♪ >> Announcer: "BACKYARD FARMER" IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WE ARE REALLY THRILLED TO HAVE THE 73rd SEASON OF "BACKYARD FARMER" KICKING OFF.

FIRST I WANT TO WELCOME YOU, PRESIDENT JEFFREY GOLD, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

>> WELL, THANKS SO MUCH.

IT'S A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 73rd SEASON OF THIS GREAT PRODUCT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT QUITE THAT OLD, BUT I'M GLAD THE SHOW IS THAT OLD.

WE DO WANT TO KNOW WHAT SORT OF ADVICE YOU WOULD HAVE FOR US GOING INTO THE 73rd SEASON.

>> WELL, FOR SURE HAVING GROWN UP IN THE INNER CITY OF NEW YORK, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I HAD A GARDEN, AND IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS A KID.

AND WHAT I LEARNED FROM SO MANY OTHERS IS THAT YOUR INSTINCTS AND YOUR INTERNAL JUDGMENT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK.

AND MY BEST ADVICE TO YOU, AND OF COURSE TO OUR VIEWERS IS ASK THE EXPERTS.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT KNOW AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE GARDENS SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE MORE YOU CAN LEARN FROM THEM, THE MORE FUN IT IS, THE MORE PRODUCTIVE YOU ARE, AND THE MORE YOU'RE LIKELY TO KEEP DOING IT.

♪ ♪ >> THIS SEASON WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING SOMETHING TRULY SPECIAL -- THE INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP ACROSS OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM THAT FOCUSES ON MENTAL HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND THE WAYS WE GROW OUR FOOD.

♪ ♪ >> IT'S MORE THAN JUST GROWING PLANTS, IT'S ALSO ABOUT GROWING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

AND WHETHER IT'S THE LATEST GARDEN TRENDS, BETTER SOIL HEALTH, OR HELPING YOU DIAGNOSE THOSE LANDSCAPE PROBLEMS, WE ARE HERE TO OFFER OUR EXPERTISE TO YOU.

>> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER SESSION OF THE "BACKYARD FARMER."

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

>> WE'VE BEEN ANSWERING YOUR GARDENING QUESTIONS RIGHT HERE IN THIS STUDIO FOR SEVEN DECADES.

AND NOW LET'S START GROWING TOGETHER AGAIN, LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

LET'S DIG IN TO SEASON 73 OF "BACKYARD FARMER."

♪ ♪ >>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO ANOTHER SEASON OF "BACKYARD FARMER."

I'M KIM TODD, AND OF COURSE WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO GET STARTED ANSWERING ALL YOUR QUESTIONS, HELPING YOU WITH YOUR LANDSCAPE THE RIGHT WAY.

WE'VE OPENED UP THE PHONE LINES FOR YOU TO ASK YOUR QUESTIONS.

THAT NUMBER IS 1-800-676-5446.

WE ALSO LIKE GETTING THOSE EMAILS AND THOSE PICTURES FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

THAT ADDRESS IS BYF@UNL.EDU.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE.

WE'RE NOT GONNA STALK YOU.

AND GIVE US AS MUCH INFORMATION AS YOU CAN, SO WE CAN GIVE YOU A GREAT ANSWER.

IF YOU ALSO WANT TO CHECK OUT FEATURES, SHORT VIDEOS NOW, AND PAST PROGRAMS, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT "BACKYARD FARMER" ONLINE AT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND OF COURSE OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.

AND, SINCE WE LISTEN TO YOU, OUR AUDIENCE, WE ARE BRINGING BACK A PROGRAM FAVORITE WITH SAMPLES.

WE'RE STARTING WITH DENNIS, CRITTER/CREATURE AND OF COURSE HE BROUGHT ONE OF HIS FAVORITE SAMPLES.

>> YES.

SO IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL, OR SECOND MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.

IT'S WHEN SNAKES AND OTHER REPTILES EMERGE FROM THEIR LONG BRUMATION, AND THE FIRST THING THEY DO, ESPECIALLY THE GARTER SNAKE, IS GATHER UP FOR MATING.

SO YOU'LL SEE BIG GROUPS OF 'EM.

AND REMEMBER, GARTER SNAKES ARE BENEFICIAL.

NO GERMS AND VIRUSES TRANSMITTABLE TO PEOPLE.

AND THEY EAT WORMS AND INSECTS AND A LOT OF OTHER CREATURES THAT MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS IN YOUR GARDEN.

NOT THAT THE WORMS CAUSE PROBLEMS.

SO JUST ENJOY 'EM, AND EMBRACE 'EM IN YOUR LANDSCAPE.

>> AND KNOW THAT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WANDER OFF THE TABLE AND -- >> NO.

>> OR INTO YOUR POCKET, OR DO ANYTHING FUN LIKE THAT TODAY.

>> THEY'RE JUST GONNA DO THEIR THING.

>> I LOVE IT.

THEY'RE REALLY FUN AND PRETTY.

>> AND WE DO HAVE FOUR TYPES OF GARTER SNAKES IN NEBRASKA.

THIS IS THE PLAINS.

AND YOU CAN'T TELL BY THE COLOR.

THE STRIPE COULD BE ALMOST ANY COLOR, IT'S STILL A GARTER SNAKE.

>> AWESOME.

THANK YOU, DENNIS.

OKAY, JEFF, A BEAUTIFUL POTTED PLANT.

>> YEAH, NOT NEARLY AS INTERESTING AS THE SNAKE.

BUT RIGHT NOW PROBABLY IN A LOT OF PEOPLE'S GARDENS, YOU'RE SEEING THE WINTER ANNUALS COMING UP.

SO YOU HAVE A VARIETY OF LITTLE THINGS COMING UP IN YOUR GARDEN.

NOT YOUR VEGETABLES OR ANYTHING THAT YOU PLANTED YET.

THIS PARTICULAR PLANT IS NOT A WINTER ANNUAL.

SO THIS IS CREEPING CHARLIE WHICH IS A PERENNIAL.

SO IT MAY RESEMBLE HENBIT AND SOME OF THE OTHER WINTER ANNUALS OUT THERE.

WHAT MAKES THIS A LITTLE BIT TRICKIER TO TAKE CARE OF IS THE FACT THAT BECAUSE IT IS A PERENNIAL, JUST PULLING IT AND JUST MOWING IT AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE'LL SUGGEST SOMETIMES WITH OUR WINTER ANNUALS WON'T WORK QUITE AS WELL WITH THIS.

SO THINGS TO THINK ABOUT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR PLANT IN AN AREA IS MAKING SURE THAT YOUR SOIL FERTILITY IS REALLY GOOD.

SO WE WANT TO LOOK AND MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE SOIL.

AND THEN YOU CAN TRY PULLING, AND AS A LAST RESORT YOU MIGHT WANT TO TRY SOME OF THE DIFFERENT MULTI-CHEMICAL HERBICIDES, AND PROBABLY THEY'LL WORK ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND IT'S PRETTY, AND AWFUL.

>> IT IS PRETTY, AND TENACIOUS, YEAH.

>> TENACIOUS.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ALMOST IN FLOWER HERE THAT YOU SAID IS NOT IN FLOWER FOR YOU.

>> NOT EVEN CLOSE.

SO WHEN I DROVE INTO LINCOLN, I'M LIKE, "HOLY COW, THERE'S TREES BLOOMING."

SO WHAT I HAVE WITH ME IS AN APPLE BRANCH THAT I ACTUALLY PULLED OFF THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

AND SO WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT HERE IS, IS WE'RE GETTING THOSE BUDS ARE ABOUT READY TO POP OUT.

AND SO THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WE'RE GOING TO BE BE SPRAYING OUR APPLES AND OUR CRABAPPLES FOR CEDAR APPLE RUST AND APPLE SCAB.

AND SO IF YOU'RE IN THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE STATE, THIS IS PROBABLY SOMETHING YOU WANT TO BE GETTING DONE HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS.

THIS WEEKEND I THINK SHOULD BE FAIRLY NICE TO GO OUT AND SPRAY YOUR TREES.

NOW IF YOU'RE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE, WE'RE ABOUT TWO WEEKS BEHIND.

SO IN THE NEXT WEEK AND A HALF, YOU'RE DEFINITELY GONNA WANT TO BE TAKING A LOOK AT THOSE TREES, AND GETTING THOSE FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS ON SO WE'RE NOT HAVING ALL THAT BEAUTIFUL -- I CALL IT BEAUTIFUL -- ORANGE AND RED SPLOTCHES ON OUR LEAVES, ON OUR APPLES, AND THAT APPLE SCAB MOVING IN LATER THIS SUMMER.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND IF YOU WANT TO SEE IT, IT'LL BE IN OUR GARDEN BECAUSE WE DON'T SPRAY.

>> NOPE.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, KELLY, A GIANT PIECE OF A YEW.

>> YEP, I DO, I HAVE JAPANESE YEW HERE.

WE'RE GETTING INTO THE PRUNING SEASON, AND THIS IS JAPANESE YEW AS I SAID, OR THE GENUS TAXUS.

AND I JUST WANTED TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A VERY TOXIC PLANT.

AND NOW I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF IT IN OUR LANDSCAPES, AND YOU MIGHT WONDER WHY.

WELL, PEOPLE TEND NOT TO EAT JAPANESE YEW.

BUT WHAT -- WHERE POISONING CAN HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE WILL SOMETIMES TAKE THESE PRUNINGS AND THEY'LL END UP PUTTING THEM IN A PASTURE, FOR EXAMPLE, OR IF YOU DIG UP A PLANT, YOU DRAG IT INTO THE PASTURE THINKING YOU'RE GOING TO BURN IT LATER.

THESE ARE VERY, VERY TOXIC TO LIVESTOCK.

