS OF PINES.

THERE WE SEE THE PITCH MASSES.

HE'S WONDERING ABOUT USING HIGH-YIELD 38 WITH PERMETHRIN IN AUGUST.

IS THAT THE RIGHT CHEMICAL COMBINATION AND DOES HE NEED TO SPRAY ALL OF HIS -- ALL HIS TREES OR JUST THE ONES THAT ARE SHOWING THE DAMAGE?

>> OKAY, SO, THE FIRST QUESTION WAS, IS THAT THE RIGHT PRODUCT?

THAT IS THE RIGHT PRODUCT.

YOU WANT TO USE THAT IN AUGUST.

SO THAT IS WHEN THE MOTH EMERGES FROM THE TREE, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THEY'RE DEEP IN THE TRUNK AS LARVAE.

AND THEN THEY WILL START LAYING EGGS.

SO THE MOTH IS ATTRACTED TO LAYING EGGS ON WOUNDS.

AND SO IT'S LIKELY TO COME BACK TO THAT TREE.

SO I WOULD JUST TREAT THAT TREE.

IF YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PINES, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE BEING TAKEN CARE OF, MULCH AND WATER TO ENSURE THOSE ARE HEALTHY SO THAT THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH WON'T WANT TO GO TO THOSE TREES AND LAY EGGS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JODY.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE ALSO.

THIS IS A QUESTION ON WHAT ARE THESE?

SHE THINKS THEY'RE REALLY BIG JAPANESE BEETLES AND SHE THINKS THEY'RE CAUSING THE HOLES IN THE GROUND, WHICH IS THE NEXT PICTURE.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF SMART VIEWERS.

BECAUSE THIS IS A GREEN JUNE BEETLE.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THEY CAME OUT OF THAT GROUND.

I WAS ABOUT TO SAY TURN, BUT I DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF TURF.

BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF THEM.

SO THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE -- AND I'M HOLDING ONE IN MY HAND.

HOPEFULLY IT DOESN'T FLY AWAY.

THEY'RE RATHER LARGE.

THEY DO LOOK LIKE RATHER LARGE JAPANESE BEETLES.

BUT THEY ARE ANOTHER WHITE GRUB THAT WE SEE.

SOMETIMES WE SEE THEM CRAWLING AROUND ON THEIR BACKS.

SO IF YOU EVER SEE ANY GRUBS WALKING ON THEIR BACKS, BECAUSE THEY'RE -- WORKS BETTER THAN THEIR LEGS, THEN THAT IS A GREEN JUNE BEETLE.

THEY ARE EMERGING A LOT RIGHT NOW.

AND THEY SOUND LIKE BUMBLEBEES.

AND THEY'RE FLYING -- THEY'RE HIGHLY MOBILE.

SO THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THIS IS ONE I FOUND ON THE SIDEWALK, AND THE OTHER ONE I FOUND ON ONE OF THE FLOWERS IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

SO, IF YOU WERE GROWING GRASS THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD WANT TO TREAT THAT.

IT LOOKS LIKE PRETTY, LIKE, WELL DRAINED, ORGANIC SOIL.

SO THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM.

THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE EMERGED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JODY.

WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, TOO.

THIS IS A VIEWER FROM THE PONCA HILLS AREA IN OMAHA.

SPRAYED APPLE TREE EARLY IN THE SEASON WITH FRUIT TREE SPRAY.

YOU HAVE TWO PICS HERE.

AND THIS IS THE RESULT.

THIS IS THE APPLES THEY GOT.

AND SO THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT THEY SHOULD DO NEXT YEAR.

>> OKAY.

SO NEXT YEAR, START, YOU KNOW, THINK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU'RE HAVING WITH THIS TREE AND START WHEN THE TREE IS STILL DORMANT.

SO THERE IS A FRUIT TREE SCHEDULE.

SO YOU'LL WANT TO LOOK AT THAT AND GO THROUGH THE DIFFERENT TIMINGS OF WHEN YOU NEED TO TREAT FOR WHICH TYPES OF INSECTS.

THIS COULD BE A NUMBER OF THINGS.

BUT IF YOU'VE ONLY TREATED ONE TIME, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON LIKE WHAT -- LIKE WHEN YOU TREATED.

SO IF YOU ARE TREATING FOR INSECTS, IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE AFTER THE BLOSSOMS WITH THAT PRODUCT.

AND THEN YOU'LL ALSO WANT TO DO IT LIKE EVERY TEN DAYS OR WHATEVER THE FRUIT TREE SCHEDULE SAYS.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE HOLISTIC APPROACH FOR THE TREE SO THAT YOU COULD GET THE BEST FRUIT AS POSSIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JODY.

