>> "BACKYARD FARMER" IS A COPRODUCTION OF NET TELEVISION AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

TONIGHT ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'’LL SEE WHAT THIS STICKY SAP ON YOUR PINE TREE MEANS AND WE'’LL CLEAN UP OUR POND.

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

♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO BACKYARD FARMER"!

I'’M KIM TODD AND WE'’VE GOT ANOTHER GREAT SHOW PLANNED FOR YOU TONIGHT, INCLUDING ANSWERING ALL YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS.

WE STILL ARE NOT TAKING ANY CALLS AT THE MOMENT BUT YOU CAN STILL SUBMIT THOSE QUESTIONS FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

SEND US AN EMAIL TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

DO TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE AND AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR QUESTION.

A FEW PICTURES ALSO HELPS US GIVE YOU THE BEST ANSWER.

YOU CAN ALSO KEEP UP WITH "BACKYARD FARMER" DURING THE WEEK ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS LIKE YOUTUBE AND FACEBOOK.

LET'’S GET THINGS GOING WITH A FEW SAMPLES.

WE'RE GOING TO WELCOME KATE, FOR HER VERY FIRST DEBUT SHOW, SITTING IN THE BUG CHAIR AND SHE HAS SOME VERY COOL BUG CHAIR SAMPLES.

>> THANK YOU.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOTICING THESE KIND OF ODD LOOKING FORMATIONS, MAYBE THEY'RE OUTSIDE DOING SOME GARDEN CLEAN UP OR IN THEIR LAWN OR MAYBE EVEN FINDING THESE STUCK TO THE SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE.

SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY PRAYING MANTIS OOTHECA OR EGG CASES.

HERE IN NEBRASKA WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT COMMON SPECIES OF PRAYING MANTISES.

WE HAVE THE NATIVE CAROLINA MANTIS WHICH MAKES KIND OF THIS SMALLER OOTHECA OR EGG CASE AND THEN WE HAVE THE MUCH LARGER CHINESE MANTIS WHICH MAKES THIS LARGE ONE, KIND OF GLOBULAR IN SHAPE.

SO OUT OF EACH OF THESE EGG CASES THERE IS GOING TO HATCH UP TO 200 PRAYING MANTIS BABIES AND THAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING SOMETIME IN MAY, MAYBE INTO EARLY JUNE.

MOST OF THOSE WILL NOT MAKE IT TO ADULTHOOD, BUT THOSE THAT DO WE USUALLY DON'T SEE UNTIL ABOUT LATE IN THE SUMMER, EARLY INTO FALL.

AND WHEN WE DO SEE THEM, THESE ARE EXAMPLES OF THE CHINESE MANTIS HERE.

THE CHINESE MANTIS ARE THE LARGE ONES THAT WE SEE.

THEY'RE REALLY COOL AND BEAUTIFUL LOOKING AND THEY CAN GET UP TO THREE TO FOUR INCHES LONG.

AND IF YOU DO FIND THESE EGG CASES IN YOUR YARD, WE RECOMMEND JUST LETTING THEM BE.

PRAYING MANTIS WE CONSIDER BENEFICIAL BECAUSE THEY'RE PREDATORS AND THEY COULD POTENTIALLY EAT PESTS.

THAT BEING SAID, THEY ARE GENERALISTS, SO THEY'RE JUST AS LIKELY TO EAT A POLLINATOR AS A THEY WOULD A PEST AND PROBABLY LIKELY TO EAT EACH OTHER, AS WELL.

>> AND DO NOT PLUCK ONE OF THOSE OFF BY ACCIDENT AND LEAVE IT IN YOUR CAR BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE BABY MANTISES ALL OVER YOUR CAR.

>> AT LEAST NO INSECTS IN THERE, THOUGH, RIGHT?

>> WELL, THIS IS TRUE.

>> OTHER INSECTS, YES.

>> ALL RIGHT, KYLE.

SEVERAL ROTS AND SPOTS.

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF TREES ARE STARTING TO LEAF OUT, BUT IF YOUR YARD IS LOOKING AT ALL LIKE MINE THERE ARE CERTAIN TREES WHERE SOME OF THE BRANCHES JUST AREN'T DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING YET.

AND WE ALWAYS SAY YOU WANT TO FOLLOW THAT BRANCH DOWN AND LOOK FOR A CANKER.

WHAT IS A CANKER?

AND SO I KIND OF BROUGHT CANKER SHOW AND TELL TONIGHT.

WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CANKER ON THREE DIFFERENT HOSTS HERE.

AND SO THE FIRST ONE I'LL SHOW IS THIS IS HYPOXYLON CANKER.

THERE WE GO, ON A BURR OAK.

AND SO HYPOXYLON CANKER, ONE OF OUR MOST COMMON CANKERS HERE IN NEBRASKA, EFFECTS MOST OF OUR HARDWOODS, BUT REALLY LOVES OAKS.

AND THIS BLACK STROMATA IS ONE OF THE DISTINGUISHING FACTORS OF IT.

AND EVENTUALLY -- AS THIS STROMATA AGES, AND SO THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FRUITING BODY OF THE FUNGUS.

AS IT AGES, IT MAY GET A SILVER APPEARANCE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

BUT THIS CANKER TENDS TO BE FAVORED BY DROUGHT CONDITIONS, OR IF THE TREE IS OVERWATERED.

SO REALLY STRESS, SOME SORT OF MOISTURE STRESS IS WHAT HYPOXYLON CANKER TENDS TO FAVOR.

THE NEXT ONE HERE IS THE NECTRIA CANKER.

THIS IS ON, I THINK, AN ELM.

BUT WE HAVE THESE KIND OF ORANGE FRUITING STRUCTURES THAT ARE ERUPTING THROUGH THE BARK SURFACE.

AND SO WE DON'T HAVE ANY LARGE DIVOTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN THE BRANCH OR IN THE TRUNK THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SEE, BUT THESE ORANGE STRUCTURES ARE ONE OF THE TELLTALE SIGNS OF NECTRIA CANKER.

AND JUST LIKE HYPOXYLON, THIS ONE IS FAVORED BY ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES.

AND NEXT ONE THAT I'LL SHOW IS THIS IS A HONEYLOCUST, AND THIS IS THYRONECTRIA CANKER SO KIND OF A COUSIN TO THE OTHER ONE, BUT IF WE ZOOM IN ON THE CROTCH HERE, WE CAN SEE THESE BLACK -- THERE WE GO.

THE BLACK SPORODOCHIA THAT ARE ERUPTING THROUGH.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE THYRONECTRIA CANKER UNLESS YOU START TO PEEL BACK SOME OF THE BARK.

SO WE DID HAVE TO TEAR BACK THE BARK ON THIS ONE TO ACTUALLY HAVE THESE SHOW UP.

SO, CANKERS CAN BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY, UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO REALLY KIND OF TEAR SOME OF THAT BARK AWAY, GO OUT WITH THE CHISEL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AS FAR AS CONTROL, FUNGICIDES WILL NOT WORK FOR ANY OF THESE OR REALLY ANY OF OUR CANKERS.

THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FRUIT AND PRODUCE SPORES ANY TIME ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE ADEQUATE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT ABLE TO TIME THOSE FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS, WHICH MEANS YOU'LL JUST BE WASTING YOUR -- WASTING YOUR TIME AND MONEY IF YOU TRY TO USE A FUNGICIDE ON THESE.

PRUNING IS REALLY GOING TO BE YOUR BEST BET.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE PRUNING, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PRUNING DOWN AT LEAST SIX TO EIGHT INCHES BELOW WHERE THAT -- BELOW WHERE YOU SEE THAT CANKER TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE GETTING AS MUCH OF THAT FUNGAL PATHOGEN AS POSSIBLE.

>> EXCELLENT.

AND KIND OF UNFORTUNATE.

>> IT IS.

THEY'RE A PART OF TREE LIFE, UNFORTUNATELY.

>> ALL RIGHT, ELIZABETH.

YOU HAVE SOME BEAUTY TO MAKE UP FOR ALL OF KYLE'S ROTS AND SPOTS.

>> I DO.

I HAVE THE GOOD, PRETTY LOOKING SAMPLE OF THE EVENING, I THINK.

WHAT I HAVE IS I HAVE A SAMPLE OFF OF ONE OF THE SHRUBS OUTSIDE OF THE STATION HERE.

AND WHAT IT IS, IT'S A REGENT SERVICEBERRY ALSO KNOWN AS A JUNEBERRY.

THEY ARE JUST COVERED IN BLOOMS RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S JUST AMAZING TO SEE THEM ALL IN BLOOM IN THIS LARGE MASS.

AND SO WITH SERVICEBERRIES, THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPECIES OUT THERE.

THIS HAPPENS TO BE THE ONE THAT GETS ABOUT THREE TO SIX-FOOT TALL.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME OTHER ONES THAT HAVE GOTTEN A LITTLE LARGER, LET'S SAY TEN-FOOT, BUT IT TOOK 35 YEARS TO GET THERE.

