Plantorama

Program Date

Segment Title and Description

Listen and/or Download

Program

Date

Segment Title and Description

Listen

and/or

Download

WINTER COMPOST MAINTENANCE – Gardeners with compost piles know the decomposition process is much slower during winter. However, compost materials can still be added because active composition is still occurring. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to properly maintain a compost pile throughout the winter.

HOW TO CARE FOR HOLIDAY PLANTS – Whether it’s a Christmas cactus, poinsettia or an amaryllis, Kansas State University instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says water, light and temperature are all important factors in successfully caring for these holiday plants.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR GARDENERS – Avid gardeners typically have an extensive collection of tools and supplies, so finding the perfect holiday gift can be a challenge. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Butler County, Calla Edwards, conducted a survey among Master Gardeners and gardening enthusiasts that revealed their favorite tools, supplies and plants.

WINTER HOUSEPLANT CARE – The K-State Extension horticulture agent for Riley County has a word of caution for individuals trying to nurse their houseplants through winter: make sure your plants need water before you give them more. Gregg Eyestone says the number one killer of houseplants is overwatering. This week, he discusses how to care for houseplants, a variety of holiday plants and live Christmas trees.

CLIMATE RESILIENT GARDENS – The November K-State Garden Hour explored ways to establish gardens that are resilient to tough growing conditions due to a changing climate. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Reno County, Pam Paulsen, says some methods include using native and adapted plants, soil improvement, efficient use of water and nutrients, and attracting beneficial insects.

EXTENDING THE GROWING SEASON – If you want to extend the growing season, there are some options for keeping the soil and air warmer around plants to promote growth and protect from freezing. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how cold season crops can be protected through the use of cold frames, low tunnels and plastic milk jugs.

NUISANCE INSECT AND MITE PESTS – Whether it’s Asian lady beetles, box elder bugs, or clover mites, a variety of nuisance insects and mite pests are trying to get into homes. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, says the best defense against this invasion is to seal up cracks and crevices. He also recommends cleaning up the garden to prevent insect pests from overwintering in the debris.

HORTICULTURE RESEARCH IN OLTAHE – Kansas State University conducts horticulture-related research at several locations across the state. Director of the K-State Horticulture Research and Extension Center in Olathe, Cary Rivard, highlights some of the research taking place at the center – grafting tomato plants, agrivoltaics and high tunnels.

STORING LAWN AND GARDEN PESTICIDES – A variety of lawn and garden pesticides are leftover at the end of the growing season. Rather than disposing of those pesticides, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains how you can safely store pesticides and use them again next season.

ESTABLISHING A LOCAL COMMUNITY GARDEN – The October K-State Garden Hour explores the evolution of community gardens, different types of community gardens, pitfalls to avoid, and offers guidance on establishing and sustaining a successful community garden. K-State Extension horticulture agent for the Meadowlark District, Laura Phillips, discusses four components to successful community gardens.

FALL INSECT PESTS REMAIN ACTIVE – If you’ve seen recent damage to your honey locust trees, it’s most likely being caused by the second generation of mimosa webworm. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, says nothing can be done now, but you can manage the pest in the spring by applying insecticides targeting young caterpillars to control the first and second generations. He also covers fall webworm, fall armyworm, mosquitos and crickets.

DECORATING IDEAS FOR THE FALL – As leaves begin to fall and Halloween decorations start going up, many people are wondering how they can keep some interest in the home landscape. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, has several decorating ideas that involve the use of seasonal flowers, pumpkins, gourds, dried corn stalks and corn bundles.

SELECTING SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS – To give them enough time to root before winter, spring-flowering bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils and crocus, should be planted in early-to-late fall. That makes now a good time to select the bulbs you want. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses the selection process for bulbs and the benefits of conducting a soil test before planting later this fall.

HARVESTING SWEET POTATOES – Harvesting homegrown sweet potatoes in Kansas generally stretches from about mid-September to mid-October. However, K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says sweet potatoes need to be harvested before the first freeze occurs. She explains how to harvest and cure sweet potatoes.

MIMOSA WEBWORMS AND GRUBS – K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, discusses the visible damage caused by mimosa webworms and managing future infestations next year by using insecticides on young caterpillars. He also provides an update on fall armyworms, cicada killers and grubs.

SHRUBS THAT THRIVE IN KANSAS – The focus for the September K-State Garden Hour was shrubs that thrive in Kansas. Jason Griffin, Woody Ornamentals Horticulture Extension Specialist and Director of the John C. Pair Horticulture Center, highlighted a variety of shrubs that perform well in our climate and would be great additions to the home landscape.

PLANT, DIVIDE AND DEADHEAD – If you’d like to extend the growing season of your vegetable garden, it’s time to plant cool season vegetables, including leafy greens like lettuce and spinach and root crops such as carrots and beets. In addition, there may be some landscaping items that need to be addressed. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says this includes dividing iris and peonies and deadheading flowers to promote blooming. But this is not the time to prune spring-flowering shrubs.

READ GRASS SEED LABELS CAREFULLY – Fall is an excellent time for lawn seeding or overseeding because the warm soil and cooler air temperatures promote healthy germination and root growth before winter. However, it’s important to purchase quality grass seed. K-State Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says it’s important to read the label carefully – paying close attention to the percent of “other crop seed” contained in each bag of grass seed.

K-STATE HORTICULTURE RESEARCH – For the August K-State Garden Hour, K-State professor and Extension specialist of ornamental nursery crop production and marketing, Cheryl Boyer, and several colleagues, highlighted recent and emerging horticultural research across the state and beyond. Boyer discusses her three areas of focus: production, culture and use of ornamental nursery crops; new-media, marketing and E-commerce for horticultural businesses; and scholarship of Extension.

HORTICULTURAL INSECT ACTIVITY – Japanese beetle adults, green June beetle adults, mimosa webworm and fall armyworm are all active in Kansas. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, discusses the potential damage they can cause and whether any control measures should be taken.

EXTEND THE GROWING SEASON – Radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard, lettuce and other leafy greens can be planted from mid-August to early September to extend the harvest into fall. Kansas State University instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to establish a salad garden.

TOMATOES MAY TEST OUR PATIENCE – This year’s tomato crop may test the patience of Kansas gardeners. A K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says weather has been the driving force behind a slow maturing tomato crop. He discusses this year’s crop and some of the issues gardeners may face.

KANSAS DEMONSTRATION GARDENS – The July K-State Garden Hour focused on demonstration gardens in Kansas. As part of the webinar, Extension horticulture agents Matthew McKernan, Markis Hill, Jason Graves and Jay Harris, along with Johnson County Master Gardener coordinator, Mary Matthew, took participants on a journey of demonstration gardens from Hays to central Kansas to Johnson County to Sedgwick County. We focus on how demonstration gardens are used to promote education, sustainability and community engagement and learn about the Sedgwick County Extension Arboretum.

INSECT PESTS TO WATCH FOR – In this week’s lawn and garden segment, K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd covers several insect pests, including Japanese beetle adults, bagworms and mimosa webworms. He explains the potential damage they can cause and the treatment options available.

GROWING TOMATOES TAKES WORK – Tomato growers know there are several things that can cause trouble. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, (dahm-ehn-gee-nee) discusses how hot weather, fungal diseases and hornworms can all create problems for tomatoes.

SUBSTRATE STRATIFICATION RESEARCH – As container gardening continues to expand in the U.S, research is aimed at reducing water use, especially in large containers. Kansas State University nursery crop and marketing specialist, Cheryl Boyer, says a study using substrate stratification – the layering of different substrates or different textures of the same substrate within a single container – is producing some promising results.

POTENTIAL INSECT PESTS – Depending on the plants and trees in your home landscape, there may be insect pests that you should be on the lookout for. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd has an update on bagworm activity, European elm flea weevils and grasshoppers. He also mentions a new tomato publication for commercial growers.

DEADHEADING PLANTS – Deadheading is the practice of removing faded, damaged or dead flower heads from plants to encourage more blooms and improve the aesthetics of the flower bed. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how to deadhead plants and the benefits of deadheading plants, such as snapdragons, geraniums, marigolds and petunias.

NATIVE AND ORNAMENTAL GRASSES – Native gasses are typically associated with the prairie or a wide-open space. However, it is possible to incorporate native and ornamental grasses in the home landscape. For the June K-State Garden Hour, Johnson County horticulture Extension agent, Markis Hill, discussed native and ornamental grasses that are suitable for Kansas's conditions.