YOU HAVE, LET'S SEE, TERRI, TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS -- WHATEVER THIS IS STARTED GROWING IN HIS VEGETABLE GARDEN TWO YEARS AGO IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE HE DID HAVE CORN AND HE HASN'T HAD ANY CORN SINCE.

AND HE SAYS THE ROOT SYSTEM ON THIS IS CONNECTED.

HE WONDERS WHAT THIS IS AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT.

>> YEAH, SO GRASSES ACTUALLY HAVE KIND OF A FIBROUS ROOT SYSTEM.

SO IF THEY ARE GROWING PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER, THEY ARE GONNA KIND OF CONNECT TO GATHER A NET TOGETHER.

SO THAT COULD BE TRUE.

I BELIEVE THIS IS JOHNSON GRASS.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE A PERENNIAL.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU'RE SEEING IT A COUPLE YEARS IN A ROW.

WHAT I WOULD DO IS CUT IT DOWN.

YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO USE A NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE TO GET RID OF IT.

AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE APPLICATIONS.

I WOULDN'T DO IT NOW.

IT'S TOO WARM TO BE SPRAYING ANY OF THOSE HERBICIDES.

SO I WOULD START LIKE IN THE FALL MAYBE AFTER LABOR DAY WHEN IT STARTS TO COOL DOWN.

MOW IT DOWN.

DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED.

DO ALL THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE'D NORMALLY TELL YOU, AND THEN IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE UNDER CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE FOUND THIS GROWING IN THE GARDEN, AND SHE SAID SOME OF THESE ARE POPPED UP VERY QUICKLY.

WHAT IS THIS?

IS THIS INVASIVE OR A KEEPER?

IT DOES PULL EASILY.

AND I SENT HER A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ASKING, "DID IT SMELL SLIGHTLY LIKE ONION?"

THE ANSWER WAS, "YES."

>> OH, WELL, SO I GUESS WE'RE RIGHT.

IT'S AN ALIUM OF SOME KIND.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH.

OFTENTIMES PEOPLE SEND US PICTURES AND SOMETIMES IT'S TOO OF AN IMMATURE PLANT THAT WE DON'T QUITE KNOW WHICH WHAT IT IS.

SOMETIMES SEEING A FLOWER HAPPEN.

SO IF YOU DON'T WANT IT THERE, CONTINUE PULLING IT.

BUT IF YOU'RE CURIOUS LIKE I PROBABLY WOULD BE, I WOULD PROBABLY PULL THEM ALL AND LEAVE ONE OR TWO AND THEN JUST LET IT COME TO FLOWER AND THEN I COULD FIGURE OUT BETTER WHICH ALIUM IT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A TEKAMAH VIEWER WHO -- SHE DID SOME GOOGLING AND SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD IDENTIFIED THIS AS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY DOES NOT GROW IN THIS SITUATION, ALTHOUGH IT IS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> YEAH.

I DID A LITTLE BIT OF CHECKING AND I THINK THIS IS A NAP WEED.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME THAT GROW HERE.

IT WOULD BE A ROSETTE AT FIRST, AND THEN IT'S GOING TO GROW UP INTO A FLOWER.

AND AGAIN, IF YOU WANNA GET RID OF THE ONES THAT YOU DON'T WANT AND THEN MAYBE KEEP ONE OR TWO AND LET IT GO TO FLOWER, THEN THAT WILL ACTUALLY HELP US BETTER IDENTIFY IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE HERE.

THIS IS ALSO AN APPLE.

HE HAS APPLES AND PEACHES BOTH.

RUST -- HE'S CALLING THEM RUST SPOTS.

HE WONDERS ABOUT AN ORGANIC APPLICATION OF SOMETHING AND WHEN?

>> SO WE'RE LOOKING AT CLASSIC CEDAR APPLE RUST HERE.

VERY COMMON IN THE STATE.

WE'LL FIND IT EVERYWHERE.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT ORGANIC OPTIONS, THE FIRST ORGANIC PRODUCT THAT I WILL COME TO IS COPPER.

COPPER'S CONSIDERED AN ORGANIC PRODUCT.

YOU NEED TO FOLLOW THOSE FRUIT TREE SPRAY SCHEDULES JUST LIKE JODY TALKED ABOUT FOR INSECTS AND YOU'VE GOT TO BE PRETTY RELIGIOUS.

WE USING COPPER AS A CONTACT, SO EVERY TIME YOU HAVE A RAIN EVENT, YOU MAY HAVE TO APPLY MORE FREQUENTLY BECAUSE THE PRODUCT WEARS -- OR WASHES OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S SEE.

