[MUSIC] >> BACKYARD FARMER IS A CO PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

WE'RE STARTING OUT THE SEASON WITH A PREVIEW OF WHAT'S TO COME THIS YEAR, AND HEAR ABOUT WILD TEMPERATURE SWINGS AND HOW THAT COULD BE DAMAGING TO PLANTS.

[MUSIC] THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

[MUSIC] >> HELLO EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER SEASON OF BACKYARD FARMER.

I'M KIM TODD AND WE ARE SO EXCITED TO GET GOING AGAIN.

CAN'T WAIT TO ANSWER ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.

SPEAKING OF WHICH, YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL 1-800-676-5446.

OUR PHONE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU.

PICTURES AND EMAILS FOR OUR FUTURE SHOW CAN BE SUBMITTED TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

AND PLEASE GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, INCLUDING WHERE YOU LIVE.

DON'T FORGET TO CHECK US OUT ONLINE ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR HUNDREDS OF EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS, FUN VIDEOS, PAST PROGRAMS, AND OF COURSE OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.

WE ARE GOING TO START WITH A FEW SAMPLES IN CASE YOU HAVE SOMETHING STUCK AND DEAD.

>> YES.

SO I BROUGHT TODAY A STICKY TRAP OR GLUE BOARDS.

AND THESE ARE REALLY NICE MONITORING TOOLS FOR INDOORS.

IT'S ALWAYS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH PESTS TO FIRST IDENTIFY WHAT YOU HAVE.

AND SO THESE ARE GREAT TOOLS.

SO IF YOU FIND YOU HAVE SPRINGTAILS, IT COULD MEAN YOU HAVE A MOISTURE ISSUE.

THERE'S SOME CENTIPEDES HERE.

THAT MEANS YOU NEED TO EXCLUDE THEM AND SEAL UP YOUR HOUSE.

OR YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING REALLY INTERESTING LIKE THESE BROWN RECLUSE SPIDERS.

THAT BEING SAID, THIS IS BACKYARD FARMER.

SO WHILE THESE ARE GREAT TOOLS FOR INDOORS, WE DO NOT RECOMMEND STICKY TRAPS FOR OUTDOORS BECAUSE YOU COULD CATCH SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE BUTTERFLIES OR BIRDS, BUT GREAT TOOL FOR INSIDE.

>> OR YOUR DOG.

>> OR YOUR DOG.

>> OR A SNAKE.

>> OR A SNAKE.

>> THANKS, KAIT.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF, THE EVIL WEED OR 1 OR 2.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE.

YOU KNOW WHAT'S NICE IS THIS TIME OF YEAR, SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO FIND THINGS THAT ARE IN FLOWER, YOU KNOW?

AND NATURE GIVES US SOMETHING EVERY YEAR THAT'S IN FLOWER RIGHT NOW.

SO IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SOME HENBIT OR SOME FIELD PENNYCRESS IN YOUR YARD, THEN YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COLOR RIGHT NOW SO YOU CAN ENJOY IT AS IT MATURES.

IF YOU WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT, A SIMPLE MOWING WOULD BE PROBABLY THE BEST BET.

AND THEN IN AREAS, IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE A BIT OF A PROBLEM, IF IT'S MORE THAN JUST PULLING A FEW WEEDS, YOU COULD LOOK AT DOING SOME PRE-EMERGE OH, IN AUGUST SOMETIME TO HELP PREVENT IT FOR NEXT YEAR, UNLESS YOU ENJOY IT LIKE I DO.

AND THEN YOU JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, CELEBRATE THE COLOR.

>> YOU REALLY DON'T ENJOY IT.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

>> IT'S FINE.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, BRING IT ON.

>> OKAY.

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR.

IT'S REPRODUCTION.

MATING TIME FOR GARTER SNAKES.

THEY'RE IN ALL OUR GARDENS.

THIS IS THE COMMON GARTER SNAKE, ONE OF OUR FOUR SPECIES.

AND RIGHT NOW, THE FEMALE'S COMING OUT OF BRUMATION OR HIBERNATION ARE GIVEN AN ODOR, AND EVERY MALE WITHIN 30 YARDS IS GOING TO BE WRAPPED AROUND HER.

AND YOU'LL SEE THESE MATING BALLS.

WHAT A PAGEANTRY OF LIFE.

>> OH, GOSH.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

YOU'RE READY TO MATE.

BUT AGAIN, 100% BENEFICIAL.

EAT WORMS AND INSECTS.

TRANSFER NO GERMS OR VIRUSES, TICKS OR FLEAS TO PEOPLE.

AND LOOK, THEY CAN'T BITE.

I CAN NEVER GET SNAKES TO BITE ME.

PROFESSIONAL COURTESY.

>> I LOVE IT.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

ALL RIGHT, BUT YOURS IS MORE BEAUTIFUL, SCOTT.

>> MINE WON'T BITE YOU.

BUT WHAT I HAVE TODAY IS A COOL SEASON.

ANNUAL COLD STOCK.

WHAT'S REALLY FUN ABOUT THIS PLANT?

IT'S IN THE MUSTARD FAMILY, AND WE OFTEN DON'T THINK ABOUT BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER, ANY OF THOSE REALLY HAVING A FUN FLOWER.

BUT STOCK DOES.

IT IS FRAGRANT AND SO IT DOES ADD SOME HEIGHT TO YOUR CONTAINERS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW.

A LOT OF US HAVE ADDED PANSIES TO OUR OUTDOOR POTS.

STOCK JUST HELPS GIVE US SOME VERTICAL HEIGHT.

IT DOES PETER OUT AS THE HEAT OF THE SUMMER KICKS IN, SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

BUT IT'S A FUN ANNUAL TO TRY.

>> AND AGAIN, IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT I WISH OUR VIEWERS COULD SMELL THAT STOCK.

>> IT'S JUST.

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS.

FRAGRANT.

>> ALL RIGHT GOOD START ALL.

SO LET'S GO RIGHT TO QUESTIONS TO BEGIN WITH.

KAIT, YOU HAVE ONE THAT IS FROM A LINCOLN VIEWER HERE.

HE HAD A BEAUTYBERRY, A SHRUB LOOKED NICE.

AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE HAD A ONE LIMB THAT JUST CONKED OUT ON HIM.

AND THE BASE.

YOU CAN SEE THE BASE HE SENT THIS PICTURE GNARLED EASILY, JUST POPPED RIGHT OUT.

AND THEN I THINK HIS SECOND PICTURE ON THIS SHOWS MAYBE A BORE OR SOMETHING.

>> SO IT COULD DEFINITELY BE A BORE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OUT THERE, FROM BEETLES TO MOTHS.

AS LONG AS THE BEAUTYBERRY LIKE LOOKS NICE AND HEALTHY, I WOULDN'T BE TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT, BUT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME JUST TO LOOK AT THOSE CANES.

AND IF YOU NOTICE ANY HOLES IN THEM OR SOME MORE OF THOSE GNARLS, YOU CAN SIMPLY PRUNE THOSE OUT.

SO MAYBE SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON, BUT IT'S MOST LIKELY A BORE.

>> YEAH.

AND I THINK TYPICALLY WE CUT BEAUTYBERRY BACK ANYWAY.

PERFECT.

ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND.

SO.

OR SHOULD.

OKAY, KAIT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS VIEWER ACTUALLY HAD BAGWORMS LAST SUMMER IN HER ARBORVItA, AND HAS READ THAT MAY IS THE BEST TIME TO POUR INSECTICIDE AT THE BASE OF THE TREES.

SHE WONDERS, SHOULD SHE DO THIS EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER?

AND SHE ALSO THOUGHT THAT DINOTEFURAN.

YES, GOOD JOB.

I CAN SPEAK LATIN NAMES BUT NOT CHEMICAL NAMES.

SHE CAN'T FIND IT IN ANY STORES.

THIS COMES TO US FROM CERESCO.

>> YEAH.

SO DINOTEFURAN IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR HOMEOWNERS.

IT WOULD BE A PROFESSIONAL TREATMENT, BUT THAT'S NOT NEEDED IF YOUR PROBLEM IS BAGWORMS, THE BEST THING TO DO IS RIGHT NOW, BEFORE EGGS HATCH, JUST GO AND PICK AS MANY OF THOSE BAGS OFF AS YOU CAN.

THERE CAN BE HUNDREDS OF EGGS IN EACH OF THOSE BAGS, SO GET THOSE BAGS OFF.

AND THEN IF YOU WANT TO DO OR NEED TO DO AN INSECTICIDE TREATMENT, YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO WAIT TILL THOSE EGGS DO HATCH.

IN NEBRASKA, IT'S USUALLY AROUND JUNE.

MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT EARLY THIS YEAR WITH THE WEIRD WEATHER.

SO JUST KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR LITTLE TINY CATERPILLARS.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THOSE IN A SPRAY APPLICATION OF BT IS GOING TO BE YOUR BEST OPTION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KAIT.

