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

>>> TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'LL GET TIPS ON GROWING BUFFALOGRASS THE RIGHT WAY AND FASCINATE YOU WITH FASCIATION.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER.” ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER.” I'M KIM TODD AND I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE NEXT HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446 AND OUR VOLUNTEERS WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR GARDENING PROBLEM.

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WE'RE OFF NEXT WEEK FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY, BUT WHEN WE COME BACK IN TWO WEEKS, YOU'LL NOTICE SOME BIG CHANGES AS WE BREAK IN OUR NEW SET.

WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO MOVE INTO OUR NEW HOME WITH YOU ON JULY 11th.

ALL RIGHTY.

LET US START WITH QUESTIONS.

JODY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

SHE SAYS SHE FOUND MULTIPLE MINUTE NESTS UNDER HER DECK.

SOME WERE VACATED.

AND WHAT ARE THEY?

AND SHE SENT THIS PICTURE AND THEN SHE SENT THIS OTHER KIND OF WONKY ONE THAT SHOWS WHATEVER IT IS UNDER THE DECK THERE.

>> KIND OF LOOKS MAYBE LIKE PART OF THE FOUNDATION WALL?

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING FOR.

BUT THE FIRST PICTURE SHOWED KIND OF FURRINESS AND LIKE A COCOON SO I BELIEVE THAT IS THE REMNANTS OF A FORMER CATERPILLAR THAT WAS HAIRY.

SO PROBABLY A TIGER MOTH CATERPILLAR OR A TUSSOCK MOTHS CATERPILLAR.

YOU MAY HAVE A HOST PLANT OR A TREE CLOSE BY.

AND SO THEY FEED ON THAT.

AND THEN WHEN THEY GO TO PUPATE, THEY CREATE A COCOON.

AND IT EMERGRED AS A MOTH SOMEWHERE.

SO THAT'S WHAT THOSE ARE.

SO JUST CLEAN THAT UP AND MAYBE THIS FALL YOU'LL SEE SOME MORE AND YOU'LL KNOW WHAT THOSE ARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM NEAR JUNIATA, NEBRASKA.

HE LOVES ELDERBERRIES.

HE HAS THE SHRUBS.

HE WANTS THE BERRIES.

AND INSTEAD, HE GOT THESE CREATURES DEVOURING ROSES AND ELDERBERRY FLOWERS THIS YEAR.

HE'S KNOCKED HUNDREDS OF THEM OFF INTO SOAPY WATER.

THEY KEEP COMING AND HE HOPES THERE'S AN EASIER SOLUTION SO HE CAN GET THE BERRIES.

>> YEAH, SO, IT WAS INTERESTING, 'CAUSE I HAVE NOT SEEN SAND CHAVERS BEFORE.

BUT AMY HAS AND SO WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS.

SHE COULD HAVE BROUGHT ME A SAMPLE TODAY.

BUT THESE ARE ACTUALLY WHAT -- WELL, THEY'RE NOT REALLY -- THAT'S NOT THEIR COMMON NAME BUT THEY'RE CALLED FALSE JAPANESE BEETLES.

AND THEY'RE A NATIVE BEETLE HERE.

SO THEY ARE -- THEY'RE NOT A PROBLEM IN TURF.

SO THEIR WHITE GRUBS WOULD BE IN PASTURES.

AND SO THEY CAN'T BE MANAGED THAT WAY.

BUT THEY WILL BE, YOU KNOW, PREVALENT WHERE THERE'S SANDY SOIL.

SO ALONG THE PLAT RIVER VALLEY AND SO, WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELDERBERRIES, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER YOU COULD NET THE PLANTS SO THAT THEY DON'T GET TO THE FLOWERS SO THAT YOU WOULD HAVE SOME BERRIES.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO LIGHT COLORS.

AND SO WE WERE THINKING OF MAYBE SOME KIND OF TRAP DURING THE DAY THAT'S LIKE A WHITE WALL OR SOMETHING WHITE THAT THEY CAN BE EXTRACTED FROM AND GO THERE INSTEAD.

SO, I DON'T KNOW.

WE'RE COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT SCIENCE PROJECTS.

ANYONE WANTS TO TAKE THAT ON, FEEL FREE.

>> OR PAINT THE FLOWERS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

SO KEEP KNOCKING THEM OFF INTO SOAPY WATER.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE DOING THE BEST THAT YOU CAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

HE'S WONDERING WHAT THIS IS AND HOW TO GET RID OF HIM AGAIN?

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS A ROSE SLUG SAWFLY AND IT SHOULD BE NEAR THE END OF THE LARVA LIFE CYCLE.

SO JUST PICK THE ONES OFF THAT YOU CAN SEE.

YOU WANT TO CHECK UNDER THE LEAVES AND MAYBE SCOUT EARLIER NEXT YEAR WHEN YOUR ROSES COME OUT.

BUT IN A COUPLE WEEKS, YOUR ROSES WILL LOOK GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

OKAY, ROCH.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS ONE ACTUALLY COMES TO US FROM BROOKFIELD, WISCONSIN.

NOT THE BEST OF PICTURES, BUT HE IS ASKING FOR AN I.D.

BECAUSE HE REALLY WANTS TO GET RID OF THIS.

ERADICATE THIS GRASS SO THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THIS TAKING OVER EVERYTHING ELSE THAT HE'S GOT.

>> AND THE VIEWER MENTIONS HOW INVASIVE OR AGGRESSIVE AND IT'S GOTTEN WIDER AND BIGGER.

SO THEN WE IMMEDIATELY ASSUME THAT'S IT'S A PERENNIAL OF SOME KIND.

AND THE PICTURES, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE CLOSER, BUT I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT IT'S A SMOOTH BROME WHICH IS A VERY AGGRESSIVE RHIZOMATOUS PERRENIAL, COOL SEASON GRASS.

GREENS UP A LITTLE BIT EARLIER IN THE YEAR, AND THEY'RE, AS WE'VE MENTIONED ON THE SHOW THOUSANDS OF TIMES, IT'S NONSELECTIVE LIKE A GLYPHOSATE BASED PRODUCT, RIGHT OVER THE TOP AND THEN RESEED INTO THAT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND KEEP AFTER IT.

>> AND KEEP AFTER IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE RHIZOMES ARE THERE AND THEY'RE GONNA POP NEW PLANTS FROM THE RHIZOMES.

SO, IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT GOT ESTABLISHED.

IT'S USED AS A ROADSIDE GRASS ALL OVER THE STATE, AND THEN IT -- THEY ALLOW IT TO GO TO SEED BEFORE THEY MOW IT.

AND THEN THAT JUST SPREADS AND BIRDS SPREAD THE SEED AND ALL OF THE ABOVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND SHE IS FROM WEST SIDE, IOWA.

TWO PROBLEMS.

ONE IS SHOWING A BROWN PATCH IN THE YARD, WHICH SHE'S QUESTIONING COULD BE GRUBS.

AND JODY, YOU DIDN'T GET IT, BECAUSE YOU GOT LOTS OF INSECTS.

AND THE SECOND SHOW THIS SORT OF THE DARK GREEN CIRCULAR PATCH OF TURF.

AND THERE SHE WONDERS WHAT THAT IS.

THEY DID SEED THEIR LAWN WITH TALL FESCUE TWO FALLS AGO.

>> SO I THINK WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS THE BIG CLUMP OF THE DARK GREEN GRASS IS TALL FESCUE.

RIGHT?

AND IF THAT'S WHAT THEY SEEDED, AND MAYBE THEY DIDN'T GET A GREAT TAKE.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THEY OVERSEEDED INTO A BLUE GRASS LAWN.

AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT COULD BE GOING ON.

IT'S NOT GRUBS.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT EARLY TO SEE GRUB DAMAGE AND TO THAT -- THAT EXTENSIVE IN KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS.

THE OTHER THING IS IS THAT THE -- IT COULD BE CHINCH BUGS, OR NOT CHINCH BUGS, BILL BUGS.

BLUE GRASS BILL BUGS, BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT EITHER.

I THINK WHAT IT IS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IN IOWA, MOST LAWNS AREN'T IRRIGATED.

THE BLUE GRASS IS GROWING DORMANT OR DROUGHT STRESSED AND THEN THE FESCUE JUST SHOWS UP WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH GANGBUSTERS.

SO MY GUESS IS THAT THE FESCUE IS STARTING TO SHOW DO WHAT IT DOES AND STAY GREEN UNDER RESTRICTED MOISTURE AND THE BLUE GRASS IS DOING WHAT IT DOES AND GOES DORMANT UNDER RESTRICTED MOISTURE.

SO I DON'T THINK IT COULD BE TREATED OR ANY WAY THAT THEY COULD FIND -- YOU KNOW, THEY COULD LOOK FOR BILL BUGS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S IT.

>> AND IF THEY -- I MEAN, THEY SEEDED WITH THE FESCUE SO THEY MUST WANT THAT.

>> YEAH, THEY MUST WANT THE FESCUE, BUT THAT SAID, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A REAL GREAT STAND OF FESCUE.

SO THEY MIGHT WANNA CONSIDER THIS FALL DOING IT AGAIN.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

OKAY AMY, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE.

TRYING TO GROW A WATERMELON JUST WEST OF EMERALD HERE IN LANCASTER COUNTY.

AND CANTELOPE.

FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE CANTELOPE DID FINE.

THE WATERMELON GOT A WILT, THE MELONS NEVER FULLY RIPENED.

THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING IN THE SOILS.

WENT INTO CONTAINERS.

NOW HE'S GOT SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON.

PULLED UP A CANTALOUPE.

THE WATER HE'S USED TO FUNGICIDE, HE'S DUSTED.

THEY WERE ALL BEDDING PLANTS AND THEN THE MELONS, THERE ARE THIS.

AND HE ALSO USES BLACK PLASTIC TO CONTROL THE WEEDS.

HE'S NOT OVER WATERING, SO HE'S ANSWERED WITH ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON HERE.

>> HE HAS ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A REALLY TOUGH ONE.

I MEAN, IT'S YELLOW, IT'S WILTY AND I'LL START HERE WITH THIS PICTURE OF THE FRUIT THERE.

YOU HAVE THAT QUIRKY GROWTH ON IT.

AND THIS ISN'T NECESSARILY DISEASE.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A MECHANICAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE.

MY QUESTION ON THIS HERE IS IS IT SITTING ON THE BLACK BARRIER AND IS IT GETTING TOO HOT?

AND THIS HAS COME MORE OF A SCORCH AND A QUIRKY SCORCH.

THE TISSUE'S JUST GETTING TOO HOT AND THAT'S THE WAY IT'S -- IT'S A BURN IS ONE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE WITH THAT WEED BARRIER.

AND ESPECIALLY WITH HOW WARM IT'S BEEN DOWN HERE IN LANCASTER COUNTY, MAYBE IT'S JUST TOO MUCH HEAT.

NOW THE YELLOWING AND THE COLLAPSE OF THE PLANT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE PICTURES, I'M NOT SEEING A LOT.

THERE IS BACTERIAL WILT THAT WE'LL SEE IN WATERMELONS AND CUCUMBERS, BUT YOU HAVE TREATED FOR THE BEATLES.

[ COUGHING ] EXCUSE ME.

SO I'M REALLY, REALLY STUMPED HERE ON WHAT COULD ACTUALLY BE GOING ON.

MAYBE IT'S A VIRAL RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO PLANT.

>> VIRAL OF SOME SORT MAYBE AND MAYBE TAKE IT TO -- MAYBE BRING IT TO KYLE.

>> YEAH.

>> BRING IT TO KYLE AS AMY CHOKES ON THE BEETLE SHE JUST SWALLOWED.

ALL RIGHT.

>> SORRY ABOUT THAT.

>> YOU DO HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM REAL WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

TWO CUC PLANTS, LOWER LEAVE BURN IN QUOTES.

ON THIS VIEWER.

UPPER PART OF THE PLANT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED.

IS THIS SUN SCORCH OR IS IT, AGAIN, VIRAL OR BACTERIAL?

>> SO THIS IS ACTUALLY FUNGAL.

SORRY.

THE FROG IN MY THROAT IS REALLY TICKLING TONIGHT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY SCAB WHICH IS CALLED A -- COLLETOTRICHUM.

SO IT'S A FUNGAL DISEASE AND WE'VE HAD A LOT OF MOISTURE ALLOW IT.

TYPICALLY, WE SEE IT LATER ON IN THE SEASON.

SO TIMING, IT'S JUST A LITTLE BIT EARLIER.

SO IF YOU ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT IT, YOU CAN APPLY A COPPER BASE PRODUCT ONTO THE LEAVES TO SLOW IT DOWN.

AND AS IT GETS LARGER, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO AHEAD AND PLUCK OFF THOSE LEAVES.

'CAUSE AS YOU LOOKS AT THE REST OF THE PLANT, IT LOOKS REALLY NICE AND HEALTHY.

AVOID OVERHEAD IRRIGATION IS GONNA BE THE OTHER BIG KEY AND USE THOSE SOAKER HOSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TELL MOTHER NATURE TO TURN OFF THE RAIN.

>> TO TURN IT OFF, YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A JAPANESE MAPLE OBVIOUSLY.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND PRETTY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE HERE.

SHE'S SEEING SOME DAMAGE ON THE TRUNK AND SHE'S WONDERING, IS THE FLAKING ON THE BARK JUST SHEDDING FROM NEW GROWTH?

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE GOING ON?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE HEALTH OF THIS TREE IN PARTICULAR?

>> YEAH, IT'S UNFORTUNATE, 'CAUSE IT'S ACTUALLY A PRETTY GOOD SIZE PLANT.

SO IT HAS DONE WELL PREVIOUSLY, BUT WITH THAT WOUND AT THE BASE, THE TREE ISN'T COMPARTMENTALIZING THAT WOUND.

YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS KIND OF CLOSING IN ON THAT THEN I WOULD SAY, OH, YOU'RE PROBABLY FINE, LEAVE IT ALONE.

BUT IT'S NOT CLOSING IN ON IT.

AND IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE TREE WAS PROBABLY PLANTED TOO DEEP INITIALLY WHICH MAY BE CREATING THIS SITUATION TO MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT WORSE.

SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT A NEW TREE IN THERE.

SO -- >> UNFORTUNATELY FOR HER.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE AND YOU GET THIS EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN INSECT.

>> OKAY.

>> BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH AND QUALITY OF THE TREE ITSELF.

SO YOUR FIRST ONE IS OBVIOUSLY THE BIG PIECE.

THIS IS IN LINCOLN.

AND THEN WE HAVE IN BETWEEN THE TWO TRUNKS ON THIS BIRCH, THIS IS WHAT THE VIEWER FOUND WITH THESE MONSTER BIG GRUBS.

AND HE'S WONDERING, YOU KNOW, IT'S IN BETWEEN THOSE TRUNKS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE -- >> WELL I THINK THE -- IT'S RIVER BIRCH AND BETWEEN -- BECAUSE OF THE PLACE OF THE DECAY OF THE TREE, THAT'S A CONCERN.

AND THERE'S A LOT OF DECAY IN THERE.

AND I DON'T KNOW, I THINK PROBABLY WHATEVER -- AND JODY CAN TELL US WHAT PARTICULAR TREE BEETLE THAT IS OR BARK BEETLE THAT IS, OR MAYBE NOT.

>> IT'S A COOL, KIND OF, SCARAB THAT EATS ROTTEN WOOD.

>> RIGHT.

>> THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>> SO THAT'S NOT -- THE BEETLE DIDN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM.

IT'S JUST CLEANING STUFF UP.

IT'S A GREAT HOME FOR IT.

SO IT'S NOT THE BEETLE'S FAULT.

I THINK THE TREE'S JUST FAILING.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY A HAZARDOUS TREE AT THIS STAGE.

SO -- >> YEAH, I -- YEAH.

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

WELL, BUFFALOGRASS CERTAINLY IS A GOOD CHOICE TO UTILIZE AS A LAWN OR A GROUND COVER, ESPECIALLY IN HOT AND DRY AREAS.

FOR OUR FIRST FEATURE TONIGHT, ROCH IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME BASIC TIPS TO MANAGING EVERYTHING FROM WATER, FERTILIZER AND KEEPING THE WEEDS DOWN.

♪♪ >>> CONSUMERS HAVE A LOT OF CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING WHAT GRASS TO PLANT IN THEIR YARD.

MANY OF YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND JUSTIFIABLY SO, BUFFALOGRASS.

BUFFALOGRASS IS THE ONLY NATIVE COMMONLY USED TURFGRASS SPECIES IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN NORTH AMERICA FOR THAT MATTER.

ALL OF THE OTHERS COME FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.

SO IF YOU ARE INTO THAT NATIVE LANDSCAPE AND YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF PLANTING A WARM SEASON GRASS VERSUS A COOL SEASON GRASS, BUFFALOGRASS IS THE ONE YOU NEED TO LOOK AT.

ALL THAT SAID THOUGH, YOU NEED TO MANAGE THIS GRASS DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU MANAGE THE COOL SEASON GRASSES LIKE TURF TYPE TALL FESCUE, KENTUCKY BLUE GRASS AND PERENNIAL RYE GRASS.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS THINK ABOUT FERTILITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THESE ARE WARM SEASON GRASSES.

THEY ARE DORMANT IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL.

AND THEY'RE ACTIVELY GROWING TO THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN MOST OF THE COOL SEASON GRASSES SLOW DOWN.

THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TO FERTILIZE THEM.

NOW WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DON'T OVER FERTILIZE BUFFALOGRASS.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, ONE APPLICATION PER YEAR.

SO THE TRADITIONAL FOUR STEP PROGRAM THAT YOU WOULD USE WITH THE COOL SEASON GRASSES DOESN'T HOLD FOR BUFFALOGRASS.

SO IF YOU HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO PLANT A BUFFALOGRASS LAWN, THINK ABOUT FERTILITY IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

ONE POUND PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET OF NITROGEN IN JUNE OR JULY OR BOTH IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GO ON THE HIGHER END OF THE SPECTRUM OF WHAT YOU NEED FOR THAT GRASS, BUT WE WOULD RECOMMEND ONLY ONE OF THOSE TIMES IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO CARRY THAT GRASS THROUGH THE GROWING SEASON.

THE OTHER THING IS IS THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IRRIGATION, CERTAINLY BUFFALOGRASS BENEFITS FROM IRRIGATION BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF YOU DON'T IRRIGATE IT, IT CAN SURVIVE DROUGHT, EXTENDED DROUGHT BETTER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER GRASSES THAT WE'VE ALREADY MENTIONED.

THEN MOWING.

MOWING IS THE CRITICAL THING.

BUFFALOGRASS, ESPECIALLY THE IMPROVED TURF TYPE BUFFALOGRASSES, DO NOT GROW VERY TALL.

YOU CAN JUST LEAVE THEM TO GROW UP DEPENDING ON COVENANTS OR HOAs IN YOUR PARTICULAR AREA, BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOW THEM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

THEY'LL GET A LITTLE BIT TALLER, THEY'LL SHOW THAT MALE SEED HEAD UP AT THE TOP WHICH IS REALLY PRETTY AND HAS THAT VERY NATURAL LISTIC LOOK TO IT.

OR YOU CAN MOW THEM ONCE A MONTH OR YOU CAN EVEN REALLY AGGRESSIVELY MOW THEM LIKE WE DO OUR COOL SEASON GRASSES AND THEY DO FINE.

BUT YOU REALLY DON'T HAVE TO.

LOWER FERTILITY, LESS WATER AND MOWING IS ALMOST GONE OR ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION YOU WANT TO TAKE.

IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR END GOAL IS.

IF YOU WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE A WELL-MANICURED LAWN, AGGRESSIVELY MOW.

MORE FREQUENTLY.

PUT MORE FERTILITY ON AND MAYBE IRRIGATE IT A LITTLE MORE.

BUT IF YOU WANT THE MORE NATURALISTIC GREAT PLAINS LOOK THAT THE GRASS HAD FOR CENTURIES OR MILLENNIA, GO WITH SOMETHING THAT IS A LITTLE LESS INTENSELY MANAGED.

FERTILIZED LESS OR IF NOT AT ALL.

'CAUSE MANY OF OUR UBAN SOILS HAVE PLENTY OF FERTILITY IN THEM.

IF THEY'RE MATURE, MOW HIGHER OR NOT AT ALL OR MAYBE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR FOR DEBRIS MANAGEMENT AND IRRIGATE LESS FREQUENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

IT'S A GRASS THAT HAS THAT DIVERSITY AND GENETICS AND ADAPTATION TO OUR REGION TO DO EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT TO DO DEPENDING UPON YOUR END GOAL.

SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH BUFFALOGRASS IS ESPECIALLY DURING THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS DURING ESTABLISHMENT WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET IT GOING, YOU ARE GOING TO OVERMANAGE IT A LITTLE BIT.

AND WEEDS CAN BE PROBLEMATIC.

NOW 30, 40 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE NO HERBICIDES OUT THERE YOU COULD USE.

BUT LUCKILY WE HAVE HERBICIDES AVAILABLE, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE IF YOU WANT TO LOOK THOSE UP.

BUT ALL THAT SAID, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO AGGRESSIVELY MANAGE WEEDS FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.

WHEN YOU START MANAGING IT MORE LIKE A PRAIRIE OR EVEN AS A HOME LAWN, THESE WEED PROBLEMS WILL EVENTUALLY GO AWAY OR BE LESS THAN -- THEY'LL BE LIKE A TYPICAL HOME LAWN.

SO WEEDS CAN BE PROBLEMATIC IN THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> IT MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE PATIENCE THOSE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT AS ROCH SAID, AFTER IT'S ESTABLISHED, YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF IT AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS YOU WANT.

I LIKE BUFFALOGRASS, BUT I HAVE SHADE.

WAY TOO MUCH SHADE.

ALL RIGHT.

JODY, TWO PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM DOVER, DELAWARE.

CONE FLOWERS WERE FULL OF BLOOMS IN MAY.

HERE THEY ARE A MONTH LATER.

IT LOOKS AS IF SOMETHING SUCKED ALL THE PETALS OFF THE CONE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> YES, THIS IS A LITTLE BIT OF A MYSTERY.

I DON'T EVEN HAVE CONE FLOWERS BECAUSE THE RABBITS ATE MINE.

SO -- TO THE GROUND.

SO I'M THINKING SOMETHING WITH A CHEWING MOUTH PART.

IT'S EITHER EARWIGS, BUT, THEN, WHEN I WAS IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN TODAY, I WAS LOOKING AT THE CONE FLOWERS AND THERE ARE THESE LITTLE BLACK BEETLES CALLED, THEY'RE CUCUMBER BEETLES BUT THEY'RE THE BLACK DIABROTICA.

SO KEEP AN EYE ON THERE AND IF YOU SEE ANY THAT HAVE PETALS, LOOK FOR THOSE LITTLE TINY BLACK BEETLES.

I WONDER IF THAT'S WHAT'S DOING THEM.

>> AND THEN WHAT?

>> WELL, YOUR PETALS AREN'T GOING TO COME BACK THIS YEAR, I DON'T THINK.

>> NO, BUT IT -- CAN YOU TREAT IT SO THEY DON'T KEEP EATING THE CONE FLOWERS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

>> OKAY.

SO JUST HAVE CONE FLOWER HEADS.

>> I DON'T EVEN HAVE CONE FLOWERS.

I'M JUST JEALOUS OF YOUR CONE FLOWER HEADS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALSO WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

FOUND THESE WHITISH COLORED EGGS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SQUASH LEAF.

HE SAYS DEFINITELY NOT THE TYPICAL SQUASH BUG EGGS.

THEY DID GO AHEAD AND REMOVE, BUT WHAT ARE THEY?

>> YEAH, GOOD JOB REMOVING THOSE.

YES.

THEY'RE NOT SQUASH BUG EGGS, OR SQUASH VINE BORER EGGS BUT THEY LOOK LIKE BROWN MARMARAID STINK BUG EGGS.

SO THEY'RE LAID TYPICALLY IN THOSE CLUSTERS.

THEY'RE ABOUT LIKE 20 TO 28.

MOST OF THE TIME IT'S PERFECTLY 28.

>> THAT'S WEIRD.

>> SO, YEAH.

>> SQUISHING AND REMOVING?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM SALT LAKE CITY.

SHE SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE A BLACK LADY BUG.

FOUND IT ON THE OAK TREE.

>> THERE'S BUGS COMING FROM EVERYWHERE.

>> I KNOW.

>> OKAY, SO THIS ONE -- THIS IS WEIRD.

BUT THIS IS CALLED THE ASHY GRAY LADY BEETLE, BUT IT'S IN THE BLACK FORM.

SO IT CAN BE GRAY WITH BLACK SPOTS OR BLACK WITH RED SPOTS.

AND THIS JUST HAPPENS TO BE THAT.

NOW WE DO HAVE ONE CALLED THE TWICE STABBED LADY BEETLE, BUT IT'S NOT THAT ONE BECAUSE THAT ONE HAS WHITE ON ITS HEAD.

>> GOOD GRIEF.

AND WE THOUGHT PLANTS WERE HARD TO IDENTIFY.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JODY.

THREE PICTURES FOR YOU, ROCH, ON THIS ONE.

SHE HAD A LAWN COMPANY.

THEY HAD A TREE REMOVED AND HE SAID THEY DID NOT USE SOMETHING THAT WOULD -- THAT WOULD HARM THE LILAC, WHICH WAS HER MOTHER'S.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED.

SHE WONDERS IF WE HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO SAVE IT?

AND THEIR THIRD PICTURE I THINK SHOWS US EXACTLY WHAT WAS IN THAT PARTICULAR MIX.

>> SO, CLEARLY THIS IS TORDON.

THE TRADE NAME IS TORDON.

THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT IS PICLORAM.

AND TORDON BY ITSELF IS BAD BECAUSE I'S GOT A LONG RESIDUAL AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THEY ADDED 2-4-D.

SO, NOW YOU'VE GOT 2-4-D AND PICLORAM TOGETHER, SO YOU GET THE IMMEDIATE VOLATILIZATION POSSIBILITY WITH THE 2-4-D AND THE DRIFT.

AND THEN YOU ADD TO THAT A LONG RESIDUAL.

YOU KNOW, THEY'VE RECORDED PICLORAM IN THE SOIL UP TO FIVE YEARS AFTER IT WAS APPLIED.

SO THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND OBVIOUSLY A MISAPPLICATION.

WE NEVER WANT TO PUT THOSE LONG RESIDUAL PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY SOMETHING LIKE TORDON OR IT'S EQUIVALENTS IN THIS CASE WITH THE MORE GENERIC BRAND, IN AND AROUND OTHER PLANTS THAT WE WANT TO KEEP BECAUSE IT'S NOT AN ECOSYSTEM WHERE YOU JUST HAVE ROOTS HERE AND THEN ROOTS HERE, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE ROOTS ALL INTERMINGLED, AND THEY'RE GONNA -- IT'S GONNA ACT WITH, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- THEY'RE GONNA INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.

THAT LILAC, I THINK THAT IT'S GOT ENOUGH LEAVES ON IT THAT IT MIGHT BE OKAY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, PLANT HEALTH, AND MAYBE JEFF WANTS TO COMMENT, BUT, YOU KNOW, PRUNE BACK THE DAMAGED LEAVES THAT CURL UP AND ARE EPINASTIC AND CUPPED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR YOU.

AND, YOU KNOW, KEEP IT WATERED.

YOU KNOW, DO ALL THE THINGS YOU WOULD DO TO TRY TO RECOVER SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY, REALLY SICK.

I'M NOT OPTIMISTIC WITH THE TORDON IN THE SOIL AND THERE'S NO -- YOU CAN'T REALLY PLANT SOMETHING THERE ESPECIALLY A WOODY SPECIES BECAUSE THEY'RE SO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE INJURY.

>> OH, BOY.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS -- WE'VE HAD THIS BUT HERE IT GOES AGAIN.

AND NOW HE'S GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

AND THIS IS FROM COUNSIL BLUFFS.

WHAT IS IT AND HOW DO WE GET RID OF IT?

>> SO THIS IS BLACK MEDIC.

IT'S A LEGUME.

WE TEND TO SEE IT IN AREAS THAT ARE LOW IN FERTILITY IN THE LAWN.

AND I THINK THIS IS IN A LAWN.

I SEE SOME TURF TRYING TO PEEK THROUGH THAT.

IT'S A PROLIFIC SEED PRODUCER.

SO YOU SEE IT JUST A LITTLE BIT ONE YEAR AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE IT PRODUCES SO MANY SEEDS, IT COMES ON IN GANGBUSTERS.

AND WE'VE HAD THE PERFECT SPRING WEATHER FOR BLACK MEDIC.

AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY -- WE'VE HAD IT ON THE SHOW FIVE, SIX, SEVEN TIMES.

AND IT'S A QUESTION WE'RE GETTING A LOT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITH A PRE-EMERGENCE APPLICATION.

BUT NOW, IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.

MOST OF THE BROAD LEAF PRODUCTS WORK REALLY WELL, BUT WE'RE NOW INTO THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER SO WE TRY TO AVOID THOSE AT ALL COSTS.

AND IT REALLY DOESN'T DO ANY GOOD TO DO A FALL TREATMENT ON BLACK MEDIC.

SO KEEP IT MOWED OFF, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY HAND PULLING IF IT'S YOUR HOME LAWN IS A POSSIBILITY.

BUT IF IT'S A LARGE PIECE OF GROUND, THAT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO DO AND JUST REALIZE THAT NEXT YEAR, YOU WANT TO GET A PRE-EMERGENT, LOOK FOR ONE THAT'S SPECIFICALLY LABELED FOR BLACK MEDIC.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE SAID SHE HAS A LOT OF THESE SHOWING UP IN THE FLOWER BEDS.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE SOME.

SHE'S NEVER NOTICED THEM FLOWER.

THEY LOOK SIMILAR TO SOMETHING ELSE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THEY HAVEN'T FLOWERED OR BEEN CUT BACK DOWN.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS A RUBECCHIA, I'M NOT SURE, YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT MAYBE IT BEING A BLACK EYED SUSAN BUT COULD BE ANY NUMBER OF OTHER ONES, RIGHT.

AND SO, IT'S A PERENNIAL, AND IT DOES HAVE AN EXTENSIVE ROOT SYSTEM, AND TRAILING ROOTS AS WELL AS PROLIFIC SEED PRODUCTION.

SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO EVADE AND EVADE.

IT CAN BE A BIT OF A GARDEN BULLY.

>> OKAY, AWESOME.

AMY, TWO PICS ON THIS NEXT ONE.

AND THE ONE AFTER IT, I'LL HAVE KIND OF UNFORTUNATELY I THINK THE SAME THING.

THIS IS A VERONICA THAT SHE PURCHASED.

SHE SAYS THE LEAVES DON'T LOOK RIGHT.

IS IT DISEASE AND SHOULD SHE REMOVE IT?

>> THIS IS ONE YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO REMOVE.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LEAVES ARE REALLY CURLED, REALLY TIGHT, SMALL IN SHAPE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY ASTER YELLOWS.

IT'S A PHYTOPLASM.

SO IT'S NOT A VIRUS.

IT IS SIMILAR TO A VIRUS BUT IT'S NOT.

IT IS TRANSMITTED BY US THROUGH PRUNING TOOLS, BUT ALSO LEAFHOPPER TRANSMITTED IS PRIMARILY WHERE WE SEE IT.

SO THIS IS ONE YOU'RE GOING TO REMOVE SO IT DOESN'T MOVE TO OTHERS.

AND ONCE YOU DO REMOVE IT, MAKE SURE YOU DISINFECT YOUR TOOLS WITH EITHER A BLEACH SOLUTION OR ETHANOL OF SOME TYPE JUST TO MAKE SURE THE PHYTOPLASM IS KILLED SO YOU DON'T MOVE IT TO OTHER PLANTS BY ACCIDENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS LOTS OF CONE FLOWERS THROUGH THE PROPERTY IN LA VISTA.

SHE HAS SEEN SEVERAL OF THESE.

SHE DOES THINK IT'S ASTER YELLOWS.

AND SHE WONDERS IS SHE GOING TO LOSE ALL HER CONE FLOWERS OR WHAT DOES SHE DO?

>> YEAH, SO ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS ASTER YELLOWS.

AND I DID BRING A SAMPLE WITH ME TONIGHT.

AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WHEN ASTER YELLOWS STARTS GOING, WHERE THAT LEAF, OR WHERE THAT FLOWER IS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT ON THOSE PETALS, IT GETS CHANGED INTO MORE LIKE A LEAF-LIKE PATTERN.

AND SOME PEOPLE FIND IT VERY ATTRACTIVE.

THEY SAY, "I HAVE GREEN ASTERS INSTEAD OF THE PURPLE ASTERS.” YOU CAN KEEP THEM IN THERE.

ONCE AGAIN, IT'S EASILY TRANSMITTED.

THE PLANT ISN'T AS THRIFTY.

THEY'RE USUALLY SHORTER.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE AS -- THEY WON'T SURVIVE THE WINTER AS WELL.

DEFINITELY, IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF ASTERS IN THE AREA, I WOULD DEFINITELY REMOVE IT OUT OF THE BED SO YOU DON'T MOVE IT TO OTHER ASTERS IN THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND WE'VE SEEN THIS IN A LOT OF PLACES, NOT JUST FROM HIM.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

DAY LILIES LOOKING JUST BEAUTIFUL.

NORTH FACING WALL.

HE SAID 20 YEARS OF FLOWERING ON THESE BEFORE THIS STARTED HAPPENING.

SO WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

>> SO, IN DAY LILIES, THERE IS A DISEASE CALLED STEM ROD, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.

THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT FUNGAL PATHOGENS THAT CAN CAUSE IT.

ONE THAT WE SEE MORE FREQUENTLY IN IOWA IS ACTUALLY A SCLEROTINIA.

AND SO, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU MIGHT SEE LITTLE BROWN, BASICALLY BABIES OR DARK BROWN BABIES ON THERE, AND THOSE ARE WHAT WE CALL SCLEROTIA OF THE OVERWINTERING BODIES.

WE SEE THIS WHEN IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY WET AND YOU ARE IN THE BELLEVUE AREA IF I REMEMBER RIGHT.

AND YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN GETTING INUNDATED WITH MOISTURE.

SO ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS IS TRY TO REMOVE BACK AS MUCH AS THAT MULCH, ALLOW IT TO DRY OUT.

IF POSSIBLE, AVOID IRRIGATION UNTIL IT STARTS DRYING OUT.

AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP WITH DRAINAGE OUT OF THERE SO WATER ISN'T SITTING AND STANDING IS YOUR BEST OPTION.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND A TREATMENT WITH IT.

JUST MAINTAIN THE DAY LILIES AS BEST AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN AND MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN OUT THE BED REALLY WELL THIS FALL OR REALLY NEXT SPRING BEFORE THEY COME BACK UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, AMY.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, JEFF.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS A VIEWER IN OMAHA WHO HAD AN OLD PLUMB TREE THAT THEY HAD TO REMOVE LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS DYING AND NOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SUCKERS COMING UP BOTH IN THE MULCH AND IN THE LAWN.

WANTS TO GET RID OF THE SUCKERS WITHOUT GETTING RID OF THE NEW TREE THAT HE PLANTED IN THE SAME SPOT.

>> SURE.

>> DON'T DO WHAT ROCH HAD.

>> SO YOU DON'T WANT TO USE TORDON, RIGHT?

AND REALLY AT THIS POINT, I WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO MOW AND CUT THOSE BACK AS WE GO THROUGH THE SEASON.

AND LATER THIS FALL, OR, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU GET INTO SEPTEMBER IF YOU WANT TO USE YOUR BROAD LEAF HERBICIDE THAT YOU'RE USING TO KILL OTHER DANDELIONS AND THAT SORT OF THING, THEN YOU COULD CAREFULLY KIND OF WORK AROUND SOME OF THOSE SUCKERS.

BUT IT MAY TAKE A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET THEM ALL CLEARED UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A GLENWOOD, IOWA, VIEWER.

THE NEIGHBOR PLANTED SUMAC WHICH SHE IS NOW ENJOYING IN HER YARD.

SHE WANTS TO CONTROL IT OR KILL IT.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S TOUGH.

SO THERE'S -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY PLANTS THAT WILL FORM COLONIES THAT WE DON'T REALIZE.

AND YOU'LL GET ONE IN A FIVE GALLON POT AND PLANT IT AND THEN, YOU KNOW, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU HAVE A LARGE AREA FOR THAT.

