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

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE CLOSE OUT THE SEASON WITH A LOOK AT HYDRANGEAS AND THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN TIME LAPSE.

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

S S >> HELLO, EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO THE FINAL SHOW OF 2021 FOR "BACKYARD FARMER."

WE ARE COMING TO YOU FROM OUR ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS GARDEN ON A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

WE ARE SO GLAD TO BE IN YOUR HOMES AGAIN AND THIS IS A TAPED SHOW, SO UNFORTUNATELY, WE CANNOT TAKE YOUR CALLS TONIGHT.

WE ARE ENDING THE SEASON SO THOSE EMAILS MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE TIME TO ANSWER, AS WELL BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN WATCH US AND FIND ALL OF OUR GOOD INFORMATION OFF-SEASON ON FACEBOOK.

YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND YOU CAN SEE ALL THOSE OLD SHOWS AND ALL THOSE OLD FUN CLIPS.

AS ALWAYS, WE START WITH SAMPLES AND, KYLE, YOU HAVE A STICK IN A BOX.

>> YEP, I'VE GOT TWO STICKS AND A STICK MIMIC SO THIS IS - THIS IS A MANTIS.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR -- END OF SUMMER WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE ADULTS OUT AND THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS A MALE CAROLINA MANTIS.

SO, THIS IS ONE OF OUR NATIVE SPECIES CERTAINLY THE MOST COMMON NATIVE SPECIES THAT WE HAVE HERE AND REALLY, WE HAVE TWO PRETTY COMMON SPECIES HERE IN EASTERN NEBRASKA, THE CAROLINA MANTIS AND THEN THE CHINESE MANTIS.

THE CAROLINA MANTIS NATIVE -- CHINESE IS INTRODUCED.

IN WESTERN NEBRASKA THERE'S A THIRD SPECIES THAT'S FAIRLY COMMON THE EUROPEAN MANTIS.

SO, FOR CAROLINA MANTIS THE MALE IS GENERALLY KIND OF A BROWN, WITH GREEN LEGS.

THERE IS A FAIR BIT OF VARIATION IN COLOR -- A FEW INCHES LONG.

THE FEMALES HAVE A REALLY FAT ABDOMEN, AND SO THAT'S SORT OF ONE WAY YOU CAN DIFFERENTIATE THEM.

SO, THESE ARE REALLY GREAT GUYS TO HAVE AROUND THE LANDSCAPE.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM NOW.

THEY'RE VERY GOOD PREDATORS.

THE ONE DOWNSIDE IS THEY DON'T REALLY DISCRIMINATE SO THEY WILL ALSO -- YOU KNOW THEY'LL BASICALLY EAT ANYTHING THEY CAN CATCH SO YOU MIGHT FIND THEM ALSO EATING SOME POLLINATORS BUT OTHERWISE, YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THESE NOW AROUND THE LANDSCAPE AND START SEEING THOSE EGGS OR OOTHECA, TOO.

THOSE ARE THE KIND OF PAPERY SUBSTANCES THAT YOU'LL SEE GLUED TO A VARIETY OF SUBSTRAIGHT SO IF YOU DO SEE THOSE I'D JUST RECOMMEND LEAVING THOSE IN YOUR GARDEN SO THAT YOU'LL HAVE MORE OF THESE AROUND NEXT YEAR.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

THAT IS NOT A CREATURE, DENNIS.

>> NO, BUT IT'S -- IT'S EVIDENCE OF TWO CREATURES AND I ACTUALLY PICKED THIS UP UNDER AN OAK TREE HERE ON CAMPUS, AND IT HAS TWO THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS ON, SO WHEN YOU SEE BROWN UP IN A TREE AND I TOOK THIS FROM UP IN THE TREE, IT'S NOT SQUIRRELS.

THAT IS PROBABLY, IN THIS CASE IT'S THE OAK SO IT'S A OAK TWIG GIRDLER AND IF IT - ONCE IT FALLS IT WOULD BE HOLLOW ON THE END.

OKAY?

AND, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN CUT IN A CIRCLE.

NOW, YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR A LOT OF GREEN THAT MAY TURN BROWN TWIGS ON THE GROUND -- THOSE ARE ALREADY ON THE GROUND -- AND THESE ARE GOING TO BE ON AN ANGLE.

THESE ARE FROM SQUIRRELS.

SQUIRRELS NOW ARE STARTING TO CUT AND GATHER THEIR TWIGS TO MAKE THEIR HOME.

SQUIRRELS LIKE TREES BETTER THAN YOU LIKE THE TREE, OKAY?

SO, SQUIRRELS ARE NOT GOING TO HURT THE TREE - DON'T SWEAT IT.

JUST LET IT BE, OKAY?

YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER FOR A SQUIRREL TO HURT A TREE IT WOULD BE LIKE YOU TO BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN AND GET RID OF YOUR GARDEN.

IT'S THEIR FOOD AND HOUSE SO THEY'RE JUST REMODELING OKAY?

AND SO, THAT'S ALL THEY NEED TO DO, AND THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO HURT THE TREE TO THE FACT THAT A NATIVE TREE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN ALL AROUND WITH NATIVE TREES.

SO, AT AN ANGLE AND GREEN ON THE GROUND -- SQUIRRELS.

IF IT'S BROWN AND CONICAL CUT IT'S A TWIG GIRDLER.

AND, THE TWIG --.

>> AND, I HAD A SQUIRREL REMODEL A LIMB RIGHT OFF A PIN OAK.

>> GOOD!

>> [LAUGHS] THANK YOU, DENNIS.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, WHAT IS THAT?

>> WELL, THEN I GUESS THE OTHER KYLE AND I COORDINATED SHIRTS AND ALSO JUST THE FACT WE WERE GOING TO BRING STICKS.

SO, THIS IS ACTUALLY A BIT OF A COTTONWOOD TREE AND THERE'S A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

SO, WE'VE GOT THESE LARGE KNOBS OR KIND OF BUMPS ON THERE AND THAT'S ACTUALLY A BACTERIAL PATHOGEN SO WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH CROWN GALL CAUSING A LOT OF DISEASES ON MANY PLANTS.

ON COTTONWOODS, ASPENS AND POPLARS THEY GET THE SAME BACTERIA BUT AS A LIMB GALL AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE, THESE LARGE KNOBBY BUMPS GOING ON.

BUT, THE COOLER PART OF THIS IS THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF ORANGE LITTLE TENDRILS THAT ARE GROWING OUT OF THIS -- GROWING OUT OF THIS BRANCH, OR OUT OF THIS TWIG.

AND, THOSE ORANGE TENDRILS ARE CAUSED BY CYTOSPORA CANKER.

AND SO, CYTOSPORA CANKER IS ONE THAT WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT ON SPRUCE TREES, ESPECIALLY BUT IT ALSO HAS A VERY BROAD HOST RANGE AND SINCE THESE KNOBS ARE ALL WOODY TISSUE, THE -- WE ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THE CANKER BE -- IS DEVELOPING ON TOP OF THESE KNOBS, AS WELL.

AND, WHEN WE HAVE PERIODS OF ADEQUATE MOISTURE THESE ORANGE TENDRILS COME OUT THEY'RE FULL OF SPORES AND THEN THEY'LL BE SPREAD VIA RAIN AND WIND ONTO TO OTHER WOUNDED - OTHER WOUNDS ON THE TREE TO KIND OF KEEP THAT WHOLE CYCLE GOING.

BUT, THAT'S ALSO WHY CANKERS ARE SO DIFFICULT TO CONTROL BECAUSE WE CAN'T CONTROL THE WEATHER.

WE DON'T KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO RAIN ALL THE TIME AND SO IF WE WANTED TO TRY TO DO SOME SORT OF FUNGICIDE CONTROL FOR THESE CANKERS WE WOULD NEED TO BE APPLYING A FUNGICIDE EVERY TIME THERE'S GOING TO BE MOISTURE OUT TO PREVENT THESE TENDRILS FROM EXPANDING AND, AS SUCH WITH ANY SORT OF CANKERS WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND INSTEAD JUST PRUNE IT OUT.

GO DOWN ABOUT, AT LEAST EIGHT INCHES DOWN PAST WHERE THE CANKER IS SO YOU HAVE THAT HEALTHY TISSUE BECAUSE, AGAIN CHEMICAL CONTROL FOR CANKERS JUST DOES NOT WORK, BUT YOU MAY SOMETIMES GET THESE REALLY COOL ORANGE THINGS THAT GROW OUT OF THE BRANCHES, TOO.

>> YOU DO LIKE REALLY STRANGE THINGS.

>> IT'S AWESOME!

AND, THEY'RE KIND OF NEON UNDER THE SCOPE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THEM UP CLOSE, SO --.

>> ALL RIGHT, JEFF.

PRUNING SHEARS.

>> I BROUGHT MY PRUNERS.

SO, NOW THAT THE WEATHER'S IMPROVING ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND THINGS ARE A LITTLE BIT COMFORTABLE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKELY TO BE OUT IN OUR YARD LOOKING AROUND FOR THINGS TO DO AND THIS IS NOT THE IDEAL TIME TO DO A LOT OF HEAVY PRUNING HOWEVER, I ALWAYS HAVE MY PRUNERS WITH ME.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO FIND THOSE AREAS THAT HAVEN'T DONE REALLY WELL.