OKAY, JEFF, YOUR FIRST QUESTION COMES TO US FROM ELKHORN.

SHE SENT ONE PICTURE.

SHE SAID NUTSEDGE KEEPS COMING BACK EVERY SINGLE YEAR IN THE LAWN, SCATTERED KIND OF ALL OVER.

THIS IS A ELKHORN VIEWER, RIGHT?

WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT?

SHE WANTS TO TOTALLY ELIMINATE IT.

>> WELL.

>> THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IS TO USE A HERBICIDE.

SO SOMETHING SLEDGEHAMMER, CISGENDER OR TWO NAME BRAND PRODUCTS THAT YOU CAN FIND THAT YOU COULD USE.

AND THAT'LL BE YOU'LL WANT TO APPLY THAT PROBABLY AFTER THE 1ST OF MAY.

IT REALLY HASN'T GREENED UP YET.

YOU'RE PROBABLY NOT SEEING ANY OF IT YET, SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THINGS WARM UP A LITTLE BIT TO APPLY THAT.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO STOP THOSE APPLICATIONS BY THE MID JUNE OR SO.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY.

THE OTHER THING IS, YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO MOW A LITTLE HIGH.

SO THREE AND A HALF, FOUR INCHES.

SO THE HIGHER IT IS, THE HARDER IT IS FOR THE FOR THE NUTSEDGE TO GET ESTABLISHED.

SO.

>> AND WILL SHE HAVE TO TREAT MORE THAN ONCE?

>> PROBABLY, YES.

RIGHT.

>> FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE WHILE SHE LIVES.

>> IT MIGHT TAKE.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

I MEAN IT MAY TAKE A GOOD.

TWO GOOD SPRINGS OF TREATMENT TO GET RID OF IT.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE NEXT ONE COMES TO US FROM DOUGLAS COUNTY.

DOESN'T SAY WHICH CITY, BUT WE DON'T CARE.

TWO PICTURES UP.

STAR OF BETHLEHEM HAS COME UP UNDER THE TREE EVERYWHERE.

SHE'S MULCHED.

IT'S COME UP THROUGH THE MULCH.

CAN'T GET RID OF IT AT ALL.

SHE WONDERS HOW TO GET RID OF IT BEYOND DIGGING OUT EVERY SINGLE LITTLE TUBER TO GET RID OF IT.

>> AND THIS IS A THIS IS A TOUGH ONE TO THIS IS A, I GUESS ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND.

YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU'RE WEARING GLOVES WITH THIS.

THIS CAN CAUSE PEOPLE SOME SKIN REACTION IF YOU'RE USING BARE HANDS.

SO THAT'S JUST ONE THING TO KIND OF WATCH.

SO ANOTHER ONE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO TREAT NOW WITH LIKE A SULFENTRAZONE DISMISSES THE NAME BRAND OF THAT, THAT YOU COULD TRY TO FIND SOMETHING WITH THAT.

IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE A MULTI-PRODUCT WEED KILLER.

SO 3 OR 4 PRODUCTS IN IT.

AND AGAIN, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO BE PERSISTENT.

ONCE THINGS WARM UP, I WOULD BACK OFF.

THE PLANT GETS PRETTY RESISTANT TO HERBICIDE TREATMENT AFTER THAT.

LIKE A LOT OF PLANTS DO.

SO RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, OR AS SOON AS THINGS GREEN UP, THAT WOULD BE THE TIME TO START HITTING IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JEFF.

OKAY, DENNIS, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE IS SQUIRRELS ARE CHEWING OFF SECTIONS OF THE SPRUCE.

HE SAYS SPRUCE.

THESE ARE PINES.

BUT IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO CONTROL THEM?

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

AND I THINK WE HAVE TWO PICTURES OF THIS.

ONE.

>> NO, SQUIRRELS AND TREES ADAPT AND EVOLVE TOGETHER.

IT PROBABLY WON'T PERMANENTLY HURT THE TREE.

THEY'RE JUST TRIMMING IT.

TRY AND MAKE IT MORE LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

NO, BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO STOP THEM, YOU CAN MIX VEGETABLE OIL IN A LOT OF SOMETHING VERY HOT, LIKE GHOST PEPPER OIL.

BUT THEN YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND SPRAY THE ENDS OF WAY UP HIGH.

SO YOU NEED A BUCKET TRUCK OR SOMETHING.

THAT'S ABOUT THE ONLY THING THAT'LL STOP THEM.

IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP THEM 100%.

IT'S JUST GOING TO.

>> SLOW THEM DOWN.

SLOW THEM DOWN.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

DENNIS.

THIS COMES TO US FROM EUSTIS IN DAWSON COUNTY.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF THIS IS A RACCOON LATRINE.

AND THERE'S THEY DID SAY THERE'S ANOTHER ONE PRETTY CLOSE TO IT.

AND WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN THEY DO TO DISCOURAGE AND GET RID OF THIS?

>> YEAH, WELL, IT LOOKS VERY MUCH LIKE A RACCOON LATRINE, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE CALLED.

AND IT'S PROBABLY TWO JUVENILES.

IT LOOKS LIKE SMALLER DEFECATION.

SO I'M THINKING IT'S TWO BROTHERS, SISTERS, SIBLINGS THAT ARE IN THE AREA USING THAT AREA.

IT'S REALLY TOUGH.

PUT A NO DUMPING SIGN THERE.

SO TRAP THE RACCOONS, HAVE SOMEONE PROFESSIONALLY LIVE, TRAP THEM AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE FOR THAT MUNICIPALITY.

REALLY THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE, SCOTT, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM RURAL OTOE COUNTY.

GREAT VIEWER.

THEY THINK THEY'RE SEEING YOUNG BLACK EYED SUSANS.

IS THAT CORRECT ON THIS ONE?

BECAUSE THEY DID HAVE OLD ONES LAST YEAR.

>> BLACK EYED SUSANS ARE FAMOUS FOR SELF-SEEDING.

THEY POP UP EVERYWHERE IN THE LANDSCAPE, SO ENJOY THEM.

MAYBE THIN THEM OUT SO THAT WAY THEY DON'T CRY OUT OR TAKE OVER THE FLOWERBED.

BUT YES, BLACK EYED SUSANS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

I DO BELIEVE THIS CAME FROM YOU.

YES, THIS IS A TREE PEONY SUCKERING THE NEW GROWTH COMING UP ALONGSIDE THE PLANT.

YOUR YOUR VIEWERS WONDERING WAS IT SUCKERING RIGHT.

>> MOST OF THE TREE PEONIES ARE GRAFTED.

SO IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT WE CAN GET THE ROOTSTOCK TO SEND UP A NEW.

EXCUSE ME.

SEND UP A NEW SHOOT.

GO AHEAD AND TAKE THOSE OUT.

YOU CAN CUT THEM DOWN TO THE GROUND.

YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO GROW AND TAKE OVER BECAUSE THEY CAN TAKE OVER THAT PLANT.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANKS, SCOTT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALWAYS A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR WHEN EVERYTHING STARTS TO GREEN UP.

FINALLY, AND SOME OF OUR BULBS START BLOOMING.

AS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD, OUR WEATHER IS ALREADY CAUSING SOME HEADACHES FOR SOME OF OUR HOME LANDSCAPE PLANTS.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE TO HELP YOU GET YOUR PLANTS READY TO GO FOR THE UPCOMING GROWING SEASON.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU THIS YEAR.

[MUSIC] WE ON BACKYARD FARMER LOVE TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WHETHER YOU ARE TALKING TO US FROM THE PANHANDLE OR FROM THE URBAN CANYON OF OMAHA, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT WILDLIFE, WHETHER IT'S ABOUT PRUNING YOUR NEW FRUIT TREES, OR FIGURING OUT WHETHER AN OLD TREE NEEDS TO GO.

HOW TO TURN YOUR TURF INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, OR TURN YOUR TURF INTO A PRAIRIE.

AND WE REALLY WANT TO HELP YOU MAKE YOUR LANDSCAPE THE BEST IT CAN POSSIBLY BE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

[MUSIC] WHAT I LOVE ABOUT BEING A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY IS ALL THOSE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME, GET EDUCATED, GO OUT INTO THE WORLD IN NEBRASKA, OFTENTIMES START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, EDUCATE PEOPLE, TURN THAT BUSINESS INTO ANOTHER BUSINESS IN A SMALL COMMUNITY THAT HELPS REVITALIZE THAT PLACE BY OPENING A STORE.

AND THIS STORE CONNECTS THE PEOPLE TO THEIR OWN HOMETOWN.

YOU CAN SHOP LOCALLY.

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS WITH YOUR OWN COLLEAGUES AND YOUR PEOPLE IN YOUR HOMETOWN.

YOU CAN PURCHASE THE PRODUCTS THAT MAKE YOUR GARDEN AND YOUR LIFE THAT MUCH MORE BEAUTIFUL, AND YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE GIVE YOU ON BACKYARD FARMER.

