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Autumn is an excellent time to add organic materials and till garden soils. Winter can still be a good time to take care of this chore as long as the soil isn’t frozen. It is far wiser to till now...
Continue Reading →Hoses and shallow irrigation lines may be damaged over the winter if water is not drained. If there is a main shut-off valve for the system, close it and then run through the zones to make sure any pressure...
Continue Reading →It’s Easy Being Green, Just Say No By Dennis L. Patton, M.S., County Horticulture Agent, K-State Research and Extension/Johnson County “Protect our pollinators!” has become a mantra in the gardening world. Lead by the work of Monarch Watch, Xerces...
Continue Reading →By Dennis L. Patton, M.S., County Horticulture Agent, K-State Research and Extension/Johnson County I was flying home after attending a recent conference. Seated next to me was a very pleasant person. We struck up a typical causal airplane conversation. Where...
Continue Reading →Part of the allure of fall foliage is color variation. There are trees that turn red, purple, yellow, orange and brown. Specific plant pigments determine individual colors. Foliage derives its normal green color from chlorophyll, the substance that captures...
Continue Reading →We sometimes receive questions as to whether asparagus or rhubarb can be moved in the fall. Though these crops are traditionally transplanted in the spring (mid-March to mid-April), a fall move can be successful. Wait until the top has...
Continue Reading →The Master Gardeners of Greater Kansas City present “Gardening for Bees and Butterflies “ by our special guest, Heather Holm. She is the author of “Pollinators of Native Plants” and “ BEES: An identification and Native Plan Forage Guide”. There...
Continue Reading →Sunflowers are usually ready to be harvested beginning in mid-September and into October. Seed heads can ripen on the plant, but they will need protection from birds. Try covering the heads with a paper sack or cheesecloth once the petals...
Continue Reading →Ornamentals Weeks 1-4: Continue planting evergreens now. Weeks 1-3: Cuttings of annuals can be taken now to provide vigorous plants for overwintering. Weeks 1-3: Herbs such as parsley, rosemary, chives, thyme and marjoram can be dug from the garden and...
Continue Reading →Most pear cultivars should not be allowed to ripen on the tree. They should be picked while still firm and ripened after harvest. Tree-ripened fruits are often of poor quality because of the development of grit cells and the browning...
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