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

(UPBEAT MUSIC) TONIGHT ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM YANNEY PARK IN KEARNEY.

WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A SPECIAL SOIL LAB AND SEE HOW ALL OF THE PARK'S ANNUALS ARE PLANTED BY VOLUNTEERS.

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

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

WE ARE COMING TO YOU SO EXCITEDLY FROM YANNEY PARK IN KEARNEY.

WE HAVE A GREAT AUDIENCE JOINING US TONIGHT TO ANSWER ALL OF THOSE GOOD GARDENING QUESTIONS.

DO REMEMBER, THOUGH, THAT WE.

THIS IS A PRERECORDED SHOW, SO YOU CANNOT CALL IN TO US.

WE WON'T BE THERE.

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

WE HAVE GREAT SAMPLES, MOST OF WHICH WERE GATHERED HERE AT YANNEY PARK.

SO, KAIT, YOU HAVE A BOX OF FLYING INSECTS?

>> I DO.

SO THESE ARE SOLDIER BEETLES AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY, VERY COMMON.

I HAVE A CATALPA AT HOME.

THEY'RE ALL OVER THE FLOWERS.

THEY'RE ALL OVER LINDEN TREES THAT ARE IN BLOOM.

AND IF YOU GET GOLDENROD LATER IN THIS YEAR, THERE'S A REALLY GOOD CHANCE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM.

BECAUSE THESE ARE GOLDENROD SOLDIER BEETLES.

I'M GOING TO TRY TO OPEN THIS UP HERE.

MAYBE WE CAN LET THEM FLY AWAY A LITTLE BIT.

BUT.

SO THESE ARE WHAT THE BEETLES LOOK LIKE.

THEY'RE PREDATORS AS BOTH LARVAE AND ADULTS.

BUT WHAT'S MOST SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THEM IS THEY'RE ALSO GREAT POLLINATORS.

SO BEES AND BUTTERFLIES, THEY GET ALL THE CREDIT FOR BEING POLLINATORS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE OTHER THINGS OUT THERE LIKE FLIES AND BEETLES JUST LIKE THIS.

>> AND THEY LOOK LIKE FIREFLIES.

>> THEY DO.

THEY LOOK JUST LIKE FIREFLIES, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THEY DO NOT GLOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KAIT.

TERRI, YOUR YOUR SOIL KNIFE OF COURSE HAD TO MAKE THE TRIP.

>> IT DID.

IT DID.

EVERYBODY KNOWS I LIKE MY SOIL KNIFE.

AND I ALWAYS HAVE ONE IN THE CAR.

I FOUND THIS WONDERFUL WEED, PURSLANE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THIS.

THAT'S ORNAMENTAL TOO.

BUT THIS ONE I FOUND ON THE EDGE OF THE TURF, WHERE IT'S A MUCH MORE COMPACTED.

SO IF YOU DO HAVE KIND OF THOSE EDGE AREAS WHERE YOU'RE KIND OF GETTING SOME OF THESE KIND OF UNWANTED WEEDS THAT YOU WANT, YOU DON'T WANT IN YOUR AREA, IF YOU CAN DO MAYBE JUST SOME AERATION IN THAT, THAT WOULD HELP KEEP THAT TURF MOVING IN THERE AND KEEP SOME OF THESE UNWANTED WEEDS.

THIS ONE DEFINITELY WAS A PRETTY EASY TO GET OUT.

IT'S NOT VERY BIG YET.

SO CONTROL WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE RIGHT NOW IS VERY BENECIAL.

BUT YOU KNOW, JUST DON'T LET IT GO TO SEED BECAUSE EACH FLOWER SOMETIMES WILL HAVE UP TO 100 SEEDS PER FLOWER.

>> OR EAT IT.

>> YOU CAN EAT THESE.

I DON'T THINK THEY TASTE VERY GOOD.

OTHER PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE IT, BUT I LIKE THE ORNAMENTAL ONES BETTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, IS IT A DISEASE OR IS IT NOT?

>> OH, WE CAN CLASSIFY IT AS A DISEASE.

IT'S A NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY.

SO THIS IS A QUINCE I FOUND AT THE GARDEN TODAY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THE LEAVES ARE EXTREMELY WHITE.

BUT THE REALLY BIG KEY HERE IS IF YOU LOOK AT THE VEINS, THE VEINS ARE STILL BRIGHT GREEN.

THIS IS A VERY SEVERE CASE OF IRON CHLOROSIS, WHICH IS COMMON IN THIS AREA.

NOW FOR US IN NEBRASKA, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE SHORT IN IRON IN OUR SOILS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE PLENTY OF IRON IN OUR SOIL.

IT'S A PH ISSUE.

SO THE PH IS BINDING THE IRON SO THE PLANTS AREN'T ABLE TO UPTAKE IT.

SO ONE OF THE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR IRON CHLOROSIS IS OF COURSE, TAKING THAT SOIL SAMPLE AND FINDING OUT WHAT THE PH OF YOUR SOIL IS.

AND USUALLY THOSE COMPANIES ARE REALLY GOOD ABOUT PROVIDING YOU RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW CAN WE AMEND THE SOIL.

THE OTHER OPTION IS IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE YELLOW TO WHITE LEAF DISCOLORATION IS YOU CAN TREAT WITH A FOLIAR IRON THAT WILL GREEN UP THE LEAVES, BUT IT'S ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX AND YOU HAVE TO COME BACK AND DO IT EVERY 2 TO 3 WEEKS.

OR MY OTHER TRICK IS YOU JUST TELL EVERYBODY YOU HAVE A NEW VARIETY OF PLANTS, AND IT'S A VARIEGATED LEAF FORMATION.

>> HOLD ON.

>> HOLD STILL.

>> YEAH, HOLD STILL.

WE HAVE A WASP.

SORRY, AUDIENCE.

>> JUST DON'T MOVE YOUR LEG NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH.

>> ONLY ON LIVE TV.

SO WHAT I HAVE HERE IS I HAVE A TOMATO PLANT.

NOW, IF WE LOOK AT THE LOWER FOLIAGE, IT LOOKS PERFECTLY FINE.

BUT ONCE WE START TO GET TO THE NEWER, MOST FOLIAGE UP ON THE TOP, THAT'S WHERE WE START TO NOTICE THIS CUPPING, CURLING DISTORTION.

WHAT IT IS, IS IT'S CALLED EPINASTINE.

AND THIS IS USUALLY OUR INDICATOR THAT WE HAVE SOME KIND OF HERBICIDE INJURY LIKE A GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE.

AND THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS WHEN IT HITS A VEGETABLE CROP LIKE THIS, THERE IS NO PRE-HARVEST INTERVAL FROM WHEN IT'S A DRIFTED ON, OR WHEN IT'S APPLIED TO WHEN IT'S SAFE TO CONSUME.

AND SO ANY OF THESE FRUITS THAT WERE ON HERE, I CANNOT RECOMMEND THAT YOU EAT.

EVERYBODY HAS A DIFFERENT COMFORT LEVEL WHEN IT COMES TO THE RISK.

AND SO THE MOST CAUTIOUS WOULD BE TO REMOVE THE PLANT BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT PRE-HARVEST INTERVAL.

WE CAN'T RECOMMEND THAT YOU EAT ANYTHING THAT COMES OFF THIS PLANT.

THE NEXT LEVEL OF CAUTION WOULD BE TO REMOVE ANY OF THE FRUITS THAT WERE THERE AT THE TIME OF THE POSSIBLE DRIFT APPLICATION, WHICH IS USUALLY ABOUT TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE SYMPTOMS.

AND WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE WE REMOVE THESE FLOWERS THAT WERE HERE TOO AT THAT TIME.

BUT IT'S A CLASSIC SYMPTOM THAT WE'LL SEE.

TOMATOES ARE AN INDICATOR.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE MORE SENSITIVE CROPS.

AND THEN IT GOES ACROSS THE DIFFERENT CULTIVARS.

HEIRLOOMS SEEM TO BE HEAVIER OR HARDER HIT THAN SOME OF OUR CULTIVARS ARE.

SO, I MEAN, JUST BECAUSE YOU MIGHT HAVE 1 OR 2 TOMATOES THAT ARE NOT SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY HERBICIDE INJURY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, EVERYBODY LOVES THEIR TOMATOES.

OKAY, KAIT, FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

THIS FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM MADISON, WISCONSIN.

SHE SENT IN SOME ROTS AND SPOTS LAST WEEK.

AND SHE ALSO FOUND THIS ODTY ON HER ELDERBERRY.

WHAT IN THE WORLD DID SHE FIND?

>> SO SHE FOUND ELDERBERRY APHIDS OR ELDER APHIDS.

AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD US TALK ABOUT APHIDS BEFORE THEIR SAP FEEDING INSECTS.

SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO SEE REALLY OBVIOUS DAMAGE LIKE HOLES AND LEAVES, BUT THEY CAN AFFECT THE OVERALL HEALTH.

BUT REALLY, WE RECOMMEND GETTING A REALLY STRONG SPRAY OF WATER.

SO GET THAT HOSE NOZZLE ON THAT JET SETTING, SPRAY OFF AS MANY AS YOU CAN AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT FIRST STEP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

YOU HAVE THREE QUESTIONS, ALL OF WHICH ARE PERTAINING TO MILKWEED.