MAYBE YOU'VE HAD SOME BRANCHES ON A SHRUB DIE BACK A BRANCH ON A TREE, MAYBE SOME DISEASE IN YOUR PERENNIALS SO THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO CLEAN SOME OF THAT STUFF UP.

AND AGAIN, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT DOING A LOT OF PRUNING BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A DEAD BRANCH HERE OR THERE THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO DO IT.

THE LEAVES HAVEN'T COME OFF YET THEY HAVEN'T TURNED COLOR YET SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE LOCATIONS REAL EASY RIGHT NOW.

SO, LIKE I SAID THE WEATHER'S GOOD WE HAVE A LONG WEEKEND -- GOOD TIME TO GET OUT IN THE YARD AND DO A LITTLE LIGHT PRUNING.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JEFF.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE YOU GET THE FIRST ROUND OF PICTURE QUESTIONS.

THIS FIRST ONE COMES TO US FROM HARDINGTON.

IT IS BEETLES ON ROSE BLOSSOMS AND THEY'RE GREEN, BUT THEY'RE NOT JAPANESE BEETLES.

THEY'RE SMALLER THAN THAT.

>> YEP, THESE ARE NORTHERN CORN ROOTWORMS.

YOU KNOW, CORN ROOTWORMS THERE'S A FEW SPECIES, WESTERN NORTHERN CORN ROOTWORMS.

THEY'RE WELL KNOWN AS A PEST IN CORN, BUT THEY ALSO, YOU KNOW LATE IN THE SUMMER THEY START DISPERSING AWAY FROM THOSE CORNFIELDS AND THEY WILL FIND THEIR WAY TO FLOWERS ESPECIALLY LIGHTER-COLORED FLOWERS, AND CAN CAUSE SOME -- SOME DAMAGE TO THOSE FLOWERS.

SO UNFORTUNATELY YOU'RE REALLY NOT GOING TO WANT TO SPRAY ANYTHING ON THESE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE POTENTIAL FOR OFF-TARGET EFFECTS WITH POLLINATORS, TOO.

SO, I WOULD RECOMMEND JUST TRYING TO TOLERATE IT AND WHAT YOU CAN DO, IF IT'S NOT TOO MANY, HAND-PICK THEM KNOCK THEM OFF INTO A BUCKET OF SOAPY WATER - THAT SORT OF THING, BUT OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T SPRAY ANYTHING ON THE BLOSSOMS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE.

YOYO NEXT ONE IS ALSO A ROSE QUESTION.

THIS COMES TO US FROM GRETNA AND THESE ARE NEARLY WILDS AND KNOCK-OUTS ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OLD.

SHE'S BABYSITTING THEM FOR THE OFFICIAL GARDNER BUT WHAT IS THIS?

IS THIS A BUG?

OR, IS THIS A FUNGUS?

>> DEFINITELY A BUG ALTHOUGH HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR FUNGUS THERE, TOO.

SO, THESE ARE APHIDS.

YOU CAN SEE KIND OF THE YELLOW-ISH, YELLOW-ISH APHIDS ON THERE.

CAN'T SEE ENOUGH DETAIL TO HAVE AN IDEA WHICH SPECIES - THERE'S OVER 60 THAT WILL FEED ON ROSES BUT THE HONEYDEW THAT CAN SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF SOOTY MOLD, AS WELL.

FOR THESE, YOU KNOW INSECTICIDAL SOAPS WORK REALLY WELL FOR APHIDS SO I WOULD SAY THAT.

IF YOU'RE BABYSITTING THEM AND, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T WANT TO INVEST THAT MUCH TIME SPRAYING IT WITH THE HOSE WILL PROBABLY HELP, YOU KNOW MANAGE THOSE NUMBERS, TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT AND YOUR FINAL ONE, KYLE COMES TO US FROM WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

HE KNOWS IT'S NOT A JAPANESE BEETLE BUT HERE'S ANOTHER GREEN ONE SO WHAT'S THIS ONE?

>> THIS IS A DOGBANE LEAF BEETLE.

SO, THEY FEED ON DOGBANES.

IT'S A NATIVE BEETLE AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE REALLY COOL.

SO, THE PLANTS IN THIS FAMILY THEY HAVE ALL THESE REALLY NASTY TOXINS -- LATEX AND CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES, SO THEY'RE ACTUALLY ABLE TO SORT OF SEQUESTER SOME OF THAT AND USE IT AS DEFENSE.

SO, OTHERWISE, NOT A BEETLE THAT'S GOING TO REALLY BE HARMFUL IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

THEY'RE JUST GOING TO FEED ON DOGBANE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS.

>> YES.

>> BENNINGTON, NEBRASKA -- WHAT KIND OF SNAKE IS THIS FIRST ONE?

>> THIS IS A JUVENILE JUST HATCHED.

SO, THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

ALL 29 OF OUR SNAKES EITHER ARE BORN LIVE, OR HATCHED FROM AUGUST 15TH TO OCTOBER 15TH SO THAT'S WHY IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

AND, THIS IS A HATCHLING BLACK RAT SNAKE.

IT WILL CHANGE FROM THIS MARBLE-LOOKING PATTERN TO A SOLID PATTERN BY THE TIME IT'S TWO TO THREE YEARS OLD.

WE HAVE SEVERAL SNAKES THAT THE JUVENILE LOOKS NOTHING LIKE THE ADULT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

THEY ARE A RODENT-FEEDER THEY ARE SEMI-ARBORIAL THEY LIVE IN TREES SOMETIMES IN THE SPRING AND THEY'RE JUST ONE OF THOSE GREAT ONES.

AND, THEY'LL GROW FROM THIS SMALL LITTLE FIVE INCHES OF A HATCHLING TO ABOUT SIX-FOOT WHEN THEY'RE FULL-GROWN, AT ABOUT FIVE TO EIGHT YEARS OLD.

>> WE'RE ALL LOOKING UP IN THE TREES JUST IN CASE.

( laughter ) >> NO SUCH LUCK, HERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS ALSO A "WHAT KIND OF SNAKE IS THIS?"

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

SHE FOUND THIS IN HER GARAGE.

>> YEAH, THAT'S A BULL SNAKE.

IT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD-SIZED ONE AND THEY'RE OUR MOST COMMON SNAKE IN THE WHOLE STATE FOUND IN ALL 93 COUNTIES -- GROW TO BE OUR LARGEST BY OVER TWO-FOOT.

THEY WILL GROW UP TO EIGHT AND A HALF FEET.

AND, THEY'RE RODENT FEEDERS CARRYING NO GERMS OR VIRUSES.

THEIR TEETH ARE LESS THAN AN EIGHTH OF AN INCH SO THEY'RE JUST GREAT TO HAVE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT WANTS TO GET INTO THE HOUSE FROM THE GARAGE - IT'S JUST BY THE DOOR, THERE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE ALL THE LUCK.

BUT, YEAH, THIS -- IT'S A GREAT THING TO HAVE.

SO, IT'S A BULL SNAKE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE FROM PAPILLION.

MADDENING THEY HAVE A LARGE FENCED YARD NO PETS - THEY'RE VERY WELL-VERSED IN ALL OF THEIR ANIMAL VISITORS - TURKEYS EVERYTHING ELSE BUT SOMETHING CONTINUES TO POO IN THEIR YARD, AND THEY'RE --.

>> WELL, THE WAY THIS IS THREE DIFFERENT PIECES OF DEFECATION THE FIRST TWO NEXT TO EACH OTHER, OF DIFFERENT AGES AND THE WAY IT'S SHAPED IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A DOMESTICATED CAT.

IT'S DEFINITELY FELINE.

IT COULD BE OPOSSUM BUT LOOKING AT THIS SCAT I'M GOING TO GO WITH A CAT A NEIGHBORHOOD CAT.

>> ALL RIGHT WHO COULD CLIMB THE FENCE OF COURSE, SO THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR FINAL ONE DENNIS, COMES TO US FROM SOUTHERN JOHNSON COUNTY AND I KNOW YOU'RE NOT AN ORNITHOLOGIST BUT HE THINKS THIS IS A --?

>> IT'S AN AVIAN REPTILE OTHERWISE CALLED A "BIRD."

AND, IT'S A FLYCATCHER.

EXACTLY WHICH FLYCATCHER I'M NOT SURE.

UNFORTUNUNUNATELY THE PHOTO ISISIS VERY, VERY BLURRED SO I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF TRTROUBLE THERE.

>> ALL WE COULD S S SEE WAS THE COLOR, WHICH IS BEAUTIFUFUFUFUL.

>> YEAH,H, KIND OF GO BY THTHTHTHE COLOR, BUT I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SPEPEPEPECIES.

THATAT'S A FLYCATCHER -- ITITITIT'S A G GOOD BIRD.

IT'S A NATIVE BIRD.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, OTHER K K K KYLE.

>> YEP.

>> THIS COMES TO US FROM AINSWORTH.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES.

IT'S HER "VALIANT" GRAPEVINE PLANTED IN 2021 ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

EACH YEAR, SHE PRUNES IT BACK TO 20 FEET OF BASE VINE.

IS THIS A ROT AND A SPOT ON THAT VINE, OR DOES THIS BELONG SOMEWHERE ELSE?

