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

>> TONIGHT, ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT GROWING MILKWEED AROUND YOUR GARDEN AS WE COME TO YOU FROM 242 HOUSE IN COZAD, NEBRASKA.

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

♪ >> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER," COMING TO YOU FROM THE 242 HOUSE IN COZAD, NEBRASKA.

WE CAN'T TAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS TONIGHT BECAUSE, OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE NOT INSIDE.

THERE ARE NO TELEPHONES, BUT YOU CAN STILLEND US THOSE PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

AS ALWAYS, PLEASE GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN.

PLEASE DO TELL US WHERE YOU ARE.

THAT WILL REALLY HELP US ANSWER YOUR QUESTION AND DO BE SURE YOU FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK.

YOU CAN WATCH US ON YOUTUBE.

LOTS AND LOTS OF WAYS TO GET THAT GREAT INFORMATION FROM "BACKYARD FARMER."

SO, AS ALWAYS, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH SAMPLES.

I DO WANT TO SAY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD IN TWO YEARS, AND THE FIRST TIME WE'VE HAD FOUR PANELISTS, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A LOT OF FUN.

KYLE, YOU'RE UP WITH AN INSECT OF SOME SORT.

>> AN INSECT OF SOME SORT, YES.

THIS IS A GREEN JUNE BEETLE, AND THESE ADULTS HAVE JUST STARTED EMERGING WITHIN THE LAST WEEK OR SO, AT LEAST IN LINCOLN.

SO, WE'VE BEEN GETTING A FAIR NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE.

GREEN JUNE BEETLES, SO THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, METALLIC-ISH GREEN, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE.

THERE IS A BIT OF VARIATION, SO HAVE MORE BROWN-ISH, BUT THAT SORT OF BROWN ON THEM WILL VARY FROM INDIVIDUAL TO INDIVIDUAL, AND ABOUT AN INCH LONG.

SO, THESE BEETLES -- THEY WILL PUPATE GENERALLY IN MAY, AND THEN THE ADULTS EMERGE IN JULY.

AND, THIS IS ONE THAT -- THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT, IN TERMS OF THEIR BIOLOGY, A LITTLE BIT LIKE JAPANESE BEETLES, BUT THEY'RE NATIVE AND FAR LESS DESTRUCTIVE.

SO, THE GRUBS DO -- YOU FIND THEM IN A VARIETY OF ORGANIC SUBSTRAITS OF ORGANIC SOILS -- EXCUSE ME - WHERE THEY'RE GENERALLY FEEDING ON DECAYING ORGANIC MATERIAL, BUT THEY WILL ALSO GO IN TURF AND CAN FEED ON ROOTS OF GRASSES AND, YOU KNOW, CAN CAUSE A LITTLE BIT OF -- OF TROUBLE THAT WAY.

USUALLY NOT A BIG PROBLEM, BUT ONE THING INTERESTING THAT THE GRUBS WILL DO IS THEY'LL ACTUALLY TUNNEL.

THEY'LL COME UP TO SURFACE AT NIGHT, AND USUALLY THAT TUNNELING IS MORE SORT OF THE DESTRUCTIVE PART IN -- IN TURF, RATHER THAN ACTUAL FEEDING ON -- ON THE ROOTS.

SO, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THE ADULTS WILL ALSO FEED ON LEAVES.

THEY REALLY LIKE FRUIT.

IT CAN BE DAMAGING TO - TO A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT FRUITS AND BERRIES, SO TO CONTROL THESE GUYS, YOU KNOW, USUALLY IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING THAT TUNNELING DAMAGE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING IN THE LAWN.

BUT, IF YOU ARE SEEING THAT, BECAUSE THEY DO SURFACE AT NIGHT, ACTUALLY A CARBARYL TREATMENT ON THE SURFACE OF THE LAWN AND NOT WATERED IN IS ACTUALLY REALLY EFFECTIVE FOR THIS.

SO, THEY'LL BE EXPOSED TO THAT WHEN THEY SURFACE.

AND THEN, FOR THE ADULTS, REALLY WHAT I RECOMMEND THE BEST THING TO DO IS JUST REALLY MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE ON TOP OF HARVESTING THOSE FRUITS, MAKING SURE YOU'RE PICKING THEM OFF AS THEY'RE RIPENING SO THAT YOU'RE NOT SORT OF ALLOWING THOSE ADULTS TO COME IN.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, DON'T -- DON'T LEAVE ANY OVER-RIPENING FRUIT AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

DENNIS.

>> OKAY, SINCE WE'RE AT A RESTAURANT, I DECIDED NOT TO BRING THE SNAKES, EVEN THOUGH I CAUGHT SOME HERE IN DAWSON COUNTY, BUT I DID BRING -- YOU CAN SEE THE URL -- THIS IS ELECTRONIC FIELD GUIDE FOR YOUR PHONE THAT IDENTIFIES ALL THE FROGS, TURTLES, AND REPTILES OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA AND I'LL USUALLY GET A LOT OF HITS ON IT PER DAY, AND IF YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY IT FOR EVERYTHING ON HERE - THIS EVEN HAS THE FROG CALLS, SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY MY CD ANYMORE, SO YOU CAN GET ALL THE FROG CALLS ON HERE WITHOUT BUYING MY CD, BUT, YOU CAN IDENTIFY ANYTHING, AND IF YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY IT FROM MY DESCRIPTION, YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF IT, LOAD IT ON THIS WEBSITE, HIT "ASK THE EXPERT," -- IT ENDS UP ON MY PHONE AND I TELL YOU WHAT IT IS.

JUST INCLUDE WHAT COUNTY YOU'RE IN AND WE'LL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.

>> AND, IF IT'S REALLY COOL, WE'LL SAVE IT FOR "BACKYARD FARMER."

ALRIGHT, AMY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TODAY?

>> SO, I KNOW WE'RE NOT ALL THE WAY IN THE PANHANDLE, BUT WE'RE CLOSE, ALRIGHT?

SO, I HAD TO BRING BEETS.

THESE ARE OUT OF MY GARDEN AND WHAT I HAVE GOING ON HERE IS CERCOSPORA LEAF BLIGHT ON BEETS.

THE UNIQUE THING IS THIS IS THE EXACT SAME DISEASE WE GET ON SUGAR BEETS, SO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT A HOME GARDEN, TYPICALLY THIS DISEASE DOESN'T CAUSE A LOT OF ISSUES.

IT GETS THESE DARK OUTER RINGS AND THAT TAN CENTER TO THAT SPOT.

SO, I TYPICALLY DON'T RECOMMEND A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION, HOWEVER, IF YOU DO LOOK AT DOING A FUNGICIDE APPLICATION AND YOU ARE LOCATED CLOSER TO THAT PANHANDLE, WE DO HAVE SOME INSTANCES WHERE WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME FUNGICIDE RESISTANCE TO THIS PATHOGEN.

SO, IF YOU'RE SPRAYING IT IN THE PANHANDLE BECAUSE OF THE SUGAR BEETS, YOU'LL DEFINITELY WANT TO TAKE A NOTE OF THAT.

DEFINITELY GET AHOLD OF US AT THE PANHANDLE STATION -- BOB HARVESON IS THERE, OR YOUR LOCAL EXTENSION EDUCATOR, BECAUSE WE WANT TO LOOK FOR THAT RESISTANCE TO THIS PATHOGEN THAT WE ARE SEEING THROUGHOUT THE STATE ON SUGAR BEET PRODUCTION.

>> THANK YOU, AMY.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN, YOU CAN'T EXACTLY PUT YOUR SAMPLE IN YOUR LAP I DON'T BELIEVE.

>> NO, NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, RIGHT?

I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HYDROPONICS IN MY WORK.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GETTING INTERESTED IN IT, AND I BUILT THESE VERY SIMPLE SYSTEMS THAT I'M SHOWING OFF AT OUR OFFICE AND THIS IS THE SIMPLEST HYDROPONIC SYSTEM THAT YOU CAN BUILD.

YOU CAN PUT IT ON YOUR DECK, YOUR PATIO -- YOU CAN EVEN BRING IT INSIDE DURING WINTER TO GROW THINGS.

THIS IS JUST BASICALLY A LARGE STORAGE TOTE THAT YOU CAN BUY AT ANY HARDWARE STORE, ANY TYPE OF STORE, AND I HAVE PEPPERS GROWING IN HERE.

AND, REALLY, ALL IT IS, IS I BOUGHT THESE NET POTS -- YOU BUY THEM SOMETIMES TO PLANT, YOU KNOW, POND PLANTS IN.

YOU CAN BUY THEM AT POND STORES, PLACES LIKE THAT.

AND THEN, THIS IS A HYDROPONIC MATERIAL THAT I BOUGHT.

IT'S LIKE A PUFFED CLAY THAT SOAKS UP THE WATER, BUT YOU CAN USE LIKE PERLITE, OR YOU CAN USE SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE JUST TO HOLD THE PLANT IN, BECAUSE ALL OF THE NUTRIENTS ARE COMING FROM THE WATER.

YOU'LL ADD FERTILIZER TO THAT.

IT CAN BE SIMPLE AS -- SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS LIKE A COMPLETE FERTILIZER THAT YOU BUY, LIKE THE WATER SOLUBLE - THE ONES THAT CAUSE MIRACULOUS GROWTH, RIGHT, WE'RE NOT GOING TO USE A BRAND NAME.

OR, YOU CAN GET THE SPECIFIC HYDROPONIC FERTILIZER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING, EVEN THE MICRONUTRIENTS THAT USUALLY COME FROM THE SOIL AND WE DON'T -- YOU KNOW, WE USUALLY FERTILIZE WITH THE THREE NUMBERS N, P, AND K. THIS, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL 16 OF THE ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS FOR PLANTS IN THAT WATER, AND YOU CAN DO THAT WITH FERTILIZER, BUT IT'S VERY SIMPLE AND VERY FUN.

