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

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL BE GIVING OUR TREES AN EARLY DRINK OF WATER, AND WE'LL SEE HOW SOME INSECTS MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

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

♪ ♪ >>> HELLO, AGAIN.

AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD, AND WE'RE HAPPY YOU COULD JOIN US FOR AN HOUR OF GOOD GARDENING.

IF YOU HAVE GARDENING QUESTIONS, JUST GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-676-5446.

WE'LL ALSO TAKE YOUR PICTURES AND THOSE E-MAIL QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE SHOWS.

THAT ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

WE DO NEED TO KNOW AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN GIVE US, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER.

WE HAVE SOME GREAT VIDEOS AND PAST PROGRAMS FOR YOU TO CHECK OUT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW US FOR MORE GREAT INFORMATION ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

WE HAVE BROUGHT BACK SAMPLES, AND WE HAVE SOME VERY INTERESTING ONES AS USUAL.

SO JODY, WHAT DID YOU DISCOVER?

>> SO I FOUND A NEW CARPENTER ANT NEST.

AND IF YOU CAN SEE THE ANTS THAT I BROUGHT.

THERE IS A LARGE -- SUPER LARGE QUEEN.

SO THIS IS A BLACK CARPENTER ANT QUEEN.

AND MOST TIMES ANTS WILL NOT HAVE -- OH, SHE'S UNDER MY HAND.

MOST TIMES, ANTS WILL NOT HAVE WINGS, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHEN THEY'RE IN THEIR REPRODUCTIVE PHASE.

BUT WHEN THEY ARE, WHICH IS USUALLY AN ANNUAL THING, PEOPLE WILL CONFUSE THEM FOR TERMITES.

AND I JUST WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU WANT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN ANT AND A TERMITE, LOOK AT THE ANTENNAE, THAT'S PROBABLY THE EASIEST.

IF IT'S GOT ELBOWED ANTENNAE, THEN IT'S GOING TO BE AN ANT.

AND ALSO WHEN THEY DO HAVE WINGS, THOSE TERMITES, THEY HAVE FOUR EQUAL WINGS, WHEREAS THE ANTS WILL HAVE DIFFERENT SIZE WINGS.

THEIR FORE WINGS ARE A LOT LARGER THAN THEIR HIND WINGS.

BUT THIS COLONY HERE, YOU CAN SEE, SO THAT IS THE QUEEN, SHE HAS LOST HER WINGS.

SO AFTER THEY SWARM AND HAVE THOSE WINGS, THAT'S THE ONLY TIME MALES ARE IN THE COLONY.

WHEN THEY LAND ON THE GROUND, THEY LOSE THEIR WINGS.

THEY MATE AND THE MALE DIES AND SHE STARTS THE COLONY.

SO THESE ARE HER NEW WORKERS, AND SHE'S GOT LARVAE IN THERE.

>> ALREADY.

IS IT EARLY?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS IN MY CARPENTER BEE PRETEND NEST.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] DIDN'T GET CARPENTER BEES.

GOT CARPENTER ANTS.

>> GOT CARPENTER ANTS, ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, A LARGE -- A RATHER LARGE SPECIMEN OF -- >> YEAH.

SO THIS ACTUALLY WAS INSPIRED BY MATT LAST WEEK.

>> MM-HM.

>> SO HE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS >> SO HE HAD SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT SPRAYING WEEDS, AND THE TIMING OF IT AND WHAT YOU SHOULD DO.

AND HE REITERATED SEVERAL TIMES THAT IF IT'S A SMALL WEED, THEN YOU MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME SUCCESS USING SOME SORT OF HERBICIDE ON IT.

BUT IF IT'S A LARGER WEED, LIKE THIS DANDELION, THEN YOU WILL NOT HAVE MUCH SUCCESS.

AND RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE SOME DANDELIONS OUT THERE.

THIS IS A LITTLE ONE THAT I FOUND.

>> SHEESH.

>> SO THERE ARE SOME BIG ONES OUT THERE.

SO REALLY, THERE'S NO PURPOSE -- THERE'S NO PURPOSE IN TRYING TO SPRAY THIS WITH A HERBICIDE AT THIS POINT.

SO THE ONLY WAY IS TO DIG 'EM OUT.

OR MOW THEM OFF, OR SOMETHING.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO GET AS MUCH OF THE TAPROOT OUT AS POSSIBLE.

SO -- >> SO, IF YOU DON'T GET ALL OF THE TAPROOT, DON'T THEY RE-DANDY?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF YOU GET THE TOP SEVERAL INCHES OF THE TAPROOT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE.

BUT IF YOU'RE JUST KIND OF TAKING OFF THE TOP, IF YOU'RE JUST SNAPPING THEM OFF, NO, YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, THEY'LL PROBABLY REGENERATE FROM THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

KYLE?

A REALLY -- REALLY DISGUSTING SAMPLE.

>> I KNOW.

WHO WOULD LIKE A PUMPKIN LIKE THIS?

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] IT'S GROSS.

OTHERWISE, I ALSO HAVE A PUMPKIN LIKE THIS.

THESE TWO PUMPKINS WERE CUT FROM THE SAME PLANT ON THE SAME DAY IN LATE SEPTEMBER OF ACTUALLY 2023.

AND ABOUT THE FIRST PART OF JANUARY, CAME INTO THE LAB, WHERE I HAD THESE SET UP ON TOP OF A COUNTER.

AND ON THIS ONE, THERE WAS JUST A SMALL, LITTLE KIND OF WATER SOAKED SPOT, A LITTLE KIND OF BROWN SPOT ON IT.

AND BEING THE NERDY PATHOLOGISTS THAT WE ARE, WHO HAVE ACCESS TO TIMELAPSE CAMERAS, WE DECIDED "LET'S SET IT UP AND WATCH THIS THING DECAY."

SO OVER THE COURSE OF SIX WEEKS, THE PUMPKIN WENT FROM NICE AND BIG, TO BEING COMPLETELY SHRIVELED AND ALMOST LIKE A RAISIN.

I PROBABLY WOULDN'T EAT IT.

BUT IT'S SUPER LIGHT.

BUT REALLY IT'S -- I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE GOOD FUNGI.

THERE ARE A LOT OF REALLY BENEFICIAL FUNGI THAT ARE OUT THERE.

THESE ARE JUST NORMAL DECOMPOSERS.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD A PUMPKIN IN YOUR FIELD FOR 16 MONTHS AFTER THAT WAS STILL GIANT, YOU WOULDN'T WANT IT.

ANYWAY -- >> SO -- SO WE DID HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE INTERESTING SMELL AND THE OOZING OF GOO AND -- >> IT DIDN'T DO ANY OF THAT, NO.

I MEAN, A LOT OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE REALLY EXPECTING IT TO START LEAKING AND GET REALLY STINKY.

AND UNTIL THE BOTTOM FELL OUT, THERE WAS REALLY NO -- NO BAD SMELL TO IT.

SO -- >> OKAY.

>> BIT OF BUMMER ON THAT PART.

>> YEAH.

OR NOT.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH, YOU HARVESTED SOMETHING.

>> I DID.

I HARVESTED SOME TULIPS.

SO, RIGHT NOW, TULIPS ARE DOING ONE OF TWO THINGS -- THEY'RE EITHER LOOKING VERY NICE OR LIKE THESE TULIPS, THEY'RE STARTING TO FADE.

AND SO, WE GET THE QUESTION OF, YOU KNOW, "WHEN CAN I CUT BACK MY TULIPS?

WHEN CAN I MOVE MY TULIPS?"

THOSE KINDS OF QUESTIONS.

AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO FIRST IS TALK ABOUT TULIP CARE.

SO IF THE PEDALS BEGIN TO FADE AND FALL OFF, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE CAN JUST GO IN WITH OUR HANDY DANDY CLIPPERS AND JUST, YOU KNOW, DEADHEAD 'EM, BEHEAD 'EM, DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO TO TAKE THAT OFF, SO THAT WAY IT DOESN'T TRY TO PRODUCE SEEDS.

AND THEN WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND LET THIS FOLIAGE DO ITS NATURAL THING.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS ABLE TO RECHARGE THAT BULB, 'CAUSE TULIPS ARE SHORT-LIVED, IN THE BULB WORLD.

AND SO WE WANT IT TO RECHARGE.

AND SO WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE LET THIS KIND OF ON ITS OWN.

AND THEN ONCE IT'S YELLOW OR COMPLETELY BROWN, THEN WE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE IT.

AND WHEN WE DIG IT, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DIG IT SO IT'S TWO-TIMES THE HEIGHT OF THE BULB.

SO THAT COULD BE LATER IN THE SUMMER OR IN THE FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND HOW LONG DO WE EXPECT THOSE TULIPS TO LAST?

>> I MEAN, THREE TO FOUR YEARS IS A GOOD AVERAGE.

IT COULD BE AS LONG AS SIX TO EIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY ARE AT.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ALL.

ALL RIGHT.

JODY, YOU HAVE THE FIRST ROUND OF PICTURES, OF COURSE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

AND HE SAYS, HE HAS SEEN THESE FLYING INSECTS ENTERING AND LEAVING A GAP IN THE SIDING.

HIS WIFE IS ALLERGIC TO BEES, SO THEY'RE NOT COMFORTABLE LEAVING THESE, BUT HE'S NOT SURE THEY'RE BEES.

