K-State Research and Extension Frontier District

Lawn and Garden

Horticulture

The Frontier District Extension offices are your front doors to the resources of Kansas State University. Through our offices (Garnett, Lyndon or Ottawa), you can obtain information on trees, turf, shrubs, insects, gardens, and other related topics. We also provide services such as insect identification, plant identification, and soil tests with fertilizer recommendations.

Upcoming Horticulture Meetings and Events

The K-State Garden Hour 2024 lineup continues a tradition of providing updated information on gardening topics that Kansans have asked for.

A one-time registration gives viewers free access to all of the 2024 sessions, which include:

  • March 6 – Selecting and Planting Fruit Trees for Kansas
  • April 3 - Companion Plants in Your Garden
  • May 1 - Understanding Water Sources for Your Garden
  • June 5 - Growing Cut Flowers for the Home & Farmers Market
  • July 3 - Success with Cacti and Succulents
  • Aug. 7 - Establishing a More Environmentally Sustainable Lawn
  • Sept. 4 - Season Extension in the Vegetable Garden
  • Oct. 2 - Evergreens in Kansas
  • Nov. 6 - Rabbit, Mole, and Deer Mitigation
  • Dec. 4 - Home Hydroponics

The Jan. 3 and the Feb. 7 programs – A How-To in Floral Design and Gardening with a Changing Climate, respectively – were recorded and are available to watch anytime on the program’s website, https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/consumer-horticulture/garden-hour/.

Each program is held online from 12 noon to 1 p.m. (CST), including a 45 minute presentation and 10-15 minutes for viewer questions. A description of each program is available online.

Those who have registered for past webinars must register again for the 2024 series. As in past years, recordings of all webinars can be viewed online.

The K-State Garden Hour began in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as a way for K-State Research and Extension horticulture experts to share research-based information to gardeners of all abilities and experience.

It has blossomed into a program that, in 2022, was watched by viewers in 40 states, eight countries and four continents. Between January and December, the program drew 12,924 viewers, including a single-session high of 932 live viewers for a workshop on starting seeds indoors.

Since its beginning, the K-State Garden Hour has drawn more than 42,000 online viewers.

Those who responded to a survey about the 2022 series indicated several positive outcomes, including:

  • 9 out of 10 participants reported decreasing their personal stress levels as a result of watching K-State Garden Hour webinars, which improved their overall physical and/or emotional health.
  • 95% of participants reported increasing their quality of life by expanding their personal awareness and appreciation of the natural environment.
  • 72% of participants said they have started, improved or continued to design their garden spaces to attract wildlife.
  • 76% of participants reported spending more time gardening as a result of the webinars.

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Mole Control

Beekeeping

The local beekeeping group is the Golden Prairie Beekeepers Association. This group meets the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Garnett County Extension Office, 411 S. Oak, Garnett, KS. For more information, you can contact Marlin McGowin at 785-433-1381 or the Facebook page - Golden Prairie Beekeepers Association .

The Northeastern Kansas Beekeepers' Association (NEKBA) accepts membership to anyone who is interested in bees or bee culture. Dues are $15.00 per calendar year (12/31-12/31) for the first in the family joining. Those joining in July or later in the year may pay $7.50 for the half year. Additional members of that family wanting voting privileges shall be assessed dues at $1.00 per year. Youth memberships (18 and younger) are $7.50 per year. Visit their website at NEKBA.org

 

Lauren Gammill
District Agent
Horticulture & Natural Resources
785-229-3520