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

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL TRY TO CONTROL SOME SQUIRRELS, AND WE'LL SEE A LANDSCAPE DESIGN COMING TOGETHER.

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

♪ >> HELLO, AGAIN AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD AND I'LL BE YOUR HOST FOR THE NEXT HOUR OF ANSWERING THOSE LANDSCAPE QUESTIONS.

WE LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU SO IF YOU DO HAVE A GARDENING QUESTION YOU'D LIKE TO SUBMIT FOR A FUTURE SHOW, SEND US AN EMAIL TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

DO TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR QUESTION, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE STATE OR THE SURROUNDING AREA.

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LET'S START WITH A FEW SAMPLES.

KYLE, YOU HAVE SOMETHING GREEN ON SOMETHING GREEN.

>> YES, I DO.

I HAVE SOME ROSE LEAVES AND ROSESLUG SAWFLIES.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE TINY CATERPILLARS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY NOT THE IMMATURES FOR A MOTH OR A BUTTERFLY.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY THE LARVAE FOR A PRIMITIVE WASP AND ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE IS THE NUMBER OF PROLEGS, SO THOSE ARE JUST THESE LITTLE FLESHY APPENDAGES ON THE ABDOMEN AND SAWFLIES WILL HAVE SEVEN OR MORE GENERALLY AND CATERPILLARS WILL HAVE FIVE OR FEWER.

BUT, YOU CAN SEE HERE ON THESE ROSE LEAVES, THEY'VE BEEN CAUSING SOME HOLES HERE, DEFOLIATING, AND THE ADULTS WILL OVERWINTER AND EMERGE EARLY IN THE SPRING, LAY EGGS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF LEAVES.

THOSE WILL HATCH WITHIN ABOUT A WEEK OR TWO AND THEN THESE SAWFLIES WILL START FEEDING.

SO, THERE'S ACTUALLY THREE DIFFERENT SPECIES, AT LEAST THREE, THAT WE'LL SEE HERE ON ROSES AND TWO OF THEM ARE REALLY NOT A BIG, A BIG PROBLEM.

THE COMMON ROSESLUG SAWFLY, THEY ONLY PRODUCE ONE GENERATION PER YEAR SO THEY'LL FEED EARLY IN THE SPRING AND THEN THEY'LL DROP OFF INTO THE SOIL AND SPEND THE REST OF THE SUMMER THERE AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT THEY'RE NOT TOO BIG OF A PROBLEM.

THEN THERE'S ALSO THE CURLED ROSESLUG SAWFLY.

THEY PRODUCE TWO GENERATIONS SO SIMILAR, NOT AS BIG OF A PROBLEM, BUT WHAT I ACTUALLY HAVE HERE IS THE BRISTLY ROSESLUG SAWFLY AND YOU'LL SEE IF YOU HAVE A HAND LENS, YOU PROBABLY WON'T SEE THROUGH HERE BUT THEY HAVE THESE BRISTLES THROUGHOUT THE BODY THAT GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT MORE VELVETY APPEARANCE COMPARED TO THE OTHER TWO SPECIES AND THESE WILL HAVE MULTIPLE GENERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON SO THEY CAN CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DEFOLIATION SO BASICALLY, IF YOU'RE SEEING THEM, YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER, USUALLY IF IT'S A MILD INFESTATION, IT'S MOSTLY COSMETIC, NOT TOO BIG OF A PROBLEM, BUT IN SOME CASES, THEY CAN CAUSE SOME ISSUES, STRESS THE ROSES, AND SO YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER TREATMENT IN THOSE CASES.

YOU CAN START BY JUST WASHING THEM OFF USING A POWERFUL SPRAY FROM THE HOSE.

THAT WILL KNOCK A LOT OF THEM OFF.

THEY GET -- THEY'RE GOING TO FEED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF LEAVES SO YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE GETTING UNDER THERE.

OTHERWISE, YOU CAN ALSO TREAT WITH A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS THAT ARE LABELED FOR SAWFLIES BUT GENERALLY SPEAKING, INSECTICIDAL SOAPS DO WORK PRETTY WELL, JUST AGAIN REALLY MAKING SURE YOU'RE GETTING GOOD COVERAGE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF LEAVES SO THAT WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR THESE IF YOU'RE HAVING THOSE BRISTLY SLUG SAWFLIES -- EXCUSE ME, SO THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

>> I THINK IT'S FUN TO DO THIS.

>> YEAH, THAT -- >> FLICK.

>> YOU CAN JUST PICK THEM OFF, TOO IF YOU'D LIKE.

>> OKAY, BILL, YOU HAVE AN ARRAY OF -- >> OF WEEDS!

AN ARRAY OF WEEDS.

SO, WE ARE SEEING A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WEEDS GETTING GOING HERE AND SO I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE ONES THAT ARE PERTINENT RIGHT NOW SO THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT CONTROLLING THEM OR NOT CONTROLLING AND MAYBE NOTICING THEM IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

THE FIRST ONE IS A WEED THAT WE MIGHT SEE RIGHT NOW.

IT HAS LOTS OF SEED HEADS ON IT THAT ARE REALLY FINE.

THIS IS ANNUAL BLUEGRASS.

IT'S CLOSELY RELATED TO OUR OTHER BLUEGRASSES LIKE KENTUCKY BLUEGRASS AND SO IT'S HARD TO CONTROL NOT SELECTIVELY.

THIS IS THE POA ANNUA YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT IF YOU WATCH GOLF.

IT MAKES THE GREENS BUMPY.

THIS IS A GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT'S NIGHTMARE.

FOR LAWNS, THOUGH, IF YOU MOW ABOVE TWO, TWO AND A HALF INCHES, THIS GUY CAN'T REALLY COMPETE AND SO YOU MIGHT PULL IT OUT, NONSELECTIVE CONTROL IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THAT WAY.

MOW HIGHER AND THIS ONE WILL GO AWAY.

THIS ONE IS OUR SEDGES AND SO WE'RE SEEING THE YELLOW NUTSEDGE STARTING TO GO.

AGAIN, YOU CAN ROLL IT THROUGH YOUR FINGERS.

YOU'LL FEEL THOSE TRIANGULAR STEMS.

SEDGES HAVE EDGES.

WHAT WE'RE LEARNING IS THAT EARLIER TREATMENT OF THESE PERENNIAL WEEDS IS BETTER THAN LATER TREATMENTS AND SO GOING OUT NOW IN LATE MAY AND EARLY JUNE EACH YEAR IN AREAS WHERE YOU KNOW YOU HAVE AN INFESTATION, YOU CAN GO AND TRY TO SPRAY THESE WITH A PRODUCT DESIGNED THAT ACTUALLY SAYS IT CONTROLS NUTSEDGE.

THEN, WE HAVE OUR CRABGRASS STARTING, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT ARE BARREN AND BARE SOIL, AND SO WHEN YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEDS, A PRODUCT LIKE DIMENSION, WHICH IS A PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE, WILL STILL WORK AS A POST-EMERGENT, BUT IF IT STARTS GETTING MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, THREE LEAVES, THEN WE HAVE TO START USING A POST-EMERGENT TYPE OF A PRODUCT TO TRY TO CONTROL THESE GUYS AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE EASIER TO CONTROL NOW WHEN THEY'RE SMALL THAN WHEN THEY'RE BIG.

LASTLY IS A WEED THAT WE ALL SAW IN FULL DISPLAY AND WE CAN SEE HOW SAD IT LOOKS NOW AND THAT'S BECAUSE IT SPENT ALL OF ITS ENERGY MAKING THOSE YELLOW FLOWERS OF OUR DANDELION AND SO THE BEST TIME TO SPRAY FOR A PERENNIAL WEED LIKE THIS IS IN THE FALL, BUT IF YOU MISSED IT, THIS IS THE SECOND BEST TIME BECAUSE IT'S REALLY WEAK RIGHT NOW SO WE CAN GO OUT AND WE CAN SPRAY THIS NOW AND PUT A HURT ON IT GOING INTO THE WINTER -- OR INTO THE SUMMER, EXCUSE ME AND SO IT'S WEAK.

THE HERBICIDE WILL MAKE IT TRY TO GROW EVEN MORE, IT WILL BURN THROUGH ALL ITS SUGARS, IT WILL STARVE TO DEATH, AND THEN HOPEFULLY DIE OUT ON THIS SUMMER STRESS.

THAT'S THE WEEDS OF THE DAY AND START TO IDENTIFY THEM FIRST AND THEN YOU CAN IMPLEMENT DIFFERENT CONTROL STRATEGIES THAT WILL HELP SET YOU UP FOR A GOOD SUMMER.

>> EXCELLENT.

SO THIS IS NOT A VERY NICE-LOOKING GAME BAG, DENNIS.

>> NO, THIS IS JUST TO KEEP THIS.

THIS IS A RABBIT, THE COTTONTAIL, PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON RABBIT IN NEBRASKA AND IT'S THE ONE THAT LIKES TO EAT A LOT OF DIFFERENT VEGETATION, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT YOU REALLY LIKE, THE FLOWERS.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THEM THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THEY'RE HARD TO TRAP.

THERE IS NO SO-TO-SPEAK BAIT THAT THEY'LL GO FOR OR TOXICANT THEY'LL GO FOR.

REPELLANTS ARE VERY, VERY, YOU KNOW, IFFY.

