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

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'VE GOT SOME FIRE PREVENTION TIPS AND WE'LL HELP YOU TREAT FOR NEEDLE BLIGHT.

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 ANOTHER HOUR OF ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

YOU CAN CONTACT US BY DIALING 1-800-676-5446 OR YOU CAN EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS AND PICTURES FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

THAT'S BYF@UNL.EDU.

PLEASE TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK US OUT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR ALL THOSE EDUCATIONAL FEATURES, SHORTS, PAST PROGRAMS AND A LOT OF FUN.

WE'VE ALSO GOT A LOYAL CROWD OF FANS ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

SO, YOU CAN CHECK THAT ONE OUT AFTER THE SHOW.

AND WE HAVE BROUGHT BACK SAMPLES AND WE HAVE QUITE AN ARRAY TONIGHT.

KYLE, WE ALL THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INSECT AND IT IS.

SO, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TONIGHT?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I HAVE SOME PINE NEEDLES PINNED HERE AND ON THOSE WE HAVE PINE NEEDLE SCALES.

SO IT'S THESE VERY SMALL KIND OF WHITE SPOT THERE AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE EMERGING PRETTY SOON THIS SPRING.

SO THESE, LIKE THE NAME WOULD SUGGEST, THEY ATTACK A VARIETY OF PINES, CAN ALSO FIND THEM OCCASIONALLY ON DOUGLAS FIR, SOME SPRUCE, BUT MOST PROBLEMATIC ON PINES, ESPECIALLY SCOTCH PINE.

AND USUALLY IN SORT OF EARLY MAY WE'LL SEE THE CRAWLERS EMERGE AND THAT'S REALLY THE IDEAL TIME TO TREAT FOR THESE.

HOWEVER, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, THIS SPRING SO FAR, I WOULD ANTICIPATE THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE THESE CRAWLERS EMERGING LIKE LATE APRIL.

SO, SOMETHING TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR.

SO, WHEN THESE POPULATION DENSITIES BUILD UP, THEY CAN CAUSE NEEDLE DIE BACK, BRANCH DIE BACK.

THEY CAN BE QUITE -- QUITE PROBLEMATIC.

AND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WITH THOSE CRAWLERS IS, YOU KNOW, THESE VERY SMALL LITTLE KIND OF PINK SPECKS THAT WILL MOVE AROUND ON THE NEEDLES.

IDEALLY YOU WANT TO TREAT FOR THOSE IN SPRING BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THEY ARE -- THERE'S A NARROW WINDOW AND YOU CAN USE LIKE AN INSECTICIDAL SOAP FOR HORTICULTURAL OIL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KYLE.

THAT'S QUITE A SAMPLE.

>> YEAH.

HE BROUGHT A COUPLE SAMPLES, I GUESS.

I GOT IN SAD HEN BIT PLANT, THIS LITTLE GUY, AND THIS BIG HAPPY SAD HEN BIT PLANT.

'CAUSE HE'S -- HE LOST HIS ROOTS, SO HE'S KIND OF WILTY.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHOW QUICKLY, LIKE, SOME OF THESE WINTER ANNUALS THAT ARE COMING UP.

THIS IS HEN BIT, IT'S A WINTER ANNUAL, COME UP LAST FALL.

AND NOW, IT'S GROWING REALLY, REALLY FAST.

SO, YOU CAN SEE WHAT IT STARTS LIKE.

YOU CAN GIVE IT A WEEK, AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS ONE OVER HERE THAT'S NICE AND LARGE AN FLOWERING.

SO, IT YOU'RE GONNA TREAT IT, MAKE SURE YOU TREAT THEM WHEN THEY'RE AT THE SMALL STAGE.

BECAUSE YOU CAN ACTUALLY KILL THEM WITH A BROAD LEAF HERBICIDE.

WHEN THEY GET TO THIS BIG STAGE, A LOT OF HERBICIDE GETS TIED UP IN THE TOP LEAVES AND YOU DON'T GET IT IN THE CANOPY.

SO, YOU'RE NOT GONNA END UP KILLING THAT PLANT.

SO, IT'S BETTER OFF DIGGING IT OUR OR, YOU KNOW, DOING SOMETHING ELSE, MOWING IT OFF BEFORE IT SEEDS OUT FOR NEXT YEAR'S CROP.

AND THEN, ANOTHER ONE THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING WAS I FOUND THESE LITTLE GUYS EMERGING OUT OF THE GROUND AND WHAT IT IS IS IT'S A YELLOW NUTSEDGE TUBER THAT HAS A SHOOT.

SO, THIS WILL PROBABLY BE OUT IN ABOUT A WEEK.

SO, JUST KEEP THOSE AREAS THAT ARE BARE THAT MAYBE GOT KILLED OFF LAST YEAR FROM THE DROUGHT AND JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

MESOTRIONE IS A GOOD ONE IF YOU'RE GONNA SEED AND IT HELPS WITH YELLOW NUTSEDGE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THAT LOOKS LIKE A WEAPON, LOREN.

>> IT DOES.

FIRST, I WANT TO THANK MATT BECAUSE I'M HAVING HEN BIT TEA.

>> YEAH.

>> WHICH YOU COULDN'T SEE OFF-CAMERA.

IT WAS BEING DIPPED IN MY -- [ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] IT WAS REALLY GOOD.

THANKS.

>> GOOD, YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> IT'S VERY GOOD.

IT'S VERY NUTRITIOUS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OUT CLEANING UP THE LANDSCAPE, TOO.

AND IT'S A TIME WHEN MAYBE YOU'RE SEEING SOME DEAD GROWTH ON YOUR SHRUBS AND SUCH.

SO, I BROUGHT ALONG SOMETHING THAT IS A TYPE OF CANCER TONIGHT.

AND THIS IS CROWN GALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT'S GONNA SHOW UP AT.

THERE IT IS.

OKAY.

AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT REAL IRREGULAR-SHAPED GALLING THAT FORMS AROUND THAT.

SOME OF OUR OTHER CANKERS PRODUCE ALL TYPES OF DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS OF SWELLING.

THIS ONE HAS THAT KIND OF THAT RUGOSE ROUGHNESS TO IT.

AND WITH THIS, THIS IS ACTUALLY A BACTERIAL INFECTION THAT MANY TIMES WILL BE SPREAD THROUGH PRUNING AND SUCH.

SO, IF YOU SEE THIS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO AWAY IF IT'S ON THE BASE.

MANY TIMES, WE MIGHT SEE IT ON THE BASE OF A ROSE OR SOMETHING WHERE THEY DO GRAFTING.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE JUST SIMPLY ROGUED OUT IF IT'S AT THE BASE OF A PLANT, UNLESS YOU CAN JUST ENJOY IT.

BUT JUST BE CAREFUL YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SPREAD IT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT IT OUT OF A LIMB OR SOMETHING ABOUT SEVEN INCHES BELOW THE AFFECTED AREA.

AND THAT'S THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR MANAGEMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> CROWN GALL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SCOTT, YOU HAVE SOME FUN THINGS AS WELL TONIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

SPRING'S IN THE AIR.

A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN IN THE GARDEN CENTER AND WE'RE STARTING TO SEE ALL SORTS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES POP UP.

ONIONS IS ONE OF THE PLANTS THAT WE CAN EITHER START FROM SEED, WHICH THAT WINDOW HAS CLOSED, OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO GO WITH THE ONION SETS WHICH ARE THESE TINY LITTLE ONION BULBS.

AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE GUARANTEED TO GIVE YOU YOUR PLANT FOR THIS YEAR.

THE DOWNSIDE WHEN IT COMES TO ONION SETS IS WE EITHER GET TO CHOOSE RED, YELLOW, OR WHITE.

WE DON'T REALLY GET TO CHOOSE WHAT TYPE OF CULTIVAR.

SO, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY TO STORE YOUR ONIONS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY TO GO WITH OUR ONION TRANSPLANTS.

AND THESE ARE -- THEY LOOK KIND OF SAD.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY LIVE ONIONS THAT WERE STARTED FROM SEEDS EARLIER AND THIS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE THE CULTIVAR THAT WE WANT TO GO WITH.

SO, IF WE'RE LOOKING TO STORE ONIONS, PROBABLY NOT SO MUCH OF YOUR SWEET ONIONS, MORE OF YOUR TRADITIONAL SAVORY ONIONS STORE BETTER THAN THE SWEET.

SO, NOW'S THE TIME TO START GETTING THESE INTO GROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB, EVERYBODY, ON INTERESTING SAMPLES.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, YOU'RE FIRST UP FOR THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SHE IS ASKING, "WHAT ARE THESE PODS ON THE TREE?"

AND YOU CAN SEE THE -- KIND OF THE TREE ITSELF THERE AND I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT CLOSER UP.

AND OF COURSE, PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE THE PODS AND THEN, WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE PODS?

>> THESE ARE BULLET GALLS OF, I'M ASSUMING OAK.

SO, THESE ARE CAUSED BY A CYNIPIDAE GALL WASP.

AND THERE'S A PARTICULAR GENOUS THAT THEY ALL MAKE SORT OF THESE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BULLET GALLS ON OAKS.

SO, I THINK IN ONE OF THOSE AT LEAST YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE HOLE THERE.

SO, THEY'RE NO LONGER PRESENT.

THEY'VE ALREADY COME OUT.

THEY DO THAT IN THE FALL.

AND SO REALLY, AT THIS TIME THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO.

THEY DON'T HARM THE TREE.

IT'S REALLY JUST COSMETIC.

SO, NOTHING YOU CAN REALLY DO.

THEY SOMETIMES WILL FALL OFF ON THEIR OWN AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LOOK, YOU JUST REMOVE THOSE, BUT THEY SHOULDN'T HARM THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THOSE ON OAKS AROUND ALL OF A SUDDEN.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

IT'S A VOLUNTEER HACKBERRY THAT CAME UP IN THE SHADE.

IT'S DOING REALLY WELL.

THERE'S LOTS OF OTHERS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THESE ARE ON THE END OF IT AND ARE THEY HARMFUL AND SHOULD THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

>> ANOTHER GALL.

IT'S NOT REALLY HARMFUL.

SO, NOT REALLY A CAUSE OF CONCERN.

THIS IS A HACKBERRY PENIAL GALL.

SO, LIKE, PROBABLY -- IF YOU'VE SEEN A HACKBERRY, YOU'VE SEEN THOSE -- THE NIPPLE GALLS ON LEAVES.

BASICALLY, EVERY HACKBERRY HAS THOSE.

THIS IS CAUSED BY A PSYLLID -- I MEAN, THIS IS LIKE A VERY CLOSELY RELATED PSYLLID IN THE SAME GENOUS, BUT THIS ONE DOES IT ON THE PETIOLE, DOESN'T HURT THE TREE.

SO, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DO EMERGE IN THE SPRING, SO IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE LOOK OF IT, YOU COULD PRUNE THOSE OUT IN THE WINTER AND THAT SHOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER, BUT IT DOESN'T HARM ANYTHING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT, THANKS.

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

IT COMES TO US FROM FAIRBURY.

SHE SAID SHE FOUND THESE PLANTS GROWING IN THE YARD, DOESN'T KNOW IF THEY'RE WEEDS OR FLOWERS.

AND THEN, SHE HAS -- I THINK THE THIRD PICTURE IS LITTLE BULBS.

SO, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, THIS ONE WAS -- I MEAN, IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE PUMPKINS OR SOMETHING GROWING THERE, BUT LOOKING AT THEM, THE WAY THEY'RE GROWING, THEY ARE SUNFLOWERS.

SO, ODDS ARE IT WAS FROM BIRD SEED OR SOMEHOW YOU HAD SUNFLOWER SEEDS THAT SPILLED IN A SPOT THAT WEREN'T COOKED OR SOMETHING AND THEY JUST ALL GREW WITH THE WARM WEATHER.

OBVIOUSLY, BARE SOIL SITTING THERE, TOO, SO TO CONTROL THOSE BASICALLY YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH JUST MOW THEM OFF.

IT'LL KILL THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE SUNFLOWERS AND THEY WON'T KEEP GROWING.

YOU TAKE THAT TOP OFF AND MAYBE THROW SOME SEED IN THAT AREA JUST TO GET IT -- GET IT GOING.

AND THEN, IN THE LAST PICTURE THOSE BULBS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD'VE BEEN THE PLANT THAT'S GROWING NEAR THEM.

THAT WAS WILD ONION.

AND THAT ONE IS COMING UP REALLY, REALLY GOOD NOW THIS TIME IN THE SPRING.

THEY'RE USUALLY THE FIRST THING TO REALLY CLUMP UP AND GROW.

AND IF YOU CAN, JUST DIG THOSE OUT.

IF YOU SPREAD THEM AROUND, THEY WILL KEEP GROWING FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND THEY'LL CONTINUE TO SPREAD IN THE YEARS TO COME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ON THAT NOTE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE FROM OMAHA, WHICH IS A VIEWER THAT HAS A PERENNIAL FLOWERBED.

SHE SAYS OVERRUN WITH CHIVE.

SHE'S PULLED.

SHE'S DUG.

CAN SHE COVER THE CHIVES WITH CARDBOARD?

WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF CHIVES WOULD PROBABLY BE DIG THEM OUT.

SO IF YOU CAN, YOU GO IN THERE AND YOU DIG OUT WHAT YOU CAN.

AND THEN THE NEXT THING I WOULD SUGGEST IS MAYBE PULLING AWAY ALL THE LOOSE MATERIAL, GETTING DOWN THERE, AND GETTING THOSE CHIVES OUT AS BEST YOU CAN.

AND THEN MULCHING MAYBE TWO TO THREE INCHES WITH A MULCH THAT MAKES KIND OF A MAT LAYER JUST TO KIND OF TRY AND CHOKE THEM OUT A LITTLE BIT.

AND IT MIGHT BE AN ONGOING PROCESS TO TRY AND GET THOSE OUT.

THE OTHER OPTION WOULD BE TO TRY TO WIPE THEM WITH GLYPHOSATE, IF YOU CAN.

AND THAT MIGHT TAKE CARE OF THEM AFTER CUTTING THEM.

THAT WOULD BE ONE SUGGESTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

OKAY, LOREN, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A PIN OAK.

HE'S WONDERING IF THIS IS FROM AN INSECT AND, IF SO, WHAT?

WE HAD SOME DISCUSSION.

IT'S A FAIRLY LARGE BRANCH.

>> YEAH.

AND WE'RE -- AND THIS IS A LARGER BRANCH I DON'T THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT ORIGINALLY, I THOUGHT, BECAUSE PIN OAKS, YOU CAN SEE THE OAK TWIG GIRDLER AND YOU SEE THAT COMMONLY, BUT THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT IN THAT CASE, THINKING SOME SORT OF CANKER.

ALSO, IT'S A PIN OAK, IT COULD BE SECONDARY IF THAT TREE IS REALLY BEING STRESSED FROM NUTRITIONAL STRESSES LIKE WE SEE WITH SO MANY OF THEM BEING CHLOROTIC.

SO, TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT IT.

IF YOU SEE SPECIFIC LIMBS THAT ARE AFFECTED AND LOOK LIKE THAT, I WOULD PRUNE THOSE OUT ABOUT FOUR INCHES BACK FROM THE AFFECTED AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO GOT A TRI-COLOR WILLOW.

AND IT HAD THIS GROWTH ON IT.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOTTEN LARGER.

>> I WISH WE COULD GO Q AND A WITH OUR AUDIENCE TONIGHT.

WHAT DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT IS?

>> I KNOW.

>> I MEAN, I'VE SHOWN THAT EARLIER.

SO, THAT'S A CROWN GALL.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE IN THIS CASE BECAUSE THAT AFFECTED AREA WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO, YOU CAN ENJOY IT BECAUSE YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA LOSE THE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES THAT YOU HAVE WHEN YOU CUT THAT OFF AND JUST HAVE ONE LEFT.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO TREAT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THEY HAD A HOLLYHOCK AND THIS HAD TERRIBLE RUST LAST YEAR.

LOOKS LIKE THIS.

ANYTHING YOU CAN TREAT FOR?

>> YEAH, ACTUALLY, I USED TO DO HOLLYHOCK RUST TRIALS AND COMPARE EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT FUNGICIDES FOR HOLLYHOCK RUST.

THIS IS A RUST THAT OVERWINTERS IN NEBRASKA LOCALLY.

SO, IF YOU HAD IT LAST YEAR, YOU WILL HAVE IT AGAIN.

I WOULD RECOMMEND A PRODUCT THAT HAS -- IS A SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDE.

YOU CAN GET LIKE COPPERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT YOU'LL BE TREATING THEM EVERY FOUR OR FIVE DAYS TO EVERY WEEK.

IF YOU GET SOMETHING WITH MYCLOBUTANIL IN IT OR AZOXYSTROBIN, AND IF YOU GOT A GARDEN CENTER AND JUST TELL THEM THAT YOU WANT A SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDE, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE GONNA WANT TO USE FOR THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, LOREN.

ONE PIC ON THE FIRST ONE, SCOTT.

THIS IS PEACH TREES AND WONDERS WHETHER THE BLOSSOMS FROZE.

SO, YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD -- >> WHEN IT COMES TO CHECKING TO SEE IF YOUR FLOWERS HAVE DIED ON YOUR FRUIT TREES HERE, IF THEY'VE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE FROST, WHAT YOU WANT TO ACTUALLY DO IS TAKE A COUPLE OF THOSE FLOWERS APART AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT APART AND YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THE CENTER PART OF THE FLOWER -- IF WE SEE IF WE CAN GET A CLOSER-UP PHOTOGRAPH.

ANYWAYS, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS THE FEMALE PART.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S GREEN.

IF IT'S NOT GREEN, THE FLOWER PROBABLY HAS BEEN DAMAGED FROM THE FROST, BUT IF IT IS -- IF IT IS GREEN, SHOULD BE FINE.

IF IT'S NOT, IT PROBABLY WAS DAMAGED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, SCOTT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WEST POINT.

SHE WONDERS HOW SHE KEEPS HER CARROTS FROM LOOKING LIKE MINI ALIENS AND THIS IS WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THEM LOOK LIKE EVERY YEAR OR YEAR OVER YEAR AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S DOING WRONG.

>> THESE WOULD BE GREAT TO ENTER INTO YOUR LOCAL COUNTY FAIR FOR THE BEST DRESSED VEGETABLE, BUT TO HELP PREVENT THAT FROM HAPPENING, YOU REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SOIL IS LOOSENED UP.

A LOT OF TIMES WE HAVE COMPACTED SOIL OR THERE COULD BE DEBRIS IN THE GROUND THAT HAS CAUSED THE ROOT OF THE CARROT TO FORM.

AND ALSO, WE DON'T WANT TO OVERPLANT.

CARROT SEEDS ARE REALLY TINY, SO MAKE SURE YOU SPACE THEM OUT EVENLY, MAYBE DO A SEED TAPE AND THAT SHOULD HELP REDUCE THIS FROM HAPPENING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT IS SORT OF FUN.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YOU HAVE TWO MORE PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PLATTSMOUTH.

SHE HAD A JAPANESE TREE LILAC PLANTED.

AND IT GOT STRIPPED OF BARK BY AN ANIMAL.

AND SHE MADE A WIRE CAGE.

IT SEEMED IT SURVIVED THE WINTER.

SEEMS LIKE IT'S GROWING.

ANYTHING ELSE SHE CAN DO AT THIS POINT?

>> THIS IS GOING TO COPY FROM WHAT ELIZABETH SAYS, THIS IS THE THREE Ws, WAIT, WATCH, AND WATER.

WE DID THE RIGHT THING PUTTING THE CAGE UP AROUND THE PLANT, BUT ALL WE CAN DO IS WAIT TO SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT AND WATER WHEN WE'RE IN TIMES OF DROUGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, SCOTT.

>>> WELL, FIRE PREVENTION ISN'T JUST SOMETHING FARMERS AND RANCHERS SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT IN RURAL AREAS.

BEN BOHALL FROM THE NEBRASKA FOREST SERVICE OFFERS US SOME TIPS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND ACREAGE OWNERS THAT THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND TO PREVENT THOSE FIRES.

♪ >> WE KIND OF HIT THE GROUND RUNNING THIS YEAR IN FEBRUARY.

WE HAVE THE CUSTER COUNTY COMPLEX FIRES THAT TOOK PLACE IN NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND WE'RE GETTING TO THE POINT NOW WHERE SPRING JUST FEELS LIKE IT'S FIRE SEASON.

WE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING FOR PROBABLY THE PAST I WANT TO SAY THREE OR FOUR YEARS, WHERE AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY WE'VE HAD A MASSIVE WILDFIRE OR TWO AND THE PROBLEM IS WE'RE JUST NOT GETTING ENOUGH MOISTURE.

WE SEE THESE FIRES START AS EARLY AS FEBRUARY AND GO AS LATE AS NOVEMBER OR EVEN DECEMBER.

SO IN NEBRASKA FOR CONTEXT, A FIRE SEASON HAS ALWAYS BEEN ANYWHERE BETWEEN JULY TO MAYBE OCTOBER.

NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THEM YEAR- ROUND.

THE ISSUE IS THAT DURING THE WINTERS WE'RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SNOW PACKED AND DURING THE SUMMERS NOT ENOUGH RAIN AND THEN WE GET THESE UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES EARLY IN THE SPRING AS WELL AS THESE HIGH WINDS.

THOSE ARE RECIPES FOR WILDFIRES.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT 90% OF THE FIRES HERE IN NEBRASKA ARE HUMAN-CAUSED AND TO THROW ANOTHER FIGURE AT YOU, 35% OF THOSE ARE PILE OR DEBRIS BURNS AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE BURNS ARE OBVIOUSLY POPULAR IN THE SPRING FOR A LOT OF LAND OWNERS.

IT'S A WAY OF GETTING RID OF ALL THAT EXCESS, YOU KNOW, LUMBER OR STICKS, ANY SORT OF WASTE MATERIAL.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT FOLKS WILL TYPICALLY START THOSE BURNS AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY GO UNMONITORED OR ELSE FOLKS WILL THINK THEY'RE OUT WHEN, IN FACT, THEY CAN START RIGHT BACK UP.

THE REASON BEING IS WHEN WE HAVE THESE SPRINGS WHERE WE HAVE THE HIGH WINDS, THE UNSEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED RADIANT HEAT AND THAT HEAT ESSENTIALLY CAN CAUSE ONE OF THOSE PILES TO START RIGHT BACK UP SOMETIMES DAYS OR EVEN WEEKS AFTER THE FACT.

THAT'S BEEN A BIG ISSUE FOR US HERE IN NEBRASKA THIS PAST SPRING.

WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE LANDOWNERS AWARE YES, PILE AND DEBRIS BURNING IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL, BUT MONITORING IT IS AS WELL.

OBVIOUSLY FIRES AREN'T JUST A RURAL ISSUE HERE IN THE STATE.

IT CAN AFFECT URBAN AREAS AS WELL, THINGS LIKE IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE AND YOU'RE GRILLING OUT OR YOU HAVE A NICE CAMPFIRE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

THE BIGGEST THING TO WATCH IS WHAT THE WEATHER LOOKS LIKE THAT DAY OR EVEN INTO THE EVENING.

IF WE'RE LOOKING AT DAYS WHERE THE WINDS ARE OVER 20 MILES PER HOUR OR YOU'RE LOOKING AT HUMIDITY RATES THAT ARE LOWER THAN 20%, THOSE SHOULD BE HUGE WARNING SIGNS.

WE ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO CHECK THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, MONITOR FACEBOOK, SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

IF YOU'RE IN AN AREA THAT'S DEALING WITH A RED FLAG WARNING DAY, RECONSIDER BURNING, YOU KNOW.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF DAYS THAT GET US.

THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THESE WILDFIRES THAT GET OUT OF CONTROL WHERE YOU HAVE ALL THESE STATEWIDE RESOURCES TRYING TO ATTACK THIS SITUATION.

IT BECOMES A MASSIVE PROBLEM AS WE'VE BEEN SEEING OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

WE ALSO RELY ON THE FIRE WISE PROGRAM HERE IN NEBRASKA.

WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS, IS ESSENTIALLY A WAY FOR FOLKS TO STRATEGICALLY PLANT AROUND THEIR HOMES.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE NOT PLANTING TREES NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE, CLEANING UP WASTE LIKE SHRUBBERY, EVEN CLEANING OUT YOUR GUTTERS.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE FINE FUELS FOR FIRES.

WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS NOT TO HAVE THOSE CLOSE UP TO THE HOUSE.

THAT'S ALL BASED OFF DIFFERENT ZONES AS WELL.

WE HAVE AN IMMEDIATE ZONE, AN INTERMEDIATE ZONE AND AN EXTENDED ZONE.

THAT GUIDE CAN TELL FOLKS HERE'S SOMETHING I CAN PLANT HERE, MAYBE HERE'S SOMETHING I SHOULD AVOID, CREATES THAT DEFENSIBLE SPACE IN CASE YOU DO HAVE A FIRE IN YOUR HOME OR NEIGHBORHOOD.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE IN RURAL NEBRASKA.

THAT CAN HAPPEN HERE IN THE EAST AS WELL.

>>> WE'VE HAD SOME DECENT MOISTURE LATELY IN SOME LOCATIONS, BUT, OF COURSE, WE HAD A VERY DRY FALL AND WINTER.

THOSE TIPS ARE GOING TO HELP YOU KEEP THOSE FIRES UNDER CONTROL NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE.

SO THANKS TO BEN FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES TO US FROM CHOCO HILLS.

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN LAST SEPTEMBER AND THEY SIMPLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF BEETLE IT IS WITH THOSE FUNKY ANTENNAE.

>> YEAH, IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

THIS IS A CICADA PARASITE BEETLE.

>> LOOKS LIKE IT HAS BROOMS ON ITS HEAD.

>> YEAH, THE MALES HAVE SOME REALLY IMPRESSIVE ANTENNAE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, SAYS THERE WERE SEVERAL OF THESE LITTLE BEETLES UNDER MOIST LEAVES.

WHAT ARE THEY AND DO THEY CAUSE A PROBLEM?

YOU CAN SEE THAT LITTLE BLACK THING IN THERE.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A TRUE BUG KIND OF CLOSELY RELATED TO LIKE A STINK BUG.

THESE ARE WHITE MARGIN BURROWER BUGS AND THEY DON'T CAUSE HARM.

THEY FEED ON SEEDS, DEVELOPING SEEDS LIKE IN THE MINT FAMILY AND THEY'RE REALLY NOT A PROBLEM.

THEY DON'T CAUSE ANY ORNAMENTAL HARM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEN WE HAVE A NEBRASKA CITY VIEWER FOR YOUR NEXT ONE, ONE PICTURE.

SHE'S CALLING THESE ORANGE AND BLACK BEETLES NEXT TO THAT PENNY.

SHE SAYS SHE SWEEPS UP 100 OF THEM ABOUT EVERY DAY.

>> YEAH.

THESE ARE ASIAN LADY BEETLES.

SO THEY ARE NONNATIVE AND THEY CAN BE REALLY BIG NUISANCE PESTS.

THEY OVERWINTER AS ADULTS AND THEY REALLY LIKE TO USE HUMAN STRUCTURES FOR THOSE OVERWINTERING SPOTS.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IS IN THE FALL WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE STARTING TO COOL, THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO LIKE THE SUNNY SIDE OF A HOME, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEN THEY FIND THEIR WAY INTO WALL VOIDS, ATTICS.

THEY GET IN THROUGH LITTLE CRACKS AROUND WINDOWS, DOORS, ET CETERA.

SO THIS TIME REALLY THERE'S NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO OTHER THAN VACUUM THEM.

WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IS IN THE SUMMER BEFORE NEXT FALL GO IN AND TRY AND SEAL UP ANY PLACES WHERE THERE MIGHT BE ENTRY POINTS AROUND UTILITIES, CRACKS AROUND DOORS, WINDOWS, ET CETERA TO TRY TO PREVENT THOSE FROM COMING IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOUR FIRST ONE, MATT, THIS IS ONE PICTURE.

THIS IS THE FLORENCE AREA OF OMAHA, TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER TO FERTILIZE.

SHE DID PURCHASE A FOUR-STEP FERTILIZER EARLY SPRING.

THAT'S INTERPRETATION.

SHE SAYS ONE OF HER NEIGHBORS IS ALREADY ON STEP TWO.

SHE HAS ZOIGE IN ONE SIDE.

IS SHE WAY BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON THIS ONE?

>> I'D SAY NO.

WE'RE IN EARLY SPRING STILL.

IT'S WARMING UP FAST.

BUT PUTTING THAT PREEMERGENT OUT NOW IS FINE.

WE'RE GOING TO GET WARM TEMPERATURES WHERE CRABGRASS WILL START GERMINATING.

SO THAT'S OUR GOAL TO PREVENT THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY YOU'RE PERFECTLY FINE, GET IT OUT THERE AND HOPEFULLY GET IT WATERED IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PLATTESMOUTH.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT THIS WEED IS, AND HOW SHE CAN GET RID OF THIS ONE.

>> SO THIS ONE IS ANOTHER WINTER ANNUAL, CORN SPEEDWELL.

IT'S KIND OF FUZZY ON THE OUTSIDE AND WILL MAKE THESE LITTLE BLUE FLOWERS.

SO THE GOAL IS TO ERADICATE THIS BEFORE IT MAKES THE BLUE FLOWERS, SO USING A SPOT SPRAY WITH A BROADLEAF HERBICIDE GENERALLY WORKS ON THESE WHEN THEY'RE YOUNG.

BUT AFTER THEY FLOWER, THEY'RE GOING TO SET SEED AND YOU'LL HAVE THEM NEXT YEAR OR FIX THE THIN AREA AND THAT WILL HELP KEEP THAT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY FIGHT WITH OTHER PLANTS.

HAVE A THICK LAWN.

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

THIS VIEWER IS WONDERING WHAT THIS BEAUTIFUL NATIVE GRASS IS AND THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW THEY CAN EITHER TRANSPLANT IT OR GROW IT FROM SEED OR THEY WANT IT.

>> YEAH.

SO THIS -- I MEAN IF YOU HAVE JUST ONE OF THESE RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WAIT YEARS AND YEARS, THAT SEED WILL EVENTUALLY SPREAD OUT AND KEEP REPLICATING.

I HAVE THE SAME THING AT MY PLACE.

I STARTED WITH A FEW AND NOW THEY'RE GROWING THICKER AND THICKER.

BEAUTIFUL COLOR IN THE FALL, KIND OF THAT REDDISH COLOR.

SO I WOULD SAY SEED IS FINE.

AND IF YOU WANTED TO, YOU COULD PROBABLY TRANSPLANT THOSE AROUND IF YOU NEEDED TO OR BUY TRANSPLANTS AND PLANT THEM INDIVIDUALLY.

>> WHAT IS IS THAT?

WHAT KIND OF GRASS WAS IT?

>> INDIAN GRASS.

>> INDIAN GRASS, YEP.

>> SO IT'S A NATIVE.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE, LOREN, AND THIS IS A DONOVAN VIEWER.

SHE SAYS IT HAS BLACK SPOTS WITH -- IS THIS CEDAR RUST ON PEAR TREE LEAVES AND WHAT SHOULD SHE DO ABOUT IT?

I THINK THE NEXT ONE IS FROM A DIFFERENT VIEWER, BUT IT'S ONE OF THE PEARSS IN QUESTION THAT HAD THAT RUST LAST YEAR.

>> OKAY, YEAH.

IT'S TOO EARLY FOR RUST NOW ON APPLE OR PEAR OR ANY OF THOSE, BUT IN THAT MID-MAY WINDOW IS USUALLY WHEN WE SEE THAT.

SOME OF THE RUST WILL CYCLE OFF THE JUNIPER TREES.

SO WHEN YOU SEE THOSE ORANGE, GELATINOUS GULLS FORMING ON JUNIPER OR CEDAR TREES, THAT'S THE TIME IT WOULD BE TO SPRAY.

YOU KNOW RIGHT IN THAT WINDOW, RIGHT AWAY.

THE DARK SPOTS ON THE LEAVES THOUGH, TEND TO MAKE ME THINK MORE OF -- YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT HAVE FIRE BLIGHT SOMEWHERE ON THE TREE BECAUSE THAT WILL SHOW UP AS A REAL DARK BLACK.

LOOK UP SOME PICTURES OF FIRE BLIGHT AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON THE TREE AND CUT THOSE OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS SPRUCE.

SHE SAID THAT IT STARTED DYING IN DECEMBER, SOME FROM THE TOP, SOME FROM THE BOTTOM, SOME FROM THE TIPS.

THEY'RE ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD, HEALTHY NOW.

SHE HAS NOT BEEN WATERING, BUT IT DOES SEEM TO BE MOVING AND GOING TO THE NEIGHBOR'S.

>> A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS.

SO THOSE ARE A COUPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPRUCES.

THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR WE'RE SHOWING NOW, I BELIEVE IT'S A BLACK HILLS SPRUCE AND IT HAS WHAT LOOKS LIKE TO BE A CANKER ON THE TOP OF IT.

THAT WOULD KNOCK A LARGE PORTION OF THE CROWN OF THE TREE OUT.

SO IN THAT PARTICULAR CASE PROBABLY NOTHING YOU'RE GOING TO DO.

YOU CAN PRUNE THAT OUT AND ALLOW THE OTHER MAIN LEADER TO -- IT LOOKS LIKE YOU STILL COULD HAVE A REASONABLE LOOKING TREE.

THE OTHERS APPEAR TO BE DAMAGED FROM THE END.

IT REALLY HAS ME QUESTIONING IF THERE'S NOT SOME HERBICIDE DRIFT COMING INTO THAT JUST BECAUSE OF THE DISTRIBUTION, THAT AND THE DROUGHT COMBINED COULD LEAD TO AN EFFECT WHERE THE OTHER TREES LOOK GOOD AND IT'S JUST ON THE SIDE.

THAT REALLY MAKES ME THINK IT'S SOME SORT OF A DRIFTAGE SCENARIO.

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

THIS IS A GLOW BLUE SPRUCE PLANTED IN 2018, GOT A FUNGUS, TREATED IT WITH FUNGICIDE AND THEN IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH.

>> START OVER?

>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, I CANNOT TELL FROM THIS.

IF IT WAS A FUNGAL DISEASE, I REALLY CAN'T TELL.

WHEN I SEE SUCH NICE LOOKING FOLIAGE ON ONE SIDE AND NOT THE OTHER, I WOULD FOLLOW THOSE MAIN PIECES DOWN AND SEE IF YOU DON'T HAVE A CANKER OR SOMETHING THAT KILLED THAT BRANCH OUT IF IT DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY NEW NEEDLES.

AND THEN YOU PROBABLY NEED TO START OVER.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

SCOTT, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM DECATUR.

LAST WEEK WE WARNED AGAINST PRUNING OAK SINCE WE'RE IN THE GROWING SEASON.

IS IT OKAY TO PRUNE THAT STORM-DAMAGED LIMB OUT OF THIS ONE?

>> YES.

GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OUT THAT STORM-DAMAGED LIMB.

THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW EXCEPTIONS THAT WE WOULD ACTUALLY RECOMMEND TO USE A PRUNING PAINT OR SEALANT AFTER YOU DO THE CUT.

THAT WILL HELP REDUCE THE CHANCE OF TRANSMISSION OF ANY TYPE OF VECTORS OF ANY TYPE INSECTS, BUT OAKS AND ELMS ARE THE ONES WE RECOMMEND FOR PRUNING SEALANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE FROM COLUMBUS.

BEAUTIFUL HONEYSUCKLE VINE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND PRUNE IT A LITTLE BIT OR LEAVE IT ALONE AND SEEE WHAT HAPPENS?

>> IT DOES LOOK OVERGROWN.

GO AHEAD AND REDUCE IT BY AT LEAST A THIRD, TAKE OUT ANY DEAD OR BROKEN VINES.

IF IT'S REALLY OVERGROWN, IT'S SPACE, YOU COULD THIN IT OUT.

THE NICE THING ABOUT HONEYSUCKLE, YOU WOULD REALLY HAVE TO WORK HARD TO KILL IT.

SO YOU SHOULD BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE THREE QUICK PICTURES ON THIS NEXT ONE, SCOTT.

IT IS A CRACK IN THE MAGNOLIA AND THEY'RE WONDERING IT'S A BEAUTIFUL TREE.

IS THERE ANYTHING THEY SHOULD REALLY DO ABOUT THIS CRACK?

I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE CLOSER-UP PICTURES OR SHOULD THEY JUST LIKE IT -- LET IT?

>> IT'S NEVER EASY TO SEE CRACKS LIKE THIS.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS TAKE A LOOK.

WHAT IS THIS BRANCH HANGING OVER?

IS IT HANGING OVER NOTHING?

THEN YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND LEAVE IT, BUT IF IT'S HANGING OVER SOMETHING OF VALUE LIKE A FENCE, CAR, PICNIC BENCH, GO AHEAD AND TAKE IT OUT.

WE JUST NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION WHERE IT'S AT ON THE TREE AND IF THERE'S ANY POTENTIAL TARGETS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, SCOTT.

>>> WELL, THE WEATHER IS STARTING TO WARM UP THIS SPRING, BUT, OF COURSE, THIS IS NEBRASKA.

SO THAT WEATHER IS ALWAYS A QUESTION MARK.

LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR FROM GANNON RUSH FROM UNL's HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER ON WHAT TO EXPECT THIS WEEK.

>> THANKS, KIM.

WE HAVE A PRETTY QUIET WEEK AHEAD OF US.

WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE STATE THIS WEEKEND WITH HIGHS IN THE PANHANDLE IN THE 80s FRIDAY.

SATURDAY THIS WILL SPREADS INTO THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL PARTS OF THE STATE WITH SOME PLACES WEST OF McCOOK POSSIBLY GETTING INTO THE 90s.

THIS WILL MOVE INTO THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE AND BY MONDAY WE'LL HAVE A SLIGHT COOLDOWN, BY WEDNESDAY THE MAJORITY OF THE STATE WILL BE BACK IN THE 70s.

THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR THIS WEEK IS RATHER BRIEF AND KIND OF DISAPPOINTING, ONLY MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF PRECIPITATION ARE EXPECTED IN A FEW PLACES.

IF THIS DOES OCCUR, IT WILL LIKELY BE SUNDAY NIGHT AND EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

THE RAIN WE'VE RECEIVED LAST WEEK IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE IMPROVED DROUGHT CONDITIONS.

HOWEVER THE REST OF THE STATE REMAINED UNCHANGED.

AS WE GET TO THE WETTEST TIME OF THE YEAR, HAVING A DRY WEEK LIKE WE MAY HAVE COULD BE VERY BAD FOR US IN THE LONG RUN.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

BACK TO YOU, KIM.

>> THANKS, GANNON.

>>> OF COURSE, WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

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

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

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL HEAR FROM AMY ON DOTHISTROMA NEEDLE BLIGHT.

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, NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

SCOTT, YOU'RE IN THE HOT SEAT.

ARE YOU READY?

>> LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER SAYING THAT THE SERVICEBERRIES ARE JUST NOW FLOWERING.

THEY'RE WONDERING IS IT TOO DRY, TOO HOT TO SET FRUIT?

WHAT SHOULD THEY EXPECT?

>> IT'S MOST LIKELY DROUGHT, THE IMAGE.

IT'S BEEN A DRY FALL AND WINTER, SO I WOULD SAY DROUGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A CRETE VIEWER WHO PLANTED SPROUTED SEED IN NEWLY PURCHASE POTTING SOIL THAT WAS FOR SEED STARTING.

NOTHING GREW.

DO YOU THINK THAT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE POTTING SOIL ITSELF?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

IF YOU'RE LIKE ME, WE PLANTED THE SEED TOO DEEP.

>> OKAY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA -- THIS IS FROM A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO ERADICATE WILD RASPBERRIES THAT HAVE TAKEN OVER EVERYTHING?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

[ LAUGHTER ] THAT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE -- WE'RE GONNA DO THE TRICLOPYR, THAT STUMP KILLER CUT AND PAINT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A HASTINGS VIEWER WHO WONDERS HOW WOULD HYDRANGEAS DO IN HASTINGS?

>> SAY THAT ONE -- >> HASTING -- HASTINGS HYDRANGEAS.

>> UH, THAT, I DON'T KNOW.

>> GOOD.

SYRACUSE -- [ THUNDER ] OH, TOO LATE.

WE CAN DO THAT ONE LATER.

THAT WAS -- THAT WAS A TONGUE TWISTER, HASTINGS AND HYDRANGEAS.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY, LOREN?

>> ALWAYS READY, KIM.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, HERE WE GO.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO ACTUALLY WATCHED LAST WEEK AND HEARD US SAY -- AMY SAY SPRAY NOW FOR CEDAR APPLE RUST.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WITH WHAT?

IT'S FOR APPLES.

>> OH, IT'S FOR APPLES?

>> RIGHT.

>> IF IT'S FOR APPLES, I WOULD HOLD OFF A COUPLE, THREE MORE WEEKS, AND THEN LOOK UP YOUR FRUIT SPRAY GUIDE AND SELECT THE PRODUCT THAT YOU LIKE FROM THAT TYPE OF COMBINATION.

IF YOU'RE FRUITING APPLES, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE USING SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN HARVEST THE FRUIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO HAS WHAT HE CALLED BONSAI EVERGREENS, BUT THEY'RE LOSING THEIR LEAVES.

NO WATER SINCE LAST FALL.

DO WE THINK THAT WILL COME BACK?

>> MM, MIGHT.

PROBABLY NOT.

>> WE HAVE A VIEWER -- >> THAT'S REALLY DRY.

>> WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS BLACK KNOT IN HER CHOKECHERRIES AND SHE HAS THREE OF THEM, THEY'RE THE PURPLE FOLIAGED ONES.

SHE WONDERS WILL IT SPREAD FROM ONE TO THE OTHERS?

>> YEAH, I LOVE BLACK KNOT.

IT'S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL THING.

YOU CAN SEE IT EASILY, YOU JUST PRUNE IT OUT ABOUT THREE INCHES BELOW THE KNOT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MOLDY VEGETABLES INTO THE COMPOST, YES OR --?

>> SURE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

[ THUNDER ] >> YES.

>> YOU RECOVERED NICELY.

OKAY, MATT.

>> SHOW 'EM HOW IT'S DONE HERE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS -- YOUR FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHEN THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND PLANT TALL FESCUE SEED.

>> NOW, OR ANYTIME IN THE NEAR MONTH I WOULD SAY, NEXT MONTH.

IF YOU GET INTO THE SUMMER, IT'S BETTER TO WAIT TILL FALL.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A LA VISTA VIEWER WHO KNOWS THAT WE SAY NO, DON'T KILL THE WINTER ANNUALS, BUT HE REALLY WANTS TO NOW.

WHAT COULD HE USE?

>> MOST BROADLEAF HERBICIDES WORK IF THEY'RE YOUNG.

IF THEY'RE OLD, THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT GONNA WORK GREAT.

THEY'RE GONNA SET THEM BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS VIEWER IN EASTERN NEBRASKA WONDERS WHETHER WE SHOULD EXPECT EARLIER CRABGRASS GERMINATION THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER?

>> YES, INITIALLY, BUT THEN IT GOT COLD AGAIN, SO NOW WE'RE KINDA RESET.

SO I WOULD GUESS THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE DANDELIONS IN FULL FLOWER FROM A VIEWER.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD TREAT THEM NOW WITH SOMETHING.

THEY DON'T LIKE THEM.

>> IF YOU TREAT 'EM NOW, YOU CAN PROBABLY SET THEM BACK AND GET THAT FLOWER AWAY.

BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA PROBABLY KILL THEM WHEN THEY'RE SETTING FLOWERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF THEY CAN TREAT NUTSEDGE AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY PUT DOWN SEED AND A PRE AND FERTILIZER.

[ THUNDER ] >> DON'T PUT DOWN A PRE WHEN YOU'RE SEEDING UNLESS IT'S LIKE MESOTRIONE, AND THAT WILL CONTROL YELLOW NUTSEDGE IN THE SEEDBED FOR COOL SEASON GRASSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, KYLE.

LAST UP.

>> YEAH.

>> THIS IS A -- THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEIR APPLE EVERY YEAR IS RUINED BY APPLE MAGGOTS.

IT'S NOT FLOWERING YET.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY CAN GO AHEAD AND SPRAY.

>> PASS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

SINCE THE NEXT QUESTION WAS SPRAY WITH WHAT, YOU'RE GONNA PASS THAT ONE, TOO?

>> YES, CORRECT.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAYS WHAT THEY'RE CALLING TINY GNATS IN THE HOUSE ALL YEAR AND THEY'RE WONDERING HOW TO CONTROL THEM.

>> WELL, PROBABLY FROM OVERWATERING HOUSE PLANTS, SO REDUCE WATERING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS IN THIS LAST WEEKEND ANTS CAME IN, TEENY TINY ONES IN THE KITCHEN.

IS THERE A WAY TO KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE GREASE ANTS OR SUGAR ANTS AND DOES IT MATTER?

>> WELL, IT DOES MATTER.

MOST -- YOU KNOW OFTENTIMES I WOULD JUST RECOMMEND USING -- STARTING OFF WITH LIKE A SUGAR-BASED DIET.

MY EXPERIENCE, MOST OFTEN, THEY ARE GOING FOR A SUGAR DIET, SO IF THEY DON'T GO TO THAT BAIT, THOUGH, THEN -- THEN YOU WOULD SWITCH THAT TO A PROTEIN-BASED OR, YEAH, PROTEIN-BASED OR OIL-BASED DIET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

[ THUNDER ] OKAY.

NICE JOB.

LET'S SEE.

WHAT WON?

WAS IT A TIE?

>> IT WAS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

HAND IT OVER.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, CLEARLY, CLEARLY THEY KNOW.

WELL, AND OBVIOUSLY WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN MUCH PLANTED OUT YET AT THE GARDEN, BUT THE PLANTS ARE REALLY POPPING OUT OF THE GROUND, SO HERE'S TERRI TO TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ >>> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN WE ARE STILL WORKING IN THE GREENHOUSE, BUT WE ARE ABLE TO DO A LITTLE BIT MORE OUT IN THE GARDEN.

AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR BEDS HAVEN'T BEEN PREPPED YET.

WE'LL WAIT A COUPLE MORE WEEKS BEFORE THAT SOIL STARTS TO GET TURNED OVER AND WE'LL BEGIN PLANTING.

BUT WE HAVE OUR CONTAINERS PLANTED, WE SEE THESE BEAUTIFUL COLORS OUT HERE NOW WITH OUR LITTLE PURPLE AND WHITE VIOLAS.

LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT OUR RAISED BED AND HOW WE HAVE SOME OF OUR COOL SEASON CROPS IN.

I JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU THAT SOMETIMES THESE COOL SEASON CROPS WILL BOLT IF IT GETS WARM, AND ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER FORECAST, IT WILL GET PRETTY WARM THIS WEEKEND.

HOWEVER, OURS ARE STILL TINY ENOUGH THAT THEY SHOULD BE OKAY.

JUST WANT TO REMIND YOU OF THAT.

ALSO, SAVE A FEW SEEDS AND YOU CAN PLANT THEM AGAIN IN AUGUST FOR A COOL SEASON CROP.

OUR GARDEN AGAIN IS LOOKING FANTASTIC, AND WE WANT TO INVITE YOU DOWN HERE TO COME VISIT.

REMEMBER, STOP BY AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES CHANGE, ESPECIALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR AS EVERYTHING IS UP AND GOING.

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

♪ >>> THANKS, TERRI.

AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW OUR GARDEN'S DEVELOPED THIS YEAR.

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR TO US CHECK OUT THE PLANT OF THE WEEK.

SO SCOTT, YOU'RE UP.

>> WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT EARLY SPRING FLOWERING PLANTS HERE, OR ACTUALLY SHRUBS.

THE FIRST ONE, THIS LOWER ONE, THIS IS A VIBURNUM.

THIS IS THE PRAIRIE ROSE VIBURNUM.

IT'S A KOREAN SPICE, SO IT HAS A REALLY NICE AROMA, MUCH BETTER THAN THE BRADFORD PEAR THAT WAS HERE LAST WEEK.

[ LAUGHTER ]E AND THEN THIS TALLER ONE HERE IS THE PRAIRIE WILLOW.

THE PRAIRIE WILLOW IS A NICE SHRUB.

IT CAN COLONIZE.

IT GROWS TO MAYBE SIX, SEVEN FOOT TALL.

GIVE IT SOME SPACE BECAUSE IT IS GONNA SPREAD.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND I JUST LOVE TO COMBINE ALL THESE THINGS TOGETHER.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND OUR VIEWERS CAN GIVE THAT A SHOT IF THEY WANT TO.

>> YES.

>> THANK YOU, SCOTT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS NEXT OF ALL THE REALLY GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

THE FIRST IS KELLY NORRIS' PRESENTATION AND BOOK SIGNING SATURDAY, APRIL 12th, FROM 1:00 TO 3:00 P.M., PURPLE DRAGON COMPANY IN FREMONT.

OUR SECOND ONE IS THE MASTER GARDENER PLANT FAIR, WHICH IS SATURDAY, APRIL 26th , FROM 9:00 TO 3:00.

THAT IS AT NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE AG COMPLEX IN NORFOLK.

AND OUR THIRD ONE IS SPRING AFFAIR FRIDAY, APRIL 25th , 2:00 TO 6:00, SATURDAY APRIL 26th FROM 9:00 TO 12:00, AT SANDHILLS GLOBAL EVENT CENTER.

SO THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE, KYLE, THIS IS BOTH A LINCOLN VIEWER AND A BENNETT VIEWER, FINDING HYDRANGEAS -- PRUNING AND THE ENDS OF SOME OF THE CANES HAD A LITTLE HOLE IN THE CENTER.

THEY SPLIT THE CANES AND THEY SAW THIS.

IS THIS A BORER AND SHOULD THEY DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT?

>> YEAH, THIS IS ACTUALLY -- THIS WAS A REALLY INTERESTING ONE.

AND, YOU KNOW, I FOUND ALL THESE SORT OF MYSTERIOUS REFERENCES TO HYDRANGEA CANE BORERS, BUT COULDN'T ACTUALLY FIND WHAT DID IT.

BUT CAME ACROSS BEES DOING -- CAUSING ALMOST THE IDENTICAL INJURY IN HYDRANGEAS.

SO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT DID THIS HERE.

SOME OF LIKE THE SMALL CARPENTER BEES, SOME OF OUR NATIVE BEES WILL TUNNEL AND NEST INSIDE OF STEMS LIKE THIS.

AND SO I THINK THAT'S LIKELY THE CULPRIT, IN WHICH CASE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S REALLY NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.

THEY'RE -- YOU KNOW, IF THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON, IT'S NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY BE LIKE A MORE WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE REST OF THE PLANT.

SO YOU COULD JUST SORT OF PRUNE OUT THOSE INDIVIDUAL CANES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, SAID THIS BUTTERFLY WAS SUNNING ITSELF ON MARCH 17th.

DID IT OVERWINTER OR IS IT DEAD?

>> UM.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] WELL, SO THEY DO OVERWINTER AS ADULTS.

YEAH, THIS IS A MOURNING CLOAK.

THEY OVERWINTER AS ADULTS, SO HOPEFULLY IT WASN'T DEAD.

AND YEAH, THEY'RE ONE OF OUR EARLIEST BUTTERFLIES THAT WE WILL SEE BECAUSE THEY OVERWINTER AS ADULTS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE.

THIS IS A CRETE VIEWER WHO SAW A FEW OF THESE APPEAR ON THE WINDOW SCREENS IN MARCH.

ARE THEY A LACEWING?

>> YES.

THIS IS A GREEN LACEWING, AND AGAIN, OVERWINTERS AS ADULTS.

AND I HAVE BEEN SEEING A LOT OF THESE REALLY ANYTIME IT'S BEEN WARM THROUGHOUT THE WINTER AROUND MY DECK, SO -- >> NICE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, AND THIS ONE, MATT, IS FROM WATERFORD LAKE IN LINCOLN.

PROBLEMS WITH GRUBS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS.

HE'S TREATED WITH MERIT, HE'S DONE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

HE WANTS TO OVERSEED WITH FESCUE FROM -- POWER RAKE, AERATE, OVERSEED.

ANYTHING ELSE TO IMPROVE THE TURF?

HE'S ADDING -- HE WANTS TO ADD SAND OR SOME TOPSOIL.

>> AH, OKAY.

SO I THINK -- I MEAN, THE LAWN LOOKS LIKE IT'S PRETTY GOOD, BUT YOU'RE SAYING YOU'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH IT PULLING UP?

ONE ISSUE IF IT ISN'T GRUBS, IT COULD BE THE TYPE OF GRASS THAT'S GROWING IN THERE.

THOSE YELLOWER AREAS, IF IT HAPPENS LATER IN THE SUMMER, COULD BE LIKE ROUGH BLUEGRASS, WHERE THEY GET KIND OF STRINGY AND ROUGH AND THEY PULL UP LIKE IT IS ALMOST GRUB DAMAGE, BECAUSE THEIR ROOTS ARE SO SHALLOW.

SO POSSIBLY -- I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GONNA OVERSEED THAT ONE, THAT'S FINE.

A LOT OF THAT SEED, IF IT'S IN THAT THICK OF A LAWN, IS GONNA HAVE A TOUGH TIME GROWING, BUT IT WILL -- YOU'LL GET SOME OF IT IN THERE.

AND THEN MAYBE IF IT'S HEAVILY WATERED, BACK OFF THE WATER A BIT, LET THAT ROUGH BLUEGRASS KIND OF CHECK OUT AND THE OTHER GRASS JUST TAKE OVER.

BEING A SHALLOW ROOTED PLANTS, IF THAT'S WHAT IT IS, IT LOVES OVERWATERING AND IT'LL TAKE OVER THE LAWN, AND IT'LL JUST KEEP SPREADING.

SO YEAH, I'D SAY OVERSEED, AND IF YOU CAN, I WOULDN'T USE SAND, I'D USE PULVERIZED SOIL ON TOP, AND THAT WOULD HELP A BIT MORE WITH THE ORGANICS IF IT IS A SANDY SOIL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS A LAWN THAT WAS SODDED, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE'S GOT CIRCLES?

>> YEAH.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY DREW OUT THERE.

[ LAUGHTER ] I'M LEANING TOWARDS IT BEING A FAIRY RING, A TYPE 1 FAIRY RING, WHERE THERE'S ORGANIC MATTER UNDER THERE THAT'S GETTING DECOMPOSED AND IT MAKES THAT SOIL HYDROPHOBIC, AND IT SPREADS OUT IN A RING.

SO ONE THING TO REMEDY THAT WOULD BE TO TRY AND GET MOISTURE IN THERE, AND YOU KNOW, TRY AND MAYBE SEED THOSE AREAS, IF YOU CAN.

BUT A SOIL SURFACTANT OR LIKE, A PENETRANT WOULD HELP WITH THAT, SO SOAKING THOSE AREAS.

IF YOU LOOK UP SOIL SURFACTANT OR SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR LAWNS, YOU COULD FIND THAT AT MANY DIFFERENT STORES, AND THEN KIND OF SOAK THOSE AREAS, AND WATER THEM A LITTLE HEAVIER, AND THEN FERTILIZE AROUND THAT AREA TOO, JUST TO PROMOTE THE TURF TO SPREAD IN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICS FOR YOU ON THIS ONE FROM LINCOLN, LOREN.

THIS IS ARBORVITAE, IT'S YOUR TURN FOR THEM.

THE ONE DIED COMPLETELY, SOUTHWEST ORIENTATION.

THEY'RE WONDERING IS IT WEATHER BURN, WINTER KILL, OR IS THERE A DISEASE OR FUNGUS FOR THE SURVIVING TREES?

>> YEAH, SO WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS ONE, KIM, IF YOU LOOK AT THE DISTRIBUTION, IT'S RIGHT ON THE CORNER AND WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THERE, IS THAT'S A PLACE THAT GETS WARM AND DRIER THAN THOSE ADJACENT AREAS.

SO ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE WINTER THAT WE HAD WITH DRIER CONDITIONS OVERALL, I THINK WE'RE LOOKING AT SOME WINTER INJURY.

IT MAY COMPLETELY FAIL IF IT WAS REALLY HOT AND DRY THERE LAST SUMMER WHEN IT WAS PLANTED.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A REPLACEMENT AND THE ONES BESIDE IT.

JUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT WATERING THAT BECAUSE THAT HEAT LOAD WITH THE SIDEWALK.

>> OKAY.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE AND, OH, LOOK HERE, PLANTED IT LAST FALL, SAME SPOT, STARTING TO YELLOW AND WHAT CAN THEY DO?

IS THIS THE SOIL OR IS THIS THE SITE?

>> I HAVE A FEELING THIS IS MOSTLY A SITE, DEPENDING ON WHERE THAT IS IN THE LANDSCAPE AS FAR AS ORIENTATION TO THE SUN, A CORNER AND A BRICK WALL LIKE THAT, COULD BE TREMENDOUSLY HOT AND DRY.

SO MAY NOT BE THE BEST PLANT FOR THERE, BUT SAME THING AS BEFORE.

IT MAY MAKE IT, BUT JUST REALLY WATCH THE WATERING ON IT AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE GIVING IT PLENTY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SCOTT, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A 30-YEAR-OLD LILAC.

THEY CUT IT BACK LAST FALL AND THEN THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF GREEN, BUT MOSTLY NOTHING.

SHOULD THEY CUT OUT THE LARGER STEMS OR WAIT AND SEE?

>> GO AHEAD AND CUT OUT THOSE LARGER STEMS.

IT DOES LOOK LIKE SOME NEW GROWTH IS COMING UP FROM THE ROOTS.

THAT'S PRETTY TYPICAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS GREAT.

THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME FOUNDATION WORK AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD GO AHEAD AND DIG THESE PEONIES UP OR CUT THEIR LOSSES?

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH THIS?

>> THERE'S A BACKSTORY TO THE PEONIES.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE FOREVER.

IT DEPENDS ON WHEN THE WORK IS BEING DONE.

I THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION SAID THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE DONE IN OCTOBER, WHICH IS A GREAT TIME TO CUT OF THEM BACK AND DIVIDE THEM.

IDEALLY, WAIT TILL FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN TWO ON THE NEXT ONE, YOUR TURN FOR ARBORVITAE.

THESE ARE ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD.

ONE GOT KNOCKED OVER BY THE CRAZY WINDSTORM.

THE OTHERS ARE FINE.

CAN THEY PUSH IT, STAKE IT, CUT IT DOWN?

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

>> THEY SHOULD CUT IT DOWN.

>> ALL RIGHT, YEAH.

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE PRETTY MUCH TO GET THEM TO STAND BACK UP.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY BROWN OR GRAY NEEDLES IN YOUR PINES ARE AN INDICATION THAT SOMETHING NEEDS ATTENTION AND LIKE A LOT OF THE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT ON THIS SHOW, TIMING IS EVERYTHING.

HERE'S AMY TO GIVE US SOME TIPS ON CONTROLLING DOTHISTROMA NEEDLE BLIGHT.

♪ >> DOTHISTROMA NEEDLE BLIGHT IS A COMMON NEEDLE BLIGHT THAT WE'LL SEE ON OUR PINES AFFECTING A LOT OF OUR TREES IN NEBRASKA.

NOW DOTHISTROMA IS GONNA AFFECT THOSE OLDER NEEDLES, BUT RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME THAT WE'RE GONNA START LOOKING AT THOSE FUNGICIDE TREATMENTS.

SO WE'RE GONNA BE LOOKING AT THOSE NEW CANDLES COMING OUT OF THOSE BRANCHES AND SO AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE NEW NEEDLES OR CANDLES EMERGING, WE WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THEY'RE ABOUT A QUARTER TO HALF ELONGATED OUT AND AT THAT POINT IN TIME, THEN WE'RE GONNA MAKE OUR FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS IF WE'RE LOOKING AT TREATING THIS DOTHISTROMA.

TYPICALLY WE'RE GONNA BE USING COPPER-TYPE PRODUCTS.

SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE A COPPER APPLICATION.

WE NEED TO APPLY IT TO THE ENTIRE TREE.

AND THIS IS WHERE WE TYPICALLY HAVE TO HIRE SOMEBODY TO HELP US BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING AT 50-FOOT TREES.

ONCE WE HAVE THOSE APPLICATIONS DOWN, WE'RE GONNA MAKE A SECOND APPLICATION THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

NOW IF WE GO INTO SPRING THAT'S REALLY DRY, ONE APPLICATION WILL PROBABLY BE ENOUGH.

IF IT CONTINUES TO BE WET, THEN WE NEED TO DO THE TWO APPLICATIONS.

NOW IF YOU HAVE AN OLDER STRAND OF TREES WITH LOTS OF ISSUES, WE WILL BE NEEDING TO MAKE APPLICATIONS OVER MULTIPLE YEARS TO GET ON TOP OF THIS PROBLEM.

THE OTHER BIG TRICK?

SANITATION IS HUGE.

MAKE SURE WE'RE CLEANING UP THOSE NEEDLES UNDERNEATH AND THOSE ARE ALL THE STEPS THAT YOU CAN TAKE TO HELP CONTROL DOTHISTROMA NEEDLE BLIGHT IN YOUR PINE TREES.

>>> IT IS IMPORTANT THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR YOU TO DO THAT SCOUTING ON THE TREES AND OTHER LANDSCAPE PLANTS THAT ARE WAKING UP IN THE SPRING.

CHECK OUT THOSE NEEDLES CAREFULLY FOR THIS DISEASE.

DO GET THEM TREATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

NOBODY WANTS TO LOSE THOSE BIG BEAUTIFUL PINES.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, WE HAVE ONE MORE ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

SO THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SAYS ABOUT TEN TO 15 OF THESE SMALLISH SPIDERS AND THEY'RE SAYING I THINK THAT'S A BRICK JOINT THERE, HALF AN INCH.

THEY APPEARED FROM SOMEWHERE ON THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE ON A WARM DAY.

DID THEY OVERWINTER IN EGG SACKS AND HATCH AND THEN GROW THAT FAST AND THEN JUST DISAPPEAR OR WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY LIKELY OVERWINTERED IN EGG SACS, BUT, YEAH, I'M GUESSING THAT THESE ARE -- YOU CAN'T SEE A LOT OF DETAILS BUT I'M THINKING PROBABLY A SMALL WOLF SPIDER AND SOME OF THOSE, THEY ACTUALLY DON'T GET THAT MUCH BIGGER THAN THIS.

THEY WOULD MATURE AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR ONE PARTICULAR GENUS.

I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT IT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN OTOE COUNTY LINE VIEWER AND HE FOUND THIS BEAUTIFUL GUY OR GIRL AND WONDERS WHAT THAT IS AND IF IT'S A GOOD GUY, IS THERE A WAY TO GET MORE?

>> YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW OF A WAY TO GET MORE.

IT'S A CRAB SPIDER AND IT'S ONE OF THE COMMON FLOWER INHABITING CRAB SPIDERS.

YEAH, IT'S A GOOD GUY KIND OF, BUT THEY ARE AMBUSH PREDATORS ON FLOWERS AND THEY USUALLY ATTACK POLLINATORS.

SO, YOU KNOW -- >> IN YOUR ESTIMATION IT IS NOT A GOOD GUY.

>> YEAH.

NOT NECESSARILY THE THINGS WE WANT THEM CONTROLLING IN THE LANDSCAPE, BUT YOU KNOW THEY'RE STILL BENEFICIAL OVERALL.

>> I ACTUALLY FOUND ONE IN A VERY EARLY FLOWERING CROCUS, JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE HE WAS, APPARENTLY WAITING TO AMBUSH SOMETHING.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE, MATT, THIS IS FROM A LEXINGTON VIEWER AND HE APPARENTLY HAS AT LEAST THIS PATCH IN HIS BLUEGRASS LAWN AND IS WONDERING HOW TO TREAT THIS AND HOW TO BRING IT ALL BACK TO BLUEGRASS.

>> OKAY.

SO IF THIS IS THE ONLY PATCH YOU HAVE, IT LOOKS LIKE SMOOTH BROME WHICH IS A PERENNIAL GRASSY PLANT IN MANY PASTURES AND IT WILL SPREAD BY RHIZOME.

SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO GET BIGGER.

BUT USUALLY IT GROWS A LOT FASTER THAN YOUR BLUEGRASS, SO THE EASIEST WAY TO CONTROL THAT ONE IS TO WIPE IT WITH A GLYPHOSATE APPLICATION AND NOT TOUCH YOUR BLUEGRASS IF YOU CAN OR YOU CAN DIG IT OUT AND THEN THE BLUEGRASS WILL ENCROACH IN.

IT WILL SPREAD AND COVER THAT SMALL AREA THAT YOU JUST CUT THAT PLANT OUT OF.

>> IS IT LIKE DAYLILLIES WHERE EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF THAT RHIZOME THEN CREATES A NEW ONE?

>> IT COULD.

SO IT COULD COME BACK AND YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DIG IT OUT AGAIN.

'CAUSE IT DOES HAVE RHIZOMES UNDERGROUND THAT SPREAD.

SO JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

IT WON'T GO THAT FAST.

>> WE HOPE.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THEY SAY THIS WHOLE LAWN WAS COVERED WITH SOMETHING BLUE LAST WEEK AND THEN WATERED IN.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT WAS PUT DOWN AND WHAT WILL IT ACTUALLY DO AND APPARENTLY THE NEIGHBORS TO EITHER SIDE KIND OF LIKE TO LET WHATEVER'S GROWING THAT CAN BE MOWED GROW.

>> YEAH.

SO, YEAH, I MEAN IT LOOKS LIKE A PIGMENT OF SOME KIND.

SOMETIMES WE PUT PIGMENTS TO MAKE GRASS GREEN.

THIS ONE IS A BLUE PIGMENT JUST FOR THE SPRAYER APPLICATOR SO THAT THEY CAN TELL WHERE THEY'VE BEEN.

SO I'M ASSUMING THAT THEY JUST USE THAT TO DETERMINE WHERE THEY'VE SPRAYED.

IT'S A GOOD INDICATOR DYE.

USUALLY YOU GET YOUR FIRST RAIN ON IT, IT BREAKS DOWN AND JUST KIND OF GOES AWAY.

BUT IT DOES LOOK PRETTY BLUE RIGHT NOW.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS ONE, LOREN.

THIS IS A LA VISTA VIEWER, AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT CAUSED THEIR PLANTS TO DIE.

THEY SENT US THESE PICTURES FROM LATE LAST SUMMER AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE WANTING TO NOT HAVE THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

>> I LOVE THIS PICTURE, THE ONE.

IT'S ON MY LIST OF OTHER THINGS TO DO WITH OLD PANTYHOSE, WHICH IS SO COOL.

ANYWAY, SO WITH THIS YOU'VE GOT THE WHOLE VINE DYING AND ON THE OTHER ONE THE WHOLE VINE WAS DYING AND THE LEAVES DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THEY HAD SPOTS.

SO I THINK THIS IS BACTERIAL WILT WHICH CAN AFFECT OUR CUCURBITS.

BEST THING TO DO IN THIS IS MAKE SURE YOU'RE USING SANITATION AND CLEANING ALL THAT UP.

HOPEFULLY THAT'S ALREADY GONE.

AND THEN JUST BE CAREFUL TO WATCH, THERE WILL BE A CUCUMBER BEETLE THAT WILL VECTOR THAT.

AND SO YOU CAN WATCH FOR THOSE INSECTS SHOWING UP AND THEN YOU COULD MAKE AN INSECTICIDE APPLICATION AT THAT POINT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE IT WHEN VIEWERS SEND US PICTURES SAYING, "HOW DO WE KEEP THIS FROM HAPPENING" INSTEAD OF "WHAT DO WE DO WHEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT TOO LATE."

>> SANITATION IS A BIG ONE THOUGH TO TRY TO GET ALL THAT MATERIAL OUT OF THERE BECAUSE IT WILL OVERWINTER.

AND THEN, KYLE, I DON'T KNOW, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE ON CUCUMBER BEETLES THAT THEY SHOULD THINK ABOUT?

NO?

OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO LET'S SEE.

WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE FROM OMAHA, LOREN.

THEY PLANTED THIS TREE AND SO THEY'RE GETTING THIS GOING ON.

THEY WANT TO KNOW CAN THEY SAVE THIS -- I'M SORRY.

THAT'S THE WRONG ONE.

THIS IS ELKHORN.

SO IT'S A LINDEN THEY THINK AND IT'S DONE THIS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, ON THIS ONE, KIM, I REALLY CAN'T TELL.

I KNOW THERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE THAT HAS SOME LEAVES ON THE GROUND.

I REALLY COULDN'T TELL FOR SURE FROM THE IMAGE WHAT IT WAS, IF IT WAS THE LOWER PORTION OF THE PLANT THAT HAD SCORCH OR SOMETHING.

I REALLY COULDN'T TELL UNFORTUNATELY ON THIS ONE.

I'M SORRY.

>> YEAH.

THAT ONE WAS A LITTLE LIGHT TO SEE.

WE COULDN'T DARKEN IT UP.

SO AGAIN, THAT'S KIND OF A NOTE TO OUR VIEWERS.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEND US REALLY GOOD PICTURES.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SOME SCORCH.

>> AND IT IS IDEAL IF WE CAN ZOOM IN ON THEM, TOO, IF THEY'RE HIGH RESOLUTION.

>> RIGHT.

SO, LET'S SEE.

SCOTT, YOU GET THE LAST ROUND OF PICTURES.

THE FIRST TWO COME TO US FROM HARLAN, IOWA, AND HE WANTS TO KNOW THE NAME OF THIS FLOWERING PLANT.

HE SAYS IT'S A LITTLE BULB, IT COMES UP EARLY IN THE SPRING, BLOOMS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS THEN DIES OFF.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY IN A PASTURE IN CRAWFORD COUNTY, IOWA, 20 YEARS AGO.

>> THIS LOOKS LIKE TROUT LILY OR FAWN LILY.

THEY ARE NATIVE.

THEY'RE A REALLY GOOD PLANT TO HAVE.

THEY'RE A POLLINATING PLANT.

BEES, EARLY BUTTERFLIES DEFINITELY LIKE THEM.

GIVE THEM SOME TIME.

THEY CAN COLONIZE AND TAKE OVER THAT SPACE AND WHEN YOU HAVE A NICE STAND, IT'S DEFINITELY IMPRESSIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LAST PICTURE OF THE EVENING, THIS COMES TO US FROM NORTHEAST NEBRASKA.

THIS VIEWER WAS GIVEN AN EVERGREEN STICK FROM HER GRANDDAUGHTER FOUR YEARS AGO.

SHE PLANTED IT TO KEEP IT SAFE.

A RABBIT ATE THE MIDDLE OUT.

NOW SHE'S WONDERING SHOULD SHE DO ANY PRUNING ON IT OR JUST LET IT HAVE A HAPPY LIFE FOR A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

>> THE BEST THING, PUT A CAGE AROUND IT SO THAT WAY WE DON'T GET ANY TYPE OF FUTURE DAMAGE AND MULCH IT IN.

IT'S TOO SMALL TO DO ANY TYPE OF CORRECTIVE PRUNING.

BUT AGAIN, THIS IS GOING TO BE WAIT, WATER, AND WATCH JUST SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT.

THEY'RE SUPER CUTE WHEN THEY'RE TINY, BUT REMEMBER, THAT LOOKS LIKE A SPRUCE TREE.

SO THAT CAN EASILY GET 30, 40-FOOT TALL.

SO MAKE SURE IT'S IN THE RIGHT LOCATION OR ELSE YOU CAN HAVE SOME ISSUES TEN, 15 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> WELL, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD THOUGHT, SCOTT, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THAT WOULD BE A NICE SIMPLE LITTLE TREE TO DIG UP.

>> IT WOULD BE SUPER EASY TO MOVE IF IT'S NOT THE RIGHT LOCATION.

AIR CIRCULATIONS HELP REDUCE ANY OF THOSE TYPE OF FUNGAL ISSUES, BUT RIGHT NOW JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

PUT THAT CAGE AROUND IT TO PREVENT ANY MORE RABBIT DAMAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPRUCE ARE AWESOME UNTIL THEY GET LOREN'S DISEASES.

AND OF COURSE HE DOESN'T LIKE TREE DISEASES ANYWAY.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

WE WILL BE HERE ALL SEASON TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND PICTURES FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW AND TO OUR PANEL AS WELL.

HELPING US ON THE PHONES THIS EVENING WE HAD GARY BELL, CAITLIN DeCOSTER, AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU HOW TO WATER YOUR HOME LANDSCAPE TREES PROPERLY.

AFTER A DRY FALL AND WINTER YOUR TREES NEED A GOOD DRINK OF WATER TO GET THEM READY FOR THE GROWING SEASON.

AND OF COURSE DON'T FORGET TO STOP AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" WEBSITE, BYF@UNL.EDU.

SIGN UP FOR THAT MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

SO, GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

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

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