>> REALLY, I THINK THAT THIS IS A NUTRITIONAL ISSUE AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF -- WE SEE A LOT OF IRON -- IRON CHLOROSIS OCCURRING ON A LOT OF TREES.

TYPICALLY, WITH IRON CHLOROSIS WILL HAVE THE -- THE YELLOWING OCCURRING BETWEEN THE VEINS BUT THOSE LEAF VEINS STILL REMAIN BRIGHT GREEN AND OFTEN WE'LL SEE IT ACROSS THE -- THE ENTIRE PLANT.

AND FROM LOOKING AT THIS GRAPEVINE, IT SEEMS LIKE PRETTY MUCH EVERY LEAF IS AFFECTED SO I'M GOING TO GUESS THAT IT IS IRON CHLOROSIS.

YOU KNOW, OUT IN AINSWORTH IN WESTERN NEBRASKA THEY DO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH SOME ALKALINE SOILS, AND SO IRON CHLOROSIS ISN'T SO MUCH A DEFICIENCY OF IRON IN THE SOIL BUT NORMALLY IT'S A PH ISSUE.

AND, SO ONCE WE HAVE SOIL PHs ABOVE ABOUT 7.2 IRON BECOMES VERY LIMITING IN THERE AND SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS IF YOU CAN DROP THAT SOIL PH BY ADDING SULPHUR OR MAYBE EVEN SOME LIKE SOME EVERGREEN - PINE NEEDLES AROUND THERE TO DROP THAT SOIL PH TO GET IT CLOSER TO 6.5 INTO SEVEN TO WHERE THAT IRON WILL BECOME MUCH MORE AVAILABLE AND THEN THAT ISSUE SHOULD GO AWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM GRAND ISLAND AND COULD COME TO US FROM ANYWHERE.

>> YES.

>> THIS IS A HACKBERRY.

SHE HAS TWO PLANTED IN THE SAME AREA ONE IS FINE AND THE OTHER ONE LOOKS LIKE THIS.

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS LIKELY A VIRUS AND SO, ISLAND -- ISLAND CHLOROSIS OF HACKBERRY.

SO, I PREVIOUSLY TALKED ABOUT IRON CHLOROSIS THIS IS ISLAND CHLOROSIS.

ISLAND CHLOROSIS - AND IT'S CALLED THAT BECAUSE WE JUST HAVE SOME YELLOW ISLANDS IN AN OTHERWISE SEA OF GREEN.

THIS IS A RELATIVELY RECENTLY-DESCRIBED VIRUS ONLY WITHIN MAYBE THE PAST 10 YEARS OR SO HAS IT ACTUALLY BEEN DESCRIBED BUT IT'S NOT HARMFUL AT ALL DOESN'T APPEAR TO HARM THE HACKBERRIES IN ANY WAY IT JUST GIVES THE LEAVES A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENT VARIEGATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES FOR THIS LAST ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

IT'S A YOUNG NORTHERN CATALPA.

LEAVES ARE GETTING LIGHTER SPOTS ON THEM, THEN THEY TURN BROWN THEN THEY DIE -- STARTS IN THE LOWER LEAVES AND WORKS ITS WAY UP.

>> AND, I THINK THAT THIS IS IRON CHLOROSIS, AGAIN.

AND SO WE HAVE WHERE THE VEINS ARE STILL REMAINING NICE AND GREEN, AND THAT CHLOROSIS IN BETWEEN.

OFTEN WE WILL SEE DIFFERENT NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES OCCURRING AT DIFFEENT PARTS OF THE PLANT FIRST, DEPENDING ON HOW MOBILE THOSE NUTRIENTS ARE.

THE OTHER THING, ANY TIME YOU HAVE A BRAND NEW PLANTING THOSE ROOTS ARE GOING TO STRUGGLE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE FULLY ESTABLISHED AND SO I REALLY DON'T DO A WHOLE LOT.

I DON'T WORRY A WHOLE LOT ABOUT TREES, FRESHLY PLANTED TREES UNTIL THEY'RE A COUPLE OF YEARS OLD.

GIVE THEM TIME FOR THOSE ROOTS TO ESTABLISH TO ACTUALLY GROW A LITTLE BIT UNTIL THEY CAN START ABSORBING THE NUTRIENTS AND WATER THAT THEY'RE MEANT TO.

>> NO SMACKING HIM ON TELEVISION.

>> YEAH, I'M TELLING YA'.

( laughter ) >> I DON'T WORRY ABOUT FLUKES.

>> JEFF, YOUR FIRST THREE PICTURES ARE ACTUALLY ABOUT TREES.

>> OKAY.

>> VOLUNTEER OAKS -- LITTLE BUNCHES OF WEIRD LEAVES AND THEY'RE ON OAKS ABOUT SEVEN FEET TALL.

SO, WHAT IS IT.

>> YOU KNOW, THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING -- SO, THIS IS -- THESE ARE A BURR OAK IT LOOKS LIKE AND THEY HAVE A VARIETY OF LEAVES ARE GROWING UP AND DOWN THE STEMS THAT DO NOT MATCH THE REST OF THE PLANT.

AND, LOOKING AT THAT, SO TO ME IT'S TELLING ME THERE'S SOME SORT OF INJURY THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS, SO WHETHER IT'S AN INSECT, OR HERBICIDE OR A VIRUS THAT MAY BE CAUSING IT.

NOW, THE FACT THAT ALL OF THESE PLANTS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS, RIGHT?

SO THEN, I STARTED THINKING YOU KNOW, I HATE TO BLAME ON A HERBICIDE OR SOME SORT OF TREATMENT, BUT I WONDER.

IT JUST SEEMS TOO COINCIDENTAL THAT THEY WOULD ALL HAVE IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> SO, IT'S INTERESTING.

I'D BE CURIOUS TO SEE - I'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM THEM NEXT SPRING IF IT LEAFS OUT AGAIN LIKE THIS.

AND THEN, I THINK A SAMPLE WOULD BE WORTH SEEING.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES COME TO US FROM OMAHA.

THIS IS A MAPLE THAT SEEMS TO TURN FALL COLOR AND DROP LEAVES EARLY EVERY YEAR.

HE DOES HAVE A TREE SERVICE THAT FERTILIZES EVERY YEAR AND HE ALSO SAYS THE CANOPY SEEMS THIN.

LOOKS LIKE A SUGAR MAPLE, MAYBE.

>> OKAY.

SO, SOMETIMES WITH MAPLES IN PARTICULAR, THEY WILL TEND TO GO DORMANT A LITTLE EARLY.

I'VE HAD SOME SUGAR MAPLES THAT TURN THEIR COLORS AS WE GET INTO AUGUST AND LOSE THEIR LEAVES BY THE TIME WE'RE INTO SEPTEMBER.

OTHERS WILL HOLD FOR A LOT LONGER TIME AND I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE THINGS THAT COULD BE GOING ON.

MY FIRST THOUGHT IS, BASED ON THE SIZE AND THE AGE OF IT AND THE FACT THAT IT'S FULLY LEAFED OUT, IT IS STARTING TO DECLINE IS THAT IT'S PROBABLY NOT A DISEASE.

I'M THINKING IT'S PROBABLY A STEM-GIRDLING ROOT THAT IS SLOWLY KIND OF STRANGLING THE TREE AND IT BECOMES MORE STRESSFUL AS WE GET LATER INTO THE YEAR.

AND, AS A WAY TO PROTECT ITSELF IT SHUTS THINGS DOWN.

WE'VE JUST GONE THROUGH A LONG WARM PERIOD HERE AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HAD, YOU KNOW THOSE PERODIC RAINS THAT HAVE BEEN NICE ALL THOSE TWO INCHES IN 10 MINUTES BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT AND IF IT CONTINUES THIS WAY I WOULD THINK THAT OVER TIME WE'LL START SEEING THE TREE DECLINE - WE'LL SEE MORE DEAD IN IT AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD LOOK FOR NEXT YEAR.

THEY COULD DO - THEY COULD PULL THE MULCH BACK - YOU CAN KIND OF SEE IT - MANY TIMES THOSE ROOTS WILL BE VISIBLE ON TOP.

YOU'LL SEE A ROOT COMING AROUND THE BASE OF THE TRUNK AND THAT'S A REAL GOOD INDICATION THAT WE MIGHT BE HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S VERY COMMON IN MAPLES >> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR LAST TWO ARE ALSO A MAPLE.

THIS IS IN THE MILLARD AREA.

A FEW OF THE LEAVES ARE LOOKING LIKE THIS, AND IT'S A NEW MAPLE PLANTED LAST FALL.

>> YEAH, IT'S ANOTHER SUGAR MAPLE.

IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF APHIDS ON IT, BUT NOTHING THAT I THINK IS A REAL SERIOUS PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW IT'S A YOUNG TREE.

I'D DOUBLE-CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT THE DEPTH OF PLANTING IS GOOD AND SO, AGAIN PULL THE MULCH BACK MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVEN'T PUT IT IN TOO DEEP, AND IF IT WAS A POTTED PLANT, AGAIN THAT WOULD BE MY OTHER CONCERN IS MAKING SURE THAT YOU GET IN THERE, SINCE IT'S FAIRLY YOUNG YOU MAY BE ABLE TO INCORPORATE SOME - SOME BETTER TOPSOIL MAYBE SOME COMPOST AROUND THE TREE.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A NICE WIDE MULCH BED AND THAT WE DON'T BURY THE STEM TOO MUCH GOING INTO FALL.

