Nebraska Extension

09/03/2026

Tired of fighting your lawn? Try going native! Jeff Culbertson introduces us to blue grama, a native grass that thrives in sunny spots and, once established, can take care of itself with little to no irrigation.

Jeff also explains how mixing blue grama with buffalo grass can help fill in the gaps and create a great alternative to traditional fescue or Kentucky bluegrass.

Thinking about a lawn renovation? This could be one to consider for next spring!

09/03/2026

The late-season buffet is OPEN! Dana Freeman highlights Caryopteris ‘Dark Knight’, better known as bluebeard or blue mist. This compact shrub is a late-season favorite for bees and butterflies.
☀️ Full sun
💧 Heat & drought tolerant
🌸 Blooms on new growth
🐝 Great for pollinator gardens
Just remember: bluebeard likes it dry and well-drained, especially through the winter.
Add this one to your pollinator habitat wish list!

09/03/2026

The Community Assets Repository brings together the priorities of all 93 counties — making it easier to invest resources and tackle the work most important to Nebraskans. Find it at https://allthingsnebraska.unl.edu/community-assets/

09/02/2026

Think you found a bed bug? You might be surprised! Kyle Koch says more than half of the samples submitted as suspected bed bugs actually turn out to be bat bugs.
🦇 They look incredibly similar, but bat bugs are associated with bats and can sometimes wander into homes when bats leave their roost. 🔬 So how can you tell the difference? Sometimes, you need a microscope!
Watch Kyle explain what to look for—and what to do if you find one.

09/01/2026

After 40 years of service to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Nebraska’s beef industry, Rick Rasby has retired.

As a professor of animal science and Nebraska Extension cow/calf specialist, Rick helped generations of producers make informed decisions through practical, research-based information. From developing tools like the PC Cow Card and Quality Feeds for Quality Feeding to helping launch the UNL Beef website and BeefWatch, his impact will continue to benefit Nebraska ranchers for years to come.

Thank you, Rick, for four decades of leadership, mentorship and unwavering commitment to Nebraska’s cattle producers.

Read more: https://go.unl.edu/0cpf

09/01/2026

🌺 As we get closer to the end of the season, Terri James takes us through some of her favorites—including the South Pacific cannas and Black Beauty dahlias, both All-America Selections winners that can be started from seed. She also checks in on the tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers as we transition toward cooler temperatures and fall.
🌱 Stop by the Backyard Farmer garden this week and see what's growing!

What was your favorite plant in your garden this year?

09/01/2026

🌼 Goldenrod gets blamed for a lot of fall allergies—but is it really the culprit? Jeff Culbertson explains why goldenrod often gets confused with giant ragweed, which begins blooming around the same time.
Goldenrod also happens to be a favorite of pollinators, making it a great plant to appreciate in the late-summer landscape. 🐝 And keep an eye out for those sneaky white-flowered plants hiding among your goldenrod!
👉 Do you have goldenrod growing in your yard?

08/26/2026

"All Things Nebraska, an online platform developed by Nebraska Extension, has launched the Community Assets Repository to compile the priorities and aspirations of communities, agencies and organizations across Nebraska."

Read the rest of the article to learn more about the power of the Community Assets Repository!

All Things Nebraska, an online platform developed by Nebraska Extension, has launched the Community Assets Repository to compile the priorities and aspirations of communities, agencies and organizations across Nebraska.

08/24/2026

🔥➡️🌱 From devastating wildfire to new growth.
A massive late-March wildfire burned more than 640,000 acres in Nebraska's Sandhills, leaving behind extensive damage to prairie grass, fences and water sources. Nebraska Extension Educator Gary Stone shows us how native grasses, wildflowers and other plants are recovering—and why the resilient Sandhills landscape can begin regenerating with time and moisture.

08/24/2026

Why does this coneflower look so strange?! Amy Timmerman is showing us a notorious problem that can show up in coneflowers: aster yellows. Instead of normal petals, infected plants can develop strange leafy growth where the flowers should be. And because the disease can spread, it's important to remove affected plants from your landscape.