ON THIS ONE, YOU'VE GOT TWO PICTURES ALSO.

THIS IS A GREEN TWIG DOGWOOD.

IT'S TWO YEARS OLD.

IT BUDDED OUT IN THE SPRING AND THEN IT DID THIS.

IT IS IN FULL SUN.

IS THIS DISEASE OR THIS A DISEASE IN A BOTTLE?

>> DISEASE -- WELL, IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

WHEN YOU HAVE LIKE A -- THIS PHOTO HERE, IT MAKES ME REALLY THINK IT'S WITCH'S BREW, WHICH WOULD BE A FITOPLASMA.

OR IT COULD BE HERBICIDE.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SIT AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE NEXT YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A HIBISCUS, TWO YEARS OLD.

LAST YEAR IT LOOKED GREAT.

THIS YEAR IT DID THIS.

>> THIS IS DEFINITELY HERBICIDE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW IT'S REALLY CURLED AND SOME TYPE OF GROWTH REGULATOR THAT CAME AND DRIFTED ON.

WITH THE CROPS HAVE BEEN GROWING THIS YEAR, WE GOT LOTS OF APPLICATIONS GOING ON ON PRODUCT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WATERLOO, NEBRASKA.

SHE KNOWS SHE HAS ASTER YELLOWS AND THEY LOOK LIKE THIS.

AND WE'VE ANSWERED IT AND SHE PULLED THEM OUT.

BUT SHE'S WONDERING IF THEY WILL AFFECT THE NEARBY XENNIAS AND CAN SHE PLANT IN THE SAME PLACE NEXT YEAR?

>> ASTER YELLOWS CAN GO TO XENNIAS.

THESE LOOK HEALTHY RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU CAN PLANT IN THE SAME SPOT BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE SOIL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

SARAH, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM KEARNEY.

THIS IS A WEIRD ZUCCHINI GROWTH THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS.

I THINK YOUR SECOND PICTURE SHOWS KIND OF THE OTHER END.

THEY JUST CUT IT OFF AND IT SEEMED FINE.

WHAT -- ANY IDEA?

>> I THINK THIS IS JUST A POLLINATION ISSUE.

I MEAN, YOU CAN SEE SOME SEEDS DEVELOPING THERE IN THAT ABNORMAL TISSUE THAT'S DEVELOPING AT THE BASE OF THE ZUCCHINI.

SO NOTHING TO REALLY WORRY ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.

JUST CUT IT OFF AND YOU CAN STILL EAT THE ZUCCHINI.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A MURRAY VIEWER.

BELL PEPPERS, THE TOPS DO THIS ON ALL OF HIS PLANTS AND THEY HAVE NOT GROWN OUT OF IT.

LAST YEAR HE HAD PEPPERS IN THE SAME SPOTS.

THEY GREW FANTASTICALLY.

NO SPRAY AND THE TOMATOES ARE DOING GREAT.

>> WELL, SO THE -- WHEN I FIRST LOOK AT THIS PLANT, MY FIRST THOUGHT IS THIS IS HERBICIDE DAMAGE.

NOW, IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT THIS GARDNER SPRAYED.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT DRIFTED IN FROM SOMEWHERE AROUND.

ESPECIALLY SINCE -- YOU CAN SEE THE EARLIER LEAVES WERE NORMALLY SHAPED.

AND THEN THIS LATER GROWTH IS COMING ON AND IS ALL TWISTED.

SO I'M REALLY SORT OF LEANING TOWARD HERBICIDE DAMAGE.

AS MUCH AS THESE PLANTS ARE AFFECTED, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'RE GOING TO GROW OUT IN TIME FOR TO ACTUALLY GET A HARVEST OFF OF THESE PLANTS THIS YEAR.

SO, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU COULD CUT YOUR LOSSES AND JUST PULL THEM OUT AND, YOU KNOW, PLANT SOMETHING NEW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS TOMATOES AND POTATOES IN ROWS.

NEITHER ARE DOING WELL.

HE WONDERS CAN HE PLANT SOMETHING ELSE BETWEEN THE ROWS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE REAL QUESTION IS, CAN HE PLANT THESE PLANTS IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACES NEXT YEAR?

>> NO.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP A GOOD ROTATION OF YOUR VEGETABLE FAMILIES IN THE GARDEN EVERY YEAR.

BECAUSE IF YOU PLANT TOMATOES IN THE SAME SPOT EVERY YEAR, THOSE DISEASE PATHOGENS ARE GOING TO BUILD UP IN THE SOIL AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE EARLY INFECTIONS AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE MORE INTENSE INFECTIONS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO PLANT VEGETABLE PLANTS IN THE SAME PLOT EVERY YEAR.