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

THERE'S REALLY NO REPELLANT THAT WORKS REALLY WELL WITH RABBITS IN THE SUMMER SO YOUR BEST DEFENSE IS GOING TO BE THIS, OKAY?

SEE, THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH IT, SO THE CHICKEN WIRE IS PROBABLY THE BEST AND EVEN SOME OF THE SMALLER RABBITS WITH THIS SMALL INCH OCTAGON,HEY CAN'T GET THROUGH.

IT'S INEXPENSIVE, IT'S THE BEST WAY TO KEEP RABBITS OUT OF A GARDEN, A FLOWERBED, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

JUST BURY IT ABOUT FOUR INCHES IN THE GROUND, GROUND LEVEL HERE, EXTEND TWO FOOT ABOVE THE GROUND, ABOUT THIS HIGH AND THEN THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH IT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO GET OVER TWO FOOT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, GOOD TO KNOW.

OKAY, KYLE, YOU GET THE FIRST ROUND OF PICTURE QUESTIONS.

GOSH, THE VERY FIRST ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER THAT CALLS THESE SMALL GREEN CATERPILLARS EATING THE KNOCKOUT ROSES.

>> YEAH, THIS LOOKS FAMILIAR, SO IT'S ANOTHER ROSESLUG SAWFLY, PROBABLY THE BRISTLY ROSESLUG SAWFLY SO AGAIN, THAT'S THE ONE THAT HAS MULTIPLE GENERATIONS.

IT CAN CONTINUE FEEDING THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SO THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT CAN BE THE MOST DAMAGING, SO YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE QUITE A FEW OF THEM THERE, INSECTICIDAL SOAP, THAT'S WHAT I'D GO WITH.

>> EXCELLENT, ALL RIGHT, AND THAT WON'T HURT THE BEES OR BUTTERFLIES, RIGHT?

>> NO.

>> OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS TWO PICTURES HERE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER THAT SAYS THESE TINY BLACK INSECTS ARE ALL OVER A OBEDIENT PLANT AND THEY'RE LEAVING THESE HOLES BEHIND.

WHAT ARE THEY AND HOW CAN THEY BE CONTROLLED?

>> YEAH, IT'S A WHITE-MARGINED BURROWING BUG SO THERE'S KIND OF A LITTLE WHITE LINE THAT GOES AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF ITS BODY.

THAT'S WHERE ITS NAME COMES FROM.

THESE ARE PRETTY COOL LITTLE BUGS.

I DON'T THINK THAT THE HOLES ARE ACTUALLY BEING CAUSED BY THEM.

I'M NOT SURE.

THEY LOOK A LITTLE BIT BIG, ESPECIALLY THEY HAVE PIERCING, SUCKING MOUTH PARTS AND ACTUALLY THESE ARE FEEDERS ON DEVELOPING SEEDS OF MINTS, SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT'S CAUSING THE DAMAGE AND I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY RECOMMEND ANY NEED FOR CONTROL HERE.

THEY'RE KIND OF COOL.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MATERNAL CARE SO THEY HAVE A BURROW WHERE THE OFFSPRING LIVE AND THEY PROVISION THE NESTS WITH THOSE DEVELOPING SEEDS.

>> INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS SUCH A COOL PICTURE AND THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER AND HE FOUND AN OLDER WHEEL BUG ON HIS SHADES LAST YEAR.

HE JUST SAW THESE COMING OUT THIS WEEK OR LAST WEEK AND HE SAYS THE NEST OR WHATEVER WE CALL IT, THE EGG MASS THERE HAS BEEN THERE SINCE LAST FALL.

SO, IS HE CORRECT AND WHAT ARE WE REALLY SEEING HERE FOR OUR VIEWERS?

>> YEAH, WHEEL BUGS.

THESE ARE THE NYMPHS THAT ARE JUST HATCHING OUT OF -- JUST ECLOSING OR HATCHING OUT OF THAT EGG MASS SO THAT THE DARKER ONES, THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT HATCHED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, YOU KNOW, STILL PROBABLY WITHIN I WOULD GUESS A MATTER OF HOURS OR SO AND THEN THOSE REALLY KIND OF LIGHT ORANGISH ONES IN THE CENTER OF THAT EGG MASS WOULD BE THE ONES JUST COMING OUT.

THEIR BODY HASN'T SCLEROTIZED YET SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE LIGHTER IN COLOR, BUT YEAH, THESE ARE WHEEL BUGS SO GOOD GUYS TO HAVE AROUND.

THEY'RE PREDATORS OF JUST ABOUT ANYTHING, ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN TAKE.

>> HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THEM TO GROW INTO THE BIG WHEEL BUG?

>> I -- IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS.

I THINK AROUND THREE MONTHS OR SO FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR DEVELOPMENT.

>> INTERESTING, SO WE'LL SEE THOSE LATER IN THE SEASON.

>> YEP.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, BILL.

THIS IS A RURAL CRAIG VIEWER.

>> OKAY.

>> WONDERS WHAT KIND OF GRASS THIS IS.

IS PULLING IT THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF IT?

WE HAVE THREE PICTURES OF THIS ONE.

CAN'T TELL IF IT HAS RHIZOMES AND IT'S GROWING MIXED IN WITH SEDUMS AND DAYLILIES AND SOME OTHER PLANTS.

>> YEAH, THAT'S BROME.

IT DOES HAVE LITTLE RHIZOMES IN THERE IN THE SECOND PICTURE.

WE CAN KIND OF SEE THE THEY LOOK LIKE THE DAUGHTER PLANTS WERE KIND OF CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH KIND OF A WHITE FLESHY STRUCTURE THAT'S HELPING TO CAUSE THIS GUY TO SPREAD AND SO WHEN YOU DO PULL IT, UNFORTUNATELY, IT DOES STIMULATE THE PLANT TO START TO PRODUCE MORE DAUGHTER PLANTS AND SO IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE FROM THAT REGARD.

THAT SAID, IT STILL IS -- IT CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF CONTROLLING IT IN A BED LIKE THAT BECAUSE SPRAYING IT CAN BE QUESTIONABLE.

THERE ARE PRODUCTS OUT THERE LIKE GRASS-B-GON THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME CONTROL ON IT BUT I WOULD CHECK THE LABEL WITH YOUR PLANTS AND MAKE SURE THAT YOUR PLANTS ARE ONE OF THE SAFE ONES AND THEN MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS ON THE LABEL THAT IT CONTROLS IT.

THAT COULD BE AN APPROACH.

OTHERWISE, KIND OF THE "GLOVE OF DEATH" WITH A, YOU KNOW, NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE THAT YOU PAINT ONTO THERE COULD OFFER SOME LEVELS OF CONTROL.

BUT EVEN WITH THE NUTSEDGES, WE'RE FINDING THAT MECHANICAL PULLING DOES HELP A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL GETTING IT OUT OF THERE AND SO THE PLANT IS GETTING STRESSED BY THAT BUT YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY ON IT.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP DOING IT OVER AND OVER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO A CHEMICAL CONTROL OPTION.

YEAH, I THINK THIS LOOKS LIKE A DOWNY BROME.

IF IT'S IN A LAWN, YOU COULD USE PRODUCTS LIKE MESOTRIONE, TENACITY WITH SOME POSITIVE EFFECT THIS TIME OF YEAR, NOT LATER, BUT IN THAT GARDEN BED SCENARIO, I THINK THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I'D BE CAREFUL OF, YEAH.

>>ALL RIGHT, AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

WE -- THIS VIEWER, TWO PICTURE HERE, OBVIOUSLY IN A GARDEN BED.

HE THINKS THESE ARE WILD OATS SO THESE PICTURES ARE... >> YEAH, IT'S THE SAME THING.

YOU CAN SEE THAT.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE LEAVES, YOU'LL SEE KIND OF A "W" SHAPE AS THE LEAF COMES OFF OF THE STEM AND SO BROME GRASS HAS PROBABLY GOTTEN IN FROM A RURAL AREA AND IS JUST TAKING OVER THAT AREA SO AGAIN, THERE ARE SOME POSSIBLE CHEMICAL CONTROL OPTIONS BUT I WOULD REALLY R RD THAT LABEL REALLY CLOSELY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE -- THAT ONE, IT'S EFFECTIVE BUT ALSO THAT IT'S SAFE ON YOUR PLANTS IN YOUR BEDS.

>> AND THAT WAS DOWNY BROME, RIGHT?

>> THAT WAS DOWNY BROME, YEP.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY, DENNIS, YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS FROM HASTINGS -- NOT HASTINGS, LET'S SEE.

YES, IT IS.

THIS IS A HASTINGS VIEWER.

THEY HAVE A SUNBURST LOCUST TREE IN THE PICTURE HERE.

SHE SAYS IT WAS DAMAGED IN FEBRUARY.

SOMETHING ATE A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE BARK.

SHE WONDERS IF THIS WAS A DEER.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE SQUIRREL THAN DEER.

THEY USUALLY GO FOR THE BRANCHES BUT IN THE WINTER, SQUIRRELS WILL TAKE THE TRUNK OF SMALLER TREES SO I'M SAYING PROBABLY MORE A SQUIRREL THAN A DEER.

A DEER WOULD BROWSE ON TOP AND NOT GO FOR THE BARK.

>> WELL, AND IT LOOKS ALSO LIKE MAYBE SOME DAMAGE THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH NOT HAVING THE MULCH AROUND THE BASE OF THE TREE.

>> YEAH, IT COULD BE MOWER BLIGHT, BUT IT GOES SO HIGH.

>> RIGHT, YEAH.

>> THAT WOULD BE... >> SOMEBODY WAS BACKING THE MOWER UP ONTO IT!

( LAUGHTER ) ALL RIGHT, SO, CAN SHE PROTECT FROM THE SQUIRREL FROM DOING THIS OR... >> WELL, YOU COULD.

THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS REPELLENT BECAUSE THE SQUIRRELS ARE PROBABLY DOING THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE FOR MARKING, NOT FOR FOOD AND SO A REPELLANT AND YOU CAN USE VEGETABLE OIL AND CAYENNE PEPPER IF YOU DO KNOW IT'S A SQUIRREL, BUT SEE IF IT IS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

SO, YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OUTSIDE COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THEY'VE LIVED HERE 40 YEARS.

THEY'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH DEER, AND THEN THIS PARTICULAR DOE WENT RIGHT DOWN THE LINE AND ATE ALL OF HER TROPICAL HIBISCUS AND THEN WENT OVER TO THE ASIATIC LILIES AND ATE THE TOPS OFF THAT, SO WHAT CAN THEY DO?

>> WELL, DON'T PUT OUT A BUFFET.

I MEAN, IF YOU PUT OUT A BUFFET, THEY'RE GOING TO COME AND GET IT.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?

>> AFTER 40 YEARS, THOUGH.

THAT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY LIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> BUT HAVE THEY HAD THIS BUFFET OUT EVERY YEAR?

>> I DON'T KNOW!

>> SEE?

THAT'S THE CLUE.

IT JUST DEPENDS.

THE DEER IN THAT AREA ARE PROBABLY JUST LOOKING FOR MORE FOOD.

PROBABLY THE PLACE THEY'VE BEEN EATING THEY'RE JUST EXPANDING THEIR FORAGING.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVAVTO PUT WATER AROUND THAT OR THERE'S THESE SMALL LITTLE DEVICES THAT HAVE THREE D-CELL BATTERIES THAT YOU PUT A LITTLE ACORN SCENT IN THE TOP WITH COTTON AND PUT ONE OF THOSE IN EACH ONE OF THE POTS.

THEY'RE FAIRLY ECONOMICAL AND THE DEER WILL PUT ITS NOSE TO THAT, GET SHOCKED, AND NOT TOUCH ANYTHING IN THAT POT.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO AT LEAST TRAIN THE ONE, RIGHT?

>> WELL, YOU'LL TRAIN ALL OF THEM IF YOU PUT THOSE THINGS IN.

EVERYONE THAT COMES OUT WILL GET SHOCKED AND EVERYONE WILL BE TRAINED.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, SQUIRRELS MIGHT >> YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE PINE RIDGE HABITAT.

>> SO, WHAT IS THIS AND WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE BE AFRAID OF OR CAREFUL ABOUT WITH THIS PARTICULAR THING?

>> I WOULD JUST GIVE THEM ROOM, GIVE THEM SPACE.

>> WHAT IS IT?

>> THEY DON'T LIKE PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND PEOPLE.

THEY DON'T LIKE LIVESTOCK.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND LIVESTOCK.

THEY DON'T WANT TO BE AROUND DOGS.

YOU JUST GIVE THEM THEIR SPACE.

IT'S A MOUNTAIN LION OR A COUGAR AND ALL THEY NEED IS THEIR SPACE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND THEY DON'T SNEAK UP BEHIND YOU AND GRAB YOU BY THE NECK?

>> NO.

>> YOU HOPE NOT, ANYWAY.

>> I MEAN, THEY ARE VERY -- YOU WON'T HEAR THEM COMING, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!

>> ALL RIGHT.

ON THAT NOTE, LET'S GO BACK TO THOSE CUTE SQUIRRELS SCURRYING AROUND YOUR YARD DOING SOME SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE SOMETIMES TO THOSE TREES, BULBS, AND EVEN THE WOOD ON YOUR HOUSE.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO HEAR FROM DENNIS WITH SOME TIPS ON KEEPING THOSE SQUIRRELS OCCUPIED WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN YOUR HOME AND YOUR LANDSCAPE.

♪ >> WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FOX SQUIRRELS.

FOX SQUIRRELS ARE VERY COMMON IN EASTERN NEBRASKA AND EVEN FOUND THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE WHERE WE HAVE TREES.

NOW, TREES AND FOX SQUIRRELS IN THE MIDWEST EVOLVED TOGETHER AND ADAPTED TOGETHER, SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF DAMAGE BEING DONE TO NATIVE TREES.

THEY'RE ABLE TO WITHSTAND THE DAMAGE.

THE DAMAGE IS CAUSED ON NONNATIVE TREES, THINGS LIKE ELMS AND MAPLES THAT THEY LOVE TO EAT THE SAP AND GET STARCH FROM OR THE FACT THAT THEY WILL DO THEIR TERRITORIAL MARKING ON THINGS LIKE YOUR HOUSE, YOUR DECK, YOUR PICNIC TABLE, AND ANY BULBS THAT YOU MAY PLANT THEY MAY DIG UP AND FIND THEM APPETIZING, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO TO MEDIATE DAMAGE FROM FOX SQUIRRELS.

OKAY, THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE HEAR ABOUT WITH FOX SQUIRRELS IS DIGGING IN PLANTERS SO IF THEY'RE DIGGING IN A PLANTED AREA WITH BULBS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU CAN PUT CHICKEN WIRE OVER THAT AREA, OKAY?

PUT THE CHICKEN WIRE, ROLL IT OUT, AND LET THE PLANTS GROW UP.

SO YOU PUT THIS DOWN RIGHT AFTER YOU PLANT.

YOU CAN ALSO DO THIS OVER POTS.

ANOTHER DAMAGE THEY CAUSE IS GIRDLING THE BRANCH OF THE TREES TO GET A STARCH OR SOME MOISTURE AND IF THEY DO THIS AROUND THEHE WHOLE BRANCH, THEY WILL KILL THAT BRANCH AND EVENTUALLY KILL THAT TREE.

HOW DO WE STOP THEM FROM DOING THIS?

WELL, THAT IS A FOOD HABIT, SO USING REPELLANTS USUALLY WON'T WORK, PLUS IT'S HARD TO GET THE REPELLANTS THAT HIGH IN A TREE.

WHEN THEY ARE GIRDLING A TREE, AND THEY'RE DOING IT OFTEN OR TO SMALL TREES, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS TRAP THEM.

THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS TO TRAP THEM.

YOU CAN USE A CAGE TRAP SUCH AS THIS WITH ONE SIDE OPEN, OKAY, NOT TWO SIDES, OKAY, AND THEY GO IN THERE AND THEY CAN TAKE THE BAIT -- I'LL SHOW YOU IN A MINUTE -- AND THEN THEY COULD BE TRAPPED, AND THEN YOU CAN BY SPRAYING WATER ON THEM, YOU'RE HAZING THEM AND THEN YOU RELEASE THEM.

THEY PROBABLY WON'T COME BACK TO THAT AREA.

YOU CAN MOVE THEM 100 YARDS AND THEY MAY NOT COME BACK AND DEPENDING ON WHAT AREA YOU ARE, YOU CAN CHECK ABOUT HAVING THEM EUTHANIZED BY YOUR HUMANE SOCIETY OR WILDLIFE CONTROL DEPENDING ON WHAT MUNICIPALITY YOU LIVE IN.

ANOTHER TRAP THAT YOU CAN USE IS A TUNNEL TRAP AND THIS CAN BE STRAPPED RIGHT TO A TREE AND IT JUST CLICKS IN LIKE THAT, OKAY, STRAPPED TO THE TREE.

IT'S GOT GRIT IN THERE.

THE SQUIRRELS GO UP BECAUSE THEY CAN SEE LIGHT BUT THEN IT FLIPS AND THE SQUIRREL IS TRAPPED IN THAT AREA.

WHAT DO YOU USE FOR BAIT?

ANYTHING THAT HAS CORN AND NUTS IN IT, SUCH AS THIS.

THIS HAS WALNUTS.

IT HAS SEED AND CORN.

THESE ARE WAYS TO STOP THEM.

SPEAKING OF THAT, IF YOU DO FEED THE BIRDS AND YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM GETTING INTO THE BIRD FEEDER, THIS PORCUPINE WIRE, THIS STAINLESS STEEL TYPE THAT YOU CAN TWIST INTO A CIRCLE.

OF COURSE, YOU BUY THIS IN TEN-FOOT LENGTHS AND IF YOU HANG THE BIRD FEEDER ON THIS AND YOU'RE SIX-FOOT AWAY AND ALL SIDES AND SIX FOOT DOWN FROM THE BRANCH, THE SQUIRRELS CAN'T GET TO THE BIRD FEEDER.

FOR THE STUFF ON THE TREE, WHERE THEY'RE ON THE HOUSE OR ANYTHING, YOU CAN USE A REPELLANT FOR THAT.

SO IF THEY'RE CHEWING ON THE HOUSE, OR CHEWING ON THE BASE OF A TREE, WHICH WE CALL TERRITORIAL MARKING, YOU CAN USE A REPELLANT OR MIX CAYENNE PEPPER WITH VEGETABLE OIL AND PAINT IT ON THAT AREA AND THAT WILL STOP THAT TERRITORIAL MARKING.

