HAYS, Kan. – Anyone interested in learning the latest about flowers and lawns is encouraged to bring friends and neighbors to Horticulture Night at the K-State Agricultural Research Center in Hays on Tuesday, Aug. 25. The focus will be on the Prairie Star Flower Performance Trials and the low-water use turf demonstration plots. The event will occur near the north main entrance roadway through the Center.
This year, 216 flower cultivars are being evaluated on appearance and adaptability to Kansas’ conditions. The public is invited to stroll down the grassed borders and take note of the varieties. Holly Dickman, Ellis Country Research and Extension horticulturalist will conduct the outdoor presentation. She will highlight flower varieties that performed well. And she will also discuss those which did not and offer an explanation as to why.
Jason Riegel, Hays water conservation specialist and Vaughn Sothman of Sharp’s Brothers Seed Company will lead a turfgrass discussion. The demonstration is in conjunction with the Turf Conversion Program promoted by the City of Hays. This program encourages homeowners in Hays to convert their full-sun exposure lawns currently planted to a cool-season turf, to a low-water use turfgrass. The advantages of established warm-season grass is water conservation and less maintenance. Riegel will share his experience with planting warm-season turf as well as managing the Hays Turf Conversion Program. Attendees will see one bermudagrass and seven buffalograss varieties for visual comparison.
Questions about flower and vegetable gardening, as well as turfgrass, will be addressed but are not limited to these topics. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program starting at 6 p.m. The research center is located south of Hays at 1232 240th Ave. For more information call 785-625-3425 or check Facebook or Twitter @WKARC.