[MUSIC] WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CONSERVATION AND BEST PRACTICES ON BACKYARD FARMER FOR YEARS.

AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT AND PUT THAT INTO PRACTICE AT HOME WHETHER HOME IS CRPL ACRES, OR IT IS IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD IS TO CHOOSE PRODUCTS FROM AND THE KNOWLEDGE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE NEBRASKANS, THEY KNOW THE PLACE, THEY KNOW THE PEOPLE.

THEY ARE YOUR BEST FRIENDS AND HOURS WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING YOUR LANDSCAPE WHATEVER IT IS, WORK FOR YOU.

SO JOIN US ON BACKYARD FARMER FOR ANOTHER GREAT SEASON.

WHEN WE PROMOTE EVERYTHING THAT WE DO BEST FOR YOU.

[MUSIC] WE'VE GOT A LOT OF REALLY GREAT THINGS PLANNED FOR YOU THIS YEAR, SO YOU NEED TO LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN HELP YOU GROW YOUR OWN FOOD.

USE WATER AND PESTICIDES WISELY, WISELY, AND MAKE THOSE SURROUNDINGS BEAUTIFUL.

ALL RIGHT, SO MORE QUESTIONS FROM YOU.

LET'S SEE.

KAIT, THIS IS BATHTUB AND SHOWER AND CEILING EXHAUST FAN INSECTS FROM OMAHA.

AND HE'S WONDERING WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM.

>> WELL, IT'S NOT GREAT NEWS.

THESE ARE SWARMING TERMITES.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT YOU'RE IN OMAHA AND YOU HAVE AN EXTENSION ENTOMOLOGIST NAMED JODIE GREEN WHO SPECIALIZES IN TERMITES.

SO REACH OUT TO HER.

IT IS REALLY COMMON TIME OF YEAR TO SEE TERMITES SWARMING, BUT YOU'RE SEEING THEM INDOORS.

SO A NEXT GOOD STEP IS TO ALWAYS REACH OUT TO A PROFESSIONAL FOR AN INSPECTION AND IF NEEDED, A TREATMENT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KAIT, THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS.

LET'S SEE.

THIS IS A KEARNEY VIEWER WHO IS SEEING THESE BUGS INDOORS.

HE'S SUSPECTING THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THE WALLS AND HE'S SEEING SHAVINGS AT THE WALL BASE.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE SINCE LAST SPRING.

>> SO THIS ONE IS A SWARMING ANT.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT LOOKS LIKE A CARPENTER ANT.

NEED A CLOSER LOOK TO TELL YOU WHAT SPECIES.

GENERALLY, WHEN WE DEAL WITH ANTS INDOORS, BAITS ARE ALWAYS THE BEST ANSWER.

THAT BEING SAID, IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING WINGLESS ANTS THAT ARE FORAGING, THE BAITS AREN'T GOING TO WORK.

IF YOU'RE JUST SEEING THE WINGED ONES.

NOT QUITE SURE WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO ONCE AGAIN, I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK, SEE WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM.

EXACTLY.

AND THEN JUST TREATING AS NECESSARY AFTER THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KAIT.

LET'S SEE.

JEFF, THIS IS ALSO AN OMAHA VIEWER.

LAST FALL THEY KILLED ALL THE WEEDS IN ABOUT 1000 SQ.

FT, GIVE OR TAKE.

OKAY.

NOW THEY'RE REALLY WANTING TO KNOW HOW THEY SHOULD PREP THE SOIL BEFORE THEY BEGIN SEEDING.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHETHER THEY SHOULD PUT DOWN STARTER FERTILIZER SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THEY PLANT THE SEED.

IS THERE A SOME PH THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE IN THEIR SOIL FOR SUCCESSFUL TURF?

>> SURE.

WELL.

>> THE IF WE'RE GOING TO DO FESCUE, LET'S SAY, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE YOUR BEST CHOICE, YOU KNOW, THE PH IS GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 7 FOR THAT WHICH YOUR SOILS IN OMAHA ARE PROBABLY IN THAT RANGE, I WOULD GUESS.

ANYWAY, MOST OF OUR SOILS IN THIS PART OF THE STATE ARE GOING TO BE SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

SO YOU'RE PROBABLY FINE ON THE PH AS FAR AS PREPPING THE SOIL OR CONTINUING TO PREP, I WOULD SUGGEST ADDING, OH, AN INCH TO TWO INCHES OF COMPOST IF YOU HAVE THAT AVAILABLE TO YOU.

WORKING THAT IN, I WOULDN'T OVERWORK IT.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF I'D NECESSARILY WANT TO TILL THE WHOLE THING, BUT MAYBE RAKE THE SOIL IN THE COMPOST INTO THE SOIL.

KIM AND I OVER THE YEARS HAVE DEBATED TILLING, PULLING UP MORE WEED SEEDS, MAKING THINGS WORSE.

SO I THINK WE WANT TO TRY TO AVOID THAT AND THEN GO AHEAD.

AND WHEN YOU SEED, SO WITH FESCUE, IT'S ABOUT 10 POUNDS PER THOUSAND SQUARE FEET.

AND I WOULD USE A STARTER FERTILIZER WITH MESOTRIONE IN IT.

SO YOU WOULD APPLY THE FERTILIZER WITH THE PRODUCT IN IT AT THE TIME OF SEEDING.

AND IF YOU'RE IF YOU'D LIKE TO, I'D LOOK AT GETTING SOME SORT OF SEED MAT, A COVERING FOR IT, A STRAW MAT, AND THAT'LL HELP REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WATERING THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

THAT WAY YOU CAN HAVE SOME INTERVALS BETWEEN THERE AND NOT BE WATERING CONSTANTLY.

SO THAT SHOULD GET YOU OFF TO A GOOD START.

>> SO ARE WE IN THE SEEDING WINDOW?

>> WE'RE A LITTLE EARLY YET.

>> I THINK I WOULD WAIT TILL MAY PROBABLY.

I MEAN, YOU'LL HAVE GUARANTEED SUCCESS BY THEN.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

JEFF COMES TO US FROM YORK.

HE HAS AN OLD LAWN.

HE THINKS IT'S BLUEGRASS.

LAST YEAR, IT GOT BROWN IN THIS GIANT CRESCENT, AND HE OVERSEEDED CAME UP, AND AFTER A MONTH IT WENT BROWN AGAIN.

THIS YEAR IT'S NOT GREENING UP UNDER THE SURFACE.

IT'S SOLID WHITE, AND THE WHITE WILL NOT RUB OFF ON OUT OF THE SOIL.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YEAH, IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING.

AND, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THAT, I THINK IT COULD BE A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE COULD BE A PERHAPS A FUNGUS OF SOME SORT FROM THE OVERWATERING.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S KIND OF IN A SHADY AREA.

SO THAT MAY HAVE CREATED SOMETHING WHICH, YOU KNOW, MAY HAVE KIND OF SEALED THAT SOIL OFF A LITTLE BIT, OR IT COULD BE MINERAL DEPOSITS, DEPENDING ON THE WATER AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE MY TWO THEORIES THERE.

I THINK THAT AGAIN, I'M BACK TO THE WHOLE COMPOST IDEA.

I WOULD CLEAN THAT UP, RAKE SOME OF THAT PLANT MATERIAL OFF THE THE GRASS, GET THAT OFF OF THERE.

AND AGAIN, INCH TO TWO INCHES OF COMPOST, WORK THAT IN, SEED THAT AND THEN MONITOR YOUR WATERING SO THAT WE'RE NOT OVERWATERING THAT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JEFF.

ALL RIGHT, DENNIS, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS ELKHORN.

WONDERING WHAT SORT OF CRITTER WOULD MAKE THESE HOLES GOING UNDER THE PATIO.

>> WELL, THE WAY THE SIZE OF THEM.

AND IT'S NOT A RULER THERE.

I THINK IT'S BIGGER THAN A VOLE.

SO IT COULD BE A RAT OR IT COULD BE A, NOT A 13-LINED GROUND SQUIRREL, BUT A FRANKLIN'S GROUND SQUIRREL, THEY'RE PRETTY CLEAN HOLES, NO DIRT PUSHED UP.

AND THAT'S INDICATIVE OF THOSE LARGER RODENTS.

>> OKAY.

>> SO A LARGER RODENT CAGE WOULD BE THE WAY TO TRAP IT.

>> OKAY, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS WHAT ARE THESE SMALL HOLES IN A LARGE WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN IN LINCOLN?

>> YEAH.

SO THIS IT COULD BE VOLES, BUT I SEE NO TRACKS TO IT IN THIS PICTURE.

SO I SEE I HAVE A LOT OF THESE IN MY OWN YARD BECAUSE I HAVE A LOT OF SQUIRRELS AND IT'S JUST FOX SQUIRRELS DIGGING.

AND THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH THERE, BUT THEY THEY'RE NUTS.

THEY THOUGHT THERE WERE.