SO AS LITTLE AS A MOUTHFUL TO UP TO ONE POUND CAN KILL A 1,000-POUND ANIMAL FAIRLY QUICKLY.

SO IF YOU ARE PRUNING THIS, DO NOT THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BE NICE AND SHARE THEM WITH THE LOCAL LIVESTOCK.

AND IF YOU'RE ALONG FENCES, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SHOULDN'T BE PLANTED ALONG FENCES WHERE LIVESTOCK CAN MAYBE REACH OVER AND MUNCH ON THEM.

THEY'RE NOT VERY PALATABLE, BUT THE YOUNG TENDER GROWTH, THEY MAY FEED ON, OR PRUNINGS.

>> OR AT LEAST, GIVE IT A SHOT, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A DEAD HORSE.

>> RIGHT.

>> RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THANKS, ALL.

IT'S FUN TO HAVE SAMPLES BACK.

OKAY, FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS IS YOURS, DENNIS.

AND YOUR VERY FIRST ONE -- THIS IS REALLY FUN.

SHE HAS A BIRD FEEDER CAMERA, AND SHE FOUND THIS ANIMAL ON IT.

AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S MOUNTED ON A TWO BY FOUR.

AND TWO PICTURES OF IT.

HER ALARM WENT OFF.

WHAT DO WE THINK THIS IS THAT'S SNACKING ON HER BIRD FOOD IN HER BIRD FEEDER?

>> IT'S AN OPOSSUM.

I CAN TELL BY THE EYE AND THE WHISKERS AND THE MOUTH.

IT'S NOT -- I CAN'T SEE EVERYTHING, BUT -- WHICH IS VERY COMMON.

OPOSSUMS LOVE TO EAT SEED, EITHER UNDERNEATH THE BIRD FEEDER, OR THEY CAN CLIMB AND HANG BY THEIR TAIL.

SO.

>> YEAH, AND NO WAY TO STOP THAT OTHER THAN NOT FEED THE BIRDS, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> FEED THE OPOSSUM TOO.

THEY DON'T HURT ANYBODY.

>> FEED THEM ALL.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> KEEP EVERYBODY HAPPY.

>> KEEP EVERYBODY.

EXCEPT HER, SHE'S BUYING BIRD SEED.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> SHE'S ALSO BUYING OPOSSUM FOOD.

>> THERE YOU GO.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR NEXT ONE HERE, THIS COMES TO US, SOUTHEAST LINCOLN.

HE SAW THIS LATE LAST SUMMER, AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS A PIEBALD SQUIRREL.

AND HE'S WANTING TO HAVE IT IDENTIFIED.

>> WELL, IT'S A FOX SQUIRREL.

IT'S MELANISTIC, WHICH MEANS BLACK FUR.

AND I BLEW IT UP.

AND IT'S NOT WHITE, IT'S NO FUR.

SO IT EITHER HAS MANGE, AND IF THIS WAS TAKEN LAST FALL, IT DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

WHAT HAPPENS DUE TO PETS -- CATS AND DOGS -- SO MOST OF OUR WILD ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY NEAR A TOWN OR CITY HAVE CAT FLEAS, AND DOG MANGE, AND DOG TICKS.

SO OUR DOMESTICATED ANIMALS ARE GIVING THESE THINGS TO THE WILD ANIMALS, NOT THE OPPOSITE WAY, THAT'S A MISNOMER.

BUT WHEN SQUIRREL POPULATIONS GET HIGH, YOU GET THE MANGE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

THIS IS FROM SEVERAL LINCOLN VIEWERS.

IT IS, WHAT IS THIS DAMAGE ON THE HONEY LOCUST, ALL OVER EVERYTHING.

AND HOW TO STOP IT?

>> OKAY, IF -- USUALLY WHEN IT'S LIKE THIS IN SPOTS ON THE TRUNK, WHICH I THINK IT MAY BE, IT'S TERRITORIAL MARKING BY SQUIRRELS.

AND THAT -- IF IT'S TERRITORIAL MARKING, YOU CAN MIX CAYENNE PEPPER OR GHOST PEPPER WITH VEGETABLE OIL AND SPRAY IT ON THERE.

THEY'LL COME UP AND THEY'LL TAKE ONE NIBBLE, AND THE SQUIRREL WON'T COME BACK TO THAT POINT.

AND IT WON'T HURT THE SQUIRREL PERMANENTLY.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD SOLUTION.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS, DENNIS.

OKAY, JEFF, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS FIRST ONE.

THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

HE'S GOT A FEW PATCHES IN HIS LAWN THAT ARE VERY THIN AFTER WEED ISSUES OVERCROWDED A FEW SPOTS.

WHAT DOES HE NEED TO DO TO RESEED IN THESE AREAS?

SO I THINK WE HAVE A -- YEP, THERE'S THE CLOSEUP ON IT.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH, SO, IT LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST JOB IS TO GET IN THERE AND RAKE THIS MATERIAL UP.

SO THIS OLD -- AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT'S THATCH, REALLY.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PROBABLY WEEDS LEFT OVER FROM LAST YEAR.

CLEAN THE SITE UP, GETTING IT OFF THE SITE.

MAKING SURE THAT WHEN WE START APPLYING FERTILIZER, THAT WE'RE USING PRODUCTS THAT DO NOT HAVE A PRE-EMERGENT IN IT.

SO A LOT OF THE PRODUCTS OUT THERE DO.

SO CAREFULLY LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE ONLY PURCHASING A PRODUCT THAT HAS JUST FERTILIZER IN IT.

I WOULD GO AHEAD AND AERATE THE AREA, AND THEN OVERSEED.

FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT I WOULD PROBABLY -- YOU'RE GONNA USE A FESCUE MIX, AND I WOULD USE SOMETHING RIGHT AROUND 7 POUNDS PER 1,000 SQUARE FEET, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> AND THEN, YOU KNOW, KIND OF MAKE SURE WE GET ON A WATERING SCHEDULE.

>> EXCELLENT.

OKAY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT A NATIVE FESCUE MIX.

AND THIS IS SHEEP'S FESCUE, PLANTED IN THE FALL.

IT'S IN OUR COURTYARD.

LOOKS LIKE THIS.

IS IT DEAD OR LATE TO BREAK DORMANCY?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, SHEEP'S FESCUE IS VERY HARDY.

SO I WOULD JUST BE PATIENT.

AND IT IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF OUR TEMPERATURES FLUCTUATING THE WAY THEY HAVE AND THE FACT THAT IT'S IN THE COURTYARD, WHICH I'M INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH, HAVING SPENT MANY YEARS IN THERE, IT'S A LITTLE COOLER THERE THAN IT IS EVERYWHERE ELSE.

I SAY MAKE SURE -- YOU KNOW, IF ANYTHING, MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING SOME WATER ON IT.

SO GET TERRI OUT THERE WITH THE HOSE AND GET THE SPRINKLER ON THAT.

>> OR CAITLIN, THE INTERN.

>> OKAY, OR THE INTERN.

WHOEVER.

ONE OF THE TWO, OR BOTH OF THEM.

BUT I THINK I'D GET SOME WATER ON IT.

>> OKAY.

AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE, AND THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

AND THEY SAY THIS IS ALL OVER ALREADY, AND WHAT IS IT, AND HOW TO CONTROL IT WITH WHAT AND WHEN?

>> OKAY.

SO THIS IS HENBIT.

SO THIS IS EASY TO CONTROL.

I THINK AT THIS POINT, NOW THAT WE HAVE FLOWERS -- AND YOU MAY NOT FEEL LIKE MOWING THIS WEEKEND, BUT I THINK I WOULD MOW THAT.

SO WE WANT TO KEEP IT MOWED SO IT'S NOT PRODUCING SEED.

I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT DOING ANY KIND OF SPRAYING ON THIS PLANT AT THIS STAGE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE THIN TURF, SO I THINK, AGAIN, I WOULD LOOK AT MAYBE DOING SOME SORT OF AERATING AND OVERSEEDING A LITTLE BIT LATER HERE IN A MONTH OR SO, ONCE THAT HAS KIND OF CALMED DOWN.

AND ONCE THINGS GET WARM, THE HENBIT'LL FULLY FADE OUT.

AND THEN NEXT FALL, OR NEXT LATE AUGUST WE WANT TO PUT DOWN A PRE- EMERGENT AT THAT TIME >> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

AMY, THIS ONE COMES FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY.

SHE HAS A 10-YEAR-OLD -- SHE'S CALLING IT A WILD COTTONWOOD.

HAS A GROWTH.

SHE'S WONDERING IS THIS CORKY BARK DISEASE OR WHAT IS IT, AND SHOULD SHE PRUNE IT OUT?

>> SO FROM THE LOOKS OF IT, IT ISN'T CORKY BARK.

I WOULD LEAN TO IT BEING CROWN GALL, WHICH IS CAUSED BY A BACTERIA THAT'S NATURALLY HERE.

ONCE UPON A TIME IT WAS THOUGHT IF WE FIGURED OUT HOW TO CONTROL CROWN GALL, WE WOULD HAVE A SOLUTION TO TREATING HUMAN CANCER.

NOT THE SAME THING.

IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PRUNE IT OUT OF THE TREE, BUT IT'S NOT GONNA CAUSE ANY DAMAGE, AND IT'S NOT GONNA GROW ANY FURTHER.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, AMY.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

AND YOU GOT THIS ONE BECAUSE OF WHAT IT IS.

THIS IS AN EAST LINCOLN VIEWER.

THESE BOXWOOD, THEY'RE LOOKING TOUGH IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

THEY DON'T USE SALT OR CHEMICALS.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO GET THEM GREEN AND FRESH AGAIN?

IS THIS WINTER INJURY, OR IS THIS BOXWOOD BLIGHT, IS THIS ALL OF THE ABOVE, OR NONE OF THE ABOVE?

>> OH, THE JOYS OF BOXWOODS.

THIS IS WINTER DESICCATION.

SO, BECAUSE IT IS AN EVERGREEN, WITH IT BEING THAT CLOSE TO THE HOUSE, AND THE SIDEWALK, AND THE ROCK, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE GIVING IT WATER THROUGHOUT THE WINTER MONTHS.

AND, WE HAD A COLD SPELL, BUT WE WEREN'T NECESSARILY REALLY THAT COLD ALL WINTER, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE SOME WINTER DESICCATION.

THE SAD PART IS ONCE IT'S BROWN, WHITE IN COLORATION, IT'S NOT GOING TO COME BACK.

SO YOU ARE GOING TO BE AT A REALLY TOUGH DECISION NOW.

YOU CAN TRY TO PRUNE IT OUT, BUT IT'S REALLY GOING TO AFFECT THE ENTIRE SHAPE OF THAT BOXWOOD.

YOU'RE PROBABLY GONNA HAVE SOME THIN AREAS, OR IT'S A GREAT TIME OF THE YEAR TO START THINKING ABOUT, "DO I WANT TO REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER BOXWOOD OR ANOTHER TYPE OF SHRUB IN THAT AREA.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, AMY.

ALL RIGHT KELLY, YOUR FIRST ONE HERE, THIS COMES TO US FROM FREMONT.

HE'S JUST WONDERING IF THIS CHAIN WRAPPED AROUND THE TREE IS HEALTHY FOR IT OR SHOULD HE CUT THE TREE DOWN?

IT WAS THOUGHT THAT IT COULD SAVE THE TREE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE INSTEAD THE TREE IS STRANGLING THE CHAIN.

>> OKAY, WELL, WHEN I LOOK CLOSELY AT IT, THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE A CABLING AND BRACING METHOD, WHICH IS ACTUALLY AN ACCEPTED METHOD BY ARBORISTS IF YOU HAVE A TREE WITH A STRUCTURAL DEFECT, AND THAT TREE IS AT FAIRLY HIGH RISK OF FAILING OR MAYBE HITTING PEOPLE OR PROPERTY.

IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD PREFER TO DO, OR, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE BETTER TO PREVENT IT WHEN YOU PLANT THE TREE TO PREVENT THOSE DOUBLE LEADERS OR CO-DOMINANT TRUNKS, WHICH IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO SUPPORT THERE.

LOOKING CLOSELY AT THAT, IT DOES, YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAYBE WAS INSTALLED A LITTLE INCORRECTLY.

IT'S KIND OF CLOSE TO THE EDGE, SO IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S ALMOST GIRDLING THAT TRUNK A LITTLE BIT.

WHAT I WOULD DO IS -- YOU DON'T WANT TO REMOVE IT, BECAUSE THE TREE HAS BEEN -- PROBABLY THE STRUCTURE OF THE TREE, THE STRENGTH OF THE TREE HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY HAVING THAT CABLE IN THERE.

I'D HIRE MAYBE A CERTIFIED ARBORIST TO COME IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER ISSUES LIKE POSSIBLE DECAY.

JUST REMEMBER THAT IT DOESN'T PREVENT THAT TREE FROM FAILING, IT JUST REDUCES THE LIKELIHOOD THAT IT COULD FAIL.

SO I WOULD HAVE AN ARBORIST COME LOOK AT IT.

>> OKAY.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

IT'S A CHOKECHERRY.

THIS IS IN LINCOLN.

THOUGHT IT LOOKED GOOD, SO HERE'S -- IT'S A BIG OLD ONE.

HAS BUDS, BUT NOW IF YOU LOOK AT THE SECOND PICTURE, SHE'S WONDERING IS THIS IS FROM THE STORMS, HIGH WINDS, OR SOMETHING ELSE?

SHE LOVES THE TREE.

SHE DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE IT IF POSSIBLE.

SO THE BASE OF THIS TREE IS BAD.

>> IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

THE BARK HERE IS -- IT'S VERY, VERY LOOSE.

SO IT ISN'T LIKE JUST ONE WOUND ON THE TRUNK.

THE BARK -- THERE'S A LOT OF CRACKING, IT'S VERY LOOSE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALMOST ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TREE, OR AT LEAST 50% AROUND THE TRUNK.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THAT, BUT WHEN IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THE BARK IS ALMOST COMPLETELY FALLING OFF THE TREE -- YOU KNOW, IT COULD'VE BEEN FROM AN OLD WOUND.

IT COULD'VE BEEN STARTED WITH SUN SCALD.

THERE COULD EVEN BE, YOU KNOW, A GIRDLING ROOT UNDERNEATH THAT LEADS TO SUN SCALD AND INJURY AS WELL.

NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.

PEOPLE SOMETIMES WANT TO PUT WRAPPING ON IT OR PUT PAINT ON IT, BUT THERE ISN'T REALLY ANYTHING YOU CAN DO.

AND I -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TAKE THE LOOSE BARK, AND HOPE THE TREE -- BUT I THINK THERE'S TOO MUCH DAMAGE, IT'S TOO EXTENSIVE.

ENJOY THE TREE AS LONG AS YOU CAN.

IF YOU WANT TO MULCH IT, AND WATER DEEPLY MAYBE IT'LL LIVE FOR A LITTLE LITTLE LONGER.

BUT NOT LONG.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KELLY.

OKAY, DENNIS, BACK TO YOU AGAIN.

THIS IS A UNL STUDENT IN A LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT CLASS.

FOUND THIS HOLE AT THE BASE OF THE TREE IN CLARKSON PARK IN OMAHA.

IT'S AT LEAST A FOOT DEEP.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT MADE IT.

AND IS IT A DANGEROUS CREATURE?

>> WELL, NO, IT'S NOT A DANGEROUS CREATURE.

IT'S PROBABLY A FOX, PROBABLY A RED FOX.

YEAH, IT'S ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE FOR A FOX.

IT'S NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR A COYOTE.

TOO BIG FOR A SQUIRREL.

RACCOONS WON'T DIG LIKE THAT, SO I WOULD GO WITH A FOX.

AND THE FOX COULD BE LOOKING FOR GRUBS, OR IT COULD BE LOOKING FOR A PLACE BUT IT PROBABLY IT'S NOT GONNA -- IT'S NOT GONNA HAVE A DEN IN THAT LOCATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A GREENWOOD VIEWER.

VERY OLD PIN OAK IN GOOD CONDITION, BUT THIS IS AT THE BASE OF IT.

WHAT CRITTER WOULD'VE STASHED ALL THOSE ACORNS AND IS IT RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE TREE?

>> WELL IT'S HARD TO SAY.

IF THE TREE IS HOLLOW, IT'S A TREE SQUIRREL, FOX SQUIRREL MOST LIKELY.

IT PROBABLY DID STASH ABOVE THAT POINT, AND THERE'S PROBABLY -- THE TREE'S COMPROMISED INSIDE PROBABLY.

AND IT'S PROBABLY GOING, "WHOA, WHERE'D ALL MY STASH GO?"

[ LAUGHTER ] AS IT FALLS ALL THE WAY DOWN.

SO IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES.

OF COURSE WITHOUT SEEING THE WHOLE TREE, I CAN'T SAY FOR SURE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE HERE.

AND THIS IS IN LINCOLN.

THE QUESTION IS WHAT KILLED THIS DOVE AND MADE THE FEATHER PILE, AND THERE IS NOTHING LEFT.

>> YEAH, IF THERE'S NOT SCAT AND NO PRINTS, IT'S HARD TO SAY.

CATS -- FERAL CATS DO A GOOD JOB ON DOVES, AND GET QUITE A FEW DOVES.

BIRDS OF PREY, A RED TAIL CAN DO IT.

BUT USUALLY YOU'LL SEE RED TAILS USUALLY TAKE THE FEATHERS AND EVERYTHING, AND TAKE IT UP IN A TREE AND EAT IT.

SO AGAIN, A FOX WOULD DO IT, BUT A FOX USUALLY WOULD EAT THE FEATHERS.

SO IT COULD BE A CAT, COULD BE A FOX, COULD BE A BIRD OF PREY.

>> IT'S JUST A FORMER DOVE.

>> IT'S A FORMER DOVE.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] >> MAYBE IT WAS THE EURASIAN DOVE THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

>> THERE YOU GO.

>> WE'LL JUST SAY THAT, YEAH, YEAH.

>> OKAY, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

AND THEY ARE -- LET'S SEE, JEFF.

IT IS ALL THESE WEEDS AROUND THIS FLOWERBED AREA, AND HE'S WONDERING WHAT THEY ARE, HOW TO GET RID OF THEM.

HE'S WONDERING IF HE CAN SPRAY AND GET RID OF THEM NOW, AND HE DOESN'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE LAWN.

>> OKAY, AND HE'S PUTTING SOME MONEY ON IT, IT LOOKS LIKE.

[ LAUGHTER ] I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S COMPLAINING ABOUT.

SO THIS IS FIELD PENNYCRESS.

SO IT'S A WINTER ANNUAL.

AND IT MAY BE BLOOMING BY NOW, SO IT MIGHT BE PRETTY OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

SO AS A WINTER ANNUAL, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT HENBIT, THIS IS ANOTHER ONE THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY REAL NEED TO SPRAY IT WITH ANYTHING.

YOU CAN CERTAINLY MOW IT OFF.

KEEP IT MOWED, AGAIN MAKING SURE THAT WE DON'T CREATE ANYMORE SEED FROM THE PLANT.

AND THEN LOOK AT -- AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE A THIN LAWN, SO WE NEED TO DO SOME COMPOST AND OTHER THINGS TO MAKE THE LAWN HEALTHIER.

SO THEN RESEED.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS, THIS PERSON WANTS TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANYTHING THEY CAN DO NOW TO KILL CLOVER, AND THEN KEEP IT FROM COMING BACK.

AND THEY ALSO WANT TO RESEED AT THE SAME TIME.

>> OKAY, WELL, FERTILITY IS THE BIG THING.

SO JUST GETTING YOUR FERTILIZING UP.

CLOVER DOES WELL IN LOW NITROGEN AREAS.

SO THAT'S WHAT -- YOU KNOW, FOR CAMPUS, I DON'T SPRAY CLOVER, WE'LL JUST, IF WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT IT WE'LL JUST FERTILIZE THE WAY WE'RE SUPPOSED TO AND THEN USUALLY IT'LL FADE AWAY.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

THIS IS IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA NEAR SHUBERT.

SHE DID WANT TO KNOW WHETHER IT WAS A FLOWER OR WEED.

IT LOOKS LIKE THREE OR FOUR-LEAF CLOVER.

AND YOU GOT IT BECAUSE SHE THOUGHT IT WAS A WEED, AND IT'S NOT.

>> YEAH, RIGHT, IT'S COLUMBINE.

SO, LUCKY HER.

SHE MUST'VE HAD COLUMBINES NEARBY AND THEY FLOWERED, AND SHE GOT SOME SEEDS SO SHE'LL HAVE MORE COLUMBINE.

>> PERFECT.

ALL RIGHT, AMY, THIS IS A -- YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES HERE.

IT'S A 10-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN ELM.

OR, NO, SORRY, WRONG ONE HERE.

THIS IS THE BIRCH, YEAH.

AND THIS BIRCH WAS PRUNED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT IS BLEEDING.

IS THIS -- WHAT IS THIS?

IS IT DISEASE OR IT'S -- YEAH.

>> SO, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO OUT AND SMELL IT.

IT ISN'T VERY OFTEN WE SAY THAT IN PLANT -- PLANT PATH, HOLY COW.

YOU NEED TO GO SMELL IT, AND IF IT SMELLS REALLY, REALLY BAD, WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS WHAT WE CALL A SLIME FLUX.

ALL RIGHT?

YEAH.

SO BASICALLY IT'S BACTERIA THAT'S IN THERE, AND THAT BACTERIA'S EATING AND FERMENTING THAT DECAYING WOOD.

AND AS WE START TO WARM UP, WE GET TOO MUCH OF A PRESSURE, AND WITH THAT CUT, THEN IT'S ALL GOING TO START OOZING OUT.

AND IF IT'S BACTERIA, YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE SMELL IT.

IF THERE ISN'T A SMELL, IT COULD JUST BE SOME NATURAL SAP BLEEDING THAT WE'LL SEE THIS TIME OF YEAR AS THE TREES ARE STARTING TO WAKE UP AGAIN, AND WE GET THOSE -- OUR NICE SPRING RAINS.

WE CAN SEE AN INFLUX OF SAP.

SO YOU NEED TO GO OUT AND SMELL IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TWO ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS IS ACTUALLY FROM WINDSOR, COLORADO.

AND HE HAS THREE CRABAPPLES THAT ARE BLOWING BUBBLES AT THE BASE AND, AGAIN, I KNOW ALL YOU TREE PEOPLE COULD'VE HAD THIS, BUT AMY GETS IT 'CAUSE IT'S FUN.

EARLY MORNING AFTER A RARE RAIN -- IT'S BEEN VERY DRY.

THEY'VE HAD THREE DAYS IN THE UPPER 70s.

AND HE SAYS, "ARE THE TREES JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE RAIN?"

>> THE TREES ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE RAIN!

SO I DID DO A LITTLE BIT OF INVESTIGATION ABOUT THIS.

WHEN WE'VE BEEN EXTREMELY DRY, WE STILL HAVE SALTS AND ACIDS, JUST LIKE WE HAVE IN OUR SOAP.

AND SO ACTUALLY WITH THE RAIN IT'S SOAP BUBBLES.

IT'S NOT HURTING ANYTHING.

>> OKAY, IT'S FUN.

>> IT IS FUN.

>> OKAY, AND THEN THE SNOW STORM A WEEK AGO TOOK OUT A LOT OF THIS BIG OLD HACKBERRY.

WAS THIS A DISEASE THAT CAUSED THE LIMB TO FAIL?

>> OH, IT DEFINITELY DID.

LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL HEART ROT.

THERE'S NOTHING ON THE INSIDE HOLDING IT.

SO ONCE YOU GET THAT BIG HEAVY SNOW, THE LITTLE BIT THAT'S HOLDING IT JUST COULDN'T DO IT ANYMORE AND IT SNAPPED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO YOUR NEXT SET, KELLY, THIS IS FROM SWEDEBURG.

AND HE'S SAYING IT LOOKS LIKE THE WINTER WAS HARD ON THEIR 25-YEAR- OLD BLUE SPRUCE.

IS IT A FORMER TREE, AND DOES IT HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, IT LOOKED PRETTY DARN GOOD TO ME.

I HAD TO -- I HAD TO REALLY ZOOM IN TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT.

AND I GUESS AT THE VERY, VERY TOP THERE IS MAYBE ABOUT TWO, THREE FEET THAT LOOKS LIKE IT'S BARE OF NEEDLES.

AND THEN ON THE BACK SIDE, THERE LOOKS LIKE THERE'S ANOTHER BRANCH.

AND -- BUT THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF HOPE FOR THIS TREE.

IT COULD JUST BE THE DROUGHT STRESS.

MAYBE CYTOSPORA CANKER, BUT THOSE USUALLY STARTS LOWER IN THE TREE, ON THE LOWER BRANCHES.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET IT ON THE TRUNK, AND YOU'LL GET IT DYING FROM THE TOP BACK.

BUT SPRUCE -- THAT CYTOSPORA CANKER USUALLY DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, KILL A HEALTHY TREE.

SO I THINK IT'LL BE FINE.

>> OKAY.

SO LET'S SEE, YOUR NEXT ONE, KELLY, IS 23-YEAR-OLD BLUE SPRUCE DAMAGED AND HE'S WONDERING WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH THIS ONE.

>> YEAH, THAT ONE LOOKS PRETTY DAMAGED.

SO IF IT'S BROKEN, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO CUT IT OFF.

AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, PULL OUT THE TREE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN ONE MORE, AND THIS ONE IS AN OMAHA VIEWER ASKING WHY DID SO MANY EVERGREENS TIP COMPLETELY OUT OF THE GROUND IN THE RECENT BLIZZARD?

>> LOAD AND FORCE.

SO THE LOAD WAS THAT REALLY, REALLY HEAVY, WET SNOW WAS A LOT OF WEIGHT, AND THEN WIND WAS FORCE.

SO, WHY SOME AND NOT OTHERS?

THERE COULD'VE BEEN AN UNDERLYING CAUSE.

LIKE THOSE GIRDLING ROOTS, OR PLANTED TOO DEEP.

IT COULD'VE JUST BEEN THE LOAD AND THE FORCE.

>> ALL RIGHT, AND UNFORTUNATELY MOTHER NATURE HAS BEEN UNKIND.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW WE HAVE HAD SOME RAIN THROUGH THIS PAST WEEK.

A LOT IN SOME PARTS OF THE STATE, AND A LITTLE IN OTHERS.

HOPEFULLY WE WILL GET SOME MORE TO OFFSET HOW DRY IT WAS THIS FALL AND WINTER.

HERE TO TELL US WHAT WE CAN EXPECT FOR THE NEXT WEEK IS GANNON RUSH OF UNL'S HIGH PLAINS REGIONAL CLIMATE CENTER.

>>> THANKS, KIM.

IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK ON "BACKYARD FARMER" FOR ANOTHER SEASON.

CONSIDERING IT'S SPRINGTIME IN NEBRASKA, WE HAVE A RELATIVELY MILD WEEK AHEAD OF US.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE RELATIVELY COOL THIS WEEKEND WITH HIGHS IN THE PANHANDLE ON FRIDAY IN THE 40s AND EVEN INTO THE 30s.

ON SATURDAY TEMPERATURES ACROSS STATE WILL BE IN THE 40s AND 50s.

WE'LL BEGIN TO WARM BACK UP, AND BY WEDNESDAY MUCH OF THE STATE WILL BE IN THE 70s.

CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION ARE LIMITED THIS WEEK, BUT THE GREATEST ODDS ARE WEST OF GRAND ISLAND.

THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS OF OVER AN INCH ARE EXPECTED IN AN AREA FROM WEST OF McCOOK UP TO THE NORTH PLATTE AREA.

MOST OF THIS WILL OCCUR TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY, WITH A POSSIBILITY OF A LIGHT SNOWFALL.

DROUGHT RE-EMERGED ACROSS THE STATE THIS WINTER, WITH AT LEAST ONE CATEGORY OF IT ACROSS MOST OF THE STATE.

THE WORST OF IT IS OUT WEST IN THE PANHANDLE, PARTICULARLY NORTH OF SCOTTS BLUFF AND ANY PRECIPITATION THEY RECEIVE THIS WEEK WILL BE VERY BENEFICIAL.

AND THAT'S YOUR WEEKLY WEATHER FORECAST.

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

>>> THANKS, GANNON.

AND WE NEED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.

WE DO HOPE YOU'LL STAY WITH US.

COMING UP WE'VE GOT THE LIGHTNING ROUND AND THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

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

♪ [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] ♪ >>> WELCOME BACK TO "BACKYARD FARMER."

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, JEFF IS GOING TO OUTLINE SOME TIPS FOR GOOD MULCHING PRACTICES.

YOU CAN STILL PHONE IN YOUR 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.

ARE YOU READY, KELLY?

>> I'M READY.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO PLANT FOR A GROUND COVER TO KEEP THE WEEDS DOWN IN THEIR GARDEN SPACE THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GARDEN THIS YEAR.

>> I WOULD DO A COVER CROP OF SOME SORT, LIKE AN ANNUAL RYEGRASS OR SOMETHING SUCH AS THAT.

THERE'S LOTS OF COVER.

GOOGLE COVER CROPS AND EXTENSION AND YOU'LL FIND SOME GREAT IDEAS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A CERESCO VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER STRAWBERRIES WILL SURVIVE OUR WINTER HERE IN ONE OF THOSE RAISED TIERED STRAWBERRY BED THINGS.

>> WELL, IT IS RISKY.

BECAUSE THEY CAN DESICCATE, THEY CAN DRY OUT, AND THE ROOTS ARE NOT AS HARDY AS THE ABOVEGROUND PARTS.

SO SOMETIMES IN ABOVE GROUND CONTAINERS WE LOSE THE ROOTS.

SO, RISKY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER FROM AUBURN WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER NINEBARK SHOULD BE CUT TO THE GROUND IN THE FALL.

>> IT CAN BE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE YOUR FLOWERING IN THE SPRING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AN OMAHA VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW HAS THE WINDOW CLOSED FOR PRUNING OAKS SO WE DON'T GET DISEASES?

>> BECAUSE OF THE OAK WILT, WE DON'T RECOMMEND IT THIS LATE IN THE SEASON.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THEN WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT TO DO TO SAVE THE PEACH BLOSSOMS WITH THE IMPENDING COLD WEATHER.

[ THUNDER ] >> PRAY.

[ LAUGHTER ] OR MAYBE TURN ON A SPRINKLER OR PUT OUT A BLANKET.

>> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB.

OKAY, YOUR TURN AMY, YOU READY?

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A WESTERN VIEWER WHO HAS DOTHISTROMA.

HE'S HAD IT FOR A LONG TIME IN ALL THE PINES.

HE'S WONDERING DOES HE DO FUNGICIDE MIDWAY-- MID-MAY AND FOUR WEEKS LATER, AND THEN DO IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

>> SO YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THAT FIRST APPLICATION JUST AS THE NEEDLES ARE STARTING TO EMERGE, AND THEN FOLLOW BACK UP FOUR WEEKS LATER, DEPENDING ON AMOUNTS OF RAIN.

IF IT'S DRY YOU DON'T NEED TO.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA NEED TO GO BACK AND FORTH, BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY AFFECT WHEN THE NEEDLES ARE JUST ELONGATING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WONDERING WHETHER WE CAN STILL EXPECT THE CEDARS TO DO THEIR CEDAR APPLE RUST THING, OR DID THE COLD AND THE HEAT KILL THOSE NASTY CEDAR APPLE RUST?

>> I BET WE'RE START SEE THEM POPPING UP THIS WEEK, SINCE WE'VE HAD SOME RAIN.

WE HAVE TO HAVE PRECIP FOR THE LITTLE TENDRILS TO COME OUT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO HAD SOOTY MOLD ON THEIR MAGNOLIAS LAST YEAR FROM THE SCALE.

THE TRUNKS ARE STILL BLACK, BUT IS THAT MOLD GOING TO CAUSE TROUBLE?

>> SOOTY MOLD DOESN'T CAUSE PROBLEMS TO YOUR TREES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

A FREMONT VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW IS THIS A GOOD TIME TO START TREATING ROSES FOR BLACK SPOT?

>> WELL, IF YOU'RE STARTING TO GREEN UP, YOU COULD START THOSE APPLICATIONS, BUT I WOULD WAIT A LITTLE BIT, YEAH.

[ THUNDER ] >> ALL RIGHT, NICE JOB.

OKAY, JEFF.

READY?

>> OKAY, YES.

>> OKAY.

THIS VIEWER LOVES THAT THE LAWNS TURN BLUE WITH THE LITTLE SCILLA BULBS, BUT THE NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR SAYS "HOW DO YOU KILL THE LITTLE SCILLA BULBS WITHOUT KILLING THE TURF SINCE IT SPREADS SO MUCH?"

>> YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A TOUGH ONE TO KILL WITH A HERBICIDE.

THE -- THE LEAVES ON THOSE BULBS ARE NOT REAL ABSORBENT TO A LOT OF OUR HERBICIDES.

SO I THINK -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN KIND OF TO FOCUS ON MOWING, AND KIND OF CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND SEE IF WE CAN STOP THE SPREADING THAT WAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS ALSO A COVER CROP QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT IT'S A BARE SOIL QUESTION.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN PLANT IN THE SPRING THAT WILL LAST ALL SEASON IN TOTALLY BARE SOIL?

>> SO -- >> COVER CROP.

>> A COVER CROP.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD DO -- WELL, LIKE KELLY SAID, SO I THINK A WINTER WHEAT, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IF YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> OKAY.

>> AND THAT'LL TAKE MOWING TOO.

>> OKAY, WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER MESOTRIONE CAN BE PUT ON THIS WEEKEND OR IS IT GOING TO BE TOO COLD?

>> I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY FOR THAT.

SO I THINK IT'S TOO EARLY FOR ANY OF OUR PRE-EMERGENTS.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A BLAIRE VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHETHER SEDGEHAMMER WILL WORK ON NUTSEDGE AND DAYLILLIES WITHOUT KILLING THE DAYLILIES?

[ THUNDER ] >> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW IT WORKS ON THE SEDGE, BUT YOU'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE LABEL.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

READ THE LABELS.

READ THE LABELS.

OKAY, DENNIS.

READY?

>> ALWAYS.

>> ALWAYS.

THIS IS A BRULE VIEWER WHO HAS NEW TREES AND WANTS TO USE PVC PIPE AROUND THE TREES TO PROTECT THEM FROM THE WASCALLY WABBITS, AND WANTS TO KNOW HOW HIGH THAT PVC NEEDS TO BE?

>> TWO FOOT, BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE IT SO IT EXPANDS SO IT DOESN'T GIRDLE THE TREE.

>> PERFECT.

SO HOW LONG DO MALLARDS LIVE IF THEY'RE NOT HUNTED OR DON'T CATCH BIRD FLU?

>> USUALLY UP TO 12 YEARS, BUT VERY FEW LIVE THAT LONG.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO SAW A VERY LARGE BLACK DEAD SNAKE ON THE GRASS AFTER THE LAST SNOW MELTED.

WAS IT -- WHERE WAS IT?

>> IT'S A BLACK RAT SNAKE, AND IT PROBABLY WAS -- CAME UP TOO EARLY.

>> OKAY.

THIS IS A BEATRICE VIEWER WHO HAS ALL SORTS OF VOLE TRAILS.

THEY'VE HAD SNOW AND THEY'RE WONDERING HOW TO KILL.

>> CATCHALL TRAP, BOX TRAP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHAT IS THE SIZE OF A HOLE THAT A RACCOON CAN GET THROUGH?

THEY THINK ONE IS EATING A HOLE IN THEIR HOUSE.

>> WELL, A FULL GROWN RACCOON NEEDS ALMOST 10 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

8 TO 10 INCHES.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO, RACCOON LATRINE, HOW DO YOU REMOVE IT?

[ THUNDER ] >> DEFINITELY DO IT WET.

DON'T USE A VACUUM OR BROOM.

WET IT WITH DISINFECTANT AND PROTECT YOURSELF.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISEASES IN THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

SO, LET'S SEE, I THINK DENNIS -- >> DENNIS GETS IT.

>> WAY TO GO.

>> WON THE PRIZE.

>> YAY, DENNIS.

>> YAY, DENNIS.

THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, EACH WEEK ON THE SHOW WE TAKE YOU OUT TO OUR GARDEN TO HIGHLIGHT OUR VEGETABLES AND ORNAMENTALS THAT WE'VE SELECTED FOR THE SEASON.

THAT ALL STARTS INSIDE THE GREENHOUSE.

HERE'S TERRI TO TELL US -- AND SHOW US, WHAT WE ARE PLANTING FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON.

♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR IN THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SHOWCASE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GOING TO BE DOING THIS YEAR.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE IN THE GREENHOUSE, AND THE GREENHOUSE IS LOOKING VERY GREEN.

WE'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK OUTSIDE GETTING THE GARDEN CLEANED UP, GETTING IT READY, AND WE'VE HAD ENOUGH FEW NICE DAYS THAT WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF COOL SEASON PLANTS PLANTED IN OUR RAISED BEDS.

WE'RE TRYING SOME NEW THINGS IN THE GARDEN THIS YEAR, ESPECIALLY IN THE GREENHOUSE.

WE'RE USING BENEFICIALS, SO WE'RE LOWERING THOSE INPUTS AND WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW WELL THEY KEEP CONTROL OF THOSE BAD BUGS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR GREENHOUSE.

WE ALSO HAVE SOME GREAT NEW ALL AMERICA SELECTIONS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TRYING.

WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT SEEING THOSE.

AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE DOING OUR DONATION GARDEN.

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

♪ ♪ >>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE EXPECTING ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AT THE "BACKYARD FARMER" GARDEN AND ONCE THOSE PLANTS GET GOING LATER IN THE YEAR, IT'S A WONDERFUL SPOT TO VISIT WHEN YOU'RE ON EAST CAMPUS, ON PURPOSE, OF COURSE.

AND SO NOW IT'S TIME FOR KELLY, PLANTS OF THE WEEK.

>> OKAY, SO WE HAVE TWO TREES HERE.

THE BEAUTIFUL FOLIAGE HERE, IS CALLED PARROTIA.

I'D NEVER HEARD OF IT, SO THANKS, KIM.

IT'S RELATED TO THE WITCH HAZEL.

IT'S A SMALL ORNAMENTAL TREE.

HAS -- PERSIAN IRONWOOD IS THE COMMON NAME.

IT HAS A BEAUTIFUL BARK, AND IT HAS GREAT RED FALL COLOR, REDDISH ORANGISH FALL COLOR.

AND THE WHITE ONE MIGHT LOOK BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT'S NOT.

THIS IS AN ORNAMENTAL PEAR OR CALLERY PEAR.

AND THIS IS ON THE INVASIVE SPECIES LIST.

WE DON'T RECOMMEND PLANTING THEM ANYMORE.

THEY CAN REVERT TO THE CULTIVAR THEY ARE.

THEY'RE KIND OF STINKY.

SO DON'T PLANT THE CALLERY PEAR, OR THE ORNAMENTAL PEAR ANYMORE.

BUT TRY TO GO FOR THE PARROTIA.

>> I KNOW IT.

AND THOSE PEARS REALLY ARE STINKY.

SO UNFORTUNATELY FOR OUR PANEL THEY ARE SMELLING JUST TERRIBLE.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS, KELLY.

I LOVE TO BRING IN TWIGS LIKE THIS.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> IT'S LOOKS PRETTY.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, SO WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COURSE OF WONDERFUL THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

WE HAVE FIRST OFF THE KELLY NORRIS PRESENTATION.

THIS IS APRIL 12th IN FREMONT, 1:00 TO 3:00 P.M., AT THE PURPLE DRAGON PAPER COMPANY.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

KELLY IS FROM DES MOINES.

THEN WE HAVE OUR SECOND ONE IS THE MASTER GARDENER PLANT FAIR , APRIL 26th.

AND THAT ONE IS 9:00 A.M. TO 3:00 P.M. AT NORTHEAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE AGRICULTURE CENTER OR COMPLEX IN NORFOLK.

AND OUR THIRD ONE, IS IT IS TIME FOR SPRING AFFAIR.

IT IS FRIDAY APRIL 25th, FROM 2:00 TO 6:00, SATURDAY APRIL 27th -- 6th, 7th, WHATEVER, 5th AND 6th THERE.

FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M., AND THAT IS AT THE SANDHILLS GLOBAL EVENT CENTER IN LINCOLN, WHICH IS WHERE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN, IT'S JUST A DIFFERENT NAME.

ALL RIGHTY, SO WE HAVE PICTURES NEXT, AGAIN.

AND LET'S SEE, YOUR VERY FIRST ONE, DENNIS.

THIS TIME AROUND, THIS IS A VIEWER WHO UNCOVERED THEIR GRILL, OPENED IT UP, FOUND THE WHOLE GRILL COVERED IN WALNUTS THAT LOOK LIKE THIS WITH SAWDUST UNDER THEM.

WAS IT SQUIRRELS OR SOMETHING ELSE UNDER HIS GRILL?

>> THIS IS SQUIRRELS.

THE SIZE OF THOSE HOLES, THAT'S A SQUIRREL.

>> SQUIRRELS, ALL RIGHT.

UNDER THE GRILL COVER.

MIGHT AS WELL TURN ON THE GRILL AND THEN YOU CAN HAVE SQUIRREL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, I DIDN'T SAY THAT.

KIM SAID THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] YOU CAN ALSO HAVE NUTS WITH THE SQUIRREL.

>> IT'S TRUE.

OKAY, SO THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER WHO -- ONE PICTURE I THINK ON THIS ONE.

THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO CLEAN UP MOUSE DROPPINGS SAFELY.

>> EXCELLENT.

SO THERE'S ONE THAT WE REALLY WORRY ABOUT, AND THAT'S OUR DEER MOUSE OR WHITE-FOOT MOUSE, PEROMYSCUS, WHICH PEOPLE CALL FIELD MICE.

THAT'S WHERE HANTAVIRUS CAN OCCUR FROM THEIR DROPPINGS.

SO WITH ALL DROPPINGS, 'CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A HOUSE MOUSE OR KANGAROO RAT OR WHATEVER, YOU SEE ANY KIND DROPPINGS OF RODENTS, YOU DO NOT WANT TO SWEEP.

YOU DO NOT WANT TO VACUUM.

YOU DO NPT WANT TO MAKE ANY OF THOSE SPORES AIRBORNE, 'CAUSE THESE ARE RESPIRATORY DISEASES.

YOU WANT TO WET IT AND CLEAN IT UP WITH A SPONGE OR WET VAC.

OKAY, SO -- AND DEFINITELY WEAR GLOVES AND A MASK WHEN YOU'RE DOING THIS.

DON'T SWEEP, DON'T VACUUM, WET.

>> ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, DENNIS.

SO YOUR NEXT ONE HERE IS -- LET'S SEE.

OH, JEFF, IT'S YOUR TURN AGAIN.

>> OKAY.

>> ALREADY.

SO WE HAD TWO CANDY CRAB CRABAPPLES, 24-YEARS-OLD, THEY'RE IN NORTHEAST LINCOLN.

ALL THESE LITTLE TINY SPROUTS ARE COMING UP.

HE'S TRIED WEED B-GON ON IT, KNOCKS THEM BACK.

HE'S WONDERING IF A PRE-EMERGE WORKS, OR HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THE SPROUTING ON A CRABAPPLE?

>> WELL, THESE ARE ROOT SUCKERS.

SO THERE'S REALLY -- UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NO REAL EFFECTIVE WAY TO CONTROL THESE.

YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PRUNE THEM, MOW THEM, THAT SORT OF THING.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WE WOULD ADVISE.

REMOVAL OF THE TREE IS THE ONLY WAY TO FINALLY GET RID OF IT AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE TO MAKE SURE SOMEONE COMES IN AND REMOVES THE ROOTS AS WELL.

SO, THERE ARE HERBICIDES THAT ARE MAYBE LABELED FOR ROOT SUCKERS, BUT THEY, YOU KNOW, THEORETICALLY THEY'LL END UP KILLING YOUR TREE AS WELL.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S AN ALTERNATIVE, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JEFF.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

AND THIS "HOW DO YOU CONTROL THIS THIN-BLADED ONION-LIKE WEED?"

IT SEEDED ITSELF UNDER A BALD CYPRUS AND IN OTHER OPEN AREAS.

>> IT'S A TOUGH ONE.

THAT'S ANOTHER -- THIS IS ANOTHER PERENNIAL THAT IS HARD TO KILL.

DIGGING IT UP -- AND THAT'S A LOT OF THEM, THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO TRY TO GET THE BULBS OUT OF THERE, AND CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, MAKING SURE THAT IF YOU DON'T WANT THIS, IF YOU HAVE THIS GROWING SOMEWHERE IN THE LAWN OR IN THE YARD, IN YOUR LANDSCAPE AN ORNAMENTAL, MAKING SURE THAT YOU'RE CUTTING THOSE FLOWERS ONCE THEY'RE DONE BLOOMING SO THAT THEY'RE NOT CREATING MORE SEED, AND YOU KNOW, THOSE FINE PEPPERY BLACK SEEDS GOING EVERYWHERE, SO -- >> ALL RIGHT.

YEAH, TOUGH ONE.

>> YEAH.

>> ALL RIGHT, AMY, LET'S SEE.

YOUR FIRST ONE ON THIS ONE IS A 10-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN ELM.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE DARK SPOT THERE.

I THINK YOUR SECOND PICTURE IS A LITTLE CLOSER UP.

THEY'RE WONDERING IS THIS A SLIME FLUX, OR SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

THEY'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

>> WITH IT BEING AN ELM, I'M GOING TO LEAN TOWARDS SLIME FLUX.

ELMS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING BACTERIAL WET ROT.

YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO FOR IT.

WE JUST KNOW THE INTEGRITY OF THAT TREE WILL GO DOWN OVER TIME.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN THIS ONE COMES TO US FROM GRAND ISLAND.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING -- YOU CAN KIND OF SEE DOWN IN THERE WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY'RE WONDERING IF IT'S SOMETHING THEY CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT AND CAN REMEDY, OR IS THE TREE A GONER?

>> TO ME, I WOULD SAY THE TREE'S A GONER.

THERE ISN'T A LOT WE CAN DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I WOULD GUESS THE ENTIRE INTEGRITY OF THE TREE IS PROBABLY COMPROMISED.

>> ALL RIGHT.

KELLY, THIS IS A BLAIR VIEWER.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

THESE ARE ALONG HER LOT LINE.

THEY'RE COTONEASTER.

SHE SAYS THEY'RE 50-YEARS-OLD OR OLDER.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TRIMMED FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS, LOTS OF DEAD WOOD, SOME OTHER THINGS ARE STARTING AT THE BASE.

AND SHE DOESN'T HAVE A WATERING SYSTEM.

SHE'S WONDERING WHETHER SHE CAN CUT THEM ALL THE WAY TO THE GROUND.

SHE DOES SAY THEY GET A LITTLE WATER FROM THE NEIGHBOR, BUT IT'S BEEN DRY.

DO YOU THINK 50-YEAR-OLD YOU COULD CUT TO THE GROUND?

OR WHAT SHOULD SHE DO?

>> I ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE GO AHEAD AND CUT IT TO THE GROUND.

IF IT GROWS BACK, IT WAS OKAY.

AND IF IT DOESN'T, AS A 50-YEAR-OLD SHRUB -- [ COUGH ] -- EXCUSE ME.

THAT MAYBE IT WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK.

BUT IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WAS A LOT OF GOOD NEW GROWTH ON THE SOME OF THE TIPS OF THOSE BRANCHES.

SO YOU CAN EITHER THIN OUT ALL THE DEAD STUFF THAT'S IN THERE, OR YOU CAN JUST SHEAR IT ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GROUND.

>> RIGHT, THAT'S OLD FOR COTONEASTER.

>> THAT'S OLD.

THAT IS VERY, VERY OLD.

SO THAT MIGHT BE THE STRAW THAT BREAKS THE CAMEL'S BACK, AND IT DOESN'T GROW BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT, EXCELLENT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE ON THIS ONE.

THIS ONE IS COMING TO US -- LINCOLN, ABOUT PIONEER'S PARK AREA.

THIS IS -- SHE HAS THREE SYCAMORE TREES AND ONLY ONE IS DOING THIS.

SHE SAYS IT'S ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

SHE'S WONDERING IS THIS TREE DOOMED?

>> WELL, THIS ONE, UNLIKE THE OTHER ONE WE WERE LOOKING AT BEFORE, THIS ONE IS A SMALLER WOUND.

AND IT'S A FAIRLY GOOD SIZE WOUND, BUT IT'S SMALLER, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF CRACKING, THE BARK DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE LOOSE AROUND IT.

SO THERE'S HOPE FOR THIS TREE.

I WOULD PUT MULCH AROUND -- MAYBE A 3 TO 4-INCH-DEEP LAYER OF MULCH IN A 4 TO 6-FOOT DIAMETER RING.

WATER DEEPLY, 18 INCHES FOR A TREE AND TRY TO HELP IT.

MAYBE PUT ON SOME WOUND WOOD AND CLOSE THAT WOUND.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S -- EXCELLENT IDEAS ON THAT ONE.

OKAY, WELL YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD A VERY DRY FALL HERE AND THE WINTER, AND UNFORTUNATELY PROPER MULCHING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT, AND WE SEE IT DONE WRONG TOO MANY TIMES.

SO LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO HEAR FROM JEFF WITH SOME TIPS FOR MULCHING AROUND YOUR HOME.

♪ >>> WELL, YOU'RE DONE CLEANING UP YOUR LANDSCAPE, YOU'VE DONE SOME LIGHT PRUNING, CLEANED UP THE LEAVES AND DEBRIS, AND SO YOU'RE READY TO PUT DOWN SOME MULCH.

SO THIS IS THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR.

WE'VE GOT GOOD SOIL MOISTURE, ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN NEBRASKA.

SO THIS IS REALLY A GOOD TIME TO APPLY A COUPLE INCHES -- TWO TO THREE INCHES OF MULCH AROUND YOUR TREES AND SHRUBS.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU PULL THE MULCH AWAY FROM THE CROWN ON THE PLANT OR THE BASE OF THE TREE.

SO WE WANT A LIGHT AMOUNT THERE.

WE DON'T WANT TOO MUCH THERE.

AND THEN FEATHER IT OUT TWO TO THREE INCHES AS WE GET TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BED.

FOR PERENNIAL BEDS, YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE PERENNIALS THAT YOU'RE MULCHING.

SOME PERENNIALS REALLY BENEFIT FROM SOME MULCH.

THOSE THAT LIKE IT A LITTLE COOLER, A LITTLE BIT MORE MOIST.

SOME PERENNIALS, IF HAVE SOME OF YOUR NATIVE PERENNIALS, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PUTTING THOSE IN THE VERGE AREAS BETWEEN THE SIDEWALK AND THE CURB, THOSE YOU MAY NOT WANT TO MULCH AT ALL, OR IF YOU DO, VERY LIGHTLY.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

IF YOU HAVE SOME OF OUR NATIVE PERENNIALS, VERY LIGHT MULCH.

SOME OF THE OTHER WOODLAND PERENNIALS, YOU CAN PUT DOWN, AGAIN, MAYBE AN INCH OR TWO OF MULCH IN THOSE SPOTS.

SO AGAIN, MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE GOOD SOIL MOISTURE BEFORE YOU START APPLYING THE MULCH.

DO YOUR PRUNING AHEAD OF TIME.

AND THEN GET IN THERE AND PUT DOWN YOUR MULCH, AND THEN YOU'LL BE PRETTY HAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

YOU'LL BE ABLE TO STAND BACK AND THINK, "I'VE DONE SOMETHING GOOD THIS WEEKEND."

>>> YOU KNOW, GOOD MULCHING PRACTICES HAVE SO MANY BENEFITS LIKE MOISTURE AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL, AND OF COURSE KEEPING THOSE WEEDS DOWN.

BEFORE THOSE PLANTS START GREENING UP, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO GET SOME MULCH DOWN, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY HARD ONCE THOSE LEAVES START TO COME ON TO THE PLANTS.

SO EAST -- SOUTH LINCOLN, THERE'S A LOT OF GREEN ALREADY.

YOU GOTTA GET DOWN ON YOUR HANDS AND KNEES AND GO MULCH, MULCH, MULCH.

ALL RIGHT, WE STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR OUR LAST ROUND HERE.

LET'S SEE.

DENNIS, YOUR FIRST QUESTION IS THIS LITTLE TURTLE, HE'S ONLY ABOUT THE SIZE OF -- SHE MAYBE -- THE SIZE OF THE PALM OF MY HAND OR A LITTLE BIGGER, WAS OUT OF OUR POND AND JUST SITTING THERE ON THE END OF THE PATIO.

THE REST OF THEM WERE UNDERWATER.

IS -- WHAT'S UP WITH THIS ONE?

>> WELL, SO, THESE ARE RED-EARED SLIDERS THAT SHOULDN'T BE HERE, THEY'RE RELEASED PETS.

THAT'S WHAT'S IN THOSE PONDS.

AND SO THE SMALLER ONES -- 'CAUSE THEY'RE PRIMARILY SOUTH OF HERE, MISSOURI, KANSAS.

PROBABLY IS TRYING TO GET HEAT.

AND SO THE SMALLER ONES NEED MORE HEAT THAN THE LARGER ONES TO HELP DIGEST.

SO IT'S THERMAL REGULATING IS WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> YOU SEE THE SUN'S ON IT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND I THINK THAT WAS YOUR ONLY QUESTION ON THIS LAST ROUND.

>> OKAY.

>> SO I'M GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING UP -- >> MAKE SOMETHING UP.

>> -- WE NEED TO LATER.

OKAY, JEFF, YOU ONLY HAVE ONE ON THIS LAST ROUND, TOO.

JUST IN CASE YOU ALL GOT WORDY ON THIS FIRST SHOW.

SO THE QUESTION HERE IS, THERE WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WHATEVER THIS WEED IS IN A MULCH BED LAST YEAR.

NOW IT'S EVERYWHERE, AND IT'S ALREADY ALMOST SIX INCHES TALL.

WHAT IS THAT, AND HOW DO YOU CONTROL THAT?

>> WELL, THAT'S BEDSTRAW.

SO IT'S A COMMON WINTER ANNUAL.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF WINTER ANNUALS.

AND I THINK KIND OF THE COMMON THEME WITH WINTER ANNUALS IS WE'VE ALL SEEN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF IT, RIGHT?

AND IT FLOWERED, AND IT WAS KIND OF NICE.

AND NOW THIS YEAR IT'S LIKE, "WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED?"

BECAUSE THEY PRODUCE A LOT OF SEED.

>> MM-HM.

>> SO THAT'S A REMINDER FOR ALL OF US, IF YOU SEE A LITTLE BIT OF IT RIGHT NOW, THIS IS THE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.

SO, IT'S EASY TO PULL.

AND AGAIN, A PRE-EMERGENT, ESPECIALLY IN MULCH BEDS, WILL SET YOU UP FOR A GOOD SPRING.

>> AND I WILL TELL OUR AUDIENCE THAT FRED BAXENDALE, WHEN HE WAS SITTING IN THE ENTOMOLOGY CHAIR, ONE YEAR, OF COURSE, THERE WAS A WAR BETWEEN THE PANELISTS THROWING BEDSTRAW AT ONE ANOTHER AND FRED STARTED IT.

JUST IMAGINE THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] ALL RIGHT, AMY, YOU HAVE TWO ON THIS LAST ROUND, JUST IN CASE.

>> OKAY.

>> SO YOUR FIRST ONE, THIS IS -- THESE CAME UP, THIS VIEWER SAID, AFTER THE MARCH 25th SNOWSTORM WHERE THERE WAS AN OLD TREE.

THEY TOOK THE PICTURE APRIL 1st.

WONDERING DO THEY COME UP THIS EARLY AND WILL THEY CONTINUE TO COME UP?

>> MUSHROOMS CAN COME UP WHENEVER THEIR GROUND TEMPERATURE IS WARM ENOUGH, AND WE HAVE SOME MOISTURE, AND HE FINALLY GOT SOME MOISTURE WITH THAT HEAVY SNOW.

THE TYPE OF MUSHROOM, THIS IS PRETTY SCIENTIFIC -- THEY'RE LITTLE BROWN MUSHROOMS.

THAT'S THE CLASSIFICATION WE PUT THEM IN.

AND SO, THEY'RE NOT EDIBLE.

THEY'RE JUST BREAKING DOWN THAT ROOT OF THAT OLD TREE.

SO, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

>> AND THEY'RE JUST GONNA KEEP DOING THAT AS LONG AS -- >> THEY'RE JUST GONNA KEEP GOING UNTIL THAT ROOT IS COMPLETELY GONE.

SO, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THEM, YOU CAN COME OUT EVERY MORNING AND JUST SLICE THEM OFF OR RUN THE MOWER OVER TOP OF THEM YOU DON'T NEED TO TREAT 'EM.

THEY'RE GOOD.

THEY'RE HELPING BREAK THAT DEAD ORGANIC MATTER INTO NITROGEN FOR THE GRASS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN YOU HAVE A SECOND ONE HERE.

THIS IS A -- THEY THINK IT WAS 60-YEAR-OLD REDBUD.

>> WOW.

>> AND IT STILL WAS SEMI-ALIVE, AND THEY FINALLY THOUGHT IT'S GOING TO FALL ON THE HOUSE.

SO THEY CUT IT DOWN AND THIS WAS THE INTERIOR OF IT.

IS THIS A DISEASE?

AND THEN THEIR QUESTION IS WILL IT SPREAD, 'CAUSE THEY'VE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF RED -- >> WHOLE BUNCH OF RED BUDS AROUND THERE?

>> -- YEAH.

>> IT LOOKS FROM THIS STUMP THAT IT WAS A GOOD THING THAT YOU DID CUT DOWN THIS TREE.

THIS IS HEART ROT.

HEART ROT CAN COME INTO TREES AT ANY POINT IN TIME WE HAVE A WOUND.

AND IN ALL REALITY, ONCE WE GET INTO OLDER TREES -- 40, 50, 60, 100-YEAR-OLD TREES, YOU KNOW, YOU THINK OF A 100-YEAR-OLD COTTONWOOD, MOST OF THE TIME THEY'RE DECAYED ON THE INSIDE.

AND THAT'S WHEN WE START GETTING CONCERNED WITH THOSE OLDER TREES NEXT TO HOMES, OUR BUILDINGS, AND -- BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT INTEGRITY'S GOING TO BREAK DOWN OVER TIME.

IS IT GOING TO GO TO THE TREES NEXT TO IT?

YES, POSSIBLY.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY ALREADY IN THOSE OTHER TREES.

WHENEVER WE'VE HAD ANY TYPE OF WOUND WHETHER THAT'S -- WHENEVER WE PRUNE, HAIL DAMAGE, INSECT FEEDING, WOODPECKER DAMAGE.

SO THOSE FUNGI ARE AROUND AND BACTERIA AROUND ALL THE TIME.

AND THERE ISN'T REALLY ANYTHING WE CAN DO.

JUST ENJOY THE TREE AS LONG AS WE CAN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, AMY.

LET'S SEE, YOU HAVE ONE QUESTION ON THIS ONE, KELLY.

AND THIS IS -- THIS VIEWER HAD A ROW OF MATURE EMERALD GREEN ARBORVITAE.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING REALLY WELL UNTIL OUR FIRST MARCH SNOWSTORM AND 60- MILE-AN-HOUR WINDS.

THEY'RE LEANING.

THEY'VE BEEN PARTIALLY UPROOTED.

THEY'VE CLEARED THE LEAVES, ADDED SOIL, DID A WATERING, AND THEY HAVE STAKED AND STRAPPED TO HOLD THEM STRAIGHT.

WHAT ELSE?

OR -- WHAT ELSE?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY'VE PROBABLY DONE ALL THAT THEY CAN AND TIME WILL TELL.

THE LEAN, YOU JUST HAVE TO MONITOR THOSE.

[ COUGH ] EXCUSE ME.

THE LEAN DOESN'T LOOK TERRIBLY BAD.

IT DEPENDS ON IF THE ROOTS WERE ACTUALLY BROKEN OFF.

THEY HAD EXPOSED ROOTS, SO THAT'S NOT A GOOD SIGN.

BUT IF THE ROOTS WERE NOT ACTUALLY BROKEN OFF, YOU ONLY WANT TO KEEP THEM STAKED THOUGH FOR ABOUT A YEAR, OR TWO YEARS MAYBE SINCE IT'S SUCH A LARGE TREE.

IF THEY'RE STILL -- AND THEN ONCE YOU REMOVE THOSE STAKES, MONITOR THEM IF THEY CONTINUE TO LEAN, OR THEY START TO BROWN, THEN YOU KNOW THERE WAS MORE DAMAGE TO THOSE ROOTS UNDERNEATH.

I MAYBE WOULD -- I MAYBE WOULD NOT HAVE REMOVED THE LEAVES 'CAUSE THAT'S A GOOD THING LIKE MULCH.

AND THEY SAID THEY ADDED SOIL.

HOPEFULLY YOU DIDN'T PUT TOO MUCH SOIL ON THERE, NO MORE THAN AN INCH.

IF IT WAS MORE THAN THAT, I WOULD RAKE SOME OF THAT OFF, 'CAUSE THAT IS GOING TO RESTRICT OXYGEN -- RESTRICT OXYGEN INTO THE SOIL, WHICH IS WHAT THE ROOTS -- IF THERE'S ANY CHANCE OF RECOVERY FOR THOSE ROOTS OR NEW ROOTS TO GROW IF NEEDED, THEY NEED THAT OXYGEN TO GROW.

>> WELL, AND HE DIDN'T REALLY SAY WHAT THEY HAD STRAPPED THEM WITH OR HOW TIGHTLY.

>> RIGHT.

YEAH.

AND BE CAREFUL, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

BUT USUALLY, WE'LL SAY TO -- YOU CAN TRY STAKE 'EM FOR A YEAR OR TWO AND IF YOU TAKE IT OFF, AND THEY'RE STILL LOOSE OR THEY CONTINUE TO LEAN A LITTLE FURTHER, THEN THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PROBABLY RECOVER.

>> ALL RIGHT AND YOU HAVE ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS A SMALL TREE PLANTED FIVE YEARS AGO AND IT WAS STAKED.

[ LIGHT LAUGHTER ] AND THE STAKE WASN'T REMOVED.

THEY WONDER IS THERE ANY HOPE?

>> NO.

I THINK IT'S -- I THINK IT'S TOO FAR GONE.

YOU SEE THAT WHOLE TREE AND YOU THINK, "WELL, IT'S ONLY JUST IN THERE A LITTLE BIT."

BUT THE PHLOEM, WHICH IS WHERE ALL THE FOOD FROM THE LEAVES, THE PHOTOSYNTHATES MOVE DOWN THROUGH THE TREE AND INTO THE ROOTS AND AROUND THE TREE, IS JUST A THIN LAYER RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT BARK.

AND THEN THE CAMBIUM TISSUE, WHICH IS THE ONLY GROWING PART OF THE TREE, IS JUST RIGHT UNDERNEATH THAT BARK TOO.

SO IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO GIRDLE AND DAMAGE THAT TREE.

SO AS WE MOVE INTO PLANTING SEASON, JUST REMEMBER TO REMOVE ANY TAGS, WIRES, WHATEVER.

AND IF YOU STAKE, ONLY STAKE FOR ONE YEAR AND THEN MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE ALL THAT STUFF.

OBVIOUSLY, BUT -- >> RIGHT.

WELL, YOU KNOW, AND ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS LOOKING AT THAT TREE THOUGHT INTERESTING -- IT'S AN OAK.

AND WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO CUT THAT OAK OFF BELOW THAT POINT, TRY TO GET IT TO RESPROUT.

JEFF, I KNOW YOU'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH, SO THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

AND I GUESS AT THIS STAGE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE.

SO IT WOULDN'T HURT TO TRY THAT.

BUT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING TO COME OUT OF THAT AND BE A GOOD STRONG LEADER.

>> AND THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW IT ATTACHES.

>> RIGHT.

>> 'CAUSE THAT'S PROBABLY THE MAIN THING.

PEOPLE TRY THAT ALL THE TIME, AND THEY HAVE THIS LOVELY LITTLE NEW TREE AND IT'S ATTACHED INCORRECTLY.

>> YEAH, IF IT'S A WEEK ATTACHMENT, THEN YOU'LL LOSE IT.

>> AND AGAIN, IT'S AWFULLY EASY FOR PEOPLE TO FORGET ABOUT THE STAKE -- >> IT IS, IT IS.

>> FORGET ABOUT THE STRAPS, DO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

WE HAVE ONE MORE MINUTE.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE ON FOR A WHILE.

>> OKAY.

WELL, I'LL FINISH TALKING ABOUT THE GARTER SNAKE.

>> PERFECT.

>> I GET A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE, AND PARENTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE SAYING, "MY CHILD IS INTERESTED IN HERPETOLOGY.

WHAT KIND OF SNAKE?"

AND THEY'RE THINKING BALL PYTHON, YOU KNOW, CORN SNAKE.

NO.

USE SOMETHING THAT'S NATIVE.

GARTER SNAKES EAT WORMS.

THEY'RE LIVE BEARERS, EXTREMELY PERSONABLE, OKAY?

AND GUESS WHAT?

>> WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS ONE?

>> THE STATE LAWS ALLOW YOU TO HOLD OR HAVE IN CAPTIVITY UP TO TEN GARTER SNAKES IN THE STATE.

YOU CAN'T BUY, SELL, TRADE 'EM, OR TAKE 'EM OVER STATE LINES EVEN IF THEY'RE OVER 21.

THEY HAVE TO STAY WITHIN THE STATE.

AND YOU CAN JUST GET 'EM OUT OF YOUR YARD.

AND THEY'RE THE BEST THING IF YOU WANT -- IF SOMEONE WANTS TO LEARN FROM A PET SNAKE.

>> WONDERFUL.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DENNIS, VERY MUCH AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TONIGHT'S FIRST SHOW OF THIS SEASON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING, SUBMITTING THOSE WONDERFUL PICTURES AND QUESTIONS.

HELPING US ON THE PHONE THIS EVENING WE HAD LINDA HELTON, CAITLIN DeCOSTER AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION EDUCATOR TERRI JAMES.

NEXT TIME ON "BACKYARD FARMER" WE'LL SHOW YOU SOME CRITICAL TIPS TO HELP YOU PREVENT FIRES.

BEN BOHALL FROM THE NEBRASKA FOREST SERVICE WILL TELL US SOME COMMON SENSE PRACTICES THAT WILL GREATLY REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRES FOR RANCHERS, ACREAGE OWNERS, AND HOMEOWNERS.

AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DR. GOLD FOR WISHING US WELL ON OUR NEW SEASON.

AS YOU HAVE AN ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK, CHECK OUT THE UPDATED "BACKYARD FARMER" WEBSITE AT BYF@UNL.EDU.

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

SO GOOD NIGHT, GOOD GARDENING.

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

[ LAUGHTER ] ♪ ♪