IT CAN BE A GREAT EXPERIMENT FOR YOU AND YOUR GARDEN.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

ALL RIGHT, LET US START WITH PICTURE QUESTIONS.

KYLE, YOU HAVE THREE AND THEY'RE ALL I.D.

THE FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM COZAD.

IT IS, "FOUND THIS CRAWLING ON HER AFTER SHE'D BEEN HARVESTING BEETS."

WHAT IS IT?

>> THIS IS AN "EYED CLICK BEETLE," SO THEY GET THE NAME "EYED" FROM THOSE TWO LITTLE "EYE" SPOTS BEHIND THE HEAD, AND THEN THEY - THE CLICK BEETLES, THEY ALL HAVE THIS SORT OF MECHANISM THAT THEY MAKE A CLICK SOUND AND FLIP UP IN THE AIR TO -- TO RIGHT THEMSELVES.

SO, THIS IS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT'S GENERALLY GOOD.

THE LARVAE FOR THESE, THEY FEED ON WOOD-BORING GRUBS OF OTHER BEETLES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES FROM ORD, AND THIS ONE IS ALSO A -- WHAT WAS THIS?

IT WAS ON THE FRONT DOOR AND IT KIND OF HUNG OUT FOR A WHILE.

>> YEP, THIS IS A PLUME MOTH.

THEY'RE REALLY, REALLY COMMON CHARACTERISTIC MOTHS.

THEY HAVE THIS CHARACTERISTIC SHAPE.

THEY HOLD THOSE WINGS OUT TO THE SIDE SO THEY MAKE THAT "T" SHAPE, AND THEY'RE HIGHLY ATTRACTED TO LIGHT, SO NOT UNUSUAL WE WOULD SEE THEM SORT OF COMING TO A PORCH LIGHT, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND HANGING OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND FINALLY, YOU HAVE ONE FROM MITCHELL, SO WE'RE ALL OVER THE STATE THIS TIME.

THIS WASP MADE IT INTO HER HOUSE, FLEW FRANTICALLY IN THE WINDOW TO GET BACK OUTSIDE.

THEY DIDN'T SWAT IT BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T SURE WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD ONE OR A BAD ONE.

SO, IT -- AND, THERE WAS MUD INVOLVED.

>> YEAH.

YEP, DEFINITELY MUD INVOLVED.

THIS IS A YELLOW-LEGGED MUD DAUBER WASP.

AS FAR AS WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR BAD, I WOULD SAY IT'S KIND OF A NEUTRAL.

DEFINITELY NOT BAD.

THEY'RE SOLITARY, SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, REALLY NOT SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT STINGING YOU -- VERY UNLIKELY, BUT THESE -- THE FEMALES, THEY ACTUALLY PARALYZE -- STING AND PARALYZE SPIDERS AND THEN PROVISION THE NEST WITH SPIDERS AND THAT'S WHAT THE LARVAE FEED ON.

SO, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY'RE -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE TAKING OUT OTHER PREDATORS, MAYBE NOT THE MOST BENEFICIAL, BUT DEFINITELY NOT A BAD THING.

>> IF THEY'RE KILLING SPIDERS, I LIKE THEM A LOT.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, DENNIS.

THIS IS A NORTH LINCOLN VIEWER.

>> OKAY.

>> SHE SAYS SOMETHING IS EATING/KILLING HER GRASS.

SHE'S BEEN TRYING TO RE-SEED FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.

LOOKS GREAT AND THEN IT STARTS DISAPPEARING - LITTLE SPOTS OF MISSING TURF ALL OVER, JUST UNDER THE CANOPY OF THE TREE.

SHE WONDERS, IS THIS -- WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL, AND IN THE SHADED AREAS, IF IT'S NICE NEW GRASS, ANYTHING FROM A RABBIT TO EVEN A SQUIRREL MAY CHEW IT DOWN TO THE CROWN TO GET SOME NUTRIENTS, AND EVEN VOLES WILL DO THAT.

BUT, IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE THE PATTERN OF A VOLE OR A GROUND SQUIRREL, BUT RABBITS ARE VERY KIND OF MISSED ABOUT THAT.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE A PECK MARK FROM A BIRD, SO THE BEST I CAN SEE FROM THIS ONE PICTURE, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY PROBABLY A SMALL, YOUNG RABBIT WHO'S FEEDING AT NIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR SECOND ONE IS ACTUALLY -- THIS WAS TAKEN IN WEST DES MOINES, IOWA.

LARGE, TWO-INCH WASP-TYPE INSECT FLYING AROUND.

THEY THINK WAS A CICADA KILLER, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW IF THE CICADA KILLER AND THIS HOLE ARE RELATED.

>> YES.

THIS IS A HOLE NOT BUILT BY A VERTEBRATE PEST, BUT BUILT BY A CICADA KILLER, AND WE CAN HAVE KYLE TALK A LITTLE MORE, BUT CICADA KILLERS ARE OUR LARGEST WASP, AND THE FEMALE PARALYZES THE CICADA AND PUTS IT DOWN THE HOLE AND LAYS A COMPLEMENT OF EGGS, AND THAT FEEDS THE CICADA.

I'M SURE YOU COULD GET STUNG BY THE FEMALE, NEVER BY THE MALE, BUT I'VE GRABBED THEM BEFORE AND IT'S NOTHING, SO -- >> WELL, AND -- AND, I THINK THE REAL QUESTION ON THIS ONE IS WHY IS THIS NOT A CRITTER HOLE?

WHAT ABOUT IT MAKES IT NOT A CRITTER HOLE?

>> OH, SURE, IT'S GRANULAR AND I DON'T SEE -- I SEE KIND OF A GROOVE, AND THIS IS A TYPE APPARATUS THAT YOU SEE WITH THE CICADA KILLER WASP AND NOT FROM A WORM OR A VERTEBRATE.

>> ALRIGHT, EXCELLENT.

>> THEY ACTUALLY PICK IT UP WITH THEIR JAWS, SO THE GRAINS ARE REALLY SMALL.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE FROM NORTH PLATTE, ONE DAY APART.

IT'S A WHISKEY BARREL PLANTER.

SOMETHING DUG A HOLE IN THE POTTING SOIL, WONDERED IF IT WAS SQUIRRELS, FIRST TIME SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED.

THE NEXT DAY, ANOTHER HOLE AND IT WENT WAY DEEP.

>> YEAH, IF IT'S GOING WAY DEEP AND NOT JUST SHALLOW - IF IT'S SHALLOW, IT COULD BE A SQUIRREL BURYING NUTS, AND THEY DO IT EVEN THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT IF IT GOES DEEP, IT'S PROBABLY A VOLE.

"V" LIKE IN "VICTOR," AND THEY EAT TUBERS AND THE ROOTS OF A LOT OF PLANTS, AND SO I THINK THAT VOLE IS JUMPING IN THERE, PROBABLY GOT SOME SURFACE ROOTS AND WENT, "YUMMY, I'M COMING BACK HERE TOMORROW WITH MY FRIENDS FOR DINNER," AND IT DUG DEEPER AND GOT INTO THOSE ROOTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DENNIS.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES HERE ARE A CRABAPPLE IN LINCOLN.

SHE SAID IT CAME OUT PERFECTLY IN THE SPRING, FLOWERED, AND THEN THE LITTLE CRABAPPLES SET.

SHE CAN'T SEE ANY OTHER DAMAGE - WHAT'S WRONG?

SHOULD SHE WORRY ABOUT IT?

>> SO, WITH HOW FAST THIS BRANCH TURNED BROWN AND WILTING, I WOULD ACTUALLY LEAN TOWARD FIRE BLIGHT, WHICH IS A BACTERIAL DISEASE THAT'S MOVED BY OUR WONDERFUL POLLINATORS THAT WE NEED, SO THE BEST TREATMENT FOR THIS IS ACTUALLY YOU'RE GOING TO PRUNE IT OUT, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO PRUNE IT OUT FROM WHERE YOU SEE SYMPTOMS, AND BECAUSE IT'S BACTERIAL, WE WANT TO GO 12 TO 14 INCHES BEYOND THAT.

AND THEN, ONCE YOU MAKE THAT PRUNE CUT, YOU WANT TO DIP YOUR PRUNERS IN EITHER CLOROX WIPES, OR DISINFECTANT WIPES, OR PUT IT INTO 10% ALCOHOL, JUST TO KILL THE BACTERIA BEFORE YOU MAKE ANOTHER CUT.

OTHERWISE, YOU WILL MOVE THE BACTERIA WITHIN YOUR CRABAPPLE TREE, TOO.

>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, AMY.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS A KEARNEY VIEWER.

THIS ONE SAYS "DO HER FRUIT TREES HAVE CEDAR APPLE RUST?"

THEY HAD SOME CEDAR TREES IN THE PASTURE THAT DID HAVE RUST THIS SPRING, AND THEN THEY'RE WONDERING IF IT CAN BE TREATED AND IF SO, WHEN.

>> SO, THIS IS THE CLASSIC CEDAR APPLE RUST.

YOU'VE GOT THAT YELLOW BORDER WITH THAT DARK CENTER IN IT.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME OF YEAR THAT WE'RE GOING TO TREAT FOR CEDAR APPLE RUST.

YOU'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO WAIT TO MAKE THOSE APPLICATIONS IN THE SPRING WHEN THE LEAVES ARE STARTING TO UNFURL, AND IF YOU ARE TRYING TO PRODUCE APPLES ON IT, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUE A NORMAL FRUIT SPRAY REGIMEN FOR FUNGICIDES AND INSECTICIDES TO KEEP ALL THOSE PESTS AWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL ONE IS ACTUALLY A PICTURE OF JUST BEAUTINESS.