OPTIONS FOR WEED CONTROL – Weed control often seems like an endless battle. As soon as you think they’re under control, they magically reappear. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses four options for controlling weeds in the garden and home landscape: hand removal, applying pre or post-emergent weed killers and using mulch.

HEAT TOLERANT PERENNIALS – The May K-State Garden Hour focused on the use of heat loving perennials in Kansas. K-State Research and Extension Central Kansas District horticulture agent, Jason Graves, discussed heat impacts, heat proofing the landscape and heat tolerant perennials that perform well in Kansas. He says the prairies of Kansas have taught us that soil health is critical in helping plants manage heat stress.

INSECT PESTS BEING NOTICED – As we get further into spring, insect activity in the home landscape is on the rise. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond, Cloyd, says four insect pests are currently active: bagworms, brownheaded ash sawfly, rose sawfly and clover mites. He discusses the steps that can be taken to control each insect pest.

MULCHING AND WATERING TREES – K-State Extension horticulturist Cynthia Domenghini has more information on tree care. This week, Cynthia covers mulching around young trees and providing enough water to keep trees healthy this spring and summer.

TREE CARE IN THE HOME LANDSCAPE – Trees are considered an investment in a home landscape and need to be protected against disease and damage. K-State Extension horticulture specialist Cynthia Domenghini discusses evaluating storm-damaged trees to determine if they should be salvaged or replaced and why suckers near the trunk of a tree should be removed.

MOVING EASTER LILIES OUTDOORS – Easter lilies are not reliably hardy in Kansas. However, with proper care, they can survive outdoors. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, has some tips for adding an Easter lily to the home landscape.

EARLY SPRING INSECT PESTS – K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd provides an update on some early spring insect pests to be aware of, such as clover mites, lilac ash borer and ants. He says spring is a common time for ants to become more active and to seek out new nesting sites, often leading them indoors in search of food and water.

INCREASING YIELD IN THE HOME GARDEN – The April K-State Garden Hour covered methods for increasing fruit and vegetable yield in the home garden. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Sedgwick County, Abbey Draut, discussed selecting high-performance varieties, the difference between heirlooms and hybrids and where to find a list of high-yielding garden crops.

PREPARING FOR GARDEN SEASON – K-State horticulture Extension specialist Cynthia Domenghini discusses a variety of actions that can be taken to prepare us for garden season. This includes, a soil test, controlling broadleaf weeds, aerating cool-season lawns, removing flower stalks from spring flowering bulbs after blooming and mulching landscape beds.

GROWING ONIONS AND POTATOES – Time is running out for gardeners who want to grow onions or potatoes this season. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for the Post Rock District, Cassie Thiessen, (tee-son) says the suggested planting date for potatoes is mid-March to early April and for onions it’s late March to early April.

APPLYING CRABGRASS PREVENTER – Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in the spring and dies in the fall. A cool-season lawn, which often struggles during the summer, provides crabgrass an opportunity to take over the lawn. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says you can apply a preventer on cool-season lawns in early spring to prevent crabgrass from germinating.

EARLY-SEASON VEGETABLE CROPS – Soil temperatures are beginning to reach a point where gardeners can begin planting some early cool-season crops. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says potatoes and peas, along with perennial vegetables, such as rhubarb and asparagus, are a few of the earliest crops that can be planted.

ESTABLISHING A PRAIRIE HABITAT – The March K-State Garden Hour explores the process for establishing a thriving prairie habitat. Johnson County Extension natural resources agent, Amy Keigher, discusses the benefits of prairie landscapes, plant selection and maintenance techniques for creating a sustainable ecosystem in the home landscape.

VERMICOMPOSTING: FEEDING THE WORMS – Last week, we introduced the topic of vermicomposting – which involves raising worms in a contained area to harvest waste for fertilizing gardens and houseplants. This week, we continue that conversation with K-State horticulture Extension specialist Cynthia Domenghini as she explains what to feed the worms and how to maintain the worm bin.

FERTILIZE THE GARDEN USING WORMS – An effective way to utilize kitchen scraps and boost the soil in your garden is through vermicomposting – raising worms in a contained area to harvest waste for fertilizing the garden. K-State instructor and Extension horticulture specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to make a worm bin and how the castings and worm tea benefit the soil.