OH, I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OLD LIKE ME.

I THOUGHT I'D BURIED A NUT HERE.

NO, I'LL TRY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

AND YOU GET JUST HUNDREDS OF THESE HOLES.

>> OKAY.

SO YOUR THIRD PICTURE ON THIS ONE IS WHERE CAN THESE TRAPS BE PURCHASED TO CAPTURE AND GET RID OF ALL THOSE RODENTS?

>> I RECOGNIZE THEY WERE PURCHASED ONLINE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DEALERS ONLINE THAT, YOU KNOW, ON GOOGLE OR AMAZON THAT YOU CAN BUY THESE.

AND THESE ARE FOR SMALL RODENTS, PRIMARILY INDOORS IN GARAGES.

SO THEY'RE GREAT FOR HOUSE MICE, DEER, MICE, AND THEIR MULTI CATCH AND THEY CATCH THEM ALIVE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

SCOTT.

LET'S SEE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A MAPLE DAMAGED FROM A STORM.

IT'S A VERY SENTIMENTAL MAPLE.

SO THEY REALLY WOULD LOVE TO KEEP IT.

THEY ARE IN OMAHA AND DOUGLAS COUNTY.

>> I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR YOU OR THE ANSWER THAT YOU WOULD LIKE.

LET ME SEE.

THIS TYPE OF DAMAGE AT THE TOP OF THE MAPLE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO RECOVER.

IT IS TRYING TO SUCKER TO SEND OUT A NEW LEADER, BUT THAT DAMAGE IS PRETTY CATASTROPHIC.

IT JUST MIGHT BE EASIER TO TAKE OUT AND PLANT A NEW SEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SCOTT.

AND YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A VIEWER.

AND HIS WIFE STARTED SOME TOMATOES AND MARIGOLDS INSIDE.

AND THEY'RE EXPERIENCING SOME YELLOWING IN THE LEAVES, SOME RED IN THE LEAVES.

THEY'RE WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED.

AND THIS IS A MARCH 30TH PICTURE.

>> IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A NUTRITION ISSUE.

PURPLING OF THE LEAF CAN BE A SIGN OF NOT ENOUGH PHOSPHORUS, AND SOMETIMES YELLOWING CAN BE A SIGN OF NOT ENOUGH NITROGEN.

IT COULD PICK UP SOMETHING LIKE FISH, FISH EMULSION.

IT'S A NICE LOW NUMBERED FERTILIZER.

IT DOES STINK LIKE FISH, BUT IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO HELP GET THE NUTRITION TO THE SEEDLINGS THAT THEY NEED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SCOTT.

WELL, ONE OF OUR FAVORITE FEATURES ON OUR SHOW IS TAKING YOU OUT TO OUR GARDEN TO CHECK ON THE PROGRESS OF THIS YEAR'S CROP.

AS ALWAYS, TERRI JAMES RETURNS TO GUIDE US THROUGH THIS SEASON'S GARDEN UPDATES.

HERE'S TERRI TO SHOW US WHAT'S GROWING IN THE GREENHOUSE.

[MUSIC] >> WELCOME TO THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN 2026 VERSION.

WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE, AND WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE'RE DOING THIS YEAR IN THE GARDEN.

WE'VE REALLY BEEN WORKING SINCE ALMOST DECEMBER.

WE'VE HAD SEEDS STARTED IN THE GREENHOUSE UP AND GOING, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A TON OF PLANTS READY TO GO OUT.

WHEN THE GARDENS ARE READY, WE HAVE SOME NEW EXCITING THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING A LOT OF NEW ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS THAT WE'RE EXCITED TO TRY OUT FOR THE 2026 SEASON, AND WE ARE ADDING EVEN MORE STUFF TO OUR GARDEN.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE ONE OF THE CLASSES, CONSTRUCTION CLASSES IS PUTTING A NEW PATIO BY OUR GARDEN, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LITTLE PLACE WHERE WE CAN SIT AND RELAX AND HAVE SOME MINI CLASSES AND STUFF.

SO COME BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN MULTIPLE TIMES THIS YEAR TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHAT WE ARE DOING.

AND WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE GO ON THROUGH THE SEASON.

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

[MUSIC] >> THANKS, TERRI.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING TURNS OUT AT THE GARDEN THIS YEAR.

AND WE LOVE THAT NEW PATIO, WE HOPE.

WE ALSO HAVE A NEW FEATURE THIS YEAR.

IT IS ON THE BIG BOARD BEHIND ME.

EACH WEEK WE'RE GOING TO BE PICKING A QUESTION FROM OUR SOCIAL MEDIA.

WE'RE GOING TO FEATURE IT ON THE SHOW.

TONIGHT'S QUESTION COMES FROM EMILY LOHR.

SHE IS THE WIFE OF ONE OF OUR GREAT BACKYARD FARMER HELPERS.

WHO IS BROCK LOHR.

AND HER QUESTION IS ABOUT HER BULBS AND THAT FREEZE THAT WE HAD.

SHE LIVES IN BEATRICE.

THE DAYLILIES CAME UP.

LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE SENT IN THE SAME SORT OF QUESTION.

THEY HAD A SUDDEN HARD FREEZE.

THE FOLIAGE IS BROWN AND DAMAGED.

SHE'S WONDERING WHETHER THOSE PLANTS WILL RECOVER.

WHAT SHOULD SHE DO?

IT ALWAYS MAKES A DIFFERENCE ON WHAT THE PLANT IS AT THIS POINT.

WHAT WE REALLY LIKE TO RECOMMEND IS LEAVE AS MUCH OF THE GREEN AS YOU CAN SO THAT THAT PLANT CAN RECOVER.

TAKE OFF ANYTHING THAT IS JUST HORRIBLE AND MUSH BECAUSE THAT IS UNLIKELY TO RECOVER.

BUT THEN WE JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT WE ALWAYS DO IN THE GARDEN, WHICH IS WAIT AND SEE.

WE DO WANT YOU TO SEND IN THOSE GREAT PICTURES ON ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FEATURE ONE.

WE WANT TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON, WHETHER IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING OR WHETHER IT IS SOMETHING WE CAN HELP WITH.

SO MAKE SURE YOU SEND THOSE TO US ON ANYTHING THAT YOU USE FOR SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT IS ALSO TIME FOR US TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

COMING UP, WE DO HAVE THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

WE HAVE THE PLANT OF THE WEEK AND WE HAVE THAT WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST, SO WE WILL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THESE MESSAGES.

[MUSIC] FARMER.

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, JEFF IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO ABOUT YOUR PLANTS DURING THESE TEMPERATURE SWINGS.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN THOSE QUESTIONS TO 1-800-676-5446.

SEND US PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

AND OF COURSE, RIGHT NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

WE START, AS ALWAYS WITH YOU, SCOTT.

ARE YOU READY?

>> NO.

>> YES.

TOO BAD.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER COMPANION PLANTING FOR VEGETABLES ACTUALLY REALLY WORKS.

>> YES AND NO.

THERE IS SOME RESEARCH SHOWING, BUT IT CAN BRING IN MORE BUTTERFLIES AND BEES TO HELP WITH POLLINATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HIS SECOND QUESTION IS WHICH ONES SHOULD YOU COMPANIONS?

>> GOSH, YOU CAN ALWAYS PLANT ZINNIAS WITH YOUR TOMATOES.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEM OUT THERE.

BUT HAVE FUN AND SEE WHAT WORKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER GOT A TULIP BULBS AS A CHRISTMAS PRESENT FROM HOLLAND.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER SHE SHOULD PLANT NOW OR WAIT TILL FALL.

>> OH GOSH.

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO WAIT.

>> TILL FALL.

WAIT TILL FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A LOUISVILLE VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP MULCH IN PLACE ON A VERY WINDY RIDGE.

>> THERE IS ACTUALLY MULCH GLUE OUT THERE.

JUST LOOK AROUND AT YOUR FAVORITE GARDEN CENTER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IS IT OKAY TO TRIM SHRUBS NOW THIS IS ELKHORN.

>> IT DEPENDS.

>> THERE WE GO WITH OUR VERY FIRST DEPENDS OF THE SEASON.

BUT HE'S RIGHT.

OKAY, DENNIS.

READY?

>> YEAH.

>> I'M ALWAYS READY.

>> OF COURSE.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A NORTHWEST IOWA VIEWER NEAR SIOUX CITY.

HAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF MOLES AND HAS TRIED TRAPS, PELLETS AND VINEGAR AND IS WONDERING WHAT WILL WORK.

>> TRY THE GUMMY WORM LOOKING POISONS AS EXACTLY AS DIRECTED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW HOW YOU CAN TELL EXACTLY WHAT CRITTER IS BURROWING, EITHER IN YOUR GARDEN OR IN THE BANK AROUND THEIR HOUSE.

>> YOU CAN'T TELL EXACTLY.