SO, THIS IS ON A BRANCH THAT CAME DOWN DURING A STORM AND THEY THOUGHT WE WOULD ENJOY IT, BUT THEY DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS.

>> THIS ONE WAS REALLY FUN TO ACTUALLY TAKE A LOOK AT AND ACTUALLY IDENTIFY.

IT'S A JELLY FUNGUS, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY CALLED "YELLOW BRAIN JELLY FUNGUS," BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE THE INSIDE OF A BRAIN, I GUESS.

THIS FUNGUS IS AN INDICATION THAT YOU HAVE A "HOT ROT," OR A DRY ROT OCCURRING IN YOUR TREE, AND SO THIS FUNGUS ONLY EATS ON DEAD ORGANIC MATTER.

SO, WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR TREE, SEE WHERE THAT BRANCH FELL OFF, BECAUSE IF IT'S ON THAT MAIN PORTION OF YOUR TREE YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING AT SOME STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES OF THAT TREE, AND IF IT'S CLOSE TO STRUCTURAL, OR VEHICLES, WE MAY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT BEFORE WE GET ANOTHER STORM TO COME THROUGH.

BUT, VERY PRETTY - PRETTY, PRETTY FUNGUS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, AMY.

>> THERE ARE WORSE NAMES, LIKE "DOG VOMIT SLIME MOLD," RIGHT?

>> TRUE.

BRAIN FUNGUS, AND IT DOES LOOK LIKE A YELLOW BRAIN.

ALL RIGHT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS FROM IMPERIAL.

JOHN, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE GRAPEVINES?

TWO ROWS PLANTED ALONG AN EAST/WEST-ORIENTED FENCE, FEET APART ON BOTH ENDS OF A YARD.

YARD IS SPRAYED BY A COMMERCIAL LAWN SERVICE.

VINES ARE OLD.

WHAT DO WE HAVE GOING ON HERE?

>> SO, WE SEE SOME DIFFERENT SYMPTOMS ON HERE, SO WE SEE THAT REALLY STRAPPING ON THAT FIRST PICTURE.

SOME OF THOSE LEAVES LOOK REALLY WEIRD WITH REALLY WEIRD MARGINS, AND THEN WE SEE THIS SORT OF BUBBLING, WARTY LOOK ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A CLASSIC HERBICIDE DRIFT DAMAGE.

IT COULD EITHER BE FROM THAT LAWN SERVICE OR, YOU KNOW, IN NEBRASKA, WHENEVER THE WEATHER GETS HOT AND WE'VE USED HERBICIDES IN THE AREA ON AGRICULTURAL FIELDS, IT CAN SPREAD TWO TO THREE MILES, AND SO IT COULD BE FROM EITHER OF THOSE, BUT THAT IS CLASSIC HERBICIDE DAMAGE ON THOSE GRAPES.

THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE CROPS, LIKE, A LOT OF WINERIES ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT AND IN OUR VEGETABLE GARDEN, IT'S TOMATO.

THIS IS THE OTHER - THIS IS THE FRUIT SIDE.

SO, THIS IS GRAPES.

REALLY, IT'S -- YOUR GRAPES ARE GOING TO BE OKAY.

I MAY NOT EAT THE GRAPES FROM THAT THIS YEAR, BUT IT SHOULD BE OKAY IN THE FUTURE.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW THE SAFETY OF THOSE PRODUCTS USED ON A FOOD CROP.

>> ALL RIGHT, JOHN, AND YOUR FINAL ONE IS FROM RAVENNA, AND THIS VIEWER FOUND YELLOW CHOKECHERRIES IN THE REGULAR ROW.

IS THAT WEIRD?

AND, CAN THEY EAT THEM?

>> WELL, YES, THEY DID FIND YELLOW CHOKECHERRIES, AND THERE ARE YELLOW CHOKECHERRIES.

YOU CAN EAT THEM.

I ACTUALLY GOT A CHOKECHERRY QUESTION THE OTHER DAY ABOUT, "I'VE HEARD THAT CHOKECHERRIES ARE POISONOUS."

WELL, EVERY OTHER PART OF THE PLANT IS POISONOUS, BUT THE FLESH OF THE BERRY, SO DON'T -- YOU KNOW, DON'T CHEW ON THE LEAVES, DON'T EAT THE TWIGS, DON'T CHEW ON THE -- THE SEED INSIDE, BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A CHEMICAL IN THEM THAT WHEN YOU INGEST IT, IT TURNS INTO CYANIDE.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN, RIGHT?

DON'T.

SO, YES, YOU CAN EAT THE BERRIES, BUT DON'T EAT ANY OTHER PART OF THE PLANT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOHN.

WELL, YOU KNOW, IN THIS LAST YEAR, WE HAVE HAD JUST A MONSTER NUMBER OF GARDENERS COMING NEW TO THE GARDENING WORLD AND SO MANY OF THEM, WHAT THEY REALLY WANT IS SOMETHING FRESH, AND SOMETHING SAFE.

THAT IS, OF COURSE, THE CORE MISSION OF 242 HOUSE HERE IN COZAD.

THEY WANT TO PROVIDE A REALLY WONDERFUL DINING EXPERIENCE THAT IS FUN, FINE DINING, ACCESSIBLE, AND RIGHT AT HOME USING LOCAL PRODUCTS.

SO, LET'S TAKE A MINUTE TO HEAR ABOUT 242 HOUSE.

♪ >> MY NAME IS SUSAN KUHLMAN, AND I'M THE OWNER OF THE 242 HOUSE IN COZAD, NEBRASKA.

WE'RE A FARM-TO-TABLE BARN RESTAURANT.

OUR MISSION HERE IS TO SERVE WORLD CLASS FOOD, AND WE LIKE TO MAKE AS MUCH AS WE CAN FROM SCRATCH USING LOCAL INGREDIENTS AS MUCH AS WE CAN.

OUR FOOD IS MEANT TO BE EATEN BY EVERYBODY, AND WE WORK REALLY HARD TO ENSURE THAT IT'S APPROACHABLE.

♪ >> I HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT LOCAL PARTNERS HERE, AND ONE OF THEM, HIS NAME IS KENT ROSS -- HE'S A RETIRED ART TEACHER.

THIS WEEK, I'M GETTING CUCUMBERS, AND ZUCCHINI, AND LETTUCES, ONIONS -- I'M GETTING A LOT OF THINGS FROM HIM.

I TRY TO GO OUT AND HARVEST FRESH AT LEAST TWICE A WEEK -- IT DEPENDS ABOUT THE HEAT, WHAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, BUT I LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE A LOT OF RESTAURANTS HAVE A STEADY MENU AND THEIR PATRONS COME IN, AND MAYBE THEY'RE DISAPPOINTED IF SOMETHING'S NOT OFFERED.

PART OF OUR CONVERSATION WITH OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN, "FRESH" MEANS THE MENU'S GOING TO CHANGE BASED ON AVAILABILITY.

WE RARELY SERVE ANYTHING FROZEN.

NOTHING WILL EVER BE FROZEN UNLESS IT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE FROZEN.

IT ABOUT THE EFFORT THAT GOES INTO IT.

SO, WHEN PEOPLE KNOW THAT SOMETHING'S MADE FRESH FOR THEM, THEY KNOW THAT SOMEBODY WENT OUT TO THE GARDEN EARLY, THAT SOMEBODY'S MADE SURE THAT IT'S LIVED, THAT SOMEBODY'S NOT PUT CHEMICALS ON IT TO KEEP THE BUGS AWAY.

I THINK, REALLY, AMERICA'S REALLY GETTING ONTO THAT MOVEMENT OF, YOU KNOW, THE EXTRA EFFORT IS WORTH IT.

AND, HEY, I'LL GO THROUGH FAST FOOD JUST AS SOON AS THE NEXT GUY WILL IF I'M HUNGRY -- IF IT'S NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE, RIGHT?

BUT, WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING THAT'S MADE FROM SCRATCH, THAT DAY, AS FRESH AS IT CAN, I GUARANTEE YOU'RE GOING TO START CHANGING THE WAY THAT YOU LOOK AT FOOD.

SO, WITH MY CHEF, WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO THINK AHEAD WHAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE NEXT WEEK, AND WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY -- MY HUSBAND AND I WORK CLOSELY WITH THE OVERALL FEEL OF THE MENU, BUT WE REALLY RELY ON HIM TO FOCUS ON, "WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE FRESH INGREDIENTS?"

OUR MENU ROTATES.

I LIKE TO TRY TO KEEP MOST OF THEM CONSISTENT FOR AT LEAST A MONTH, BUT THE VEGETABLES WILL ALWAYS CHANGE BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE NEXT VEGETABLE THAT WE CAN PAIR WITH EVERYTHING.

AS YOU LOOK AROUND HERE ON THE PATIO OF THE 242, WE'VE BUILT SOME RAISED BEDS.

I'VE GOT - I'M ALWAYS TRYING NEW THINGS, BUT WHAT I'VE DISCOVERED IS THAT PEOPLE LOVE TO TOUCH AND FEEL, AND SO A LOT OF WHAT YOU SEE IS -- I CALL -- LET'S CALL IT A "SENSORY GARDEN."

IT IS SO WONDERFUL PEOPLE JUST WALKING, AND TOUCHING, AND SMELLING, AND TURNING TO THEIR FRIEND OR PARTNER AND SAYING, "WHAT IS THIS?"