BUT OTHERWISE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S IT'S REAL SERIOUS AT THIS POINT.

I THINK IT'S PROBABLY AGAIN, WE'VE GONE THROUGH A LONG, HOT PERIOD.

SUGAR MAPLES AREN'T NECESSARILY INCLINED TO ENJOYING ONE-HUNDRED- DEGREE DAYS, SO --.

>> ALL RIGHT, AS ARE PEOPLE.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, HYDRANGEAS HAVE BECOME AN EXTREMELY POPULAR PLANT IN THE LANDSCAPE.

WE'RE GOING TO HEAR NOW FROM MARK CANNEY ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE VARIETIES AND HOW TO USE THEM.

S S >> TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT HYDRANGEA IN THE LANDSCAPE AND IF YOU LOOK TO MY RIGHT, HERE YOU CAN SEE A SMALLER VERSION OF WHAT IS AN "ANNABELLE."

IT'S CALLED THE "PEEWEE WHITE."

AND, IT'S USED AT THIS LOCATION BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT.

IT STAYS UNDER THREE FEET.

BEHIND THE "PEEWEE WHITE" HYDRANGEA, WE HAVE THE -- WHAT IS CALLED "CONFETTI" AND IT IS A TARDIVA HYDRANGEA AND AS YOU CAN TELL BY THE FLOWER IT IS NOT THE ROUND BALL - IT IS MORE OF A CONICAL SHAPE AND MOVING FURTHER BACK YOU CAN SEE IN THE FAR BACKGROUND THERE IS A "LIMELIGHT" HYDRANGEA.

AND, "LIMELIGHT" HYDRANGEA AT THIS LOCATION IS USED TO REALLY CREATE A WALL BETWEEN THIS PROPERTY AND THE NEIGHBOR'S PROPERTY, AND, TAKING A CUE FROM THE PLANT MATERIAL AROUND IT YOU HAVE THE CONCOLOR FIR AND THEN YOU HAVE THE HOSTAS AND PULLING IN THE BLUES AND THE GREENS FROM THOSE REALLY TIES IN THE LANDSCAPE NICELY.

ON A MANAGEMENT LEVEL THE WAY YOU TREAT HYDRANGEAS CAN GREATLY AFFECT THE TYPES OF FLOWERS OR THE SIZE OF THE FLOWERS THAT ARE PRODUCED.

BEHIND ME, YOU'LL SEE "LIMELIGHT" HYDRANGEA AND ON THE RIGHT, YOU'LL NOTICE THE BALLS ARE MUCH MORE COMPACT THERE'S A LOT MORE OF THEM BUT THOSE SHRUBS WERE NOT CUT BACK AS PART OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN - THEY WERE NOT CUT BACK.

AND THEN, IF YOU LOOK TO THE RIGHT OF THE CONCOLOR FIR YOU'LL NOTICE MUCH LARGER HEADS.

SAME SHRUB, "LIMELIGHT," BUT BECAUSE IT WAS CUT BACK IT ALLOWED THE SHRUB TO REGENERATE AND CREATE LARGER FLOWERS.

OFTENTIMES, HYDRANGEAS ARE THOUGHT OF AS OUR "GRANDMOTHER'S SHRUBS" AND I LIKE TO THINK OF THEM, OR THINK THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT BUT I THINK I LIKE TO LOOK AT HOW WE CAN RE-USE THEM IN THE LANDSCAPE AND MAKE THEM A LITTLE MORE MODERN.

SO IF YOU LOOK AT THIS PARTICULAR PLANTING AT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE YOU'LL NOTICE THE "LIMELIGHT" HYDRANGEAS CREATE THE BACKDROP BUT THEN WE'VE INTEGRATED NATIVE PLANTS, INCLUDING "RAYDON'S FAVORITE" ASTER IN THE FRONT WHICH WILL PUT ON A SPECTACULAR DISPLAY THIS FALL AND THEN WE'VE INCORPORATED A "BLONDE AMBITION" GRASS HERE TO ADD SOME TEXTURE AND COLOR.

AND, IF YOU NOTICE THE SEED HEAD OF THE GRASS PICKS UP THE FLOWER HEAD OF THE HYDRANGEA.

OFTENTIMES I THINK HYDRANGEAS ARE THOUGHT OF AS BEING HIGH MAINTENANCE AND REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK IN THE LANDSCAPE.

NEXT TO ME IS AN EXAMPLE OF ONE OF THE SIMPLEST AND HARDIEST HYDRANGEAS AND IT'S CALLED "INCREDIBALL."

THE REASON IT'S CALLED "INCREDIBALL" IS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE, FLOWERED HEADS IT GETS.

IT BLOOMS EARLY IN THE SEASON USUALLY MAY, AND IF YOU TIME IT CAREFULLY YOU CAN HAVE HYDRANGEAS BLOOMING FROM SPRING ALL THE WAY INTO THE FALL.

SO, THERE ARE SEVEN DIFFERENT SPECIES OF HYDRANGEA AND I HAVE SOME OF THOSE HERE THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD TALK ABOUT WITH YOU.

THE ONES PEOPLE LOVE THE MOST ARE ALWAYS THE PINK, OF COURSE AND THE BLUE.

AND, I LEARNED FROM MY MOTHER TO REALLY USE THESE AS ANNUALS AND USE THEM IN POTS AND THAT WAY YOU CAN KIND OF CONTROL THE CONTENT TO GET THEM BLUE OR PINK.

THIS ONE ON MY RIGHT IS THE MACROPHYLLA SERRATA.

YOU NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE -- THE PETALS -- AND THIS ONE IS JUST A STRAIGHT MACROPHYLLA.

MOVING ON, WE GET INTO SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE EASIER TO GROW, THE "PANICULATAS," WHICH INCLUDE THE "LIMELIGHT."

THIS HAPPENS TO BE A "BOBO."

THIS ONE ALSO IN THE PANICULATA FAMILY IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES "LITTLE LAMB."

ONE OF THE OLDEST IS THE ARBORESCENS, WHICH FALLS INTO THE "ANNABELLE," AND THE "PEEWEE WHITE," AND OF COURSE, THE "INCREDIBALL."

AND, LASTLY, IS ANOTHER ONE OF THE PANICULATAS THAT I THINK IS REALLY INTERESTING JUST BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT'S CUT UP, AND THIS ONE IS CALLED "LAVA LAMP."

KEEP IN MIND WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR HYDRANGEAS THAT THERE'S A VARIETY OF THOSE OUT THERE THAT REQUIRE DIFFERENT KINDS OF MAINTENANCE AND CARE.

YOU KNOW, THE TRIED AND TRUES ARE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ARBORESCENS AND THE PANICULATAS.

THEY AREN'T THE FANCY BLUE AND THE PINK BUT THEY ARE TRIED AND TRUE BLOOMERS AND WILL ALWAYS BRING HAPPINESS AND PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE IN THE GARDEN.

>> MARK LOVES HYDRANGEAS AND WE HAVE A REALLY NICE COLLECTION ON CAMPUS -- ALL SORTS OF THEM -- SO, YOU CAN TAKE A PEEK AND SEE WHAT YOU'D LIKE.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE.

THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY IN A FLOWER GARDEN NEAR SWEDEBURG FOR YOUR FIRST QUESTION.

WHICH ONE IS THIS?

>> THIS A TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

IT'S A FEMALE.

YOU CAN TELL BY KIND OF THE SHADING, THE BLUE SHADING ON THAT HIND WING BUT IT'S A TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

>> PERFECT.

THEN WE HAVE, ALSO WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

FOUND THESE TWO BUGS ON THE MILKWEED.

HE DOESN'T THINK THEY'RE MILKWEED BUGS.

WHAT ARE THEY?

>> YEAH, CORRECT THEY'RE STINK BUGS.

THIS IS A TWICE-STAB OR A TWO-TWICE STAB STINKBUGS - THEY GET THAT NAME FROM THE TWO RED SPOTS ON THEIR BODY.

THEY'RE COMMON ON - ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PLANTS IN THE DOGBANE FAMILY -- EXCUSE ME INCLUDING MILKWEEDS.

FEED ON SEEDS, BUT OTHERWISE NOT REALLY A PROBLEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS -- HANGING OUT ON A HIBISCUS BUSH.

SHE THINKS THIS IS A GRASSHOPPER.

IT WAS FOUR INCHES LONG.

>> YEAH, IT'S A GRASSHOPPER AND THEY ARE BIG ONES.

THIS IS AN OBSCURE BIRDWING GRASSHOPPER.

IT'S DEFINITELY ONE OF OUR LARGEST SPECIES AND IT'S ACTUALLY RELATED TO SCHISTOCERCA OBSCURA -- IT'S RELATED TO THOSE -- THE MIGRATORY LOCUST THAT WE HAVE IN AFRICA THAT CAUSE GREAT PLAGUES.

FORTUNATELY OUR SPECIES HERE AREN'T REALLY EVER ABUNDANT ENOUGH TO CAUSE THAT SORT OF DAMAGE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL ONE ISN'T SO MUCH FUN.

THIS IS ANTS INVADING A SECOND-STORY BEDROOM AND SHE'S WONDERING IF SHE SHOULD BE CONCERNED AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> YEAH, I WOULD BE CONCERNED ON THIS ONE.

DEFINITELY LOOKS LIKE A CARPENTER ANT.

WHERE THEY'RE FOUND SEEING THEM REGULARLY THAT'S CONCERNING.

SO, YOU KNOW SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO -- CARPENTER ANTS, THEY FORAGE AT NIGHT SO, YOU KNOW DOING SOME INVESTIGATION AFTER IT'S DARK - GOING OUT - LOOKING AROUND WITH A FLASHLIGHT AND SEE IF YOU CAN FIND THOSE TRAILS.

LOCATE WHERE THEY MAY BE ENTERING THE HOUSE.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE THEM INSIDE, IT DOESN'T MEAN THERE'S A COLONY INSIDE THE HOUSE SO YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO PLUG UP THOSE SPOTS IF YOU CAN LOCATE WHERE THEY'RE COMING IN.

BUT, BEYOND THAT, YOU KNOW TREATMENT REALLY DOES ENTAIL TREATING BOTH SATELLITE COLONIES AND THE MAIN COLONY SO WHEN WE GET 'EM INSIDE A COLONY INSIDE IT'S A SATELLITE COLONY YOU HAVE TO GET BOTH AND IT IS KIND OF TRICKY.

SO, I WOULD RECOMMEND, YOU KNOW WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL PEST MANAGEMENT COMPANY FOR THESE BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST HARD TO GET ON, YOU KNOW, ON YOUR OWN.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

DENNIS, THIS IS A BURWELL VIEWER, HAS HOLES IN THE TREE AND BIG HOLES IN THE YARD UNDER THE TREE.

SO, HE THINKS THE HOLES AND SAWDUST ARE CARPENTER ANTS BUT WHAT ARE ALL THE HOLES IN THE SOIL BENEATH THE TREE?

>> OKAY.

SO, THERE'S TWO THINGS HERE.

THE HOLES IN THE TREE -- THE SMALL ROUND ONES THAT ARE PERFECTLY ROUND, ARE PROBABLY SOME BORER EXITING.

AND, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS PART OF THE TREE IS DEAD.

NOW, THE HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE TREE IS PROBABLY SOMETHING LIKE A SKUNK OR AN OPOSSUM DIGGING IN, IN THAT DEAD BARK TO GET THE GRUBS AS FOOD.

NOW, THESE HOLES UNDER THE TREE ARE NOT FROM A VERTEBRATE ANIMAL.

THEY'RE EITHER FROM A SPIDER AND THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE FROM A CICADA WASP DEFINITELY DON'T - SO IT COULD BE A SPIDER OR IT COULD BE EVEN A CICADA EMERGING SO MAYBE KYLE CAN WEIGH IN A LITTLE ON THESE HOLES.

BUT, THEY'RE DEFINITELY NOT A VERTEBRATE PEST.

THESE ARE EITHER AN ARACHNID OR INSECTAE EMERGENCE OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> YEAH, I WONDERED MAYBE ABOUT LIKE A NATIVE BEE, TOO OR SOMETHING - I'M NOT SURE.

I WISH I KNEW THE SIZE OF THESE HOLES A LITTLE BETTER SO TO HAVE SOME SCALE.

>> THEY LOOK ABOUT A QUARTER INCH, TO ME LOOKING AT THE GRASS, SO --.

>> ALL RIGHT YOUR NEXT TWO DENNIS, COME TO US FROM OMAHA.

THIS IS ANOTHER "WHAT IS DIGGING" - OR, I'M SORRY THIS IS COLUMBUS.

A DEER HAS DONE THIS DAMAGE.

NOW IT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

HOW TO KEEP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, AND --.

>> YEAH.

>> IS THIS AONER?

>> SO, THIS - WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A GONER OR NOT.

I WOULD SAY A LOT OF IT'S GONE SO PROBABLY IS.

BUT, IT LOOKS LIKE A YOUNG DEER CAME ALONG AND IT WAS JUST -- PREVIOUS YEAR -- AND WAS TRYING TO GET THE VELVET OFF ITS ANTLERS.

TO TAKE CARE OF THIS JUST -- YOU NEED TO GET, LIKE DRAIN TILE AND SPLIT IT.

MAKE SURE THERE'S A SPACE MAYBE AN INCH SPACE -- YOU'RE NOT GIRDLING THE TREE -- AND JUST PUT THAT BLACK DRAIN TILE - IT'S VERY INEXPENSIVE -- ALL THE WAYS UP TO ABOUT FIVE FOOT UP TO THE FIRST BRANCHES AND THEN THE DEER CAN'T HURT THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT AND YOUR FINAL TWO ARE FROM OMAHA -- WHAT IS DIGGING INTO THE BASE OF THE MAPLE?

THEY THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS A RODENT LOOKING FOR INSECTS.

>> NAH, WELL, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT AN OPOSSUM -- IT'S BIGGER THAN A SMALL RODENT.

THIS AGAIN WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A SKUNK OR AN OPOSSUM DIGGING INTO THAT DEAD MATERIAL LOOKING FOR GRUBS, FOR FOOD.

AND, THE HOLES ABOVE THAT ARE AGAIN, SOMETHING -- MAYBE A BIRD -- BECAUSE THESE ARE IRREGULAR-SHAPED TRYING TO GET THOSE GRUBS OUT OF THIS DEAD BARK.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, DENNIS.

KYLE, HALLAM, NEBRASKA -- WHY IS THIS EVERGREEN SHRUB TURNING BROWN AND LOOKING LIKE IT'S DYING, AND THEN WE'VE GOT A COUPLE PICTURES.

>> YEAH, THIS ONE IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT.

THE -- WE HAVE - IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE ENTIRE BRANCHES THAT ARE DYING - THAT WE'RE NOT SEEING NEEDLES DYING AT THE NEW NEEDLES -- BOTH NEW NEEDLES AND OLDER GROWTH ARE SHOWING THAT BROWN DISCOLORATION WHICH MAKES ME THINK ABOUT SOME SORT OF - SOME SORT OF ROOT ISSUE.

I THINK THAT THEY HAD MENTIONED THAT IT GETS WATERED FAIRLY REGULARLY, SO I WOULD WONDER ABOUT EVEN MAYBE OVERWATERING COULD BE A POTENTIAL ISSUE BUT I THINK THAT THERE'S SOME SORT OF ROOT ISSUE GOING ON LIKELY, A MOISTURE PROBLEM SO I WOULD TRY TO REGULATE THE MOISTURE A LITTLE BIT BETTER ON THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT TWO COME TO US FROM GUIDE ROCK AND THIS IS ALSO A PINE AND THIS -- THEY USED A FUNGICIDE, AND AN INSECTICIDE AND SOAP TO THIS ONE BUT NOTHING HELPS.

>> SO, YEAH.

THIS ONE, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THE ENTIRE BRANCHES THAT ARE KIND OF DYING ON THIS ONE.

WHENEVER WE HAVE A PINE TREE THAT WE HAVE ENTIRE BRANCHES THAT ARE DYING RATHER SUDDENLY WE ALWAYS WANT TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT PINE WILT NEMETODE.

NOT THE -- NOT THE MOST COMMON ON WHITE PINES, BUT THINGS CAN -- THINGS CAN HAPPEN, SO I WOULD RECOMMEND TESTING THE -- THE DEAD BRANCHES -- THEY'RE DEAD, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO TURN GREEN AGAIN SO YOU CAN PRUNE THOSE OUT AND MAYBE SEND A SAMPLE INTO THE PLANT DIAGNOSTIC CLINIC FOR TESTING FOR PINE WILT NEMETODE.

THE OTHER THING I WOULD WONDER ABOUT WOULD BE SOME SORT OF A CANKER, FURTHER BACK ALONG THOSE -- ALONG THOSE BRANCHES THAT'S CAUSING THE DEATH.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL TWO ARE FROM OMAHA.

ARBORVITAE -- THEY KEEP TURNING BROWN.

PLENTY OF WATER - DOESN'T SEE ANY BLACK STUFF.

IS THIS SIMPLY ENVIRONMENTAL?

THEY'RE 18 YEARS OLD.

>> YEP, THIS IS MOST LIKELY ENVIRONMENTAL, AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, ARBORVITAE TEND NOT TO LIKE WET FEET A WHOLE LOT AND SO IF THEY ARE GETTING -- GETTING OVERWATERED THAT CAN OCCUR.

THE ONE PICTURE WHERE WE SEE THE ENTIRE DEATH OF THAT TREE REALLY POINTS TO SOME SORT OF ROOT OR CROWN ISSUE.

AGAIN, MOST LIKELY THAT'S GOING TO BE ENVIRONMENTAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

JEFF, YOUR FIRST ONE IS AN AVOCA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHY DON'T THESE HYDRANGEAS BLOOM ALL THE WAY?

TWO PICTURES.

>> WELL, A HYDRANGEA FLOWER IN PARTICULAR, AND THAT LOOKS LIKE A PANICULATA, SO THEY HAVE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES.

SO, IT'S THE INFLORESCENCE MADE UP DIFFERENT KINDS OF FLOWERS AND SO WE HAVE A FERTILE FLOWER AND AN INFERTILE FLOWER.

