UNL Extension in Adams County

10/15/2026

The first frost of fall is on its way, are your plants weather ready? Follow these steps to prevent landscape damage as nighttime temperatures dip below 36°F this week.
1. Water and mulch soils around plants and trees, especially for new plantings.
2. Bring tender plants inside or cover them with staked bedsheets overnight, then uncover in the morning.
3. Unhook garden hoses from spigots and drain them prior to freezing temperatures (32°F) to prevent splits, burst fittings and frozen pipes and back flow devices.
4. Don’t walk or drive on green lawns showing frost, or mow or fertilize them.
5. Don’t cut spent foliage to the ground for winter—leave at least 12 inches as insulation from wind and cold.
6. Wait until spring to prune trees to avoid frost cracking

10/13/2026

Some trees start their normal fall leaf drop ahead of other trees, even of the same species, for various reasons.

Fall is a difficult time to assess condition based on the canopy. A better time is when your tree comes out of winter dormancy next spring or mid-summer when typically at the height of vigor. If your tree is yellow then, or if it starts out looking great but turns yellow mid-summer, these are signs to call your Extension horticulture professional or a certified arborist to take a look; find yours at https://hles.unl.edu

In Adams County, call Rita Brhel at (402) 461-7209.

That said, if you have concerns other than recent leaf color changes in the fall -— such as areas of decay or other structural issues -- by all means, contact an Extension horticulture professional now. Some things are more urgent than others.

But if you feel your tree is otherwise healthy, just changing color earlier than other trees, let’s take the wait-and-see approach for now and check back next growing season.

10/07/2026

The GRO Big Red Virtual Learning Series has an upcoming program about Spring Flowering Bulbs with Scott Evans & Mary Jane Frogge on October 14th, from 12-1 PM CT. .
Register at https://hles.unl.edu/lawn-garden/gro-big-red/

This statewide webinar series is hosted by Nebraska Extension HLES Team and is scheduled once a month on the second Wednesday of the month at noon.

10/05/2026

Trees can grow for hundreds of years, but a tree with a hollow trunk is not safe and should be removed.

The trunk is hollow because the heartwood has decayed. The heartwood is the nonliving, internal core of the tree that provides stability to the tree. When the heartwood is missing, the tree is much less resilient to wind and storms. A hollow tree is a fall risk and should be removed promptly.

The tricky thing is, a tree's heartwood doesn't have to be missing to be a problem. Decaying heartwood can be as much of a risk, but decay isn't always obvious. Your county's Extension Horticulture professional can assess your tree for decay; find yours at https://hles.unl.edu/

In Adams County, call Rita Brhel at (402) 461-7209

09/22/2026

October's Learning Ala'cart - Decorated Clothing. Give the Adams County Extension office a call to reserve your spot. Only $20 which includes lunch! 402-461-7209

09/22/2026

09/14/2026

The Cornstalk Grazing Toolbox is your guide to grazing corn residue efficiently and profitably, with research-based recommendations for stocking, supplementation, residue quality, and managing agreements between cattle and crop producers. Explore the toolbox at https://beef.unl.edu/producer-resources/beef-producer-toolbox/feed-forage-range-management-tools/corn-stalk-grazing/

09/09/2026

The allelopathic chemical that black walnut trees produce, juglone, does suppress plant growth but only certain plants are sensitive to its effects. For example, tomatoes are among the plants that we recommend not to plant in-ground within 50-80 feet of a black walnut.

There is a long list of juglone-tolerant plant species: https://extension.psu.edu/landscaping-and-gardening-around-walnuts-and-other-juglone-producing-plants

If you notice a juglone-tolerant species struggling near a black walnut, that individual plant may be susceptible due to an underlying stressor. Often what looks like juglone toxicity in a tolerant plant is actually drought stress. Any established tree, black walnut included, is a major competitor with other plants for water and nutrients.

Your county's University of Nebraska Extension horticulture professional can help you with siting considerations; find yours at https://hles.unl.edu

In Adams County, call Rita Brhel at (402) 461-7209

09/07/2026

The Nebraska Grazing Exchange is a free online platform that helps connect livestock producers with landowners offering forage. Search available sites across Nebraska by location, forage type, or grazing season for cattle, sheep, goats, or mixed herds: https://nebraskagrazingexchange.com/