HOPEFULLY, THIS WILL HELP YOU MEDIATE SQUIRREL PROBLEMS.

SQUIRRELS ARE INTELLIGENT.

THEY HAVE BEEN AROUND WITH TREES FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY EVOLVED WITH THE TREES THAT WERE HERE AND, THEREFORE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HURT NATIVE TREES, BUT IF THEY'RE CAUSING TO YOUR NONNATIVES AND YOUR HOUSE, REMEMBER, THEY'RE INTELLIGENT.

USE SOME OF THESE DEVICES TO CURTAIL THEIR DAMAGE AND JUST BE SQUIRRELY.

>> AS DENNIS SAID, THEY REALLY ARE VERY INTELLIGENT.

THEY HAVE A WAY OF OUTSMARTININ ALL OF OUR EFFORTS TO KEEP THEM AWAY, SO TRY SOME OF THESE TIPS AND YOU'LL MAYBE MINIMIZE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THEY CAUSE UNTIL THEY HAVE MORE, BRING THEM, AND RETRAIN THEM TO START OVER AGAIN.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A COZAD VIEWER, KYLE, AND THEY'RE SIMPLY CURIOUS ABOUT THIS WHITE MOTH THAT THEY FOUND IN THEIR GARDEN.

WE HAVE A COUPLE PICTURES OF THIS ONE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A SALT MARSH MOTH OR A SALT MARSH TIGER MOTH AND THIS PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL'S A FEMALE BECAUSE IT HAS THE WHITE HIND WING.

IMMATURES, THE LARVAE, THEY JUST FEED ON MOSTLY, YOU KNOW, BROADLEAF WEEDS SO THEY'RE NOT REALLY A PEST.

SOMETIMES IN THE FALL, THEY CAN MOVE ON TO VEGETABLES OR CROPS BUT NOT GENERALLY A PROBLEM.

>> THEY'RE REALLY PRETTY.

>> YEAH, THEY ARE.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS A RAVENNA VIEWER AND THEY FOUND THIS MOTH AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO PICTURES OF THIS ONE AND THEY'RE WONDERING IS IT GOOD OR BAD.

THEY FOUND IT IN THE ELDERBERRIES.

>> I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY GOOD.

I MEAN, THESE ARE PROBABLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOTH THAT WE HAVE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

THIS IS A CECROPIA MOTH AND IN THIS IMAGE HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE, I THINK THAT'S A MALE AND FEMALE PAIR AND THESE -- THEY FEED -- THE CATERPILLARS WILL FEED ON ALL KINDS OF TREES AND SHRUBS BUT THEY'RE NEVER LIKE IN ANY SORT OF NUMBERS THAT THEY CAUSE ANY DAMAGE.

>> THEY'RE JUST GORGEOUS.

THEY'RE SO BIG.

ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS AN I.D.

OF THIS AND THIS COMES TO US ALL THE WAY FROM SCOTTSBLUFF.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE IMAGES I'VE SEEN.

THIS IS A BROWN WASP MANTIDFLY AND IT'S -- IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S LIKE HALF MANTIS AND HALF WASP OR SOMETHING, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ORDER.

IT'S IN ITS OWN GROUP.

THEY'RE CLOSELY RELATED TO LACEWINGS, MANTIDFLIES.

SO, IT IS PREDATORY LIKE A MANTIS.

IT HAS THOSE RAPTORIAL FRONT LEGS THAT IT USES FOR CATCHING PREY.

THEY WILL HANG OUT ON FLOWERS AND KIND OF CATCH JUST WHATEVER IS COMING THERE AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER REALLY STRIKING THING ABOUT THIS IS THAT IT'S A MIMIC OF POLISTES PAPER WASP BY THAT COLORATION, SO THIS IS JUST A SUPER COOL INSECT ALL AROUND.

I REALLY LOVE THAT.

I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT SPECIES BEFORE SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

BILL, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO'S IN LINCOLN AND THEY GET THESE ALONG THE EDGES OF THE PAVEMENT WITH THE LITTLE SEED PODS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

WHAT IS THIS AND HOW DO THEY CONTROL IT?

>> YEAH, THIS IS OUR FRIEND NUTSEDGE, THERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE YELLOW NUTSEDGE.

GENERALLY IN THE LAWNS, WE'RE NOT SEEING IT POP UP JUST YET BUT ALONG THOSE WARMER AREAS LIKE THE ROADSIDES WHERE MAYBE IT'S A LITTLE BIT HOTTER AND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LESS DENSE OF A GRASS CANOPY, THEY POP UP AND WHEN THE HEAT STARTS TO COME, WE'LL START TO SEE THEM GROW.

IT'S INTERESTING.

WE HAD A RESEARCH PLOT WHERE WE KILLED SOME GRASS LAST YEAR AND IT'S ALL YELLOW NUTSEDGE AFTER THE MATTER OF JUST A COUPLE WEEKS.

THERE'S SO MUCH PRESSURE THERE AND IF THERE'S GRASS THERE, IT REALLY KEEPS IT AT BAY.

WE'LL HAVE SOME.

YOU KEEP THE GRASS AWAY AND IT'S A LAWN OF NUTSEDGE IN A MATTER OF A MONTH AND SO THAT'S WHERE IF YOU DO HAVE THIS, THE EARLIER APPLICATIONS OF A HERBICIDE THAT SPECIFICALLY WILL CONTROL NUTSEDGE AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OUT THERE THAT WILL DO IT SO JUST READ THE LABEL.

THEY'LL PROBABLY SAY RIGHT ON THE FRONT BECAUSE THEY'RE HIGHLIGHTING IT ON THAT HERBICIDE.

DO THAT NOW AND THAT CAN HELP.

MANUAL PULLING CAN HELP BUT AGAIN, IT DOES HAVE TUBERS AND RHIZOMES AND SO YOU ARE GOING TO KIND OF STIMULATE SOME MORE GROWTH SO YOU'RE REALLY GOING TO HAVE TO GET AFTER IT WITH THE NUTSEDGE, BUT YEP, WE'RE SEEING A BUNCH OF THAT REALLY STARTING TO TAKE OFF, NOW.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS THIS PARTICULAR TURF.

WE HAVE THIS PICTURE OF IT.

IT'S BEEN SPREADING A SMALL AMOUNT EVERY YEAR.

HE'S THINKING ABOUT SPRAYING IT WITH GLYPHOSATE AND THEN LAYING SOD AND HE WONDERS IF SPRAY AND REPLACE IS THE WAY TO GO.

>> YEAH, THAT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE FROM THAT IMAGE, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY COULD BE BENTGRASS OR ROUGH BLUEGRASS, BOTH STOLONIFEROUS GRASSES THAT GROW ALONG THE TOP OF THE SOIL.

THEY LIKE WET AREAS AND SO UNFORTUNATELY, FROM A LAWN SCENARIO, ALL WE REALLY ARE GOING TO HAVE -- WELL, ACTUALLY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NONSELECTIVE CONTROLS LIKE YOUR GLYPHOSATE BUT YOU COULD GET SOME CONTROL TOO WITH THE BENTGRASS WITH TENACITY AND MESOTRIONE.

SO, YOU COULD TRY THAT.

IF YOU TAKE THAT APPROACH AND YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST CUT IT OUT WHICH YOU COULD JUST DO, TOO IS CUT IT OUT AND RE-SOD IT.

IF YOU GO CHEMICAL CONTROL, YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE THREE APPLICATIONS AND IT'S BETTER TO DO THAT IN AUGUST WHEN THOSE GRASSES ARE A LITTLE BIT WEAKER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, BILL.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO PUT UP A BAT HOUSE ON THE GARAGE TWO YEARS AGO.

SPRAYED IT WITH A BAT ATTRACTANT.

NOTHING HAPPENED.

WHAT TO DO?

>> WELL, IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU BUILD A BAT -- IT'S NOT LIKE BIRDS THAT GO AND COME EVERY YEAR AND LOOK FOR A NEW HOUSE.

MOST OF OUR BATS STAY HERE YEAR ROUND AND SO UNLESS THEY WANT A NEW HOUSE, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE AND THEY'LL JUST BUILD THEIR COLONY BIGGER.

ONE THING, LOOKING AT THE HOUSE, I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THE RIGHT CONFIGURATION FOR NEBRASKA.

IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THE PURCHASED ONES AND NOT ONE OF THE MADE ONES BY OUR NEB GUIDE THAT TELLS YOU HOW TO MAKE IT FOR NEBRASKA.

IT SHOULD BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

IT'S GOOD IT'S ON A BUILDING BUT IT SHOULD BE ON THE SOUTH SIDE AND WHAT I FOUND WORKS BETTER THAN ANY KIND OF SPRAY OR ATTRACTANT IS GETTING BAT GUANO FROM LARGE BROWN BATS, THE ONES THAT WE HAVE IN NEBRASKA AND SMEAR THAT GUANO ON THIS HOUSE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WOULD ATTRACT MORE OF THEM.

>> EXCELLENT, OKAY.

>> AND JUST GIVE IT MORE TIME.

