Callery Pear Buy-Back – Kansas Forest Service Once favored as an ornamental shade tree, the Callery pear has become an invasive species. Though the spring flowers and fall color make it a tempting addition for the landscape, the susceptibility to storm damage and aggressive growth are undesirable. The second annual Callery Pear Buy-back supports property owners who would like to replace an invasive pear tree with a free native tree. Follow the link provided for details and registration information. https://deeproots.org/callery-pear-events/ 2024 Kansas Turf and Ornamentals Field Day
August 1, 2024, at Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center in Manhattan, KS. See the Field Day Program here: https://www.k-state.edu/turf/events/2024TurfFieldDayProgram.pdf Planting Pruning
Scouting
Turfgrass Cool season grasses: Warm season grasses From mid-March through early-April it’s strawberry planting time in Kansas. As long as the soil is ready to be worked (not frozen or saturated) you can plant. If your soil hasn’t been tested for a few years, it is best to have that done to inform your fertilization practices. Strawberry plants can be purchased from a reputable garden center. https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/mf598.pdf Crabgrass is a summer annual. It germinates in spring and dies in the fall. Though it resembles desirable turfgrass with regards to the growth habit, it has a different texture and color creating a non-uniform lawn. It also sets seeds and can spread throughout the landscape. Lawns that are not well maintained are prime targets for crabgrass invasion. It is easiest to control crabgrass before it germinates using preemergence. May 1 is typically when crabgrass is expected to germinate throughout much of Kansas, but this does vary depending on location and weather patterns. Many homeowners use signals from nature to determine preemergence timing. A common guideline is to apply crabgrass preemergent when redbuds are in full bloom. While this is an indicator, it’s not going to provide 100% accuracy since microclimates exist within each landscape. In warmer areas of the landscape, crabgrass is likely to germinate earlier. Soil temperature is a useful indicator to predict crabgrass germination. Using the K-State Mesonet you can access the average soil temperature at a two-inch depth over the past seven days. When the daily average is 55 degrees F for about five days, research suggests this is the time to apply crabgrass preemergence. https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/common-pest-problems/documents/Crabgrass.pdf Instead of combatting weeds all season, take a proactive approach to prevent weeds. Here are some common reasons why weeds invade lawns.
Though a thick, healthy lawn can be a beautiful part of the landscape, if you’re ready for change there are several alternatives to traditional turf. Japanese spurge, English ivy and periwinkle are three ground covers that are good options for an alternative lawn. Certain ground covers perform well in compacted soils that are unsuitable for a traditional lawn. Areas with little sunlight may not be conducive to growing turf but can be a great environment for perennials. Keep in mind that it may take more time to establish a thick groundcover lawn and it won’t tolerate heavy foot traffic, but once established it will be less maintenance and can stand up to weeds. Here are a few ground cover options to consider:
Pollinator lawns are designed to provide sustenance for bees and other pollinators by combining turfgrass with flowering ornamentals. Though aesthetically this option lacks the uniformity of a manicured lawn, pollinator lawns require less irrigation, fertilization, mowing and weeding once established. It is important to select turfgrass species that are compatible with the flowering plants and to choose ornamentals that fit the growing conditions. Here are some plants to consider for a pollinator lawn:
When selecting a turf substitute beware of invasive growth habits. Lily of the valley and goutweed are two groundcovers that can be problematic if not managed. It may seem natural for a seasoned teacher who is also a life-long gardener to create a thriving outdoor classroom. However, this is not a simple task. Integrating standards-based content into the garden requires extensive planning. Fortunately, there are resources available to guide teachers in this process. Books in Bloom Children’s books are a lovely way to introduce lesson topics. There are many books with garden-related themes creating connections across the curriculum with opportunities to take the learning outdoors. Books in Bloom, by Mark Lubkowitz and Valerie Bang-Jensen, provides connections to the classroom with 17 different children’s books. Complete lesson plans with hands-on activities are also included. Here is an example of one of the lessons written to accompany the children’s book Compost Stew: https://kidsgardening.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/BooksinBloom-lessonsample-compoststew.pdf Life Lab Based in Santa Cruz, California, Life Lab has been providing garden-based education resources for decades. There are many lesson resources available to garden educators on their website as well as opportunities for professional development through virtual and in-person workshops. If you’re in need of some inspiration for your educational garden, this is a great site to spend some time exploring. https://www.lifelab.org/ What does it take to establish a successful school garden? Karen Nelson shares her story of collaborating with the Extension Master Gardeners, school personnel and the entire community of Goodland, Kansas to provide this mutually beneficial resource. Read all about it! The Gardens at North Elementary “I started a strawberry patch last year in a raised bed. In the fall I covered the plants with a thick layer of straw. Is it time to uncover them or should I wait until all chance of frost is past? I checked under a corner of the straw today and the straw is holding lots of moisture. The soil is still cool.” Wait to remove mulch from the strawberry bed until the soil temperature is about 40 degrees. You can use a soil thermometer to measure the temperature a couple feet into the planting and insert several inches into the soil. When it’s time, you can remove the top layer of straw so the new growth can emerge. Leave the bottom layer of straw so the berries will not be resting on the soil surface as they develop. Here is a video from K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) with further information: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/hort-judging/fruit-nuts/strawberry.html |
AuthorsCynthia Domenghini runs the Horticulture Response Center in the Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources at Kansas State University. Other contributors include K-State Extension Specialists. Archives
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