SO I HAVE A YARD FULL OF THINGS LIKE THAT I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

HAVEN'T GOTTEN INTO ROCH'S YARD YET BUT SOMEDAY.

BUT, SO, AGAIN, YOU CAN'T APPLY A HERBICIDE OR SOME SORT OF PLANT KILLER TO THIS BECAUSE YOU WILL KILL YOUR NEIGHBOR'S PLANTS AS WELL.

I THINK YOUR BEST LUCK, ONE, EITHER ENJOY THE SUMAC.

IT'S A PRETTY PLANT.

IT WILL BE FUN THIS FALL.

THE OTHER THING YOU COULD THINK ABOUT DOING IS GOING AHEAD AND JUST DIGGING THOSE PLANTS UP AND THEN FOLLOWING THOSE ROOTS TO THE PROPERTY LINE AND I'VE DONE THAT WHERE YOU ESSENTIALLY JUST KIND OF STRIP THOSE ROOTS OUT OF THE GROUND AND KIND OF KEEP THAT CUT BACK AND WATCH THAT.

SO IT MAY BE AN ANNUAL JOB TO REMOVE THOSE, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY YOUR BEST BET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A GRETNA VIEWER.

AND THEY JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REMEMBER IF THEY PLANTED IT.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

YEAH, SO THAT'S BEAUTY BERRY, AND IT'S SUFRATESCENT SHRUB AS KIM HAS TAUGHT ME MANY YEARS AGO.

SO IT WILL DIE BACK EVERY YEAR OR TYPICAL UNLESS WE HAVE A REALLY MILD WINTER.

AND THEN IN REALLY HARSH WINTERS OR IF WE HAVE A DRY WINTER, YOU MAY LOSE THE PLANT ALTOGETHER.

BUT IT PRODUCES LOTS OF LITTLE WHITE FLOWERS, LOTS OF LITTLE PURPLE BERRIES.

SO IT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE.

BIRDS LIKE IT.

IT SPREADS.

IT TAKES A WHILE.

AND WE HAVE A LOT ON CAMPUS, AND IT TENDS TO GO INTO AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN MULCHED, KIND OF, YOU KNOW, KIND OF COMPOSTY AREAS, THAT'S WHERE WE'LL SEE IT KIND OF SPRING UP.

SO YOU CAN KEEP IT, YOU CAN DIG IT UP, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT ONE, MY GUESS IS SOMEBODY NEARBY HAS ONE AND YOU'LL GET SOME MORE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

WELL, BEFORE WE GO TO BREAK, LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES NOW 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.

THIS WEEKEND SHOULD PROVIDE RELIEF FROM THE HEAT AND BE PERFECT TO GET OUTSIDE.

AFTER SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES ON FRIDAY, THINGS WILL COOL OFF ON SATURDAY INTO THE UPPER 70s AND LOW 80s.

IT WILL STAY THAT WAY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE ON SUNDAY.

BUT THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE COULD SEE WARMER TEMPERATURES.

ON MONDAY, THE HEAT WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE STATE WITH THE McCOOK AREA BEING THE WARMEST.

THE REST OF THE WEEK SHOULD FEATURE TEMPERATURES IN THE 80s AND INTO THE LOW 90s.

THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE WILL SEE THE BULK OF THE RAINFALL THIS WEEK WITH UP TO TWO INCHES OF RAIN POSSIBLE NEAR FREMONT AND FALLS CITY.

THIS WILL OCCUR IN SEVERAL ROUNDS OF STORMS TONIGHT AND ON FRIDAY.

THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY DOWNPOURS ASSOCIATED WITH THESE STORMS.

THIS WEEKEND SHOULD BE RATHER QUIET WITH ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS.

CHANCES FROM THUNDERSTORMS RETURN ON MONDAY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE WEATHER.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS, GANNON.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS TO GET TO.

BUT RIGHT NOW, WE NEED TO TAKE A BREAK.

THERE'S MUCH MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING 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 SHOW YOU SOME ODD PLANT FORMATIONS THAT DEFY EXPLANATION.

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

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

AND OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW, IT IS TIME FOR LIGHTNING.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF.

YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM FORT CALHOUN.

GOT LOTS OF HAIL AND THEY HAD TIGER EYE SUMAC STEMS THAT WERE HAIL DAMAGED.

SHOULD THEY WRAP THEM, PAINT THEM, WHAT?

>> IF THEY'RE HAIL DAMAGED, I WOULD CUT ANY OF THE DAMAGED WOOD OFF OF THEM AND PROTECT THEM THAT WAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND IT'S SUMAC, THEY'LL HAVE MORE?

>> RIGHT.

>> WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO HAS SOME OLDER YEWES AND SHE'S WONDERING IF SHE CAN TRIM THEM NOW AND BUY A LOT.

>> WE'RE GOING INTO THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER SO, NO, I WOULDN'T TRIM THEM NOW.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO HAD AN ASH REMOVED THAT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH EAB GROUND INTO MULCH.

SHE'S WONDERING IF IT'S OKAY TO USE THAT MULCH IN HER GARDEN?

>> YEAH, IF IT'S ONE BY ONE, IF THEY'VE GOT THE CHIPS IN THAT SIZE, ONE BY ONE, SHE SHOULD BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A BROKEN BOW VIEWER WHO PLANTED STRAWBERRIES FROM SEEDS OF STRAWBERRIES THAT WERE ON HIS PLATE AND THEY CREATED RUNNERS BUT NO FLOWERS.

ANY IDEA WHY?

>> WELL, IT'S AN OPEN POLLENATED PLANT SO IT'S A GAMBLE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

>> EXACTLY.

OTHER THAN YOU'VE GOT A STRAWBERRY.

>> RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, READY?

>> YES.

>> THIS IS A ROCA VIEWER.

WE'VE HAD THIS ONE BEFORE WITH PICTURES.

I'M SURE WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE IT AGAIN.

AND THEY ARE WONDERING WHAT TO DO NOW OR NEXT YEAR ABOUT HOLLYHOCK RUST.

>> NOTHING.

CLEAN UP THE AREA.

BE ON THE LOOKOUT.

AND START FUNGICIDE TREATMENTS EARLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS PEONIES AND FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY'VE HAD REALLY SERIOUS POWDERY MILDEW IN THEM.

WHAT TO DO?

>> NOTHING.

I DON'T TREAT POWDERY MILDEW.

CLEAN IT UP.

TRY TO INCREASE AIR CIRCULATION AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A COLORADO VIEWER THAT DISCOVERED THOSE SHROOMS THAT LOOK KIND OF LIKE PANCAKES OR PARASOLS.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING ARE THEY TOXIC OR EDIBLE?

>> WE DO NOT RECOMMEND EATING THEM.

>> OKAY.

LHLH WE HAVE A FREMONT VIEWER WHO SAYS GOLDEN ROD AND ASTER STEMS ARE SUDDENLY JUST BROWN AND DYING.

IS THAT ASTER YELLOWS?

>> NO, THAT IS NOT ASTER YELLOWS.

THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE.

I'D MAYBE LOOK AT SOME INSECTS.

>> OKAY, THIS IS A NORFOLK VIEWER WHO WONDERS IF PULLING THE TOPS OFF MUSHROOMS WILL STOP THEM FROM SPREADING?

>> NO, IT WON'T STOP THEM FROM SPREADING.

THEY'RE EATING ALL OF THE DEAD, DECAYING MATERIAL UNDERNEATH THE GROUND.

THE MYCELIA'S ALREADY THERE.

YOU CAN PICK THEM OFF IF IT'LL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER BUT IT'S NOT GONNA STOP THEM FROM GROWING.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, YOU READY?

>> YEP.

>> OKAY.

OUR FIRST ONE, AGAIN, WE'VE HAD THIS ONE BEFORE BUT IT'S A PROBLEM THIS YEAR.

THIS IS A VALPARAISO VIEWER WHO WONDERS HOW TO GET THE RHIZOMATOUS GRASS, WHICH IS BROME, OUT OF HIS IRIS?

>> SO THE GRASS-BE-GONE PRODUCT WILL WORK RELATIVELY WELL.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PERSISTENT OVER MULTIPLE YEARS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER SHE CAN USE CLEAR PLASTIC TO KILL CREEPING CHARLIE IN BROME BEFORE SHE PLANTS A GARDEN THERE?

>> CERTAINLY CLEAR PLASTIC WILL HEAT UP THE SOIL BUT GENERALLY IT TAKES A SUMMER SO YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE SOIL TEMPS UP PRETTY HIGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A BUFFALO GRASS VARIETY THAT TOLERATES SHADE?

>> SOME ARE A LITTLE MORE SHADE TOLERANT BUT NONE OF THEM ARE REAL GOOD FOR HEAVY SHADE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN UNDERWOOD, IOWA VIEW WHO WONDERS -- CAN YOU ACTUALLY GET GLYPHOSATE WITHOUT ANYTHING ELSE AND IF SO WHERE?

>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO BUY A VERY LARGE CONTAINER WHICH WOULD BE USED BY MAJOR PRODUCERS.

BUT THERE ARE SOME SMALLER CONTAINERS AT GARDEN STORES BUT THEY WILL HAVE ONE OTHER PRODUCT IN THEM, USUALLY DIQUAT AND PELARGONIC ACID.