AND HE'S USING ACTIVE INGREDIENT D-TRANS SOMETHING OR OTHER, SOMETHING OR OTHER, AT DUSK, AND IT HASN'T WORKED.

>> YEAH.

THESE ARE BEES, AND THEY'RE THE VERY VERY BEST BEES.

THESE ARE BLUE ORCHARD MASON BEES.

AND SO THEY'RE SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE REALLY WANT AROUND.

AND THEY ARE SOLITARY, SO THEY ARE NOT A STING THREAT.

SO, THE REASON THEY'RE COMING AND GOING INTO THE LITTLE CAVITIES OF YOUR HOUSE IS 'CAUSE THEY ARE EXISTING CAVITY NESTERS.

SO THEY'RE KIND OF USING MUD AROUND YOUR HOUSE, LIKE WET MUD PUDDLES, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY USE, LIKE CLAY MUD FOR NESTING MATERIAL.

SO THEY'RE REALLY GREAT POLLINATORS.

AND THEY SHOULD BE ALL DONE IN A COUPLE WEEKS HERE, BUT -- >> ALL RIGHT, SO ABSOLUTELY NO REASON TO -- >> THEY ARE THE GOOD GUYS.

NO REASON TO WORRY ABOUT STINGING OR, YOU KNOW, USING PESTICIDES THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES FROM HUMPHREY, NEBRASKA.

HE SAW THIS ON HIS APPLE TREE LAST FALL.

HE'S WONDERING WHAT IS GOING ON, AND WHAT DID THE DAMAGE?

AND WHAT DOES HE DO TO PROTECT IT?

IT'S PRETTY UNIFORM.

>> YEP.

SO THAT'S NOT AN INSECT.

THAT'S A BIRD CALLED A SAPSUCKER.

AND IT KIND OF DRILLS THESE LITTLE HOLES HORIZONTALLY, NOT TOO DEEP BUT AROUND THERE.

AND THEN THE SAP COMES OUT AND SOMETIMES INSECTS WILL EAT THERE.

AND THEN, THEY'LL COME BACK.

BUT THIS SAP SUCKER IS USUALLY ONLY AROUND DURING THE MIGRATORY PHASE, SO IN THE SPRING AND IN THE FALL.

SO THE BEST WAY TO CONTROL THAT, OR MANAGE THAT, IS HARDWARE CLOTH AROUND THAT AREA, OR BURLAP DURING THOSE TIMES, YOU JUST DON'T WANT TO LEAVE IT THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT EXACTLY.

AND NO PAINT ON THE WOUND OR ANYTHING.

>> CORRECT.

IF THE TREE'S HEALTHY, IT SHOULD BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

THEY WERE SITTING ON THE DECK AND THEY SAW THIS ALIEN BUG JUST APPEARING ON THE DECK RAILING.

THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE BEFORE.

INTERESTING COLOR, IT'S ABOUT AN INCH AND A QUARTER LONG.

IT FLEW AWAY WHEN SHE TRIED TO CAPTURE IT.

>> WELL, IT'S A GREAT PICTURE, AND I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE REAL LIFE.

THAT IS CALLED A PAINTED HICKORY BORER.

AND THIS IS WHEN THEY EMERGE OUT OF, LIKE, DYING TREES.

SO THEY ARE -- I GUESS THEY ARE LIKE, HICKORY AND PECANS TREES.

THOSE ARE RELATED, RIGHT?

>> MM-HM.

>> YEAH, THEY JUST COME OUT AND FLY AROUND.

THEY DON'T AFFECT HEALTHY, LIVING TREES.

>> SO JUST THE DYING ONES?

>> YES.

>> OKAY.

>> OR RECENTLY CUT.

>> OOH.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, JEFF, YOUR TURN.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

HE SAYS, HE RECENTLY HAD A RENOVATION THAT REQUIRED NEW SOD.

THE TURF IS ONE YEAR OLD, BUT HAD A LOT OF DOG DAMAGE THIS WINTER.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX IT AND PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE?

AND IT LOOKS ACTUALLY LIKE THERE'S A FENCE AROUND THE DOG YARD.

>> LOOKS LIKE THEY KIND OF HAVE AN EXCLUSION THERE, OR AT LEAST RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD RAKE UP THAT DEAD GRASS.

YOU COULD AERATE AND OVERSEED.

I WOULD SAY DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH MOISTURE YOU'VE HAD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO WATER THAT, JUST TO WATER SOME OF THAT URIC ACID OUT OF THAT A LITTLE BIT BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT AS FAR AS PREVENTING IT, YOU KNOW, I GUESS AS A DOG OWNER MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE WELL HYDRATED SO WE DON'T HAVE CONCENTRATED URINE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] THAT'S ONE THING.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SEE IF WE CAN GET THEM TO NOT TOILET IN THE SAME LOCATION ALL THE TIME.

AND I KNOW SOMETIMES CERTAIN DOGS WILL DO THAT.

SO, KIND OF GETTING THEM TO USE THE REST OF THE YARD.

>> YEAH, REALISTICALLY, IT'S -- >> IT'S KIND OF HARD.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, YEAH, IT REALLY IS.

I MEAN, UNLESS YOU'RE WATERING ALL WINTER, AND I KNOW THAT'S KIND OF A WINTER THING.

>> OKAY.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

HE SAID LAST FALL, HE HAD A TREE REMOVAL COMPANY COME IN AND THEY HAD AN ACCIDENT, THEIR EQUIPMENT TIPPED OVER AND SPILLED FUEL ON THE LAWN.

DID ATTEMPT TO RESEED VERY LATE.

THIS SPRING, THE AREA SHOWS SPARSE GROWTH.

WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THEY JUST ADD MORE GRASS SEED TO IT, OR DOES HE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO THE SOIL?

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY PROBABLY SEE THE DARK ON THERE, THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT'S MAYBE WHERE THAT SPILL WAS.

>> YEAH.

I PROBABLY THINK -- I MEAN, I GUESS AT THIS STAGE, AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE IF YOU CAN -- YOU COULD HAVE THE SOIL TESTED AND SEE IF THERE'S RESIDUE OF THE FUEL IN THERE.

THAT WOULD BE ONE THING.

BUT I THINK JUST A LATE FALL SEEDING.

AND CONSIDERING HOW DRY THINGS WERE THIS FALL, THAT'S PROBABLY REALLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE.

AND IF YOU DIDN'T, AGAIN, WATER ALL THROUGH THE WINTER, THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HAVING THAT PROBLEM RIGHT NOW.

SO IDEALLY, YOU CAN GO IN, MAYBE DO -- ADD SOME COMPOST, AERATE, OVERSEED, AND SEE IF YOU CAN GET SOMETHING GOING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM PLYMOUTH, INDIANA.

AND HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THIS IS, AND HE DOES WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

>> YOU KNOW, I LOOKED AND LOOKED, AND I CAME UP WITH WILD GERANIUM IS WHAT CAME UP.

>> RIGHT.

>> OKAY, SO -- [ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> WE DID, TOO.

>> YOU DID TOO?

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] GOOD.

WELL, THERE WE GO.

INDEPENDENTLY, WE DISCOVERED THE SAME THING.

[ LAUGHTER ] SO I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU WOULD WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

BUT I THINK MAYBE LET IT GO A LITTLE BIT, AND SEE IF YOU LIKE IT AFTER IT'S FLOWERED AND MAYBE IT'S DONE ITS THING.

BUT IT'S A NICE, WOODLAND WILDFLOWER, SO MAYBE LEAVE IT ALONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BIG SPRINGS.

HE SAID LAST FALL YOU DIAGNOSED TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS ON THIS ONE.

>> MM-HM.

>> HE WANTS A LIST OF TOMATO PLANT VARIETIES WITH THE SW-5 GENE FOR RESISTANCE.

>> YEAH.

AND THAT IS A -- SO IT'S -- DELVING INTO THE GENETIC SCIENCE BEHIND RESISTANCE TO TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS IS FAIRLY COMPLICATED, I DISCOVERED.

AND THERE ARE ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT GENES.

BUT THEN SOME OF THE GENES HAVE SEVEN TO EIGHT VARIATIONS.

AND BASICALLY THE -- YOU WANT AS MANY OF THOSE GENES AS YOU CAN.

AND SO, I KNOW IN THE EMAIL, JERRY HAD SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR I THINK THE SW-5 GENE.

BUT THERE ARE -- THERE'S SW-1, SW-2, 3, 4 AND 5.

AND REALLY ANY OF THE VARIETIES THAT YOU FIND AT A GARDEN CENTER THAT ARE LABELED RESISTANT FOR TOMATO SPOTTED WILT VIRUS SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE IN THE FUTURE.

THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S SPREAD BY THRIPS, AND WHATEVER WE CAN DO TO MINIMIZE THRIPS IN THE AREA WILL CERTAINLY HELP, TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS EAST OF RAVENNA.

THEIR PONDEROSA PINE THAT WAS PLANTED LAST FALL, A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN, MOSTLY BROWN.

WONDERING IS IT TEMPORARY?

HE DID SAY THAT HE DID WATER, SO -- >> YEAH.

AND IT WAS WATERED, BUT I'M ALWAYS CURIOUS HOW MUCH IT WAS WATERED.

AS JEFF JUST MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A DRY FALL.

AND IF IT WASN'T -- IF YOU WEREN'T CONTINUING TO WATER THROUGHOUT THE WINTER, WE CAN STILL SEE SOME WINTER INJURY, THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT OCCUR.