BENEFITS OF A THERAPEUTIC GARDEN – Gardening offers both physical and mental health benefits. This is especially true for therapeutic gardens which are designed to meet the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the people using the garden as well as their caregivers, family members and friends. K-State horticultural Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, says a therapeutic garden is an accessible garden.

BENEFITS OF DRIP IRRIGATION – A variety of factors determine the success of a garden – and water is certainly at the top of the list. However, water needs to be used wisely. For the February K-State Garden Hour, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discussed how to maximize water efficiency through drip irrigation.

PLANNING THE SPRING GARDEN – For gardeners, now is an excellent time to think about last year’s gardening experience and decide if you want to make any changes this year. For example, did you eat all the vegetables you planted and was the size of the garden too big or too small? K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says now is also a good time to check seed viability and determine which seeds you need for your spring garden.

STARTING VEGETABLE SEEDS – Starting vegetable seeds involves several steps – and a little math. K-State instructor and Extension horticulture specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how to start seeds, including using reputable seeds, consulting the Kansas Garden Guide to determine when seeds should be started for each vegetable, the starting mix, containers, water and light needed to successfully grow seedlings.

TIPS FOR BEGINNING GARDENERS (PART 2) – Harvey County Extension horticulture agent, Scott Eckert, has more information for those wanting to start a vegetable garden. This week, he discusses weed control, benefits of making a garden sketch and the difference between warm and cool season vegetables.

TIPS FOR BEGINNING GARDENERS – The number of people interested in gardening continues to grow. For this month’s K-State Garden Hour, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Harvey County, Scott Eckert, discussed some of the things beginners need to know to grow a thriving garden.

STARTING TRANSPLANTS FROM SEED – Gardeners wanting to get started on the next growing season can do more than look through seed catalogs – they can start their own transplants from seed indoors. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Greg Eyestone, covers the steps involved in starting vegetable transplants.

Program Date

Segment Title and Description

Listen and/or
Download

CARING FOR HOLIDAY PLANTS – If you’ve bought or received a Christmas cactus, poinsettia or an amaryllis, Kansas State University instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, (dahm-ehn-gee-nee) says that water, light and temperature are all important factors in caring for these holiday plants.

STORING GARDEN EQUIPMENT – As home gardeners make the transition from fall to winter, many are in the process of putting away their gardening equipment. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains how to properly store lawn mowers and garden tools so they’re ready to use when spring rolls around.

THE BASICS OF HOME HYDROPONICS – The Kansas climate doesn’t allow for the year-round growth of fruits and vegetables. However, hydroponics – a method of growing plants without soil – can be used to grow certain fruits and vegetables indoors. Shawnee County Extension horticulture agent Lane Wiens (weens) discussed the basics of home hydroponics on this month’s K-State Garden Hour.

CARING FOR POINSETTIAS – The poinsettia, with its scarlet, star-shaped leaves, is a traditional plant for the winter holidays. Because of its color, the poinsettia is often used as decoration. This is typically the time people start bringing them into the home. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses how to select and care for poinsettias throughout the holidays.

USING RABBIT MITIGATION TECHNIQUES – Wildlife such as rabbits, moles and deer can cause a variety of damage to broadleaf and woody plants in the home landscape. However, there are ways to mitigate the damage. For the November K-State Garden Hour, Wildlife Management Extension Specialist Drew Ricketts, discussed the use of habitat modification, exclusion and removal as ways to protect plants from wildlife damage.

EXTENDING THE GROWING SEASON – If you want to extend the growing season, there are some options for keeping the soil and air warmer around plants to promote growth and protect from freezing. K-State horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how cold season crops can be protected through the use of cold frames, low tunnels and plastic milk jugs.

WINTER COMPOST MAINTENANCE – While the decomposition process slows during the winter, it doesn’t stop until the pile is frozen. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains what should and shouldn’t be done to maintain a compost pile this winter.

WHAT TO DO WITH ALL THOSE LEAVES? – With leaves continuing to fall and blanketing everything in the home landscape, a plan for removing them from those areas is needed. Riley County Extension horticulture agent, Gregg Eyestone, says leaves can provide much-needed nutrients to the lawn and garden. However, a thick layer of leaves can prevent sunlight from reaching the grass.