THEY JUST HAVE TO GO BY THE SIGNS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO WONDERS, HOW CAN YOU TELL IF YOU HAVE OWL DROPPINGS?

THEY THINK THEY HAVE AN OWL.

>> WELL, OWL IS.

BESIDES LEAVING DROPPINGS, WHICH ARE VERY HARD TO SEE, THEY LEAVE OWL PELLETS.

>> AND OWL PELLET IS.

THIS IS ANOTHER QUESTION, OKAY?

>> IT'S WHAT THEY REGURGITATE WITH THE BONES OF VERMIN IN IT.

>> OH, LOVELY.

OKAY, THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IS THERE ANY WAY TO KEEP SQUIRRELS FROM CHEWING ON HIS HOUSE?

>> YES.

VEGETABLE OIL AND CAYENNE PEPPER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE A MINK SIGHTING IN LINCOLN?

>> SOMEBODY SAID, OH, YEAH, MINKS ARE ALL OVER.

YOU'LL SEE MINKS AROUND LINCOLN.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

ALL.

SO FAR.

OKAY.

>> SO FAR.

HERE.

HERE WE GO.

KAIT.

>> OKAY.

JEFF.

READY?

YEAH.

THIS IS A NORFOLK VIEWER WITH PRETTY SANDY SOIL.

SHE SAYS SHE HAS A LOT OF DEAD GRASS BUILD UP AND IS WONDERING WHETHER SHE SHOULD AERATE OR DETHATCH.

>> I WOULD AERATE, I'D AERATE IN TOP DRESS WITH COMPOST.

>> ALL RIGHT, IS IT TIME TO PRE-EMERGE LAWNS NOW?

FROM ABOUT 16 VIEWERS.

>> WELL, SOIL TEMPERATURE WISE, IT MAY BE.

IT SEEMS IT JUST SEEMS TOO EARLY.

AND YOU WANT TO BASE IT ON THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT YOUR PRE-EMERGE WILL LAST.

SO I WOULD PUSH IT OFF FOR A COUPLE MORE WEEKS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KILL WEEDS IN HER LANDSCAPE BED AND THEN PLANT GRASSES.

THE PRODUCT THAT SHE HAS IS A ROUNDUP PRODUCT THAT SAYS WAIT FOUR MONTHS.

SO WHAT CAN SHE USE INSTEAD?

>> THERE ARE PRODUCTS OUT THERE THAT WILL GIVE A THAT HAVE A POST PLANTING INTERVAL.

SO YOU NEED TO GO TO YOUR, YOUR LAWN STORE AND, AND LOOK AT THOSE.

BUT THERE'S A VARIETY OF THINGS OUT THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER IS WONDERING WHETHER THE MULTI-STEP TURF STUFF IS WORTH THE MONEY AUTOMATICALLY.

>> YOU'D HAVE TO.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LONG.

LONG QUESTION.

LONG QUESTION.

BUT YOU KNOW, IT MAY BE YOU MAY APPLY IT AT DIFFERENT INTERVALS THAN WHAT THEY'RE SUGGESTING THOUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

READY, KAIT?

SURE.

YOU LOVE THIS.

YES.

HERE WE GO.

THIS IS A SAUNDERS COUNTY VIEWER NEAR THE PLATTE WONDERING SHOULD THEY STILL WAIT TO CUT BACK ALL OF THEIR PERENNIALS AND GRASSES AND THINGS?

BECAUSE HE WANTS TO PROTECT THE POLLINATORS?

>> I WOULD WAIT UNTIL ABOUT MAY.

I'D GIVE IT ANOTHER MONTH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

IN SPITE OF EVERYBODY WHO'S ALREADY CUT IT DOWN.

>> YEAH.

USUALLY WE LIKE AVERAGE TEMPERATURES, MAYBE AROUND 50 OR SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A CHAPPELL NEBRASKA VIEWER WANTS TO KILL CLOVER MITES, SOAP SOAP AND BAKING SODA DID NOT WORK.

SHE WANTS A NATURAL METHOD.

>> GOOD LUCK WITH CLOVER MITES.

THERE'S HONESTLY, YOU CAN TRY A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.

THERE SHOULD BE LIKE A FIVE POINT QUESTION.

I COULD GO ON FOREVER.

NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

CALL ME IF YOU WANT ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER CLEANUP SHOULD BE BASED ON SOIL TEMP OR NIGHT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 50 AND 55 DEGREES TO PROTECT THINGS LIKE LIGHTNING BUGS THAT MIGHT NEED TWO YEARS.

>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT.

>> ISN'T THAT A GREAT QUESTION?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

ALL.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WON.

WHO WON.

SOMEBODY HAD TO WIN.

WE ALL WON.

>> I THINK IT.

>> WAS DENNIS.

DENNIS.

DENNIS WON.

OKAY.

THERE YOU GO.

DENNIS'S SNAKE WON.

WELL YOU KNOW WE HAVE ANOTHER TWIST FOR YOU THIS SEASON, WHICH IS INSTEAD OF SHOWING YOU THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK HERE IN OUR STUDIO, WE'VE TAKEN OUR CAMERAS OUT TO SHOW YOU WHAT'S AT THE NURSERY AND GARDEN CENTERS.

SO FOR OUR VERY FIRST PLANT OF THE WEEK THIS YEAR, HERE'S ELIZABETH.

[MUSIC] >> SO FOR THIS WEEK'S PLANT, WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON A PLANT THAT WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE.

THIS IS THE PRAIRIE GOLD ASPEN.

THIS IS A NATIVE TREE AND IT HAS MULTIPLE SEASONS OF INTEREST.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN THE SPRING ARE THE CATKINS, WHICH ARE THE SPRING FLOWERS.

AND THEN THEY'LL BE FOLLOWED BY THOSE GREEN, OVAL SHAPED LEAVES THAT LIKE TO MOVE IN THE WIND.

AND THEN COME THE FALL, WE'LL SEE THIS LOVELY YELLOW COLOR.

AND THEN WINTER, WE'LL HAVE THIS KIND OF FUN LOOKING WHITE BARK THAT'S GOING TO ADD SOME WINTER INTEREST ALL YEAR ROUND.

NOW, THE FUN THING ABOUT THE PRAIRIE GOLD ASPEN IS IT IS A NATIVE ASPEN, AND IT IS A CULTIVAR THAT DOESN'T LIKE TO SUCCOR OR FORM GROVES OR GROW REALLY CLOSE TOGETHER.

SO YOU COULD HAVE A SINGLE TREE OUT BY ITSELF.

BUT IF YOU WANT IT TO FORM A COLONY, YOU COULD PLANT SEVERAL OF THEM TOGETHER.

NOW THIS IS A FAST GROWING TREE, SO KEEP IN MIND IT'S GOING TO GET ABOUT 40 FOOT TALL VERY RAPIDLY.

AND THEN IT'S GOING TO NOT HAVE AN EXTREMELY LONG LIFE SPAN.

SO ENJOY IT FOR AS LONG AS IT'S AROUND.

AND THEN GO AHEAD AND LET THAT COLONIZE AND COME UP FROM THE ROOT SYSTEM AND ENJOY IT FOR YEARS TO COME.

NOW WE'RE GOING TO SEND IT TO GANNON FOR THIS WEEK'S WEATHER.

>> WELCOME BACK EVERYONE.

THE FACT THAT I'M STILL AROUND MEANS I GOT THE WEATHER RIGHT AT LEAST 50% OF THE TIME LAST YEAR, SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT AS A PLUS, CONSIDERING HOW WARM IT'S BEEN RECENTLY, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY MILD WEEK AHEAD OF US FOR THE MOST PART, TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE 50S AND 60S UNTIL MONDAY, BUT A FEW PLACES MAY GET INTO THE 40S.

OUR WARMEST DAY OF THE WEEK SEEMS TO BE ON WEDNESDAY, WHEN PLACES LIKE MCCOOK COULD GET INTO THE 80S.

THE PRECIPITATION WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY AND TODAY WAS BENEFICIAL.

HOWEVER, IT WAS MOSTLY LIMITED TO EAST OF KEARNEY.

THE MAP SHOWN IS A LITTLE BIT DECEIVING SINCE THE BULK OF THAT FELL TODAY.

HOWEVER, THERE'S STILL CHANCES OF RAIN TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT AND THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE STATE.

OUTSIDE OF THIS, IT WILL BE RELATIVELY QUIET UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, WHEN PRECIPITATION CHANCES WILL ONCE AGAIN INCREASE.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEK OF WEATHER FORECAST.

IF YOU'D LIKE AN EXTENDED SPRING OUTLOOK, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT BACKYARD FARMER ON YOUTUBE.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> WELL, WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT WE GET A LITTLE MOISTURE EVERYWHERE AND KEEP IT NICE AND COOL.

NONE OF THIS 95 AND BREAK ALL THOSE RECORDS AGAIN.

THAT WAS KIND OF ODD.

ALL RIGHT, QUESTIONS KAIT, YOU HAVE ONE ON FOR THIS FIRST ONE.