BUT THIS IS ONE THAT IF YOU LIKE BLUEBERRIES, YOU WILL LOVE THE BERRIES OFF OF HERE, BECAUSE THE BERRIES THAT FOLLOW THESE FLOWERS SHOW UP IN JUNE AND THEY RIVAL THAT OF BLUEBERRIES.

YOU NEED TO BE OUT THERE BEFORE THE BIRDS GET A CHANCE TO GET THEM, IF YOU WANT TO EAT THEM.

BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE SERVICEBERRIES THAT WILL GROW WELL, REALLY DROUGHT RESISTANT, FULL SUN TO PART SHADE.

NOT A LOT OF PESTS.

WE HAVE HAD SOME ISSUES WITH RABBITS AND WE'VE HAD ISSUES WITH FIRE BLIGHT IN SOME OF OUR SAMPLES IN GRAND ISLAND.

FOR THE MOST PART, A REALLY HARDY SHRUB THAT DOES WELL, MULTIPLE SEASONS OF INTEREST.

YOU'’VE GOT THE EARLY SPRING BLOOM, AND THEN WE HAVE THE BERRY, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT FALL COLOR THAT FOLLOWS IT.

IT'S ONE FOR THE LANDSCAPE THAT'S GOING TO GO ALL YEAR LONG.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

ALL RIGHT, KATE.

BAPTISM.

HERE IS YOUR FIRST PICTURE QUESTION.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO LIVES IN THE COUNTRY CLUB NEIGHBORHOOD OF LINCOLN, AND HAS RED TWIG DOGWOOD.

HE'S WONDERING IF THIS IS OKAY OR SOME KIND OF A SCALE.

HE DID SAY HE COULDN'T PICK IT OFF WITH HIS THUMBNAIL, BUT, OF COURSE, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN ANYTHING.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO TELL IN THE PICTURE.

A LOT OF THE STEMS LOOK LIKE REGULAR DOGWOOD.

YOU MIGHT BE REFERRING TO THAT ONE IN THE MID-RIGHT WHERE THERE IS KIND OF A GREY MASS ON THERE.

IT COULD POTENTIALLY BE OYSTER SCALE.

I WOULD TAKE THE ROUGH SIDE OF A SPONGE AND KIND OF REALLY SCRUB AT IT TO SEE IF YOU CAN GET SCALES OFF OF THERE.

IF YOU DO SUSPECT THAT IT'S SCALE, LATE MAY WOULD BE THE TIME TO MONITOR FOR EGG HATCH AND CRAWLERS.

IF YOU THINK IT'S SCALE, TAKE A PIECE OF DOUBLE SIDED TAPE, TAPE IT AROUND ONE OF THE STEMS AND REALLY MONITOR THROUGHOUT MAY TO SEE IF ANY CRAWLERS COME OUT AND YOU GET INSECTS IN THAT.

IF YOU DO, THAT IS THE EXACT TIME THAT YOU NEED TO APPLY A PYRETHYROID INSECTICIDE, LIKE BIFENTHRIN OR PERMETHRIN BECAUSE THE CRAWLERS ARE GOING TO BE THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO TREATMENT.

>> EXCELLENT.

AND YOUR NEXT QUESTION IS FROM FREMONT.

AND SHE SAYS THESE TINY INSECTS WERE SWARMING UNDER HER COMPOSTER WHEN SHE TURNED IT OVER.

SHE WONDERS WHAT THEY ARE.

ARE THEY GOOD GUYS OR ARE THEY BAD GUYS?

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE GOOD GUYS.

THEY'RE CALLED MINUTE BLACK SCAVENGER FLIES, AND JUST AS THEIR NAME IMPLIES THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH DECOMPOSING ORGANIC MATTER.

THEY'RE PROBABLY HELPING OUT THAT COMPOSTING PROCESS FOR YOU.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, KATE.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE.

YOU HAVE THREE DIFFERENT PICTURES FROM TWO DIFFERENT VIEWERS OF CONCOLOR FIR.

THE FIRST TWO ARE FROM BLAIR.

THEY CUT SOME BRANCHES OUT OF THE CONCOLOR FIR THIS WINTER.

THEY LINE THE WEST SIDE OF THE HOUSE, 25 FEET TALL.

WE'VE LOOKED AT THIS ONE BEFORE FOR A PARTICULAR FUNGUS AND YOU DON'T THINK IT HAD THAT ONE.

SO YOUR -- LET'S LOOK AT YOUR THIRD PICTURE AS LONG AS WE'RE LOOKING HERE, AND THAT -- THIS IS A DIFFERENT VIEWER.

THIS IS IN LINCOLN.

THIS ONE IS 21-YEAR-OLD, AND LAST YEAR IT STARTED TO THIN TOWARDS THE MIDDLE, TO THE TOP, NORTH SIDE IS NOW BROWN.

AND IT IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE, BUT CLEARLY IT'S IN FULL SUN.

>> UH-HUH.

YEAH, YOU KNOW, UNFORTUNATELY I'VE SEEN A LOT OF WHITE FIRS, CONCOLOR FIRS THAT HAVE BEEN SHOWING VERY SIMILAR SYMPTOMS TO THIS OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND THERE ARE SOME FUNGAL PATHOGENS THAT CAN CAUSE SIMILAR INJURY TO WHITE FIR.

ONE THAT WE DO WORRY ABOUT IS DELPHINELLA TIP CHUTE BLIGHT.

THAT ONE CAN -- THE NEEDLES WILL DIE BUT THE BASE OF THE NEEDLES OFTEN REMAINS GREEN.

HOWEVER, FROST INJURY AND WINTER INJURY HAS THAT VERY SIMILAR SYMPTOM, AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT REALLY ALL OF THESE ARE ABIOTIC.

IT'S ALL ENVIRONMENTAL.

WE HAVE HAD -- IT'S BEEN A ROUGH COUPLE YEARS FOR A LOT OF OUR TREES.

ESPECIALLY THIS PAST WINTER, IT GOT COLD EARLY IN THE WINTER -- EARLY IN THE FALL LAST YEAR THEN IT WARMED UP AND GOT COLD AGAIN, THEN IT WARMED UP, THEN IT GOT SUPER, SUPER COLD AND THEN THREE DAYS LATER IT WAS 70 DEGREES IN LINCOLN.

NOT IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR A LOT OF TREES.

AND SO I THINK WHAT A LOT OF THE INJURY THAT WE'RE SEEING IS, YOU KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING MAYBE THERE IS SOME SORT OF INJURY OR CANKER THAT HAD -- THAT HAD FORMED DOWN TOWARDS THE BASE TOWARDS THE BASE OF THOSE BRANCHES, AND THEN THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING, WERE JUST KIND OF THE DEATH KNELL FOR A LOT OF THESE BRANCHES.

THE OTHER ONES THAT HAD SOME OF THAT BLUE COLORATION, ALMOST THAT BLUE FUNGAL -- IT LOOKED LIKE A BLUE FUNGAL GROWTH OUT OF IT, THAT IS -- THERE WE GO.

THAT IS MOST LIKELY JUST ONE OF OUR SAP ROTS.

AND SO IT IS A FUNGAL PATHOGEN THAT CAN CAUSE THAT BLUE COLORATION, BUT IT'S NOT PATHOGENIC.

AND SO IT IS GROWING SAPROPHYTICALLY, FEEDING ON THE SAP AND CAUSING THAT BLUE COLORATION.

SO JUST BECAUSE YOU SEE THAT BLUE DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THE TREE IS DESTINED TO DIE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, KYLE.

ELIZABETH, BOXWOODS HAD A TIME.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH YOUR THREE BOXWOODS SORT OF IN ORDER AND YOU CAN TALK ABOUT EACH ONE OF THESE.

FIRST IS 27TH AND VAN DORN.

SHE HAS TRIMMED IT, FERTILIZED, AND WATER IT WELL.

NOW SHE IS THINKING OF CUTTING IT ALL DOWN LOWERING TO TEN INCHES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK.

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HELP.

BOXWOODS GOT HIT HARD THIS YEAR.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THIS ONE, WHEN IT WAS HEDGED -- NORMALLY WE RECOMMEND REMOVING ALL OF THE DEAD, BECAUSE IT'S NOT GOING TO BUD BACK OUT AGAIN.

BUT ONCE YOU REMOVE ALL OF THAT DEAD, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE A LOT LEFT OF THAT SHRUB.

SO YOUR BEST BET IS TO PROBABLY CONSIDER REMOVAL, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS THAT SEEM TO BE THE HEAVIEST HIT AND THEN POSSIBLY IF YOU CAN, FIND REPLACEMENTS WITH THAT HEDGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN YOUR SECOND ONE IS OMAHA.

AND WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THOSE WINTER DAMAGED ONES.

>> REMOVE AND REPLACE.

WE TAKE OUT AS MUCH OF THE DEAD AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.

AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU'RE LEFT WITH ONE QUARTER OF THE SHRUB.