IT MAY TAKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

>> WELL, SHE SAID THIS IS ON THE NORTH SIDE, SO PUT IT ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> YEAH, I'D MOVE IT TO THE SOUTH SIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS ALSO A COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL BLUFFS.

THE BLUEBIRD HOUSE WAS VISITED BY THE SNAKE WHO WENT TOTALLY INTO THE HOUSE.

WHAT IS IT AND IS THERE A WAY TO KEEP IT FROM GOING IN THERE, AGAIN?

IT'S A BLUEBIRD HOUSE.

>> WELL, YEAH, SO IT'S A BULL SNAKE AND IT'S DOING ITS JOB FEEDING ON THOSE BLUEBIRDS.

NO, THERE ISN'T A WAY YOU CAN STOP THE SNAKE FROM GOING IN THERE UNLESS YOU PUT SOMETHING OVER THE HOLE, BUT THEN THE BLUEBIRDS CAN'T GO IN AND OUT.

IT WON'T GO BACK IN THE HOLE IF THERE'S NO BABY BIRDS IN THERE.

IF IT ATE ALL OF THEM... >> JUST FULL OF REALLY GOOD COMMENTS, TONIGHT!

>> NO, I MEAN, LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE, OKAY?

THE BIRDS ARE THE NATURAL PREY OF THE SNAKE AND THEY NEED TO DO THAT SO LET THEM DO IT, PERIOD.

>> ALL RIGHT, OKAY.

WELL, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET MANY THINGS STARTED IN OUR GARDEN AND OUR CONTAINERS ARE ONE OF THEM, SO HERE'S TERRI JAMES TO SHOW US HOW THEY ARE COMING ALONG OUT AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE GOING TO FINISH PLANTING OUR CONTAINERS.

A FEW TIPS FOR GREAT CONTAINERS IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU START WITH REALLY GOOD SOIL.

GOOD IDEA TO CHANGE THE SOIL OUT EVERY YEAR, AT LEAST REFRESH IT IF YOU HAVE BIG HUGE CONTAINERS.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU PUT A SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER IN THERE AND THEN THE WORLD IS YOUR OYSTER WHEN IT COMES TO HOW IT LOOKS.

YOU CAN PUT SOME PERENNIALS IN THERE FOR SOME FUNKY COLORS, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOME OF THE CORAL BELLS AND STUFF THAT HAS SOME OF THOSE FANTASTIC LEAF COLORS, BUT REALLY TRY TO THINK A AUT COLORS, THINK ABOUT TEXTURE, THINK ABOUT HEIGHT.

ONE OF THE OTHER TIPS IS WHEN IT STARTS TO GET HOT IN JULY, START GIVING IT A LITTLE BIT OF LIQUID FERTILIZER TO KIND OF HELP GET THOSE PLANTS THROUGH THE SUMMER.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN TO MAKE OUR CONTAINERS LOOK GREAT SO TRY IT OUT IN YOUR GARDEN AND STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK IT OUT.

♪ >> YOU KNOW, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A LOT OF SPACE TO PLANT A GARDEN, CONTAINERS DO MAKE A GREAT ALTERNATIVE.

THEY DO ADD SOME BEAUTY AND SOME PRODUCE AROUND YOUR HOME.

WE DO NEED TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.

DON'T GO AWAY.

WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK AFTER THE BREAK.

THERE'S MUCH MORE OF "BACKYARD FARMER" RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER"!

COMING UP LATER WE'LL SEE A LANDSCAPE DESIGN PLAN COME TOGETHER AT AN OMAHA HOME.

REMEMBER, WE CAN'T TAKE YOUR PHONE CALLS TONIGHT.

YOU CAN STILL SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND E-MAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

RIGHT NOW, IT'S TIME FOR THAT LIGHTNING ROUND!

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, ARE YOU READY?

>> AS READY AS I'M GOING TO BE.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A BLAIR VIEWER WHO SAID THE TURKEYS WALK THROUGH THEIR YARD.

THEY THINK THEY'RE EATING THE BIRDSEED AND DRINKING OUT OF THE FEEDER.

THEY LET THEM BE BUT THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT BEING ATTACKED LIKE A ROOSTER WILL ATTACK, LIKE A CHICKEN ROOSTER.

>> IT'S POSSIBLE, BUT UNLIKELY.

I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT TOO MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A HASTINGS VIEWER WHO HAS SPREAD COFFEE GROUNDS ALL AROUND TO KEEP TOADS AWAY.

DOES THAT WORK?

>> YES!

CAFFEINE KILLS AMPHIBIANS LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW, BUT WHY?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

ALL THEY'RE DOING IS EATING INSECTS.

THEY CARRY NO GERMS OR VIRUSES.

WHY DON'T YOU WANT THE TOADS?

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THAT'S MY QUESTION.

>> THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWERS WHO WONDERS DO FOXES COME BACK EVERY YEAR TO THE SAME LOCATION AND DO THEY STAY TOGETHER AS A FAMILY?

>> THEY DON'T STAY TOGETHER AS A FAMILY.

THE YOUNG WILL GO OUT ON THEIR OWN, BUT THEY'LL BE IN A CLOSE PROXIMITY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS AN ALMA VIEWER WHO WONDERS HOW TO GET RID OF PACKRATS.

AND WE'RE NOT TALKING PEOPLE.

>> IT'S DIFFICULT.

YOU PRETTY MUCH HAVE TO TRAP THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER VOLE POPULATIONS CRASH.

>> THEY DO, BUT EVERY POPULATION IS DIFFERENT SO IT COULD HAVE ONE NEIGHBOR CRASH AND THE OTHER ONE BE GAINING AND THEN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO YEARS, ONE CRASHES AND THE OTHER ONENEAINS SO IT'S NOT -- >> LIKE LEMMINGS OFF THE CLIFF.

>> THAT DOESN'T -- THAT'S A MYTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THEY'RE A CYCLIC MICROTINE RODENT AND THEY'LL GO UP TO 250 PER ACRE DOWN THE 25 PER ACRE AND THEN... >> AND THEN GO AGAIN.

>> THAT'S THE WAY THEY ARE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DENNIS.

ALL RIGHT, ARE YOU READY, BILL?

>> YES!

>> THIS IS A GOTHENBURG VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER GLYPHOSATE LOSES ITS EFFECTIVENESS WHEN IT'S OLD.

>> POSSIBLY, DEPENDING ON HOW OLD IT IS AND THE PH OF THE WATER ALSO CAN INFLUENCE HERBICIDES IN GENERAL SO READ THOSE LABELS.

THERE'LL BE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A COLUMBUS VIEWER WHO BOUGHT A LOT OF SEED THIS YEAR AND APPARENTLY HAS A 50-POUND BAG LEFT OVER AND WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO STORE IT FOR FALL.

>> YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.

SEEDS ARE ALIVE SO KEEP IT COOL.

IF YOU CAN PUT IT INTO A BASEMENT AREA OR ANYWHERE THAT'S COOL AND DRY, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE BEST THING.

IF YOU HAVE A COOLER, IF THERE'S SOME EXTRA SPACE IN THE FRIDGE, YOU COULD PUT IT IN THERE, TOO AND THAT WOULD REALLY KEEP ITS LONGEVITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A DAVID CITY VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER THE SEEDS OF THOSE ANNUAL BLUEGRASSES REMAIN VIABLE AFTER -- IF YOU PULL THEM UP.

>> IT DEPENDS.

SOME ARE GOING TO BE VIABLE.

SOME WON'T.

SOME ARE -- NEED TO GO THROUGH CERTAIN PROCESSES.

THEY MIGHT GERMINATE YEARS AFTER THEY FALL INTO THE SOIL, SO THERE'S SO MANY SEEDS THAT SOME OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE VIABLE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB.

>> THAT WAS A FAST MINUTE!

>> IT WAS A FAST MINUTE.

>> OF 30 SECONDS.

>> IT WAS A MINUTE AND A HALF.

YOU JUST WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION.

>> OH, MY GOSH.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE.

THIS IS A MINATARE VIEWER WHO IS ASKING ABOUT WHAT WILL KILL THE INSECTS ON HACKBERRY LEAVES AND WE DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THE LITTLE GALL.

>> YEAH, IF IT'S THE GALL, PROBABLY NOTHING.

I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT ALONE.

THERE'S NO NEED TO CONTROL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY'VE HAD ANT MOUNDS IN THEIR IRIS AND PEONY BEDS RUINING THE PLANTS FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS.

THEY TRIED PRODUCTS ON THEM AND NOTHING HAPPENS.

WHAT CAN THEY DO?

>> PASS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER WHO WONDERS IF THE DRIED EGG SACKS OF THE PRAYING MANTISES ARE THEY -- IF THEY'RE DRIED UP, ARE THE MANTISES ALL GONE?

>> THEY'RE DRY TO BEGIN WITH.

I MEAN, IF THEY'RE OPENED, THEN THEY'VE LEFT.

THEY'VE HATCHED OUT OF THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A COZAD VIEWER WHO WONDERS ABOUT CONTROLLING THE BIG WOOD ROACHES IN A WOOD PILE.

HE'S USING 5% CARBARYL.

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CONTROL FOR WOOD ROACHES.

THERE'S GENERALLY NO NEED TO CONTROL THEM.

THEY DON'T COME INSIDE, SO... >> ALL RIGHT, AND THAT WAS THE BIG CONCERN ISISOMING INSIDE.