SO THEY THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO ORGANICALLY ELIMINATE BOTH CHIGGERS AND WEEDS WITHOUT KILLING DESIRED PLANTS.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD DO THIS YEAR BECAUSE LAST YEAR, APPARENTLY IT WAS HORRIBLE ENOUGH THAT THEY BASICALLY HAD TO SHRIEK AND ABANDON ALL HOPE IN THEIR OWN GARDEN.

THIS IS OMAHA.

>> YEAH.

SO CHIGGERS ARE ALSO VERY DIFFICULT TO GET RID OF WITH PESTICIDES.

IF YOU WANT TO GO THAT ROUTE, LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS LIKE BIFENTHRIN OR ANOTHER PYRETHROID.

IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME MAYBE SOIL SOLARIZATION, MAYBE WITH, I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT A PLANT PERSON, BUT REALLY, WHEN IT COMES TO CHIGGERS, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN USE A REPELLENT LIKE DEET, KEEP THINGS NICE AND LOW TO THE GROUND, KEEP THE GARDEN TIDY AND THEN SHOWER AND WASH YOUR CLOTHES AS SOON AS YOU GET BACK INSIDE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KAIT.

WE HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM OMAHA.

SHE FOUND GIANT GRUBS IN CAPS AS SHE DUG HER RHUBARB ROOTS.

THEY WERE VERY MOBILE, AND SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DESTROY, IF THEY TURN INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.

>> YEAH.

SO THESE GUYS ARE REALLY FUN.

THESE ARE THE GRUBS OF GREEN JUNE BEETLES.

SO THOSE ARE THESE BIG, LARGE SCARAB BEETLES THAT COME OUT.

BUT THESE ARE FUN BECAUSE AS THEY WALK, THEY ACTUALLY WALK ON THEIR BACK, LIKE WIGGLE ON THEIR BACK.

SO THEY'RE FUN TO WATCH.

NOT REALLY CONSIDERED A PEST.

I THINK YOU'RE FINE.

GOOD FOOD FOR CRITTERS.

>> RIGHT.

AND WE HAVE TWO ON THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS A VIEWER WHO FOUND THESE IN HIS DRIVEWAY.

HE THOUGHT THEY CAME OUT OF THE CEDAR TREE BUT THEN FOUND HOLES.

AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM A DIGGING 4 TO 5FT AWAY, GOING AFTER THESE GRUBS.

>> YEAH.

SO THESE, I BELIEVE, ARE THE SAME THING.

THESE ARE THE GREEN JUNE BEETLES.

AND DENNIS, YOU'D PROBABLY AGREE.

>> YEAH.

RACCOONS WOULD GO AFTER THEM AND SKUNKS, THEY'RE LIKE, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL POP THEM UP LIKE POPCORN SHRIMP.

>> SO IT'S NOT ENOUGH THAT EVERYTHING ELSE DIGS IN THE YARD.

EVERYTHING ELSE DIGS FOR EVERYTHING ELSE SO THEY CAN EAT IT.

I GUESS THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, JEFF, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A PANAMA, IOWA VIEWER.

AND HE SAID AT THAT TIME, WE TOLD HIM THE BEST TIME TO SPRAY CREEPING CHARLIE IS WHEN IT WAS FLOWERING.

IS THIS STILL THE BEST ADVICE?

AND THIS IS IN THE FALL.

HE TRIED IT.

HE HAD PERMANENT CLEARANCE OF HIS LAWN.

HE SIMPLY WONDERING TO KNOW, IS THIS STILL WORKING FOR NORTHERN IOWA?

IS THAT WHAT WE RECOMMEND?

>> YEAH.

IF THERE'S KIND OF TWO SUSCEPTIBLE TIMES FOR CREEPING CHARLIE AND DURING FLOWER IS ONE OF THEM.

SO YOU HAVE THAT WINDOW IN THE SPRING AND THEN LATER IN THE FALL IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE RECOMMEND.

BUT YEAH, IF YOU CAN GET OUT THERE AND DO IT THIS TIME OF YEAR, THAT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO IT.

>> RIGHT.

AND THEN THAT'S ACTUALLY A PICTURE FROM ANOTHER VIEWER WHO BASICALLY HAD THE SAME QUESTION AND HAS A CLOSE UP OF A LEAF, JUST IN CASE WE THOUGHT IT WAS HENBIT.

>> SO.

RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

SO SAME ADVICE WHETHER YOU'RE.

>> YEAH, IF YOU'RE USING A PRODUCT WITH TRICLOPYR IN IT.

AND AGAIN, THEY'LL PROBABLY HAVE MULTIPLE PRODUCTS IN, IN THAT, THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL PRODUCT TO USE.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE AND THIS OR TWO PICTURES.

I'M SORRY, THIS IS CORN SPEEDWELL WAS SPRAYED LAST SUMMER AND FALL.

HE'S.

AND HE DIDN'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS, BUT HE SAID REGULAR WEED KILLERS SEEMED TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT.

AND HE'S WONDERING.

HE'S SAYING HELP.

>> YEAH, THIS IS A TOUGH ONE.

THIS IS AGAIN, THIS WILL TAKE MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS OF THE SAME PRODUCT.

I WAS TALKING ABOUT THAT TRICLOPYR PRODUCT.

AND YOU'LL HAVE TO KIND OF STICK WITH IT.

AGAIN, WE HAVE THIS WINDOW IN THE SPRING.

ONCE THINGS START WARMING UP, PLANTS ARE LESS SUSCEPTIBLE.

THEN HIT IT AGAIN IN THE FALL.

>> AND HE'S IN AURORA.

AND I KNOW WE SAW THIS BLOOMING IN OUR BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN ABOUT A MONTH AGO ALREADY.

>> OH WOW.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE I THINK, FOR YOU, JEFF, WHICH IS SHE WANTS TO USE ONLY ORGANIC PRODUCTS FOR HER LAWN WEEDS AND WONDERED WHAT WE THINK OF THE INGREDIENTS IN THIS PARTICULAR FORMULA.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

>> THESE I MEAN, THIS PRODUCT IS FINE.

IT'S A NONSELECTIVE HERBICIDE.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND.

AND IT'LL BE EFFECTIVE.

YOU MAY HAVE TO APPLY IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

IT'LL HAVE A MORE OF THE WHAT I WOULD SAY IT'LL BURN THE PLANT DOWN.

IT WON'T MAYBE NECESSARILY KILL IT.

SO YOU'LL HAVE TO HIT IT MULTIPLE TIMES.

THAT'S MAYBE THE DOWNSIDE OF THESE PRODUCTS.

SO THAT'S, THAT'S THE ONE SIDE I WOULD SAY IF YOU REALLY ARE INTENT ON BEING ORGANIC, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE TERRI WILL TELL YOU, GET OUT YOUR WEED KNIFE AND GO OUT AND DIG UP THE WEEDS.

THAT'S WHAT I THAT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF GETTING THEM.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY PRODUCTS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND THAT WAY YOU TAKE CARE OF IT ONCE AND FOR ALL.

>> SO EXCELLENT.

THANKS, JEFF.

OKAY, DENNIS, TWO REALLY FUN ONES.

THIS IS A DOUGLAS COUNTY VIEWER SENT US TWO PICS OF THIS.

HE THINKS THIS IS A LEUCISTIC.

IS THAT RIGHT?

LIKE MUTANT OPOSSUM WHO VISITED THE BACKYARD.

>> I LOVE THIS GUY.

>> LOOK AT.

>> THOSE PICTURES.

HE HAS A BLACK EARS, SO THAT'S ALMOST PIEBALD.

IT'S A GENETIC ABERRATION.

AND IT'S NOT TRUE ALBINISM, BUT IT'S SOME CHROMATOPHORE GENETIC MUTANT.

BUT I THINK HE'S SO COOL.

>> YEAH.

>> ENJOY HIM, ENJOY HIM.

>> JUST SO CUTE AND FLUFFY.

ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, DENNIS.

AND SHE FOUND THIS.

SHE'S IN LANCASTER COUNTY.

SHE FOUND THIS AT THE BASE OF A TREE, AND SHE'S WONDERING WHAT KIND OF CRITTER IT MIGHT BE.

THEY DO HAVE FOXES AROUND, BUT.

>> WELL, I LOVE THIS BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER PICTURE THAT SHOWS THE TEETH AND I WAS ABLE TO COUNT IT.

AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE RAMUS IS A LITTLE BIT EATEN AND THE CONDYLE IS A LITTLE BIT EATEN, I WAS GOING.

OH YEAH.

OKAY, GO THIS WAY, GO THAT WAY.

AND IT'S DEFINITELY A FOX.

>> OH, DEFINITELY.

>> YEAH, I THOUGHT A RACCOON.

BUT THE RAMUS ISN'T JUST QUITE RIGHT.