YOU KNOW, AND TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

SO, I THINK THAT LENDS TO PART OF THAT FOOD EXPERIENCE.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE EATING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT PLANTING A SEED FOR WANTINGO LEARN MORE.

I WANT 242 TO BE AN EXPERIENCE, SO I WANT IT TO BE A VISUAL EXPERIENCE, AN EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND A DINING EXPERIENCE.

NOBODY NEEDS TO OPEN A RESTAURANT JUST TO OPEN A RESTAURANT.

THERE'S RESTAURANTS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SOMEBODY NEEDS TO OPEN A RESTAURANT THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN HOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND FOOD, HOW THEY CONSUME FOOD, HOW THEY GROW FOOD, AND MAYBE WE'VE JUST MADE A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE RIGHT HERE.

SO, THAT'S WHAT WE DO.

♪ >> AND, WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE?

TO BE ABLE TO COME AND HAVE SOMETHING LOCAL, FRESH, AND REALLY, REALLY ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE, AND NEW INGREDIENTS THAT YOU MIGHT EVEN BE ABLE TO GROW IN YOUR OWN GARDEN, AND JOHN'S HYDROPONIC THING, WHATEVER THAT IS.

ALL RIGHT, SO INSECT.

NEXT.

LET'S SEE, YOU HAVE FRASS ON A PETUNIA, KYLE.

THEY DON'T SEE ANY INSECTS.

WHAT IS THIS FROM?

>> SOUNDS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY TOBACCO BUDWORM.

PEPENIAS ARE ONE OF THEIR PREFERRED HOSTS, AND THEY LIKE TO HIDE OUT DURING THE DAY.

SO, I SUSPECT IF YOU GO OUT AND INVESTIGATE IN THE EVENING WITH A FLASHLIGHT, YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND THE CATERPILLARS THERE.

AND SO, FOR TREATMENT FOR THOSE, UNFORTUNATELY THEY'RE -- BT REALLY DOESN'T WORK WELL FOR THEM.

THEY'RE PRETTY RESISTANT.

YOU CAN TRY HAND-PICKING IF IT'S A PRETTY SMALL PLANTING OF PETUNIAS.

OTHERWISE, MAYBE PYRETHRUM WOULD -- WOULD BE AN OPTION.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES COME TO US FROM SCOTTS BLUFF, AND THIS WAS ACTUALLY A WORM THAT SHE ACCIDENTALLY CUT IN HALF WITH THE PRUNING SHEARS, BUT SHE'S GOT HER HAND IN THERE SO YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG IT WAS.

( LAUGHS ) WHAT IS THAT?

>> YEAH, THIS -- THIS IS -- ACTUALLY, I THINK IT'S TWO DIFFERENT HORNWORMS, SO THEY WERE PROBABLY BOTH DECAPITATED, BECAUSE IT'S THE BACKSIDE OF TWO, AND THESE ARE ACHEMON SPHINX MOTHS ARE THE CATERPILLARS FOR THAT.

SO, THEY'RE A REAL LARGE, SHOWY, MOTH.

THE LARVAE WILL FEED ON GRAPES, SO NOT REALLY A BIG PEST OR ANYTHING, BUT -- >> A A RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT - YOUR FINAL ONE, IS ALSO A -- A WORM, AND SAID, "ARE THESE GOING TO DAMAGE MY GARDEN?"

>> THIS ONE, YES.

THESE CAN BE A BIG PROBLEM.

THIS IS -- EXCUSE ME -- THESE ARE TOBACCO HORNWORMS, AND THEY LIKE A VARIETY OF SOLANACEOUS CROPS, SO, POTATOES, PEPPERS, TOMATOES, AND THEY CAN BE PRETTY SERIOUS DEFOLIATORS.

SO, WHEN THEY'RE REAL SMALL, YOU CAN TREAT THEM WITH -- WITH A RIETY OF DIFFERENT TREATMENTS, CHEMICALS, BT, BUT AS -- AS THOSE CATERPILLARS GET LARGER, THEY'RE REALLY LESS SUSCEPTIBLE.

THE GOOD THING IS THAT IF IT'S A SMALL GARDEN, AGAIN, HAND-PICKING IS A REALLY VIABLE, VERY EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR THESE.

THEY'RE PRETTY EASY TO FIND, BECAUSE THEY DO GET LARGE.

SO, HAND-PICKED, DISPOSE OF IN SOAPY WATER.

OTHERWISE, A LARGE ONE, MAYBE CARBARYL WOULD PROBABLY BE YOUR BEST BET IF YOU HAD TO TREAT WITH SOMETHING.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, IT IS WATERMELON SEASON AND APPARENTLY WE HAVE A VIEWER HERE FROM OMAHA WHO HAS SOME CRITTERS THAT ALSO THINK SO.

SHE HAS TWO PICTURES HERE.

SHE SET A DOZEN TRAPS BAITED WITH PEANUT BUTTER, CHEESE, AND CARROTS, AND THEY CAUGHT THESE VERMIN, AND THEN SHE - SHE'S DONE THAT AGAIN AND CAUGHT MORE OF THESE VERMIN.

SO, WHAT IS IT THAT IS EATING HER WATERMELONS?

>> WELL, WHAT'S EATING THE WATERMELON IS LIKELY A VOLE OR A DEER MOUSE, AND WHAT SHE CAUGHT IS A SHREW, OR SHREWS, THAT EAT THE VERMIN.

SO, YOU JUST GOT RID OF YOUR HELPERS.

( LAUGHTER ) >> SO, YEAH.

YOU DON'T BAIT WITH PEANUT BUTTER AFTER SOMETHING THAT'S EATING YOUR WATERMELON, YOU BAIT WITH WATERMELON BECAUSE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE SAME THING.

THESE GUYS LIKE PROTEIN, AND THE SHREWS LIKE TO EAT INSECTS AND THEY KILL.

THEY HAVE A VERY HIGH METABOLISM.

THEY HAVE TO EAT ALMOST THEIR BODY WEIGHT A DAY, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE HALF THE SIZE OF A VOLE, THE GO RIGHT FOR THE NECK OF THE VOLE AND KILL THE VOLE AND EAT THE VOLE.

SO, YOUR BEST THING TO DO IS EITHER TO TRAP FOR THE VOLE WITH A BOX TRAP, WHERE THEY GO IN AND DON'T COME OUT.

AND ENHANCE YOUR -- I KNOW YOU CAN'T BRING THE SHREWS BACK TO LIFE, BUT HOPEFULLY THERE'S SOME OTHER SHREWS THERE THAT CAN HELP YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT - AND YOUR FINAL ONE HERE IS, THIS IS A YELLOW MARIGOLD MYSTERY, DENNIS.

IT IS A YELLOW MARIGOLD HEADS ONLY AND THEY FIND THEM -- JUST THE HEADS BITTEN OFF WHEN THEY ARE JUST FLOWERING.

THEY DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING ELSE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT COULD BE?

>> IT'S - USUALLY WHEN IT'S A FLOWER FEEDER, IT'S USUALLY A THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL, OR A FRANKLIN'S GROUND SQUIRREL.

THEY LIKE TO EAT DANDELION FLOWERS, OR FLUORESCENTS, AND THEY WILL GO AFTER ALMOST ANY PLANT, GRAB THE FLOWER, EAT PART OF IT, AND LEAVE THE REST DOWN THERE, AND GO AFTER ANOTHER FLOWER.

SO, IT'S LIKELY, WITHOUT SEEING ANY OTHER EVIDENCE, A THIRTEEN-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM IN KEARNEY, AT ARROWHEAD VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING COMPLEX.

PIN OAK STARTS EVERY YEAR LOOKING GOOD, GRADUALLY DIES, BRANCH ISN'T DEAD.

HE DID DO SOME GOOD TREATMENTS ON THIS WITH IRON.

NO CANKERS.

ONE 30 FEET AWAY IS JUST FINE.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, IRON CHLOROSIS USUALLY DOESN'T CAUSE A CROWN TO DIE OUT, SO I WOULD BE LEANING TOWARDS SOME TYPE OF CANKER UP THERE.

BUT THE OTHER TRICK IS, IF THE OTHER TREE NEARER IT LOOKS JUST FINE, I WOULD PROBABLY START LOOKING AT ROOT GIRDLING POTENTIAL.

SO, SEE IF YOU CAN SEE THOSE ROOTS STARTING TO GO AROUND AND OVER TIGHTEN THOSE ROOT GIRDLES JUST, BASICALLY, JUST -- JUST STARVES THE PLANT AND CHOKES IT TO DEATH.

SO, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD BE KIND OF LEANING TOWARD IS PROBABLY A ROOT ISSUE.

IN PIN OAK, I WOULDN'T RECOMMEND COMING BACK IN WITH A PIN OAK FOR KEARNEY, JUST BECAUSE IT'S VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO IRON CHLOROSIS NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR FINAL PICTURE COMES TO US FROM HASTINGS.

AFTER THE STORM HIT, MUCH OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA, THESE SPOTS STARTED SHOWING UP.

SO, THIS IS MORE RECENT THAN THAT LAST ONE.

>> OKAY, SO ONCE AGAIN YOU SEE THE IRON CHLOROSIS, THE DARK VEINS WITH THE YELLOW BUT WITH THE SPOTS THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THERE, IT'S A FUNGAL DISEASE CALLED "TUBAKIA."

"TUBAKINKA" IS WHAT I CALL IT.

I PROBABLY DON'T PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY - VERY COMMON FUNGAL DISEASE THAT WE SEE IN OAK AFTER A MAJOR WEATHER EVENT.

SO, LOTS OF WATER WHICH YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN ABOUT THAT TIME.

TYPICALLY, IT ISN'T ANYTHING THAT WE TREAT.