>> YEAH, THEY WON'T SURVIVE OR REPRODUCE INSIDE.

>> EXCELLENT.

NICE JOB, ALL!

PLANTS OF THE WEEK UNLESS DENNIS WANTS TO TALK ABOUT SINCE HE'S SITTING IN THE HORT CHAIR!

>> THAT WOULD BE A NO!

>> OKAY, SO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS THESE ARE BOTH OUT OF THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

THE BIG TALL ONE HERE IS A SPURIA IRIS AND THIS IS ONE ACTUALLY THAT WAS COLLECTED FROM FONTENELLE FOREST.

GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL CLUMP.

KIND OF ON THE EDGES OF OUR RAIN CHAINS SO IRIS, OF COURSE, DON'T BLOOM FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME BUT IT'S PRETTY SPECTACULAR.

LIKES A WELL DRAINED SOIL.

THE SECOND ONE IS ONE OF THE MANY SEDUMS AND THIS HAPPENS TO BE KAMCHATKA SEDUM.

IT'S ALSO CALLED RUSSIAN SEDUM.

THERE'S A HANDFUL OF CULTIVARS OF IT.

FLESHY FOLIAGE.

SPREADS TO FORM A MOUND.

JUST BEGINNING TO FLOWER AND WHEN THIS ONE DOES FLOWER, IT'S ABSOLUTELY COVERED WITH GOLD AND LIKES IT DRY, WILL TAKE PART SHADE, SO A PRETTY DECENT COMBINATION WITH THE YELLOW IN THE IRIS AND THE YELLOW IN THE SEDUM.

ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, PICTURUR QUESTIONS, SO KYLE, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS A HONEYSUCKLE PROBLEM.

THIS IS A MISSOURI VALLEY, IOWA VIEWER.

THIS IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE VINING HONEYSUCKLES, TOO.

>> OKAY.

>> SHE'S WONDERING WHAT IS ON HER HONEYSUCKLE.

WE HAVE, I THINK, A COUPLE PICTURES OF THIS ONE.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY APHIDS.

BEYOND THAT, IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF APHID SPECIES WHICH WILL USE HONEYSUCKLE AS A HOST.

THE SPECIES OF HONEYSUCKLE WOULD HELP NARROW IT DOWN, BUT MOST OF THEM AREN'T REALLY A PROBLEM.

THERE ARE A FEW SPECIES, NONNATIVE THAT CAN BE PROBLEMATIC.

ONE'S COMMONLY CALLED HONEYSUCKLE APHID.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE HERE BECAUSE THEY GET MORE OF A WAXY COATING.

ALSO, THESE HAVE A LONGER BLACK CORNICLE WHICH IS JUST KIND OF IF YOU WERE ABLE TO ZOOM IN, IT'S THE TAILPIPES ON THE END OF THE BODY.

IT'S DARKER ON THESE WHICH THOSE DON'T HAVE SO I DON' THINK THAT'S THE CASE HERE, BUT THEY USE HONEYSUCKLE YEAR ROUND SO IT'S BOTH A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY HOST AND THEY WILL CAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL FEED ON THOSE DEVELOPING SHOOTS AND CAN CAUSE SOME PROBLEMS AND SO IF IT WAS THAT, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO TREAT WITH A SYSTEMIC.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE HERE, THOUGH.

IT'S PROBABLY A RELATIVE OF THAT, LIKE A FENNEL APHID MAYBE OR SOMETHING ELSE AND IN THAT CASE, I WOULD JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU NEED TO TREAT, INSECTICIDAL SOAPS ARE REALLY GENERALLY EFFECTIVE FOR APHIDS SO THAT'S WHAT I'D TRY.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, THIS IS SCOTTSBLUFF COMING TO US AND -- WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS IS HARLAN COUNTY, I GUESS, SO BEEBALM HAS BEEN REDUCED TO STEMS FROM THESE LITTLE GUYS.

GREAT PICTURES.

WHAT ARE THESE?

>> YEAH, THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING.

THIS IS A TORTOISE BEETLE.

BEEBALM TORTOISE BEETLE AND YOU CAN TELL THAT BECAUSE OF THE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A CHARACTERISTIC LITTLE FORK AT THE END OF THEIR BODY AND THEY'LL ACTUALLY COLLECT THEIR SKIN AS THEY SHED IT AND FECES AND THEN THEY'LL LIKE USE IT AS A SHIELD OVER THEIR BODY TO DETER PREDATORS.

IT'S PRETTY COOL.

THEY ARE NOT USUALLY A PROBLEM.

THEY DON'T USUALLY CAUSE A BUNCH OF INJURY TO PLANTS, TORTOISE BEETLES IN GENERAL, SO THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING THAT'S LABELED SPECIFICALLY FOR THEM.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO CONTROL THEM, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE DONE A NUMBER HERE, BUT SOMETHING LABELED FOR LEAF-EATING BEETLES SHOULD BE EFFECTIVE.

SPINOSAD IS PROBABLY A GOOD OPTION AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S RELATIVELY GOOD, COMPATIBLE WITH NATURAL ENEMIES SO THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPTION.

>> EXCELLENT, AND YOUR FINAL PICTURE HERE IS JUST A SIMPLE "WHAT KIND OF SPIDER DO WE HAVE HERE?"

>> UNFORTUNATELY, I'M NOT SURE.

I JUST CAN'T SEE ENOUGH DETAIL ON THIS SPIDER.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S EITHER OF OUR SPIDERS THAT ARE VENOMOUS OR A CONCERN MEDICALLY, SO... >> NOT TO WORRY.

>> NOT BROWN RECLUSE OR BLACK WIDOW, I'M PRETTY SURE BUT I'M NOT CERTAIN BEYOND THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, BILL, THIS IS A LA VISTA VIEWER.

THEY HAVE A -- THEY THINK THE OAK TREE IS ACTUALLY DOING THIS TO THE TURF AND THEY WONDER WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE LAWN UNDER THAT OAK.

>> YEAH, IT COULD BE.

I DON'T THINK THAT IT PROBABLY IS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

YOU'RE A TREE PERSON.

YOU WOULD SAY NO.

I'M THINKING I'M LOOKING AT THAT, YOU KNOW, HOW ARE THEY MOWING?

I SEE THAT THERE'S KIND OF STRIPED PATTERNS IN THAT MOWER.

ARE WE GETTING CERTAIN LEVELS OF WEAR AROUND IT?

COULD IT BE SOME KIND OF A LOW AREA?

COULD IT BE A DISEASE LIKE COULD IT BE LIKE A WHITE DOWNY -- PARDON ME, A POWDERY MILDEW IS MAKING THAT COLOR?

SO, KIND OF HARD TO SEE FROM THIS ANGLE, BUT I WOULDN'T THINK THAT SMALL TREE WOULD BE CAUSING THE DAMAGE.

I MEAN, WE'LL SEE THAT WITH LIKE SPRUCE TREES DRYING OUT AND THEN THE GRASS LOOKS DRY.

THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE WHAT I WOULD THINK.

>> SO, MAYBE IF HE SENDS US SOME CLOSE-UPS.

>> YEAH, JUST FROM THAT IMAGE IT'S REALLY HARD TO SAY WHAT THAT IS BUT I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S NOT FROM THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS A OMAHA VIEWER.

WHAT ARE THE CIRCLES IN THE TURF?

>> YEP, THAT IS FAIRY RING, SO THAT IS A PATHOGEN -- NOT PATHOGEN.

IT IS A FUNGI BASIDIOMYCETES THAT IS FEEDING ON THAT ORGANIC MATTER AND AS IT'S EATING THE SUGAR, IT'S RELEASING THE NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND THEN THE LAWN IN BENEFITTING FROM IT AND SO THAT LAWN IS VERY CHLOROTIC, LOW ON N, SO IT YOU WANTED TO ADD A LITTLE BIT OF FERTILIZER TO IT, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T EVEN SEE THAT ANYMORE, BUT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP IT BECAUSE THE FOOD IS THERE AND THE FUNGI ARE GOING TO EAT IT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS ALSO OMAHA.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS HE HAD POWDERY MILDEW.

YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF PICTURES HERE, BILL.

HE WAS OUT OF TOWN, CAME BACK, AND SOME OF THE TURF HAD TURNED THIS STRAW-LIKE COLOR.

WHAT DO YOU SEE HERE?

>> YEP, SO WITH THE WEATHER THAT WE HAD IN LATE MAY WITH THE HUMIDITY AND THE HEAT AND THE WARM NIGHTS, WE SAW A LOT OF LEAF SPOTS MELTING OUT AND DOLLAR SPOT.

IT WAS -- YOU COULD GROW DISEASE ON CONCRETE, I THINK.

IT WAS PRETTY BAD, SO I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S WHAT THAT WAS AND THE CHANGES IN THE WEATHER SHOULD HELP THAT OUT.

I WOULDN'T REALLY RECOMMEND TREATING.

THEY'RE FOLIAR DISEASES.

THE GRASS WILL SIMPLY REGROW FROM THE CROWN AND YOU'LL BE WING IT RIGHT OFF.

SO YEP, PROBABLY JUST ONE OF OUR LEAF SPOTS IN THIS WEATHTH.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, BILL.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WONDERS IF WE CAN IDENTIFY THIS BIRD'S NEST.