THE FIRST COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

HE HAD A VERY BAD PROBLEM WITH APHIDS ON HIS MILKWEED.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

HE WONDERS WHAT HE CAN DO BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO DAMAGE ANY OF THE GREAT MONARCHS.

AND THEN YOUR NEXT PICTURE COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

AND HER QUESTION IS, IS THIS AN APHID ON THE MILKWEED?

SO IF IT IS INDEED, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH MILKWEED?

>> YES.

SO IT IS AN APHID IN THAT SECOND PICTURE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY APHIDS ON MILKWEED, THERE ARE TEND TO BE A TON OF THEM, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT HOSE SPRAY BECAUSE WE CAN ALSO KNOCK DOWN REALLY SMALL MONARCHS.

BUT THE RESEARCH IS SUPER INTERESTING.

THEY FOUND THAT THE PRESENCE OF APHIDS, NATURAL PREDATORS ARE GOING TO GO FOR THOSE FIRST, SO THEY'RE GOING TO LEAVE THE MONARCH CATERPILLARS ALONE.

SO THE APHIDS ACTUALLY BEING THERE CAN HELP THE MONARCH.

SO A LITTLE UNSIGHTLY.

THEY LEAVE THAT STICKY STUFF BEHIND.

BUT OVERALL GOOD TO HAVE AROUND.

>> GREAT.

AND ONE MORE THAT IS SHE WAS LOOKING FOR MONARCH EGGS AND SHE FOUND THESE GUYS INSTEAD ON HER MILKWEED.

WHAT ARE THEY GOOD, BAD OR UGLY?

>> THEY'RE KIND OF NEUTRAL.

THEY'RE NOT UGLY.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

THEY'RE THIS BEAUTIFUL RED COLOR.

THESE ARE RED MILKWEED BEETLES.

AND YES, THEY DO FEED ON THE PLANTS.

THE LARVAE WILL FEED ON THE ROOTS AND THE STEM.

AND THE ADULTS, IF YOU SEE LIKE THE TIPS OF THE LEAVES SNIPPED OFF, THOSE ARE FROM THE MILKWEED BEETLES, BUT THEY DON'T HURT THE PLANT OVERALL.

SO THEY'RE JUST A COOL THING TO LOOK AT AND HAVE AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KAIT.

TERRI, JUST ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE FOR YOU.

HE REALLY.

HE'S FROM OMAHA.

HE FOUND THIS PARTICULAR PLANT IN HIS GARDEN.

HE'S WONDERING IF WE CAN TELL HIM WHAT IT IS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

>> YEAH, I THINK THIS IS A DATURA OR JIMSON WEED.

SO BOTH THE SEEDS AND PLANT ARE TOXIC.

SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO REMOVE THIS, IT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY THIS SMALL JUST TO GO OUT WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND REMOVE IT.

BUT I WOULD PROBABLY DEFINITELY WEAR GLOVES WHILE YOU DO THAT.

IF YOU ARE SEEING MORE OF THEM, I WOULD PROBABLY USE A PRE-EMERGENT IF IT'S IN LIKE A PERENNIAL BED WHERE YOU'RE NOT WANTING SEEDS TO COME UP.

THESE ARE PRETTY PROLIFIC SEEDERS IF YOU'VE HAD THEM IN BEFORE.

SOME PEOPLE CALL THEM LIKE A ANGEL'S TRUMPET, AND SOME OF THOSE ARE KIND OF SOME OTHER COMMON NAMES OF THIS.

BUT AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF SKIN ISSUES, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE WEARING GLOVES AND STUFF WHEN YOU REMOVE THIS, BUT THIS ONE'S SMALL ENOUGH.

IT SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY WITH JUST A SPADE TO GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

AGAIN, SHE SAYS SHE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MUSCLE TO PULL THIS OUT.

MILKY LOOKING SAP AND STICKERS.

AND DOES SHE NEED A MACHETE?

>> NO, YOU DON'T NEED A MACHETE.

SO THIS IS PRICKLY LETTUCE.

MOST LIKELY.

IT'S VERY HARD TO PULL OUT BECAUSE YOU PROBABLY HAVE SEVERAL THAT ARE GROWING IN THERE TOGETHER.

I'VE BEEN DIGGING A LOT OF THEM OUT OF MY OWN BACKYARD, WHERE THERE'S 5 OR 6 KIND OF ALL STUCK THERE TOGETHER.

SO THAT'S PROBABLY WHY YOU'RE HAVING A HARD TIME.

REALLY, THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS TO GET KIND OF A LONG, NARROW SPADE AND GO DOWN RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROOT SYSTEM AND JUST KIND OF POP IT OFF.

THAT'S I'VE BEEN DOING THAT ALMOST EVERY WEEKEND.

SO BETWEEN THAT AND DANDELIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TERRI, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS WEST OF PLATTSMOUTH.

WHAT IS THIS?

IT LOOKS LIKE IT FLOWERS.

AND THEN THESE PUFFBALLS APPEAR.

>> SO THIS IS WESTERN SALSIFY.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE.

I THINK IT'S KIND OF PRETTY ACTUALLY.

IT IS A BI-ANNUAL.

SO YOU PROBABLY HAD THIS LAST YEAR, BUT IT WAS JUST KIND OF JUST HANGING OUT THERE AND YOU DIDN'T NOTICE IT.

BUT SOME PEOPLE LIKE THESE, SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THESE.

IT'S A LIKE A DANDELION ON STEROIDS.

BUT YOU CAN AGAIN, JUST DIG IT OUT IF YOU ONLY HAVE 1 OR 2, IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM AT ALL, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GOING AND GRABBING THESE CAN BE JUST LIKE A DANDELION, AND THEY'RE GOING TO FLY ALL OVER THE PLACE.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE KIND OF COVERING THAT SEED HEAD SO YOU'RE NOT LOSING THAT SEED AND THEN GETTING RID OF IT.

>> GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS DILL AND SHE'S CUT THE AFFECTED BITS OFF.

GETS PLENTY OF SUN.

IT'S IN A BED WITH SOME OTHER PLANTS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE.

THAT'S A MIRACLE-GRO POTTING MIX.

HERB SEED DILL ISSUE.

SO TWO BACK TO BACK HERE.

>> SO WE'LL START WITH THIS ONE.

THIS ONE ACTUALLY HAS ME STUMPED.

THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE DISEASES THAT WE'LL SEE ON DILL, AND ONE OF THEM IS DOWNY MILDEW.

AND THIS IS NOT DOWNY MILDEW.

THE SYMPTOMOLOGY ISN'T QUITE RIGHT.

SO IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD THING YOU JUST CUT IT OUT.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY JUST A RANDOM INFECTION THAT OCCURRED.

IT'S NOT A COMMOFUNGAL DISEASE.

MAYBE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF DAMAGE THAT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A ROT TO START TO START.

NOTHING OF MAJOR CONCERN.

NOW, THE SECOND PICTURE WITH THE MIRACLE-GRO AND YOU PLANTING YOUR HERB SEEDS IN THERE.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL CASE OF SLIME MOLD.

SLIME MOLDS CAN COME WITH PRETTY MUCH ANY SOIL.

THE OTHER NAME FOR THE SLIME MOLD IS DOG VOMIT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT REALLY LOOKS LIKE.

NOT REAL PLEASANT.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU CAN ACTUALLY JUST TAKE YOUR TROWEL, SCOOP IT UP, AND THROW IT AWAY IF IT WAS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE BED, JUST A NICE BLAST OF WATER AND WASH IT AWAY AND YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, AMY.

ONE PICTURE FROM WOODBINE, IOWA.

THIS IS BROWN BLOTCHES ON A GREEN BEAN.

THIS IS THE PICTURE SHE SENT.

ANY IDEAS?

>> SO THIS ONE I'M LEANING TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL.

POTENTIALLY SOME SCORCH, MAYBE SOME WATER THAT WAS ACCUMULATED ON IT IN TEMPERATURES THAT WARMED UP.

THERE IS A BACTERIAL LEAF DISEASE THAT WE CAN SEE ON OUR GREEN BEANS.

THIS ISN'T LEANING TOWARD THAT WAY BECAUSE THE COLORATION ISN'T QUITE RIGHT.

SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY I'M LEANING TOWARD ENVIRONMENTAL TODAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICTURES, AMY, ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS FROM LINCOLN.

PEPPER AND TOMATO PLANTS THAT ARE STRUGGLING.

IT'S INCONSISTENT, NOT UNIVERSAL.

THEY'RE NOT NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

AND THE ONES THAT ARE STILL FINE.

WE ANSWERED THE BUMPS ON THE STEM QUESTION, WHICH IS ROOTS, BUT ANY IDEAS ON THIS ONE?

>> SO AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE PICTURES, THE PLANTS JUST AREN'T VERY THRIFTY.

THEY'RE THEY'RE KIND OF WIMPY, WIMPY AND IT IS SCATTERED.

IT GIVES ME THE IMPRESSION OF POTENTIAL HERBICIDE INJURY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY'VE USED GRASS CLIPPINGS FOR THE MULCH.

THE QUESTION I HAVE WITH GRASS CLIPPINGS, ESPECIALLY GOING ON THE GARDEN, IS DID YOU PROVIDE A WEED AND FEED ONTO THAT GRASS?

AND IF YOU DID, DID YOU WAIT THREE MOWINGS BEFORE YOU PUT IT ONTO YOUR GARDEN WITH THOSE WEED AND FEEDS?

WE DO GET GROWTH REGULATORS THAT WILL COME WITH THOSE GRASS CLIPPINGS, AND IT WILL RELEASE THAT GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE.

AND THAT CAN BE SPOTTY ACCORDING TO THE YARD AND HOW MUCH WAS APPLIED.

BUT IT WILL RELEASE OFF THAT HERBICIDE AND THEN CAUSE SOME DAMAGE AND MAKE THE PLANTS NOT REAL THRIFTY.

SO I WOULD TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR HERBICIDE PROGRAM AND YOUR TURF AND YOUR CLIPPINGS TO START WITH.

AND IF IT IS AN ISSUE, MAYBE PULLING BACK SOME OF THAT MULCH AND ALLOWING THE PLANTS TO BREATHE A LITTLE BIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, AMY.

ELIZABETH, THIS COMES TO US FROM OGALLALA.

HE'S WONDERING ON THIS WESTERN WHITE PINE WHETHER HE SHOULD REMOVE THE MONSTER.

RATHER LARGE, STRANGE BRANCH STEADILY INCREASING IN SIZE.

AND WHAT DO WE HAVE GOING ON HERE?

>> SO MORE THAN LIKELY WHAT WE HAVE IS A WITCH'S BROOM.

IT'S LIKE A GENETIC MUTATION IN ONE PARTICULAR AREA.

NOW, WITH A WHITE PINE, SOMEBODY DID TAKE LIKE A SPORT AND THEY MADE A WHOLE NOTHER CULTIVAR OUT OF A WITCH'S BROOM.

SO THAT'S KIND OF COOL.

NOW, IF IT WAS ME, I WOULD REMOVE THAT WITCH'S BROOM BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GROW MORE DENSELY AND FASTER THAN THE REMAINDER OF THE TREE.

IT'S GOING TO GET RID OF THE FUN GROWTH THOUGH, SO IT'S REALLY UP TO THE HOMEOWNER WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO WITH THAT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

IT'S A TEN YEAR OLD TRICOLOR BEECH.

SHE'S SEEING ONE BRANCH THAT IS KIND OF A DARK LEAF COLOR.

SHE'S WONDERING, IS THIS A SPORT?

SHOULD SHE DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS?

>> SO THE TRICOLOR BEECH USUALLY HAS, YOU KNOW, THE PURPLES AND THE WHITES AND THE GREENS ALL MIXED TOGETHER.

SO IF WE HAVE ONE THAT'S COMPLETELY GREEN OR COMPLETELY PURPLE, WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK BECAUSE IT COULD BE A SPORT, A GENETIC MUTATION WHERE IT REVERTS BACK TO THE STRAIGHT SPECIES OR REVERTS BACK IF THAT IS THE CASE, OFTEN TIMES THATEVERSION OR THAT PIECE WILL GROW WAY FASTER THAN THAT CULTIVAR THAT WE WANTED.

SO MORE THAN LIKELY, REMOVING THAT SPORT IS GOING TO BE BEST.

IF YOU WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT TRICOLOR BEECH.

>> AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE.

AND THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT IS UP WITH THE PURPLE LEAVES ON THIS PARTICULAR.

SHE THINKS IT'S A CHOKECHERRY.

>> YEP.

SO THE CANADA RED CHERRY OR THE SHUBERT CHOKECHERRY IT WILL PUT ON THE PURPLE LEAVES, BUT THE NEW GROWTH IS GREEN.

SO IT'S COMMON FOR THIS ONE TO HAVE THAT GREEN NEW GROWTH.

SO IT'S KNOWING WHAT IS COMMON ON THAT SPECIES.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A REALLY FUN DIFFERENT KIND OF CULTIVAR WITH THOSE DARK PURPLE LEAVES AS THAT SEASON PROGRESSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU ELIZABETH.

WELL, FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS, WARD LABORATORIES HAS BEEN HELPING FARMERS AND RANCHERS MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THROUGH SOIL, WATER, FERTILIZER, MANURE, AND PLANT TESTING.

WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A SIMPLE SAMPLE, IN FACT, REALLY ISN'T.

WHAT IT IS, IT IS THE FARMER GETTING THAT INFORMATION AND THEN USING THAT TO MAKE HIS OR HER DECISIONS ON THEIR FARM.

COULD BE ANYTHING FROM INCREASED YIELD, GREATER PRODUCTIVITY, MANAGING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, OR OF COURSE, GREATER PRODUCTIVITY.

>> IN AGRICULTURE.

EVERY DECISION MATTERS.

EVERY DOLLAR SPENT, EVERY ACRE PLANTED, EVERY CROP HARVESTED.

FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, ONE NEBRASKA COMPANY HAS HELPED FARMERS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WITH CONFIDENCE.

>> ALL I'M INTERESTED IN IS HELPING FARMERS AND RANCHERS WITH THEIR INPUT COSTS, WITH THEIR QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE ON THEIR PRODUCTION.

ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE LAB WOULD BE I'D BE ABLE TO HELP BE A FARMER WITHOUT BEING A FARMER, YOU KNOW.

>> WARD LABORATORIES ANALYZES SOIL, WATER, FEED, MANURE, FERTILIZER, AND PLANT SAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD.

WHEN A SAMPLE ARRIVES AT THE LAB, IT'S MORE THAN JUST DIRT IN A BAG.

IT'S A FARMER LOOKING FOR ANSWERS.

>> SOME OF THE SAMPLES THAT WE GET DIRECT FROM FARMERS ARE USUALLY TROUBLESHOOTING THINGS.

I'VE GOT ONE AREA OF THE FIELD THAT JUST DOESN'T YIELD OR THE PLANT HEALTH ISN'T GREAT.

THE SOIL TEST WILL SHOW YOU YOU HAVE ADEQUATE PHOSPHORUS, BUT MAYBE YOUR MICRONUTRIENTS NEED ATTENTION.

ON THE ANIMAL SIDE OF THINGS.

IF YOU TEST THE FEED SOURCE AND THEN YOU CAN SAY, OKAY, I NEED TO PROVIDE THIS SUPPLEMENT SO THE ANIMALS ARE ABLE TO THRIVE AS BEST THEY CAN.

THE TESTING JUST PROVIDES THOSE NUMBERS.

AND THAT GIVES YOU THE JUSTIFICATION OF, YES, I'M SPENDING MY DOLLARS WISELY ON MY FARM.

>> IT'S A MATTER OF TESTING.

SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO SUPPLEMENT WITH OR HOW MUCH FUEL TO PUT IN THE TANK, SO TO SPEAK.

>> AS TECHNOLOGY HAS EVOLVED, SO HAS THE LAB AUTOMATION, ROBOTICS AND EVEN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE NOW HELP PROCESS THOUSANDS OF SAMPLES MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN EVER BEFORE.

>> WE USED TO SIT THERE WITH A NOTEPAD, WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN.

NOW WE'RE JUST TAKING A PICTURE OF THE BAG, AND THEN AI PARSES OUT THAT IMAGE AND LOOKS FOR ALL THE IDENTIFIERS AND PRE-FILLS OUT THE SHEETS.

>> FOUNDER RAY WARD STARTED THE COMPANY DURING ONE OF THE TOUGHEST PERIODS IN AGRICULTURAL HISTORY.

>> THE 80S WAS REALLY BAD TIMES IN FARMING AND AGRICULTURE.

CROP PRICES ARE VERY LOW.

LAND PRICES HAD RUN UP.

THERE'S MORE DAM BANKRUPTCIES IN THE PAPER EVERY DAY.

AND IT JUST THIS WAS REALLY A BAD TIME.

>> DESPITE THE INITIAL CHALLENGES, THEIR MISSION REMAINS UNCHANGED, HELPING FARMERS GROW FOOD FOR A GROWING WORLD.

>> THE WAY TO GROW MORE FOOD IS JUST TO BE DILIGENT WITH YOUR RESOURCES.

SO HOW DO WE HELP FARMERS FERTILIZE APPROPRIATELY, WATER APPROPRIATELY?

WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PATH TO CONTINUE PRODUCTION GROWTH.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) (APPLAUSE) >> YOU KNOW, THERE'S LOTS OF INTERESTING WORK GOING ON AT THAT.

LOCAL KEARNEY BASED GREAT COMPANY.

ALL RIGHT, KAIT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

SO HE'S GOT SOMETHING ON HIS EVERGREENS.

HE'S SAYING SPOTS ON HIS PINE.

IS IT SCALE OR SOMETHING ELSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK.

>> SO IT'S RELATED TO SCALE RELATED TO APHIDS.

THIS IS CALLED PINE BARK ADELGID.

SO THEIR SAP FEEDING INSECTS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT'S NOT A DEATH SENTENCE FOR YOUR TREE.

HOWEVER, WE ARE PAST THE TIME FOR TREATMENT.

WE USUALLY WANT TO DO A DORMANT OIL RIGHT BEFORE THAT NEW GROWTH STARTS.

AND THEN YOU CAN DO INSECTICIDAL SOAP THROUGHOUT MAY.

BUT RIGHT NOW YOU CAN JUST LEAVE IT.

IT'LL BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FROM PENDER THIS ONE, KAIT.

ALL HE REALLY TOLD US IS HE HAS BLACK HILLS SPRUCE, AND THE NEW GROWTH BUDS ARE TURNING BROWN.

>> SO THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS THIS COULD BE.

AND IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A BIT OF A CLOSER LOOK.

IT COULD BE HEAT STRESS.

IT COULD BE FROM A COLD SNAP THAT WE HAD THAT KILLED THE NEW GROWTH.

THERE IS AN INSECT CALLED THE COOLEY SPRUCE GALL ADELGID THAT CAN CAUSE DAMAGE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

BUT YOU'D WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AGAIN BEFORE YOU DID ANYTHING.

SO RIGHT NOW, I WOULD RECOMMEND REVING THOSE NEEDLES OFF OF THAT DEAD PORTION AND SEEING IF THERE'S A GALL THERE.

AND IF THERE IS A GALL, IT'S THE INSECT.

AND IF NOT, IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KAIT.

ANONE PICTURE FROM RURAL WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

INTERESTING LITTLE GUY FLEW IN, FLEW OUT, ONLY ABOUT HALF AN INCH LONG.

GOOD.

BAD.

HARMFUL, BENEFICIAL?

>> THIS IS KIND OF ONE OF THE MORE NEUTRAL ONES, AGAIN.

SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR FLOWER BEETLES THAT YOU CAN FIND THE LARVAE AND LIKE COMPOST DIRT, ROTTING WOOD.

AND THEN ADULTS LIKE THIS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY ATTRACTED TO LIKE OVERRIPE FRUIT FERMENTATION AND SAP AND SWEET THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO NOT NECESSARILY, I MEAN, THEY'RE NOT BAD.

SO LET'S JUST CALL THEM GOOD.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, YEAH, WE'LL JUST SHOOT THE GAP THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

TERRI, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM WAHOO.

HE'S SAYING THIS SHOWS UP MORE AND MORE EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN THE WEAKER PARTS OF HIS PASTURE.

THE COWS WON'T EAT IT.

HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO CONTROL IT.

THEY FERTILIZE AND HE ROTATIONALLY GRAZES.

>> SO THIS IS CHEATGRASS.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GENTLEMAN OR AN EXTENSION EDUCATOR IN SCOTTSBLUFF WHO HAS DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND HAS WRITTEN QUITE A FEW ARTICLES ABOUT THIS.

THIS IS A WINTER ANNUAL.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY GERMINATING, LIKE IN SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER.

THE CATTLE WILL EAT IT BEFORE IT PUTS THE SEED HEAD ON IT.

SO IF YOU CAN GET THEM OUT THERE BEFORE THE SEED HEAD COMES, THEN THEY WOULD EAT IT THEN.

THERE'S A COUPLE CONTROLS THAT YOU CAN USE, BUT THERE'S A FANTASTIC ARTICLE.

GARY STONE IS THE EDUCATOR WITH CROP WATCH, AND THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN EVERYTHING FOR YOU.

BUT REALLY THE MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE IN THE FALL BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, THIS IS A WINTER ANNUAL FOR YOU.

>> AND I THINK YOU MISTAKENLY SAID CHEAT, IT'S FOX.

>> FOX TAIL FOX.

>> SORRY.

>> YEAH.

>> SORRY.

>> YEAH.

THE FOX WAS CHEATING.

OKAY, SO TWO FROM ATLANTIC, IOWA.

TERRI.

SO SHE SAYS BETWEEN HER CONDOMINIUM NEIGHBOR AND HERSELF, FULL OF THISTLES, AND EVERY YEAR THEY GET THICKER AND THICKER.

THEY'VE BEEN SPRAYED, THEY'VE BEEN PULLED.

WHAT DO THEY DO ABOUT THE THISTLES?

>> BESIDES, MOST LIKELY, SINCE THIS IS NEW CONSTRUCTION, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A HUGE SEED BANK.

SO EVERY YEAR, EVERY TIME YOU DISTURB THAT SOIL OR DIG ANYTHING UP, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE SEEDS COME UP.

YOU PROBABLY NEED TO BE USING A PRE-EMERGENT.

AND WITH THESE, THEY'RE GOING TO BE A WARM SEASON, ONES THAT ARE GOING TO BE GERMINATING WHEN IT'S A LITTLE BIT WARMER.

SO I WOULD PROBABLY PUT THAT SECOND APPLICATION ON LIKE LATER IN MAY, EARLY JUNE TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL THESE.

BUT REALLY JUST GOING OUT AND DIGGING THEM UP, SPOT SPRAYING, IF IT'S COOLER OUT, WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT JUST WITH A BROADLEAF HERBICIDE AND BEING ABLE TO IT LOOK VERY COMPACTED.

SO IF YOU CAN LOOSEN THAT SOIL UP SOMEHOW WITH AERATION OR SOMETHING, THAT WOULD ALSO HELP BECAUSE THEY DO LIKE THE COMPACTED, LIKE I HAD THE PURSLANE.

IF YOU CAN DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT TOO.

>>LL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE FROM OMAHA ON THIS ONE.

SHE HAS, IT'S BEEN RECOMMENDED TO HER THAT SHE USE BLUEGRASS FOR SEEDING, BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT BLUE.

AND WE DID ANSWER THAT BLUEGRASS IS NOT BLUE AND LIGHTNING, BUT SHE'D LIKE A RECOMMENDATION FOR HOW TO FIND GOOD BLUEGRASS SEED.

>> SO WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS GO TO A REPUTABLE SEED DISTRIBUTOR, GET THE CERTIFIED LABEL.

BUT BLUEGRASS IS NOT BLUE.

IT'S JUST THAT'S JUST THE NAME OF IT.

BUT I WOULD PROBABLY GO WITH A BLUEGRASS FESCUE TURF MIX AND THEN GO WITH THAT.

SO WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHERE THIS ONE WAS FROM, BUT GO TO A REPUTABLE KIND OF TURF GRASS SEED DEALER AND BEING ABLE TO GET SOME CERTIFIED SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

TWO TO YOU, AMY FROM LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FORMERLY FROM NEBRASKA.

SO HE HAS STOKES ASTER, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL PLANT, BUT HE'S GOT A FUNGUS AMONGUS HE THINKS ON IT.

AND HE ALSO SAID HE THINKS IT'S THE SAME THING HE HAD ON HIS PENSTEMON.

>> SO.

IT IS A TYPE OF LEAF SPOT.

I'M LEANING TOWARD THE ALTERNARIA TYPE LEAF SPOT.

THIS WILL NOT GO TO YOUR PENSTEMON.

IT WILL ONLY STAY WITH YOUR ASTER.

SO MOST LIKELY YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOMETHING ELSE ON YOUR PENSTEMON.

THERE ISN'T ENOUGH INFECTION HERE THAT I WOULD REALLY BE CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT.

WE'RE GOING TO AVOID OVERHEAD WATERING, AND IF WE CAN INCREASE AIR CIRCULATION THROUGH THERE, THAT'S GOING TBE YOUR BEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THIS LEAF SPOT.

>> GREAT.

THANKS, AMY.

TWO ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A FORMER STUDENT OF OURS.

ALSO, HIS MOTHER WANTED HYDRANGEAS AND THEY'RE IN POTS.

AND THEN THEY GOT POWDERY MILDEW ALL OVER THEM AND HE PULLED THEM OUT.

WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND FOR POWDERY MILDEW?

NOT USUALLY GETTING RID OF THE PLANTS.

>> BESIDES GETTING RID OF THE PLANTS.

SO POWDERY MILDEW, WE'RE ALL GOING TO RL DIFFERENT PLANT SPECIES.

IT LIKES HIGH HUMIDITY.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT ESPECIALLY CONTAINER PLANTS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT PLANTING HYDRANGEAS IN POTS, I'D BE LOOKING FOR SOME HYDRANGEAS THAT DO HAVE SOME POWDERY MILDEW RESISTANCE.

JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE BY THE HOUSE, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE INCREASED HUMIDITY BECAUSE OF THE WATERING PATTERNS.

TYPICALLY, WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH AIRFLOW GOING THROUGH THOSE PATIOS AND ONTO THOSE WALKWAYS.

THAT WILL BE YOUR BEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.

OTHERWISE, POWDERY MILDEW IS ONE OF THOSE HARD BEASTS TO MANAGE.

I TYPICALLY DON'T RECOMMEND A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION BECAUSE YOU'RE DOING IT MULTIPLE TIMES IN A YEAR, SO RESISTANT VARIETIES, INCREASING AIRFLOW ARE THE BIG TWO COMPONENTS TO MANAGE THIS ONE.

>> GREAT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE FROM SEWARD, AMY.

THIS IS A FUNGUS IN A RAISED BED.

>> SO THIS IS ACTUALLY REALLY COOL.

I MEAN, LOOK AT THAT CLUSTER OF MUSHROOMS.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS CALLED SHAGGY MANE.

A VERY COMMON MUSHROOM.

THIS ONE IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THE MUSHROOM HEADS ARE ACTUALLY VERY CENTRICAL IN SHAPE AND NOT A CAP.

REALLY NEAT FIND TO HAVE.

IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM IN YOUR RAISED BED, JUST PULL THEM UP AND DISPOSE OF THEM AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD TO GO.

YOU WERE JUST LUCKY TO HAVE HER TO COME WITH YOUR SOIL WHEN YOU PUT IT IN YOUR RAISED BED.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE.

ELIZABETH, THIS IS LINCOLN.

80% OF THE CANOPY OF THIS CRABAPPLE WAS REMOVED.E KNOWS IT WILL SEND UP SUCKERS SHOULD HE REMOVE THEM OR LET SOME OF THEM STAY.

>> SO THIS TREE WILL PROBABLY SEND OUT SUCKERS.

IT'LL ALSO HAVE EPICORMIC SPROUTS ON THE TRUNK AS WELL.

NORMALLY WE RECOMMEND TWO THIRDS CANOPY TO ONE THIRD TRUNK, AND THEN THE OTHER CONCERN DOWN THE ROAD IS WE'RE GOING TO SEE THIS TREE.

TRY TO HAVE MULTIPLE LEADERS.

IT'S A CRABAPPLE.

SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE POSSIBLY A WEAKER BRANCH ATTACHMENT.

AND THEY'RE REALLY PRONE TO SUCKERS.

SO AS WE SEE THEM GO AHEAD AND REMOVE THEM.

JUST REALIZE DOWN THE ROAD WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE SOME MORE ISSUES WITH THIS TREE JUST DUE TO ITS GROWTH PATTERN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES FROM GIBBON, ELIZABETH.

HE BOUGHT THIS SHRUB IN A ONLINE BARE ROOT TREE PACKET.

AND CLEARLY IT IS NOT A TREE.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS IT.

>> SO MORE THAN LIKELY THIS IS SKUNKBUSH SUMAC.

IT CAN BE A SMALL TREE.

IT CAN BE A LARGE SHRUB.

SO DEPENDING ON HOW YOU MANAGE IT IS HOW IT'S GOING TO WANT TO LIVE.

I LIKE IT MORE AS LIKE A SHRUB.

THERE IS A VERY NICE ONE CALLED GROW LOW SUMAC, AND IT'S VERY TOUGH.

IT'S A SKUNK BRUSH CULTIVAR OUT THERE, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE GOING ON WITH THAT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS UNFORTUNATE.

WE HAD TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE STORMS.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS TREE TO FALL OVER.

>> SO I THINK THERE WAS MULTIPLE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON WITH THIS TREE.

WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK I BELIEVE IT'S A LINDEN AND IT LOOKS LIKE A POST IN THE GROUND.

WHEN WE HAVE A POST IN THE GROUND SITUATION AND WE'RE LACKING THAT ROOT FLARE WHERE IT GETS WIDER INTO THE GROUND, THAT SIGNALS TO ME THE TREE WAS EITHER PLANTED TOO DEEP OR WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL A STEM GIRDLING ROOT, WHERE A ROOT IS CROSSING OVER THAT TRUNK TISSUE AND PUSHING AGAINST IT.

WE CAN ALSO TELL BY THE CROSS SECTION THAT WE ALSO HAVE SOME INTERNAL ROT, THAT DARK DISCOLORATION IS OUR INDICATOR ON THERE.

SO WE EITHER HAD A WOUND AT SOME POINT IN TIME THAT SEALED OVER, OR WE HAVE AN OPEN WOUND HIGHER UP.

THE THING WITH LINDEN IS THEY ARE REALLY PRONE TO INTERNAL ROT.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, EVEN IF THAT WOUND SEAL IS OVER, WE COULD STILL HAVE ROT INSIDE.

SO THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THIS HOMEOWNER COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR LINDEN BECAUSE IT WAS SO MANY THINGS GOING AGAINST IT AT ONCE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATE.

BUT THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

YOU KNOW, WE ALL LOVE THE BEAUTIFUL COLOR IN OUR GARDENS.

AND THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN IS JUST ABOUT READY TO HIT ITS STRIDE WITH ALL OF THAT GREAT COLOR.

HERE'S TERRI JAMES TO TELL US MORE OUT IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE ARE ADMIRING ALL OF THE COLOR.

WE ARE REALLY SEEING ALL OF OUR PLANTS REALLY TAKE OFF.

ALL OF THIS RAIN HAS REALLY HELPED.

WE ARE KIND OF IN MANAGEMENT MODE RIGHT NOW, SO A LOT OF DEADHEADING HAPPENING, A LOT OF TRYING TO GET ALL OF OUR ANNUAL PLANTS TO KIND OF BRANCH A LITTLE BIT MORE.

SO WE'RE REALLY BEING VERY COGNIZANT OF TRIMMING BACK AND DEADHEADING AND MAKING SURE OUR PLANTS ARE LOOKING GREAT.

YOU CAN DO THAT AS YOU WATER.

REALLY PRETTY EASY JUST TO KIND OF SNIP OFF THOSE HEADS.

OR YOU CAN GO OUT WITH A LITTLE BUCKET AND YOUR PRUNERS AND DO IT IN A VERY MANAGED PROCESS.

WE'RE ALSO MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF OUR TOMATOES ARE GOING UP IN THE CAGES AND GETTING THOSE READY, BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE BIG HERE SOON.

AND WE'RE JUST REALLY KIND OF, AGAIN, IN THAT MAINTENANCE KIND OF GETTING, MAKING SURE EVERYTHING'S GOING REALLY WELL MODE.

SO WE'RE READY FOR ALL OF OUR PRODUCTION HERE, PROBABLY STARTING IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS.

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

(WIND BLOWING) >> THANKS, TERRI.

WELL, WE ARE NOW READY FOR OUR SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF THE WEEK.

WE HAD ONE COME IN FROM JEANETTE COWIN AND SHE HAS SOME REALLY INVASIVE, PERVASIVE PLANT COMING UP ALL OVER HER LAWN.

SHE'S MOWED IT, SHE'S MOWED IT, SHE'S MOWED IT.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

AND ELIZABETH, YOU THINK YOU HAVE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF IDEAS ON IT?

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ANSWERS WITH THAT ONE AND THE ANSWER COMES FROM ACTUALLY THE FLOWER THAT SHE PROVIDED.

SO WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A TOADFLAX.

NOW WE HAVE TWO COMMON TOADFLAXES.

WE HAVE YELLOW TOADFLAX AND DALMATIAN TOADFLAX.

BOTH OF THEM BLOOM YELLOW.

THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS YELLOW TOADFLAX IS AN INVASIVE SPECIES.

AND AS THIS VIEWER HAS FOUND, THEY SPREAD BY RHIZOMES AND BY SEEDS.

AND SO IF THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO CONTROL THEM IN THE LAWN, THEY WOULD NEED A PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS TRICLOPYR AND THEY WOULD OR NEED A PRODUCT THAT CONTAINS DICAMBA.

NOW, TOADFLAX HAS A WAXY LEAF TO IT, SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ADDING A SPREADER SPREADER STICKER OR A SURFACTANT INTO THAT TANK MIX TO GET GOOD CONTROL.

>> AND HE CAN GO, SHE CAN GO TO INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL AND SEE INFORMATION ONLINE FOR THAT TOO.

WE SO HAD A SAMPLE BROUGHT IN FROM THE MAYOR OF KEARNEY.

>> YEAH.

>> WHO BROUGHT IN A SAMPLE OF A VIOLET.

THE HE IS WONDERING WHETHER THIS IS ONE OF OUR NATIVES.

SO WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO BEGIN WITH, FOR BEING THE MAYOR OF THIS GREAT CITY.

SECOND, FOR BRINGING US THIS.

SO WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS, ELIZABETH?

>> SO WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS SAMPLE, THIS ISN'T OUR COMMON WILD VIOLET WITH THE BEAUTIFUL HEART SHAPED LEAVES THAT ARE DARK GREEN.

WE CAN TELL IT'S A VIOLET JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE SEED DISPERSAL IS.

BUT WE WOULD NEED A FLOWER IN ORDER TO TELL EXACTLY WHICH SPECIES WE'RE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SEVERAL NATIVE ONES, LIKE THE LANCELEAF VIOLET, BECAUSE IT'S ON THE EDGE OF A PRAIRIE.

I WOULDN'T SAY CONTROL IT YET, BUT IF WE HAVE SOME FLOWERS, THAT WOULD HELP US TO NARROW DOWN EXACTLY WHAT SPECIES WE'RE DEALING WITH, TO KNOW WHETHER IT'S A GOOD GUY OR WHETHER IT'S ONE WE WANT TO CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANKS FOR THAT.

WELL, IT IS TIME FOR A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP, WE HAVE THE PLANT OF THE WEEK AND A LOOK AT HOW VOLUNTEERS ARE MANAGING THIS BEAUTIFUL PARK HERE IN KEARNEY.

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

BEING HERE AT YANNEY HERITAGE PARK, YOU CAN SEE THE LEGACY OF MIKE YANNEY COME TO LIFE RIGHT HERE IN THIS PARK.

THE KEARNEY NATIVE BELIEVED SUCCESS WAS NOT ABOUT WHAT YOU GAIN BUT WHAT YOU GIVE, AND HE TURNED THAT BELIEF INTO ACTION, HELPING CREATE THIS 80 ACRE PARK THAT IS NAMED FOR HIS PARENTS.

(BIRDS CHIRPING) >> 80 ACRES OF LAND, FLAT AS A PANCAKE.

THEY WERE GROWING SOYBEANS AND CORN ON IT.

EVERY TWO YEARS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW PROJECT.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) THE COMMUNITY IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT IN KEARNEY AND HOPEFULLY KEARNEY AND YANNEY.

HERITAGE PARK CAN BE A SPIRIT FOR DRIVING IT TO NEW HEIGHTS.

(SOFT UPBEAT MUSIC) (BIRDS CHIRPING) >> THIS PARK IS REALLY A LASTING REMINDER OF MIKE YANNEY'S BELIEF THAT STRONG COMMUNITIES GROW THROUGH GENEROSITY, VISION AND COLLABORATION.

AND REMEMBER, SINCE THIS IS A PRE-TAPED SHOW, WE CANNOT TAKE YOUR CALLS TONIGHT.

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

AND OF COURSE, NOW IT IS TIME FOR OUR PLANT OF THE WEEK.

WE ARE GOING TO SEE SOME INTERESTING VARIETIES OF HYDRANGEAS AS WE HEAR FROM JEFF TRAUTMAN AT HERITAGE NURSERY.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> I HAD THE QUESTION POSED TO ME ABOUT WHAT PLANTS INSPIRE ME AND YOU HAVE A NURSERY FULL OF PLANTS.

AND I REALLY STARTED THINKING ABOUT IT.

AND TODAY I LANDED ON HYDRANGEAS.

YES, EVERYBODY KNOWS HYDRANGEA, BUT THERE IS IMPROVEMENTS IN HYDRANGEAS.

WE'LL START WITH LIKE THE MOST CLASSIC HYDRANGEA.

WE HAVE FLOWERFUL WHICH IS A SMOOTH HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS WHICH IS SIMILAR TO ANNABELLE.

THE DIFFERENCE WITH THIS ONE IS IT IS VERY RIGID.

IT WILL NOT FLOP.

IT IS A RE-BLOOMER AND THE SIZE IS PERFECT.

IT'S ABOUT A 4 TO 5 FOOT TALL BY FIVE FOOT WIDE FITS ANYWHERE IN THE LANDSCAPE.

THIS ONE IS PROBABLY BEST SUITED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF A PART SUN, PART SHADE SITUATION, BUT IT CAN DEFINITELY HANDLE FULL SUN WITH THE RIGHT HYDRATION.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO HOP INTO A OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA.

THIS IS JETSTREAM AGAIN.

YOU'RE TALKING FOUR FOOT TALL, 4 TO 5 FOOT WIDE, INCREDIBLE BLOOMS WITH A FANTASTIC FALL FOLIAGE THAT IS GOING TO BE A MERLOT, MERLOT COLOR.

FITS MOST SPOTS IN A LANDSCAPE EAST SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

USUALLY MY FAVORITE PLACE FOR THAT.

FINALLY, WE'LL MOVE ON TO A PANICULATA.

THIS GUY LOVES AS MUCH SUN AS YOU COULD POSSIBLY THROW AT IT.

THIS ONE'S CALLED SPRING SIZZLE.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY RIGID.

IT STARTS OUT WITH A WHITE BLOOM, FINISHES WITH AN INCREDIBLY DARK, BEAUTIFUL RED.

IT'S GOING TO BE ANOTHER 4 TO 5 FOOT, 4 TO 5 FOOT TALL, ABOUT FIVE FOOT WIDE.

BUT AGAIN, LARGE LANDSCAPE, SMALL LANDSCAPE.

THEY HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT HOMES.

(BIRDS CHIRPING) >> SO WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF GREAT THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

KIMMEL ORCHARD, KIMMEL ORCHARD AND VINEYARD POLLINATOR WEEK IS STILL GOING ON.

YOU CAN SEE THE WEBSITE ON THE SCREEN AND THE PHONE NUMBER.

WE ALSO HAVE TOURS OF THE WILD SIDE, WHICH IS HAPPENING ON JUNE 20TH, AND THAT WILL BE A GREAT EVENT THAT IS WACHISKA AUDUBON SOCIETY AND SPRING CREEK PRAIRIE, AND THAT IS ON THE 20TH.

SO WONDERFUL THINGS GOING ON.

AND I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT I WANT THOSE HYDRANGEAS.

SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF THEM, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THEM AND WE DON'T HAVE ROOM.

ALL RIGHT.

KAIT, SO WE HAVE TWO PICTURES HERE FROM ARVADA, COLORADO, NORTHWEST OF DENVER, IN THE FOOTHILLS.

ONE'S A LITTLE BLURRY.

WE COULDN'T GET A BETTER PICTURE, BUT IT'S CHERRIES.

TEN YEAR OLD DWARF TART CHERRY.

SHE HAS TAKEN IT TO EXTENSION.

THEY THINK IT IS A WEEVIL.

AND THEY SUGGESTED PYRETHROIDS.

SHE KNOWS THAT SHE CAN'T DO ANYTHING THIS YEAR.

WHAT?

WHAT CAN SHE DO TO GET GOOD CHERRIES OFF HER CHERRY TREE?

>> YEAH, SO I WOULD AGREE THIS IS CAUSED BY WEEVILS.

THERE'S SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO IF YOU ALREADY HAVE INFECTED FRUIT.

TRY TO GET RID OF THOSE.

DESTROY THOSE TO PREVENT MORE FROM COMING BACK NEXT YEAR.

YOU CAN PUT A SHEET UNDER THE TREE AND SHAKE IT REAL HARD TO TRY TO GET ALL THE ADULTS TO FALL DOWN.

AND YOU CAN DISPOSE OF THE ADULTS THAT WAY TOO, BUT OTHERWISE YOU DO NEED TO ADHERE TO THAT FRUIT TRAY OR FRUIT SPRAY SCHEDULE FOR THE AREA THAT YOU'RE IN, AND THAT WILL USUALLY START NEXT YEAR AFTER THE BLOOMS FALL OFF THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO DILIGENCE TO PAY ATTENTION.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FROM UNDERWOOD.

AND HIS QUESTION IS HAVE WE EVER SEEN BAGWORMS ON A WINDOW?

THIS IS IN THE COUNCIL BLUFFS POLICETATION.

>> YES.

ACTUALLY, YOU CAN FIND BAGWORMS IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.

I'VE SEEN THEM ON FLAGPOLES.

I'VE SEEN THEM ON THE SIDE OF BUILDINGS.

AND THEY'RE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO FEEDING ON EVERGREENS EITHER.

I'VE SEENHEM IN LINDEN TREES ANOTHER DECIDUOUS TREES AS WELL, SO YOU CAN FIND THEM IN THE MOST RANDOM PLACES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE FROM PIONEER'S PARK NEAR DENTON, KAIT.

THIS IS THIS PLANT.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT IT IS, IS COVERED WITH THESE BUMPS.

ARE THEY GALLS?

IS THERE ANY CHANCE THEY WILL KILL THE PLANT BECAUSE THEY THINK THIS IS POISON IVY?

>> YES.

SO POISON IVY ALSO HAS ITS OWN GALLS.

SO THIS IS CAUSED BY A MITE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IF IT IS POISON IVY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A GOOD CONTROL METHOD.

SO YOU'LL HAVE TO GO THE TRADITIONAL ROUTE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KAIT.

LET'S SEE.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, TERRI.

THIS.

HE SAW THIS PLANT GROWING ALONG O STREET BY A PARKING LOT, AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS SO IMPRESSIVE.

HE WAS GOING TO SEND US A PICTURE AND ASK US WHAT IT IS.

WELL.

PLANTS ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE, AND ALL THEY WANT TO DO IS GROW.

SO THIS ONE IS DEFINITELY DOING WHAT IT REALLY WANTS TO DO.

THIS IS A MUSTARD.

I THINK.

>> IT'S A MUSTARD.

>> IT'S A MUSTARD.

I MEAN.

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

TERRI.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

AND THE QUESTION IS, WHAT IS THIS YELLOW FLOWERING PLANT THAT IS ALL ALONG THE ROADSIDE?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE USED AS A GOOD GROUND COVER IN A SOUTH FACING ROCK MULCH?

>> YES, IF YOU WOULD LIKE.

THIS IS BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL.

IT'S A NITROGEN FIXING ONE, SO THIS MAY BE INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE A LOW NITROGEN WITHIN THE SOIL.

BUT THIS IS A GREAT LIKE SOIL STABILIZER.

JUST, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR SOME EROSION CONTROL AND SOME NICE YELLOW FLOWERS, THIS WOULD BE A GREAT OPTION FOR YOU TO USE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE, TERRI.

SHE WONDERS IF THIS IS A WEED.

SHE MOVED IN LAST NOVEMBER.

SHE'S TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND WE THINK WE KNOW.

>> I THINK THIS IS A GOUTWEED.

I COULDN'T QUITE TELL FOR SURE BY THE THE LEAVES, BUT IT'S IN THE CARROT FAMILY.

IT'S PROBABLY REVERTING BACK FROM WHAT IT YOU WANTED IT TO BE.

THIS IS A VERY, VERY AGGRESSIVE PLANT, BOTH BY SEED AND BY THE ROOTS SPREADING.

SO I WOULD PROBABLY, IF YOU DON'T WANT IT THERE, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CUT IT BACK.

AND IT'S PROBABLY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE VERY TENACIOUS TO GET RID OF IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, TERRI.

AMY, TWO FOR YOU FROM BELLEVUE AND THEN KIND OF BUNDLED WITH ANOTHER ONE HERE.

THIS IS JUNIPER THYME, STILL.

SLIMY STUFF ON JUNIPERS A MONTH AGO SHE KNEW IT WAS CEDAR APPLE RUST.

NOW IT'S GOT A DEAD BRANCH IN THE INTERIOR.

IS THIS NORMAL?

AND THEN YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM PLANTS THAT ARE ABOUT 15 YEARS OLD.

THEY ARE ALSO DRYING UP ON THE INSIDE.

NORMAL ON THIS, OR DOES THIS FALL TO YOU?

>> SO IT'S A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

SO THE FIRST TWO PICTURES, YOU JUST HAVE THAT ONE BRANCH THAT'S TURNING BROWN.

I'M LEANING TOWARD CAVATINA TYPE LIGHT.

TYPICALLY THAT'S AN INFECTION THAT OCCURS IN THE FALL ON THE OLD GROWTH.

AND THEN WE SEE IT BROWN IN THE SPRING AND EARLY SUMMER.

BEST MANAGEMENT IS TO GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THAT OUT OF THAT JUNIPER WITH THE SECOND ONE WHERE IT'S THE OLDER TREE, WE HAVE TO REMEMBER JUNIPERS.

AND JUST LIKE EVERY EVERGREEN, DO NOT KEEP THEIR NEEDLES FOR LIFE.

I'M JUST WONDERING IF THIS IS YELLOWING AND BROWNING JUST DUE TO AGE, AND IT'S JUST DROPPING THOSE NEEDLES ON THE INSIDE BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY'RE OLD ENOUGH AND IT'S TIME FOR THE NEW GROWTH TO KEEP MOVING ON ITS MERRY LITTLE WAY.

JUNIPERS DO HAVE THE TENDENCY OF STARTING TO LOOK A LITTLE SHAGGY OVER TIME WITH AGE, IN MY OPINION, SO I WOULD DEFINITELY KEEP A LOOK ON THOSE 15 YEAR OLD JUNIPERS.

AND MAYBE WE'LL BE LOOKING AT REPLANTING HERE SOON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICTURES.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS FROM GRAND ISLAND.

IT IS APPLES.

IT'S MAYBE SECONDARY DAMAGE ON THESE.

HE DID NOT START HIS SPRAY SCHEDULE.

THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME.

>> IT IS SECONDARY FUNGAL INFECTION MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY INSECT WOUNDING WITH ANY FRUIT TREE.

YOU NEED TO STAY ON THAT SCHEDULE AND YOU HAVE TO SPRAY.

ONCE THOSE PETALS ARE EMERGED AND STAY ON THAT SCHEDULE TO CONTROL THE DISEASES AND THE INSECTS ON ALL OF OUR FRUIT TREES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO COOL PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SHE FOUND THIS BROKEN BRANCH AFTER THE STORM ON JUNE 11TH.

WHAT HAS SHE FOUND?

>> I'M ACTUALLY SUPER JEALOUS THAT YOU FOUND THIS.

THIS IS CALLED A JELLY FUNGUS.

THEY CAN ALSO BE CALLED MOUSE EARS.

IT'S JUST A FUNGUS THAT'S BREAKING DOWN THAT DEAD ORGANIC MATTER.

IT DOES FEEL LIKE JELLY.

IT IS NOTHING THAT'S HARMFUL.

JUST A REALLY COOL FIND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FUN.

FUN.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH, ONE PICTURE HERE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA MULTI-STEMMED BIRCH.

THERE'S A GAP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MULTI-STEMS WHERE THE WATER COLLECTS.

HE PULLS THINGS OUT.

SHE WORRIES THAT THE WET WOOD WILL CAUSE ISSUES.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> SO ANYTIME THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT WATER POOLING IN THAT LOCATION, WE CAN LEAD TO FUNGAL INFECTIONS AND ROTS AND SPOTS AND AND POSSIBLY INTERNAL ROT DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO GOOD WAY TO KEEP THE WATER OUT OF THAT BRANCH UNION.

SO WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KIND OF WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT TREE AS THAT PROGRESSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

IT'S A FORESTED LOT NEAR LEWISVILLE.

SECONDARY TRUNK WAS CUT OFF.

ROTTED CENTER HOLDS WATER.

HE'S DRILLED HOLES.

SO BEST WAY TO KEEP WATER OUT AND PROTECT THE MAIN TREE.

>> THERE REALLY IS NO WAY TO KEEP WATER OUT AND PROTECT THE TREE.

SO THE THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THIS IS GOING TO LEAD TO INTERNAL ROT.

SO MORE THAN LIKELY THAT AREA DOWN INTO THE ROOT SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE ROTTED.

AND SO IT'S GOING TO CREATE A WEAK POINT.

SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THE TREE.

AND IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE SPECIES TOO HOW QUICKLY THAT INTERNAL ROT WILL SPREAD EITHER VERTICALLY OR LATERALLY WITHIN THE TREE.

SO JUST LEAVE IT OPEN TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

DON'T TRY TO SEAL IT OVER BECAUSE THAT CAN MAKE THINGS WORSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES FROM ISLA VISTA.

ELIZABETH.

THEY SEE THIS EVERY YEAR ON AN EXPOSED TREE ROOT 25FT FROM THE ACTUAL TREE MOWER DAMAGE.

ARE THESE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE SPROUTS AND WHAT HAPPENS?

>> SO IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD POSSIBLY BE A BLACK LOCUST.

THEY DO SPREAD THROUGH ROOT ZONES AND THEN WE HAVE MOWER DAMAGE ON TOP OF THAT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SECONDARY GROWTH FROM THE DAMAGE TO THE TO THE ROOT ITSELF.

YOU COULD TRY A PRODUCT LIKE SUCKER STOPPER OR SUCKER PUNCH TO TRY TO CONTROL THOSE OR CONTINUE TO BREAK THEM OFF, BUT THEY'RE GOING TO COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR AND PROBABLY THOSE SAME LOCATIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

ELIZABETH.

WELL, WE ARE SITTING IN A WONDERFUL AREA OF YANNEY PARK DOES NOT COME ABOUT THIS BEAUTY WITHOUT MONTHS OF PLANNING AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS TO GET THINGS PLANTED AND MANAGED.

SO LET'S SEE HOW THIS ACTUALLY STARTS AND HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

(UPBEAT MUSIC) >> WELL, THIS IS OUR BIG DIG EVENT THAT WE'VE HAD NOW FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

AND SO LT YEAR WE HAD LIKE 60 VOLUNTEERS AND WE PLANTED 16,000 FLOWERS IN ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF.

AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEERS TO COME AND, YOU KNOW, HELP PLANT FLOWERS THAT THEY CAN COME BACK DURING THE COURSE OF THE SUMMER AND FALL AND JUST SEE THE PARK, YOU KNOW, TURN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN IT ALREADY IS.

>> THIS IS REALLY THE SHOWCASE OF VOLUNTEERISM IN THIS COMMUNITY HERE.

YOU KNOW, THE REASON THAT THESE GARDENS AND THIS PARK WAS HIT WAS TO BE A COMMUNITY CENTER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

AND SO THIS IS JUST AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLKS TO GET THEIR HANDS DIRTY, HELP US AS A PARKS TEAM, PUT TOGETHER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PARK IN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA.

SO THERE'S A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

>> WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS YEAR ROUND, AND SO THEY COME, YOU KNOW, SEASONALLY TO PLANT, TO HARVEST PERENNIAL BULBS AND PUT THEM IN THE GREENHOUSE.

THEY TEND TO THINGS IN THE WINTERTIME.

IN THE SPRING, THEY'RE PLANTING THINGS IN THE GREENHOUSE.

YOU KNOW, IN PREPARATION FOR PUTTING THEM IN THE GROUND.

AND SO OUR VOLUNTEER CORPS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MEETS REGULARLY ALL YEAR LONG.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'LL START PLANNING NEXT YEAR'S EVENTS ALREADY, YOU KNOW, IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.

SO BUT IT'S A COMBINATION.

IT'S LED BY OUR CITY, OUR CITY HORTICULTURAL TEAM THAT LEAD.

BUT WE HAVE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY.

>> SO EVERY YEAR SO FAR, WE'VE TRIED TO CHOOSE A THEME.

A DIFFERENT THEME.

THIS YEAR IS "UNDER THE SEA."

AND SO NEXT YEAR WE'LL CHOOSE A DIFFERENT ONE.

AND THEN WE START PLANNING EVERYTHING ABOUT JULY EVERY SUMMER.

AND THEN THROUGHOUT THE WINTER WE TWEAK SOME NUMBERS, FIGURE OUT WHAT PLANTS TO ORDER, FROM WHERE, AND THEN WE ALSO GROW SOME IN OUR GREENHOUSE AT THE YANNEY SHOP THERE TOO.

SO IT'S A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT OF PLANNING.

>> THIS HAS BEEN A DREAM FOR MR.

YANNEY.

MR.

YANNEY PASSED AWAY ON VALENTINE'S DAY THIS YEAR AT 91, AND THIS WAS ONE OF HIS DREAMS, AND HE WAS ABLE TO KIND OF SEE IT THROUGH TO FRUITION.

AND SO IT'S SPECIAL TO HIM.

IT'S SPECIAL TO A LOT OF US THAT, YOU KNOW, ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND GARDENING AND, YOU KNOW, SEEING PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD TIME OUT HERE.

(SOFT WIND BLOWING) (APPLAUSE) >> IT IS JUST GOEOUS HERE IN YANNEY PARK.

THANKS TO THE OVERSIGHT AND PLANNING BY THE CITY OF LINCOLN, OF KEARNEY, EXCUSE ME, NOT LINCOLN AND ALL THE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS, MANY OF WHOM ARE IN OUR AUDIENCE.

SO WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MANY TRIPS.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE QUESTION FROM HASTINGS, KAIT.

THE ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS MUST HAVE FOOLED THIS ONE.

AND IT TOOK REFUGE FROM THE RAIN.

WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS A PINK SPOTTED HAWKMOTH BECAUSE IT HAS HOT PINK ON ITS HIND WINGS.

AND ITS CATERPILLAR IS THE SWEET POTATO HORNWORM.

>> ALL RIGHTY.

FROM LINCOLN, AN AGING MOTH ON THE FRONT DOOR.

WHAT IS IT?

>> WELL, IF MY MOTH ID IS GOOD, THIS ONE WAS A LITTLE BIT TOUGH, BUT IT'S A DWARF TAWNY WAVE MOTH, I BELIEVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

FUN.

SO FROM OMAHA.

HI, IS THIS A FLY OR ARE THESE POLLEN SACS?

AND WHY IS HE SO CUTE?

MUST KNOW.

>> ALL BUGS ARE CUTE.

I MEAN, THIS IS NOT A FLY.

SO THIS IS ONE OF THE SWEAT BEES.

IT'S GOT THAT METALLIC GREEN COLOR AND THOSE LITTLE BASKETS IT HAS.

THEY'RE CALLED POLLEN BASKETS ON ITS HIND LEGS TO CARRY THAT POLLEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ON THE FLOOR OF HIS MACHINE SHED NEAR DECATUR.

THOUGHT THIS MIGHT BE A WOLF SPIDER.

BUT WHAT IS IT, 50 CENT PIECE?

>> YES.

SO THIS IS A WOLF SPIDER.

AND SHE RECENTLY HAD HER BABIES.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT HER BACK END, SHE'S COVERED IN THE LITTLE SPIDERLINGS.

AND YOU WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT I SAW JODY HAD ONE OF THIS IN HER OFFICE LAST WEEK.

A LITTLE SPIDER BABY.

>> SHE CAN KEEP IT THERE.

ALL RIGHTY.

AND THEN FROM COLUMBUS.

FOUND THIS ON THE BEACH.

FRIEND OR FOE?

>> THIS IS ALSO A FRIEND.

THIS IS A BOLD JUMPING SPIDER.

>> ALRIGHTY.

THANK YOU MUCH.

LET'S SEE.

TERRI FROM PIONEERS PARK NEAR DENTON.

WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PLANTS WITH LEAVES OF THREE.

IS THIS POISON IVY?

>> YEP.

>> YEAH.

GOOD LUCK GETTING RID OF IT.

>> YEP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE TO GET RID OF EVERYTHING.

>> OKAY.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

TERRI, WE'VE HAD THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

SHE'S SAYING IT'S AMUR HONEYSUCKLE.

HOW DOES SHE KEEP IT FROM RETURNING?

>> SO THIS IS GOING TO BE ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TENACIOUS PLANTS THAT YOU'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP MANAGING.

IF YOU CUT IT BACK, I WOULD PROBABLY PAINT IT AND I PROBABLY WOULDN'T DO THAT UNTIL LATER IN THE FALL OR LIKE EARLY, LATE SUMMER, EARLY FALL.

THAT'S WHEN THAT PLANT IS SENDING ALL OF ITS ENERGIES BACK DOWN INTO ITS ROOTS.

SO CONTROL IT THEN, IS PROBABLY A BETTER TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND FROM OMAHA, TERRI, SHE WONDERED WHAT THIS PLANT IS THAT SHE FOUND AGAINST HER FENCE.

>> IT'S A VOLUNTEER ASH.

>> ALL RIGHT, KEEP IT OR CUT IT.

>> I PROBABLY WOULD CUT IT BECAUSE IT'S TOO CLOSE TO YOUR FENCE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY FROM SHENANDOAH, IOWA.

AND THEN WE HAVE A COUPLE OTHERS.

SO WHAT IS THIS BEAUTIFUL SHROOM ON THESE TWO PICTURES?

>> SO THIS IS CALLED A WHITE DAPPLING MUSHROOM.

THEY CAN GET VERY LARGE.

ONCE AGAIN, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IT'S JUST BREAKING DOWN DEAD ORGANIC MATTER.

COOL MUSHROOM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND FROM LINCOLN, ONE PICTURE.

WHAT'S THIS?

SHE'S NEVER SEEN THIS ONE BEFORE IN THAT.

YEAH.

>> THIS.

I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I JUST WENT POOF RIGHT OUT OF MY MIND.

>> A MUSHROOM.

>> IT'S A MUSHROOM.

YES, I AM APOLOGIZING.

I CANNOT COME UP WITH THE NAME RIGHT NOW.

I GUARANTEE YOU IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES IT WILL COME TO ME.

>> SO YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE FROM BEATRICE.

ARE THESE INKY CAPS AND ARE THEY DANGEROUS?

>> THESE ARE INKY CAPS.

AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT EATING THEM, THEY'RE PERFECTLY FINE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT ANYTHING.

THEY'RE JUST REALLY COOL TO LOOK AT.

THEY DO EXPLODE AND THEY IF YOU TOUCH THEM, THE SPORES ARE PRETTY BLACK AND GIVE YOU THAT INKY.

SO THIS IS INKY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH FROM CROFTON, SHE HAS AN ASH.

LEAVES ARE CURLED.

NEW GROWTH LOOKS GOOD.

SHE DID SAY FREEZING TEMPERATURES THIS SPRING.

WOULD THAT POTENTIALLY BE THE CAUSE ON THIS?

>> THAT COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THIS.

OUR OTHER INDICATOR COULD BE HERBICIDE INJURY.

BUT I NEED, YOU KNOW, TO SEE KIND OF HOW IT PROGRESSES TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHICH ONE IT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES FROM BYRON ON THIS ONE.

ELIZABETH.

SHE'S GOT FIVE YEAR OLD HIBISCUS PLANTS AND THEY'RE HUGE.

SHE'S WONDERING IF THE FLOWERING WILL BE HURT IF THEY ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER.

SHOULD SHE LET THEM BE?

>> I WOULD LET THEM BE.

THEY'RE GORGEOUS AND BEAUTIFUL AND HARDY.

HIBISCUS ARE A SHOWSTOPPER FOR SURE.

>> AND WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF THEM BEHIND US HERE AT YANNEY PARK.

>> YES WE DO.

WE HAVE A LOT.

>> SO TWO PICTURES FROM PAPILLION.

ELIZABETH, YOU GOT THIS ONE BECAUSE YOU GOT IT.

THIS IS SERVICEBERRY LEAVES TURNING YELLOW.

IT WAS OKAY LAST WEEK.

>> WHEN I TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PETIOLES ATTACHED TO THAT YELLOW AREA, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE DEFORMED IN SOME WAY.

SO I WOULD LOOK AT IF IT WAS HERBICIDE INJURY OR POSSIBLY THE OTHER DISEASE THAT THEY CAN GET IS, YEAH, I'M DOING GREAT TODAY.

>> DON'T LOOK AT ME.

>> FIRE BLIGHT.

THERE IT IS.

I BEAT YOU AMY.

I GOT ONE WITH MINE.

FIRE BLIGHT.

SO THOSE WOULD BE MY TOP TWO.

BUT AGAIN WE NEED A SAMPLE TO DETERMINE IF IT'S FIRE BLIGHT OR HERBICIDE.

>> AND AGAIN, OUR WEATHER HAS BEEN SO STRANGE THAT LOTS OF PLANTS THAT TYPICALLY BEHAVE WELL ARE SAYING JUST DON'T EXACTLY KNOW WHAT I SHOULD BE DOING THIS YEAR.

I'M GOING TO FLOWER WRONG.

I'M GOING TO FRUIT WRONG.

I'M GOING TO DO NONE OF THE ABOVE AND THEN I'M GOING TO DIE.

OH WELL.

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

WE'VE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME HERE.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS SO MUCH TO EVERYBODY WHO HELPED SET THIS UP FOR US, TO OUR WONDERFUL AUDIENCE, TO THE GREAT VOLUNTEERS, THE CITY OF KEARNEY AND OF COURSE, NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA FOR HAULING ALL THIS OUT HERE, SETTING IT UP AND MAKING THIS A GREAT TIME.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

(UPBEAT MUSIC)