K-State Ag Research Center

Bring along your friends and neighbors to attend the Horticulture Night at K-State Ag Research Center  in Hays. It is set for Tuesday, August 25, 2015. The emphasis will focus on the Prairie Star Flower Performance Trials and the Low Water Use Turf Demo 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 Horticulturist, will conduct the outdoor presentation. She will highlight flower varieties that performed well. She will also discuss those which did not do well and offer an explanation as to why.

Jason Riegel, Hays Water Conservation Specialist and Vaughn Sothman of Sharp’s Brothers Seed Company, will lead the discussion for turfgrass portion of the evening.

The demo 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 are water conservation and less maintenance. Riegel will share his experience with planting warm-season turf as well as managing the Hays Turf Conversion Program. There is one bermudagrass and seven buffalograss varieties for visual comparison.

Property owners and homeowners are encouraged to attend. Questions about flower/vegetable gardening and turfgrass will be addressed but 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 Avenue. For more information call (785) 625-3425 or check Facebook or Twitter.