I WOULD JUST KIND OF KEEP IT WATERED, KEEP IT WET, AND JUST WAIT AND SEE AT THIS POINT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE NEEDLES THAT ARE BROWN WILL NOT TURN GREEN.

SO THEY WILL BE -- THEY WILL BE BROWN FOREVER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH, ONE PIC ON THIS FIRST ONE.

SHE'S WONDERING IF THIS 80 FOOT TREE, WHICH IS 16 FEET AROUND, IS ON ITS LAST LEGS.

AND ARE THERE ANY IDEAS OF EASY REMOVAL WITHOUT LOSING HER ENTIRE RETIREMENT SAVINGS?

THIS IS NOT THE 80-FOOT TREE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] SO, WE'RE PROBABLY WAITING TO SEE IF THEY CAN PULL THAT PICTURE UP ON THIS PARTICULAR -- THERE WE GO.

>> SO, UNFORTUNATELY, I'M GOING TO SAY THE PROGNOSIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD FOR THAT TREE.

>> NO.

>> MORE THAN LIKELY, WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY OAK.

AND ANYTIME WE'RE MISSING THAT MUCH BARK ON THE TREE, THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN.

AND SO, THERE IS NO GOOD, EASY WAY TO REMOVE IT, EITHER, UNFORTUNATELY.

SO, I MEAN, ONCE IT'S COMPLETELY DEAD, YEAH, IT'S GONNA BECOME A HAZARD AND IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY.

BUT AS LONG AS IT'S STILL GREEN, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO GET SOME BIDS FROM SOME COMPANIES TO SEE WHO HAS THE EQUIPMENT AND THE KNOW-HOW TO REMOVE IT PROPERLY, LIKE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY KIND OF TOGETHER, THIS ONE AND THE NEXT ONE AFTER IT.

FIRST IS GRETNA, 6-YEAR-OLD REDBUD SPLIT.

HE WONDERED, CAN IT BE SAVED, OR DO WE CUT HER DOWN AND START OVER?

AND YOUR NEXT TWO COME TO US FROM HASTINGS.

AND TREE IS BEAUTIFUL BUT SEVERAL LARGE BRANCHES ARE DEAD.

IT'S ALSO A REDBUD.

IS THIS A SAVER?

>> SO, IF THE BRANCHES ARE COMPLETELY DEAD, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FLOWERS OR LEAVES ON THEM, AND THEY SNAP OFF READILY, GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THEM BACK TO THE GROUND, ESPECIALLY ON THE ONE FROM HASTINGS.

THE OTHER ONE, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A CO-DOMINANT LEADER ISSUE, SO WE WOULD SUBORDINATE THE ONE THAT'S WEAKLY ATTACHED.

AND THEN, EVENTUALLY, WE WOULD COMPLETELY REMOVE IT.

SO, I THINK THAT LITTLE TREE IS STILL SAVABLE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF THE BIG TREE IN HASTINGS IS GOING TO BE LEFT BY THE TIME YOU REMOVE THE DEAD AND DAMAGED.

AND WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD A TREE UP WITH A COME-ALONG STRAP OR A RATCHET STRAP.

THAT'S NOT SAFE, EITHER.

SO, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S SAFE WHEN WE REMOVE THOSE ITEMS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE MORE PICTURE FOR YOU, ELIZABETH, THIS IS OMAHA.

SOMETHING HAS TAKEN TO HIS COFFEE TREE.

HE PLANTED IT LAST YEAR OVER THE WINTER.

SOMETHING BROKE OFF THE BRANCHES.

HE'S WONDERING DOES THE TREE HAVE A CHANCE?

OR IS IT GOING TO NEED TO BE REPURPOSED FOR ROOSTING BARS FOR THEIR CHICKENS?

>> SO, WE'RE JUST GONNA HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.

COFFEE TREE IS AN EXTREMELY LATE EMERGER.

SO, JUST WAIT AND SEE HOW IT COMES OUT OF IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE DAMAGE.

SO, I MEAN, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT WATCHING THE TREE IN THE FUTURE TO SEE IF YOU SEE ANY CRITTERS JUMPING OR SITTING ON IT.

IF THAT CAUSES THE DAMAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

WELL, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE DRY, FALL WEATHER AND WINTER WEATHER LATELY.

AND THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCES THIS SPRING.

YOUR TREES, YOUNG AND OLD, ARE GOING TO NEED SOME EXTRA ATTENTION THIS SPRING.

THAT DOES MEAN GETTING SOME GOOD WATER ON THEM TO HELP THEM THRIVE THIS SPRING.

HERE'S DANA FREEMAN TO TELL US MORE.

♪ >> SO, WE'VE HAD A DRY FALL AND WINTER.

AND EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT BE GETTING SOME WATER THIS SPRING, OUR TREES ARE STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF DROUGHT STRESS.

THAT CAN LOOK LIKE TREES THAT ARE SLOW TO LEAF OUT, TREES WITH LEAVES THAT ARE SMALLER THAN USUAL OR EVEN SHOW SOME TIP DIEBACK.

SO, THERE'S STILL SOME THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR TREES FIGHT THIS DROUGHT STRESS.

THAT WILL INCLUDE SUPPLEMENTAL WATERING AND MULCHING.

BUT BEFORE WE GET THE HOSE OUT, IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT AND DETERMINE HOW MUCH WATER OUR TREES REALLY NEED.

BECAUSE OVERWATERING IS JUST AS PROBLEMATIC AS UNDERWATERING.

SO, TO CHECK THE SOIL MOISTURE, WE'LL USE A LONG SCREWDRIVER, OR A SOIL PROBE.

AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS STICK THAT SOIL PROBE INTO THE GROUND SIX TO NINE INCHES.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE MOST OF THE ABSORBING ROOTS ARE.

IF WE PULL THAT OUT, KIND OF LIKE STICKING A TOOTHPICK IN A CAKE BATTER, AND THE SOIL IS MOIST, THEN IT'S PROBABLY OKAY AND WE DON'T NEED TO WATER.

BUT IF WE STICK THAT SOIL PROBE IN THERE AND WE EITHER CAN'T GET THE SOIL PROBE DOWN SIX TO NINE INCHES OR IT'S DRY AND DUSTY, THEN, WE PROBABLY NEED TO ADD SOME SUPPLEMENTAL WATERING.

SO, WE'LL WATER NEW AND YOUNG TREES A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THAN OUR MATURE TREES.

WHEN WE'RE WATERING OUR YOUNG TREES, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS THINK ABOUT ESTABLISHING DEEPER ROOTS.

AND THAT WILL LOOK LIKE POTENTIALLY USING A FIVE-GALLON BUCKET WITH A QUARTER INCH HOLE IN THE BOTTOM.

YOU CAN ESTIMATE HOW MUCH A TREE NEEDS BY USING 10 GALLONS OF WATER FOR EACH INCH OF TRUNK DIAMETER.

THAT MEANS A TWO-INCH DIAMETER TREE WOULD NEED ABOUT 20 GALLONS OF WATER.

SO, IF YOU'RE USING YOUR 5-GALLON BUCKET, THAT'S FOUR 5-GALLON BUCKETS.

AS WE THINK ABOUT WATERING OUR MATURE TREES, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE LARGER ROOTS, THEY STILL NEED HELP WHEN IT'S THIS DRY OUTSIDE.

SO, WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS INSTEAD OF USING THE 5-GALLON BUCKET, WE'LL USE A SOAKER HOSE.

AND WE CAN SPIRAL THAT IN A PATTERN KIND OF NEAR THE TREE'S CANOPY.

THEN, WHAT YOU DO IS TURN ON YOUR WATER AND KIND OF LET IT RUN FOR AN HOUR AND THEN, COME BACK AND RECHECK USING YOUR SOIL PROBE.

YOU MAY NEED TO KEEP GOING AND WATER IT JUST UNTIL YOU GET UNTIL THAT TOP SIX TO NINE INCHES OF SOIL IS MOIST.

ANOTHER THING, YOU CAN'T JUST RELY ON WATER ALONE.

MULCHING IS SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DO THAT'S PRETTY EASY AND THAT CAN REALLY HELP OUR LANDSCAPES.

SO, ADDING TWO TO FOUR INCHES OF AN ORGANIC WOODCHIP MULCH IS A GREAT WAY TO SUPPORT YOUR TREES DURING PERIODS OF DROUGHT.

A COMMON MISTAKE WE THAT WE OFTEN SEE IS THAT FOLKS RELY ON THEIR LAWN IRRIGATION SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE WATER AND THINK THAT'S ENOUGH FOR THEIR TREES.

BUT WATERING DEEPLY FOR TURF IS ONLY FOUR TO SIX INCHES, WHEREIN, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR OUR TREE ROOTS AS WE'VE TALKED ABOUT.

PRIORITIZING WATERING YOUR WOODY TREES IS A GREAT WAY TO KEEP YOUR LANDSCAPE HEALTHY AND SUSTAINABLE, EVEN DURING THESE PERIODS OF DROUGHT AND CHALLENGING GROWING CONDITIONS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT YOUR LOCAL EXTENSION OFFICE, AND THEY'D BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU OUT.

>> DANA HAD A REALLY GOOD POINT ABOUT NOT RELYING ON WHAT YOU WATER YOUR TURF WITH TO BE SUFFICIENT FOR YOUR TREES.

