NEWS RELEASE
Gregg EyestoneFor Release 8/12/15
110 CourthousePlazaPhone: 785-537-6350
Manhattan, KS 66502-0111FAX: 785-537-6353
Fall Gardening SeasonApproaching
It has been a mix of growing conditions this summer. Hot, cool, wet, dry and in between has been dealt to our plants to deal with. I’m ready for seasonal weather. The increasingly cool days of fall are typically good for many of our plants. This can be a good time to evaluate the landscape and garden. New plantings and care of the existing can reap many rewards.
On Tuesday, August 25, you can get prepared to get “Back to Gardening.” Information on cool-season lawns, alternatives to turf and preserving producewill be shared. This program is free and available to all. The programs will be held in Pottorf Hall in CiCo Park. Sessions on seeding lawns and the alternatives to turfwill begin at 6 pm. Fertilizing and weed management in the lawn and preserving producewill begin at 7 pm.
Kansas is in the transition zone. It is favored neither by cool-season grasses like tall fescue or warm-season grasses like buffalo. Cool-season grasses have the opportunity to be greener longer during the growing season than warm-season grasses. That characteristic makes them generally more favored.
Tall fescue is the most adapted cool-season grass for Kansas. Bluegrass is next and the two can be planted in the same lawn. Cool-season grasses that are not adapted include ryegrass, chewing fescue, sheep fescue, creeping red fescue and hard fescue. These grasses are readily available but are not long term growers in the transition zone.
There are different types of tall fescues and bluegrasses. K-31 is a common type for pasture and can be grown as a low maintenance lawn grass. Turf-type tall fescue is more bluegrass in appearance and is used extensively for lawns. Bluegrass is categorized into many types.
Sometimes turf is going to work. Too much shade and you will need an alternative to grass. Shade tolerant groundcovers and perennials can fill the void.
A list of recommended plants that have proven to grow in Kansas is available from K-State Research and Extension. Contact the local office or get the information from the website
You can find out more information on this and other horticulture topics by going to theRiley County, K-State Research and Extension website at may be contacted by calling 785-537-6350 or stopping by 110 Courthouse Plaza in Manhattan or e-mail: .
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All educational programs and materials available without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability.