Raking leaves in your lawn can seem like a chore, but fall leaves can actually benefit your plants and soil. Fall leaves can be composted and used as organic matter in the soil. They can also be used as a natural mulch or stockpiled for later use. This article talks about all the uses of fall leaves- https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/lawn-garden/agent-articles/lawns/solutions-for-getting-rid-fall-leaves.html
By: Cassie Thiessen
Fall is a great time to plant trees. If you are wondering which trees grow best in Kansas, watch this K-State Garden Hour Webinar. Dr. Jason Griffin explains trees that are best suited for Kansas and do well with minimal care.
By: Cassie Thiessen
According to K-State Mesonet (Kansas weather data system), it has been
around 49 days since we have recorded at least an inch of rain in our area. Young establishing plants, specifically evergreens and the lawn, are currently under drought stress. Plants with good soil moisture are more drought tolerant and able to with stand winter conditions. Take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and give your lawn, perennials, young trees, and shrubs a much-needed drink.
More information on watering newly planted trees: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2800.pdf
By: Cassie Homan
Fall is a great time to plant a tree. If you have been wanting to get a tree planted in your landscape, start shopping now. K-State has tested many shade trees to do well in our weather conditions.
Follow this link to find the perfect tree for your yard:
https://www.bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2688.pdf
By: Cassie Homan
If you have newly planted fruit trees they need a little extra maintenance this time of year. Rabbits may begin to nibble on newly planted trees and shrubs through the winter. Protect your investment with at least 2-foot-tall cylinders of 1-inch-mesh, chicken wire, or similar barrier. Other control methods inclu
de plastic tree wraps and liquid rabbit repellents sprayed on the plants. Repellents will need to be reapplied each time it rains. It’s also a good idea to pick up fallen fruit in the fall. This will prevent diseases from overwintering and fungal spores will be destroyed.
By: Cassie Homan
Fall is here which means we will soon have an abundance of leaves. Leaves 
will rapidly fall from deciduous trees, so it’s a good time to stop and think about options for handling the litter. Although a scattering of leaves won’t harm the lawn, excessive cover prevents sunlight from reaching turfgrass plants. Turf left in this state for an extended period will be unable to make the carbohydrates needed to carry it through the winter.
There are options for dealing with the fallen leaves other than bagging them up and putting them out for the trash collector. Composting is a great way to handle the refuse. Compost can then be used in the vegetable garden and flowerbeds.
An even easier method of making good use of the leaves is direct incorporation in either vegetable gardens or annual flower beds. Use a lawn mower with a bagging attachment to chop and collect the leaves. Transport them to the garden and apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of leaves on the surface of the soil and then till them in. Repeat the process every couple of weeks until you run out of leaves or the weather becomes too cold or the soil becomes too wet.
Another option is to mow the leaves with a mulching mower and let shredded leaves filter into the turf canopy. This method will be most effective if you do it often enough that leaf litter doesn’t become too thick. Mow while you can still see grass peeking through the leaves.
You may wonder whether this practice will be detrimental to the lawn in the long run. Research at Michigan State University in which they used a mulching mower to shred up to about one pound of leaves per square yard of lawn (one pound is equal to approximately 6 inches of leaves piled on the grass) for five consecutive years, found no long-term effects of the shredded leaves on turf quality, thatch thickness, organic content of the thatch, or soil test results (pH, nutrients, etc.). If you mow leaves and have a cool-season lawn, it makes sense to be on a fall nitrogen fertilization program and core-aerate in the fall (things you should be doing anyway). If you have a warm-season lawn, you can still use this technique but wait to fertilize and core-aerate until next late May or early June.
By: Cassie Homan
Fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs in your landscape. During this time of year soils are warm and moist, creating the perfect environment for root growth. Planting in early September through the end of October allows roots to become established before the ground freezes.
Here are some tree planting tips:
By: Cassie Homan