IT'S NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU THAT NICE ROUND FORM THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

YOUR BEST BET IS GOING TO BE JUST REMOVE AND REPLACE.

>> AND YOUR THIRD ONE IS ALSO OMAHA.

ROUGH WINTER, DO THEY NEED TO JUST REMOVE AND START OVER OR CAN THEY SAVE BY PRUNING?

>> IF THEY WANT TO TAKE THE TIME AND PRUNE THE DEAD OUT THEY CAN TO SEE WHAT'S LEFT.

IT'S HARD TO TELL IF THERE'S ANYTHING ALIVE UNDERNEATH, BUT -- SAME SONG.

I'’M UNFORTUNATELY GOING TO PROBABLY RECOMMEND REMOVAL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A FOURTH PICTURE I THINK OF A HOLLY, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, AND THIS ONE A HOLLY -- APPARENTLY WE DON'T HAVE THAT ONE.

WE'LL SAVE THAT ONE FOR A LIGHTNING ROUND.

>> SOUNDS GREAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL YOU KNOW WE'VE BEEN GETTING A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS ABOUT STICKY MOUNDS OF PINE ON OUR PINE TREES.

UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU SEE THESE IT'S USUALLY TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

THE CULPRIT IS AN INSECT.

HERE TO TELL US MORE IS KAITLIN CHAPMAN.

♪ >> OVER THE YEARS WE RECEIVED MANY PHOTOS FROM ODD LOOKING GROWTH ON THE BARK OF PINE TREES.

WHILE THESE MAY LOOK LIKE A FUNGUS, IT'S ACTUALLY THE SIGN OF A SERIOUS PEST CALLED THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH.

LIKE MANY INSECT PESTS IN OUR LANDSCAPES, CORRECT TIMING IS THE KEY TO PROPER MANAGEMENT.

CATERPILLARS ARE LARVAE OF THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH, TUNNEL UNDERNEATH THE BARK OF PINE TREES, PARTICULARLY IN THE WHORLS WHERE THE BRANCHES MEET THE TRUNK.

THIS CAUSES THE BRANCHES TO BECOME GIRDLED, LIMBS DIE OFF, DEFORMED GROWTH, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO WEAKENED PHYSICAL WEAKNESS AND INFESTED TREES.

WHILE THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH CAN INFEST MANY DIFFERENT SPECIES OF PINE, SCOTCH AND AUSTRIAN PINES ARE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO INJURY.

THE MOST OBVIOUS SIGN OF A ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH INFESTATION IS THE FORMATION OF THESE POPCORN LIKE PITCH OR RESIN MASSES THAT OCCUR WHEN THE CATERPILLAR TUNNELS AND STARTS FEEDING.

THE PLANT WILL START OOZING SAP AND FRASS LEADING TO THESE SOFT MILKY WHITE TO PINKISH IN COLOR FRESH MASSES.

MASSES FROM PREVIOUS YEARS'’ INFESTATIONS WILL USUALLY BE HARD TO THE TOUCH, YELLOW TO WHITE IN COLOR, AND OR A DULL GRAY.

THE ONLY WAY TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE THE ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH IS TO TREAT YOUR TREES WHEN THE CATERPILLARS ARE OUTSIDE OF THE BARK AND, THEREFORE, SUSCEPTIBLE TO INSECTICIDES.

CATERPILLARS OVERWINTER UNDERNEATH THE BARK, BUT DURING MID-APRIL TO EARLY MAY, THEY'LL EXIT THEIR HIBERNACULUM TO BEGIN ACTIVELY FEEDING.

THEREFORE, THEY'RE OUTSIDE OF THE BARK AND SUSCEPTIBLE TO INSECTICIDE TREATMENT.

THIS MAKES IT OUR FIRST TREATMENT WINDOW.

CATERPILLARS WILL THEN FIND A NEW FEEDING SITE, GO BACK UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BARK AND FORM PITCH MASSES, STAYING THERE UNTIL THEY PUPATE AROUND MID-JULY.

THE ONLY OTHER TIME WHERE YOU CAN TREAT YOUR TREES IS WHEN EGGS BEGIN HATCHING AROUND AUGUST.

IF YOU SUSPECT THAT YOU HAVE A ZIMMERMAN PINE MOTH INFESTATION, YOU SHOULD TREAT YOUR TREES WITH AN INSECTICIDAL SPRAY CONTAINING THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BIFENTHRIN OR PERMETHRIN.

TREES SHOULD BE TREATED FROM THE TOP DOWN, AND DRENCHED ALMOST TO THE POINT OF RUN OFF BUT REMEMBER TO ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW THE PESTICIDE LABEL INSTRUCTIONS.

IF YOU HAVE PINE TREES IN YOUR YARD, MONITOR FOR PITCH MASSES AND REMEMBER THE "“A"” MONTHS, APRIL AND AUGUST FOR TREATMENT TO KEEP YOUR PINE TREES HEALTHY.

>> SO THAT WINDOW IS OPEN RIGHT NOW TO MAKE SURE THOSE PINES ARE HEALTHY THROUGHOUT THE GROWING SEASON.

AND WE WANT TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS TO JODY FOR SOME OF THE PICTURES WE SAW IN THIS FEATURE BECAUSE WE COULD NOT FIND THOSE PITCH MASSES.

KAITLIN, YOUR NEXT QUESTIONS HERE THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF BUGS ON THEIR GRILL COVER AND WINDOW SCREENS.

THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT SIZES.

MAYBE HALF AN INCH LONG.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS AND THEY'RE A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT IT WITH SMALL CHILDREN.

>> YEAH, SO THESE MAY LOOK LIKE MOSQUITOES, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY AQUATIC NONBITING MIDGES.

THEY'’RE ASSOCIATED WITH WATER IN THEIR LARVAL FORM -- EXCUSE ME, JUST LIKE MOSQUITOES ARE, BUT THE ADULTS WHEN THEY EMERGE WHICH HAPPENS TO BE EN MASSE MOST OF THE TIME I'’M SURE AS YOU'RE EXPERIENCING, THEY FEED ON NECTAR OR THEY DON'T FEED AND THEY'RE COMPLETELY HARMLESS TO US.

JUST KIND OF MORE OF A NUISANCE.

THEY ARE HOWEVER ATTRACTED TO LIGHTS, SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS KEEP YOUR PORCH LIGHT OFF AT NIGHT, MAKE SURE YOUR BLINDS ARE CLOSED TO LIMIT AS MUCH LIGHT AS YOU CAN.

LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE HARMLESS, SO IF THEY'RE REALLY ANNOYING YOU CAN GET OUT THE LEAF BLOWER AND BLOW THEM AWAY MAYBE, BUT REALLY THAT'S AS FAR AS MY RECOMMENDATION GOES.

>> ALRIGHT, THANKS, KATE.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO HAS BEEN USING THIS TO GET RID OF THE NEXT PICTURE, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, THE ANTS.

AND SHE WANTS -- SHE IS APPARENTLY REAL FRUSTRATED WITH IT.

SHE CAN'T GET RID OF THEM AND SHE IS WONDERING WHAT ELSE SHE COULD USE.

>> YEAH, SO YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK USING BAIT STATIONS.

IT'S HARD TO TELL FROM THE PICTURE BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE AN ODOROUS HOUSE ANT.

I WOULD RECOMMEND FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT BAIT STATIONS TAKE TIME, YOU KNOW, THE ANTS NEED TO FEED FROM IT AND THEN LEAVE AND THEN TAKE IT BACK TO THEIR NEST OR COLONY WHICH MOST OF THE TIME IS OUTSIDE.

IT'S NOT AN INSTANT FIX.

IT TAKES A COUPLE DAYS TO A COUPLE OF WEEKS FOR THE BAIT STAYS TO REALLY TAKE EFFECT.

TWO, IS THAT ODOROUS HOUSE ANTS ARE REALLY HUNGRY ANTS.

THEY EAT A LOT ON SO MAKE SURE THOSE BAIT STATIONS ARE FILLED AND REPLACED WHEN THEY NEED TO BE.

AND THREE, THINK ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF WHERE THOSE BAIT STATIONS ARE.

SO FROM THE PICTURE IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON THE FLOOR RIGHT NEXT TO A BASEBOARD.

IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE SEEING THE ANTS COMING FROM OR CAN YOU FOLLOW THEM TO PERHAPS THE AREA WHERE THEY'RE ENTERING INTO THE HOUSE?

I WOULD RELOCATE THE BAIT STATION THERE OR BETTER YET IF YOU SEE THEM OUTSIDE YOU CAN PUT IT OUTSIDE YOUR HOME AND THAT MIGHT DETER THEM FROM COMING IN, AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANKS, KATE.

ALL RIGHT, KYLE, THIS IS A WAHOO VIEWER.

HE SENT A LOT OF PICTURES OF FUNGUS GROWING JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE OF HIS TURF.

HE SAID IT'S FEEDING ON THE LEFTOVER ROOTS OF A LARGE TREE THAT WAS REMOVED A FEW YEARS BEFORE HE BOUGHT THE HOUSE.