AND, YOU KNOW IT'S A YOUNG PLANT.

OVER TIME I THINK IT'LL FILL IN BUT YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE THAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT ANY HYDRANGEA FLOWER, KIND OF PEEL BACK THE BRIGHT COLORFUL PART YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S OTHER LITTLE FLOWERS UNDERNEATH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT TWO ARE A VIEW THAT BOUGHT A WHITE PINE THAT WAS PRUNED LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND NOW IT'S DOING THIS AND THEY WONDER IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT IT'LL EVER TURN INTO A REAL TREE?

>> WELL, OVER TIME, YOU KNOW.

AND, I THINK A YOUNG WHITE PINE ARE NOT A SUPER ATTRACTIVE TREE IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE NURSERY - AND NURSERIES MANY TIMES WILL TEND TO TRY TO SHAPE THESE TREES SO THAT THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE ATTRACTIVE AND A LITTLE FULLER.

AND, SO WHAT YOU HAVE IS NOW THAT THE NEW GROWTH HAS COME BACK UP AND SO IT'S LOOKING MORE LIKE IT SHOULD.

WHAT YOU COULD DO AND NOW ISN'T A BAD TIME TO GO IN AND DO SOME LIGHT PRUNING JUST TO SHAPE IT A LITTLE BIT AT THE TOP.

I WOULDN'T GET CARRIED AWAY.

AND THEN ALSO AT THE BOTTOM HALF LOOK AT THINNING THAT A LITTLE BIT SO IT'S NOT QUITE SO FULL.

AND THEN, DOING THAT ANNUALLY IT WILL ALLOW IT TO START TO KIND OF EVEN OUT OVER TIME BUT IT'LL BE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROJECT.

BUT, IT LOOKS LIKE A HEALTHY TREE, SO I THINK YOU'LL BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THE NEXT ONE IS SOUTHWEST OF FAIRBURY.

IT'S A BURNING BUSH THAT OBVIOUSLY BURNED AND SHE'S WONDERING IF IT'S WORTH SAVING, OR NOT.

>> YEAH, SO IT'S A BURNING BUSH THAT'S HAD SIGNIFICANT DIEBACK AND, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT -- OBVIOUSLY, RIGHT NOW I'D GO IN AND IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO KEEP IT CUT ALL THE DEAD OUT OF IT AND THEN SEE WHAT YOU GET FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

EUONYMUS HAVE VERY FIBROUS ROOTS, SO AGAIN, THEY WILL SUFFER FROM BEING TOO WET LIKE KYLE WAS TALKING ABOUT TO BEING TOO DRY ALL IN THE SAME WEEK.

SO, YOU HAVE TO WATCH THAT.

THEY CAN SUFFER FROM THINGS LIKE SCALE AND THEN RABBITS IN PARTICULAR LIKE TO REALLY ATTACK EUONYMUS.

THEY CAN BE HIT FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANGLES SO YOU CAN TRY TO SAVE IT BUT MAYBE NOT.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR FINAL ONE IS GRAND, IN WESTERN NEBRASKA.

>> OKAY.

>> OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, MANY TREES.

SHE WANTS TO PLANT HOSTAS.

SHE'S DONE SOME DIGGING -- SHE'S FOUND ALL THESE ROOTS.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?

>> YEAH, IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

I THINK I WOULD AVOID PROBABLY WORKING UNDER THE ROOT SYSTEM OF A TREE.

THE TREE'S MORE VALUABLE.

YOU COULD MULCH IT.

YOU COULD TRY SOME GROUND COVERS, SO, AND THEN THEY WILL SLOWLY KIND OF FILL IN.

THAT MIGHT BE YOUR BEST BET AND THEY'LL TOLERATE THE VARYING CONDITIONS OF A SHADE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

WELL, WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

STAY WITH US.

COMING UP RIGHT AFTER THIS WE HAVE THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK AND, O OCOURSE, MORE OF YOUR GREAT QUESTIONS.

S S S S ( applause ) S S S S ( applause ) >> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

COMING UP LATER IN THE PROGRAM YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OUR ANNUAL TIMELAPSE OF THE GARDEN.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THOSE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> SO, THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK -- SO, KIM WAS NICE TO ME.

SHE BROUGHT SOME THINGS I LIKE SO WE HAVE SOME SHRUBS AND A SMALL TREE.

THESE ALL ARE FRUITS SO THE NICE THING HERE IS IT GIVE YOU THE KIND OF FULL SEASON IN THE GARDEN.

SO, WE HAVE PLANTS THAT HAVE GOOD FLOWER, GOOD FALL COLOR AND THEN THEY ALSO PRODUCE THESE FRUITS, AS WELL.

SO, THE ONE IN FRONT HERE YOU SEE WITH THE WHITE FRUIT IS A GRAY DOGWOOD AND AGAIN IT CAN GET KIND OF BIG CAN CREATE A COLONY BUT FLOWERS NICE POLLINATORS LIKE IT PRODUCES SOME GOOD FRUIT THAT MAKE IT INTERESTING.

THIS UNUSUAL THING HERE IS A BLADDER NUT, SO - AND IT'S KIND OF A SMALL TREE MAYBE 12, 15-FEET TALL, KIM IS THAT ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOURS?

AGAIN, PUTS ON THESE KIND OF THESE LANTERN-SORT OF FLOWERS THAT ARE VERY INTERESTING AND FUN TO HAVE.

AND THEN, THE LAST ONE IS THE PURPLE FRUIT IS AN ARROWWOOD VIRBURNUM.

I'M GUESSING THIS IS "BLUE MUFFIN," SO A VERY POPULAR VIBURNUM.

IT'S NOT MUFFIN SIZE, AS WE'VE BEEN FOOLED HERE ON CAMPUS.

IT CAN BE QUITE BIG BUT IT IS VERY PRETTY AND PRODUCES THESE BLUEBERRY - THAT'S THE "BLUE" PART - FLOWERS, AND THEN AGAIN ARROWWOOD HAS SPECTACULAR FALL COLORS, SO IT'S A REALLY -- AN ALL-SEASON PLANT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE WE HAVE YOUR FIRST ONE COMING TO US FROM VERMILLION SOUTH DAKOTA.

THEY'VE NEVER SEEN ONE OF THESE BEFORE - DID SOME SEARCH.

THEY THINK THIS BELONGS TO A HAWK-MOTH.

ARE THEY RIGHT?

>> YEP, IT'S A HORNWORM CATERPILLAR.

IT'S A SPURGE -- A CATERPILLAR FOR A SPURGE HAWK-MOTH AND SO INTERESTINGLY THESE ARE INTRODUCED.

THE LARVAE FEED ON LEAFY SPURGE SO THEY WERE INTRODUCED FROM EUROPE IN, I THINK, THE SIXTIES TO HELP CONTROL THAT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT TWO PICTURES ARE WAY COOL.

FOUND THIS ON A TOMATO PLANT.

SHE SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE PAPER WASP COCOONS THAT HAVE DECIMATED A CATERPILLAR.

>> YEAH, NOT PAPER WASP BUT CLOSE.

SO, THIS IS A TOBACCO HORNWORM SO THEY - THEY'RE A PEST OF SOLANACEOUS CROPS AND ALL OF THESE LITTLE WHITE STRUCTURES THOSE ARE - ARE THE COCOONS FOR BRACONID PARASITOID WASPS SO THEY LAY THEIR EGGS INSIDE THEY FEED INSIDE THAT CATERPILLAR, AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE READY TO PUPATE THEY MAKE THOSE LITTLE CELLS ON THE SURFACE, AND THEN THEY'LL HATCH FROM THAT.

SO, IF YOU SEE THAT IN YOUR GARDEN, THAT'S A HORNWORM YOU DON'T WANT TO KILL.

YOU WANT THOSE BIOCONTROL AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM OTOE COUNTY.

OH, GOSH, WHAT IS THAT?

>> THAT'S A MALE CHINESE MANTIS.

SO, THAT'S OUR INTRODUCED SPECIES.

>> STILL A MANTIS.

AND FINALLY, YOU HAVE NOT A QUESTION BUT THIS VIEWER FROM OMAHA WANTED US TO KNOW THAT HER LADYBUGS WERE DOING A FABULOUS JOB OF CLEARING OFF THE APHIDS.

SO, CAN PEOPLE BUY LADYBUGS AND KEEP THEM PUT, OR IS THAT LIKE -- DOESN'T WORK?

>> YOU CAN, ACTUALLY BUY LADYBUGS.

YOU CAN'T REALLY CONTROL WHERE THEY ARE, RIGHT, BUT YOU CAN.

AND, YOU KNOW -- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY LIKE I THINK THE GREAT THING IS LADYBUGS - THEY ARE SO GOOD AT CONTROLLING APHIDS SO YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE TO TREAT THINGS.

THEY'LL DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THEIR OWN BUT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU TREAT WITH AN INSECTICIDE YOU'RE SORT OF -- IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO THOSE -- THOSE NATURAL ENEMIES SO SOMETIMES IT'S BEST TO JUST LET THEM DO THEIR THING.

>> PERFECT.

THANKS, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, KEARNEY.

DENNIS, WHAT CRITTER MIGHT BE DIGGING HOLES IN THE YARD?

THEY'RE SEVEN TO EIGHT INCHES IN DIAMETER - THE HOLE OR THE TUNNEL GOES DOWN A FEW INCHES AND THEN TURNS AND GOES HORIZONTAL.

>> YEAH, SO, IF IT'S IN A BANK WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PARTLY IN A BANK, I WOULD SAY WOODCHUCK OR GROUNDHOG -- SAME ANIMAL, ESPECIALLY IF IT'S BEEN THERE A WHILE.

IF IT JUST APPEARED AND IT SEEMS TO GO AWAY IT COULD BE A BADGER WITH A ROUND HEAD.

USUALLY, A BADGER IS A LITTLE MORE OBLONG BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A BIG ANIMAL SUCH AS A WOODCHUCK OR A BADGER.

>> ALL RIGHT, TRAIL CAM.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM AROUND JEFFREY LAKE SO THESE HOLES APPEARED IN A STEEP BANK THAT'S PLANTED WITH GRASSES AND WILDFLOWERS.

THEY APPEAR TO GO HORIZONTAL UNDERGROUND BUT THEY'RE NOT VERY DEEP.

>> RIGHT, SO, THIS IS -- THEY'RE OPEN HOLES, BUT THEY'RE ONLY OPEN BECAUSE OF THE RAIN.

SO, THESE ARE MOLES EASTERN MOLES AND WHAT'S HAPPENING THEIR RUNS, BECAUSE OF THE RAIN HAVE BROKEN OPEN AND YOU HAVE THEIR OPEN HOLES.

SO, YOU NEED TO DO SOME MOLE CONTROL.

A NICE BULL SNAKE DOES A GREAT JOB IN CLEANING UP THE MOLES.

HINT, HINT.

>> HINT, HINT.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR FINAL ONE COMES TO US FROM WAHOO.

LIVES IN A WET RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHAT IS BURROWING IN THE WINDOW WELL?

>> THIS IS NOT A VERTEBRATE PEST.

THIS IS AN INSECT.

THIS IS A CICADA WASP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

SO, THERE YOU GO.

WE SHARE, SHARE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEP.

KYLE, OTHER KYLE AGAIN.

FREMONT, NEBRASKA.

THIS TREE HAS MORE DEAD BRANCHES THIS YEAR.

IT'S A PEAR -- IT'S A FLOWERING PEAR.

AND, REDDISH-BROWN SPOTS ON THE LEAVES, SO I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE PICTURES.

WE GOT THAT ONE AND THEN WE'VE GOT THE LEAVES THEMSELVES.

>> YEP, AND THAT IS OUR GOOD FRIEND, PEAR RUST, ON -- SO CAUSED BY A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF DIFFERENT GYMNOSPORANGIUM RUSTS, BUT THOSE RUSTS WILL -- THEY OVERWINTER ON THE -- ON JUNIPERS, ON CEDAR TREES.

IN THE SPRING WE'LL SEE THOSE ORANGE GLOBS ON THE JUNIPERS AND THEN THOSE SPORES WILL BLOW ONTO -- BLOW ONTO THE PEARS.

AND, OUR FLOWERING PEARS ARE ESPECIALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO IT.

AS FAR AS CONTROL GOES RIGHT NOW THERE'S LITERALLY NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO FOR IT.

YOU'RE REALLY JUST WASTING - WASTING MONEY ON ANY SORT OF FUNGICIDAL CONTROL AND SO YOU WANT TO BASE YOUR -- YOU WANT TO BASE YOUR CONTROL IN THE SPRING.

AND SO, WE WANT TO -- TYPICALLY WE WILL WANT TO START THAT SPRAY PROGRAM RIGHT AS THOSE BLOSSOMS ARE BEGINNING TO OPEN AND THOSE LEAVES ARE -- THOSE LEAVES ARE COMING OUT OF THE BUDS, AND THEN EVERY, ABOUT 10 TO 14 DAYS YOU'LL NEED TO REPEAT THAT FUNGICIDE APPLICATION.

NOW, IF YOUR TREE IS -- IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING MAJOR DEFOLIATION YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER YEAR I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND ANY SORT OF FUNGICIDAL CONTROL.

REALLY JUST LET THE TREE BE BUT IF WE'RE SEEING MORE THAN 50% DEFOLIATION IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS THAT'S WHEN YOU WANT TO START THINKING ABOUT DOING SOME SORT OF FUNGICIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE.

SO, LET'S SEE YOUR NEXT PICTURE HERE.

AN ISSUE WITH FUNGUS-AMONG-US ON THE SMOKE BUSH.

AND, IT'S GETTING WATER BUT THE LEAVES ARE DYING FROM THE GROUND UP.

SO, WHAT DO WE THINK?

VERTICILLIUM?

OR --?

>> YEAH, WITH THE - AND THEN ALSO ON ONE OF THOSE LEAVES ON THE SMOKE BUSH, AS WELL WE CAN SEE THAT THERE IS KIND OF SOME BURNING AROUND -- AROUND THE EDGES, WHICH IS VERY COMMON WITH VERTICILLIUM.

VERTICILLIUM IS A TOUGH ONE TO CONTROL.

FUNGICIDES DON'T REALLY DO ANYTHING FOR IT.

THE BEST CONTROL MEASURES ARE TRYING TO INCREASE OVERALL PLANT HEALTH, AS A LOT OF PLANTS CAN SUSTAIN LOW LEVELS OF VERTICILLIUM INFECTION BUT YOU WANT TO BE PRUNING OUT THOSE DEAD BRANCHES AND EVENTUALLY YOU'LL WANT TO START THINKING ABOUT A REPLACEMENT PLANT FOR THAT AREA.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD PLANTS THAT ARE RESISTANT TO VERTICILLIUM, SUCH AS HICKORY OR, IF THERE'S QUITE A FEW OTHERS THAT YOU COULD PLANT THERE INSTEAD.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KYLE.

OKAY JEFF YOU WERE STARTING WITH THE PAGODA DOGWOOD TREE WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES OF THIS ONE.

SHE DID SEND A LOT OF PICTURES WHICH WAS GREAT.

PLANTED FALL OF 2020 SOUTHEAST SIDE OF THE HOUSE GETS SHADE HALF THE DAY SQUIRRELS CHEWED ON IT -- SUCKER AT THE GROUND BUT VERY FEW GREEN LEAVES.

SHE'S WONDERING IS THERE ANY HOPE ON THIS PLANT?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK SO.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK SHE'S SITED THE PLANT WELL SO I DON'T THINK IT'S A BAD SPOT.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS SOME CANKER.

THERE'S A PAGODA DOGWOOD DECLINE THAT HAPPENS WITH PAGODA DOGWOOD.

YOU KNOW, THEY -- IT SEEMS LIKE OUR EXPERIENCE HERE ON CAMPUS IS THEY CAN DO VERY WELL IN CERTAIN PLACES AND OTHER PLACES THEY GROW THROUGH A CYCLE OF ABOUT SEVEN TO EIGHT YEARS AND THEN SLOWLY FADE AWAY.

SO, IT'S - YOU KNOW, I GUESS IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT I LOVE THE TREE, BUT I'M NOT SURPRISED BY THIS AND SHE'S READY FOR SOMETHING ELSE THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT TWO ARE OF FOUR.

THIS VIEWER HAS BIRCH TREES IN FOUR DIFFERENT LAWNS SO THIS IS THE BOOKENDS.

ONE TREE LOOKS THIS CHLOROTIC AND THEN ONE LOOKS JUST PERFECT.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

AND, THIS IS IN OMAHA.

>> YEAH, KYLE AND I, WE'RE LIKE DOING THE SAME THING, HERE.

SO, YEAH.

>> I KNOW!

>> SO, THIS IS IRON CHLOROSIS AND RIVER BIRCH, IN PARTULAR PREFERS SOILS THAT HAVE A PH OF 6.5 AS KYLE WAS TALKING EARLIER A LITTLE LOWER PH TO HELP WITH SOME OF THIS.

MY GUESS IS THESE SOILS WERE OBVIOUSLY HIGHER THAN THAT.

THE FACT THAT THE ONE PERSON WHO WROTE IN SAID THAT HE ADDS CHELATED IRON AROUND HIS TREE EVERY YEAR AND THAT MAY BE HELPING TO KEEP HIS GREENER THAN THE OTHERS, BUT I THINK THE FACT IS THAT AS MUCH AS I LOVE RIVER BIRCH IT ISN'T REALLY COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OUR SOILS IN NEBRASKA.

THE FOLKS THAT ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A GOOD ONE THAT'S GREAT BUT THE REST OF US PROBABLY WILL SUFFER WITH CHLOROTIC ONES.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, JEFF.

YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL SEASON IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN WITH EVERYTHING FROM OUR PRODUCE DONATIONS TO OUR ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS.

IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO SHOW YOU EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED FROM START TO FINISH.

S S S S S S S S >> SO, AS YOU CAN SEE EVERY DAY IS A GREAT DAY IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN ALL SEASON.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE YOUR NEXT TWO ARE BEES, WASPS OR HORNETS IN THE LILAC?

THIS IN ELKHORN.

SHE IS WONDERING WHAT IS ALL OVER THE LILAC?

THEY SEEM TO BE MAKING HOLES PEELING OFF THE BARK -- WHAT IS THIS GOING ON HERE?