AND THE MOLARS DIDN'T MATCH UP BECAUSE THERE IS A PICTURE WHERE IT SHOWS THE ROOTS OF THE OF THE MOLARS.

AND THAT WAS THE WAY I WAS ABLE TO COUNT THE MOLARS AND COUNT THE PREMOLARS.

AND IT'S A FOX.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

YEAH, THERE'S THE OTHER ONE.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE ONE MORE PICTURE.

AND THIS.

WE'RE NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHERE HE'S FROM, BUT HE'S WONDERING ABOUT THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THIS PARTICULAR CREATURE.

>> OKAY.

THE FAMILY OF BUFONIDAE.

THE GENUS IS ZAHRA, AND IT LOOKS LIKE AMERICANUS OR THE AMERICAN TOAD.

SO IF THIS IS FROM NEBRASKA, THE ONLY PLACE THEY'RE FOUND IS WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE MISSOURI RIVER IN WASHINGTON, DOUGLAS AND SARPY COUNTY IN NEBRASKA.

SO IT'S VERY RARE IN NEBRASKA, COMMON IN IOWA.

AND I CAN'T SEE ALL THE FEATURES PROPERLY, BUT IT'S LEANING TOWARDS IT'S DEFINITELY AN A ZAHRA, WHETHER IT'S WITH HOUSII.

I DOUBT IF IT'S WOODHOUSII, IT'S PROBABLY AMERICANA OR THE AMERICAN TOAD.

>> WELL, THERE'S AN EXIRA IOWA, SO HE MIGHT BE ON THE COUNCIL BLUFFS.

>> THIS IS A N A.

>> O R. OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, SCOTT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE FOR YOU.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW, SHOULD SHE CUT THESE HYDRANGEAS?

THIS IS PINKY WINKY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE PANICLES.

SHE WANTS TO KNOW SHOULD SHE CUT BELOW THE Y FOR STRONGER PLANT?

>> YES.

YOU COULD GO AHEAD AND CUT IT A LITTLE BIT LOWER.

JUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALREADY BEEN PRUNED AND WE DON'T WANT TO OVER PRUNE SOMETHING.

AND THAT COULD JUST STIMULATE A BUNCH OF GREEN GROWTH AND NO FLOWERS.

SO JUST USE A LITTLE BIT OF CAUTION.

BUT YES YOU COULD.

>> ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER, SCOTT.

THEY BOUGHT THIS HOUSE AND A YOUNG SEVEN SUN SHRUB TREE WAS PLANTED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER.

AND HE'S WONDERING HOW TO PRUNE IT TO ADJUST.

IT'S INTERESTING GROWTH PATTERN.

AND OF COURSE THEY DO THIS AS YOU WELL KNOW.

>> YES, THE SEVEN SUNS IS A FOUNTAIN SHAPED MULTI-STEMMED SHRUB.

I HAD TO LOOK THAT UP.

BUT WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO IS PRUNE OUT SOME OF THE THE SUCKERS ON THE FURTHEST OF THE BRANCH TO HELP WITH THE OVERALL SUPPORT, BUT IT HAS THAT ARCHING HABIT.

AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE STANDOUT FEATURES OF THIS SHORT TREE, TALL SHRUB.

>> EXCELLENT.

THANKS, SCOTT.

AND SPEAKING OF FROZEN THINGS THAT WE HAD FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, THIS VIEWER SENT US THIS FROM LINCOLN.

HER DAFFODILS FROZE AND LOOKED LIKE THIS.

SHE'S WONDERING, WILL THEY BLOOM NEXT YEAR BECAUSE SHE THINKS SHE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH?

>> IT'S UNLIKELY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO FLOWER NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE A LOT OF THAT PHOTOSYNTHETIC TISSUE HAS BEEN DAMAGED.

WE WANT TO TRY AND LEAVE AS MUCH OF THE GREEN INTACT, WAIT TILL IT TURNS YELLOW BEFORE WE CLEAN UP, BUT PROBABLY NOT.

IF IT DOES FLOWER, THAT COULD BE MUCH SMALLER AND MAYBE NOT AS ABUNDANT AS THEY SHOULD BE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SCOTT.

WELL, OF COURSE, IF YOU'VE LIVED HERE LONG ENOUGH, YOU KNOW THE WEATHER IS GOING TO BE VERY UNPREDICTABLE.

WE'VE HAD OUR UPS AND DOWNS THIS WINTER, MOSTLY UPS AND THEN DOWNS, AND THOSE TEMPERATURE SWINGS CAN WREAK HAVOC ON OUR LANDSCAPE PLANTS.

SO HERE'S JEFF WITH SOME QUICK ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO IF THE WEATHER HAS DAMAGED SOME OF YOURS.

[MUSIC] >> WELL, HERE WE ARE.

SPRING IS COMING.

ALTHOUGH IF YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION, WE'VE HAD.

TODAY IS REALLY THE FIRST DAY OF AN AVERAGE HIGH OF 60, BUT WE ALREADY HAD 21 DAYS OVER 60 ACROSS THE STATE HERE IN THE MONTH OF MARCH.

SO WE'VE REALLY HAD SPRING FOR A LONG TIME.

WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME SNOW MIXED IN THERE, SOME BELOW ZERO TEMPS.

SO THE TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN KIND OF ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHICH IS BECOMING THE NORM FOR US HERE IN NEBRASKA.

WHAT THAT DOES FOR SOME OF OUR PLANTS IS CAUSE THEM TO GERMINATE EARLY.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE THAT ESPECIALLY WITH OUR SPRING BULBS OR DAFFODILS, OUR CROCUS OR HYACINTH, SOME OF THOSE HAVE COME UP EARLY.

AND YOU MAY NOTICE THAT THEY'VE DIED BACK OR THEY HAVE SOME BROWN TIPS, MAYBE SOME OF THE OTHER PLANTS YOU'LL NOTICE SOME EARLY FLOWERING AND SOME DYING BACK.

SO WE WANT TO JUST LET THOSE SIT.

RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANY PRUNING.

WE DON'T WANT TO DO ANY REMOVALS.

JUST BE PATIENT WITH THOSE.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT CERTAIN PLANTS, FOR INSTANCE, LIKE RHUBARB, MAYBE COMING UP, I GO AHEAD AND MULCH THOSE LIGHTLY, MAKE SURE THINGS HAVE GOTTEN SOME WATER.

IT'S BEEN DRY.

SO LIGHTLY MULCH CERTAIN PLANTS.

IF YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEM WATER THINGS, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE NICE AND MOIST AND AVOID PRUNING AT THIS TIME.

>> AS HARD AS IT IS, THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT WAIT AND SEE APPROACH TO THOSE PLANTS THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF DAMAGE.

AND REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO GET WATER ON YOUR LANDSCAPE.

IF MOTHER NATURE DOESN'T GIVE IT TO US, PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THOSE PLANTS THAT HAVE POPPED OUT OF THE GROUND WAY TOO EARLY.

ALL RIGHT.

LAST ROUND OF QUESTIONS FOR OUR VERY FIRST SHOW OF THE SEASON.

LET'S SEE.

THIS IS OMAHA, KAIT.

A COCOON TWO INCHES LONG OR SO ATTACHED.

SHE WONDERS WHAT IT IS.

>> SO THIS IS ONE OF OUR GIANT SILK MOTHS, LIKELY THE POLYPHEMUS MOTH.

BIG BROWN BEAUTIFUL.

THEY HAVE WONDERFUL EYESPOTS.

SO KEEP AN EYE ON THIS BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY COOL WHEN IT EMERGES.

>> I'M SO JEALOUS.

>> I KNOW.

ME TOO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE THIS ONE CAME TO US FROM JULIUS TOWN, NEW JERSEY, WHICH IS GREAT.

SHE FOUND THIS.

SHE'S CALLING IT A BUG CARCASS IN HER BACKYARD.

AND IF IF SHE SAYS IF SHE SEES ONE OF THEM FLYING, SHE'S A GONER.

BUT SHE'S WONDERING WHAT THIS IS.

>> YEAH, THIS IS KIND OF A WILD PICTURE.

I HAD TO LOOK AT IT SEVERAL TIMES.

IT'S NOT AN INSECT OR RELATED TO INSECTS.

I TALKED TO A COUPLE OF HORTICULTURE PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE.

WE THINK MAYBE IT'S LIKE A TUBER IN ROOTS THAT A SQUIRREL OR SOMETHING LIKE PICKED UP AND PUT ON THE AC.

WE'RE NOT SURE, BUT I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ANY FLYING, SO YOU SHOULD BE GOOD.

>> AND IF SHE DOES, WE'RE IN TROUBLE.

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S SEE.

I THINK YOU HAVE ONE MORE HERE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

YES.

THIS ONE THIS IS REAL WESTERN OTOE COUNTY.

HE DOES WONDER.

HE THINKS IT'S NOT EGGS.

SO HE KIND OF WANTS US TO CONFIRM THAT IT'S NOT EGGS.

>> IT'S NOT EGGS.