WE SEE IT THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST.

IT MAY CAUSE SOME PREMATURE DEFOLIATION IF WE GET SOME MORE WET WEATHER, BUT OVERALL, IT SHOULD NOT HARM THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, AMY.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES, JOHN, COME TO US FROM HOPPER, AND THEY MISPLACED THE SEED PACKET ON THIS CRITTER.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS -- THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ZUCCHINI, BUT IT'S 18, 19 INCHES AROUND.

WHAT IS IT?

( LAUGHTER ) >> YEAH, SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE.

I COULDN'T FIND -- I COULDN'T EXACTLY FIND WHAT THIS IS.

IT DEFINITELY -- IT'S DEFINITELY A SQUASH.

I WOULD SAY, LOOKING AT THE INSIDE OF IT, THAT WE SEE THAT -- I WOULD SAY IT WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A -- I DON'T THINK IT'S RELATED TO THE ZUCCHINI.

IT'S MORE LIKE A HUBBARD-TYPE OF SQUASH, I THINK.

SO, I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT CULTIVAR, BUT IT -- I'M LEANING TOWARD THAT DIRECTION.

>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT YEAR, THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THE TAGS.

>> YEAH, KEEP THE PACKET, OR REMEMBER WHAT YOU BOUGHT, ALL RIGHT?

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM NORTH PLATTE.

THIS CLEARLY IS NOT A BURPEE'S BIG BOY.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS?

>> SO, WE SEE THOSE ELONGATED-TYPE TOMATOES.

THAT'S SORT OF A TYPE OF A -- A ROMA TOMATO, SOME SORT OF PASTE-TYPE TOMATO.

SO, EITHER THE TAG GOT SWITCHED, WHICH IS PROBABLY THE MOST LIKELY THING THAT HAPPENED, OR, WHICHEVER BREEDER WAS, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPING THOSE SEEDS FOR THE COMPANY, THEY HAD LIKE A LITTLE EXTRA POLLEN SLIP IN SOMEWHERE, SO LIKE THE MILKMAN STOPPED BY THE TOMATO PATCH.

AND SO -- YEAH, IT'S A ROMA-TYPE TOMATO.

>> AND YOUR FINAL ONE: THIS IS A CHERRY AND GRAPE TOMATOES GROWING IN A POT IN MIDTOWN OMAHA.

THEY'VE HARVESTED FRUIT, BUT THEN THEY SAW THESE WARTS ON THE PLANT AND THEY KIND OF FREAKED OUT.

WHAT IS THAT?

>> RIGHT.

IT SORT OF LOOKS LIKE A WEIRD, YOU KNOW, LIKE SWAMP CREATURE COMING OUT OF THAT TOMATO, AND IT'S ACTUALLY PERFECTLY NORMAL.

THAT'S ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS.

TOMATOES HAVE THIS THING WHERE ANYWHERE THEIR STEMS ARE WET OR TOUCH SOIL, THEY WILL ACTUALLY GROW ROOTS, SO YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN, LIKE, IF YOU HAVE A SQUASH PLANT AND THE VINE GOES ALONG THE GROUND, IT WILL PUT OUT ROOTS AT THE NODES.

TOMATOES DO THAT ALL ALONG THE PLANT, SO IF YOU'VE EVER PLANTED TOMATOES AND SOMEONE'S TOLD YOU, "PLANT IT DEEP," THAT'S BECAUSE ALL ALONG THAT STEM, ROOTS WILL GROW OUT AND THAT IS JUST THE ADVENTITIOUS ROOTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, OUR GARDEN IS ALWAYS A WONDERFUL SURPRISE.

WE'RE NEVER QUITE SURE HOW THINGS ARE GOING TO PERFORM, BUT AS ALWAYS, HERE'S TERRI JAMES TO SHOW US SOME BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN OUR "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE GOING TO START LOOKING AT WHAT WORKED REALLY WELL, AND WHAT KIND OF DIDN'T REALLY DO SO WELL THIS YEAR.

A LOT OF THE SEEDS THAT WE STARTED IN THE GREENHOUSE, SOME OF THE FLOWERS -- ARE LOOKING FANTASTIC.

WE HAVE A NICOTIANA THAT LOOKS REALLY GOOD, REALLY -- IT'S STARTING TO POP.

IT'S GOT SOME WHITE FLOWERS, SO IT'LL BE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO THOSE EVENING POLLINATORS.

WE HAVE A SHADE COLEUS THAT'S LOOKING REALLY GOOD.

IT'S A MIX, SO IT HAS LOTS OF DIFFERENT COLORS IN IT AND IT LOOKS REALLY NICE UNDERNEATH THE SHADE OF OUR BIG OAK TREE IN OUR GARDEN.

WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT REDS, AND WE HAVE AN AMARANTH THAT IS LOOKING REALLY NICE, SO WE MAY NEED TO TRY THAT ONE OUT AGAIN NEXT YEAR, OR MAYBE TRY A DIFFERENT COLOR -- NOT FOR SURE.

BUT, WE'RE GOING TO WRITE DOWN THOSE NOTES IN OUR JOURNAL AND MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S LOOKING GOOD.

SO, STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK 'EM OUT.

♪ >> THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT TIP FROM TERRI.

OF COURSE, ALL OF US REALLY NEED TO KEEP THOSE GOOD NOTES IN OUR JOURNAL, AND WE DON'T DO THAT.

WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

STAY WITH US.

THERE'S PLANT OF THE WEEK COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THAT BREAK, AND OF COURSE MORE QUESTIONS ON "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER," COMING TO YOU FROM 242 HOUSE IN COZAD.

LATER ON, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE BUZZ ABOUT A PERFECT POLLINATOR PLANT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE TYPICALLY WOULD HAVE LIGHTNING.

WE DON'T WALL TO CALL DOWN THAT LIGHTNING AND THAT THUNDER ON US, AS WE'RE ALL SITTING OUTSIDE, SO INSTEAD WE ARE GOING STRAIGHT TO THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

ALL RIGHT, JOHN, WHAT DO WE HAVE TODAY?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE I USUALLY, LIKE, HAVE A VASE ON THE DESK, LIKE A LITTLE BOUQUET HERE THAT I'M HOLDING -- >> WHICH MATCHES YOUR SHIRT.

>> WHICH MATCHES MY SHIRT.

WE PLANNED IT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

SO, HERE WE HAVE IRONWEED, WHICH IS A GREAT NATIVE.

IT'S ALSO A GREAT POLLINATOR PLANT.

THEY LOVE THE -- THAT PURPLE FLOWER THERE.

SO, IT GROWS IN SORT OF ROCKY-TYPE AREAS.

IT'S OKAY WITH SORT OF NOT GREAT SOIL, AS WELL.

AND SO, THAT'S A GOOD POLLINATOR PLANT -- ADDS SOME COLOR TO THE GARDEN.

OF COURSE, WHERE I'M FROM, BACK ON THE EAST COAST, IT'S LIKE WILD EVERYWHERE AND EVERYONE WANTS TO KILL IT OUT OF THEIR GARDEN.

AND THEN, WE HAVE THIS LITTLE -- THIS IS WILD RYE.

SO, AN INTERESTING GRAIN THERE THAT WE JUST ADD THERE -- SORT OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME - THERE'S RYE BEHIND ME AT THE BAR, TOO, I THINK.

MAYBE I CAN TRADE LATER, YOU KNOW, FOR A DRINK.

I DON'T KNOW.

SO, YEAH, THOSE ARE OUR PLANTS OF THE WEEK AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THESE, SO WE'LL JUST -- SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW -- >> EAT THEM.

>> I'LL JUST - ANYONE BACK THERE GETTING MARRIED SOON, RIGHT?

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THERE WE GO.

>> THANK YOU, JOHN.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM IMPERIAL.

THIS -- THESE INSECTS WERE FIRST ON THE RASPBERRY BUSHES -- THEN THEY MOVED TO THEIR ASPARAGUS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

ARE THEY HELPFUL IN THE GARDEN, OR HARMFUL?

>> THESE ARE HELPFUL.

WELL, NOT THESE IN PARTICULAR.

THESE ARE THYNID WASPS, AND THIS IS A GROUP OF MALES.

THE MALES LIKE TO - LIKE TO CONGREGATE ON VEGETATION, EITHER, YOU KNOW, TO GET OUT OF, SORT OF THE HEAT DURING THE DAY, OR SLEEPING AT NIGHT.

BUT THE FEMALES, THEY BURROW INTO -- IN THE SOIL, AND THEN LAY EGGS ON -- ON GRUBS, IN TURF.

AND SO THEN, THOSE LARVAE ARE PARASITOIDS OF GRUBS AND HELP CONTROL THEM.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS FROM RAVENNA.

THIS INSECT HAS BEEN EATING HER 'TATERS.

WHAT IS IT?

SHE'S TRIED SEVEN.

>> YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S A BLISTER BEETLE.

THEY - THESE DO KIND OF SOMETIMES SWARM AND CAN BE FAIRLY TRANSIENT, KIND OF COMING AND GOING, AND SO IT COULD BE WITH THE SEVEN TREATMENT BEFORE THAT MAYBE JUST SORT OF NEW ONES CAME IN AFTER THAT, BECAUSE NORMALLY CARBARYL IS EFFECTIVE FOR THESE.

ANOTHER THING YOU COULD ALSO TREAT WITH IS PERMETHRIN.

YOU COULD GIVE THAT A SHOT IF THE CARBARYL ISN'T WORKING, AND ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND TOO LONG YOU MIGHT JUST SORT OF WAIT AND SEE IF THEY GO AWAY ON THEIR OWN.

