K-State Research and Extension

Horticulture Hotline Opens in April

Sharon Ashworth, Horticulture & Natural Resources 

Got garden questions? The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners are here to help! 

One can find all sorts of interesting gardening information online. Interesting yes, but reliable? Maybe. Take for instance the recipe for a homemade, organic weed killer: Epsom salts, vinegar, and dish soap. Mix these together and spray on your weeds to forever solve your weed problems without “chemicals”! If you do mix up these ingredients, which are also chemicals by the way, and spray it on your dandelions, the plants will look dead. However, the mixture will only kill the aboveground part of the plant; the roots will live to produce a flower another day. While horticultural vinegar (20% acetic acid) can be effective on small weeds with multiple applications, the vinegar bought at the grocery store is much less effective (5% acetic acid). The salt can easily leach through the soil to kill desirable plants, microbes, and insects and destroy soil structure. The soap is there as a surfactant, a substance to help the mixture spread and wet the leaves of the target plant. Dish soap alone is sometimes recommended - on the internet - for pest control, but it will harm plant tissues. Only use insecticidal soaps labeled for use on plants to control insects. If you want better options for organic weed control, ask a Master Gardener. 

 Don’t take advice on what to plant from a website based out of Oregon, Maine, or Florida – ask a Kansas Master Gardener. If you have a question about your sick tree, send a picture to a Master Gardener. If an individual Master Gardener is unable to diagnose the problem with your tree, that Master Gardener can still find you an answer by connecting with the research-based horticultural resources of K-State. 

 Still prefer to search online for gardening information? Trust the information found at three K-State online resources given below. 

Kansas Healthy Yards gardening calendar on the Dg. Co. Lawn and Garden page 

The gardening calendar is a handy month to month to-do list for vegetable and fruit gardening, flower gardening, lawn care, tree and shrub care, and miscellaneous tasks. 

Horticulture Information Center  

Here you will find a weekly horticulture newsletter loaded with timely information, a link to some of the most common plant and pest problems, lists of recommended plants, and a link to a searchable database of K-State publications on all manner of topics.  

K-State Garden Hour (see below for upcoming topics) 

K-State Garden Hour features videos on all sorts of horticultural topics and is hosted by K-State Research and Extension horticulture staff across the state of Kansas.  

UPCOMING HORTICULTURAL EVENTS

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2023 AT 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM 

Water Gardening - Mini to Magnificent! 

Finding balance is the key to success in water gardens. Learn innovative approaches to achieve balance and empower the aquatic ecosystem. Discover creative options for low maintenance big and small gardens with traditional aquatic plants, waterlilies, and lotus. Hands on practice dividing lotus!Registration required, space limited: REGISTER HERE 

Extension Master Gardener monthly horticultural programming 

The monthly EMG educational programming takes place at 10:15 am in the north room of the Dreher Family 4-H Building at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. 

March 18(Saturday): The Craft of Gardens in China and Japan, presented by Extension Master Gardeners Bob Thorp and Karen Brock 

April 19 (Wednesday): Tree Risk Assessment, presented by Tyler Fike, City of Lawrence, Horticulture Department 

May 20 (Saturday): Lawns to Landscape, presented by Sharon Ashworth, Horticulture and Natural Resources Agent for Douglas County 

K-State Garden Hour virtual horticultural programs 

Visit our website to register for this and other K-State Garden Hour webinars: www.ksre-learn.com/KStateGardenHour 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023 AT 12 PM – 1 PM 

Houseplants - Basics & Beyond 

 Over 66% of U.S. households have at least one houseplant, but often the terms used to describe their care can be confusing. Join Cassie Thiessen, Post Rock District Horticulture Extension Agent, & Calla Edwards, Butler County Horticulture Extension Agent as they decode common houseplants terms related to light, water, and other plant needs. Learn about some unique houseplants and the best practices to keep them thriving. 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2023 AT 12 PM – 1 PM 

Growing to New Heights with Vertical Gardening 

Make the most of your garden by growing up, instead of out. Create vertical gardens to get your garden off of the ground, provide more space for plants, and expand your gardening area. Join Amanda Groleau, Frontier District Horticulture Extension Agent, as she shares the benefits of vertical gardening. Learn which fruits, vegetables, and flowers will grow best in a vertical garden and how to get started. 

 WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 2023 AT 12 PM – 1 PM 

Drought Tolerant Plants for A Challenging Kansas Landscape 

The Kansas climate throws numerous extremes at our landscape plants. The most common climate extreme is periods of drought, which are difficult for both plants and gardeners. Join Jason Graves, Central Kansas District Horticulture Extension Agent, and Matthew McKernan, Sedgwick County Horticulture Extension Agent, as they address our climate challenges and provide suggestions for drought tolerant plants that will make gardening easier. 

2023 Garden Tour and Native Plant Sale 

Mark your calendar for the first weekend in June! The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners will be hosting their 2023 Garden Tour, Native Plant Sale, and Garden Art sale – all in one fabulous weekend. Check out our Facebook page and website for featured pictures and information.  

The Garden Tour is open Saturday 6/3 and Sunday 6/4. The native plant and garden art sales will be held Saturday, 6/3 only in the open pavilion at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. 

The 2023 Garden Tour will feature seven gardens throughout Lawrence and the surrounding area. Tickets are $15 and will be for sale as we get closer to the event.  

The 2023 Extension Master Gardener Native Plant Sale will feature online orders for 8 different boxes of 15 plants each. Each box is designed by Master Gardeners for different conditions or interests. In addition to online orders, we will have loads of new, never sold before plants on Saturday June 3rd.