SO, DO TAKE A LOOK AT THE TREES THIS WEEKEND, IN PARTICULAR, AND FOLLOW THE TIPS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING THE WATER THEY NEED.

ON THAT NOTE, WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS IN THOSE THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS UP NORTH OF US TOWARD OMAHA, IS SAFE AND DIDN'T GET TWO-INCH HAIL.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST QUESTION FOR YOU.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE, JODY.

THIS COMES TO US FROM MALCOLM.

PICKING BAG WORMS OFF OF THE COLORADO SPRUCE, CAME ACROSS WHAT LOOK LIKE AN INSECT CASING.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> IT'S VERY, VERY CLOSE.

IT IS AN ARACHNID EGG CASE.

IT IS A YELLOW GARDEN SPIDER EGG CASE.

SO, THAT'S VERY EXCITING.

>> OOH.

>> THEY'RE THE BEAUTIES OF THE GARDEN.

IT SHOULD PROBABLY, LIKE THE LITTLE SPIDERLINGS MAY EMERGE SOMETIME IN THE SPRING.

BUT YOU -- IF YOU'RE LUCKY, YOU WILL HAVE ONE GOOD SPIDER IN THE GARDEN.

>> WONDERFUL.

CHARLOTTE -- >> YES.

>> IN HER WEB.

ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SAID, "WHAT ARE THESE SMALL GNAT-LIKE INSECTS?"

THEY'RE IN THE GARDEN AND THEY'RE SWARMS OF THEM.

>> I WAS THINKING THE SAME EXACT THING YESTERDAY.

'CAUSE I FINALLY GOT OUTSIDE.

AND I WAS STANDING UNDER A CRABAPPLE TREE AND THEY WERE ALL OVER.

SO THESE, I LOOKED UP.

AND THESE ARE CALLED LANCE FLIES.

THE LARVAE DEVELOP UNDER BARK OF TREES.

AND THEY CAN FEED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE SAP OR DECAYING VEGETATION.

SO, I THINK THEY'RE A SIGN OF SPRING.

NO HARM.

>> NO HARM, NO FOUL?

>> NO HARM.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, JODY.

THIS WAS ACTUALLY DISCOVERED IN OUR COURTYARD.

WE HAD A CONVERSATION ABOUT IT.

AND THIS IS DAMAGE TO A BIG CANE OF A PRIVET.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

IT DID HAVE TERMITE ISSUES IN THE SAME PLANT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

>> YEAH, SO THIS PARTICULAR DAMAGE DOES NOT LOOK LIKE TERMITE.

SO, WHEN TERMITES FEED, THEY EAT THE CELLULOSE, BUT THEN THEY LEAVE THEIR FRAS, WHICH IS MUD.

THIS LOOKS LIKE COARSE SAW DUST, SO, IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING LIKE A CARPENTER ANT.

AND THEY PROBABLY HAVE EATEN ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF.

BUT IT'S -- JUST LOOKS REALLY DECAYED IN THE WRONG PLACES.

>> IT'S AN OLD PLANT.

IT'S TIME FOR IT TO MEET ITS MAKER.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS OWNERS OF A NEW HOME -- NEW OWNERS OF A HOME, TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS FOR A HEALTHY LAWN.

BACKYARD APPEARS TO BE ALL RUTTED.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW, FERTILIZER, ET CETERA, THAT THEY SHOULD DO.

SO -- >> WELL, I THINK, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, I'D MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD SOIL MOISTURE.

SO, CHECK THAT JUST LIKE WE WERE SEEING IN THE VIDEO.

AND THEN YOU -- IF YOU HAVE GOOD SOIL MOISTURE, WE CAN GO AHEAD AND DO SOME AERATION IN THERE.

SO, LIKE I WAS SAYING BEFORE, WE CAN AERATE AND OVERSEE THAT.

THEN, YOU COULD USE, YOU KNOW, A BALANCED FERTILIZER.

WE WANT TO AVOID ANYTHING WITH PHOSPHOROUS IN IT, SO THE MPK THE MIDDLE NUMBER.

I'D TRY TO AVOID ANY PHOSPHOROUS WHEN DOING THAT JUST FOR RUNOFF AND THAT SORT OF THING.

MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE PROBLEMS THAT ARE IN OUR STREAMS AND LAKES.

AND AT THIS POINT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GONNA USE A PRE-EMERGENT, 'CAUSE WE'RE GONNA OVERSEED.

AND CONTINUE TO WATER, YOU KNOW, ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK.

YOU WANT, I DON'T KNOW, HALF AN INCH TO AN INCH OF WATER EACH WEEK, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH RAINFALL WE'RE GETTING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE, JEFF.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

MOSTLY A FESCUE LAWN.

HE DID APPLY A PRE-EMERGE LAST SEVEN DAYS.

BUT HE'S GOT THIS REALLY STRANGE ROOT SYSTEM THAT'S COME ON IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

ANY IDEAS ON -- >> I THINK THAT'S NIMBLEWILL.

SO, I THINK THAT'S LEFTOVER FROM LAST YEAR.

SO -- >> YEAH.

>> AND ONCE -- IT'S A WARM-SEASON GRASS.

SO, IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

SO, ONCE IT GREENS UP A LITTLE BIT, ANY PRODUCT WITH MESOTRIONE WILL CONTROL THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO IMPROVE HER WITHERING BACKYARD.

TROUBLED, SHE THINKS IT'S THE MAPLE ROOTS AND THE SHADE.

MULCH IS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE SHE HAS A LABRADOR WHO EATS THINGS.

>> SURE.

RIGHT, YEAH.

>> SO, WHAT DOES SHE DO HERE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS -- THIS IS TOUGH.

AND AGAIN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE MULCH, THEN, YOU COULD LOOK AT ANY NUMBER OF GROUND COVERS.

BUT AGAIN, FOR IT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO ADD ADDITIONAL WATER TO THAT AREA.

BECAUSE THAT TREE IS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO TAKE ALL OF THE WATER OUT OF THE GROUND.

SO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING THAT ALL THE TIME.

BUT THERE ARE SOME GOOD GROUND COVERS THAT CAN TOLERATE DRIER SHADE AREAS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, JEFF.

TWO PICS FOR YOU.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, KYLE.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS ASPENS.

SHE DID SAY THEY'RE PRAIRIE GOLD.

SHE SAW THE BLACK SPOTS ON THE LEAVES LAST FALL.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT IT IS.

PESTICIDE DRIFT?

AND THIS SPRING, IT'S ONLY FOLIATING ON THE BOTTOM, NOT ON THE TOP.

IS THIS -- >> YEAH, SO -- THE LEAVES -- THE SPOTS LAST FALL ARE PROBABLY MARSSONINA LEAF SPOT.

VERY COMMON ON ASPENS.

SOME OF THE PICTURES, THOUGH, ALSO SHOWED SOME LEAVES THAT WERE QUITE CUPPED.

AS THERE ARE SOME OF THE LEAVES RIGHT HERE.

AND THAT IS A SURE INDICATION OF SOME SORT OF -- SOME SORT OF HERBICIDE INJURY.

SOME DRIFT IN THE AREA THAT'S AFFECTING THE PLANT.

NOW, TYPICALLY, YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT HERBICIDE DRIFT TO ONLY CAUSE THE BOTTOM TO LEAF OUT AND NOT THE TOP.

BUT AT THIS POINT, I WOULD -- I THINK THINK THEY MENTIONED IT'S A RELATIVELY YOUNG TREE, ONLY THREE YEARS OLD.

SO, I WOULD PROBABLY JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

SEE IF THOSE TOP BRANCHES LEAF OUT EVENTUALLY.

BUT FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WHOLE LOT WRONG.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OAKLAND, IOWA.

RECENTLY MOVED.

THEY NEED SOME INFORMATION.

SHE'S WONDERING, WHAT THIS IS AND DOES IT NEED FERTILIZER?

SHE DOES THINK IT'S AN AZALEA.

>> AND I'M TOLD SHE IS RIGHT.

>> SHE IS CORRECT.

>> BUT YEAH, AS FOR WHAT'S WRONG, I THINK THAT THIS IS IRON CHLOROSIS IS WHAT -- WHAT WE SEE.

FAIRLY COMMON.

IT'S NOT A -- IT'S NOT A LACK OF IRON IN THE SOIL BUT IT TENDS TO BE A SOIL P.H.-TYPE PROBLEM.

THE OTHER THING WITH THAT -- WITH THAT AZALEA IS, AZALEAS DON'T TEND TO LIKE TO BE IN ROCKS.

THEY'RE KIND OF DRAMA QUEENS.

AND SO, MAYBE IF YOU CAN MOVE -- REMOVE THOSE ROCKS, GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT MORE HOSPITABLE ENVIRONMENT, AND HOPEFULLY, IT WILL RECOVER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOUR LAST ONE COMES TO US FROM EASTERN NEBRASKA, RED-TWIG DOGWOODS.

THEY'VE BEEN IN A WEST-FACING UNIRRIGATED STRIP SINCE 2015 AND NOW THEY LOOK LIKE THIS.

>> SO, IT'S PROBABLY, MAYBE SOME DROUGHT ISSUES.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, ANTHRACNOSE.

VERY COMMON ON RED-TWIG DOGWOODS.

NICE THING IS, IS ALL OF THOSE BRANCHES THAT AREN'T RED, THEY'RE DEAD.