I WOULD GO WITH THE ONE WITH PELARGONIC ACID BECAUSE THAT'S A CONTACT NON-SYSTEMIC ON SELECTIVE.

BOTTOM LINE IS IT'LL DO WHAT THE ROUNDUP WANTED TO DO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANKS.

ALL RIGHT.

JODY, READY?

>> SURE.

>> SURE.

LLL >> ALL RIGHT, THIS FIRST ONE, THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF SLUGS -- EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THEY'RE NOT AN INSECT -- SAFELY FOR PETS AND KIDS.

>> IT'S OKAY, I DEAL WITH ALL OF THE GROSS THINGS.

THERE'S A PRODUCT CALLED SLUG-O.

I THINK THAT WORKS FOR PEOPLE.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU CAN DO A TRAP, LIKE A BEER AND PITFALL TRAP.

>> SLUG-O.

ALL RIGHT.

OMAHA VIEWER.

PIN OAK LEFT THEM WITH OAK ITCH MITE BITES ALL OVER EVERYTHING.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THEY'RE OAK ITCH MITES UNLESS YOU HAVE THE PINK OAK LEAF AND YOU CAN SEE THE MIDGE GALLS FORMED.

BUT THERE'S NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT ANYWAY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TREAT THE BIG TREE.

JUST DON'T SIT UNDER PIN OAK TREES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A CLARKSON VIEWER WHO SAYS GRASSHOPPERS ARE OUT OF CONTROL.

THEY'RE HALF AN INCH NOW.

THEY'VE HAD THEM FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

WHAT TO USE?

>> WELL, IT'S BEST TO TREAT THEM WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE BUT THEY'RE -- YOU WANT TO DO A LOT OF IPM.

SO CUTTING DOWN THE WEEDS AROUND THE AREA, AROUND THE GARDEN.

AND THEN I THINK THERE ARE SOME BAITS THAT YOU CAN USE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT JOB.

NICE JOB, ALL.

JEFF, PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE KIND OF AN ECLECTIC MIX OF PLANTS HERE.

>> THANKS.

LHLH >> REALLY VERY INTERESTING.

SO THE TALL PLANTS HERE ARE VERVAIN, WHICH IS A NATIVE PLANT.

SO YOU'LL FIND IT IN PROBABLY DISTURBED SOILS, I WOULD GUESS, RIGHT?

SOME OF US MIGHT CALL IT A WEED PERHAPS BUT, ANYWAY, THAT'S WHAT ROCH WOULD CALL IT.

HE WOULD HAVE A HERBICIDE TO TREAT THIS.

THE RED FLOWERS ARE COSMOS AND YOU SAID IT'S AN ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION.

>> MM-HMM.

>> AND THEN OUR FLUFFY FLOWER HEADS HERE ARE SMOKE TREES.

ARE THESE AMERICAN SMOKE TREE?

>> NO.

THEY ARE SMOKE BUSH.

>> SMOKE BUSH.

OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

>> RED, WHITE AND BLUE FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> BLUEISH.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JEFF.

WELL, OUR GARDEN IS REALLY AMAZING AND FULL OF COLOR RIGHT NOW.

WE'VE GOT SEVERAL EXAMPLES OF BEAUTIFUL PLANTS TO SHOW YOU.

TERRI GOT ONE SHE'D LIKE YOU TO FOCUS ON THIS WEEK.

SO LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

.

♪ >>> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN WE ARE LOOKING A THE THE BEAUTY OF IT.

ALL OF OUR PLANTS ARE LOOKING FANTASTIC.

THEY'RE GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER, BUT I WANT TO FOCUS ON ONE SPECIFIC ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION WINNER.

WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET IT LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF CROP PRODUCTION PROBLEMS, BUT WE HAVE IT THIS YEAR IN OUR CONTAINERS AND I'M REALLY LIKING IT.

IT'S A COLOCASIA, SO KIND OF LIKE ONE OF THOSE ELEPHANT EARS.

IT IS CALLED ROYAL HAWAIIAN WAIKIKI.

THIS IS AN ALL-AMERICAN SELECTION WINNER AND IT IS A FIRST FOR ALL AMERICA'S SELECTION.

THEY'VE TRIALED IT.

IT IS A NON-SEED ONE SO THIS ONE YOU'LL HAVE TO BUY THE PLANT, BUT LOOK AT HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS WITH THE BOLD COLORS, THE PINK AND THE WHITE VEINS WITH THAT GREEN KIND OF RUNNING THROUGH IT, TOO.

SO I'M REALLY LIKING THIS.

IT'S REALLY KIND OF POPPING IN OUR CONTAINERS AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING IT THE REST OF THE SEASON.

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

♪♪ >>> YOU CAN SEE THIS AND MANY OTHER GREAT ORNAMENTALS WHEN YOU VISIT SO WE'LL HOPE YOU CHECK THIS OUT AND CONSIDER IT FOR YOUR CONTAINERS OR YOUR LANDSCAPE BEDS.

ALL RIGHT, JODY.

ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

HE MOVED TO A RURAL PROPERTY IN GUNTERSVILLE, ALABAMA, AND ASKED IF WE KNEW WHAT THIS INSECT IS.

AND OF COURSE SHE SENT IT TO US BECAUSE WE ARE THE EXPERTS.

>> THIS IS PRETTY COOL.

LOOK AT THOSE LEGS!

SO THIS IS A GIANT LEAF FOOTED BUG AND WE DON'T HAVE THESE HERE.

I WOULD SAY OUR CLOSEST ONE WOULD -- WELL, THE CLOSEST ONE IT LOOKS LIKE IS A WHEEL BUG BUT THIS IS A PLANT FEEDER AND -- >> JUST COOL.

>> JUST VERY COOL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS ONE IS SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA.

SHE SAW THIS.

WHAT WILL IT TURN INTO?

>> THIS IS THE WHITE-LINED SPHYNX MOTH AND WE'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF THESE.

HOST PLANTS ARE SPURGE, EVENING PRIMROSE, AND FOUR-‘O-CLOCKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A COLUMBUS VIEWER FOR THE NEXT ONE.

WHAT ARE THESE BEETLES?

GOOD OR BAD?

AND COULD THEY BE EATING HER GREEN TURNIPS?

>> WELL, THESE ARE ACTUALLY HARLEQUIN BUGS, SO THEY'RE NOT BEETLES, THEY'RE BUGS.

TRUE BUGS SO THEY'VE GOT PIERCING, SUCKING MOUTH PARTS AND THEY ARE KIND OF SPECIALTY FEEDERS ON -- ACTUALLY NO, THEY'RE NOT SPECIALTY FEEDERS.

THEY'LL PROBABLY EAT THE TURNIPS.

THEY SPECIALIZE ON CABBAGES AND BRASSICAS -- >> YEP, SO THEY'LL GET ‘EM.

>> -- AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS, YES, SO PICK THEM OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE AN OGALLALA VIEWER WHO SAYS THEIR SUGAR SNAP PEAS ARE NOT PRETTY.

THEY TASTE GOOD BUT THEY HAVE ALL OF THIS SORT OF SPECKLING.

>> YEAH, THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THRIPS.

BUT IF THEY TASTE GOOD, THERE'S NOTHING TO DO ABOUT THEM I DON'T THINK.

>> AND ONE MORE.

THIS VIEWER THINKS SHE HAS APHIDS ON HER EUONYMUS.

CAN SHE TREAT OR IS IT TOO LATE?

>> THIS IS EUONYMUS SCALE.

IT'S KINDA BAD.

WE MIGHT'VE MISSED THE FIRST STAGE OF CRAWLERS BUT IT DOES HAPPEN AGAIN BETWEEN JULY AND AUGUST.

SO GO OUT AND SCOUT.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT THE CRAWLERS THEN YOU CAN TREAT WITH HORTICULTURE OIL.

PRUNE OUT WHAT YOU CAN.

>> EXCELLENT.

ROCH, YOU HAVE FOUR PICS ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

IT'S BUFFALOGRASS AND THEN THEY PLANTED FESCUE, LITTLE TREE.

THE BUFFALOGRASS IS DOING GREAT AND THEN THE FESCUE KIND OF DIED OUT.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON?

WHAT'S DYING HERE?

IS THIS INSECT?

IS THIS CRITTER?

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> SO THE VIEWER DID EVERYTHING THEY SHOULD.

THEY PLANTED BUFFALOGRASS.

THEN THEY GOT SOME SHADE SO THEY PUT SOME RED FESCUE UNDERNEATH THERE.

SO NOW THEY'VE GOT THIS MIX, RIGHT?

SHE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE FESCUE THAT WAS DYING.

I THINK IT'S ACTUALLY THE BUFFALOGRASS IS GETTING BUFFALOGRASS CHINCH BUG.

AND THE WAY TO CHECK FOR THAT IS JUST TO LIFT AND LOOK DOWN RIGHT AT THE SOIL LEVEL AND YOU'LL SEE THOSE CRITTERS MOVING.

BUT THAT LOOKS LIKE THE BUFFALOGRASS IS INJURED AND NOT THE RED FESCUE.

AND FULL SHADE -- FULL SUN FESCUE WILL PERSIST, IT JUST GETS REALLY THIN AND JUST DOESN'T LOOK VERY GOOD.

