Programs and Resources
K-State Research and Extension - Douglas County provides the following services for lawn and garden care:
Horticulture Hotline
To get answers to all of your garden questions call 785-843-7058, e-mail: dgcogardenhotline@gmail.com, or stop by our office at 2110 Harper Street, Lawrence, KS.
Extension Master Gardeners staff the hotline from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday| Wednesday | Friday - April 1 - October 31.
If you call in the off-season, the Horticulture Extension Agent, Tom Buller, or the Horticulture Program Assistant, Sharon Ashworth, will help you.
Master Gardener Speakers' Bureau
The Extension Master Gardener's are available to give presentations on all sorts of gardening topics.
See our 2023 Speaker's Bureau topic list
Planting Native Plants
Planting Natives in Northeast Kansas is a unique collaborative effort between K-State Research and Extension - Douglas County (KSRE), the Grassland Heritage Foundation (GHF), and the Kansas Rural Center (KRC) to pull together information on and resources for integrating native plants into your landscape, whether it be in your backyard or back 40 acres.
For more than a century, KSRE has brought horticultural and agricultural science to landowners. Increasingly, backyard gardeners call or visit the County Extension office for information on native plants, particularly those that attract pollinators. Larger property owners seek advice on converting extensive lawns into pretty meadows or turning old pastures and cropland into prairie habitat.
Lawn and Garden Soil Testing
Test your soil's pH and nutrient levels to determine what kind and the right amount of fertilizer to apply. You might be spending money on nutrients that you don't need. Download the document on How to Take a Soil Sample for more details.
Extension Master Gardeners
In 2018, Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners donated more than 8,500 hours of volunteer time, helping more than 3,000 Douglas County Residents. For more information about our Master Gardener Program visit our Extension Master Gardener page.
Kaw Valley Farm Tour
Held annually, the first full weekend in October, area farms open their doors to the public to share their farms and farm practices. Take a wagon ride to check out greenhouses, vegetable fields, wineries, and more. For the latest information about the tour, visit their website.