SO, YOU CAN EASILY GO IN AND CUT THEM OUT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH, TWO PICS ON THE FIRST ONE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD LEAVE THIS TREE ALONE OR PICK A LEADER.

>> YES.

SO, I BELIEVE IT IS ONE OF THE NEWER CULTIVARS OF ELM.

AND THOSE THINGS GROW VERY RAPIDLY.

SO, YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO SUBORDINATE THOSE LIMBS THAT AREN'T GOING TO BE THE LEADER.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO GIVE THIS GUY A GOOD HAIRCUT.

BECAUSE BEFORE LONG, HE'S GONNA BE TOO BIG THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT SOUTH OF HERSHEY.

GOT THIS STANLEY PLUM.

WHOLE LEADER HAS CUT AWAY.

CAN HE PRUNE IT BACK TO HEALTH OR SHOULD HE TRY TO GET HIS MONEY BACK?

>> SO, ACTUALLY, ON SOME PLUMS, WE WILL HAVE THREE TO FIVE SCAFFOLD BRANCHES.

SO, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAVE A CENTRAL LEADER.

SO, THAT ONE, I JUST GO AHEAD AND LEAVE IT.

LET IT DO ITS THING WITH THE SCAFFOLD BRANCHES.

AND IT WILL MAKE A GOOD QUALITY TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE FOR YOU.

THIS IS OMAHA.

HUNDREDS OF SEEDLINGS IN HER YARD FROM LAST YEAR'S ASH.

SHE'S BEEN MOWING.

SHE WANTS TO REMOVE.

WHAT DOES SHE DO?

>> I MEAN, YOU COULD, IF THEY'RE STILL ACTIVELY GROWING, USE SOME OF THE PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN LIKE, TRICLOPYR TO KILL THEM.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE LITTLE STUMPS ARE GONNA BE THERE.

SO, YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO EITHER CONTINUE TO MOW OVER THE TOP OF THEM OR REMOVE THEM AS YOU FIND THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

WELL, SPRING IS, OF COURSE, STARTING TO WARM UP.

BUT WE ALL KNOW THIS IS NEBRASKA AND ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.

SO, LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM GANNON RUSH FROM UNL'S SCHOOL OF NATURAL RESOURCES CLIMATOLOGY ON WHAT TO EXPECT.

>> THANKS, KIM.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING IN STORE FOR US THIS WEEK.

FRIDAY WILL BE OUR COLDEST DAY, WITH HIGHS IN THE PANHANDLE BEING IN THE 40s AND 30s.

ON FRIDAY NIGHT, THERE IS A PROBABILITY OF A HARD FREEZE IN THIS AREA, SO DEFINITELY KEEP THAT IN MIND.

OVER THE WEEKEND, HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 50s AND 60s.

AND THEN, ON MONDAY, WE'LL HEAT BACK UP INTO THE 70s FOR THE WEEK.

CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION ARE BETTER WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF OVER AN INCH IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE.

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE ONGOING AND MOVING ACROSS EASTERN NEBRASKA, WHICH IS BOTH GOOD AND BAD.

ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE SYSTEM, THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL IN THE PANHANDLE.

AFTER THIS, THE NEXT BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IS ON SUNDAY, EAST OF GRAND ISLAND.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS, GANNON.

IT'S TIME TO TAKE A BREAK.

BUT STAY TUNED, BECAUSE WE HAVE MANY MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS TO ANSWER ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ [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, JODY WILL TELL US HOW INSECTS BOTH GOOD AND BAD SURVIVE THROUGH THE WINTER.

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

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

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

ELIZABETH, YOU ARE IN THE HOT SEAT.

>> I'M READY.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM SYRACUSE.

THIS VIEWER STARTS THE SEEDS ON A HEAT MAT WITH ORGANIC SEED STARTER, BUT NEVER GETS ANY GOOD ROOT DEVELOPMENT.

>> DEPENDS ON THE CROP.

SO SOME CROPS LIKE WARM ROOTS, SOME CROPS DON'T.

SO I'D TAKE A LOOK, IT'S CALLED THE "BALL REDBOOK," AND IT TELLS YOU WHAT NEEDS WHAT.

>> EXCELLENT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO LISTENED TO US LAST WEEK WHEN WE SAID, YOU ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GET BETTER FRUIT ON YOUR FRUIT TREES IF YOU HAVE TWO DIFFERENT ONES, APPLES IN PARTICULAR.

DO THEY NEED TO BE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, HOW CLOSE?

LIKE, VERY CLOSE TOGETHER, OR --?

>> CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THE BEES TO DO THE POLLINATING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AN OMAHA VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER GARLIC IS SUCCESSFUL AND WOULD BE OKAY.

HE SAYS HE'S GOT LOOSE SOIL.

>> GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT A TRY.

WE PLANT IT IN THE FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LITTLE SIOUX, IOWA, VIEWER, WHO WONDERS WHETHER PANSIES ARE EDIBLE.

>> YES, THEY ARE.

COVER 'EM WITH SUGAR.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WONDERS IF GARDENTECH SEVIN, WHICH HE SPRAYED ON ASPARAGUS IS SOMETHING THAT HE CAN NOW CONSUME THE ASPARAGUS.

[ THUNDER ] >> SO YOU HAVE TO READ ON THE LABEL TO SEE IF THERE'S A PRE-HARVEST INTERVAL.

IF THE SITE OR THE PESTS ARE NOT ON THE TABLE, THEN IF THERE'S NO PREHARVEST INTERVAL, THEN WE CAN'T RECOMMEND YOU EAT WHAT COMES OFF OF THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU READY, KYLE?

>> I WAS BORN READY.

>> OF COURSE.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WONDERS A COUPLE QUESTIONS -- CAN HAND SANITIZER BE USED TO DISINFECT TOOLS IN THE GARDEN?

>> IT CAN.

BUT I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND HIS FOLLOW-UP QUESTION IS ACTUALLY, ALL RIGHT, WHAT ABOUT BLEACH?

AND IF SO, WHAT CONCENTRATION?

>> BLEACH CAN WORK, ABOUT A 10% SOLUTION.

YOU WILL WANT TO MAKE SURE THOUGH THAT IF YOU ARE USING BLEACH THAT YOU WIPE YOUR BLADES OFF, BECAUSE THAT BLEACH CAN CAUSE SOME PITTING ON THE CUTTING TOOLS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER -- WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE THIS ONE'S FROM.

THEY CUT BACK CLUMPS OF FESCUE, SO APPARENTLY HAD NOT BEEN MOWED AND SAW A LOT OF RUST ON THE DEAD LEAVES.

SHOULD THEY PUT THAT IN THE COMPOST OR BAG AND TAG?

>> I WOULD BAG AND TAG IT.

HONESTLY, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT AT ALL.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A VIEWER, AGAIN, WE'RE NOT SURE WHERE THIS ONE IS FROM.

THEY BOUGHT SEED POTATOES, AND WHEN THEY CUT THEM OPEN TO PLANT THEM, THEY HAD A HOLLOW HEART.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS A DISEASE?

AND CAN THEY STILL PLANT THEM?

>> YEAH.

THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT ROTS.

[ THUNDER ] THAT WILL GET -- ATTACK POTATOES LIKE THAT.

YOU CAN STILL PLANT THEM.

HOW WELL THEY'LL DO IS THE QUESTION.

>> ELIZABETH IS GIVING YOU THE EVIL EYE.

>> I WASN'T ASKED ABOUT THE SUCCESS RATE.

IT'S CAN THEY BE PLANTED?

YEAH.

I CAN PLANT THIS COFFEE CUP, TOO.

BUT I'M PROBABLY NOT GOING TO GET A WHOLE LOT OUT OF IT.

SO YOU CAN TRY IT.

BUT DON'T BET ON ANYTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, ARE YOU READY?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

>> I GUESS SO.

[ LAUGHTER ] OKAY.

YOU ARE READY.

HERE WE GO.

CRABGRASS IS ALREADY UP ONE TO TWO INCHES IN SOME LOCATIONS.

>> WOW.

>> IS IT TOO LATE TO PUT DOWN CONTROL FOR IT?

AND THIS IS COLUMBUS.

>> I WOULD PRE-EMERGE, YES.

GO AHEAD, THERE'S GOING TO BE HOT SPOTS.

IT'S ALREADY GERMINATED, SURE YOU BET.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO WONDERS ABOUT TURF BUILDER TRIPLE ACTION TO CONTROL ALL SORTS OF WEEDS AND THEN FERTILIZE.

>> I GUESS, YOU HAVE TO READ THE LABEL AND SEE WHAT'S ON THE LABEL.

IT WILL TELL YOU WHAT IT CONTROLS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER A BLOWTORCH IS A GOOD IDEA FOR KILLING WEEDS?

>> IT DEPENDS.

I SUPPOSE WE HAVE A FIRE BAN IN THIS STATE RIGHT NOW.

SO I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD BE REAL POPULAR IF YOU STARTED A WILDFIRE, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY COVERED THEIR SEED WITH STRAW.

AND NOW, THEY HAVE A LOT OF STRAW COMING UP BUT NOT TURF.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S -- I DON'T THINK I WOULD WORRY ABOUT THAT.

THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE WHEAT SEED THAT WAS IN THE STRAW MATTING.

SO, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

IT'S A COVER CROP.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER GRASS WILL GROW THROUGH TOPSOIL OR COMPOST PLACED IN A LOW SPOT?