SO AS THAT NEW TREE GROWS UP AND STARTS, THEN THAT FESCUE WILL START TO REPROPAGATE IN THERE.

BUT I'D CHECK FOR CHINCH BUGS AND THEN GO TO THE ETYMOLOGY WEBSITE BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SOME REALLY GOOD INFORMATION ON CHINCH BUGS.

>> ALL RIGHTY, TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

CAN WE IDENTIFY THIS?

THIS IS IN NORTH PLATTE.

SO THIS IS THE PIC SHE SENT OF THIS, IT SHOWED UP IN HER GARDEN.

AND YOUR SECOND ONE I THINK IS THE CLOSEUP.

>> YEAH, THIS IS CHICORY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN FRANCE HAD AN EMBARGO, THEY COULDN'T GET COFFEE, THEY STARTED DRINKING CHICORY AND THANKFULLY THEY WENT BACK TO COFFEE BECAUSE CHICORY COFFEE IS NOT GOOD.

BUT IF YOU GO TO LOUISIANA YOU CAN STILL GET CHICORY COFFEE.

AND IF THEY LIKE IT AND THEY LIKE THE FLOWERS, LET IT GROW.

BUT IT CAN GET A LITTLE BIT INVASIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE THOUGHT THIS WAS POISON HEMLOCK AND WE THINK NOT.

>> NO, IT DOESN'T HAVE THE CHARACTERISTIC LEAF.

THIS IS CANADIAN HORNWORT AND THERE IS HORNWORTS THAT ARE FROM SOUTH BUT THIS ONE'S NORTH.

IT'S NATIVE TO THE UNITED STATES -- NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA, EXCUSE ME.

ESPECIALLY IN NORTHERN NORTH AMERICA.

AND IT'S GOT A VERY INCONSPICUOUS BLUE ONE BUT IT'S PRETTY GOOD POLLINATOR.

IF THEY LIKE IT, LET IT BE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY, ONE PIC ON THIS FIRST ONE.

WHY IS ONE OUT OF TEN TOMATO PLANTS LOOKING LIKE THIS?

>> BAD LUCK.

IT COULD HAVE A CROWN ROT IN IT.

MAYBE THAT -- IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE IN CONTAINERS.

MAYBE IT'S NOT DRAINING AS WELL AND IT'S A LITTLE TOO WET.

I WOULD DEFINITELY CHECK THE MOISTURE IN THERE.

MAKE SURE WE'RE ADJUSTING IT ACCORDINGLY AND JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST.

YOU STILL HAVE NINE OTHER TOMATO PLANTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS SIX TOMATO PLANTS.

STARTED OFF STRONG AND THEN THE LEAVES ARE NOT CURLING.

THE LOWER THIRD IS HEALTHY.

TOMATOES ARE RIPENING.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> CAN'T REMEMBER.

WHERE IS THE VIEWER FROM?

>> UH -- BLAIRE.

>> SORRY TO LET YOU KNOW, THIS IS HERBICIDE DRIFT.

IT'S SOME TYPE OF GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE.

YES, YOU MAYBE DIDN'T SPRAY IT BUT YOUR NEIGHBOR SOMEWHERE HAS SPRAYED IT WITHIN A FEW MILES AND SO IT'S PRETTY SEVERE.

THE TOMATO MAY RECOVER, BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE USUALLY DON'T RECOMMEND YOU EAT THAT FRUIT BECAUSE THERE IS NO LABEL FOR GROWTH REGULATORS IN FRUIT PRODUCTION OR VEGETABLE PRODUCTION.

SORRY.

>> TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALSO TOMATOES.

ONE IN THE MIDDLE, GRAND ISLAND.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

>> ONE LITTLE TOMATO HAS LOTS OF ISSUES GOING ON.

SHORT, STUNTED.

THERE IS SOME WHITE STUFF GROWING ON THE BOTTOM.

MAYBE SPIRY MILDEW.

I DID SEE SOME EARLY BLITHE IN THERE.

LOWER LEAVES.

IN GENERAL I WOULD PROBABLY LEAN TOWARDS VIRAL INFECTION OF SOME SORT BECAUSE THE PLANT IS VERY HEALTHY.

I WOULD REMOVE THIS PLANT FROM THIS BED IN CASE IT IS VIRAL SO IT DOESN'T INFECT THE TWO HEALTHY PLANTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE TOMATO.

THIS IS PAPILLIAN.

SLIME MOLD AT THE BASE.

SHE'S WONDERING, IS THIS GOING TO KILL HER TOMATO PLANT?

>> IT WON'T.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, TAKE THE HOSE AND BLAST IT OFF.

TAKE THE MULCH AND BLAST IT OFF.

>> THIS IS A ROMAIN LETTUCE.

THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER.

>> THIS LOOKS LIKE A BACTERIAL DISEASE.

WE HAVE A XANTHAMONIS.

THERE IS A LOT THAT YOU CAN DO.

YOU'RE ALSO GETTING INTO THE HEAT OF THE YEAR.

THE ROMAIN IS GETTING TO THE END OF THE LIFE CYCLE ANYWAY.

I JUST REMOVE IT AND MOVE ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

TWO PICS ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A COUNCIL BLUFFS VIEWER, JEFF.

THE MOWING SERVICE HAS HIT THEIR TREE.

THE LAST TIME THIS BRANCH WAS BROKEN OFF AND THEY ZIP TIED IT.

WILL THEY NEED TO REMOVE THE DAMAGED BRANCHES?

>> YES.

THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THE DAMAGED BRANCHES.

THEY MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT MULCHING OUT A BIGGER MOWING RING.

>> THIS IS A CARNEY VIEWER.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

THE DUPLEX HAS TWO TREES IN THE FRONT YARD.

THE ONE IS BEAUTIFUL, THE OTHER IS SHOWING TERRIBLE STRESS.

IS IT WORTH SAVING?

>> THESE LOOK LIKE RED MAPLES AND I THINK THEY'VE -- THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR HAS HAD MAJOR DIE BACK.

TIME TO REMOVE AND REPLACE.

BLACK WALNUT, 25 YEARS OLD.

ANY IDEAS?

>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, TOO.

ONE COULD BE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MOISTURE, A LOT OF HEAT, A LOT OF THINGS CAN CAUSE TREES TO DO SOME THINGS LIKE THIS.

ANOTHER THING WOULD BE A WALNUT ANTHRACNOS.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE'RE LEANING TOWARDS.

SANITATION IS A BIG THING WITH THIS.

ANY LEAVES THAT COME DOWN, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU CLEAN THAT ALL UP, GET THOSE OUT OF THAT SPACE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE ANY OF THAT MATERIAL AROUND FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> ONE MORE, A LINCOLN VIEWER, WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE TOMATO LOOKING THINGS ARE ON TOP OF THE POTATOES?

>> THOSE ARE TPCs.

TPS.

I SEE YOU GAVE IT TO ME.

TRUE POTATO SEEDS.

THOSE ARE ACTUAL SEEDS FROM THOSE POTATOES.

YOU CAN PLANT THOSE.

THEY'RE OPEN POLLEN NATED.

YOU CAN GET A VARIETY OF THINGS.

SOME PEOPLE THERE'S A WHOLE ONLINE WORLD OF PEOPLE GROWING POTATOES FROM SEED.

YOU GET A VARIETY OF THINGS.

IT'S A REAL THING.

YOU CAN DO THAT.

IT WON'T BE -- AGAIN, IT WILL BE A VARIETY OF THINGS VERSUS GETTING SEED POTATOES SO YOU KNOW YOU GET A TRUE RUSSET OR WHATEVER YOU'RE TRYING TO GROW.

>> COOL.

OCCASIONALLY YOU'LL SEE SOME SORT OF ALIEN FORMATION ON YOUR PLANTS IN THE GARDEN AND THE PLANNED SCAPE.

WE'VE HAD A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME OF THESE.

WE THOUGHT WE'D HAVE KYLE EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON.

♪♪ ♪♪ >>> SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAY THINK IT'S UGLY, MAYBE BIZARRE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS FASCINATING.

TODAY WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FASCIATION ON PLANTS.

WHAT IS FASCIATION.

IT CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS A MISTAKE.

NORMALLY PLANTS GROW FROM A SINGLE STEM, BUT WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG TO THAT GROWING POINT, THE GROWTH GETS A LITTLE BIT WONKY AS WELL.

SO INSTEAD OF THAT SINGLE GROWING POINT, WE NOW HAVE AN ELONGATED MARISTEM.

THAT CAN LEAD TO KIND OF A RANGE OF DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS.

TYPICALLY THAT GROWTH WILL LOOK KIND OF FLATTENED OR ALMOST LIKE A RIBBON AND YOU MAY ALSO SEE A PROLIFERATION OF FLOWER PARTS.

NOW WHAT CAUSES FASCIATION?

IT CAN BE CAUSED BY ALL SORT OF THINGS.

ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES, COLD WEATHER, COOL TEMPERATURES.

MAYBE A HERBICIDE CAN CAUSE IT.

OR SOME SORT OF INSECT FEEDING OR SOME OTHER MECHANICAL INJURY.

MAYBE LAWN MOWING AS WELL.

NOW THE NICE THING ABOUT FASCIATION IS THAT IT IS JUST A GENETIC MISTAKE THAT NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN WILL NOT PERSIST ONCE IT'S PRUNED OUT.