PROPERLY STORING PESTICIDES – It’s common to have a variety of lawn and garden pesticides leftover at the end of the growing season. Rather than disposing of those pesticides, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, recommends safely storing them for use again next season. He offers tips for properly storing pesticides.

INSECT PESTS THAT OVERWINTER – As the temperature continues to drop, so will outdoor insect pest activity. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd says insect activity is typically minimal this time of year because they’re going to be overwintering or be in the overwintering stage. He looks at a few specific insect pests that try to make their way into homes and what can be done to discourage it.

DECORATING IDEAS FOR THE FALL – As leaves begin to fall and Halloween decorations start going up, many people are wondering how they can keep some interest in the home landscape. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, has several decorating ideas that involve the use of seasonal flowers, pumpkins, gourds, dried corn stalks and corn bundles.

EVERGREENS ADD INTEREST– Spring and summer Kansas landscapes typically have color and interest, but that’s not always the case for late fall and winter. For the October K-State Garden Hour, Dr. Jason Griffin, K-State woody ornamentals specialist, discussed using evergreens in the home landscape to provide year-round color and interest.

BENEFITS OF MULCHING IN THE FALL – Fall is the perfect time to add mulch around trees, shrubs and some perennials. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains how mulch promotes root development in the fall and offers protection in the winter from the typical Kansas freeze/thaw cycles.

SWEET POTATO HARVESTING – The window for harvesting homegrown sweet potatoes in Kansas is generally mid-September to mid-October. However, sweet potatoes need to be harvested before the first freeze. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how to harvest and cure sweet potatoes.

THREE CURRENT INSECT PESTS– According to K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd, there are three insect pests that we should be aware of: mimosa web worms on honey locust trees, fall army webworms in turfgrass and grasshoppers. He explains why we’re seeing them now and whether there’s any need to take action.

OVERSEEDING COOL-SEASON LAWNS – September is the best time in Kansas for overseeding cool-season lawns, such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains the process for overseeding lawns and why it’s better to get this project done sooner rather than later.

SEED SAVING FROM THE GARDEN – Seed saving is a way to enjoy gardening at a minimal cost. Jesse Gilmore, the horticulture agent for the K-State Wildcat Extension District, says most plants produce seeds that can be saved from one year to the next. However, to successfully save seeds from your garden, he says you’ll need to follow five primary steps.

BUILDING A COMPOST PILE – Composting is a process that occurs naturally as organic materials breakdown in the landscape. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, explains how building a compost pile can help the environment, next year’s home garden and your pocketbook.

AVOIDING STINGS, WATCH THE LAWN – There are three insect pests we should be keeping an eye on: cicada killers, the Fall armyworm and green June beetles. K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, says cicada killers are known for making a lot of noise and circling around our heads. However, if their nest is disturbed, female cicada killers can sting. He says the Fall armyworm and green June beetles can both cause damage to the lawn.

ESTABLISHING A SALAD GARDEN – Radishes, spinach, turnips, mustard, lettuce and other leafy greens, can be planted from mid-August to early September to extend the harvest into fall. Kansas State University instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses the options for establishing a salad garden this fall.

REJUVENATE IRISES BY DIVIDING – The best time to divide irises is late July through early August, when the plant is dormant. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says dividing irises every three to five years helps rejuvenate the plant and increase flowering. If irises aren’t divided, they can outgrow their space and bloom quality may decrease.

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE LAWNS – Establishing a More Environmentally Sustainable Lawn is the focus for the August 7th K-State Garden Hour with Douglas County Extension Horticulture and Natural Resources agent, Dr. Sharon Ashworth. In advance of the webinar, she discusses ways to reduce the water, herbicides and fertilizers used on fescue lawns and replacing fescue with low-growing alternatives that support pollinators.

HEAT MAY BE IMPACTING TOMATOES – The extreme heat across Kansas has impacted some home gardens. Tomatoes have been especially hard hit. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, reminds gardeners that tomatoes can be picked and allowed to ripen off the vine. He also covers spider mites and planning the fall garden.