THE INSIDE DIAMETER IS ONLY A COUPLE OF INCHES AND TOTAL IS THREE INCHES AND SHE WONDERS IF IT'S A HUMMINGBIRD'S NEST.

>> USUALLY HUMMINGBIRDS' NESTS ARE A MORE CONICAL SHAPE, BUT IT COULD BE OR COULD BE A SMALL, LIKE A FINCH, SO I WOULD GO MORE FOR THE FINCH BUT AGAIN, IT'S SOMETHING FOR AN ORNITHOLOGIST.

>> IT'S KIND OF BIG FOR A HUMMINGBIRD, TOO, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, HUMMINGBIRDS ARE REALLY SMALL.

I WOULD SAY MORE OF A FINCH.

>> ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE IS A CENTRAL LINCOLN VIEWER.

>> AH!

>> SAID THIS LITTLE BABY OWL FELL OUT OF THE TREE AND THEY PUT IT BACK.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND IS IT AND WILL IT BE OKAY?

>> IT'S A SCREECH OWL AS FAR AS I CAN SEE AND IT SHOULD BE FINE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> I MEAN, I DON'T -- IT DEPENDS ON -- USUALLY IF YOU PUT IT BACK IN THE TREE THEY'RE OKAY, ESPECIALLY IF THE PARENTS ARE AROUND.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THEN YOU HAVE A COUPLE PICTURES HERE.

THIS IS A EUSTIS, NEBRASKA VIEWER.

SHE SAYS ONE DAY THEY NOTICED THERE WERE TONS OF PIECES OF LEAVES ON THE GROUND AROUND THIS TREE.

THE TREE LOOKS TERRIBLE.

ALL THE OTHER TREES IN THE YARD ARE FINE, AND THEN THEY NOTICED A BLACK BIRD ON THE OAK TREE PECKING AT THE LEAVES.

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY BIRDS THAT DO THIS ON PURPOSE?

>> IF THERE'S INSECTS THERE, YES.

I DON'T KNOW OF A BIRD THAT WOULD FEED ON TREE.

IT WOULD FEED ON THE FLOWERS OF THE TREE OR THE PHOSPHORESCENCE OF THE TREE.

BUT, THEY'RE PROBABLY SOME KIND OF INSECTS.

IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM APHIDS, YOU KNOW, COULD BE A BIRD THAT LIKES APHIDS.

WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THEY'RE PECKING FOR THE FOOD.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW OF A BIRD THAT WOULD GO AFTER HONEYDEW.

IT HAS TO BE THE ACTUAL INSECTS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> DO YOU SEE ANYTHING, KYLE?

>> I DIDN'T SEE ANY INSECTS THERE AND I'M NOT AWARE OF WHAT MIGHT DO THAT, GOING AFTER IT, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY OUR LEAF MINERS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY SORT OF BIRDS THAT WOULD GO AFTER.

>> OH, YEAH.

THEY'D GO AFTER LEAF MINERS.

>> OKAY.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO REMEMBER FLICKERS AND WOODPECKERS GO AFTER LARVAE THAT ARE IN WOOD.

>> SURE.

>> THEY CAN JUST HEAR THEM, SO I SAY THERE'S PROBABLY AN INSECT PROBLEM AND THE BIRD IS JUST SECONDARY.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THANKS, DENNIS.

WELL, MANY OF YOU WATCH OUR WINTER PROGRAM LIFESTYLE GARDENING.

A FEW MONTHS AGO WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HEAR FROM THE FOLKS AT KINGHORN GARDENS ABOUT HOW TO START A PLAN TO REDESIGN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

WE WANTED TO FOLLOW THAT UP WITH THAT TO SHOW YOU HOW THINGS ACTUALLY GET STARTED.

HERE'S COREY BRABEC AND ANNE HOUSER FROM KINGHORN GARDENS TO TELL US MORE.

♪ >> ON THIS PARTICULAR SITE, WE -- THE CLIENT CAME TO US BECAUSE BRIAN WORKED WITH THEM A LONG TIME AGO AND BECAUSE WE DID A PROJECT DOWN THE STREET, SO THEY TRUSTED US, KNOWING THAT THEIR NEIGHBORS TRUSTED US TO COME FORTH AND MEET WITH THEM AND REVIEW THEIR GARDEN.

THEY HAD WORKED REALLY HARD ON THIS HOUSE.

THEY RENOVATED THIS HOUSE FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THEN THEY STARTED ON THE LANDSCAPE AND THEY DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.

THEY PICKED GOOD PLANT MATERIAL.

THEY PICKED GOOD BONES.

THEY HAVE GREAT ROOMS.

THE GREAT E IS ALREADY ESTABLISHED HERE.

THEY JUST KIND OF PICKED SOME OF THE ROGUE PLANTS THAT MAYBE GOT A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL AND A LITTLE BEYOND WHAT THEIR MAINTENANCE CAPABILITIES WERE.

I MEAN, THEY'RE GREAT GARDENERS.

THEY HAVE A GREAT VEGETABLE AREA, AS WELL.

BUT, WE JUST NEEDED TO COME IN AND KIND OF HELP THEM FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, MORE APPROPRIATE PLANTS FOR THE SPACE THAT ARE GOING TO BE EASIER FOR THEM TO MAINTAIN IN THEIR RETIREMENT LIFESTYLE.

>> SO THE TREE CANOPY REALLY MATURED HERE AND AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND US, WE'RE LOOKING AT ASPENS AND WE KNOW THAT ASPENS CAN GROW VERY QUICKLY SO THE PICTURE CHANGED UNDER HERE VERY QUICKLY, AND SO WHEN ANNE CAME IN, I KNOW SHE'S TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE PLANTS THEY HAD CHOSEN, SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT THEY LIKE, SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT MAYBE NEED TO GO AWAY, SOME WE CAN CULTURE FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED HERE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND YOU MENTIONED -- ANNE MENTIONED THAT THEY PICKED GREAT PLANT MATERIAL, BUT RIGHT NOW IT'S JUST NOT WORKING WHERE IT'S PLANTED BECAUSE OF SHADE ISSUES, BECAUSE OF MOISTURE ISSUES.

A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS CAN AFFECT THOSE PLANTS.

>> SO IN THIS GARDEN, WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TRYING TO CONTROL THE STUFF THAT WAS HERE SO WE DID A CHEMICAL CONTROL ON IT TO TRY TO CREATE A CLEAN SLATE FOR THE NEW PLANTINGS TO COME IN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO CREATE A NEW GARDEN AND HAVE SOMEBODY BE FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT STUFF IS COMING BACK UP THAT USED TO BE HERE, THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE AND AGGRAVATION IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS SPRAYING A CHEMICAL CONTROL ON THE EXISTING PLANT MATERIAL SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET RID OF THAT AND THEN WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO TILL IT INTO THE GROUND FOR THE MOST PART AND CRCRTE A BIOMASS FOR THE NEW PLANT MATERIAL AND THEN THAT WAY WHAT'S HERE CAN ACTUALLY BENEFIT THE NEXT LANDSCAPE.

>> SO, IN THE RENOVATION OF THIS GARDEN, WE'VE COME IN FIRST WITH A DESIGN PLAN AND THE FIRST THING WE NEEDED TO DO WAS TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANTED TO KEEP AND WHAT NEEDED TO GO, SO THIS IS IN THE VERY BEGINNING PHASES SO YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SPRAYED SO THAT WE CAN REMOVE THEM AND SOME THINGS WE'RE GOING TO PHYSICALLY REMOVE.

>> SOME OF -- LIKE WE MENTIONED, SOME OF THE PLANT MATERIAL JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT CRAZY, LIKE THEY WANT TO DRAW WILDLILI AND NATURE INTO THIS GARDEN AND THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

THEY WANT TO FEED THE BIRDS.

THEY WANT TO INVITE THE POLLINATORS, SO INITIALLY, JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THEY PICKED WERE JUST A LITTLE ROUGH AND TUMBLE.

>> SOME OF THE PLANTS IN THE GARDEN WERE VERY AGGRESSIVE AND SOME OF THEM ARE NATIVES AND WHEN WE BRING THEM INTO AN URBAN SETTING, THEY CAN BECOME AGGRESSIVE AND SO WE'RE GOING TO WORK WITH THE CLIENT AND SEE HOW WE CAN KEEP SOME OF THEIR FAVORITES AND MAYBE ADDDDN SOME OF OUR FAVORITES AND KIND OF MARRY THOSE TWO TOGETHER AND THEN AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD, WHETHER IT BE THIS FALL OR INTO NEXT SEASON, WE'LL CULTURE THEM FROM A MAINTENANCE STANDPOINT AND SHOW THEM REALLY HOW TO KEEP ALL THOSE THINGS FLOWING TOGETHER WITHOUT THINGS GETTING OUT OF HAND ONCE AGAIN.

>> ALL RIGHT, OUR FINAL ROUND OF PICTURES.

KYLE, YOUR VERY FIRST ONE, THEIR PINE HAS PATCHES OF THESE HOLES.

THE SPOT'S ABOUT EIGHT FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.

THERE ARE MORE HIGHER UP THE TREE AND MANY SINGLES.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> YEAH, THIS IS NOT AN INSECT.

THIS IS A BIRD AGAIN SO IT LOOKS LIKE A WOODPECKER, SAPSUCKER THAT'S CAUSING THIS HERE.

>> MM-HMM.

