K-State Extension Butler County Master Gardeners

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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. K-State Research and Extension is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. Program information may be available in languages other than English. Language access requests and reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, including alternative means for communication (e.g., Braille, large print, audio tape, and American Sign Language), may be requested by contacting the event contact Calla Edwards four weeks prior to the start of the event at 316-321-9660 or [email protected]. Requests received after this date will be honored when it is feasible to do so. Language access services, such as interpretation or translation of vital information will be provided free of charge to limited English proficient individuals upon request.

Searching for a fulfilling activity? Volunteering as an Extension Master Gardener is a meaningful way to make a differen...
06/17/2026

Searching for a fulfilling activity? Volunteering as an Extension Master Gardener is a meaningful way to make a difference in your community through gardening education. For more information please contact Calla at 316-321-9660 or [email protected]

Searching for a fulfilling activity? Volunteering as an Extension Master Gardener is a meaningful way to make a difference in your community through gardening education. For more information, please contact Calla at 316-321-9660 or [email protected]

One of the most common myths in the garden is the use of Epsom salts to prevent Blossom end rot in vegetables. Unfortuna...
06/16/2026

One of the most common myths in the garden is the use of Epsom salts to prevent Blossom end rot in vegetables. Unfortunately, while the myth has been around for a long time, it's not true. Blossom end rot is caused by a lack of calcium in the fruit, which in turn is caused by inconsistent moisture levels in the soil. There is no benefit to adding Epsom salts to your tomatoes. Epsom salts contain Magnesium sulfate and have no calcium. There is also no benefit to adding additional calcium to your soil in the form of Tums or Rolaids. If you are concerned about your soil and calcium levels, the best bet is to get a soil test or apply gypsum to your garden to add calcium. The best way to avoid BER is to water consistently, use mulch to reduce the amount of water and weeding needed, wait until fruit is setting on your plants before fertilizing, pick varieties that are less likely to get BER, and avoid damaging the plants' roots. This disorder is most common in Roma-type tomatoes and least common in cherry tomatoes. Even if you do have issues with Blossom end rot in your garden, remember that it will only last a short while (as painful as that can be) and will soon be gone from your garden for another year.

While armyworms have not been spotted in Kansas yet, I would plan to start scouting for them in late June and early July...
06/12/2026

While armyworms have not been spotted in Kansas yet, I would plan to start scouting for them in late June and early July. An infestation in turf can be detected by applying irritants such as dish detergent. Add one-quarter cup of dry detergent or one ounce of liquid detergent to one gallon of water in a sprinkling can, then apply the solution to one square yard of turfgrass where an infestation is suspected.

Have you ever seen a flower or the stem of a plant that looked like this one? While it looks odd, it's a fairly common o...
06/11/2026

Have you ever seen a flower or the stem of a plant that looked like this one? While it looks odd, it's a fairly common occurrence in the garden. Fascination, an oddity that occasionally appears in annuals, perennials, and other garden plants. You have likely seen a plant with fascination and not realized what it is. It can show up as a plant stem that looks like a weird, flattened ribbon rather than its normal shape, or as a flower that looks stretched and oval rather than round. The word fascination comes from the Latin word “fascis”, meaning band or bundle, and it is a result of the disruption of the growing point of a plant. No one really knows what causes the growing point of the plant or apical meristems to change from their normal shape to a broad or flattened shape.

The most common effect of fasciation is a flattened stem, as if multiple stems are fused, with an enlarged, fan-like crest at the stem tip. But it can also cause other weird and wildly contorted growth: stems may be coiled or bunched; leaves may be smaller, more numerous, and oddly angled; and flowers may be stretched, twinned, bunched, or distorted. Fascination can also occur on any part of a plant, including the roots, even though it most commonly occurs in the stems, flowers, and fruit. It also seems to occur more frequently in certain plant families, such as cactus, aster, pea, and rose families. The “brain” form of cockscomb or celosia is actually a form of fascinated flower that has been bred specifically to continue down the line.

Photo Credit- Jan Brady

Edit- We have found hay! Thank you so much for everyone who has reached out!!!We are looking for some old hay or straw f...
06/11/2026

Edit- We have found hay! Thank you so much for everyone who has reached out!!!

We are looking for some old hay or straw for our demonstration garden at the Augusta Community Garden. If anyone has some or knows of someone who might have older hay/straw they want to get rid of please let us know! In this garden we are doing tomato variety trials and all of the produce is donated to the food pantry in Augusta.

We will be closed for Staff Development on Thursday, June 11th. We will reopen Friday, June 12th at 7:30 a.m.We are sorr...
06/10/2026

We will be closed for Staff Development on Thursday, June 11th. We will reopen Friday, June 12th at 7:30 a.m.
We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Recent rainfall, warm temperatures, and increasing humidity across Kansas are creating favorable conditions for powdery ...
06/09/2026

Recent rainfall, warm temperatures, and increasing humidity across Kansas are creating favorable conditions for powdery mildew development on many landscape and garden plants. Now is a great time to inspect susceptible plants such as phlox, lilac, bee balm, zinnias, cucurbits, and other ornamentals for the telltale white, powdery growth that often appears on leaves and stems.

Powdery mildew thrives when nighttime humidity is high, and temperatures range from 70–80°F. Early detection is key, and management is most effective when cultural practices and treatments are combined.

Treatment recommendations include:
💨Improve air circulation- Space plants properly, thin dense growth, and prune surrounding vegetation to increase airflow.

💦Water wisely- Irrigate at the base of plants in the morning so foliage dries quickly; avoid overhead watering late in the day.

🌞Reduce disease pressure- Remove and discard heavily infected leaves or stems, and clean up plant debris at the end of the season.

🌱Use resistant varieties when possible- Many flowers and vegetables have cultivars with improved resistance to powdery mildew.

🪴Avoid excessive nitrogen- Too much nitrogen can encourage lush, susceptible growth.

🥒Use fungicides when needed- Fungicides work best when applied early, before the disease becomes severe. Products containing chlorothalonil, myclobutanil, propiconazole, and copper-containing fungicides can help suppress powdery mildew. Always follow label directions and ensure the product is labeled for the specific plant and disease.

Take a few minutes this week to scout your garden and landscape—catching problems early is the best way to keep plants healthy all season long! 🪴🔍

In this issue, we explore the mysterious appearance of slime molds and what they mean for your garden, discuss the impor...
06/08/2026

In this issue, we explore the mysterious appearance of slime molds and what they mean for your garden, discuss the importance of selecting the right tree for the right place to ensure long-term success, and examine sunscald damage that can affect trees during periods of environmental stress. We also spotlight the versatile Chinese elm, a durable and adaptable shade tree, and take a closer look at plant fascination—an unusual growth phenomenon that creates striking and sometimes bizarre plant forms. Check out this week's Grapevine here: https://www.butler.k-state.edu/horticulture/grapevine/

Did you know earthworms are some of the hardest-working helpers in your garden? 🪱 These soil superstars improve soil hea...
06/05/2026

Did you know earthworms are some of the hardest-working helpers in your garden? 🪱 These soil superstars improve soil health by bringing nutrients and minerals from deeper layers to the surface through their castings (waste). An earthworm can consume up to one-third of its body weight in decomposing plant material every day! While many earthworms are about 7–8 inches long, the largest common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) recorded measured 14 inches. Worldwide, there are more than 2,700 species of earthworms, and the longest earthworm ever discovered stretched an incredible 22 feet long! Next time you spot an earthworm in your garden, remember it's helping build healthier soil and stronger plants.

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206 N Griffith Street
El Dorado, KS
67042

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