Local Interest

Garden Update
Week of September 12, 2022
Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County

Creeping Charlie

Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, (Glechoma hederacea) is a member of the mint family. In lawns this weed readily spreads, weaving between individual turf plants and sending out roots where nodes touch the soil. Creeping Charlie is the most aggressive in shady moist areas but will fill in lawn spaces in full sun areas too. Plants give off a minty odor when mowed or pulled. The leaves of creeping Charlie are round to oval, with scalloped leaf edges. The purplish/lavender flowers appear (usually) in May.

Garden Update
Week of August 29, 2022
Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County

The Deepening Drought

Even with the much-appreciated recent rains, it isn’t enough water to lift the region out of drought. There are some changes we can implement to help plants while still making the most of the water we have.

Garden Update
Week of August 22, 2022
Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County

The interactions of the cicada, the cicada killer wasp, and the velvet ant provide a fascinating look into insect relationships.

The Cicada

As dusk fills with the sound of male cicadas wooing females, so too does the concern for the damage cicadas can do to plants in the landscape.  Often mistaken for locusts, the annual cicada is harmless, contributing to the food web as a food source for insects like the cicada killer wasp.

Garden Update
Week of August 15, 2022
Kathleen Cue, Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County

Drought 2022

As much of the region deepens to severe and extreme drought, it is crucial to provide water to plants impacted by the dry conditions. Orchards, landscape plants, trees, conifers, shrubs, and windbreaks will need a deep soaking to survive the summer drought and increase chances for winter survival.

Garden Update
Week of August 1, 2022
Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County

 Blossom End Rot of Tomatoes

 A dark leathery lesion on the underside of tomatoes indicates blossom end rot. It’s not a fungal condition alone but a location of calcium deficiency that allows rot to develop. Typically, BER occurs on the first tomatoes of the season, often with the onset of high temperatures. A recurrence of BER can happen when conditions are extremely dry.  Peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and other summer squash can also develop BER.

Garden Update
Week of July 25
Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County

 Magnolia Scale

Local Resources

Local Events

Follow Us on Facebook



Nebraska Extension in Dodge County

Local Events

Search Local & National Extension Resources

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources News

Latest from ianrnews.unl.edu

Unveiling of Historic Knorr-Holden Plot Signboard

September 25, 2023
Started in 1912, the Knorr-Holden Plot near Scottsbluff is perhaps the world’s oldest irrigated continuous corn research plot. It was recently commemorated with a sign to mark its significance to both Nebraska history and agricultural research history in Nebraska.

Read more

Nebraska Equine Extension to host a second “Race Nebraska” Seminar

September 22, 2023
The passing of the Racetrack Gaming Act through a Nebraska 2020 ballot referendum has caused an expansion in horse racing. A series of educational seminars by Nebraska Extension’s equine program have been developed to help those interested in becoming more involved in the industry.

Read more

Poll: Rural Nebraskans are increasingly pessimistic about present, future

September 18, 2023

Twenty-seven percent of respondents to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll indicated they are worse off than they were five years ago, up from 21% last year and 11% in 2021.

Read more

Jansen discusses farmland valuations with RFD-TV

September 18, 2023

In Nebraska, ag land values are up about 14 percent over last year, mirroring a nationwide rise in ag real estate prices. Click through to watch Jim Jansen, an agricultural systems economist with Nebraska Extension, talk with RFD-TV about the impact of valuations.

Read more