GOOD DESCRIPTIONS HERE.

IT'S REALLY HARD.

HE PULLED OUT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PICTURES AND ALL THE TURF IS DIED, AND THEY HAD ABOUT A TEN BY TEN-ACRE -- TEN BY TEN SQUARE FOOT AREA COVERED AND ALMOST ALL OF THAT TURF IS DIED THERE.

HE WANTS TO KNOW IS THIS STILL A FUNGUS UNDER THERE, WHAT CAN HE DO ABOUT IT, AND IS HE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET TURF RE-ESTABLISHED IN THIS SPOT?

>> YEAH, SO ESTABLISHMENT OF TURF IN THAT SPOT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT UNTIL THE WOOD HAS DECOMPOSED THAT THIS FUNGUS IS GROWING ON.

UNFORTUNATELY, DIFFICULT TO GIVE A -- TO GIVE AN ACCURATE I.D.

ON -- ON THIS, FROM THE PICTURES.

THINGS ARE BLURRY AND THERE IS NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DESCRIPTIVE FEATURES INCLUDED HERE.

HOWEVER, IT MAY BE A FUNGUS IN THE MERIPILACEAE FAMILY, AND THOSE ARE -- THEY WILL FEED ON ROTTING WOOD.

AND EVERY TIME IT RAINS AND THERE IS A LOT OF MOISTURE, THEY WILL RE-FRUIT AND FORM NEW FUNGAL MASSES.

SO WHAT YOU CAN DO IS JUST KEEP ON REMOVING THAT, TIME AFTER TIME, AND YOU WILL -- YOU WILL CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF FUNGAL INOCULUM IN THE LAWN, BUT UNTIL THE -- UNTIL THAT WOOD HAS COMPLETELY DECOMPOSED, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER PICTURE I THINK HERE THAT IS -- THIS IS A HASTINGS VIEWER.

HE WONDERS IS THERE A WAY TO CONTROL OR GET RID OF THESE?

THEY'RE IN AN AREA WHERE A LARGE PINE OAK WAS CUT DOWN ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> AND SO THAT'S THE EXACT SAME THING.

UNTIL THE -- UNTIL THE ROOTS HAVE DEGRADED THESE MUSHROOMS WILL LIKELY KEEP COMING BACK, ESPECIALLY IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AS MUCH MOISTURE AS WE'VE HAD THIS SPRING.

IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET AN I.D.

ON THESE MUSHROOMS, BUT WHEN I ZOOMED IN THEY HAD KIND OF LARGE CAPS THAT WERE OVERLAPPING, SO I WONDER IF THEY'RE NOT HONEY MUSHROOMS, OR ARMILLARIA MUSHROOMS.

THEY ARE COLONIZED THE OAK ROOTS.

BEST WAY TO GET RID OF MUSHROOMS IN A LAWN OR IF YOU -- I WOULD SAY JUST WAIT THEM OUT.

THEY WILL DISAPPEAR AND THEY'RE JUST KIND OF FUN TO LOOK AT.

IF YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THEM, APPLYING FERTILIZER CAN HELP STIMULATE THE TURF ROOTS WHICH WILL HELP BREAK DOWN THAT WOODY MATERIAL A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

SO FERTILIZER IS ABOUT YOUR BEST BET.

OTHERWISE, JUST GOING OUT AND TRYING TO PICK THOSE MUSHROOMS OUT IS ABOUT ALL YOU CAN DO.

>> WE'RE SAYING EITHER GOLF CLUB OR SWING THAT FOOT.

>> HEY.

>> PLAY A LITTLE SOCCER.

>> GOLF CLUBS WOULD BE GREAT FOR THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH, YOU HAVE A COUPLE IDENTIFICATION PICTURES HERE.

THE FIRST IS FROM OMAHA.

WILL YOU PLEASE HELP ME IDENTIFY THIS BEAUTIFUL FLOWERING SHRUB?

>> I WOULD LOVE TO BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHRUBS.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUM.

THERE IS A COUPLE DIFFERENT ONES BUT THEY HAVE A VERY PLEASANT CLOVE SCENT TO THE FLOWERS AND THAT'S WHY IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

>> UH-HUH.

AND IT'S A SET IT AND FORGET IT, PRETTY MUCH.

>> AND IT'S HARDY AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO MUCH WITH THE VIBURNUM.

>> EXACTLY, AND THEN YOU HAVE A VIEWER HERE THAT RECENTLY MOVED TO WEST POINT.

SHE FOUND THESE ON THE EAST SIDE OF HER HOUSE.

CAN WE IDENTIFY THEM?

>> YOU BET WE CAN.

SO THEY ARE VERY LUCKY.

IT'S A RHODODENDRON, THE PJM CULTIVAR AND THOSE ARE ONE OF THE HARDY ONES FOR NEBRASKA.

IT IS A BROAD LEAF EVERGREEN SO I'M KIND OF SURPRISED IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY WINTER DAMAGE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND DOWN THE ROAD IS YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE WHAT THOSE BROAD LEAF EVERGREENS THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT WINTER DESICCATION DAMAGE WITH THEM.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

WELL, IF ANYONE DOUBTS THAT YOU LIVE IN NEBRASKA, OUR WEATHER PATTERNS HAVE BEEN SUPER COLD.

HOT, BACK TO COLD, HOT, COLD, HOT, COLD, BUT OUR GARDEN TULIPS ARE PUTTING ON A SHOW AND OUR OTHER ORNAMENTALS ARE DOING JUST FINE.

HERE IS TERRI JAMES FROM THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN TO SHOW US MORE.

♪ >> THIS WEEK IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN, WE'RE SEEING SOME BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS EMERGE.

OUR RED AND WHITE TULIPS ARE IN BEAUTIFUL FLOWER THIS YEAR.

THEY ARE THREE OR FOUR YEARS OLD SO NOT AS MANY AS THERE HAD BEEN WHEN WE FIRST PLANTED THEM BUT THEY'RE REALLY SHOWING OFF THEIR TRUE HUSKER COLORS.

WE ALSO HAVE KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUM.

AS YOU WALK BY IT, THAT HEAVENLY SCENT IS SO PERFUMY, IT IS A WONDERFUL ADDITION TO THE SPRING GARDEN.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME PHLOX AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BLOOMING.

WE DID PLANT SOME OF OUR CONTAINERS, SO A COUPLE CONTAINERS HAVE SOME BEAUTIFUL PANSIES.

THOSE PANSIES ARE SUPER HARDY, AND REALLY NOTHING IS -- THEY'RE GOING TO LAUGH AT SOME OF THE COOLER TEMPERATURES THAT WE HAVE COMING LATER THIS WEEK.

AND, FINALLY, WE HAVE OUR ASPARAGUS COMING UP.

JUST ABOUT TIME TO START PICKING SOME OF THAT, SO MAYBE WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF GRILLED ASPARAGUS FOR DINNER IN A COUPLE DAYS.

SO STOP BY THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND CHECK IT OUT.

♪ >> OF COURSE, WE'RE STILL WAITING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COLD SNAP DOESN'T HANG ON BEFORE WE PLANT ALL OF THOSE PLANTS THAT REALLY DON'T LIKE THOSE COLD SOIL TEMPS.

SO STAY TUNED, DO NOT PUT PEPPERS AND TOMATOES IN THE GROUND JUST YET.

ALL RIGHT, KATE, WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE QUESTION, I THINK, BEFORE THE BREAK.

THIS IS A VIEWER THAT HAS BEEN STARTING SEEDLINGS IN HER BASEMENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

SHE'’S USED LIGHTS.

SHE HAD SOME INSECTS TAKE OVER LAST YEAR.

LAST YEAR IT WAS FUNGUS GNATS.

SHE HAD A FUNGUS ON THE TOMATOES.

THIS YEAR SHE HAD APHIDS.

NOW SHE HAS TINY BLACK BUGS.

SHE'’S TRIED ALL SORT OF THINGS, MITICIDES, FUNGICIDES, INSECTICIDES, GARDEN SPRAYS, EIGHT DUST.

SHE IS WONDERING WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, APHIDS AND THE BLACK DOTS MIGHT BE SIGNS OF SPIDER MITES WHICH ARE THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE HAVING WORKED IN GREENHOUSES BEFORE.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU MIGHT BE AT THE POINT WHERE YOU NEED TO START OVER AND MAKE SURE WHEN YOU START OVER THAT EVERYTHING IS CLEAN, BECAUSE IF IT IS SPIDER MITES, THEY TEND TO STAY ON POTS AND -- YEAH.

SO I KNOW THAT'S NOT PROBABLY THE ANSWER YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, BUT THAT MIGHT BE THE BEST BET AT THIS POINT.

>> SINCE SHE CAN'T TAKE THOSE TOMATOES AND PEPPERS OUTSIDE UNLESS SHE TENTS MAYBE OR YOU KNOW -- >> PORTIONS THEM OUT AGAIN?