A LOT OF TIMES THEY WILL PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> ALRIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE, AND YOUR FINAL ONE IS -- COMES TO US FROM SCOTTS BLUFF.

ON A YOUNG BURR OAK THAT HAS BRANCHES LOW TO THE GROUND.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH, THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE.

AT FIRST I THOUGHT MAYBE THIS WAS A LADYBUG PUPAE BECAUSE THE -- YOU KNOW, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS MAYBE SOME APHIDS ON THIS OAK.

BUT IT'S ACTUALLY, I BELIEVE, AN ARGUS TORTOISE BEETLE, AND THESE FEED ON PLANTS IN THE BINDWEED FAMILY AND BECAUSE THOSE, YOU KNOW, SORT OF HAVE THOSE LOW-HANGING BRANCHES, I SUSPECT IT JUST CLIMBED UP THERE TO PUPATE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR THIS FIRST ONE, I DO BELIEVE.

THIS IS ALBION.

IT'S A WILLOW.

THEY'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE APPEARANCE OF THE WILLOW.

IS THIS NORMAL FOR THE TRUNK ON THIS, AND IT ALSO APPEARS THAT MAYBE SOMETHING IS RUBBING ON THE BASE?

WHAT DO WE THINK?

AND - AND IS THIS A GONER?

>> YEAH.

NO, IT'S NOT A GONER.

WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE FROM THESE PICTURES IS SQUIRREL TERRITORIAL BARKING.

SO, EVERY DAY OR SO, THE MALE SQUIRREL WILL GO TO -- IT COULD BE A PICNIC TABLE, OR YOUR GARAGE DOOR, OR TO THE BASE OF A TREE WHERE THEY HAVE A NEST, AND THEY'LL CHIP A LITTLE -- AND THEY'LL GO QUITE A WAYS UP, YOU KNOW, EASILY A COUPLE METERS, OR SIX-FOOT UP.

THEY'LL CHIP AND RUB THEIR CHIN, AND THAT'S TELLING ALL THE OTHER SQUIRRELS, "MY TURF, BACK OFF."

SO, IT'S SQUIRREL GRAFFITI.

AND, THAT -- THEY USUALLY DON'T DO ENOUGH DIGGING INTO THE BARK TO GET INTO THE CAMBIUM TO CAUSE PROBLEMS.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT PICTURE IS A LINCOLN VIEWER THAT HAS AN OAK THAT ALSO HAS THE BARK STRIPPED, APPARENTLY A LITTLE BIT ON ONE SIDE AND THREE FEET UP ON THE OTHER.

AND, THEY'RE WONDERING THE SAME THING HERE.

>> THIS ALSO LOOKS LIKE TREE SQUIRREL, BUT HERE IT'S NOT JUST TERRITORIAL MARKING -- THEY ACTUALLY TOOK THE BARK OFF AND THEY'RE EXPOSING THAT CAMBIUM AND THEY'RE GETTING THAT STARCH AND SUGARS OUT OF THAT, AND THEY USUALLY DO IT TO ELMS AND MAPLES.

I'M NOT SURE OF THE SPECIES OF TREE HERE - THEY DON'T DO AS MUCH TO NATIVE TREES, BECAUSE SQUIRRELS ADAPTED WITH NATIVE TREES, BUT THEY DO IT TO THOSE THAT HAVE A LOT OF SUGAR CONTENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL ONE IS - THIS IS A PIN OAK THAT IS DROPPING LOTS OF GREEN LEAFY CLUSTERS.

WHAT DID THIS?

>> OKAY, SO THIS COULD BE SQUIRRELS OR IT COULD BE A GIRDLER AND THE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO GET THIS BRANCH THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM THAT'S FALLEN, AND LOOK AT THE END THAT GOT CUT.

IF IT'S A 45-DEGREE ANGLE, THAT'S THE TEETH OF A SQUIRREL, AND IT'S USUALLY YOUNG MALES.

THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A NEST -- THEY'RE YOUNG MALES, SO THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, LIKE ANY YOUNG MALE, AND THEY DROP IT.

AND THEN, THEY GO, "WAIT A MINUTE, I WAS SUPPOSED TO BUILD A NEST," AND THEY GET ANOTHER ONE AND THEN THEY DROP IT.

BUT, IF IT'S CONICAL, LIKE SOMETHING CHEWED IT TO A POINT, THEN IT'S PROBABLY SOME KIND OF TWIG GIRDLER, SO YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT END THAT'S BEEN CUT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DENNIS.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR FIRST ONE, AMY, IS WAY COOL.

THIS IS A YORK VIEWER.

WE'VE NEVER SEEN THIS BEFORE ON THE SHOW - A GREEN BEAN HAS SOME SORT OF HAIRLIKE STRUCTURE GROWING OUT OF IT.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS REALLY, REALLY COOL, I AGREE.

A BIG THANK-YOU TO LOREN GIESLER FOR IDENTIFYING THIS FOR US.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A SLIME MOLD.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT SLIME MOLDS ON TURF AND OTHER PLACES -- THIS IS ACTUALLY SLIM MOLD.

SO, IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE.

YOU CAN JUST WASH IT OFF AND IT'S NO BIG DEAL ON YOUR GREEN BEANS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IT'S REALLY CREEPY.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS A STANTON VIEWER.

PORTIONS OF THE LAWN WERE SHOWING SIGNS OF DROUGHT THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS.

SHE MOWED AND THEN THEY GOT TWO INCHES OF RAIN OVER THE NEXT TWO DAYS.

BY SUNDAY, TWO DAYS LATER, THEY HAD A BALL FIELD STRIPE PATTERN GOING ON.

>> YEAH, IT'S FOLLOWING ALL THOSE MOWER WHEEL TRACKS, SO WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH HERE IS BROWN PATCH AND WE'RE HAVING BROWN PATCH SHOW UP EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

IT LIKES HIGH NITRTREN, DENSE TURF, BUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE MOST LIKELY IS SHE MOWED WHEN THE GRASS WAS STILL A LITTLE WET, AND SO THE FUNGUS IS ACTUALLY ABLE TO GET ON THE TIRES AND MOVED WHEREVER SHE MOWED.

AND THEN, WE GOT THAT NICE RAIN.

THAT MADE IT VERY FAVORABLE.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME, I WOULDN'T TREAT ANYTHING FOR IT, FOR BROWN PATCH.

INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT OVERSEEDING WITH A MORE RESISTANT VARIETY THIS FALL AND THEN, LOOKING AT YOUR NITROGEN MANAGEMENT PLAN BECAUSE, ONCE AGAIN, IT FAVORS HIGH NITROGEN, SO WE DON'T WANT TO - WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT PUTTING ALL THAT NITROGEN DOWN IN THE FA -- OR, IN THE SPRING.

WE WANT TO PUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THAT NITROGEN DOWN IN THE FALL TO HELP ROOT GROWTH AND HELPS PREVENT BROWN PATCH.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL ONE IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

THEY THINK THEIR LAWN HAS SOME SORT OF A FUNGUS AMONG-US, TOO.

>> IT IS.

IT'S THAT WONDERFUL BROWN PATCH.

IT IS JUST THE TIME OF YEAR FOR IT.

IT LIKES HIGH HUMIDITY AND HEAT, AND SO WITH THE RAINS THAT WE'VE HAD, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE RUNNING INTO.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, AMY.

ALL RIGHT, THESE SOUND LIKE THEY BELONG TO SOMEBODY ELSE, JOHN, BUT YOU ARE THE VEGETABLE MAN.

>> OKAY.

>> SO, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS COLLAPSED ZUCCHINI.

WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

>> SO, REALLY, KYLE SHOULD BE ANSWERING THIS ONE, I THINK.

THIS, I THINK, IS SQUASH VINE BORER.

IF YOU LOOK AT THAT MAIN VINE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PLANT, IT LOOKS ALL KIND OF MUSHY AND GUNKY, SO THERE'S A MOTH -- CLEARWING MOTH THAT LOOKS LIKE A WASP.

SHE COMES ALONG AND SHE LAYS HER EGGS AT THE BASE AND THE LITTLE BABIES THINK, "THIS IS A TASTY SQUASH," AND THEY BURROW RIGHT IN THERE AND THEN THEY CAUSE ALL KINDS OF DAMAGE, AND IT WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THE PLANT.

YOU CAN KEEP A WATCH OUT AND LOOK AT THE BASE OF YOUR SQUASH PLANTS, AND YOU CAN DO SURGERY IF YOU CATCH THEM EARLY.

YOU CAN DO LIKE A LITTLE SCALPEL OR A LITTLE NEEDLE AND GO IN THERE AND, YOU KNOW, STICK HIM AND KILL HIM, OR LIKE PULL HIM OUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE A LITTLE WORM EXTRACTION GOING ON -- VERY TASTY.

OR, YOU CAN DO A LITTLE BIT OF LIKE AN INSECTICIDE TREATMENT AROUND THE BASE OF IT WHENEVER IT'S TIME -- SORT OF LIKE CARBARYL, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, OR MAYBE PERMETHRIN.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND YOU GOT THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE KYLE'S BUCKET WAS FULL, BUT HE'S OVER HERE NODDING HIS HEAD.

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

SO, WE ALSO HAVE YOUR NEXT ONE, JOHN, IS PARSNIPS.

THIS IS FROM GRAND ISLAND.

THE LEAVES TURN YELLOW, CURL, AND THEN THEY DIE.

WHAT'S UP?

>> WELL, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE -- MAYBE AMY KNOWS.

THIS LOOKS LIKE A DISEASE TO ME, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S ANYTHING THAT'S LIKE REALLY AN ISSUE THAT WOULD CAUSE LIKE A LONG-TERM DAMAGE OR KILL THE PLANT.