[ THUNDER ] >> YES, IT WILL.

IF YOU PUT DOWN JUST AN INCH OR SO, YOU'LL BE FINE.

>> OKAY, NICE JOB.

OKAY, YOUR TURN.

ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M NEVER READY.

>> OKAY.

WE HAD A VIEWER WHO WONDERED ABOUT TREATING FOR APPLE MAGGOT, WHEN AND WITH WHAT?

>> OKAY, SO AROUND HERE THE APPLE MAGGOTS WILL -- THE ADULTS WILL COME OUT OF THE GROUND.

PUPAE ARE PROBABLY IN THE MIDDLE OF JUNE.

SO I WOULD USE THE VISUAL, STICKY RED BALLS THAT LOOK LIKE APPLES.

AND THEN THAT WILL CATCH THE MALE AND FEMALE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN OTOE COUNTY VIEWER WHO SAID HE IS SEEING ABOUT A 30/1 RATIO OF CHINESE MANTID EGG CASES VERSUS CAROLINA.

IS THAT BECAUSE THERE'S MORE CHINESE ONES?

>> WHERE HE IS.

I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY CHINESE MANTIDS IN MY YARD.

>> ALL RIGHT, HIS NEXT QUESTION, DO THEY BOTH HATCH AT THE SAME TIME?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

IT DEPENDS HOW LONG IT'S BEEN BEEN THERE.

SOME OF THEM LAY THEM LATER IN THE SEASON.

SO THEY WOULD PROBABLY EMERGE LATER.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A HASTINGS VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER EAB IS STILL AN ISSUE.

AND IF SO, SHOULD HE USE A DRENCH OF DINOTEFURAN?

>> EAB IS STILL AN ISSUE.

AND I WOULD NOT DO THE DRENCH.

I WOULD EVALUATE THE HEALTH OF YOUR TREE TO SEE WHAT IS THE BEST PROCEDURE.

[ THUNDER ] >> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB, ALL.

WHO WON?

I DON'T SEE THE COUNT UP THERE.

>> IT'S ELIZABETH.

>> DID ELIZABETH WIN.

>> I'M CALLING IT.

I WON.

>> IF NOT, WE SHOULD GIVE IT TO YOU.

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PLANT A COFFEE CUP.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> YOU CAN PLANT ANYTHING.

IS IT GOING TO GROW?

THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION I WAS ASKED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE STILL IN THE GREENHOUSE PHASE FOR OUR GARDEN, WAITING FOR THE EXACT RIGHT WEATHER TO COME OUR WAY IN ORDER TO PLANT OUTSIDE.

BUT, OF COURSE, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF COLORFUL THINGS COMING OUT OF THE GROUND IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

HERE'S TERRI TO TELL US MORE.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE ARE ENJOYING SOME BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.

WE ARE DOING A LITTLE BIT OF A RAIN DANCE, HOPING THAT WE'LL SEE SOME RAIN THIS WEEKEND.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THINGS ACTUALLY KIND OF BOLTING.

BOLTING IS A REACTION TO SOME OF THOSE COOL SEASON CROPS WHERE THEY KIND OF GO TO FLOWER A LITTLE BIT EARLIER THAN WE WANT.

WE'RE SEEING BOTH OF OUR ASPARAGUS AND OUR RHUBARB DOING THAT.

SO, IF YOURS ARE DOING THIS ALSO, MAKE SURE THEY ARE OUT THERE PICKING THE ASPARAGUS AS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN AND EARLY AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

AND IF YOU DO HAVE THE RHUBARB, AND THAT'S ALSO BOLTING ON YOU, YOU CAN BREAK THOSE FLOWER HEADS OFF AND HOPE THAT IT COOLS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

FORECAST SHOWS THAT WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF COOLDOWN THIS WEEKEND.

AND THAT RAIN IS REALLY GOING TO HELP.

BUT OUR GARDEN IS LOOKING BEAUTIFUL.

OUR PLANTS IN THE GREENHOUSE ARE GOING ALONG REALLY WELL.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THE NEW SEASON MOVING ALONG NICELY.

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

♪ >> THANKS TO TERRI.

AND, OF COURSE, WE'LL BE WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ONCE WE ACTUALLY GET THE OTHER PLANTS INTO THE GROUND.

AND OF COURSE, ELIZABETH, YOUR TURN.

PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> YEAH, SO WE HAVE A COUPLE OF REALLY NICE EARLY SPRING BLOOMERS.

SO THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE THE WHITE ONE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THE FRONT, THE SUMMER SNOWFLAKE.

AND KIM'S GOING TO HAVE TO CORRECT ME ON THE PRONUNCIATION.

BUT LEUCOJUM.

>> YOU'RE CLOSE.

>> THAT WAS CLOSE.

AS CLOSE AS I'M GOING TO GET.

SO THAT ONE'S A REALLY NICE BULB.

IT'S GONNA BE A PART-SHADED ENVIRONMENT.

IT GOES SUMMER DORMANT.

SO AFTER IT'S DONE FLOWERING, IT'S ONE OF THOSE WHERE WE'RE NOT GONNA KNOW WHERE IT'S AT AND WE'LL LET SOMETHING ELSE COME UP AND TAKE ITS PLACE.

THE OTHER ONE THAT WE HAVE IS THE VIRGINIA BLUEBELLS.

NOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BLUE IN THE LANDSCAPE.

REAL, TRUE BLUE FLOWERS.

SO THIS IS ONE THAT IS A TRUE BLUE.

THE BUDS DO START OUT A LITTLE BIT OF PINK OR PURPLE COLORED.

AND THEN THEY WILL OPEN UP INTO THAT BLUE.

IT'S ALSO AN EARLY BLOOMER, AS WELL.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT DOES GO SUMMER DORMANT, TOO.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY KIND OF DISAPPEAR AS THE SUMMER PROGRESSES.

>> SO WE ENJOY THEM WHILE WE'VE GOT THEM.

AND THEN, WE DO SOMETHING ELSE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WONDERFUL "PLANTS OF THE WEEK."

AND WE, OF COURSE, HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS, AS ALWAYS, OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

SO OUR FIRST ONE IS THE GOODHUE BOULEVARD TREE WALK.

SATURDAY, 9:30 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. MEET AT THE GRACE CHAPEL'S PARKING LOT FOR THAT PARTICULAR ONE.

IT'S NEAR 15th AND A.

OUR SECOND ONE FOR THIS EVENING, IS STILL THE MASTER GARDENER PLANT FAIR.

THAT'S APRIL 25th AND 26th, NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE AG CAMPUS COMPLEX IN NORFOLK.

OUR THE THIRD ONE, OF COURSE, SPRING AFFAIR IS COMING UP.

APRIL 25th, FROM 2:00 P.M. TO 6:00 P.M. APRIL 26th, 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. SANDHILLS GLOBAL EVENT CENTER IN LINCOLN.

SO, FUN THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

JODY, YOU GET THE NEXT QUESTION.

THIS ONE, ONE PICTURE, IT COMES TO US FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

HE SAYS, WHAT ARE THESE ON HIS LILACS?

THEY LOOK LIKE SCALE.

HE IS WAITING FOR THE FLOWERS TO BE DONE.

>> THEY ARE SCALE.

THIS IS OYSTER SHELL SCALE.

SO IT'S A TYPE OF HARD SCALE.

AND THE BEST TIME TO TREAT FOR THIS IS DURING THE CRAWLER PHASE.

SO YOU'LL JUST KEEP SPYING ON THERE AND IF YOU SEE THOSE LITTLE LIGHT COLORED CRAWLERS COME OUT, THEN YOU CAN TREAT WITH HORTICULTURE OIL OR INSECTICIDAL SOAP.

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

THIS COMES TO US FROM SOMEWHERE.

I'VE FORGOTTEN WHERE.

SHE DIDN'T SAY.

AND SHE IS WONDERING WHAT THIS TEENY BEETLE IS.

SHE'S FOUND THREE IN HER HOUSE.

>> OKAY, RIGHT NOW, I'VE SEEN A LOT OF CARPET BEETLES OR DERMESTIDS.

AND THESE AS ADULTS, THEY FEED ON NECTAR AND OTHER THINGS.

BUT THE LARVAE ARE WHAT DO THE DAMAGE.

AND THEY LOVE NATURAL FIBERS.

SO I CALL IT, SKIN, FUR AND FEATHERS.

SO VACUUM IF YOU HAVE PETS AND THAT STUFF, OR FEATHER PILLOWS, THOSE THINGS YOU WANT TO WASH OR VACUUM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OMAHA, SHE'S GOT ALL THESE MOTHS IN HER HOUSE FROM BIRD FOOD.

SHE WONDERS WHAT THEY ARE.

>> THESE ARE INDIAN MEAL MOTHS.

SO IT'S A TYPE OF PANTRY MOTH.

FIND THE SOURCE AND GET RID OF IT.

IF IT'S THE BIRD FOOD, GET RID OF THE BIRD FOOD.

STORE ALL OF YOUR FOOD -- CAT FOOD, PET FOOD, PANTRY FOOD BETTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE, THIS COMES TO US FROM COZAD.

IT'S A 15-INCH ACROSS ANT MOUND.

ARE THOSE DANGEROUS ANTS?

>> IT'S NOT DANGEROUS.

IT'S PROBABLY FIELD ANT IF IT'S IN THE GRASS.

>> NO BIG DEAL?