>> YEAH, THIS ONE'S A -- ACTUALLY, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHAT'S HAPPENING.

SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S EASTER YELLOWJACKETS THERE.

WE HAVE CICADA KILLER THERE SO THEY'RE KIND OF CENTERED AROUND THIS HOLE.

I'M REALLY WONDERING IF THIS IS INJURY AND THAT THERE'S AN INJURY THERE, WITH SOME SAP AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE COMING BASICALLY TO FEED ON THAT SAP.

THAT WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS.

BUT, YEAH, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT'S -- WHAT'S MAYBE INSIDE OF THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DON'T STICK YOUR HAND IN THERE.

>> NO.

>> THIS IS A WESTERN OTOE COUNTY VIEWER.

THESE GUYS WERE SHOWING UP IN A LOOSE SOIL AREA.

THEY SWARM - WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> THIS IS TWO-SPOTTED SCOLIID WASP, AND THESE ARE PARASITES OF GRUBS AND IN PARTICULAR THIS SPECIES THEY PARASITIZE BOTH COTINIS SO THAT'S LIKE THE GREEN JUNE BEETLE, AS WELL AS JAPANESE BEETLES, SO THESE ARE REALLY GOOD GUYS TO HAVE AROUND.

IF YOU'RE SEEING THEM LEAVE THEM ALONE AND LET 'EM HELP CONTROL SOME OF THOSE GRUBS.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS.

PINE TREES IN THE YARD.

THEY KEEP FINDING TIPS OF THE BRANCHES ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH.

THIS IS BUFFALO COUNTY.

THEY THINK IT'S SQUIRRELS.

IS THERE ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO PREVENT THIS?

>> YEP, IT'S SQUIRRELS.

THEY'RE TRIMMING THEIR TREE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO WAIT TO CHRISTMAS TO TRIM THE TREE AND THEY'RE JUST TRIMMING THE TIPS OFF AND THEY'LL PROBABLY MAKE A NEST WITH IT.

>> AND NOT A THING THEY CAN DO.

>> NOT A THING THEY SHOULD DO.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THEN WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS TASTING THE EGGPLANT?

>> YEAH, AGAIN, THOSE TEETH MARKS LOOK LIKE IT'S A SQUIRREL.

THEY'RE A BIT BIGGER FOR A VOLE AND SQUIRRELS ARE - I DON'T KNOW - THEY SEEM LIKE THEY'RE JUST TASTING IT AND DECIDING "THIS IS NOT A NUT," AND GOING ON.

>> IN OTHER WORDS THEY JUST DON'T LIKE EGGPLANT.

>> YEAH.

NOT ITALIAN SQUIRRELS I DON'T KNOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR FINAL ONE HERE, A VIEWER HAS SENT US A PICTURE OF A DECIMATED PLANT IN A POT AND SHE WONDERS DON'T DEER EAT THE WHOLE PLANT?

A LOT WAS JUST DROPPED ON THE GROUND.

>> THIS IS NOT DEER.

ACTUALLY THIS LOOKS LIKE MY TWO-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTR GOT IN THERE.

IT REALLY DOES.

THAT'S WHAT SHE WOULD DO.

IT COULD BE A SQUIRREL OR A RABBIT GETTING INTO THE POT AND JUST MILLING AROUND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.

BUT, A DEER - IT'S NOT DEER.

IT'S LIKELY MORE SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW - IF THERE WAS ANY CATNIP IN THERE IT COULD BE A DOMESTICATED CAT BUT I WOULD SAY SQUIRREL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

DARNED SQUIRRELS -- THEY'RE JUST AFTER EVERYTHING.

>> YEP.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE THIS IS A VIEWER FROM OMAHA WITH A BIG PIN OAK.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

SHE'S WONDERING IF THIS HAS WET WOOD, AND OF COURSE SHE'S GOT A LOT OF THOSE DEAD LEAVES, ALSO, BUT THEN SHE'S GOT THIS GOING ON.

SHE'S WONDERING, IS IT WET WOOD AND IF SO, WILL IT CAUSE THE ROTTING, WILL IT KILL IT?

ANY SUGGESTIONS.

>> YEAH, THIS CERTAINLY DOES LOOK LIKE EITHER BACTERIAL WET WOOD, OR, SLIME FLUX.

SLIME FLUX TENDS TO BE -- IS CAUSED BY -- BY YEASTS OR AS BACTERIAL WET WOOD IS CAUSE BY A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES OF BACTERIA.

NEITHER OF THEM ARE DETRIMENTAL TO THE OVERALL HEALTH OF THE TREE -- IN FACT SOME NEWER RESEARCH IS SHOWING THAT THEY OFTEN WILL HAVE MAYBE SOME ANTI-FUNGAL COMPONENTS AS WELL.

SO -- SO, REALLY NOTHING TO DO ABOUT -- ABOUT SLIME FLUX.

IT MAY INDICATE THAT THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE GOING ON WITH THE TREE, SO I WOULD -- I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

THE ONE THING THAT IS A LITTLE BIT CONCERNING IS ANYTIME WE DO HAVE SOFTER POCKETS AROUND THE TRUNK, AT THE BASE OF THE TREE THAT CAN BE A SITE FOR ANOTHER FUNGAL INFECTION SO YOU'D WANT TO WATCH THAT - WATCH THE TREE FOR OTHER SIGNS OF DECLINE.

BUT, IN GENERAL IT SHOULD BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS AN ACREAGE SOUTH OF LINCOLN, LARGE BLUE SPRUCE DYING FROM THE TOP DOWN.

>> BOTRYODIPLODIA CANKER.

YOU CAN TOP IT AND I'VE YOU SHOULD MAYBE JUST PLANT A GLOBE SPRUCE NEXT TO IT AND SO YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF -- A COUPLE OF BEAUTIFUL TREES NEXT TO EACH OTHER.

>> CUTE.

AND SHE IS WONDERING IF ALL THE REST OF THEM 40 FEET AWAY ARE AT RISK?

>> THEY ARE, BUT THEY COULD BE JUST FINE, AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF.

THIS IS A VIEWER FROM WAVERLY AND THIS PARTICULAR VIEWER BOUGHT A HOUSE THERE.

THEY FOUND SOME OVERGROWN STUFF IN THE YARD.

THEY FOUND THIS PLANT -- IT CREATED A RASH.

THEY'RE WONDERING IS THIS POISON IVY?

>> IT'S NOT POISON IVY SO WE CAN RELAX.

IT IS POKEWEED WHICH IS ALSO POISONOUS AND FOR SOME FOLKS, ALL PLANTS - ALL PARTS OF THE PLANT IS POISONOUS.

YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT.

IT'S A PERENNIAL SO YOU MAY HAVE TO DIG UP.

IT'LL HAVE KIND OF A TAPROOT BUT YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE IT WILL SPREAD AND YOU WILL HAVE POKEWEED EVERYWHERE SO NOT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO KEEP.

>> ALL RIGHT --.

>> AND IT'S DETRIMENTAL TO DOGS IF IT -- A DOG EATS ITS BERRY.

>> RIGHT, YEAH - .

>> SO --.

>> YEAH AND ALL PARTS OF THE PLANT.

>> IF YOU HAVE ANY PETS GET RID OF IT.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT TWO, JEFF REAL QUICKLY, ARE "WHAT IS THIS?"

>> SO, THIS IS ELDERBERRY.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHICH IS A GOOD ONE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, TOO THAT ELDERBERRY, WHICH MAYBE FOLKS DON'T, YOU DON'T WANT TO EAT THE FRUIT RAW SO IT'S ONE OF THOSE THAT YOU EITHER WANT TO COOK THE FRUIT BEFORE CONSUMING IT.

BUT, AGAIN, GREAT PLANT TO HAVE -- FUN TO HAVE.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL, AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THINGS GOING ON IN THE GARDENING WORLD AND I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO START WITH "DIGGING DEEPER WITH "BACKYARD FARMER" ON FACEBOOK THURSDAYS AT 8:00 P.M. AND WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT NUTRITIONAL VALUE IN THE PRODUCE THAT WE EAT.

AND, WE ALSO, I DO BELILIE HAVE STILL OUR "BACKYARD FARMER GROW-A-ROW PRODUCE DONATIONS FROM NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28TH - 4:30 TO 7:30 - WE ARE PUSHING ALMOST A THOUSAND POUNDS TOTAL WHICH IS JUST FABULOUS.

AND, WE HAVE THE "NEBRASKA LOCAL FOOD CHALLENGE" COMING UP FROM NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH -- Sustainablenebraska.org FOR "THE LOCAL FOOD CHALLENGE."

LOTS OF GOOD THINGS WITH FOOD.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALSO ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT.

I NEED TO THROW A WIDE WEB OF "THANK-YOU," OF COURSE TO OUR AUDIENCE OUR LOYAL AUDIENCE AND VIEWERS EVERYBODY WHO SENT US QUESTIONS AND EMAILS ALL YEAR LONG THE PANEL -- OF COURSE.

WE COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT OUR PARTNERS FROM NPM AND OUR PRODUCERS.

WE CERTAINLY COULD NOT DO THIS WITHOUT OUR MASTER GARDENERS SO WE WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE.

LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT SEASON AND WINTER.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

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

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