SUMMER INSECT PEST UPDATE – A variety of insect pests are currently active in Kansas. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd discusses bagworms – which are present, but not in their normal abundance – the Japanese beetle, the Harlequin bug, the Ash Gray blister beetle and lace bugs. He covers the control methods for each and the damage they can cause.

SELECTING POTTING MEDIA – A trip to the local garden center to look for potting media for containers, flower beds or a raised vegetable garden can take longer than expected. That’s because there are several options, and if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for, the labels can be confusing. However, K-State Research and Extension nursery crop and marketing specialist, Cheryl Boyer, says it is possible to narrow the choices down to the one that works best for your needs.

POTENTIAL TOMATO TROUBLE – Tomato growers know there are several things that can cause tomato trouble. K-State instructor and horticulture Extension specialist, Cynthia Domenghini, discusses how hot weather, fungal diseases and hornworms can all cause problems for tomatoes.

GROWING CUT FLOWERS IN KANSAS – For the June K-State Garden Hour, Cynthia Domenghini, horticulture and garden management instructor in the K-State Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, discussed growing cut flowers for enjoyment in the home landscape or as a business opportunity. In both instances, she says careful planning is required.

BAGWORMS, BEETLES AND MOSQUITOS – We’re starting to see more insect pests in the home landscape and garden. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd says to be on the lookout for bagworms and a variety of beetles. He also discusses his new publication on Kansas mosquitos.

GETTING A HANDLE ON WEEDS – If you have plants or a vegetable garden, there’s a good chance you have, or will have, weeds. While it often seems like an endless battle, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says there are several options for controlling weeds, including pulling them by hand, applying a pre or post-emergent weed killer and using mulch.

GETTING THE MOST FROM THE GARDEN – For many home gardeners, food preservation is an important part of the growing and harvesting process. It prevents food waste and provides accessibility to the foods they enjoy when they’re not in season. Kansas State University food scientist, Karen Blakeslee, has some tips for safely canning and preserving home-grown foods.

SIDE DRESSING NITROGEN FERTILIZER – If plants are looking a little pale or garden crops aren’t doing as well as you’d like, they may need some additional nitrogen. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses the options available for increasing nitrogen levels in the soil.

BAGWORMS, SAWFLIES, MOSQUITOS – Bagworms are a very well-known pest in Kansas. According to K-State horticultural entomologist, Raymond Cloyd, now is a good time to begin inspecting for bagworms. He also looks at three types of sawflies that may need some attention and discusses the importance of reducing potential breeding areas for mosquitos.

UNDERSTANDING WATER SOURCES – In addition to tap water, there are several other water sources that might be available for use in irrigating lawns and gardens. Jay Harris, the Extension horticulture agent for the Cottonwood District, discussed these water sources and how they differ for the May K-State Garden Hour. He says rainwater is an excellent source for watering and discussed how it can be harvested in rain barrels for use later in the garden or home landscape.

STORM-DAMAGED LANDSCAPES – Recent storms moving across Kansas have caused widespread damage to homes and home landscapes. Safety is always the number one concern in cleaning up after a storm – this includes locating power lines and inspecting trees for damage. Cynthia Domenghini, a horticulture and garden management instructor in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, offers tips for managing storm-damaged landscapes.

COVER CROPS AND COMPANION PLANTING – The K-State Garden Hour, hosted by Extension horticulture staff across the state, focused its April webinar on the benefits of companion planting. Reno County horticulture Extension agent, Pam Paulsen, says one of the methods that fits really well with companion planning is the use of cover crops for soil improvement and disease management.

PLANTING WARM-SEASON VEGETABLES – With cool-season vegetables already being harvested, it’s time to consider a second planting or making the transition to warm-season vegetables. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says the soil temperature in your area should be the driving force in determining when to plant to warm-season vegetables.

CICADA EMERGENCE AND TICKS – A double emergence of 13 and 17 year cicadas will occur in several states this spring. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd has an update. He also has information on Eastern tent caterpillar, Lilac ash borer and ticks – which are becoming active in many areas of the state.

MOVING EASTER LILIES OUTDOORS – Easter lilies are a traditional holiday symbol of hope and purity. While the plant isn’t reliably hardy in Kansas, it is possible – with proper care – to give them a chance to survive outdoors. Cynthia Domenghini, a horticulture and garden management instructor in Kansas State University’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, explains the process for moving Easter lilies into the home landscape.

