One of the new initiatives for the city of Hays to use water more efficiently kicked off Tuesday night.

The first in the “Water Smart Landscape Series” drew a number of homeowners to the K-State Ag Research Center where they learned about soil health, fertilizer and pesticides.

The remaining three presentations will address how to choose the right plants for this climate and putting the plants in the right place; how to use water wisely; and how to convert lawns to warm season grasses which use less water.

The free series is sponsored by the Ellis County Extension Office, Ellis County Master Gardeners, the city of Hays, and the KSU Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds.