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

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE HAVE A SPECIAL PROGRAM COMING TO YOU FROM THE FREDERICK PEAK GOLF COURSE IN VALENTINE.

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

♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER," COMING TO YOU FROM VALENTINE NEBRASKA ON THIS BEAUTIFUL WARM AND SUNNY AND NOT RAINY NIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER YOUR PHONE QUESTIONS TONIGHT, YOU CAN STILL SEND US THOSE EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

AS ALWAYS, GIVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, INCLUDING WHERE YOU'RE FROM.

WE LOVE TO HEAR WHERE YOU'RE FROM, FROM ALL OVER THE STATE.

AND AS ALWAYS, WE START WITH SAMPLES THIS YEAR DENNIS, YOUR SAMPLE IS -- >> MY SAMPLE IS THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLE.

WE'VE BEEN SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THOSE AROUND.

AND RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE MAKING A GREAT COMEBACK.

THEY WERE ALMOST EXTINCT.

JUST LAST NIGHT I WAS IN LAKE OGALLALA, TEACHING, I LOOKED UP, AND THERE WAS TWO AMERICAN BALD EAGLES FLAPPING EACH OTHER, TRYING TO GRAB EACH OTHER'S CLAWS IN A MATING DANCE.

AMAZING.

AND JUST LAST WEEK AT MIDWAY, KIM SAW A PAIR WITH FLEDGLINGS.

THREE FLEDGLINGS?

>> TWO, YEAH.

>> TWO FLEDGLINGS.

SO, THE AMERICAN BALD EAGLES ARE MAKING A COMEBACK, 'CAUSE AMERICA'S MAKING A COMEBACK.

AND YOU'LL SEE 'EM, JUST KEEP LOOKING FOR 'EM.

>> AND THEY'RE WONDERFUL.

THEY'RE JUST WONDERFUL.

AND TERRI, YOUR SAMPLE IS EITHER BELOVED OR NOT.

>> SO, NORMALLY I WOULD HAVE SAID THIS WAS BELOVED UNTIL YESTERDAY WE WENT TO THE NATURE RESERVE AND I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HATED WEED THAT I ALWAYS WOULD DIG UP IS A YUCCA.

AND I FOUND OUT THAT BUFFALO ACTUALLY LOVE IT.

SO, I'M GOING TO SAY IT'S A WEED IF IT'S NOT WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE.

BUT IF IT CAN STAY WHERE IT'S AT AND YOU HAVE BUFFALO, THEN THEY THINK THE FLOWER -- WHICH THIS ONE ISN'T FLOWERING YET IS CANDY.

AND THEY'LL ACTUALY DIG UP DOWN INTO THE ROOT AND EAT THE ROOT IN THE WINTERTIME.

SO, A WEED IS A PLANT OUT OF PLACE.

SO, IF IT'S OUT OF PLACE, DIG IT UP, IT'S GONNA TAKE YOU A LONG TIME 'CAUSE IT'S VERY DEEP ROOTED.

BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT'S ON MY "OKAY" LIST NOW.

>> THANK YOU, TERRI.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, YOUR SAMPLE IS FROM AN AUDIENCE MEMBER?

>> NO, I BROUGHT THIS FROM O'NEIL TODAY.

AND IT GOT A LITTLE CRISPY IN THE CAR.

SO, THIS IS A ROSE PLANT, AND IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT, I'VE GOT LEAVES WITH WHITE POWDERY STUFF ON IT, AS YOU CAN KINDA SEE THERE.

AND THEN OVER HERE.

SO, THIS IS THE FAMOUS POWDERY MILDEW MOVING IN.

AND IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SEE IT REALLY CLOSE THERE'S LITTLE WHITE DOTS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WHITE, THOSE ARE THE SPORES BEING PRODUCED.

SO, POWDERY MILDEW IS -- IT'S JUNE.

IT'S SHOWING UP, IT LOVES HUMID CONDITIONS.

SO, THE EASIEST WAY TO TAKE CARE OF IT, TRY TO INCREASE THE AIR CIRCULATION IF YOU CAN.

IT DOESN'T LIKE FREE WATER SO YOU CAN BLAST IT WITH WATER.

OTHERWISE, JUST COME TO ENJOY IT, IT WILL CAUSE SOME PREMATURE DEFOLIATION, BUT IT NEVER KILLS THE PLANT.

>> ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE A NATIVE ONE.

>> WE HAVE A NATIVE ONE AND A FUN ONE.

NOW, DRIVING UP HERE, IT WAS HARD TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE ROAD WITH THE NATIVE PLANTS IN THE ROADSIDE DITCHES AND ALL OF THAT.

BUT THIS IS A REALLY COOL PERENNIAL, CALLED GLOBE MALLOW.

THE FUN THING ABOUT THIS ONE IS IT'S FAIRLY SHORT.

WE'RE TALKING LIKE FOUR-TO-12-INCHES TALL-ISH.

MAYBE LIKE A 12-INCH SPREAD.

BUT IT SPREADS BY RHYZOMES AND IT FORMS COLONIES, AND IT PRODUCES THESE REALLY PRETTY TANGERINE COLORED FLOWERS.

NOW, THE DOWNSIDE IS, IS IT'S NOT READILY AVAILABLE IN THE NURSERY INDUSTRY.

BUT IF YOU HAVE A PASTURE AND YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE SOME, I BET YOU COULD GET IT TO TRANSPLANT FAIRLY WELL AND HAVE SOME INTERESTING PLANTS THAT ARE NATIVE.

>> AND, IT DOES NOT LIKE THE CLAY SOILS OF THE EAST -- BECAUSE WE HAVE TRIED IT.

SO, ALL RIGHT, GREAT JOB, ALL.

WE HAVE A ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

DENNIS, WE START WITH YOU.

THIS COMES FROM DAKOTA DUNES, IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

MOLES, PLUS ANTS, AND THEY DID GRUB CONTROL.

SO, THEY'VE HAD MOLES, THEY'VE HAD ANTS.

THEY WONDER IF THE MOLES ARE AFTER THE ANTS, OR WHAT'S WITH THE GRUBS?

>> OKAY, SO YES, THE MOLES ARE AFTER THE ANTS.

70% OF AN EASTERN MOLE'S DIET IS EARTH WORMS, NOT GRUBS.

OKAY?

MOST OF THE REST OF THEIR DIET IS ANTS.

GRUBS, THEY HARDLY EAT ANY GRUBS.

SO, THEY JUST TELL YOU THAT SO YOU DO GRUB CONTROL.

SO, TO GET RID OF THE MOLES, YOU CAN GET RID OF ANTS AND YOU CAN GET RID OF EARTHWORMS.

WHICH, GETTING RID OF EARTHWORMS IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST WAY.

YOU CAN USE A BAIT, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER.

THEY ONLY EAT EARTHWORMS SO YOU HAVE TO USE THE BAIT THAT'S AN IMIITATION EARTHWORM, OKAY?

NOT ANY KIND OF PELLET, THEY WON'T TOUCH A PELLET IF THEY'RE A MOLE, THAT'S FOR GOVPHERS.

THE OTHER THING TO REMEMBER IS -- TO GET RID OF THE ANTS THERE ARE SOME GRANULARS YOU CAN PUT IN THE GROUND THAT PROBABLY MAY DIMINISH THE EARTHWORM POPULATION IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BUT IT DOES.

SO, YOU CAN GO THAT ROUTE, OR YOU CAN USE THE HARPOON MOLE TRAPS TO GET RID OF THEM.

SO, YOU'VE GOT SEVERAL THINGS, BUT YES THE MOLES AND THE ANTS ARE RELATED.

>> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU DENNIS.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES FROM HARLAN, IOWA.

SO, THIS VIEWER HAS A NEWLY TILLED GARDEN AND SOMETHING IS CREATING TUNNELS THROUGH AND AROUND AND PUSHING THE PUMPKIN PLANTS RIGHT OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> YEAH.

SO, IT'S PROBABLY EITHER A GOPHER OR A MOLE.

BUT I'M GOING WITH THE GOPHER.

BECAUSE A GOPHER WILL PUSH UP AND GO AFTER ANY ROOTS OR TUBERS.

AND AGAIN, WITH THE GOPHER, BECAUSE THEY'RE A HERBAVORE.

YOU CAN GO WITH A BAIT LABELED FOR GOPHER CONTROL.

AND CHECK THE LABEL TO MAKE SURE YOU CAN USE IT IN A VEGETABLE GARDEN.

BECAUSE SOME YOU CAN AND SOME YOU CAN'T.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS COMES TO US FROM CHADRON.

THREE HOLES IN THE YARD APPEARED.

THEY PUT A HOSE DOWN, RAN THE WATER, NEVER FILLED UP THE HOLES.

AND HER PICTURE IS GOOD, BECAUSE SHE HAS THE SPACING BETWEEN THE THREE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> SO, IT KIND OF LOOKS LIKE VOLES.

'CAUSE IF IT'S A THIRTEEN LINED GROUND SQUIRREL WHICH MAKES CLEAN HOLES, THEY'RE A VERY SHORT SYSTEM AND IT WOULD COME UP THE OTHER SIDE.

BUT VOLES, BECAUSE THEY'RE IN USUALLY LOWLAND AREAS THEY HAVE WAYS THAT, IF THERE'S A FIVE INCH DOWNPOUR, IT WON'T FLOOD THEM OUT.

SO, WITH THESE SIZED HOLES AND THE CLOSENESS, I'M GOING TO GO WITH A WITH MEADOW VOLE, OR A PRAIRIE VOLE.

AND FOR THOSE, THE BOX TRAPS WORK BEST IN THE EVENING.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE FOR YOU.

THIS VIEWER, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S FROM, BUT HE HAD A SPRINKLER PIPE BURRIED 14-INCHES DEEP.

HAD TO FIX ONE, DUG IT UP, DISCOVERED THAT SOMETHING HAS BEEN CHAWING ON HIS PIPE, WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S PROBABLY A GOPHER OR A 13-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL.

IF THEY'VE BEEN SEEING GROUND SQUIRRELS, IT'S PROBABLY THE GROUND SQUIRRELS, 'CAUSE THEIR HOLES WOULD BE RIGHT ABOVE THE PIPE.

BUT GOPHERS WILL GO UNDERGROUND FOR QUITE A DISTANCE.

OVER 50-FOOT DISTANCE, NEVER COMING UP.

AND SO, IT'S ONE OF THOSE TWO.

THE REMEDY FOR THIS IS THEY SELL A SLEEVE OF STAINLESS STEEL, THAT YOU CAN PUT AROUND THESE IRRIGATION PIPES AND ALSO FIBER OPTICS, SO THESE ANIMALS CAN'T CHEW THAT.

AND THEY'RE JUST A SLEEVE, YOU PUT THE WATER PIPES IN AND THE FIBER OPTICS, TO STOP ANYTHING FROM CHEWING THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, ONLY ONE PICTURE FOR YOU ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS ONE MILE SOUTH OF OGALLALA, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS CUTE LITTLE CLUMP OF UNWANTED GRASS IS.

IT CAME UP IN THEIR BUFFALO GRASS THAT WAS PLANTED LAST SEASON.

>> YEAH, SO WE LOOKED AT IT, AND IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO TELL BECAUSE WE KIND OF HAVE TO SEE LIKE, WHERE THOSE LEAVES AND STUFF KIND OF ATTACH TO THE STEM AND ALL THAT.

BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE A BROME THAT YOU'VE BEEN MOWING OFF.

WE'VE ACTUALLY SEEN A LOT OF GRASSES KIND OF GO TO HEAD, A LOT EXTRA, MORE OFTEN THIS YEAR.

SO, I THINK THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IF YOU CAN JUST KIND OF DIG IT UP, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE BEST.

DON'T LET THE SEED ACTUALLY GET RIPE AND SEED ITSELF ABOUT.

SO, TRY TO GET THAT OUT AS BEST YOU CAN.

AS SOON AS YOU CAN.

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

SHE CALLS HER LAWN, A "HEINZ 57 LAWN" AND SHE OVER-SEEDED AND THEN SHE HAS THESE LITTLE SPROUTS OF WHAT SHE IS CALLING GRASS COMING UP.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FESCUE.

"WHAT IS IT AND HOW DID HE GET THERE?"

>> SO, I THINK IT IS A FESCUE BUT I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE KIND OF BROADLEAF KIND OF MORE PRAIRIE-TYPE FESCUES THERE.

AGAIN, IT'S GOING TO BE KIND OF HARD TO CONTROL.

TRY TO GET THE REST OF YOUR LAWN THAT YOU'VE PLANTED UP AND GROWING.

DO REALLY NICE MANAGEMENT OF IT.

GO OUT WITH YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND TRY TO DIG SOME OF THESE UP, AND YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO MANAGE IT THAT WAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, TERRI.

THIS IS ALSO A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE HAS CANADA ANEMONE, WHICH SHE LIKES, IT HAS SPREAD NICELY UNDER OLD PINE.

SHE HAD AN OLD TREE CUT DOWN THAT HAD POISON IVY ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TOP, AND NOW SHE'S GO POISON IVY ALL OVER IN HER CANADA ANEMONE.

AND SHE WANTS THE ANEMONE, AND NOT THE POISON IVY.

>> YEAH, SO THIS ONE'S GOING TO TAKE YOU A LITTLE WHILE.

BASICALLY, WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU TO DO IS, PROBABLY CUT BACK EVERYTHING SO THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY, GET DOWN TO THE BASE OF THE POISON IVY.

CONTROL THAT POISON IVY BY CUTTING IT AND USING A BRUSH-KILLER, AND YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO DO MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF IT.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE WHILE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO PROBABLY HAVE TO CUT THAT ANEMONE OUT IN ORDER TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THAT POISON IVY, BUT THAT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE THE BEST WAY YOU'RE GOING TO DO NOT TO GET OR LOSE YOUR ANEMONES ALSO.

>> ALL RIGHT, TERRI, THANKS.

THIS ONE COMES TO US, AMY, FROM NEOLA, IOWA.

SHE HAS PAGODA DOGWOOD, WHICH WERE PLANTED BY A GARDEN CENTER.

BY A NURSERY.

AND THEY KIND OF LOOKED REALLY TOUGH RIGHT AFTER PLANTING.

THE THREE PICTURES SHOW THE TREE, THEN THEY SHOW THE STEM AND SOME OF THE FOLIAGE.

THEY WONDER WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

THEY WERE PLANTED MAY 13TH.

>> SO, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE FOLLIAGE HERE, IT'S ALL THE OLDER FOLLIAGE.

AND THE VIEWER STATED THAT IT CAME FROM A GREENHOUSE OR A SUPPLIER FROM NEBRASKA.

TO ME IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL INJURY, MAYBE SOME FROST TIP NIPPING THAT'S GOING ON.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT THE NEW FOLLIAGE COMING OUT, IT LOOKS NICE AND HEALTHY.

SO JUST MAKE SURE YOU'RE WATERRING THOSE FEW PLANTINGS VERY WELL AND JUST BABY THEM A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR AND I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUST FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE AMY; THIS COMES TO US FROM NEAR DENTON.

AND, NEWLY PLANTED PEAR TREE, LOOKS LIKE AN ORNAMENTAL PEAR TREE, AND WHAT ARE THE SPOTS?

>> THIS IS OUR WONDERFUL PEAR RUST.

JUST LIKE CEDER APPLE RUST, WE HAVE PEAR RUST.

AND THIS COMES FROM THE CEDERS AND JUNIPERS OVER TO THE PEARS WHEN THE LEAVES ARE JUST STARTING TO EMERGE.

NOW THE DISEASE CAN MOVE TO THE FRUIT.

TYPICALLY, WE DON'T SEE A LOT OF DAMAGE, BUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME IT IS TOO LATE TO DO ANY TYPE OF TREATMENT.

IF YOU'RE SEEING SOME MAJOR PEAR RUST, WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING THOSE FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRING WHEN WE ARE JUST STARTING TO BUD OUT, TO PROTECT THOSE LEAVES.

BECAUSE WE'RE NEVER GOING TO GET RID OF ALL THE JUNIPERS AND CEDER SPECIES THAT WE HAVE IN NEBRASKA, SO WE'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT SECONDARY HOST PRESENT.

>> ONE MORE, AMY, THIS COMES TO US FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WONDERS --.

OH, SORRY THIS IS THREE PICTURES, THIS IS CERESCO.

THIS IS A PEACH THAT HE PLANTED AND THEN HE'S SEEING THIS LEAKAGE COME OUT OF THE BRANCH AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CENTER THERE.

THE BLISTER, HE'S CALLING IT, BROKE.

AND HE'S GOT THIS GUMMY, GOOEY -- GUMMOSIS.

ON THE BASE, AND HE'S WONDERING, "WILL THIS TREE RECOVER" OR SHOULD HE GO AHEAD AND PRUNE THAT BRANCH OUT.

WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN HERE?

>> SO, THIS IS GUMMOSIS.

IT'S HARD TO TEL IF IT'S CAUSED BY A BACTERRIAL INFECTION OR JUST OVERALL STRESS OF THE PLANT.

BUT SINCE IT'S ONLY ON ONE STEM, I DID ASK ELISABETH TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT -- WITH THE SHAPE OF IT TO GO AHEAD AND JUST RUNE THAT, BUT YOU SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER PIECE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER AS THAT LEADER FOR YOU.

SO, I WOULD JUST PRUNE IT OUT.

AND MAKE SURE YOU DISINFECT YOUR PRUNERS AFTERWARDS, JUST IN CASE IT IS A BACTERRIAL DISEASE THAT'S GOING ON IN THAT TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY, AND NOW, WE COME TO THE ONE FROM UNDERWOOD.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THIS MUSHROOM IS A SHAGGY MANE.

YOU SAID HE HAD QUITE A FEW OF THEM, AND MANY OF THEM WERE ALREADY BLACKED OUT.

>> TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE A SHAGGY MANE.

THERE ARE A FEW LOOK ALIKES, BUT THE WAY IT LOOKS, I WOULD SAY IT IS.

THE ONLY WAY I COULD REALLY TELL THE DIFFERENCE IS IF I COULD SEE THE STEM, WHICH I COULDN'T SEE.

AND IF IT'S SHAGGY MANE, THOSE STEMS ARE GOING TO BE HOLLOW WHEN YOU SPLIT THEM OPEN.

SO THAT'S ANOTER WAY TO TAKE A LOOK AT THEM.

REALLY, REALLY NEAT FIND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

>> AND DON'T EAT IT.

>> YEAH, DON'T EAT IT.

BUT IT'S JUST A REALLY NEAT FIND.

>> OKAY.

ELISABETH, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES FROM HOLT COUNTY.

AND WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH TRYING TO GROW A GROUND COVER IN VERY WINDY, VERY TERRIBLE SOIL.

SHE'S TRIED ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND FOR TRYING TO KEEP THAT SOIL IN PLACE.

TRADITIONAL WOOD MULCH ENDS UP PROBABLY IN NORTH DAKOTA.

SO, WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?

>> SO THERE'S LOTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS.

IF WE WANTED A GROWING OR LIVING MULCH, WE COULD TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE, LIKE SEDUMS OR POSSIBLY LIKE A PURPLE POPPY MALLOW.

BECAUSE THOSE ARE BOTH TOUGH AND HARDY.

I LIKE SEDUMS BECAUSE THEY ROOT DOWN AT THE NODE, AND THEY'LL CREATE LIKE A CARPET.

BUT, YOU KNOW, USUALLY, I DON'T LIKE TO RECOMMEND RIVER ROCK BUT IT IS AN OPTION BECAUSE IT WON'T BLOW AWAY.

JUST TO MAKE THAT WE LEAVE LIKE A BUFFER AREA AROUND THOSE PLANTS SO THAT WAY IT DOESN'T KEEP IT TOO HOT.

ANOTHER OPTION MAYBE TO TRY WOULD BE SOME OF THOSE MULCH GLUES.

PUT DOWN THAT WOOD MULCH, APPLY THAT MULCH GLUE.

SEE IF THAT HELPS TO SEALS THAT WOOD MULCH TOGETHER.

NOW IT'S NOT A LONG-TERM FIX, BUT IT IS A WAY IF YOU WERE LOOKING AT USING MORE OF THOSE ORGANIC MULCHES, TO TRY AND GO AHEAD AND USE THOSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE ELIZABETH.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

SHE USED TO BE ABLE TO MOW THIS HILL AND THEN THE CABLE COMPANY CAME THROUGH A LOT OF EROSION FROM THE RAINS, AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT SHE CAN DO TO FILL AND HOLD THAT SOIL SO SHE CAN REPLANT?

>> SO THIS IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE, LIKE WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO FILL THE HOLE.

WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO PUT SOMETHING ON THERE THAT'S GOING TO WANT TO GROW.

IF THEY WANT TO PUT GRASS BACK IN, THIS WOULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO USE SOMETHING LIKE THE HYDRA-SEED OR POSSIBLY USE SOME OF THOSE STRAW MULCH MATS TO HELP HOLD THAT IN PLACE.

OTHERWISE, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPERTUNITY TO TRY SOME DIFFERENT GROUND COVERS.

DEPENDING ON THE SUNLIGHT, THAT IS THERE THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO MOW THAT LITTLE BIT OF THAT PATCH IN THAT AREA.

SO, LOTS OF OPTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ELKHORN.

SHE PLANTED TWO ASPENS FIVE YEARS AGO.

ONE OF THEM THE TRUNK IS BEGINNING TO LOOK PRETTY DECAYED AT THE BASE.

SHE'S WONDERING IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO SAVE THIS TREE?

>> SO UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NOTHING THAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND.

SOME TIMES WHEN THEY GET A CANKER OR THERE'S DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK OF THE TREE, IF IT'S MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF THE OVERALL TRUNK, THAT TREE IS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME COMING BACK AND SEALING OVER THOSE WOUNDS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WOUND IS GOING TO BE RIGHT AROUND THAT ONE THIRD, BUT WE WANT TO LEAVE THAT WOUND OPEN TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

WE DON'T SEAL IT OR PAINT IT OR TAR IT IN ANY WAY.

AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO WAIT.

IF THE TREE IS IN OVERALL GOOD HEALTH, IT'S GOING SEAL OVER THAT WOUND, AND ABLE TO MOVE THOSE WATER AND NUTRIENTS ON THAT SIDE.

IF THE WOUNDS TOO BIG WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE SIDE WITH THE WOUND KIND OF STRUGGLE.

LEAVE SMALLER THAN NORMAL DROPPING LEAVES EARLIER THAN NORMAL.

SHOWING SOME SIGNS OF STRESS ON THAT SIDE WHERE THAT WOUND IS LOCATED.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE QUICK ONE HERE, AND THIS COMES TO US FROM COLUMBUS.

ELIZABETH, HE WANTS THE ROSE BUSH TO BUSH OUT INSTEAD OF SHOW THE GIANT GAIN, WHAT SHOULD HE DO?

>> MY GUESS IS IS THAT ROSE POSSIBLY REVERTED.

SO YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT THE STRAIGHT SPECIES WITH THAT WILD HAIR IN THE BACKGROUND.

SO I'D GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OUT THOSE WILD HAIRS.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THE ROSE BUSH YOU ORIGINALLY PLANTED AND IT SHOULD KIND OF BUSH OUT FOR YOU.

>> EXCELLENT, ALL RIGHT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WELL NOAH YOUNG IS A FIRST GERENATION FARMER FROM KENNESAW.

YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM BETTER FROM HIS WEONDERFUL MILLION HITS OF HIS EDUCATIONAL FUNNY FARMING PROCESSES BUT WE HAVE A GREAT VIDEO TO SHARE WITH YOU.

♪ >> AT THE SHILOH FARM, THEY GROW FLOWERS, FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES.

RAISE CHICKEN, SHEEP AND A BUNCH OF OTHER ANIMALS.

BUT NONE OF THIS PAYS THE BILLS FOR NOAH YOUNG AND FAMILY.

THIS IS THE MONEY MAKER.

>> HERE'S FIVE THINGS THAT SHOULD NEVER BE PLANTED TOGETHER.

CAULIFLOWER AND CUCUMBERS ARE BOTH HEAVY FEEDERS.

IF YOU PLANT THEM TOGETHER, THEY'RE GOING TO BE FIGHTING OVER NUTRIENTS LIKE TWO TODDLERS OVER A JUICE BOX.

SO BY PLANTING THEM TOGETHER, YOU'RE BASICALLY CREATING A FUNGAL FREE-FOR-ALL.

>> MILLIONS OF PEOPLE FOLLOW THE SHILOH FARM ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR FUNNY EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS ABOUT NOAH'S FARMING JOURNEY.

>> LITTLE BITE.

IT'S LIKE OUR FAMILY TRADITION.E THE FIRST STRAWBERRY OF THE YEAR, WE ALWAYS SHARE IT.

OTHERWISE WE FIGHT OVER IT.

>> Reporter: THIS STARTED IN 2020 WHEN NOAH AND HIS WIFE SIERRA DECIDED TO TURN THEIR SMALL FIVE ACRE HOBBY FARM INTO THE FOUNDATION FOR WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A MARKETING BUSINESS.

>> JUST LIKE COMPANIES ARE WILLING TO SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A SUPER BOWL COMMERCIAL TO REACH MILLIONS OF EYES, THEY CAN SO THE SAME THING BY COMING TO AN INFLUENCER LIKE MYSELF WHO REACHES OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERY MONTH AND WE GET PAID BY BRANDS AND COMPANIES TO CREATE ADVERTISING PRODUCTS FOR THEM.

>> WHAT STATE ARE Y'ALL FROM?

>> KENTUCKY.

>> WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE AGG COMMODITY?

>> SOYBEANS.

WE SOLD $1.4 BILLION WORTH OF SOY BEANS LAST YEAR.

>> Reporter: NOAH ALSO GETS PAID TO BE AN INFLUENCER AT EVENTS PLUS GETS INCOME FROM THE PLATFORMS HE POSTS ON DEPENDING ON THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC FOR EACH VIDEO.

>> THERE'S DRAMA IN THE GARDEN?

>> OH YEAH.

>> Reporter: THIS VIDEO ABOUT THINGS NOT TO PLANT TOGETHER, 778,000 VIEWS ON TIKTOK AND 438,000 ON YOUTUBE IN JUST A WEEK.

23 MILLION PEOPLE SAW A VIDEO HE POSTED A WHILE AGO ABOUT SEEDLESS WATERMELONS.

>> AND THIS ODD SET OF CHROMOSOMES WILL RESULT IN THE FRUIT BEING STERILE AND NOT PRODUCING ANY SEED.

PERFECT.

AND CUT.

SOMEBODY WILL STOP ME AT A GROCERY STORE AND THEY'LL BE LIKE, "OH, MY GOSH, I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS."

OOH, YEAH.

THERE'S DRAMA.

>> YEAH, IT'S KIND OF AWKWARD SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE ARE LIKE, "OH, YOU GUYS ARE BIG SHOTS," WHERE REALLY THIS IS JUST EVERYDAY LIFE FOR US.

>> OOH, LOOKS GREAT.

>> Reporter: FOR NOAH, SIERRA AND THEIR FOUR KIDS, WHO ARE ALSO VERY INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION.

WHAT YOU THINK OF YOUR DAD'S VIDEOS?

>> I LIKE THEM.

>> I LIKE THEM.

>> ME TOO.

>> THE ROOTS ARE ALL SOGGY AND THE PLANT'S LIKE, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SWIM.

>> Reporter: IS HE SILLY SOMETIMES?

>> YEAH.

>> Reporter: IT'S A BUSINESS MAKING CHOICES ABOUT WHAT TO RAISE BASED ON WHAT'S GOOD FOR CONTENT CREATION -- >> YEP, GO AHEAD AND PUT IT IN.

>> Reporter: -- BUT THEY ALSO CONSUME AND SELL THEIR PRODUCT.

JUST AS IMPORTANT, IT ALLOWS THE YOUNG FAMILY TO SPEND TIME AND CREATE SOMETHING TOGETHER, INCLUDING CONTENT NOAH HOPES IS A POSITIVE THING FOR THE MILLIONS WHO FOLLOW HIS ADVENTURES.

>> I WANT THEM TO FEEL UPBEAT AND FEEL LIKE IT WAS WORTH THE TIME TO WATCH MY VIDEO.

AND THAT THEY ACTUALLY WALKED AWAY FROM THAT EITHER LAUGHING, FEELING BETTER, OR LEARNING SOMETHING.

♪ >> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR THAT UNIQUE STORY ABOUT THAT GARDENING AND THE HOMESTEADING AND ALSO A LOT OF FUN.

IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF FUN, AS WELL.

ALL RIGHT, SPEAKING OF FUN, LET US GO TO OUR NEXT ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

YOUR FIRST ONE OS TWO PICTURES, DENNIS.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS A COMPOST PILE DIGGER AND THE HOLES ARE UNIFORMLY SPACED AT GROUND LEVEL.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED LAST YEAR.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS WASPS OR BEES, NO INSECTS.

ANY IDEAS?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S VOLES, AND THEY'RE HELPING YOU BY AERATING YOUR COMPOST.

THEY MAY ASK FOR A LITTLE MONEY DOWN THE LINE AS FAR AS SEED, BUT JUST LET THEM DO IT.

THEY'RE NOT HURTING A THING AND THEY'RE JUST HELP AERATING YOUR COMPOST.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA, DENNIS.

SHE HAD DRAIN TILE IN THE RETAINING WALL, THEY PUT A PIECE IN IT TO KEEP THE CRITTERS OUT.

AND THEN THEY SAW A SMALL RASCALLY RABBIT GO IN THERE.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING, A, HOW DO THEY GET THE RABBIT OUT AND B, HOW DO THEY KEEP THE RABBITS OUT.

>> WELL, THE RABBIT WILL PROBABLY COME OUT EVERY NIGHT IF IT'S MATURE ENOUGH TO FEED.

AND SO, JUST WAIT TO, YOU KNOW, MIDNIGHT, AND PUT THE CAP BACK IN.

IF THERE'S YOUNG IN THERE, THE YOUNG ARE ONLY IN THE NEST MAYBE THREE OR FOUR DAYS AND THEN THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN PUT THAT IN THERE, WAIT THREE OR FOUR DAYS, AND THEN OPEN IT UP AND IT WILL BE FINE.

IF YOU REALLY WANT THEM OUT REAL QUICK, JUST GET A HOSE AND SPRAY WATER UP THERE AND ANY IN THERE WILL COME FLYING OUT, ALL WET, AND THEN PUT YOUR PLUG BACK IN.

>> OKAY.

WE HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, DENNIS.

THIS IS FROM COLUMBUS.

SOMETHING IS CUTTING OR CHEWING THE SIX INCH BRANCHES OFF THEIR BLACK HILLS SPRUCE AND THEN DROPPING THEM.

>> YEAH, THAT IS A RASCALLY RABBIT.

RABBITS LIKE.

SQUIRRELS WON'T GO FOR THOSE CONIFERS AS MUCH.

AND IF THEY ARE THAT LOW, IT'S A RABBIT.

THEY MAY BE TRYING TO GET SOME SUGARS OUT OF IT.

IT'S HARD TO SAY WHY, BUT IT'S A RABBIT.

>> OKAY, AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A VOLE QUESTION.

A MAJOR INFESTATION, THEY HAD A COMPANY COME OUT AND PUT THE BLACK BOXES OUT, THEY PUT BAIT.

IT SOUNDS LIKE RODENT BOXES AND POISONED PELLETS IN THE ENTRANCES.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF THAT WILL CONTROL THEM OR WHAT ELSE SHOULD THEY ATTEMPT?

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO USE POISONS BECAUSE SHE'S GOT OTHER CRITTERS.

>> RIGHT, 'CAUSE IF A DOG, OR CAT, OR EAGLE PICK UP THAT RODENT, 'CAUSE THERE'S NO POISON THAT KILLS THEM QUICKER THAN FIVE DAYS, SO FOR FIVE DAYS THAT RODENT IS TOXIC UNTIL IT DIES AND THEN THERE'S EVEN TURKEY VULTURES THAT CAN GET HURT FROM EATING THE CARCASS.

SO, I WOULD GO WITH THE MULTI-CATCH BOXES, MADE BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRANDS.

YOU GET THEM FROM THE INTERNET.

AND WIND THEM UP, PUT THEM OUT EVERY NIGHT AND THEY'LL HOLD UP TO 15 EACH.

EACH ONE OF THESE BOXES.

THE OTHER THING IS, VOLES ARE WHAT WE CALL A CYCLIC MICROTINE RODENT WHICH MEANS THEY WILL GO FROM 25 ANIMALS PER ACRE UP TO 250 PER ACRE AND THEN CRASH BACK DOWN ON THEIR OWN.

SO, JUST WAIT AND THEY'LL CRASH ON THEIR OWN.

>> OKAY.

>> OR YOU CAN USE THOSE BOXES.

BUT I WOULD STAY AWAY FROM -- AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE'S VERY, VERY FEW POISONS THAT ALLOW THAT BECAUSE OF THAT WE CALL NONTARGET.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE PICTURE AND I THINK YOUR ANSWER'S GONNA BE THE SAME.

THIS IS A SYRACUSE VIEWER.

SHE JUST WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S LIVING IN HER CRANESBILL.

>> IT'S VOLES.

>> YEAH, IT'S VOLES.

>> SO YOU COULD JUST PUT THE BOX BY IT.

>> OKAY.

TERRI, TWO PICTURES FOR YOU.

THIS IS A WATERLOO, NEBRASKA VIEWER.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THIS WICKED WEED IS WITH THE BIG THORNS?

>> WELL, IT IS SOME KIND OF THISTLE, I'M NOT FOR SURE WHICH ONE IT IS JUST BECAUSE IT'S BASICALLY BEEN CUT BACK SO MUCH.

I MEAN IF YOU COULD LET IT GROW AND LET IT KIND OF MAYBE EVEN HEAD OUT, THEN I'D BE ABLE TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

BUT I WOULD JUST GO GET YOUR SOIL KNIFE AND JUST START DIGGING IT OUT.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE WEARING SOME PRETTY HEFTY GLOVES WHEN YOU DO THIS BECAUSE THE THORNS ARE REALLY GOING TO GET INTO YOUR FINGERS.

SO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE DOING THE GLOVES AND THE SOIL KNIFE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.

>> OKAY, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, TERRI.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS A WEED IN HER ALLEY AND SHE WONDERS WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO KILL IT.

>> THIS IS VERBENA VERVAIN.

I WOULD PROBABLY JUST LEAVE IT UNLESS IT'S LIKE REALLY GETTING INTO STUFF.

IT'LL ACTUALLY HAVE A REALLY NICE PRETTY FLOWER.

IT WILL HOLD THE SOIL.

SO, UNLESS YOU REALLY DON'T WANT IT THERE AT ALL, YOU CAN USE A BROADLEAF HERBICIDE.

I WOULD PROBABLY WAIT UNTIL FALL TO START SINCE WE'RE REALLY GETTING INTO THE HEAT OF THE SEASON, NOW.

SO, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET RID OF IT, USE A BROADLEAF HERBICIDE IN THE FALL.

>> OKAY.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE, TERRI.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PONCA.

SHE HAS A RUNNING WEED TAKING OVER THE GARDEN BEDS AND WONDERS WHAT IN THE WORLD IT IS.

SEEMS TO HAVE AN EXTENSIVE ROOT SYSTEM.

>> YEAH, WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COME TO THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, I CAN SHOW YOU THIS THERE TOO.

BUT THIS IS TRUMPET VINE.

IT WILL HAVE A VERY NICE HEFTY ROOT SYSTEM.

THE BEST THING I'M GOING TO TELL YOU TO DO IS JUST START CUTTING IT BACK AND PAINTING IT, AGAIN, LIKE I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THE POISON IVY EARLIER USING THAT BRUSH KILLER.

AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND PROBABLY A COUPLE OF YEARS TO GET RID OF IT.

'CAUSE WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, SO WE CAN WORK AT IT TOGETHER.

>> AND TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, TERRI.

THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER.

SHE SAYS THIS WEED CAME IN IN DIRT SHE GOT OUT OF AN OLD BARN IN BRAINARD.

SO, WHAT'S THIS ONE?

>> THIS IS A HONEY LOCUST, SO THEY SHOULD BE PRETTY EASY TO PULL OUT WHILE THEY ARE STILL THAT LITTLE.

SO JUST KIND OF GO OUT THERE AND YOU CAN USE YOUR SOIL KNIFE IF YOU'D LIKE, OR THEY SHOULD COME OUT PRETTY EASILY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE IRRIGATING OR IF AFTER A RAIN.

YOU CAN, IF IT'S IN YOUR TURF, JUST KEEP MOWING THEM DOWN AND THEY SHOULD JUST GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AMY, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES HERE.

>> THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS ALL NATIVE PLANTS.

THIS IS OUR NATIVE AROMATIC ASTER.

HE'S GIVEN US PICTURES IN THE FALL BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS ONE.

HE DOESN'T WATER OVER MUCH.

IT'S FULL SUN, WELL-DRAINED AND HE IS WONDERING WHAT THIS IS AND IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN?

>> SO, IT'S SOME SORT OF FUNGAL LEAF SPOT.

THERE ARE MANY FUNGAL LEAF SPOTS THAT CAN AFFECT ASTER AND I CAN'T TELL FROM THE PICTURE EXACTLY WHICH ONE IT IS.

SO, WHEN WE LOOK AT MANAGEMENT, YOU ALREADY SAY YOU DON'T WATER FROM OVERHEAD, THIS IS RESIDUE BORN.

SO, WE NEED TO CLEAN OUT THOSE BEDS REALLY THOROUGHLY IN THE FALL AND YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO SEE THOSE SYMPTOMS START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK THEIR WAY UP THE PLANT.

AND SO, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO PREVENT IT THIS YEAR, AS YOU START SEEING THOSE LOWER LEAVES STARTING TO GET INFECTED, TREATING IT WITH A BASIC FUNGICIDE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST OPTION TO SLOW DOWN THAT DISEASE UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO CLEAN OUT THOSE BEDS THOROUGHLY NEXT FALL.

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

FROM PICKRELL.

SHE WONDERS WHAT'S ON HER TOMATO PLANT.

>> SO THIS IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S TRYING TO GROW SOME EXTRA ROOTS ON THAT STEM OF THE TOMATO WHICH OCCURS WHEN IT'S IN REALLY HUMID ENVIRONMENTS OR CLOSE TO THAT SOIL SURFACE.

SO, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>> ALL RIGHT AND THREE ON THE NEXT ONE, AMY.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, VERY WELL CARED FOR LAWN, THREE YEARS IN A ROW HAS HAD THESE SPOTS SHOW UP.

IT LOOKS -- THEY DO HAVE CATS, RACCOONS AND FOXES.

THEY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS PEE OR IS THIS ROT IN A SPOT.

>> I KIND OF WENT BACK AND FORTH ON THIS ONE, I CAN'T TELL YOU FOR SURE BUT THE ONE DISEASE I WAS LEANING TOWARDS SINCE IT'S SO CLOSE TO THE SIDEWALK IS MAYBE SUMMER PATCH WHERE IT'S GETTING A LITTLE WARM AND NOT GETTING ENOUGH MOISTURE.

SO, SUMMER PATCH IS GOING TO AFFECT THOSE ROOTS.

SO, IF YOU DIG THEM UP AND YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE ROOTS AND IF THEY'RE A LITTLE REALLY BLACK AND DECAYED THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT'S SUMMER PATCH.

THE BEST MANAGEMENT FOR IT IS TO OVERSEED THAT AREA, A BLUEGRASS WITH SOME MORE TOLERANCE, OR SLIGHTLY MORE RESISTANT BLUEGRASS IN THOSE AREAS.

>> ALL RIGHT AND ONE MORE AMY THIS IS A CERESCO VIEWER WHO JUST SAID, "GOSH THIS IS A COOL MUSHROOM."

WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS A COOL MUSHROOM.

THIS IS DRYAD'S SADDLE.

WE FIND ON DEAD AND DECAYING WOODS IN OUR WOODS THROUGHOUT NEBRAKSA, OR FOREST AREA.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMMON MUSHROOMS WE'LL ACTUALLY FIND IN THE STATE.

>> GREAT.

ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO ACTUALLY FOLLOWED OUR ADVICE AND USED SOMETHING TO KEEP THE SQUIRRELS FROM CHEWING ON HIS TREE, BUT NOW HE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN SAVE THE TREE AND WILL IT FILL BACK IN?

>> SO WHEN IT COMES TO EVERGREENS, ANYTIME WE LOSE THE ENDS THAT ARE GREEN AND IT GOES BACK TO THE PARTS THAT ARE BROWN, UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT GOING TO RESPROUT NEW GROWTH.

SO THIS VIEWER IS PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE A BARE SPOT IN THEIR TREE.

IF THEY DON'T LIKE THE WAY IT LOOKS, THEY COULD REMOVE AND REPLACE OR WE COULD JUST LEAVE IT ALONE AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, THE HEAD SCRATCHER.

THIS IS BURR OAK LEAVES FROM NEBRASKA CITY.

THE LEAVES AREN'T DRY, THEY HAVE THIS 90 DEGREE CROOK.

WHAT DO WE NEED -- WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO INSTEAD OF GIVING A GOOD ANSWER?

>> WELL WE'RE GOING TO SAY WE NEED A SAMPLE.

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO CHALK IT UP TO ENVIRONMENTAL.

WE'RE JUST NOT REALLY SURE WHAT CAUSES THAT.

I KNOW BURR OAK BLIGHT CAN CAUSE SOMETHING BUT THEN THERE'S NECROSIS IN THE LEAF.

SO WE'RE NOT REAL SURE.

IT ALSO DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH OF THE TREE IS AFFECTED.

IF IT'S SPECIFIC SIDE, IS IT ONLY ONE TREE.

YOU KNOW, THAT ALL PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS.

SO, I MEAN, A SAMPLE WOULD REALLY BE HELPFUL.

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

THIS IS FROM MULLEN.

DEER RUBBED ON A REDBUD, BROKE OFF SOME BRANCHES, THEY TRIMMED IT.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD TRIM THE REST OF IT, PULL IT -- PULL IT WITH A STEAK AND TRY TO GET IT TO STAND UP STRAIGHT.

>> IF THE TREES DEGREE OF LEAN IS WHEN IT'S THAT MATURE, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO STAY THAT WAY.

I WOULD REMOVE THOSE ROPES THAT ARE HOLDING THAT CLUSTER TOGETHER AND JUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT TO MOVE THAT TREE MORE UPRIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT AND TWO MORE FROM COLUMBUS.

THIS IS CRIMSON SPRIRE OAK, THREE OF THEM.

THE MIDDLE ONE DIED.

ANOTHER ONE LOOKS TERRIBLE.

SHE WONDERS SHOULD THEY CUT THEIR LOSSES AND START OVER?

>> FOR THIS YEAR, I WOULD FOR SURE CUT OUT THE DEAD AND SEE WHAT'S LEFT.

I'D ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE IT'S BEEN PLANTED, MAKING SURE THAT IT'S NOT PLANTED TOO DEEP.

EVEN IF IT IS PLANTED TOO DEEP, THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A WHOLE LOT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO DO WITH THAT.

SO IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY PROMISING, THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL WE ARE GOING TO BREAK RIGHT NOW.

SO STAY WITH US.

THERE'S A LOT MORE BACKYARD FARMER COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

♪ ♪ [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'RE GOING HEAR FROM SCOTT ABOUT PRUNING PAINT.

DO WE OR DO WE NOT?

REMEMBER WE CAN'T TAKE YOUR CALLS TONIGHT, BUT YOU CAN STILL SEND US THOSE EMAILS TO BE BYF@UNL.EDU.

AND RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK ELIZABETH.

>> YES IT IS.

SO WE HAVE SEVERAL VERY NICE, VERY NATIVE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE THE SHELL LEAF PENSTEMON.

IT'S BLOOMING ALL OVER NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE MAY AND JUNE.

IT'S GOING TO BE THE BLOOM TIME.

STARTS AT THE BOTTOM, WORKS IT'S WAY UP.

A REALLY PROLONGED BLOOM TIME WITH THAT ONE.

AND THEN THE ONE IN THE BACK IS GOING TO BE OUR JUNE GRASS.

NOW JUNE GRASS HAS A REALLY INTERESTING SEED HEAD.

LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO LIKE OUR KARL FOERSTER, BUT IT'S A NATIVE ONE.

BOTH OF THESE ARE BOTH REALLY NICE TO ADD TO THE LANDSCAPE.

LOTS OF BEAUTY.

AND THEN, LIKE I SAID, LOTS OF LONG SEASONAL BLOOM WITH BOTH OF THESE.

>> EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH ELIZABETH.

WELL YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY BEEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS SINCE WE STARTED PLANTING IN OUR GARDEN, BUT IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK REALLY WONDERFUL.

SO LET'S TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO AND HEAR FROM TERRI FROM THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT OUR SUMMER CONTAINERS.

WE REMOVED THOSE PANSIES AND VIOLAS THAT WE HAD, AND WE HAVE ALL OF OUR SUMMER, HEAT LOVING PLANTS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M GOING TO TELL YOU IS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU ARE PLANTING THESE, YOU WANT TO KIND OF FILL THE CONTAINER IS MUCH AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

YOU WANT TO PUT A SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER IN THERE, AND YOU WANT TO START USING KIND OF A FOLIAR FEED IN JULY AND AUGUST WHEN IT GETS REALLY HOT.

THAT'LL REALLY HELP KEEP THOSE PLANTS GETTING THROUGH.

DON'T FORGET TO DO THE THRILLER FILLER AND SPILLER TO MAKE YOUR PLANS LOOK FANTASTIC.

ALSO, IF YOU PLAN CORRECTLY, AND YOU DID IT RIGHT, IF YOU PUT A FEW GRASSES IN THERE, THOSE WILL ACTUALLY CARRY YOU INTO THE FALL AND YOU CAN HAVE SOME GREAT FALL CONTAINERS ALSO.

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

♪ >> AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED TO BE OFF TO ANOTHER GREAT START IN THE GARDEN.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN LINCOLN, ANY OLD TIME, WE'RE OPEN 24/7/365.

SO WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COOL THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

A COUPLE OF THEM, SATURDAY, JUNE 14th IS EAST CAMPUS DISCOVERY DAYS.

THIS SATURDAY WE'LL BE IN THE GARDEN.

WE ALSO HAVE THE GARDEN CLUB OF LINCOLN.

GREAT FREE TOUR.

THAT ONE IS ALSO GOING ON, ON SATURDAY.

SO LOTS OF FUN THINGS.

ALL RIGHT WE HAVE PICTURES COMING UP NEXT.

OUR NEXT ROUND OF PICTURES, LET'S SEE DENNIS, YOU HAVE TWO FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM PAPILLION AND GRETNA.

SHE HAS A RACCOON SHE THINKS IT'S DESTROYING HER BIRDHOUSE AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT SHE CAN DO TO STOP THE RACCOON, IF IT IS A RACCOON.

>> YEAH IT LOOKS LIKE A RACCOON.

THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE AND THE WAY DAMAGE IS DONE.

IT DEFINITELY WOULD BE SOMETHING ABOUT THE SIZE OF A RACCOON, ESPECIALLY IN THAT AREA.

YOU HAVE TO ELIMINATE THE RACCOON BY TRAPPING IT.

USE A BIG CAGE TRAP.

MARSHMALLOWS, MARSHMALLOWS, MARSHMALLOWS.

AND DON'T JUST PUT THEM IN THE TRAP, BECAUSE THEY'LL GRAB THEM OUT.

HANG IT FROM THE TOP.

ONCE THE RACCOON IS IN THE TRAP, CALL ANIMAL CONTROL AND HAVE THEM TAKE CARE OF IT.

DON'T YOU TOUCH IT OR GO NEAR IT.

RACCOONS CARRY RABIES, ROUNDWORM AND LOTS OF OTHER THINGS.

SO YOU CAN SET THE TRAP.

ONCE IT'S IN THE TRAP, CALL THE AUTHORITIES.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE FROM NORTH CENTRAL IOWA.

THIS IS A VIEW WHO HAS SOMETHING THAT IS INVERTING HER GRAPE JELLY FEEDER.

WOULD THAT BE A RACCOON OR AN OPOSSUM?

>> IT COULD BE EITHER.

BY THE LOOKS OF IT, IT'S GRABBING DOWN AND HANGING.

AND SO IT COULD BE A SMALLER RACCOON OR A SMALLER OPOSSUM.

EITHER WAY, THERE'S CALLED A STUFF-- ITS CALLED PORCUPINE WIRE IT'S STAINLESS STEEL SO IT LASTS FOREVER, BUT IT'S EXPENSIVE.

AND YOU CAN TWIST IT AND HANG EVERYTHING BY THAT.

AND THEN SQUIRRELS, OPOSSUMS, AND CANNOT GET TO IT, AS LONG AS IT IS SIX FOOT AWAY FROM THE POLE.

>> ALL RIGHT TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS ALL THESE BRANCHES ON THE LAWN.

SHE THINKS IT IS SQUIRRELS, BUT WHY DO THEY DO THIS?

>> WELL IT'S PROBABLY YOUNG SQUIRRELS AND THEY ARE DROPPING IT BECAUSE THEY ARE LEARNING TO BUILD NESTS.

AND, "I KNOW TO CHEW THAT AND DROP IT BUT WHAT DO I DO WITH IT AFTER?"

WELL LATER ON THEY'LL BUILD NESTS WITH IT.

BUT TREES AND SQUIRRELS THAT ARE NATIVE, THEY EVOLVE TOGETHER.

THEY'LL BE OKAY.

>> ALL RIGHT SINCE YOU HAVE THREE MORE ALONG THAT SAME LINE THE FIRST ONE FROM GRAND ISLAND, WHAT WOULD DO THIS TO A TREE AND CAN THEY STOP IT?

>> WELL THIS IS TERRITORIAL MARKING WHEN IT IS SMALL.

BUT THIS IS SO LARGE, I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY.

IT MAY BE A DROUGHT AREA AND THEY WANT TO GET THAT MOISTURE FROM UNDER THE BARK.

AND SO -- IT'S SQUIRRELS.

THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT IS TO PUT VEGETABLE OIL AND CAYENNE PEPPER ALL AROUND THERE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT THE TREE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT THE SQUIRREL, BUT THE SQUIRREL WILL TRY IT ONCE AND IT WON'T TRY AGAIN.

>> AND ON THAT NOTE THEN, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE FROM LINCOLN WITH A 20- YEAR-OLD GINKGO AND SAME THING.

>> YEAH, THAT DAMAGE WAS DONE YEARS AGO, AND NOW IT'S KILLED THAT BRANCH.

AND AGAIN, THAT SQUIRREL IS TRYING TO NUTRIENTS PROBABLY IN THE WINTER OR MOISTURE.

>> OKAY, AND ONE FROM HICKMAN.

SO SAME QUESTION.

IS THIS SQUIRREL DAMAGE OR SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

>> NO IT'S ALSO SQUIRREL DAMAGE.

>> DOGGONE SQUIRRELS ANYWAY.

>> DOGGONE TREES IN THE WAY.

>> DOGGONE TREES IN THE WAY.

OKAY ON THAT NOTE, TERRI YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES HERE.

THIS IS A OMAHA VIEWER WHO PUT DOWN SOD IN APRIL, WATERED, FERTILIZED AND USED GRUB CONTROL.

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO NOW?

>> OH, I'M SORRY, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER, A, START OVER OR OVERSEED IN THE FALL.

I'M NOT FOR SURE WHY IT LOOKS THE WAY IT DOES.

I'D HAVE TO ACTUALLY SEE -- I'D ACTUALLY HAVE TO PULL THE SOD BACK SO I COULD SEE KIND OF WHAT IT IS.

MY GUESS IS THAT IT IS PROBABLY TOO HARD PACKED AND IT JUST WASN'T ROOTING DOWN VERY WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE TERRI.

THIS IS A HOLDREGE VIEWER.

THE NIEGHBOR DOES A LOT OF SPRAYING TO KILL WEEDS A COUPLE OF TIMES A YEAR.

AND HER TURF IS ALSO DYING FROM POTENTIAL RUNOFF.

ANY SOLUTIONS?

>> WELL I'D HAVE TO KNOW FOR SURE WHICH CHEMICALS THEY WERE DOING.

SOME OF THEM PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE MOVING MUCH IN THE SOIL ONCE IT'S DOWN.

SO WE'D HAVE TO KNOW FOR SURE WHAT THEY WERE SPRAYING.

REALLY WHAT I WOULD DO IS I WOULD START AT THE TOP AND START PUTTING SOMETHING THERE AND PLANTING SO YOU HOLDING THAT SOIL IN THE SPACE.

SO, IF IT'S DYING ALL THE WAY DOWN, I DON'T KNOW -- IT'S NOT A VERY GOOD PICTURE AND I WOULD HAVE TO SEE A LITTLE BIT BETTER, ESPECIALLY HOW IT'S ALL AT, BUT I WOULD START AT THE TOP.

TRY TO GET SOMETHING ESTABLISHED UP TOP TO HOLD THAT SOIL IN PLACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM NORTH-CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

HAD A DISEASED POPLAR CUT DOWN AND NOW THE SUCKERS ARE COMING UP ALL OVER.

THEY'RE WONDERING SHOULD THEY TRY A ROOT KILLER OR JUST DEAL?

>> THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE A HARD ONE, TOO.

I DONT KNOW IF YOU -- I AM GOING TO ASSUME YOU PROBABLY TRIED TO GET RID OF THE WHOLE STUMP WITH STUMP GRINDING.

SO, THERE COULD BE SOME MORE OF THE ROOT LEFT THAT YOU DIDN'T GET OUT.

TRY TO CUT THEM BACK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

GET THAT MULCH DOWN TO HOLD THAT MOISTURE INTO THAT TREE THAT YOU PLANTED AND THEN START PLANTING SOME TURF AROUND IT, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANTED IT TO DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND TWO FROM CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS IN THE DITCHES AND THE TURF, WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS THE BLACK MEDIC.

THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO GET A HOLD OF.

IT IS AN ANNUAL.

SO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO SEED.

CONTROL IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE FALL.

DO A PRE-EMERGENT IN SEPTEMBER AND THAT SHOULD HELP YOU GET RID OF IT.

IF IT'S NOT IN THE WAY OR ANYTHING, YOU SAID IT WAS IN THE DITCHES, I WOULD JUST PROBABLY LEAVE IT, AND NOT WORRY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WILL HOLD THE SOIL WELL FOR YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

IT'S A MIDTOWN OMAHA VIEWER.

CUCUMBERS HAVE STARTED DEVELOPING THESE SPOTS ON THE LEAVES.

WHAT ARE THEY AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

SHOULD THEY BE CONCERNED?

>> THIS IS OUR RIGHT FRIEND, SCAB THAT'S MOVED IN.

SO RECCOMENDATION IS AVOID OVERHEAD IRRIGATION.

IT CAN GO TO THE FRUIT BUT YOU CAN STILL EAT THE FRUIT WITHOUT IT REALLY IMPACTING.

AND AS THOSE CUCUMBERS GET LARGER YOU CAN GO AHEAD, AND PULL THOSE LEAVES OFF AND THROW THEM INTO YOUR COMPOST PILE.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM NORFORK.

THIS IS A BUTTERFLY BUSH.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE BUTTERFLY BUSH.

THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

THEY'VE HAD REALLY KIND OF A SPATE OF RAIN THAT HAS HAPPENED JUST RECENTLY.

>> THIS ONE ACTUALLY HAS ME A LITTLE STUMPED.

IT COULD APPEAR TO BE VIRAL.

THERE ARE VIRUSES THAT WILL GO INTO THE BUTTERFLY BUSH.

THE BIGGEST THING IS -- LOOK AT THE NEW GROWTH.

IF THE NEW GROWTH DOESN'T HAVE THAT MODELING PATTERN OR YELLOWING, I'D PROBABLY LEAN AGAINST SOME TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE AND IT'S SORT OF RELATED TO THE NEXT ONE.

ALTHOUGH IT'S DIFFERENT PLANTS.

THIS IS IN OMAHA VIEWER WHO HAS RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, RED RASPBERRIES, RED BLACKBERRIES, ROGUE BLACKBERRIES AND RUST AND SHE'S WONDERING WHETHER HAVING ALL THOSE CLOSE TOGETHER IS AN ISSUE.

SHOULD SHE THIN SOME OUT, PRUNE SOME OUT?

AND ARE THEY CARRIED FROM ONE TO ANOTHER??

>> SO THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY REALLY COMPLICATED.

THIS IS ORANGE RUST THAT WE ONLY FIND ON BLACK RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES.

IT WILL NOT INFECT RED RASPBERRIES.

AND THE TRICK IS THE PLANT THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE RUST, TO REMOVE IT, YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO DIG UP THE WHOLE CANE BECAUSE THIS RUST IS SYSTEMIC IN THE PLANT.

SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU DIG THE WHOLE PLAN AND DISPOSE OF IT AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.

THERE IS NO FUNGICIDES RECOMMENDED FOR THIS DISEASE.

IT WILL GO BACK AND FORTH.

THE BIGGEST TRICK IS IN THE SPRING WHEN THEY'RE STARTING TO COMING UP, IF YOU SEE ANY PLANTS THAT ARE NOT AS THRIFTY AND A LITTLE MORE YELLOW, THOSE ARE THE PLANTS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU DIG OUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE, AMY.

THIS IS -- CAN YOU IDENTIFY THESE GROWTHS ON THE NEIGHBOR'S SHRUBS?

>> THIS IS OUR WONDERFUL FRIEND, ASH RUST.

NOTHING WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT INFECTED WHEN THE LEAVES WERE JUST STARTING TO ELONGATE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

ELIZABETH, TWO PICTURES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM ALMA, NEBRASKA.

BROWN APPEARED ON THESE DWARF ALBERTA SPRUCES ON THE SOUTH SIDE LATE WINTER/EARLY SPRING.

THERE APPEARS TO BE SOME NEW GROWTH ON THE TIPS.

WILL THEY EVER TURN INTO ANYTHING OR -- >> THEY'RE PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME BROWN SPOTS.

THE ONLY HOPE FOR NEW GROWTH IS AT THE ENDS OF THE BRANCHES.

DWARF ALBERTA SPRUCE GROWS SUPER SLOW.

SO, YOU KNOW, ASSESS THE SHRUB AS YOU SEE IT, BUT I WOULD MAYBE CONSIDER REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE, ELIZABETH.

THIS IS AN UNDERWOOD, IOWA VIEWER.

HAS A 12 CONCOLOR FIR PLANTED WITH A TREE SPADE ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO.

IT'S LOOKING A LITTLE MORE YELLOW THAN THE OTHERS AND THE NEEDLES ARE CURLING.

THE REST OF THEM LOOK FINE.

IS THIS -- IS THIS A GONER?

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK VERY PROMISING.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEW GROWTH ON IT.

WHICH IF IT'S BEEN IN GROUND FOR THREE YEARS, THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE.

ALL YOU CAN REALLY DO IS WATER, WATCH AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS ONE.

IF IT STARTS TO TURN BROWN, WELL THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE AND REPLACE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO HAD A SUGAR MAPLE.

DIED OFF, THEY SELECTED TO CHUTE.

THEY TRIMMED THE REST.

BUT NOW THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS TREE A LITTLE THRIFTIER, HEALTHIER.

MAKE IT FILL BACK OUT AGAIN.

>> YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO CUT THE OLD STUMP DOWN TO THAT GRAFT UNION AS CLOSE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN.

JUST DUE TO THE NARROW BRANCHING ANGLE, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO REMOVE THE OLD ONE.

AND THEN IT'S JUST GOING TO BE A MATTER OF TIME TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET THAT THING TO FILL OUT.

LIKE I SAID, THAT BRANCH UNION IS PRETTY WEAK, IT'S PRETTY NARROW, SO I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT'S GOING TO MAKE A GOOD TREE OUT OF WHAT'S LEFT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND ONE MORE FOR YOU.

ELIZABETH, THIS COMES TO US FROM THE STONE CREEK AREA IN OMAHA.

SHE HAS FOUR YEWS IN THE FRONT OF HIS HOME.

USED TO BE HEALTHY.

ONE IS BROWNING AND DYING.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT WHAT -- THEY DIDN'T SEND US ANY OTHER PICTURES, SO I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN TELL MUCH MORE.

>> SO WHEN IT COMES TO YEWS, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT REASONS WHY THEY MIGHT START TO DECLINE.

ONE COULD JUST BE AGE.

THE OLDER THEY GET, YOU KNOW, THE TOUCHIER THEY'RE GOING TO GET.

SOMETIMES IF THEY'RE OVER WATERED, WE'LL ALSO SEE SOME OF THIS AS WELL.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A COUPLE THINGS TO TAKE A LOOK THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK THAT YEW'S GOING TO MAKE A RECOVERY JUST DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF BROWN THAT'S IN THERE.

SO THEY MIGHT NEED TO CONSIDER REMOVAL.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T GUARANTEE IT'S NOT GOING TO CONTINUE THOUGHOUT THE REMAINDERS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

WELL WE RARELY RECOMMEND USING ANY SORT OF A PAINT OR A FILLER OR A SEALER OVER ANY SORT OF A PRUNING WOUND.

THERE ARE SOME EXCEPTIONS.

HERE'S SCOTT EVANS TO TELL US WHAT THOSE MIGHT BE AND WHY.

♪ >> TODAY, WE WANT TO HELP CLARIFY WHEN YOU MIGHT NEED TO USE PRUNING PAINT ON YOUR TREES.

GENERALLY SPEAKING, THIS IS A PRACTICE THAT WE DON'T RECOMMEND.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS.

THOSE ARE OAK AND ELM TREES.

WITH OAK TREES, WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT OAK WILT THAT COULD BE TRANSMITTED BY THE PICNIC BEETLE.

AND WITH ELM TREES, WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT DUTCH ELM THAT COULD BE TRANSFERRED BY THE ELM BARK BEETLE.

IDEALLY, IT WOULD BE BEST TO DO TREE WORK ON THESE TREES DURING WINTER OR FALL.

HOWEVER, WE KNOW THAT STORM DAMAGE CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

IF YOU ARE DOING TREE WORK DURING THE GROWING SEASON, WE WOULD RECOMMEND USING PRUNING PAINT ON OAK AND ELM TREES ONLY.

FOR THE REST OF THE TREES, WE DON'T RECOMMEND ANYTHING.

WE JUST WANT TO LEAVE THEM BE.

WE DON'T WANT TO PAINT THEM WITH TAR, PAINT OR EVEN THAT EXPANDAFOAM.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OAK AND ELM TREES DURING THE GROWING SEASON, IT WOULD BE BEST TO USE PRUNING PAINT TO HELP PROTECT THOSE TREES TO KEEP THEM HEALTHY.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRUNING PAINT, WE DON'T WANT TO USE IT ON OUR OTHER TREES BECAUSE THAT CAN ACTUALLY PREVENT THE TREE FROM SEALING OVER AND COMPARTMENTALIZING.

IT CAN ACTUALLY TRAP IN SOME PATHOGENS THAT CAN MAKE THE SITUATION WORSE.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY BEST TO LEAVE THOSE CUTS OPEN TO AIR TO ALLOW THE TREE TO HEAL ITSELF.

>> AND AS SCOTT SAID, LET THAT TREE DO THE SEALING AND THE HEALING, AND FOR HEAVEN SAKES, DON'T USE CONCRETE OR GREAT STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.

DENNIS, FIRST PICTURE FOR YOU IS ONE OF YOUR FAVORITES.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW ANY WAY TO ATTRACT SNAKES TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> WELL THIS IS A BROWN SNAKE THAT EATS SLUGS.

SO YOU REALLY WANT TO ATTRACT THAT.

JUST HAVING GOOD HABITAT.

ROCKS AND DON'T HAVE CATS.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE AND I KNOW YOU JUST LOVE SNAKES.

SO HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

AND THIS IS A NORTH OF CERESCO VIEWER.

SHE FOUND A DEAD SNAKE IN A CAN IN THE CLOSET.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SHE WANTS -- SINCE IT'S A BABY, SHE ASSUMES THERE ARE MANY MORE LOOSE IN THE HOUSE.

HOW DOES SHE FIND, CATCH AND RELEASE?

>> THERE IS IN MORE.

THIS IS A FULL-GROWN BROWN SNAKE THAT'S DRIED UP AND IT PROBABLY CAME IN TO HIDE FROM THE WINTER.

AND I WON'T WORRY ABOUT LOOKING FOR OTHERS.

>> OKAY.

AND TERRI IS CRAWLING OUT OF HER SKIN RIGHT NOW AT THE THOUGHT.

OKAY.

ONE FOR TERRI, AND THIS FIRST ONE FROM DECATUR.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THIS WEED IS.

IT'S TAKING OVER THE TURF AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT.

>> THIS IS MUSTARD.

SO YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES.

YOU CAN EITHER PULL IT, YOU CAN MOW IT OR CAN USE OF BROADLEAF HERBICIDE ON IT.

SO YOU HAVE THREE CHOICES HOW TO MANAGE IS IT.

>> ALL RIGHT AND YOU HAVE A DOUGLAS/SARPY COUNTY VIEWER THAT HAS THIS WEED IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

WHAT IS THIS ONE AND HOW TO GET RID OF IT?

>> THIS IS A DAY FLOWER.

IT'S REALLY EASY TO PULL.

SO JUST GO OUT AND HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON PULLING WEEDS.

>> OKAY.

AND THIS ONE SEEDS ITSELF, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

IT DOES SEED ITSELF AROUND.

SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING THEM BEFORE THE FLOWERS ARE OUT AND THE ONLY FLOWERS ARE ONLY FOR ONE DAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AMY, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS ROSE.

ALL THE ROSES LOOK LIKE THIS.

HAVEN'T OVER WATERED.

EVERY YEAR THEY'VE BEEN BEAUTIFUL.

THIS YEAR THE FLOWERS ARE LOOKING FUNKY.

>> THIS IS THE DREADED BOTRYTIS OR GRAY MOLD.

SO MANAGEMENT, PRUNING OFF ALL THOSE FLOWERS THAT LOOK LIKE THAT, AND THEN USING A SYSTEMIC FUNGICIDE THAT YOU POUR AT THE BASE OF THE PLANT TO PROTECT THOSE NEW FLOWERS THAT WILL BE COMING OUT SOON.

>> SHOULD THEY EXPECTED IT AGAIN OR IS -- >> ONCE YOU HAVE IT, YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE IT.

ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE IN WET, HUMID CONDITIONS LIKE WE ARE GOING INTO SUMMER.

SO, AND ALSO BECAUSE IT'S ROSES, YOU'RE GOING TO BE WATERING THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SO, I WOULD GO AHEAD AND DO THE FUNGICIDE TREATMENT JUST TO PROTECT THOSE BLOOMS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A HOME A MIDTOWN OMAHA VIEWER WHO FOUND THESE WEIRD LITTLE, SHE'S CALLING THEM SQUISHY BALLS WITH ROOTS WHILE WEEDING THE ASPARAGUS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> YOU HAVE A COLLECTION OF STINKHORN EGGS, IS WHAT WE CALL THEM.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO POP UP AS STINKHORNS.

SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE THE GELATINOUS BROWN GOO ON THE TOP THAT WILL ATTRACT ALL THE FLIES.

NOTHING TO BE WORRIED ABOUT.

THEY ARE JUST BREAKING DOWN DEAD ORGANIC MATTER AND MAKING IT INTO NITROGEN FOR YOU.

>> AND ONCE THEY COME UP, PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE CALLED STINKHORNS, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

THEY'RE NOT PLEASANT.

DON'T STICK YOUR NOSE TO THEM.

THEY REALLY ARE NASTY.

>> OKAY.

ELIZABETH, WE HAVE ONE QUESTION FROM DESHLER, WHICH IS SMALL PATCHES OF THESE CUTE BUTTER YELLOW FLOWERS AMONG THE BROME IN THE DITCH.

ARE THEY NATIVE?

ARE THEY SAFE?

ARE THEY INVASIVE?

AND COULD THEY BE TRANSPLANTED?

>> SO, THIS IS THE SULFUR SINK FOIL.

IN SOME STATES, IT IS INVASIVE AND IT IS A NOXIOUS WEED IN OTHER STATES LIKE COLORADO AND MONTANA.

SO I DON'T THINK I WOULD BE TRANSPLANTING THIS LITTLE GUY AND PUTTING HIM INTO MY YARD JUST KNOWING HOW AGGRESSIVE HE CAN BE IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORING STATES.

>> AND IN GENERAL, WE DON'T RECOMMEND TRANSPLANTING UNLESS IT'S A DITCH.

MAYBE FROM THE DITCH.

RIGHT?

>> WELL, I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF ROAD GETS A LITTLE UPSET WHEN WE DO THAT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, ELIZABETH.

THIS IS A COLUMBUS VIEWER AND HE FOUND THIS IN PREPARATION CANYON IN WESTERN IOWA.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT IS.

SOUNDS NEAT.

BUT WHAT IS THIS?

>> SO THIS IS A WATER LEAF.

DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE AT, IF IT'S NEBRASKA, IT COULD BE LIKE A HAIRY WATER LEAF.

IF YOU'RE IN IOWA, IT COULD EITHER BE A GREAT OR A VIRGINIA WATER LEAF.

THIS IS A REALLY COOL PLANT THAT REALLY LIKES THE WET ENVIRONMENTS.

UNDERSTORY.E JUST A REALLY COOL PLANT.

>> WE DO HAVE PEOPLE WHO DO THINK THIS ONE IS A WEED, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THAT THESE ARE WEEDS.

>> IT'S A NICE PLANT.

I THINK IT'S CUTE.

IT'S NOT INVASIVE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE ANOTHER YEW QUESTION WITH TWO PICTURES.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM CENTRAL OMAHA.

THIS IS ON THE EAST FENCELINE.

FULL SUN.

THIS DISCOLORATION SUDDENLY APPEARED.

IT'S NOT AFFECTING THE OTHER YEW.

WHAT GIVES ON THIS ONE?

>> SO MORE THAN LIKELY WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMETHING ENVIRONMENTAL.

WHETHER IT BE DUE TO THE AGE.

WHETHER IT'S WATER.

YOU KNOW, IF THE NEIGHBOR ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE IS APPLYING HERBICIDES.

THOSE CAN ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THAT.

SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO DETERMINE EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT YEW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, JUST CONTINUE TO WATCH AND WAIT AND THEN KIND OF SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

IF IT CONTINUES TO BROWN OUT, GO AHEAD AND PRUNE OUT THE DEAD AND GO FROM THERE.

>> WELL AND WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION OFF AIR ABOUT AGE.

I HAVE SOME THAT ARE 60 YEARS OLD THAT ARE KIND OF STARTING TO -- IT IS THE YEW VERSION OF GRAY HAIR, MAYBE, STARTING.

ONE OF THOSE THINGS.

WE ALSO HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT HERBICIDE AGAINST THE FENCE, BUT COULDN'T REALLY TELL ON THAT.

SO -- >> YEAH, IT'S HARD TO NARROW DOWN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GET SOME OF THESE PHOTOS.

BUT LIKE I SAID, YEWS, THEY HAVE THEIR USEFUL LIFESPAN.

AND WHEN THEY REACH IT AND THEY NO LONGER WANT TO LIVE, THEY DECIDE THAT THEY'RE DONE.

>> AND OR YOU DECIDE THEY'RE DONE.

>> THAT THEY'RE DONE.

>> ONE WAY OR THE OTHER IF YOU JUST DON'T LIKE THE WAY THEY LOOK.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT AS WE COME TO YOU FROM THE BEAUTIFUL FREDERICK PEAK GOLF COURSE IN VALENTINE, NEBRASKA IN THE SAND HILLS.

WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR SHOWING UP.

WE LOVE HAVING YOU HERE.

[ APPLAUSE ] WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

THEY SHOOT FROM THE HIP WHEN THEY HAVE OT.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA, OUR PARTNER, FOR COMING OUT, DOING ALL OF THIS.

CHERRY STREET NURSERY PROVIDED THE WONDERFUL PLANTS FROM VALENTINE.

AND THE MIDDLE NIOBRARA NATURAL RESOURCES DISTRICT GAVE YOU THOSE CHAIRS YOU'RE SITTING ON.

SO, THANKS, GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING, AND WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