>> OKAY.

WHAT IS IT?

>> I BELIEVE IT'S THE FRUITING BODY.

OR LIKE THE EGG LIKE STAGE OF THE STINKHORN MUSHROOM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> EXCELLENT.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF, YOU ONLY HAVE TWO ON THIS ONE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO THIS IS AN AURORA VIEWER WHO'S WONDERING ABOUT THE FIRST LAWN APPLICATION.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF HIS TURF.

HE JUST SENT THIS 1 IN 2 DAYS AGO.

>> RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

WELL, I THINK, AGAIN, LIKE WE'VE BEEN TALKING THROUGH THE SHOW THAT IT MAY BE A LITTLE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

WE'RE PROBABLY LOOKING I THINK HE SAYS TAX DAY.

SO I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S TOO FAR OFF.

AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD SUGGEST WE TALK ABOUT USING PRE-EMERGENCE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

YOU KNOW I THINK THAT HIS LAWN LOOKS PRETTY NICE IF HE WANTS TO DO A, A FERTILIZING APP THIS TIME OF YEAR, THAT'S GOOD.

IF YOU WANT TO USE YOUR PRE-EMERGENT AREAS THAT MAYBE THE GRASS IS A LITTLE THINNER OR YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANY OVERSEEDING YOU COULD DO THAT.

BUT IF YOU PLAN ON DOING ANY KIND OF AERATING OR OVERSEEDING, OBVIOUSLY YOU'RE GOING TO WANT TO STAY AWAY FROM USING ANY POST-EMERGE OR PRE-EMERGE HERBICIDES BECAUSE THAT WILL INTERFERE WITH ANY KIND OF SEED GERMINATION.

SO.

>> ALL RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN.

>> OKAY.

>> SO YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS CHRIS IN LINCOLN WHO SAID THIS DEAD LOOKING, WIRY GRASS IS ALL OVER ON CAMPUS.

SO WE MUST HAVE BEEN WANDERING ABOUT.

OKAY, ALSO SEES IT IN THE PARK ACROSS FROM HIM.

HE'S WONDERING, IS IT A WEED?

WILL IT GREEN UP OR SHOULD HE GET RID OF IT?

>> WELL, IF HE'S ON CAMPUS AND HE'S SEEING IT, THEN IT'S LIKELY BERMUDA GRASS.

SO.

AND IT WILL GREEN UP.

SO IT'S WE USE IT ON CERTAIN PLACES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF UNDERGROUND UTILITIES ON BOTH CAMPUSES, AND THEY ARE QUITE WARM.

AND SO THE BERMUDA GRASS IS ABLE TO SURVIVE THERE.

AND IT DOES WELL IN THE SUMMERTIME WHEN THE COOL SEASON GRASSES FADE AWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> IN THE PARK, IT MAY BE NIMBLEWILL, SO THEY BOTH RESEMBLE EACH OTHER THIS TIME OF YEAR.

SO AND THAT WOULD BE IF IT'S IN A COOLER AREA AND YOU'RE SEEING THAT, THEN IT MAY BE NIMBLEWILL.

AND THEN YOU WOULD USE TENACITY TO TREAT THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JEFF.

OKAY, DENNIS, ONE PICTURE ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WONDERING WHAT MIGHT BE MAKING THESE HOLES.

OH, I'M SORRY, THIS IS THE THE DEAD BAT.

THIS IS THE DEAD BAT.

FOUND THIS LITTLE DEAD BAT ON THE DRIVEWAY.

WHAT KIND OF A LITTLE BAT IS THIS?

>> OKAY, IF I LOOK AT THE TRAGUS IN THE EAR, IT'S ATTICUS FUSCUS, THE BIG BROWN BAT.

AND HOW DID I KNOW IT LOOKS LIKE A CAT.

GOT IT.

OR, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY BE GOING AFTER INSECTS IN FRONT OF LIGHTS OF TRUCKS AND GET HIT BY A TRUCK.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON PAVEMENT AND THERE'S NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW IT DIED.

I MEAN, IT'S ALL THERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S MANGLED.

SO IT MIGHT IT BEING SO DRY, IT MIGHT HAVE GOT DOWN TO THE GROUND TO TRY TO FIND WATER BECAUSE IT COULDN'T FLY, FLY OVER A PUDDLE AND SCOOP UP WATER AND THEN A CAT WOULD HAVE GOT IT.

OKAY.

YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I THINK YOU HAVE THE NEXT ONE.

I THINK YOU JUST HAVE ONE PICTURE, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

THIS IS WHAT MIGHT BE MAKING THESE HOLES IN A THIN LAWN.

THEY'RE ABOUT AN INCH ACROSS.

AND THERE'S A FAN SHAPED PILE OF DIRT ON ONE SIDE.

>> I WOULDN'T YEAH, IT'S SO WOOD.

THIS LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING LIKE A VOLE AND BUT THE VOLE WOULDN'T DO IT EXACTLY LIKE THAT.

BUT THEN SOMETHING LIKE A FOX OR SOMETHING THAT EATS VOLES LIKE A COYOTE MAYBE, OR EVEN A DOG IS DIGGING AFTER IT BECAUSE I CAN SEE SOME POOR DIGGING.

SO IT'S PROBABLY VOLES BEING PREDATED ON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND SHE THINKS THESE ARE GOPHER TUNNELS IN HER FRONT GARDEN.

>> THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE GOPHER.

NO.

GOPHERS LEAVE GIANT MOUNDS AND NO OPEN HOLES.

RIGHT.

AGAIN, THIS ONE DEPENDS ON HOW FAR IT GOES DOWN.

IT MORE LOOKS LIKE PREDATION, BUT IT COULD.

IF IT DOESN'T GO VERY FAR, IT'S PROBABLY A SQUIRREL LOOKING FOR HIS NUTS OR CAN'T FIND ITS NUTS.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, SCOTT, TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THIS IS A PAPER PLANT.

SHE DIVIDED IT.

NEW GROWTH COMES OUT, LEAVES DETERIORATE FROM THE TIP, AND THEN THEY GET COMPLETELY DEAD AND FALL OFF CONTINUES.

AND THEN A BEAR CENTER.

SHE'S TRIED ALL SORTS OF THINGS, WATERING THOROUGHLY ONLY WHEN DRY.

SO WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THIS ONE?

>> I'M THINKING THIS IS GOING TO BE MORE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

THIS IS A JAPANESE AURELIA.

THEY DO ENJOY A MODERATE HUMIDITY THAT 50 TO 55%, WHICH IS KIND OF HARD TO ACHIEVE DURING THIS THE WINTER INDOORS.

AND THEY DO LIKE CONSISTENT MOISTURE, SOIL MOISTURE.

SO WATERING MAYBE ONCE, MAYBE TWICE A WEEK, USING YOUR FINGER TO GAUGE THE SOIL MOISTURE IS GOING TO BE HELPFUL.

YOU CAN ALSO TRY TO INCREASE THE HUMIDITY WITH A HUMIDIFIER OR A PUDDLE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

ALSO THIS IS A TEA OLIVE PLANT.

AND SHE SAYS DISTORTED BROWN TIPS, SPOTS.

SOME LEAVES LOOK LIKE THEY'VE BEEN CHEWED ON.

IT'S POTTED.

IT'S KEPT INDOORS.

SHE SPRAYED IT WITH BONNIE.

BUT WHETHER THAT IS WHAT SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE, SHE DOESN'T KNOW FOR SURE.

>> ALWAYS CHECK THE BACKSIDE OF THE LEAVES.

A LOT OF OUR INSECTS HIDE BEHIND THERE.

THRIPS.

THEY CAN DO SOME OF THAT PUCKERING THAT CAN LEAVE SOME OF THAT PUCKERING TYPE DAMAGE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING ANY TYPE OF PESTICIDE, MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHECK THE BACKSIDE OF THE LEAVES BECAUSE THEY DO LIKE TO HIDE OUT THERE, BUT THIS COULD BE A ONE OF TWO THINGS.

MINERAL DEPOSITS ON THE ROOT SYSTEM.

SO STICK THE PLANT AT THE SINK, LET THE WATER TO RUN THROUGH TO HELP BREAK OFF THOSE SALTS AND MINERALS.

AND THE OTHER ONE IS IT COULD BE A FLUORIDE TOXICITY THAT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO HAPPEN.

SO YOU MIGHT SWITCH TO RAINWATER THAT SINCE IT RAINED OR GO OVER TO A DISTILLED OR REVERSE OSMOSIS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, SCOTT.

WELL, WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START THIS SEASON.

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

HELPING US ON THE PHONES.

WE HAD MASTER GARDENERS JOHN CARIOTTO, GARY BELL AND EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER, WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT WHAT ARE THE BEST EVERGREEN OPTIONS FOR NEBRASKA.

WE'LL ALSO GET SOME GOOD TIPS ON FIRE SAFETY AROUND YOUR HOME.

SO GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

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