GOING AFTER THOSE CREEPY CRAWLIES INSIDE?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IN THIS CASE THEY WOULD ACTUALLY BE GOING AFTER INSECTS.

I THINK THEY MAY GET SOME BUT I THINK THEY'RE USUALLY MORE IRREGULAR WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET INSECTS.

>> RIGHT.

>> MM-HMM, MM-HMM.

PRETTY COOL AND NO, IT WON'T KILL THE TREE, RIGHT?

NO, IT WON'T KILL THE TREE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE, YOUR SECOND PICTURE HERE IS -- I THINK WE HAVE A COUPLE -- AND THIS IS A SILVER MAPLE.

THIS IS IN OMAHA.

IT'S BEEN GROWING IN A POT AND THEN HE HAS CUT IT BACK FOR PRUNING AND THIS YEAR'S HE SEEING THESE RED BUMPS ON THE LEAVES.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS EGGS, BUT IT'S NOT AND OF COURSE THIS IS PROBABLY ROUND ONE OF SEEING THIS THIS YEAR, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, THESE LOOK LIKE MAPLE BLADDER GALLS AND THESE ARE ACTUALLY CAUSED BY AN ERIOPHYID MITE.

THEY'RE JUST REALLY TINY, MICROSCOPIC MITES THAT THEY INDUCE THESE GALLS.

THEY'RE REALLY NOT PROBLEMATIC, CERTAINLY NOT ON ANY ESTABLISHED TREE, BUT ON SOMETHING YOUNGER, YOU KNOW, IF IT WAS REALLY OVERWHELMING THE LEAVES, IT COULD BE STRESSFUL.

NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO.

MAYBE REMOVE THEM IF THERE WAS A LOT, OTHERWISE, ONCE THEY'RE IN THERE, NOT MUCH YOU CAN DO TO TREAT THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER FOR YOUR LAST ONE WHO FOUND SOME FRASS, WEBBINGS, SOME KINDS OF CATERPILLARS OR BORERS, INSECTS IN THE TOPS OF ONE OF HIS THISTLES THAT HE ACTUALLY GROWS ON PURPOSE FOR THE GOLDFINCHES AND THE BENEFICIALS.

HE WONDERS WHAT THESE AND HE DOESN'T MIND SHARING BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE HIS THISTLES ENTIRELY.

>> MY BEST GUESS, SINCE IT'S THISTLE, YOU KNOW, WHAT I CAN SEE AND THE DESCRIPTION, MAYBE A THISTLE CATERPILLAR.

THEY CAN BE A PROBLEM IN CROPS LIKE SOYBEANS.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE CATERPILLAR FOR PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLIES AND THEY'LL DO THAT.

THEY'LL MAKE KIND OF THIS NEST WITH WEB AND ROLL LEAVES UP AND THEN FEED INSIDE OF THAT.

IT PROTECTS THEM, SO THAT WOULD BE MY BEST GUESS.

I CAN'T ACTUALLY SEE IT BUT IT SHOULDN'T KILL THE THISTLE OR ANYTHING.

I DON'T THINK YOU'D HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> AND THE PAINTED LADIES ARE AWESOME.

>> YEP.

>>ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT, BILL, THIS IS AN ASHLAND VIEWER.

SHE HAS A FESCUE LAWN.

SHE'S BEEN NOTICING SOME DIFFERENT SHOOTS.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE RANDOMLY SPREAD.

I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE ON THIS ONE, TOO.

WHAT'S THIS AND WHAT DOES SHE DO ABOUT IT?

>> YEP, THAT IS THE SEED HEAD FORMING SO THAT IS NATURAL.

THAT PLANT IS TRYING TO MAKE SEED.

IT DOES -- GRASSES TRY TO MAKE SEED GENERALLY RIGHT UP UNTIL THE START OF SUMMER SO YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE THAT PUSHING RIGHT NOW AND SO YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THESE POP UP AND YOUR MOWER WILL GET THEM DOWN, BUT THIS IS JUST A NORMAL THING FOR THE GRASS.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT, AND YOUR NEXT TWO -- THIS IS A SHENANDOAH, IOWA VIEWER.

SHE'S WONDERING IS THIS BERMUDA GRASS.

SHE SAYS IT'S A REAL PAIN AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO ERADICATE.

IT KEEPS CREEPING INTO HER FLOWER BEDS.

>> YEAH, THIS IS NOT BERMUDA.

THEY THINK IS NIMBLEWILL.

IT'S A WARM SEASON PERENNIAL, ONE OF THE RARE ONES THAT SURVIVE IN NEBRASKA AND THE BERMUDA GRASS WOULDN'T BE GREEN YET.

IT'S JUST NOT BEEN HOT ENOUGH FOR IT, SO THAT'S WHY I THINK IT'S NIMBLEWILL.

IF IT'S IN YOUR BEDS, YOU COULD TRY TO PULL IT OUT, YOU COULD USE NONSELECTIVE.

IF IT'S IN A LAWN, YOU COULD USE THINGS LIKE A PYLEX OR A TENACITY.

THOSE WOULD BE THINGS YOU COULD USE IN A LAWN, BUT IN A BED, YOU'RE PROBABLY BEST JUST TRYING TO PULL IT AND THEN USE THE NONSELECTIVE TREATMENTS VERY CAREFULLY.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS A SINGLE PICTURE.

THE VIEWER IS WONDERING ARE THESE BABY RABBITS.

THEY WERE IN A SHALLOW HOLE COVERED WITH GRASS AND WHY WOULD A RABBIT HAVE THEM IN A PLACE LIKE THAT, ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE DOGS IN THE YARD?

>> WELL, YES, THEY ARE BABY RABBITS AND OUR RABBITS, THE COTTONTAIL, DOES NOT DIG A HOLE.

IT DOESN'T LIVE IN A HOLE, BUT IT DOES DIG WHAT WE CALL A FORM.

IT DIGS A POCKET ABOUT FOUR TO SIX INCHES DOWN.

THE FEMALE WILL TAKE THE FUR OFF OF HER VENTRAL SIDE OR BELLY, LINE THIS POCKET WITH THAT FUR, AND THEN HAVE THE BABIES AND PUT GRASS OVER IT.

NOT BE AROUND, AND THEN EVERY NIGHT, LAY OVER THE TOP OF THAT TO FEED THOSE BABIES FOR ABOUT A WEEK, SO IF THERE'S NO DOGS OR CATS AROUND AT NIGHT, THEY DON'T PERCEIVE IT AS A PROBLEM, OKAY?

>> HMM, INTERESTING.

>> AND SO, THE BABIES ARE THERE AND OF COURSE DURING THE DAY IF A CAT OR DOG FINDS THEM OR ANOTHER ANIMAL, THEY DO WHAT BABY RABBITS DO.

THEY'RE A SNACK FOR EVERY OTHER WILDLIFE.

THAT'S WHY YOU GET SO MANY EVERY YEAR.

THEY'RE BIOMASSES FOR OTHER ANIMALS.

>> ALL RIGHT AND ALL RIGHT.

ON THAT NOTE, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY LIVE NEAR ONE OF THOSE URBAN DETENTION POND AREAS IN MILLARD AND THE GEESE ARE A HUGE PROBLEM.

WHAT CAN BE DONE TO KEEP THEM OFF THE PROPERTY AND FROM EATING PLANTS DOING GOOSE POOP ALL OVER?

>> OKAY, IF THEY'RE ON YOUR PRIVATE PROPERTY, THERE ARE REPELLANTS THAT YOU COULD USE THAT KEEP THE GEESE FROM LANDING THERE, OKAY?

THE GEESE START TO LAND, THEY SMELL THIS MATERIAL.

IT'S CALLED -- THERE'S LIKE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES, GOOSE CHASE AND IT'S METYL ANTHRANILATE, I THINK IS THE NAME OF THE CHEMICAL.

HOWEVER, IF THEY'RE ON A PROPERTY THAT YOU DO NOT OWN, IT'S ON PUBLIC PROPERTY OR NRD PROPERTY, THAT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND THEN YOU CAN CALL GAME AND PARKS AND EVEN THE FEDS, U.S.

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES DO HAVE PROGRAMS FOR CANADA GEESE THAT DO HAVE SOME PROTECTION WHEN THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THOSE PRIVATE LAND AREAS.

>>ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DENNIS.

WELL, WE HAVE A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COOL THINGS OF COURSE IN THE GARDENING WORLD AND I DO BELIEVE OUR VERY FIRST ONE IS A PLANT SALE.

SHADY CHOICE HOSTA SOCIETY JUNE 6, 11:00-3:00 PM IN OMAHA FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS HOSTAS OR NEEDS MORE.

OUR SECOND ONE IS DIGGING DEEPER WITH "BACKYARD FARMER."

WATCH US ON FACEBOOK THURSDAYS AT 8:00 AND FOLLOW US, "BACKYARD FARMER" AND NEBRASKA AND WE HAVE DENNIS TALKING CRITTERS WHICH WILL BE REALLY FUN.

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

WE DO WANT TO SAY THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND PICTURES.

THANKS TO OUR PANEL FOR ANOTHER GREAT SHOW.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER," WE'LL BE SHOWING YOU HOW TO SAFELY TRIM YOUR TREES AROUND YOUR HOUSE WITH THE HELP OF SOME PROFESSIONALS.

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

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