>> THANK YOU, SARAH.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME BRAND NAMES BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH THE PRODUCT ITSELF.

IT USED TO BE THAT ROUNDUP CONTAINING GLYPHOSATE WAS ONLY A NON-SELECTIVE WEED KILLER.

AS THE BRAND NAME HAS SOLD, OTHER PRODUCTS HAVE CAME OUT WITH THE SAME NAME BUT DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS AND APPLICATIONS.

THAT HAS LED TO SOME VERY UNFORTUNATE CONFUSION WITH CONSUMERS.

SO HERE'S ROCK TO TELL US HOW YOU CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM.

♪♪ >> GLYPHOSATE AND ROUNDUP ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS.

LET ME REPEAT IT TO THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM.

GLYPHOSATE AND ROUNDUP ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS.

IN THE 1970S, 1973 EXACTLY, MONSANTO RELEASED A PRODUCT CALLED ROUNDUP, WHICH WAS A NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE DESIGNED FOR AGRICULTURAL AND LANDSCAPE USE.

SINCE THEN, A LOT OF THINGS HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT GLYPHOSATE.

ALL THAT SAID, YOU CAN GO TO THE GARDEN STORE OR TO THE BOX STORE RIGHT NOW AND SEE UPWARDS OF 16 TO 20 DIFFERENT PRODUCTS BRANDED AS ROUNDUP.

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY GOT THE RIGHTS TO ROUNDUP AS A BRAND NAME AND STARTED BRANDING A LOT OF THEIR CONSUMER PRODUCTS THAT.

MANY OF THEM DO NOT CONTAIN GLYPHOSATE, WHICH IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT THAT DOES WHAT PEOPLE WOULD DEPEND IT UPON FOR OVER DECADES.

SO ALL THAT SAID, WHEN YOU GO TO THE GARDEN STORE OR WHEN YOU GO TO THE BOX STORE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A GLYPHOSATE STAND ALONE PRODUCT, BE SURE TO READ THE LABEL.

OF COURSE, THERE'S GONNA BE INERT INGREDIENTS, BUT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE FIRST THING TO BE GLYPHOSATE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE LABELED WITH GLYPHOSATE ON THEM THAT CAN BE USED AS A NONSELECTIVE LIKE GLYPHOSATE PLUS PELARGONIC ACID WHICH CAN BE USED IN THE LANDSCAPE AND IN VEGETABLE GARDENS.

BUT THEN THERE'S OTHERS THAT HAVE ROUNDUP FOR LAWNS WHICH HAS ABSOLUTELY NO GLYPHOSATE IN IT.

SO READ THE LABEL.

IF YOU'RE ONLINE AND PURCHASING, MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THE LABEL ONLINE AS WELL.

SO ROUNDUP AND GLYPHOSATE ARE NOT SYNONYMOUS.

>> AND HOPEFULLY THOSE TIPS WILL HELP YOU FIGURE OUT WHICH PRODUCT YOU NEED.

AND YOU'LL AVOID A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN HEARING ABOUT.

WE AT "BACKYARD FARMER" DO NOT ENDORSE SPECIFIC PRODUCTS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE DISCUSS THEM TO EDUCATE YOU ON THE RECOMMENDED USAGE.

ALL RIGHTY.

SO WE HAVE QUESTIONS NOW.

ONE FOR YOU, JODY ON THIS VERY FIRST ONE.

FOUND THIS INSECT ON HYDRANGEA.

REMINDED HER OF A PRAYING MAN TIS, THE WAY IT TURNED ITS HEAD.

>> THIS IS NOT A PRAYING MANTIS.

BUT THIS IS A NYMPH OF A WHEEL BUG.

SO ANOTHER PREDATOR.

>> VERY COOL.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE FOUND SEVERAL OF THESE INSIDE.

SHE SAYS THEY'RE HARD-SHELLED, THEY HAVE SIX LEGS, TWO ANTENNAE, AND THEY'RE AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH LONG.

>> YEAH, I GOT A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT THIS.

THESE ARE STRAWBERRY ROOT WEEVILS.

THEY DON'T DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO STRAWBERRIES, BUT THEY DO GET INSIDE WHEN IT'S REALLY REALLY HOT.

SO JUST VACUUM THEM UP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE ON THE ONE.

IT'S WHAT IS THIS MOTH?

>> IT IS A TYPE OF TIGER MOTH.

IT COULD BE THE CHARLOTTE'S TIGER MOTH OR THE HARNESS TIGER MOTH.

I CAN'T TELL JUST FROM THE PICTURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICS ON THIS ONE, TERRI.

QUICKLY.