>> NOT UNLESS IT'S RUINING YOUR MOWER.

>> OKAY.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE, JEFF.

THIS IS OMAHA.

SHE WONDERS IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THIS GRASS.

SPREADS BY RHYZOMES, COMES THROUGH EVERYTHING.

COMES BACK IN THE FALL.

>> I WANT TO CONGRATULATE HER ON HER EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHS.

>> YES, THEY ARE VERY GOOD.

>> SO IT'S QUACK GRASS.

AND SO -- GLYPHOSATE, SOME SORT OF NON-SELECTIVE.

YOU'RE GONNA KILL EVERYTHING AROUND IT.

BUT THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY TREATMENT FOR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

SAYING, "THIS LAWN HAS NEVER LOOKED LIKE THIS BEFORE."

AND IT'S ZOYSIA ON ONE SIDE.

AND SOME OF THE NEIGHBORS HAD THE SAME SITUATION IT LOOKED LIKE THAT IN THE FALL AND NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH, THEY'VE HAD SOME NASTY WINTER KILL.

SHE TALKED ABOUT THERE BEING NO ROOTS.

AND THE THING JUST PEELS UP.

SO THAT'S A TOTAL RESTORATION OF THE LAWN THERE.

SO SHE CAN PICK A NEW GRASS.

>> OKAY.

>> YEAH.

>> AND WE'VE HAD THIS ONE A COUPLE OF TIMES.

BUT WE'VE GOT, HERE COME THE ONION PLANTS.

CRAZY ALL OVER THE YARD.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE IS, YOU CAN USE A GARDEN FORK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO LIFT AND GET AS MANY OUT AS YOU CAN 'TIL YOU'RE EXHAUSTED.

THEN, YOU CAN MOW.

AND MAKE SURE YOU PRE-EMERGE THESE AREAS, BECAUSE IF YOU LET 'EM FLOWER, AND THEY'VE PROBABLY PRODUCED A WHOLE BUNCH OF SEEDS, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, WONDERING WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BLUE SPRUCE.

>> YEAH.

IT'S NOT A TERRIBLY GREAT LOOKING TREE AT THIS POINT.

YOU KNOW, LOOKS LIKE THERE'S MAYBE SOME RHIZOSPHAERA OR STIGMINA THAT'S GOING ON THERE.

WE'D NEED A CLOSER PICTURE OF THE NEEDLES TO REALLY GET AN IDEA, BUT WHATEVER IS GOING ON WITH THAT TREE, IT'S PROBABLY NOT ON THAT'S TERRIBLY LONG FOR THIS WORLD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

WHAT ARE THESE LUSH SPOTS COMING UP AROUND THE PIN OAK?

>> THEY ARE NOT A FAIRY RING.

THEY ARE, I SUSPECT, THAT MAYBE THE PIN OAK HAD SOME YELLOW LEAVES AND YOU DECIDED TO PUT IN SOME TREE SPIKES TO FIX THE IRON CHLOROSIS.

CHANGED THE P.H.

AND NOW, WE HAVE MORE AVAILABLE NUTRIENTS THERE AND THE TURF JUMPS UP.

>> THANKS, KYLE.

TWO PICS FOR YOU FROM LAUREL, NEBRASKA, ELIZABETH.

WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH THESE ROOTS ON A 2-YEAR-OLD COTTONWOOD?

THERE IS THE TREE ITSELF, AND THE SECOND PICTURE I THINK IS THE CIRCLING ROOT.

>> SO WITH THE STEM-GIRDLING ROOTS, IF THEY'RE ABOVEGROUND LIKE THAT, AND IF YOU CAN SAFELY DO SO, YOU CAN PRUNE THOSE AWAY.

'CAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T, IS THEY'RE BOTH GOING TO GET LARGER TO THE POINT WHERE THE ROOTS ARE GOING TO CONSTRICT THE TRUNK.

AND THEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE DEATH AND DIE BACK OF THE UPPER PART.

HOWEVER, THERE COULD STILL BE SOME BELOW THE SOIL SURFACE THAT WE CAN'T SEE.

SO KIND OF JUST WATCH YOUR TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PIC ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM NEMAHA COUNTY.

SHE HAS ONE LITTLE HYDRANGEA, AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT TO DO.

IT'S OF COURSE ONE OF THE PINK OR BLUE ONES.

>> YEP, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE ENDLESS SUMMERS.

IT -- THEY BLOOM ON OLD WOOD, AND SO THAT ONE HAS DIED BACK.

SO NOW ALL THEY HAVE IS THE NEW WOOD, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE FLOWERS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S THE NATURE OF THE BEAST.

IF WE HAVE A SEVERE WINTER, WE'RE GONNA HAVE DIEBACK OF THAT OLD WOOD.

SO IF YOU WANTED TO TRY SOME ADDITIONAL MULCHES DURING THE WINTER TO TRY TO PROTECT, YOU COULD.

BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT'S GOING TO BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE.

HE SAYS, "NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE."

AND IT'S THE SEEDS, AND THEY USED TO BE GREEN, AND HE'S NEVER SEEN THIS MANY.

AND HERE'S THE CLOSE-UP.

WHAT IN THE HECK IS GOING ON?

>> IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR SOME OF THOSE MAPLES TO HAVE SOME RED SEEDS ON THEM.

IT'S JUST, AS FRED WOULD SAY, NATURE'S WONDROUS PAGEANTRY.

>> EXACTLY.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, INSECTS HAVE PLENTY OF BEHAVIORS HAVE SOMETIMES DEFY EXPLANATION, AS THEY CONTINUE TO SURVIVE THROUGH THOSE COLD NEBRASKA WINTERS.

BOTH THE GOOD GUYS AND THE PESTS ARE WAKING UP.

AND HERE'S JODY TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY MAKE IT THROUGH THOSE LONG WINTER MONTHS.

♪ >>> MANY INSECTS HAVE BEEN IN THE GARDEN LANDSCAPE IN A STATE OF DORMANCY THROUGHOUT THE WINTER.

THEY'VE BEEN PROTECTED BY BARK, ROCKS, LEAF LITTER.

SOMETIMES THEY'VE BEEN OVERWINTERING IN OUR HOUSES, AS ADULTS.

INSECTS ARE ECTOTHERMS, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ESSENTIALLY COLD BLOODED AND THEY RELY ON THE HEAT FROM THE ENVIRONMENT TO WARM THEM UP AND ALLOW THEM TO BE ACTIVE.

NOW THAT SPRING HAS SPRUNG, WE ARE GETTING WARMER TEMPERATURES AND LONGER DAYLIGHT HOURS.

AND THAT STIMULATES THE EMERGENCE OF THE ADULTS TO WAKE UP, AND BECOME ACTIVE.

MANY INSECTS HAVE SPENT THEIR TIME THIS WINTER IN THE GARDEN LANDSCAPE, IN A STATE OF DORMANCY.

SO THEY HAVEN'T BEEN MOVING, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN EATING.

INSECTS ARE ECTOTHERMS, OR COLD BLOODED, WHICH MEANS THEY CANNOT MAKE THEIR OWN HEAT, AND THEY RELY ON THE TEMPERATURES IN THE ENVIRONMENT TO SURVIVE.

DURING THE WINTER, THEY ARE HIDING.

AS ADULTS THEY CAN BE PROTECTED UNDER BARK, IN LEAF LITTER, UNDER ROCKS AND SOMETIMES THEY OVERWINTER IN OUR HOMES, LIKE THOSE FALL INVADERS.

AND AS WE WAIT FOR SPRING, AND ALL OUR PLANTS TO GROW, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT AS THEY GROW, THAT'S FOOD FOR SOME OF OUR INSECTS.

SO, GOOD OR BAD, THEY WILL BE COMING OUT, SO YOU WANT TO MONITOR THOSE PLANTS ON A WEEKLY BASIS, BECAUSE WHEN THEY FIND THAT FOOD, THEY'LL START EATING.

AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PLANTS GROW HEALTHY AND YOU HAVE A GREAT GARDENING SEASON.

>>> YOU KNOW, NOT MUCH TO WORRY ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

BUT AS LONG AS THAT WARMER WEATHER COMES, THEN WE ARE PERHAPS IN A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE.

ALL RIGHT, JODY.

A LAST ROUND HERE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM HADAR, NEBRASKA, WHICH IS JUST NORTH OF NORFOLK.

SHE'S SEEN THIS ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE BUT SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> WELL, WE SPOKE ABOUT PRAYING MANTISES EARLIER.

THIS IS AN EUROPEAN MANTIS -- >> MM-HM.

>> -- OOTHECA, OR EGG CASE.

SO THAT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE NON-NATIVE PRAYING MANTISES, BUT THEY'RE ALL GENERAL PREDATORS.

SO NATIVE OR NOT, THEY STILL EAT SOME OF THE GOOD BUGS.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO ACTUALLY ONE OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS PEOPLE -- SOMEBODY ASKED WAS DO WE HAVE THE EUROPEAN ONES?

AND APPARENTLY WE DO.

>> YES WE DO.

AND SO, YEAH, SO IF YOU WANT TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE, AS ADULTS, THEY'VE GOT LIKE, THESE BULLSEYE PATTERNS ON THEIR FOREARMS.

SO WHEN THEY'RE LIKE THIS, YOU CAN SEE LIKE THESE BLACK AND WHITE BULLSEYES.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, ONE MORE PICTURE FOR YOU.