I THINK IT'S JUST SOME SORT OF FOLIAR DISEASE AND I DON'T THINK IT'LL KILL THE WHOLE PLANT AT ONCE.

IF IT DOES START TO TAKE OUT THE WHOLE PLANT, YOU MIGHT WANT TO LOOK AT SOME SORT OF BROAD-SPECTRUM FUNGICIDE, LIKE COPPER SULFATE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE TREATED.

>> I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU FLIP THE LEAF OVER AND LOOK FOR ANY FUZZY GROWTH ON THERE.

ON PARSNIPS, WE CAN FIND DOWNY MILDEW.

SO, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LOOK FOR WHICH IS USUALLY ONLY WITH WET CONDITIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND JOHN, YOUR FINAL ONE COMES TO US FROM ILLINOIS, AND THIS IS, "WHY IS THE BROCCOLI PLANT ROTTING AT THE BASE?"

>> BECAUSE IT'S ROTTING AT THE BASE.

(LAUGHTER) I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY A SOFT ROT, WHICH AFFECTS A LOT OF THOSE BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, CAULIFLOWER.

ACTUALLY, IT PROBABLY CAME IN ON THE PLANT.

ONCE IT GE TO THAT POINT, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO.

JUST TAKE IT OUT BEFORE IT CAN SPREAD, AND IT WILL OVER-WINTER IN THE AREA, SO JUST TAKE THAT OUT AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE BUYING HIGH-QUALITY PLANTS, AND JUST KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JOHN.

WELL, YOU KNOW, MILKWEED IS ONE OF THOSE FABULOUS PLANTS, BOTH FOR POLLINATORS AND ALL SORTS OF BENEFICIAL INSECTS.

SO, HERE'S SCOTT EVANS TO TELL US A LOT ABOUT DIFFERENT KINDS OF MILKWEED, AND WHAT THEY PROVIDE FOR US.

♪ >> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT MILKWEED HERE AT "BACKYARD FARMER."

WE KNOW IT'S AN IMPORTANT POLLINATING PLANT TO INCORPORATE INTO YOUR LANDSCAPE BECAUSE MANY OF OUR BEES, BUTTERFLIES, AND WASPS WILL VISIT THAT PLANT.

IT'S ALSO THE LARVAE HOST FOR THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, SO LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE MILKWEEDS.

THE FIRST ONE IS THE COMMON MILKWEED.

THIS IS THE PLANT WE MOST THINK OF.

IT'S A TALLER PLANT, GROWING BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE-FOOT TALL.

IT HAS THOSE LARGE OVAL-SHAPED LEAVES.

IT DOES WELL IN DRY LOCATIONS, BUT IT CAN MEANDER THROUGH UNDERGROUND STEMS.

SO, KEEP THAT IN MIND.

THE NEXT MILKWEED IS THE BUTTERFLY MILKWEED.

THIS PLANT IS BECOMING MORE POPULAR IN THE GARDEN CENTER, BUT BE A LITTLE BIT LEERY, BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE NEW CULTIVARS ARE NOT AS HARDY AS WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE.

THE PLANT GROWS BETWEEN TWO, MAYBE UP TO THREE-FOOT TALL.

IT IS A CLUMP-FORMING PLANT.

SO, IT'S NOT GOING TO SPREAD THROUGH UNDERGROUND STEMS, BUT IT CAN SELF-SEED, SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET VOLUNTEERS POPPING UP THROUGHOUT YOUR GARDEN.

THE NEXT CLUMP-FORMING MILKWEED IS THE SWAMP MILKWEED.

THIS IS A TALL PLANT.

IT CAN EASILY GET UP TO FIVE-FOOT TALL - MAYBE UP TO SIX-FOOT, OR TALLER.

AS THE NAME IMPLIES, SWAMP MILKWEEDS LIKE WET LOCATIONS.

IT IS A CLUMP-FORMING MILKWEED, SO IT'S NOT GOING TO SPREAD THROUGH UNDERGROUND STEMS, BUT IT CAN SELF-SEED, SO YOU'LL GET VOLUNTEERS POPPING UP, AS WELL.

THE NEXT MILKWEED IS THE WHORLED MILKWEED.

THIS IS A SHORTER PLANT.

THIS PLANT ONLY GROWS BETWEEN AND 24 INCHES TALL, BUT WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING IS THAT IT HAS NEEDLE-LIKE FOLIAGE AND BRIGHT FLOWERS AND LIKE THE COMMON MILKWEED, IT TOO CAN SPREAD THROUGH UNDERGROUND STEMS, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

BACK IN 2019, THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY DID A STUDY ON THE PLACEMENT OF MILKWEED WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE AND WHAT THEY FOUND IS THAT THE PLANTS THAT WERE PLANTED ALONG THE PERIMETER, OR THE EDGE OF THE FLOWER GARDEN, WERE VISITED MORE OFTEN BY THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY, AND THEY HAD MORE EGGS LAYING ON THEM.

SO, THIS FALL, WHEN YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT REVITALIZING YOUR GARDEN OR IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING UP YOUR PLANT PALATE, THINK ABOUT ADDING SOME MILKWEED INTO YOUR GARDEN AND PLANT THEM ALONG THE EDGE OF THE GARDEN TO HELP THE BUTTERFLIES.

>> AND IF ONLY TO HELP THOSE MONARCHS, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT SOME OF THEM SMELL WONDERFUL AND SOME OF THEM REALLY RUN.

ALRIGHT, SO, YOUR FINAL ROUND OF PICTURES.

LET'S SEE, KYLE, YOUR FIRST ONE.

THIS IS FROM A PAXTON VIEWER.

SHE HAS SLUGS ON HER CHERRIES.

WHAT ARE THESE?

>> YEAH, THESE -- THESE ARE ACTUALLY NOT SLUGS, IT'S A - COMMONLY CALLED PEAR SLUG SAWFLY.

CHERRY IS ONE OF THE PREFERRED HOSTS.

THERE'S TWO -- TWO GENERATIONS, GENERALLY IN THE YEAR, FIRST IN JULY.

SECOND, AROUND SEPTEMBER.

PROBABLY THE BEST THING TO DO FOR THESE IS, YOU KNOW, GIVE 'EM A REALLY GOOD SPRAY WITH THE HOSE.

A NICE STREAM OF WATER SHOULD KNOCK MOST OF THEM OFF TO THE GROUND AND THEY CAN'T GET BACK UP.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS A FOUR-INCH-LONG INSECT, AND THIS COMES TO US FROM BEAVER CROSSING.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THIS IS A FEMALE DOBSONFLY.

THEY'RE - THE LARVAE ARE AQUATIC IN FAST-MOVING STREAMS AND FEED ON OTHER INSECTS, AND THEN THE ADULTS ARE HIGHLY ATTRACTED TO LIGHT AND SO WE COMMONLY SEE THEM SHOWING UP AROUND THERE.

>> AND, FINALLY, AND WE'VE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE HOLE THIS MAKES, BUT THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THIS LARGE INSECT IS.

>> YEP, THIS IS ANOTHER CICADA-KILLER WASP.

YOU KNOW, REALLY NOT -- NOT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEY'RE BIG AND INTIMIDATING, BUT THEY'RE NOT A THREAT AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, THIS COMES TO US FROM SCOTTS BLUFF.

THIS SAYS EVERY YEAR, SOMETHING ATTACKS HER ROSES.

SHE'S NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SEE ANY INSECTS AND SHE WANTS - AND THIS HAPPENS JUST AS THEIR BEGINNING TO FLOWER.

ANY IDEAS ON THIS?

>> WELL, YEAH.

THAT -- FIRST OF ALL, YOUNG RABBITS LIKE TO GO FOR THE COMPLETE FOLIAGE.

LITTLE GROOVES OUT OF IT - THAT'S PROBABLY AN INSECT OF SOME TYPE -- MAYBE A FLYING INSECT.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S SOME KIND OF LEAF CUTTER, BUT WHEN YOU SEE THOSE ROUND HOLES, IT WOULD BE AN INSECT, BECAUSE THERE'S NO VERTEBRATE PEST THAT HAS A ROUND MOUTH TO DO THAT.

BUT - SO, I WOULD -- EVEN THOUGH YOU DON'T SEE THE INSECT, IF IT FLIES IN AND OUT, I WOULD GO THAT WAY.

IF YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE IT BEING A RABBIT OR A VERMIN PEST, JUST PUT SOME TALC POWDER DOWN AND IF YOU GET NO FOOTPRINTS IN THAT TALC POWER, THEN IT'S A FLYING-IN INSECT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT IDEA.

ALL RIGHT, THEN YOU HAVE A -- ONE PICTURE FROM A LINCOLN VIEWER.

A PLUMBER TOLD THEM THAT THEY HAVE BATS IN THEIR BELFRY HERE.

>> WELL, I THINK THE PLUMBER HAS SOMETHING IN HIS BELFRY, BECAUSE THERE'S NO SMUDGE MARKS FROM BATS AND THAT CRACK IS TOO SMALL FOR EVEN OUR SMALLEST BAT.

IT MAY BE AN INSECT GOING IN AND OUT THERE OR SOMETHING ELSE OCCURRING, BUT WHEN BATS GO IN AND OUT OF A SMALL CRACK, THEY HAVE A LOT OF OIL IN THEIR SKIN AND THEY LEAVE WHAT WE CALL SMUDGE MARKS, AND THIS ATTRACTS OTHER BATS, AND THIS IS CLEAN WITH NO SMUDGE MARKS.

SO, I WOULD SAY, NOT BATS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DENNIS.

ALRIGHT, AMY.

SPEAKING OF MAPLES IN COZAD, NEBRASKA, THIS ONLY TREE IN THE FRONT YARD HAS SOMETHING WRONG.

