Cultivating Sustainable, Adaptive, and Resilient Kansas Landscapes
By Sharon Ashworth, Horticulture and Natural Resources Agent
K-State Extension - Douglas County is committed to helping residents adapt their landscapes to extreme weather conditions, improve water conservation practices, manage soil health, and sustain food production at both household and community levels. These needs are crucial in addressing the environmental challenges of prolonged drought, intense rainfall, and rising temperatures.
Compounding the effects of drought are higher spring and summer temperatures, elevated nighttime temperatures, intensified windstorms, soil degradation, and reduced landscape resilience to heavy rainfall. Growing food and sustaining ornamental landscapes is challenging in the best of circumstances, so Kansans are turning to K-State Extension for expertise in cultivating resilient landscapes.
Our goal is for Kansans to …
- irrigate plants to maximize plant health and minimize water use
- select hardy and resilient plant materials
- manage for extreme weather events
- enhance soil health
- sustain food production despite prolonged drought conditions
You can obtain these goals by...
- increased use of rain gauges and moisture sensors
- reduced acreage of water-intensive turfgrasses
- increased use of drought-tolerant plants
- proper pruning to reduce tree risk
- installing stormwater infrastructure (bioswales, rain gardens, infiltration strips, rain barrels)
- proper soil management for moisture retention
Find information on all these topics on the Douglas County Extension website.
Other K-State resources for your yard and garden:
Kansas Healthy Yards gardening calendar
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 features videos on all sorts of horticultural topics and is hosted by K-State Research and Extension horticulture staff across the state of Kansas. The Garden Hour is live at noon on the first Wednesday of each month but all presentations are recorded and can be watched at the link above.
Upcoming events
Saturday, March 14 - Living with Fire: Prescribed Burning, Wildfire Safety, & Land Stewardship
Fire has shaped our landscapes for centuries—with both beneficial and destructive outcomes. This program explores fire as a management tool, covering prescribed burning, wildfire risk reduction, and practical steps homeowners can take to live more safely with fire. Participants will gain a better understanding of when fire helps, when it threatens, and how thoughtful planning can protect people, property, and ecosystems.
Event Highlights Include
- 9:00 am – Sharon Ashworth, K-State Extension – Douglas County: Welcome and presentation of the Land Stewardship Assistance for Douglas County Guide
- 9:15 am – Andrew Rutter, Baker University Wetlands & Discovery Center: Using prescribed fire as a tool for vegetation and wildlife habitat management
- 10:00 am – Shawna Hartman, KS Forest Service: Wildfire Prevention Starts with You; Tips on how you can protect your home and property from wildfire
- 10:45 am – Jessica Layton, President, Kaw Valley Prescribed Burn Association: Prescribed Burn Associations; Benefits of working in community
- 11:30 am – Visits with agencies and businesses involved with wildfire protection and prescribed burning
Register HERE
Saturday, March 21 - Rain Barrel Workshop at the Garden Show
Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners will assemble your own rain barrel following a short public education program. EMGs will provide the barrel, the parts, and the know-how. Note: The barrels were donated, emptied of amorphous silica, and rinsed. However, there will be some residue. Collected water is not potable and is recommended for ornamental plantings.
The cost of a rain barrel is $35.00. Advance registration and payment are necessary. The fee offsets the costs of the materials and supports EMG educational programming and our garden micro-grant program.
Register HERE
Horticulture Hotline opens April 1st
Got garden questions? The Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners are here to help!
Call, email, or just visit in-person with the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners
Email: dgcogardenhotline@gmail.com or phone: 785-843-7058 to leave a message.
Master Gardeners are on hand to help April through October on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 – 4 pm.