THIS IS -- SHE'S WONDERING IS THIS POISON IVY.

AND IT'S BOTH PICTURES, I THINK.

IS IT POISON IVY?

>> YES, IT IS.

>> AND BE CAREFUL, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, BE CAREFUL.

MAKE SURE YOU WEAR LIKE WATERPROOF GLOVES.

LONG GLOVES, LONG SLEEVES.

ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.

AND THEN YOU CAN USE LIKE A SHRUB KILLER TO PAINT IT ON IF YOU NEED TO GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

HE SIMPLY WANTS AN IDENTIFICATION ON THIS ONE.

>> THIS IS FLEABANE.

SO THIS IS A REALLY NICE, KIND OF ASTERACEAE IN THE ASTERACEAE FAMILY.

IT TAKES HEAT FANTASTICALLY.

IT'S A NICE PRETTY LITTLE WHITE FLOWER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICS ON THIS ONE.

ARE THESE TWO PLANTS RELATED?

THESE ARE BOTH IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

>> YES, UNFORTUNATELY THEY ARE RELATED.

THE FIRST ONE IS JUST A COMMON MALLOW.

IT'S MORE OF A WEED.

SO WE CONTINUALLY PULL IT OUT OF THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

THE OTHER ONE IS AN ORNAMENTAL CALLED A ZEBRA MALL -- OR ZEBRA MALLOW.

IT'S PRETTY BUT IT DOES SPREAD ITSELF ABOUT, SO SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TELL IT WHERE YOU WANT IT TO STAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

SHROOM.

FIRST IT WAS A GOLF BALL, THEN IT WAS THE SIZE OF AN ADULT'S HAND.

WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S EITHER WHITE DAPPERLING OR A PARASOL MUSHROOM.

>> VERY BEAUTIFUL.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS WAS FIRMLY EMBEDDED IN THE TURF IN LINCOLN WITH A STOUT REDDISH STEM.

WHAT IS THIS ONE?

>> IT'S A TYPE OF BOLETUS SPECIES.

VERY LARGE, VERY STURDY TYPE OF MUSHROOM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

ONE CUT DOWN A MAPLE IN THIS MULCHED -- AND THEN MULCHED THE BED.

THIS APPEARED.

WHAT'S THIS?

>> THIS IS THE EVER FAMOUS STINKHORN THAT IS VERY SMELLY AND IT IS MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE BY FLIES BECAUSE THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO THE SMELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SARAH, YOU HAVE THREE QUESTIONS HERE.

THE FIRST IS A YOUNG CANADA RED CHERRY.

THE SUPPORTS BROKE IN THE STORM AND IT BENT ALMOST TO THE GROUND.

WILL IT STRAIGHTEN ITSELF, OR CAN THEY GIVE IT A SHOT WITH A WENCH AND ROPES?

>> YOU CAN PULL IT UP IF YOU WANT TO.

THE PROBLEM IS THERE MAY BE INTERNAL CRACKING FROM THAT BENDING, WHICH COULD BE A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A PALMER VIEWER.

THEY'RE STARTING AN ORCHARD AND THEY'RE WONDERING HOW THEY SHOULD PRUNE THIS PLUM AND WHEN.

>> SO PLUMS ARE TYPICALLY PRUNED TO A CENTRAL LEADER SYSTEM BECAUSE IT'S STRONGEST AND IT WILL SUPPORT THE HEAVIEST LOAD OF WEIGHT.

SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK UP, DO A LITTLE BIT OF READING UP ON CENTRAL LEADERED PRUNING, AND YOU WANT TO DO THAT IN MARCH.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND FINALLY, OMAHA.

WHAT TYPE OF SQUASH ARE THESE?

>> SO THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME SUMMER SQUASH WHICH ARE -- HAVE LIGHT GREEN SKIN AND KIND OF GLOBE SHAPED.

I THINK THAT MIGHT BE THE ONE ON THE TOP.

ALTHOUGH THAT'S AN OVER MATURE FRUIT, 'CAUSE IT'S GETTING THAT ORANGEY LOOK TO IT.

THE LOWER ONE LOOKS LIKE MAYBE A DELICATA.

BUT I WOULD JUST CUT THEM OPEN AND SEE WHAT THE FLESH LOOKS LIKE INSIDE.

IF IT'S WHITE, THEY'RE SUMMER SQUASH.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL AND THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED PICTURES AND QUESTIONS AND TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES THIS EVENING WE HAD TIM DUNGAN, GEORGE MALY AND CAROL RUSTAD.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL RETURN TO ARBOR LOT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR APPLE ORCHARDS.

SO, GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

♪♪ ♪♪