SELECTING FRUIT TREES FOR KANSAS – There are a variety of fruit trees that can be grown in Kansas, but it can be challenging. For the March K-State Garden Hour, Rebeca McMahon, Extension Local Food System Program administrator, covered the basics for selecting fruit tree varieties, such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries and plums. She explains why it’s important to do some research before finalizing your selections.

APPLYING CRABGRASS PREVENTER – Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that germinates in the spring and dies in the fall. Cool-season lawns often struggle during the summer and that presents an opportunity for crabgrass to take over the lawn. To prevent crabgrass from germinating, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, says a preventer needs to be applied to cool-season lawns in early spring.

CICADAS AND CLOVER MITES – Two different broods of cicadas – Brood 19 and Brood 13 – will emerge across multiple states this spring, including Missouri. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd has witnessed this type of emergence before and says it’s definitely worth seeing. This week, he also discusses clover mites and the eastern tent caterpillar.

GARDENING SAFETY AND WELLNESS – In addition to supplying healthy food, gardening provides physical and mental health benefits. With the 2024 gardening season getting underway, Cynthia Domenghini, a horticulture and garden management instructor in the K-State Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, discusses how we can garden safety and improve our overall wellness.

PLANTING FRUIT TREES IN KANSAS – Many fruit trees can be successfully grown in Kansas, but success starts with thoughtful planning and preparation. The March 6th K-State Garden Hour, hosted by Research and Extension Local Food System Program Administrator, Rebecca McMahon, and Johnson County Horticulture – Small Farms Agent, Anthony Reardon, focuses on selecting and planting fruit trees for Kansas. This week, Reardon covers the basics of planting and caring for fruit trees.

DOUBLE EMERGENCE OF CICADAS – Cicadas are known for the haunting, screaming noise they make and for numbering in the millions. This spring, two different broods of cicadas will emerge across multiple states, including Missouri, Oklahoma and Iowa. The double emergence of Brood 19 and Brood 13 will mark the first time in 221 years that this has occurred. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd discusses the life cycle of periodical cicadas.

GARDENING IN A CHANGING CLIMATE – One of the next greatest challenges we face, according to Kansas State University Distinguished Professor of Agronomy, Chuck Rice, is gardening in a changing climate. As the featured speaker for February’s K-State Garden Hour, Rice discussed the challenges associated with increasing global temperatures and possible solutions – which he calls climate smart gardening.

EARLY-SEASON GARDEN PRACTICES – As gardeners consider selections for early-season planting, K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, discusses the importance of using soil temperature – not the calendar – to plant cole crops, such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. He says that planting when the soil has reached the correct temperature will produce the best results.

PROTECTION FROM EXTREME COLD – One of the reasons insect pests that overwinter in Kansas have a high survival rate is because their systems have evolved to withstand extreme cold. K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd says they have substances that are almost like antifreeze. He also covers how to control insect pests that emerge in the spring.

IMPACT OF EXTREME COLD ON INSECTS– The extremely cold temperatures experienced in Kansas this winter has many wondering how this might impact insects that overwinter. According to K-State horticultural entomologist Raymond Cloyd, extreme cold – for a brief period – won’t have much of an impact. He explains how they’re able to survive these conditions.

ADDING COLOR THE LANDSCAPE – There’s no one plant that provides color in all four seasons in Kansas. As a result, if we want some color in the home landscape during the winter, Kansas State University nursery crop and marketing specialist, Cheryl Boyer, says we’ll need to select some plants that produce color that time of the year.

THE ART OF FLORAL DESIGN – The 2024 Kansas Garden Hour started the new year with information on floral design – from a master floral design program for flower consumers at Kansas State University to a demonstration on how to arrange flowers from the grocery store. The webinar was presented by K-State Research and Extension floral design specialist in the department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Irina Sheshukova. On this week’s Plantorama, excerpts from the January Kansas Garden Hour.

STARTING TRANSPLANTS FROM SEED – For gardeners, planning and starting vegetable and flower transplants from seed helps make the winter months pass much quicker. K-State Research and Extension horticulture agent for Riley County, Gregg Eyestone, explains the process and equipment that’s need for starting transplants from seed.