AND THIS ONE COMES TO US, LET'S SEE, SAYS, "WE HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THESE CUTE, WINGED CRITTERS ON THEIR YELLOW HOUSE."

THEY THINK THEY'RE MAYFLIES.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> THEY'RE NOT MAYFLIES, BUT THEY ARE NONBITING MIDGES.

AND IF YOU LIVE CLOSE TO LIKE, AN AQUATIC AREA, WHERE THERE'S ANY KIND OF WATER, YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF THESE.

BUT THEY DON'T BITE.

TURN YOUR LIGHTS OFF AT NIGHT.

>> AND THIS IS A GOOD VIEWER WHO THINKS PRETTY MUCH EVERY CRITTER IS CUTE, SO -- >> IT IS CUTE.

THE MALES HAVE VERY FURRY ANTENNA AND THEY'RE SO CUTE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> SO CUTE.

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

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

HE SAYS HE DIDN'T READ THE VERY FINE PRINT ON A PREEN CONTAINER THAT SAID DON'T USE IT ON LAWNS.

AND HE DID, HOPING TO KEEP THE HENBIT FROM GERMINATING, AND THEN THESE BIG BROWN AREAS STARTED SHOWING UP.

NOW IT SEEMS COMPLETELY DEAD.

ANYTHING SHE CAN DO OTHER THAN RESOD THE WHOLE AREA?

>> WELL, THE PREEN CONTROLLED THE HENBIT, SO THAT'S THE UPSIDE.

I'M GUESSING, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T APPLY IT AT -- AND IT WASN'T LABELED FOR TURF, BUT THEY PROBABLY OVERAPPLIED IT, AS WELL, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SEEING THE DIEBACK.

I THINK THE OTHER ISSUE IS, SO SODDING MAY BE ONE OF YOUR CHOICES.

YOU CAN WAIT.

THAT PRE-EMERGE IS STILL WORKING.

AND IF WE HAD KIND OF A DRY, COLD WINTER, THEN IT'S GOING TO LAST FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.

SO, IT MIGHT EVEN AFFECT NEW SOD AT THIS STAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO SAYS SOMETHING IS GROWING IN HIS FLOWER BED.

GOOD GUY OR ROGUE IT OUT?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW -- >> ELIZABETH SAID OFF WITH ITS HEAD.

>> YEAH I MEAN -- ITS MOTHER LOVED IT.

BUT THAT'S SHEPHERD'S PURSE.

YOU CAN LEAVE IT AND LET IT FLOWER AND THEN PULL IT.

BUT IT'S A MUSTARD.

SO IT'S GOING TO PRODUCE A BUNCH OF SEEDS.

AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FOR YOU, KYLE, ON THIS ONE.

HE SAYS THE BASE OF THIS REDBUD HAD SOME SORT OF -- HE IS CALLING THEM FUNGUS KNOBS AND IS WONDERING IF THE PEELING BARK IS ALSO FUNGUS?

SHOULD HE USE A FUNGICIDE?

>> NO.

I WOULD NOT USE A FUNGICIDE.

I WOULD PROBABLY START THINKING ABOUT A REPLACEMENT TREE THIS THAT AREA.

THAT'S A PRETTY LARGE WOUND THERE.

IF THE BARK IS STARTING TO SLOUGH OFF AT THE BOTTOM, THERE'S SOME ISSUES THERE.

WHATEVER FUNGUS IS GROWING THERE, MAYBE IT'S ADDING TO THE PROBLEM OR MAYBE IT'S JUST GROWING, AS WELL.

REGARDLESS, THIS TREE IS NOT HEALTHY.

AND SOMETHING YOU'LL WANT TO BE THINKING ABOUT IS REMOVAL.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT FOR SURE THAT WE USUALLY SEE FUNGUS UNLESS IT IS ON ROOTS, ON REDBUD.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF GROWING OUT OF THE TRUNKS OF REDBUDS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I'M SURE THERE'S SOMETHING.

BUT YEAH, I WOULD -- I THINK IT'S PROBABLY ALL SAP STUFF THAT HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF A TREE THAT'S TOWARDS THE END OF ITS TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OSMOND, NEBRASKA.

THIS IS A NORTH STAR CHERRY TREE THAT'S 25 YEARS OLD.

AND WONDERING WHAT THIS IS?

>> WELL, THIS IS LICHEN.

IT'S A REALLY COOL SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A FUNGUS AND ALGAE.

THE FUNGUS PROVIDES THE HOUSE AND THE ALGAE PROVIDES THE ENERGY.

AND ABLE TO PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT ON THAT TREE.

JUST A COOL THING THAT WE SEE SOMETIMES.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE ASKED IF YOU CAN GET ALL SORTS OF ROTS UNDER LICHEN?

NO.

MAYBE?

>> MAYBE.

I WOULD SAY MAYBE.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN LICHEN BE A PROBLEM.

IT WHAT I WILL SAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, NEVER SAY NEVER -- BUT.

ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WEST POINT.

SHE IS WONDERING WHY THE CORALBELLS -- WHY DO THEY HEAVE TO THE TOP?

AND WHAT CAN SHE DO TO KEEP THEM ALIVE?

THESE ARE TEN YEARS OLD.

>> SO IF WE TAKE LOOK AT THAT GROWING ENVIRONMENT THERE.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT TO PLAY WITH WHY THEY ARE COMING UP AND KIND OF HEAVING AND DOING SOME FROST HEAVE KIND OF A THING.

IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, I THINK YOUR BEST BET IS TO REPLANT.

ESPECIALLY SOME OF THOSE.

YOU KNOW, PICK THE STRONGER ONES AND REPLANT THOSE OR START WITH SOME NEW STOCK.

BECAUSE WE HAVE A LIMITED ROOT AREA THERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SOIL TYPE IS LIKE.

AND BECAUSE IT'S ABOVE GRADE, I THINK IT'S KIND OF CAUSING THAT TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY.

SO, YOU KNOW, TAKING A LOOK AT THAT REPLANTING IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET.

UNFORTUNATELY, NOTHING YOU CAN REALLY DO TO STOP IT.

THAT'S JUST WHAT THE PLANT DOES.

>> INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, SOME OF THE OLDER ONES DO THAT.

SOME OF THE NEWER ONES DO NOT SEEM TO BE DOING THAT JUST YET.

THE OTHER ISSUE, OF COURSE, YOU CAN GET VOLES UNDER THERE AND THEY GO -- AND THEY HEAVE IT OUT OF THE GROUND.

SO, THAT WOULD BE A DENNIS QUESTION.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE, AS WE WRAP UP THE SHOW.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

HE HAS A BARBERRY, THAT'S ONE OF THE CHARTREUSE CULTIVARS APPARENTLY.

HE'S CALLING THESE GREEN BERRIES BUT I THINK WHAT HE'S LOOKING AT IS THE BUDS FOR THE FLOWERS.

HE WANTS TO PRUNE DOWN TO CONTROL THE HEIGHT AND THE SHAPE.

CAN HE DO THIS NOW?

OR WAIT A LITTLE BIT?

>> SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PRUNING OUR BARBERRIES, WE WANT TO AVOID IT RIGHT NOW.

WE CAN DO IT AFTER FLOWERING.

WE CAN DO IT BEFORE IT BREAKS BUD, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO IT WHILE IT'S FLOWERING.

BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY GOING TO STRESS THAT PLANT OUT.

SO IF WE CAN HOLD OUT A LITTLE LONGER, THAT'S GOING TO BE VERY BENEFICIAL.

BUT YOU REALLY CAN'T KILL A BARBERRY.

SO, WHEN THE SAW IS SHARP IS THE BEST TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT AND THAT RULE ON DON'T PRUNE WHILE THINGS ARE FLOWERING IS PRETTY MUCH A GOOD RULE FOR MOST OF OUR PLANTS.

SO, RIGHT NOW, I KNOW WE'RE ALSO GETTING QUESTIONS ABOUT FORSYTHIA, WHICH IS STILL FLOWERING.

CAN IT BE PRUNED?

BECAUSE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO FLOWER A MONTH AGO BUT IT'S STILL FLOWERING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I MEAN, WE JUST REALLY WANT TO HOLD OFF.

ANYTIME IT'S FLOWERING, IT GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY AND THAT WILL TAKE RESOURCES OUT OF THAT PLANT.

AND BY REMOVING ANY OF THE CANES OR THE BRANCHES, YOU'RE TAKING AWAY THE ENERGY SUPPLY.

SO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE BENEFICIAL TO THE PLANTS IF WE WERE TO DO IT WHILE THEY'RE GO AHEAD AND BLOOMING.

SO AVOID IT IF YOU CAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AVOID IF YOU CAN.

GO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT IS GOING TO DO IT FOR TONIGHT'S SHOW.

OF COURSE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY WHO CALLED IN OR SENT US THOSE GREAT PICTURES FOR US TO ANSWER.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING, WE HAD TIM DUNGAN, CAITLIN DeCOSTER AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR, TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE WILL DISCUSS TREE DIVERSITY IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

HAVING A WIDE VARIETY OF TREES CONTRIBUTES TO THAT LANDSCAPE.

IT'S ALSO A GOOD WAY TO AVOID SOME OF THOSE INSECT AND DISEASE PESTS WE HEAR ABOUT EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" WEBSITE AT BYF.UNL.EDU.

SIGN UP FOR THAT MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

SO GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