Harvey County

Tag: Home and Garden Show

Organic Matter in your Lawn/Garden

“Where Buffalo Roam” is part of the history of the Kansas prairie.  It is also the title of one of the speaker topics at the Harvey County Home and Garden Show this Sunday at 1:00 pm.  Buffalo grass is my favorite lawn grass.  If you would like to learn how to have a buffalo grass lawn this would be a great program to attend.  Admission is free for kids 12 and under, while attendees 13 and over is just a dollar.

I am a believer in organic matter!  If you only do one thing to improve your lawn or garden areas you should work in organic matter.  Organic matter is a good way to improve garden soil as it improves a heavy soil by bettering tilth, aeration and how quickly the soil absorbs water.

However, organic matter added in the spring should be well decomposed and finely shredded/ground. Manures and compost should have a good earthy smell without a hint of ammonia. Add a 2-inch layer of organic matter to the surface of the soil and work the materials into the soil thoroughly. Be sure soils are dry enough to work before tilling as wet soils will produce clods.

To determine if a soil is too wet to work, grab a handful and squeeze. If water comes out, it is much too wet. Even if no water drips out, it still may not be dry enough to work. Push a finger into the soil you squeezed. If it crumbles, it is dry enough, but if your finger just leaves an indentation, more time is needed. Be sure to take your handfuls of soil from the depth you plan to work the soil because deeper soils may contain more moisture than the surface.

Home and Garden Speaker Schedule

The Harvey County Master Gardener volunteers have been working feverishly to prepare for the Harvey County Home and Garden Show!  The speaker schedule is set!  Plan to come and learn on March 10 and 11!

Harvey County Home and Garden Show Speaker Schedule 2018

Saturday, March 10

9:00 am  Fruit Tree Care
Ward Upham, Kansas State University
Director, Rapid Response Center

10:00 am Small Fruit for the Backyard
Ward Upham, Kansas State University
Director, Rapid Response Center

11:00 am Arachnophobia: All about Spiders
Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University
Professor & Extension Specialist/State Leader

12:00 Lunch –  Mi Mama’s Recipe’s!

1:00 pm Native Insect Host Plants and
Katie Schmidt, Dyck Arboretum
How Gardeners Can Save The World!
Grounds Manager/Horticulturist

2:00 pm Bug Off: How to Effectively Deal with
Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Kansas State University
Insect & Mite Pests in Vegetable Gardens
Professor & Extension Specialist/State Leader

3:00 pm Pruning Trees and Shrubs
Dr. Charles Barden, Kansas State University                                             
Horticulture and Natural Resources                                                              Professor & Extension Specialist                                                                                   

4:00 pm Growing Blueberries in Kansas
Dr. Charles Barden, Kansas State University                                           
Horticulture and Natural  Resources                                                              Professor Extension Specialist              

Sunday, March 11
(Doors open at 12:00 Noon)

1:00 pm Where Buffalo Roam
Larry Crouse, Horticulture Agent

K-State Research and Extension, Butler Co.

2:00 pm Little Herbs on the Prairie
Kay Neff
, Neff Family Farms

3:00 pm Low Maintenance Landscaping
Scott Davies
, Brady Nursery

4:00 pm Native Plants for Shade
Katie Schmidt, Dyck Arboretum                                                                 
Grounds Manager/Horticulturist

Admission is only one dollar.  We have door prizes, kids events each day, outstanding vendors and awesome food available from Mi Mama’s! We still have room for more vendors. Contact Scott Eckert at 316-284-6930.

The Show is Getting Close! 

The theme of this year’s Harvey County Home and Garden Show 2018 is “Gardening with Native Prairie Plants and Grasses”.  Mark your calendar for March 10 and 11 at the Armory in Newton!  This is the 14th year of the show planned and presented to you by K-State Research and Extension-Harvey County. Continue reading “The Show is Getting Close! “

Harvey County Home and Garden Show Presenter Schedule

 

The Harvey County Master Gardener volunteers have been working feverishly to prepare for the Harvey County Home and Garden Show!  The speaker schedule is set!  Plan to come and learn on March 11 and 12! Continue reading “Harvey County Home and Garden Show Presenter Schedule”