SO IF YOU ARE THE TYPE THAT DOESN'T LIKE YOUR PLANTS LOOKING LIKE THEY ARE RIBBON AND HAVE WEIRD SHAPES, THEN IF YOU PRUNE THAT AREA OUT, NEXT YEAR IT SHOULD COME BACK JUST FINE.

>> AND AS FRED USED TO SAY, THIS IS ALL PART OF NATURE'S WONDROUS PAGEANTRY.

WE HAVE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.

DAY LILY DAYS.

LOTS OF DAYS, LOTS OF TIMES IN BRADSHAW.

BEAUTIFUL IF THE DAY LILIES DIDN'T GET WHATEVER THE HECK AMY TALKED ABOUT.

>>> FIRST PICTURE ON THIS ROUND IS UNION, NEBRASKA.

WHAT KIND OF MOTH IS THIS?

IS IT A FRIEND OR A FOE?

>> THIS IS A TOBACCO HORN WORM.

AT THIS STAGE IT'S OKAY, BUT IT WILL LAY EGGS AND IF YOU HAVE TOMATOES, LIKE EVERYONE SEEMS TO BE GROWING, THEN IT WILL NOT BE YOUR FRIEND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL CREATURE IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN WEST OF CARNEY.

EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL FLYING WITH LITTLE BITS OF YELLOW BUT COULDN'T GET A PICTURE.

>> THIS IS REALLY PRETTY.

CALLED A REVERSE HAPLOEMA.

THERE'S ONE THAT'S NOT REVERSED, GOT DIFFERENT MARKINGS.

>> VERY UNUSUAL.

>> PRETTY.

>> ONE MORE PICTURE.

FOUND THIS ONE IN A BIND WEED FLOWER.

>> THAT ONE'S PRETTY, TOO.

THE IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS A HAPPY FACE ON ITS BODY.

THIS IS CALLED A MOURNFUL DYNUS.

A SAD NAME.

A COOL MOTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JUST COOL ONES.

>> YEAH.

CATERPILLAR FEED ON WILLOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ROCH, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM SCOTT'S BLUFF.

IT'S A WEED.

SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER HAVING IT BUT NOW IT'S EVERYWHERE.

THEY'RE ON AN ACREAGE.

MOSTLY IN OPEN GRAVEL AND SOIL.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS EITHER HEDGE MUSTARD OR WONDER ROCKET.

IT'S THE MUSTARD FAMILY.

BIENNIAL SO IT'S DOWN AT THE GROUND IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN JUST SHOOTS UP AND SHOOTS OUT A BUNCH OF SEED.

VERY AGGRESSIVE SPREADER BY SEED.

THE IF IT THEY WANT TO CONTROL IT, IF IT'S IN THOSE AREAS THEY DESCRIBED WHERE THERE'S NOT OTHER PLANTS THEY WANT, THEY CAN POP IT WITH NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE.

>> ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FORD.

IS THIS WEED OR WILD RHUBARB.

>> IT'S NOT WILD RHUBARB.

IT'S HOLLYHOCK.

A LOT OF US KNOW IN THE GARDEN.

SO IF THEY LET IT FLOWER AND STUFF, THEY MAY LOOK COOL AND LET IT BE.

>> ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS HOLT COUNTY.

DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THIS PLANT FLOWER IS.

WANTS TO GROW THIS IN OMAHA.

>> LET'S NOT DO THAT.

THE THIS IS AN INVASIVE PLANT IN NEBRASKA AS WELL AS COLORADO AND WYOMING AND MOST OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

VERY AGGRESSIVE AND AS PRETTY AS IT IS AND HOW MUCH YOU LIKE IT, EVEN FROM THE SOURCE WHEREVER THEY SAW IT, THEY MENTIONED ABOUT SOME FARM GROUND OR RANCH GROUND, THEY SHOULD TRY TO GET THAT CONTROLLED.

>> SULFUR SINKOFOIL.

>> AMY, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE -- >> I JUST DIDN'T WANT IT PLANTED.

>> THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER NEW TO ROSE CARE.

HYBRID TEA.

SEEMS TO BE HEALTHY BUT THEN IT ISN'T.

LIGHTER GREEN AND BLACK BLOTCHES ON THE STEM.

IS THIS A HEALTHY PLANT?

>> THIS IS NOT A HEALTHY PLANT.

THE BLACK SPOTS ON THE KEENS THERE YOU WERE SEEING, THAT'S BLACK SPOT FUNGAL DISEASE, VERY COMMON.

OVERALL THE PLANT DOESN'T LOOK REAL HEALTHY AND THRIVING.

I CAN'T SAY ITAS A VIRUS.

YOU CAN WAIT AND SEE HOW IT GOES, BUT YOU WILL WANT TO TREAT FOR THE BLACK SPOT WITH A FUNGICIDE.

>> THEY CAN TREAT NOW?

>> YOU CAN TREAT NOW.

YOU'RE GOING TO TREAT MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

>> THIS IS A HEBRON VIEWER.

THERE WAS A SERVICE BERRY TREE AND NOW THEY HAVE THIS MUSHROOM BEAUTY THEY'RE CALLING IT.

WHAT IS IT?

>> IT IS A BEAUTY.

A CONCH AND IT IS EATING UP ALL THE ROOTS OF THE SERVICE BERRY.

IT'S YOUR FRIEND.

>> ONE MORE.

WE COULD HAVE GOTTEN THIS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE.

THIS IS A NINE BARK.

IT'S NEW THIS SPRING.

SHE'S SAYING MOLD OR FUNGUS AND HOW DOES SHE TREAT IT?

>> YOU HAVE POWDERY MILDEW AND WHEN I STOPPED AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE HERE IN LINCOLN, IT IS HUMID AND UCHY.

HIGH HUMIDITY IS WHEN WE'RE GOING TO GET POWDERY MILDEW.

BLAST WITH WATER OTHERWISE YOU LIVE WITH IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

JEFF, WE HAVE ABOUT TWO MINUTES.

YOU HAVE ABOUT THREE QUESTIONS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIGHTNING ROUND IT BUT THE FIRST ONE HERE IS DOUGLAS COUNTY.

WHITE ONIONS APPEAR TO HAVE THESE MARKINGS ON THE LEAVES.

SHE'S WONDERING, IS THIS HERBICIDE DRIFT?

THERE IS A SOCCER FIELD NEAR THE GARDEN?

>> IT'S INJURY.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN HAIL, HARD RAIN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HERBICIDE DRIFT.

IT LOOKS LIKE AN INJURY.

>> THEY CAN PROBABLY EAT IT?

>> YES, RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS IS A QUESTION ALSO FROM OMAHA, AND THIS IS HYDRANGEA.

THIS IS ANNABEL.

HE'S WONDERING WHETHER HE SHOULD PRUNE AFTER FLOWERING OR WHEN?

HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE THE FLOWERS FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> SURE.

YOU CAN PRUNE THOSE IN THE SPRING AND IF YOU ARE WORRYING ABOUT THINGS DROPPING DOWN, I ALWAYS KIND OF WORK MY WAY UP A LITTLE BIT.

PRUNE A LITTLE HIGHER, THEN YOU DON'T WORRY ABOUT SOME OF THOSE THINGS SAGGING DOWN QUITE SO MUCH.

NOT NOW.

>> THIS YEAR THEY ARE BIGGER THAN -- >> YEAH.

THEY'RE GREAT.

>> DOESN'T MATTER HOW YOU PRUNED THEM THIS YEAR.

THEY WERE JUST FABULOUS.

>> YES.

>> YOU HAVE ONE MORE, AND THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THE THIS WAS JOPAI WEED.

HE KNOWS IT'S SELF-INFLICTED.

HE WONDERS WHETHER CUTTING THIS LITTLE JOE BACK TO LIVE WOOD WILL HELP THIS RECOVER?

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE LITERALLY YOUR ONLY CHOICE AT THIS STAGE.

CUT THE DAMAGED PARTS OF THE PLANT OFF AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP IT WATERED, NOT TOO WATERED AND ALL OF THAT SO WE CAN SEE IF WE CAN GET IT THROUGH IT.

>> I THINK AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE SEEING ALL THOSE WEEDS AND THEY'RE -- LET'S SPRAY.

LET'S DO SOMETHING.

THE TEMPS ARE TOO HIGH.

THE WIND IS TOO HIGH.

THE WAND IS GOING LIKE THIS.

SO, YEAH, NO, DON'T DO THAT, RIGHT?

>> NO.

HERBICIDES ARE SO EFFECTIVE.

THAT'S THE ONE THING.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

WELL, AND THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED THOSE PICTURES AND QUESTIONS.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING WE HAD CAROL RUSTADT AND TERI JAMES.

NEXT WEEK IS THE FOURTH OF JULY SO WE WILL BE TAKING A BREAK AND LETTING YOU ENJOY THE HOLIDAY.

"BACKYARD FARMER" WILL RETURN ON THE 11th TO FOCUS ON FOOD SAFETY AFTER A FLOOD.

YOU'VE GOT SOME HIGH WATERS IN COMMUNITIES ALONG THE MISSOURI AND WE'LL BE DISCUSSING WHAT YOU CAN DO SHOULD THEY BE AFFECTED.

WE'LL HAVE A NEW STUDIO ON THURSDAY, JULY 11th.

GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER.” ♪♪ ♪♪