STARTED LAST YEAR, AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO OR THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE THAT SHOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAPLE.

>> SO, ONCE AGAIN, IT IS SHOWING THOSE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF IRON CHLOROSIS.

BRIGHT YELLOW LEAVES WITH DARK VEINS, AND SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS -- IT'S SOIL TYPE, IT IS THE TYPE OF SOIL THAT WE HAVE.

THERE ISN'T A LOT WE CAN DO.

THE TREE WILL BE FINE.

IT WILL JUST BE A LITTLE YELLOW IN COLORATION.

>> RIGHT.

AND, YOUR FINAL ONE COMES TO US FROM NORTH PLATTE.

HE WAS CUTTING DOWN SOME DEAD LIMBS ON AN ASH, ABOUT 20 YEARS OLD.

HE NOTICED THIS SORT OF CUT LINE ON THE BRANCHES, BUT THEN THIS STRANGE PATTERNING ON THE FOLIAGE.

WHAT -- ANY IDEAS ON THIS ONE?

>> SO, I WILL BE HONEST.

THIS ONE REALLY STUMPED ME, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

THE LEAF PATTERN KIND MADE ME LEAN TO MAYBE SOME ANTHRACNOSE GOING ON THERE, BUT THE LINES ON THE BRANCHES DON'T LINE UP TO BE ANY DISEASE ISSUE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD BE INSECT-RELATED, GOING OVER TO KYLE, MOST LIKELY.

>> YEAH, THAT'S INTERESTING.

IT DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY LOOK LIKE ANY -- ANY BORERS OR ANY, YOU KNOW, GIRDLERS, OR ANYTHING THAT I'M AWARE OF.

USUALLY, THEY WOULD USE SMALLER TWIGS THAN WHAT THAT LOOKED LIKE.

I DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE IT, EITHER.

>> SO, MAYBE SEND US IN A SAMPLE SO WE COULD TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WE'LL THROW IT TO DENNIS AND MAYBE HE'LL SAY IT'S SOME VERTEBRATE.

MAN!

I COULD ALWAYS HOPE.

( LAUGHTER ) >> OR, PERHAPS NOT.

YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

JOHN, THIS COMES TO US FROM ST. PAUL, NEBRASKA, NOT OVER THERE -- >> NOT MINNESOTA?

>> NORTH.

YEAH.

>> OKAY.

>> THIS IS A BLACK BEAUTY EGGPLANT.

SHE HAD THREE PLANTS FROM THE SAME SEED PACKET.

ONLY ONE OF THE THREE DEVELOPED THESE DREADFUL SPIKES ON THE MID RIB OF THE LEAF.

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

>> SO, ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

SO, EGGPLANTS, IF YOU NOTICE ON THE FRUIT AND DEVELOPING, THERE'S LIKE LITTLE HAIRY SPIKY THINGS THERE, AND MOST OF THE OLD VARIETIES AND TYPES OF EGGPLANT USED TO HAVE THESE SPIKES ALL OVER THEIR LEAVES, BUT THE NEWER CULTIVARS AS WE'VE BRED THEM OUT, THEY'VE SORT OF BRED THAT OUT OF THE PLANT BECAUSE IT'S NOT PLEASANT TO HAVE BIG, SPIKY PLANTS IN YOUR GARDEN, RIGHT?

SO, THAT'S REALLY -- THAT'S REVERTED BACK TO THAT.

THAT'S SORT OF COME OUT ON THAT ONE PLANT.

VERY INTERESTING.

JUST, YOU KNOW, STEER CLEAR.

>> ALRIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE, HERE, COMES TO US FROM SOMEBODY WHOSE NEIGHBOR HAS A CALLA LILY.

THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO OVERWINTER IN OUR ZONE, BUT THIS ONE HAS COME BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR, BIGGER AND BETTER.

HE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO SHARE IT IF WE THINK THIS CAN BE SPLIT AND MOVED INTO A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

ANY ADVICE?

>> WELL, THAT IS VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE USUALLY CALLA LILY IS ONLY HARDY TO ZONE EIGHT, BUT I THINK WE HAVE THE PERFECT STORM HERE.

YOU SEE A SIDEWALK, AND I THINK THERE'S A WALL IMMEDIATELY BEHIND IT, AND I THINK THAT'S CREATING A MICROCLIMATE THAT IN THE WINTER THE SUN HITS THE WALL AND THE SIDEWALK, WARMS THEM UP, KEEPS THEM WARM, AND AT NIGHT WHEN IT'S COLDEST, IT RELEASES THAT HEAT AND SO I THINK IT'S PROTECTING THAT PLANT, SO UNLESS YOU CAN RECREATE THOSE, IT MAY NOT LIVE IF YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE A PIECE SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL ONE ACTUALLY IS A LINCOLN VIEWER, AND THEY FOUND THIS WILD STRAWBERRY PLANT, AND THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER IT CAN BE FERTILIZED OR FED SOMEHOW TO PRODUCE ACTUAL EDIBLE BIG STRAWBERRIES.

>> SO, THAT'S SORT OF A SNEAKY LITTLE PLANT.

THAT'S NOT REALLY A WILD STRAWBERRY.

THAT'S A FALSE STRAWBERRY.

YOU CAN TELL.

IT HAS YELLOW FLOWERS, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THAT LITTLE FRUIT, THE -- WHAT WE THINK OF AS SEEDS, WHICH ARE THE ACTUAL FRUIT OF THE PLANT, ARE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE RED PART.

IF IT WERE A TRUE WILD STRAWBERRY, THE FLOWERS WOULD BE WHITE AND THE FRUIT, THE STRAWBERRY, WOULD HAVE THOSE SEEDS - REALLY THE FRUITS - ON THE INSIDE, LIKE A REGULAR STRAWBERRY.

SO, DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, IT'LL NEVER GET BIGGER.

AND, NUMBER TWO, THEY REALLY DON'T TASTE LIKE ANYTHING.

SO, IT'LL TASTE LIKE WATER.

SO, JUST DON'T.

JUST TAKE IT OUT.

IT'S A WEED.

>> THANK YOU, JOHN.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, WE HAVE TIME FOR A QUESTION OR TWO FOR EACH OF YOU.

THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM CLARKSON.

SHE HAS A TERRIBLE TIME WITH GRASSHOPPERS, AND SHE'S USED SEVEN AND A COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS, AND SHE'S TREATING THEM WHEN THEY'RE QUARTER INCH TO HALF AN INCH.

NOT WORKING.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SUGGEST FOR TREATING GRASSHOPPERS IN THE GARDEN?

>> UM, YEAH, SO IT'S -- CARBARYL IS GOOD -- SEVEN.

AND ABSOLUTELY DOING THE RIGHT THING GETTING THEM WHEN THEY'RE SMALL.

THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE, DON'T DO WELL AS THEY GET BIGGER.

YOU KNOW, WHAT I SUSPECT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING, AND THIS IS THE BIG ISSUE WITH GRASSHOPPERS IS, YOU KNOW, IN DRY YEARS THEY TEND TO -- THE TEND TO REALLY BOOM, AND THEN AS SORT OF OTHER VEGETATION AROUND, SO IF YOU HAVE -- YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVE OUT OF TOWN, IF THERE'S GRASS, YOU KNOW, AROUND THAT'S DRYING DOWN -- ANYTHING LIKE THAT - THEY'RE PROBABLY MOVING IN FROM THAT OTHER PLANT MATERIAL THAT'S DRYING DOWN, LOOKING FOR GREEN, FRESH FOOD.

AND SO, IT MIGHT JUST BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONTINUALLY BATTLE BECAUSE OTHERWISE YOU REALLY SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE -- CARBARYL ON YOUNG GRASSHOPPERS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEN, DENNIS, WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE FOR A QUESTION AND WE HAD ONE FROM OUR AUDIENCE HERE IN COZAD THAT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH YOUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITE CREATURE, SNAKES.

>> OKAY.

>> SO, THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO CONTROL SNAKES.

>> WHY?

THEY DON'T CARRY GERMS OR VIRUSES - THEY JUST HELP.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

BUT, IF IT'S GARTER SNAKES AROUND THE HOUSE, NO CHEMICAL REPELLENT WORKS.

WE TESTED THEM UNTIL WE WERE BLUE IN THE FACE.

WE TESTED ABOUT EVERYTHING ON THE MARKET, BUT WE DID FIND REPELLENCY WITH LAVA ROCK LANDSCAPING.

NOW, I KNOW HORTICULTURISTS HATE LAVA ROCK LANDSCAPING, BUT IF YOU PUT IT NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE, SIX INCHES DEEP BY TWO FOOT WIDE, GARTER SNAKES CANNOT GET INTO IT, OR ANY SNAKE CANNOT GET INTO IT, AND THEY DON'T LIKE TO CRAWL ON IT.

SO, THAT'S YOUR BEST BET.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO EITHER ENJOY THEM OR GET RID OF THEM WITH SHARP ROCK.

>> RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER," COMING TO YOU FROM 242 HOUSE, IN COZAD, NEBRASKA.

WE WANT TO SAY THANKS TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR SENDING ALL THOSE GREAT QUESTIONS AND PICTURES, AS ALWAYS.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SAY THANKS TO THE KUHLMANS AND 242 HOUSE FOR HOSTING US.

AND, OF COURSE TO YOU, OUR AUDIENCE FOR ENJOYING, AND COMING, AND MEETING US HERE.

CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR GREAT PARTNERS, NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA.

WE COULD NOT DO THIS SHOW IF THEY WOULD NOT COME ON THE ROAD AND LET US COME TO YOU.

SO, ON THAT NOTE, GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

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