>> I'M NOT SURE ON THIS ONE.

>> BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GET DOWN TO LIKE 26 NEXT WEEK, SO THEY REALLY CAN'T TAKE IT OUTSIDE.

MAYBE A SAMPLE OR TRYING TO GET A PHOTO MIGHT HELP.

>> UH-HUH.

SO WE CAN SEE, ESPECIALLY IF SHE INTENDS TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO GROW PLANTS UNDER LIGHTS IN THE BASEMENT, WHICH AN AWFUL LOT OF PEOPLE DO.

AND ONCE YOU GET THOSE CRITTERS AND CREATURES IN THERE, AS YOU SAY, IT'S PRETTY TRICKY.

IT IS TIME FOR US TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.

COMING UP, WE'LL HAVE THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

THERE IS MORE "BACKYARD FARMER" COMING YOUR WAY RIGHT AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

♪ (Bright music) You're watching NET, Nebraska's PBS station.

(Bright music) >> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

COMING UP LATER WE'LL CHECK ON OUR POND GETTING A MUCH NEEDED SPRING CLEANING.

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 IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

ELIZABETH, ARE YOU READY?

>> I'M READY.

>> YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS FROM DAVID CITY.

SHE SAYS HER DAFFODILS HAVE VERY SMALL FLOWERS.

SHE IS WONDERING IF SHE CAN DIG AND DIVIDE THEM AND IF SHE DOES THAT WILL THE FLOWERS GET BIGGER?

>> MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY LET THEM STAND LONG ENOUGH OVER THE SUMMER AND FALL TO RECHARGE THOSE BULBS.

I WOULD WAIT AND SEE HOW THAT GOES AND THEN THIS FALL IF YOU NEED TO DIG THEM UP AND MOVE THEM YOU CAN DO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE WONDERING WHETHER THEY CAN USE JUST REGULAR OLD FARM SOIL IN RAISED BEDS.

>> NO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A DENISON, IOWA VIEWER WHO WONDERS ARE THERE GOOD SOURCES FOR THE PLASTIC RAIN BARRELS TO USE AS A RAIN BARREL.

>> THERE ARE LOTS OF RESOURCES OUT THERE.

YOU CAN ORDER THEM ONLINE IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

JUST MAKE SURE IF YOU MAKE ONE YOURSELF THAT IT'S A FOOD GRADE BARREL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

WE HAVE A SERGEANT BLUFF VIEW WHO HAS A 6-YEAR-OLD AND 1-YEAR-OLD AUTUMN BLAZE MAPLE.

HE'S WONDERING WHETHER HE SHOULD FERTILIZE THEM AND SHOULD HE USE FERTILIZER SPIKES?

>> NOPE, AND WE DO NOT FERTILIZE TREES.

THEY DON'T NEED IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU HAVEN'T CUT BACK YOUR ORNAMENTAL GRASSES BY NOW?

>> YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO, JUST BE CAREFUL THAT YOU DON'T CUT TOO MUCH OF THE LIVE STUFF OFF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

KYLE, YOU READY?

>> BORN READY.

>> BORN READY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR FIRST ONE THIS VIEWER IS WONDERING WHETHER IT IS POSSIBLE TO BUY TOMATO PLANTS THAT ARE RESISTANT TO THE FUNGUS THAT WE HAD LAST YEAR.

>> YES, IT'S MOST LIKELY POSSIBLE, BUT IT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHAT THAT FUNGUS IS.

BUT YEAH, MOST LIKELY YOU CAN FIND RESISTANT VARIETIES OUT THERE.

>> WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHEN TO TREAT FOR PEACH LEAF CURL.

>> PASS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A MASON CITY VIEWER WHO SAYS THEIR SPRUCE IS DYING FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

WHAT MIGHT THAT BE?

>> COULD EASILY BE ONE OF OUR -- ONE OF OUR NEEDLE CAST, EITHER RHIZOSPHAERA OR STIGMINA.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT CONTROL YOU WANT TO -- THAT'S GOING TO BE TWO FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS, THE FIRST ONE WHEN THE NEEDLES ARE ABOUT HALF ELONGATED AND THE SECOND ONE ABOUT FOUR TO FIVE WEEKS LATER WHEN THOSE NEEDLES HAVE FULLY ELONGATED.

>> WE HAVE A RUMOR SOMEBODY HAS BEEN FINDING MORELS NEAR OMAHA.

HAVE THEY GONE BACK UNDERGROUND BECAUSE NOW IT'S GOTTEN COLD AGAIN?

>> PROBABLY, BUT THE FACT THAT CEDAR APPLE GALLS ARE OUT, MORELS ARE PROBABLY OUT, AS WELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

WE'RE NOT TELLING YOU WHERE WE FIND THEM EITHER, ARE WE?

>> NOPE, NO ONE EVER DOES.

>> ALL RIGHT, KATE, YOUR FIRST LIGHTNING ROUND, YOU READY?

>> YES.

>> THIS IS A FORT CALHOUN VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY TREATMENT FOR GRUBS IN THE LAWN.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT CHILDREN AND PETS.

>> SO UNFORTUNATELY THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY IS NOT GOING TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE.

WE RECOMMEND DOING IMIDACLOPRID AND HERBICIDE SOMETIME IN JUNE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WHEN DO YOU TREAT FOR OYSTER SHELL SCALE ON MAPLE?

IT WAS REALLY DEVASTATING LAST YEAR.

>> YEAH, SO I MENTIONED EARLIER OYSTER SHELL SCALE YOU NEED TO TREAT WHEN IT'S IN THE CRAWLER STAGE, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE HAPPENING -- HATCH IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN LATE MAY, SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YEAH, USE YOUR INSECTICIDES.

>> OKAY.

SO WE HAD THIS QUESTION I THINK EARLIER AND WE GOT IT AGAIN FROM A DIFFERENT VIEWER.

STINK BUGS INFESTING THE HOUSE.

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT STINK BUGS RIGHT NOW?

>> STINK BUGS INFESTING YOUR HOUSE, THE EASIEST THING YOU CAN DO IS JUST VACUUM THEM UP.

YOU CAN DO PERIMETER TREATMENTS IN YOUR HOUSE IN THE FALL, BUT STINK BUGS CAN FLY SO IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE SO EFFECTIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF FRUIT TREES FLOWERING RIGHT NOW AND OUR VIEWERS ARE WONDERING WILL THIS COLD SNAP AFFECT THE POLLINATORS AND, THEREFORE, THE FRUIT?

>> THE SHORT ANSWER IS YES, THEY'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF SYNC A LITTLE BIT.

>> PERFECT.

ALRIGHT, VERY NICE JOB, ALL.

ELIZABETH, PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> YES.

WE HAVE THREE VERY LOVELY PLANTS OF THE WEEK THIS WEEK.

AND SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE WHITE ONE IN FRONT.

WHAT IT IS, IT'S A SPRING SNOW WEIGELA.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGER WEIGELAS, BUT IT IS ALSO ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE THE DIEBACK TO IT SO IT'S A REALLY NICE ONE.

IT'S GOT A TRUE WHITE FLOWER ON IT AND IT'S GOT THAT TRUMPET SHAPE TO THEM.

SO, THESE ARE JUST REALLY BLOOMING RIGHT NOW, A REALLY NICE ONE.

THE NEXT ONE WE'RE GOING TO GO TO IS OUR LOVELY BLEEDING HEART.

THIS IS ONE OF THE OLD-FASHIONED PLANTS, DOES REALLY WELL IN SHADED ENVIRONMENTS.

IT DOES GO SUMMER DORMANT, SO DON'T WORRY IF IT LOOKS GOOD IN THE SPRING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU CAN'T FIND IT.

IT CAN SEED ITSELF, SO BE READY TO FIND SEEDLINGS AROUND.

THERE IS A WHITE ONE, THERE IS SOME LIGHT PINK ONES, SEVERAL DIFFERENT CULTIVARS OUT THERE.

THE LAST ONE TO ROUND OUT IS GOING TO BE MY FAVORITE, THE KOREAN SPICE VIBURNUM.

THE REASON I LIKE THIS IS BECAUSE IT'S A SMALLER ONE.

NOW, THERE ARE TWO LARGER ONES.

THERE IS THE JUDD AND THE BURKWOODII, AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE THE SAME CLOVE SCENT AND THE SAME KIND OF FLOWER TO THEM, THE LITTLE LIKE POMPON ON THERE.

THEY ARE JUST BIGGER SHRUBS.

DEPENDING ON THE SPOT THAT YOU HAVE, IF YOU'VE GOT THAT PART SHADE ENVIRONMENT, YOU CAN PICK FROM EITHER ONE OF THE THREE THAT SMELL AMAZING AND ARE EARLY SPRING BLOOMERS WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE VIBURNUMS.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

AND THEY SMELL SO GOOD!

>> AND I DON'T WANT TO MOVE THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT, KATE, THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM CAMPUS, SO THESE QUESTIONS CAME FROM CAMPUS.

THIS IS IN THE KIEM COURTYARD.

A REGAL PRIVET AND A BIRCHWOOD SPIREA, THEY'’VE SHOWN SMALL LEAVES AND SOME CANE DIE BACK FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

CANES WERE TAKEN OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.

THEY BROKE OFF, SHOWING THIS AT THE BASE.

THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS TERMITES, HOW DID THEY GET INTO THE SHRUBS IN THAT SORT OF A SPACE, AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM?

>> I ACTUALLY LOVE THESE PICTURES.

I THINK THAT'S KIND OF COOL, FROM AN ENTOMOLOGY STANDPOINT.

SO YES, THOSE ARE TERMITES AND THEY'RE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES, AND AS THEIR NAME IMPLIES THEY ARE SOIL DWELLING, SO THEY PROBABLY BEEN IN THE SOIL FOR A LONG TIME AND JUST HAVE GONE UNNOTICED, BECAUSE THEY'RE SOFT BODIED, SO WHEN THEY'RE OUT IN THE OPEN LIKE THIS THEY CAN DESICCATE AND DRY OUT REALLY EASILY.

AS FAR AS THEM BEING IN THE PLANT, SO IT'S LIKELY THAT THE PLANT HAD A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS ALREADY, SO MAYBE THE PITH WAS DEAD AND THE TERMITES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME WE SEE THE TERMITES EATING DEADWOOD RATHER THAN LIVE WOOD.

COULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

IT'S HARD TELLING.

THAT BEING SAID, WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND CONTACTING A PROFESSIONAL TO GET AN INSPECTION DONE.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE BAIT STATIONS IN THE GROUND WITH TOXICANTS LABELED FOR TERMITES.

BUT SINCE THIS COLONY IS OUT IN THE OPEN YOU CAN DO A DIRECT SPRAY ON THEM, TOO, FOR -- YEAH.

>> AND I THINK THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER TERMITES CAN GO WAY UP A TREE.

WAS THAT FROM YOU ELIZABETH OFF AIR?

>> THAT WAS.

I'’VE GOT A BRANCH IN A TREE THAT'’S HANGING DOWN, AND THE FRASS IS PACKED IN THERE, AND I DIDN'T LOOK CLOSE ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT IT WAS, BUT -- >> SEND IN A SAMPLE.

>> SEND IN A SAMPLE!

I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT ONE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST TWO PICTURES ARE REALLY STRANGE AND YOUR WOOD JUST FELL OVER.

AND THIS IS BLEEDING HEARTS.

SO IT'S A -- IT'S A LARGE -- HE'S CALLING IT A FIBROUS TUBER-LIKE ROOT ON THESE BLEEDING HEARTS.

HE WONDERS WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT.

WHAT IS THAT DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, IT IS FASCINATING.

THAT TO ME THAT LOOKS LIKE FASCIATION.

FASCINATING FASCIATION.

IT IS ONE OF THE WEIRD THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A COLD SNAP, AND THE PLANTS ARE TRYING TO ACTIVELY GROW, AND THEN IT GETS COLD AND CELL FUNCTION GETS A LITTLE WONKY AND THEY DON'T EXACTLY GROW THE WAY THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO.

SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET RID OF IT, I WOULD JUST PRUNE IT OUT.

PROBABLY WON'T COME BACK THOUGH.

IF YOU LIKE SEEING THAT, I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT.

>> YEAH, THAT'S REALLY WEIRD.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I'VE EVER SEEN IT IN BLEEDING HEARTS.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE IS AN OMAHA VIEWER SENT THIS PICTURE.

IT'S ON A BRANCH OF THE CHOKECHERRY THAT THEY PRUNED OFF.

WHAT IS THIS?

>> THAT IS BLACK KNOT.

VERY COMMON ON A LOT OF OUR STONE FRUIT TREES.

SO PLUMS, CHERRIES, AS WELL.

PRUNING IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO CONTROL IT.

HOWEVER, WE CAN ALSO GET THESE KNOTS THAT FORM ON THE TRUNK.

IF THAT OCCURS, YOU CAN JUST GRAB A PAINT CHISEL AND KIND OF CHISEL THEM OFF.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU REMOVING EVERYTHING WHEN YOU CHISEL THEM OFF.

SIMILAR TO THE CANKERS THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, FUNGICIDES REALLY ARE NOT EFFECTIVE FOR BLACK KNOT BECAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF TIMING.

ANYTIME WE HAVE WET CONDITIONS AND TEMPERATURES IN THE MID-50S TO LOWER 70S, THOSE SPORES CAN BECOME ACTIVE.

SO BEST METHOD TO CONTROL THESE IS PRUNING OR REMOVAL OF THOSE KNOTS, AND THEN ALSO TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REMOVING ALL OF THE VOLUNTEER STONE FRUITS WITHIN ABOUT A 500-FOOT RADIUS.

>> OH, MY GOODNESS!

YEAH, NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

ELIZABETH, THIS IS THREE PICTURES FROM THE SAME VIEWER.

THIS IS IN OMAHA.

BIG MAGNOLIA.

THEY JUST MOVED INTO IT.

THEY'RE NOT SURE HOW OLD AND WHAT CONDITION THIS IS IN.

VERY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.

ONLY HALF OF IT FLOWERED.

TWO MAJOR BRANCHES FROM THE BASE.

ONE HAS NO BUDS.

CANKERS AT THE BOTTOM.

THE PRUNING ON THAT WAS -- >> YEAH.

I THINK DUE TO THE MULTIPLE THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THAT TREE'S FAVOR THEIR BEST BET IS GOING TO BE REMOVAL OF THAT TREE.

THE REASON FOR THAT IS IT LOOKS LIKE ONE OF THOSE LEADERS DID NOT FLOWER, IT LOOKS LIKE THE OTHER ONE OF THE LEADERS LOOKS LIKE IT WAS TOPPED OFF.

AND THEN LIKE THEY SAID IT WAS REALLY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.

SO, I THINK THEIR BEST BET IS GOING TO BE JUST TO START OVER AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY PUT THE RIGHT PLANT IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND NOT TRY TO MAKE A TREE FIT IN AN AREA THAT A SHRUB SHOULD GO.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE NOT SHOWN YOU OUR POND MCU LATELY AND IT'S REALLY IN NEED OF A GOOD CLEANING.

UNL RESEARCH TECHNICIAN JOSH REZNICEK GRABS THE HOSE TO GIVE IT A GOOD SCRUBBING IN TONIGHT'S SECOND FEATURE.

♪ >> TODAY, WE'’RE IN THE KIEM HALL COURTYARD AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE POND BEHIND ME.

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE YEARS SINCE WE'VE BEEN IN HERE TO DO THIS, SO IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE OUT OF CONTROL FOR US, BUT IT'S NOT TOO TERRIBLE, YET.

WE HAVE SOME ALGAE GROWTH AND SOME PLANTS THAT HAVE OVERTAKEN.

WE HAVE TO MIND THAT WE HAVE SOME TURTLES IN THERE STILL SO WHAT WE GOT GOING TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE DRAINING THE POND TO POWER WASH IT TO CLEAN SOME OF THAT ALGAE OFF AND TAKE CARE OF OUR PONDLESS FEATURE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM HERE WITH RAKING OUT SOME OF THIS LEAF MATERIAL THAT HASS COLLECTED OVER THE WINTER.

THEN WE'RE GOING TO PULL OUT SOME OF THAT ROCK TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE SEDIMENT THAT'S COLLECTED DOWN IN THE BASIN.

UP TOP IN THE POND FEATURE, LIKE I SAID, WE'RE GOING TO DRAIN THAT AND THEN POWER WASH IT.

WE HAVE TO PULL OUR TURTLES OUT FIRST AND AFTER WE DRAIN IT WE'LL POWER WASH IT FROM THE BOTTOM UP SO THAT WAY WE CAN FILL UP SOME WATER AS WE GO.

THEN CONTINUE TO DRAIN IT A COUPLE TIMES AS WE CONTINUE TO POWER WASH IT UNTIL WE GET DONE.

SO THEN, WE'LL MOVE UP FROM THERE AND GO INTO OUR FALLS BOX ON THE VERY TOP OF THE POND.

AND IN THERE, WE HAVE SOME SCREENS AND SOME BIO BALLS THAT ALL NEED TO BE CLEANED OUT, AND WASHED OUT TO REDUCE SEDIMENT BUILD UP, AND HOPEFULLY CLEAR UP SOME OF THIS POND.

WE'LL DO SOME ROCK SETTING, AS WELL.

JUST NATURALLY, AS WELL AS SOME ROCKS GETTING KICKED IN AND EVEN THE TURTLES WILL KNOCK SOME ROCKS DOWN.

WE'LL MOVE SOME OF THE ROCKS BACK UP UNDER THE SIDE WALLS TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE NATURAL.

