By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The spring weather is tempting many people to get outside and do some landscaping work around their homes.
Hays residents are encouraged to have water-smart landscapes, and "timing is everything" to achieve that, said Holly Dickman, Hays water conservation specialist.
"Make sure that when it comes to planting, fertilizing, and those other cultural practices like aerating and mowing, that you're aware of what types of plants you have in the landscape and what their needs actually are," she said.
Warm-season grasses are starting to come out of dormancy.
"If you have buffalo or Bermuda grass, this is not the time of year to fertilize those types of turf grasses," she said.
"You want to wait until it's actively growing, usually in June or July, before you take the time to fertilize and water in that fertilizer."
When it comes to weed control, you need to know what type of weed it is and its life cycle.
"If we're talking about crabgrass or those nasty stickers, for example, those are warm-season annual weeds," Dickman said. "They won't be coming up just yet, not until the soil is warmer.
"You want to make sure that you time your herbicide applications appropriately to control those types of weeds."
In this area, Dickman said crabgrass preventers should be applied when the redbud trees are blooming, around April 15.
When it comes to vegetable gardens, cool-season vegetables such as potatoes, peas, spinach and radishes should be planted now.
Planting warm-season vegetables — tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and peppers — should wait until the temperature and soil are warmer.
"It's helpful to know when certain vegetables should be planted," she said, "that way you're not wasting your efforts, resources and water," Dickman said.
Dickman recommends checking the newly updated and expanded K-State Research and Extension garden guide and planting calendar for more information about planting vegetables.