AND THEN AFTER ALL THAT IS DONE, WE'LL FILL THE POND UP, WASHING ALL THE ROCKS THAT WE'VE POWER WASHED, AND THEN WE'LL DRAIN IT A COUPLE TIMES AFTER THAT.

ONCE WE'VE DONE THAT WE'LL FILL IT UP, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR OUR FIRST TIME FILLING IT UP SO IT'S GOING TO TAKE A DAY OR SO TO SETTLE OUT AND THEN IT WILL BE A LOT CLEARER AND THOSE ROCKS WILL HAVE THAT FINISH WHEN WE FIRST INSTALLED IT.

SO THE REASON WE'RE DOING THIS THIS YEAR, AND IT SHOULD BE DONE PROBABLY ANNUALLY, IS FOR THE HEALTH OF THE WILDLIFE IN THE POND, AS WELL AS FOR POND MAINTENANCE, HELPFUL FOR THE PUMPS THAT WE'RE NOT DAMAGING THE PUMPS AND THE LINES THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM.

THIS SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT ONCE A YEAR IDEALLY.

OBVIOUSLY, LIFE CAN GET IN THE WAY AND IT MIGHT BE FORGOTTEN AND IT CAN BE DONE ANY TIME OF YEAR.

WE JUST LIKE TO DO IT IN THE SPRING.

IT'S KIND OF ONE OF THE CHECK BOXES TO START THE YEAR OFF BUT IT CAN HONESTLY BE DONE ANY TIME OF YEAR.

>> AS YOU'’VE JUST SEEN, IT REALLY IS A GOOD IDEA TO GET OUT THERE AT LEAST NOW AND CERTAINLY EVERY YEAR TO CLEAN UP THAT POND.

LEAVING IT JUST MEANS A LOT OF A MESS LATER AND THAT WAS DEFINITELY IN NEED OF THAT BATH.

ALL RIGHT.

KATE, LAST QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

THE FIRST ONE HERE IS SHE HAS FOUND THESE BEES, BUMBLES, THIS IS PAPILLION.

THEY WERE UNDER A DECK.

SHE FOUND ALL THREE OF THESE ORIGINALLY ABOUT 12 INCHES APART.

SHE WONDERED IF THEY CAME OUT EARLY IN THE UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND AND IT JUST CROAKED OR WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

>> YEAH, SO THESE ARE ACTUALLY NOT BUMBLEBEES.

THESE ARE CARPENTER BEES.

THEY LOOK REALLY SIMILAR TO BUMBLEBEES, BUT YOU CAN TELL BECAUSE THEIR ABDOMENS ARE SHINY, AND BUMBLEBEES WILL BE KIND OF HAIRY THROUGHOUT THEIR ABDOMEN.

WHERE YOU FOUND THEM IS PRETTY TELLING, TOO.

CARPENTER BEES DO MAKE THEIR NESTS IN WOOD, SO I WOULD TAKE A GOOD LOOK UNDER YOUR DECK, LOOK FOR HOLES THAT ARE ABOUT THE DIAMETER OF YOUR PINKY FINGER, AND IF YOU DO FIND A NEST IT CAN CAUSE SOME STRUCTURAL DAMAGE SO MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO TREAT WITH A DUST INSECTICIDE AND THE KEY IS WAITING ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN PLUGGING THAT HOLE BACK UP BECAUSE BEES WILL START REUSING HOLES AND THAT WILL JUST PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS.

>> AND WE HAVE NOT REALLY HAD CARPENTER BEES UNTIL TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO AS QUESTIONS ON AIR, SO INTERESTING.

ALL RIGHT.

YOUR NEXT ONE THIS IS A VIEWER FROM BEATRICE.

SHE FOUND THIS BUTTERFLY IN HER ROSE OF SHARON LAST SUMMER, LATE SUMMER, AND OF COURSE SHE THINKS IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AND I'M GUESSING WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET THEM BACK?

>> YEAH, SO THIS IS AN EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL.

SO USUALLY EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAILS ARE A BEAUTIFUL YELLOW COLOR WITH BLACK STRIPING ON THE WING VEINS, AND THE MALES OF THE SPECIES ARE ALL YELLOW BUT FEMALES CAN BE EITHER YELLOW OR THEY'LL HAVE THIS DARK BLACK PHASE.

AND YOU KNOW, PLANT FLOWERS THAT ATTRACT POLLINATORS, THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO KEEP THEM BACK.

THE CATERPILLARS OF THIS SPECIES, THEY FEED ON WILD CHERRY, BASS WOOD, ASH AND WILLOW.

IF YOU HAVE THOSE TYPES OF PLANTS AROUND, YOU'LL GET MORE BUTTERFLIES LIKE THAT.

>> THAT'S WONDERFUL.

THANK YOU, KATE.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR LAST SET HERE, KYLE, THIS IS TIMELY.

THIS IS A MURDOCH VIEWER.

THEY'RE SAYING LAST YEAR THEY HAD A TERRIBLE PROBLEM WITH CEDAR APPLE RUST AND THEY WERE RECOMMENDED TO USE, FUNGINEX TRIFORINE ON THE TREES CAN'T FIND IT.

IS IT TIME TO DO THIS?

ARE YOU GETTING C.A.R.

IN THE LAB AND WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT CEDAR APPLE RUST?

>> THE CEDAR APPLE RUST GALLS ARE ACTIVE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY THIS COLD SNAP WILL SLOW THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THE MOISTURE THAT WE HAD ABOUT A WEEK AGO COMBINED WITH MODERATE TEMPERATURES, A LOT OF THE CEDAR APPLE RUST GALLS ON CAMPUS WERE REALLY STARTING TO EXPLODE AND KIND OF LOOK BEAUTIFUL AND ALIEN-LIKE.

AS FAR AS CONTROL GOES ON YOUR APPLE TREE AT HOME, THE BIG THING TO THINK ABOUT IS HOW MUCH INFECTION DID YOU HAVE LAST YEAR?

GENERALLY, WE DON'T RECOMMEND TREATING A LOT OF TREES AT HOME FOR CEDAR APPLE RUST.

BUT IF YOUR TREE LAST YEAR HAD ABOUT 50% DEFOLIATION DUE TO THAT DISEASE, YOU MAY WANT TO START THINKING ABOUT TREATMENT OF SOME FUNGICIDE TREATMENT AND NOW REALLY IS THE TIME TO REALLY IS THE TIME TO BE DOING IT.

NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FUNGINEX PRODUCT.

HOWEVER, MYCLOBUTANIL IS ONE OF OUR GROUP THREE FUNGICIDES THAT WORKS VERY WELL FOR CONTROLLING CEDAR APPLE RUST.

AND YOU'LL WANT TO START APPLYING -- YOU WANT THE START THAT TREATMENT PROGRAM RIGHT ABOUT NOW, BUT THEN REAPPLY EVERY SEVEN TO 14 DAYS AS LONG AS THE CEDAR APPLE RUST GALLS ARE STILL ACTIVE.

ONCE WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE SPOTS ON THE LEAF, IT'S TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING.

RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY A FUNGICIDE IF YOU NEED TO.

>> AND DIDN'T WE LAST YEAR HAVE MULTIPLE SPORULATION OF THE GALLS?

>> WE DID.

SO APPARENTLY EACH OF THOSE GALLS CAN RELEASE HORNS SEVEN TIMES.

I HAVE A COUPLE ON CAMPUS THAT I'VE BEEN -- THAT I'VE BEEN TAGGING.

I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE RELEASE THOSE HORNS SEVEN TIMES, BUT WHO KNOWS.

>> GREAT.

NATURE WINS ON THAT ONE, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

>> ELIZABETH, YOUR LAST ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER IN OMAHA.

HE WANTS THIS VINE IDENTIFIED BECAUSE IT'S GROWING UP A DEAD TREE, AND THEY WANT TO TAKE THAT TREE DOWN.

>> SO WE'VE HEARD THE SAYING "“LEAVES OF THREE, LEAVE ME BE.

"” AND THAT GOES WITH POISON IVY.

SO WHAT THIS VIEWER HAS IS POISON IVY GROWING UP THE TRUNK OF THE TREE.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO TREATING, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO DO A CUT STUMP TREATMENT WHERE THEY CUT THE VINE AND THEN THEY DAB THAT ROOT SYSTEM WITH A PRODUCT WHETHER IT'S A GLYPHOSATE PRODUCT LIKE ROUNDUP, SINCE THE TREE IS ALREADY DEAD YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A -- PRODUCT.

THIS THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT ANY STAGE THAT POISON IVY IS GOING TO CONTAIN THE OILS.

SO EVEN IF THE LEAVES HAVE DROPPED, EVEN IF THE VINES ARE DEAD, THAT IS GOING TO CONTAIN THE OIL.

SO WHAT THEY WANT TO AVOID IS THEY WANT TO AVOID BURNING ANY OF THAT WOOD BECAUSE EVEN THAT WOOD FROM THE VINE IS GOING TO PRODUCE THOSE OILS, AS WELL.

SO I HAD SOMEBODY CALL AND THEY WANTED TO CHIP IT AND I WAS LIKE WELL YOU COULD, BUT THAT JUST SPREADS MORE OF THAT SAP.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS WITH THAT.

THERE IS SOME POISON IVY BLOCKER LIKE PRODUCTS THAT YOU CAN PUT ON YOUR CLOTHING OR ON YOUR PERSON SO YOU DON'T GET THE OILS ON YOUR SKIN.

ONCE YOU COME IN, SHOWER, COOL SOAPY WATER, TO TRY TO REMOVE ANY OILS THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE ON YOU.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT SOMETIMES CAN BE MORE THAN A ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR TIMES TO GET THAT VINE TOTALLY KILLED.

>> AND THEY'RE A TOUGH ONE.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY.

SO BE READY FOR LITTLE SPROUTS EVERYWHERE FOR A WHILE.

> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, ELIZABETH.

ALL RIGHT.

PICTURE QUESTION -- NOT PICTURE QUESTIONS, KATE.

YOU HAVE A QUESTION FROM LINCOLN.

THEY LIVE IN AN OLDER HOUSE, FOUND A WASP CLINGING TO A WINDOW INSIDE.

CAUGHT IT, TOOK IT OUTSIDE.

FIGURED IT HAD FLOWN IN.

BUT THEN HE FOUND ANOTHER ONE IN THE SAME ROOM.

THEY'RE SMALL.

THEY WERE BOTH FOUND IN A ROOM THAT HAS HOUSEPLANTS THAT SPENT THE SUMMER OUTSIDE.

AND WHAT HE'S WONDERING ARE THE WASPS -- HAVE THEY NESTED POTENTIALLY IN THE PLANTS, AND IF SO WOULD THEY ACTUALLY HATCH AND COME OUT AND BE SWARMING ALL OVER IN HIS HOUSE?

HE DOESN'T REALLY WANT WASPS ALL OVER IN HIS HOUSE.

>> I WOULD SAY IN THIS CASE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO SEND IN A PICTURE THAT WAY WE CAN IDENTIFY WHAT WASP IT IS.

YOU KNOW, GENERALLY WASPS NESTS ARE GOING TO BE VISIBLE UNLESS THEY'RE LIKE INSIDE A STRUCTURE, SO IF IT CAME IN ON A HOUSEPLANT YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE A NEST AND EASILY REMOVE IT.

I WOULD SAY YOU MIGHT HAVE A NEST THAT MIGHT BE ABOVE A DOOR OR WINDOW THAT HAS BEEN OPEN AND MAYBE THEY TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO FLY IN, BUT AS MENTIONED IF YOU COULD SEND IN A PICTURE WE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT SPECIES IT IS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.

>> ALRIGHT, EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT.

KYLE, WE'VE HAD SNOW MOLD QUESTIONS THIS YEAR.

THIS IS A VIEWER FROM HOOPER.

AND THEY DID SAY THEY LOST A BIG SHARE OF THEIR LAWN LAST YEAR.

AND THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GRUBS, NOW THEY THINK IT WAS A FUNGUS.

SO THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD TREAT FOR IT.

SO SINCE THEY'RE SAYING LAST YEAR, IT'S UNLIKELY THAT IT WAS SNOW MOLD.

>> PROBABLY WAS NOT SNOW MOLD.

LAST YEAR -- LAST YEAR WAS -- BE REALLY CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT TYPE OF LAWN THEY HAVE.

THAT WOULD TELL US A LOT ABOUT WHAT DISEASES MAY POTENTIALLY BE THERE, BUT LAST YEAR BROWN PATCH WAS -- RAN RAMPANT.

AND SO IF YOU DID HAVE A LOT OF FUNGAL ISSUES IN YOUR LAWN LAST YEAR, CHANCES ARE IF WE HAVE SIMILAR WEATHER CONDITIONS THIS SUMMER, WE'LL HAVE THOSE SAME -- THOSE SAME ISSUES IN THOSE SAME SPOTS.

SO YOU PROBABLY WOULD WANT TO START THINKING ABOUT SOME SORT OF FUNGICIDE APPLICATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

ELIZABETH, WE'VE HAD HUGE INTEREST, OF COURSE, THIS YEAR WITH ALL OF OUR GARDENERS THAT WE HOPE TO KEEP, IN RAISED BEDS.

SO A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, ONE OF THESE IS FROM SCHUYLER.

HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT TO PUT IN THE BEDS.

SO THE FIRST PIECE OF THIS ONE IS CAN YOU DO THINGS LIKE PUT USED TIRES IN THE BOTTOM OF A RAISED BED SO YOU'RE NOT PUTTING SO MUCH SOIL IN THE BED?

AND THE FOLLOW UP TO THAT IS WHAT KIND OF SOIL DO WE RECOMMEND, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU CAN BUY BAGGED SOIL THAT SAYS "“FOR RAISED BEDS"” NOW.

>> SO WHEN WE PUT THINGS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RAISED BEDS WE'RE GOING TO PUT THOSE THINGS THAT DON'T RELEASE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.

I WOULD NOT PUT TIRES IN THE BOTTOM OF A RAISED BED.

IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE UP ROOM I WOULD PUT MULCH.

REASON FOR THAT, IT'S ORGANIC, AND IT'S GOING TO HELP HOLD MOISTURE, UNLIKE MILK JUGS AND ALUMINUM CANS AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE PLASTIC.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HELP TO HOLD MOISTURE.

SO YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE MULCH WILL BREAK DOWN WITH TIME AND IT'’LL ADD ORGANIC MATTER INTO THAT RAISED BED.

WHEN WE PUT STUFF INTO THE RAISED BED, WHILE YOU CAN PUT A MIXTURE OF TOPSOIL, PEAT MOSS, OR COCONUT CORE AND SAND, YOU CAN DO THAT IN THAT RAISED BED.

IF YOU WANT TO BUY THE BAGGED POTTING MIX YOU CAN.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE MORE COSTLY TO DO SO.

SO THEY CAN ADD GARDEN SOIL AND ADD COMPOST TO IT, ORGANIC MATTER TO IT.

WE JUST WANT TO BE CAREFUL ON THOSE RATIOS, SO WE'RE NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH COMPOST WITH THAT GARDEN SOIL BECAUSE THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE TOO MUCH NUTRIENTS THERE FOR THOSE PLANTS IN THAT RAISED BED.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANK YOU, ELIZABETH.

I THINK WE HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION FOR YOU, KATE, AND THEN WE HAVE MAYBE ONE ANNOUNCEMENT TONIGHT.

THIS IS MAYBE SIMPLE AND MAYBE NOT.

>> OKAY.

>> PEOPLE ARE REALLY WONDERING SINCE IT'S TIME TO PLANT WHAT CAN THEY DO TO GET ATTRACT AND KEEP THE POLLINATORS?

>> YEAH, SO FIRST AND FOREMOST YOU KNOW PLANT FLOWERS, WE ALWAYS RECOMMEND THAT YOU PLANT NATIVE FLOWERS.

BE --THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

PLANT FLOWERS, RIGHT?

YOU KNOW, JUST BE WARY OF HOW YOU'RE TREATING YOUR LANDSCAPE PLANTS TOO, BECAUSE YOU NEVER WANT TO SPRAY POTENTIALLY HARMFUL INSECTICIDES ON FLOWERS THAT ARE BLOOMING.

I DON'T KNOW, ELIZABETH, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD?

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE ARE WE ATTRACTING THE ADULTS?

ARE WE ATTRACTING THE LARVA?

IF WE HAVE THE LARVA FOOD SOURCES, THE ADULTS WILL FOLLOW.

THOSE ARE SOME BIG ONES.

SO LOOK UP THOSE.

AND THEN YOU KNOW THOSE SPENT STEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT CAN HELP WITH SOME OF THOSE POLLINATORS.

SO THOSE ALL WORK OUT WELL, TOO.

>> EXCELLENT.

AND OUR ONE ANNOUNCEMENT I DO BELIEVE HAS TO DO WITH SPRING AFFAIR THIS YEAR, WHICH IS THE ONLINE PLANT SALE CLOSES FOR PICKUP IN MAY, APRIL 18TH.

ARBORETUMPLANTS.ORG, SO THIS IS ON -- THIS IS ONLINE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

GET YOUR ORDER IN, OTHERWISE YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET THOSE ARBORETUM PLANTS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, OF COURSE, BUT THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR "BACKYARD FARMER" TONIGHT.

WE DO WANT TO SAT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO CONTRIBUTED THOSE QUESTIONS AND PICTURES, AND TO OUR PANEL ONCE AGAIN FOR A GREAT SHOW.

NEXT TIME ON "“BACKYARD FARMER.

"” WE'’LL BE TAKING A LOOK AT SOME WONDERFUL SPRING FLOWERING TREES ON CAMPUS.

THESE TREES WILL USHER IN SPRINGTIME WITH A BEAUTIFUL EXPLOSION OF COLOR.

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

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