Many simple gardening practices can greatly impact the drought preparedness of your lawn and garden the rest of the year. Here are 6 quick tips for preparing your garden this spring for drought:

Core Aerate Your Lawn: this will help improve soil health and allow moisture to reach deeper into the soil

Prevent Weeds: weeding and applying pre-emergents can prevent summer weeds which will compete for water with desirable plants in the lawn & garden

Apply Mulch: this will help conserve soil moisture & reduce weed competition

Apply Minimal Irrigation: minimal watering practices in the spring help to develop deep root growth. Do NOT overwater in the spring. Most lawns and gardens will thrive on watering just once a week or less. More frequent irrigation can limit deep root growth in the spring, making plants more sensitive to drought when temperatures increase. Inspect Irrigation Systems For Leaks: when turning on irrigation systems for the growing season, inspect all zones for leaks, overspray, or wasted water

Water Deeply When Irrigating: begin your year using best watering practices. Water deeply, and infrequently, soaking the ground 6-12 inches deep with each watering, and providing “mini droughts” in between watering to increase the depth of plant roots.

For more tips and water conservation techniques, visit our drought resources website: https://sedgwick.ksu.edu/drought

The mind is a powerful tool we can utilize to jumpstart a new physical activity journey or any new healthy habit. Everyone has days where they struggle to find the motivation to be active and exercise. Whether you had a long day at work, are feeling overwhelmed with too many responsibilities, or think that you lack the time, many things can hinder our motivation. Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. These numbers may seem daunting, but remember, even small doses of movement count. There are also many ways to involve the entire family in being more active together. Whether you are trying to become more active, reach new goals, or need tips to get moving on difficult days, read on to discover some simple ways to boost your motivation.

Motivation Boosters

• Exercise with family or friends.
  Exercise can be a great opportunity to be social and bond with children, grandchildren, spouses, and friends. You can plan weekly walks with a friend or dance with your child to their favorite songs!
• Make a specific goal and write it down.
  Tell others about your goal, so they can help you be accountable. Don’t forget to make your goal S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-oriented). You are much more likely to stick to a goal that you can easily track and has a targeted end date. Start with a small, short-term goal and work your way towards a larger, long-term goal. Think about the “why” and purpose behind your goal, which can be used as daily motivation.
• Create a vision board.
  Create a poster with images or words about your exercise and other health goals and hang it somewhere where you will see it often to remind yourself of why you started on this journey. Your child can also participate by creating their own poster featuring their favorite activities that get them moving.
• Set reminders and calendar alerts.
  Set reminders on your phone or work calendar throughout the day to stretch, go up and down the stairs, or take a lap around your office. When we are busy it is easy to forget the importance of movement, but remember, even five minutes counts and is beneficial!
• Track your progress.
  There are many apps, journals, and other resources that offer great ways to track your exercise progress. When you are feeling discouraged, look back and see how much progress you have made since the beginning of your journey.
• Reward yourself.
  When you reach a personal goal, such as attaining 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week or running a 5k, you could purchase a new book or pair of workout shoes, enjoy a favorite treat, or any other reward. You can even make a sticker chart for your child and give them a sticker to place on it when they move for 60 minutes that day. When their chart is full, they can earn a reward too! Just be cautious that your reward does not hinder your progress towards future health or fitness goals.
• Keep a fitness diary.
  Keep a personal fitness diary and write down how you feel before versus after exercise. You can also work through the emotions and feelings you have towards starting and reaching your goals. When we associate exercise with positive feelings, we are more likely to follow through.
• Find success stories.
  Find a story about someone who was in your shoes and utilize strategies they used for success. Whether it be someone with a similar health concern or family situation, reading about another person and what strategies they utilized to succeed on their fitness journey can be very uplifting and inspiring.
• Choose activities you enjoy.
  Exercise becomes much easier when it is something we also enjoy doing. There are endless possibilities of ways to be physically active; don’t be afraid to try something new and expand your fitness opportunities. Try new group fitness classes in your community, join a recreational league, enroll in a parent-child swimming class, or explore local trails and parks.
• Listen to some favorites.
  Grab some headphones and listen to your favorite audiobook, podcast, or playlist. Time can go by fast when we are focused on something else!

Choose an idea from above and try to implement it into your daily life. Start with small changes and don’t forget to give yourself grace as you integrate these new strategies. Each step forward gets you closer to reaching your fitness and health goals.

This Saturday will be a day filled with free gardening information for homeowners and gardeners. has been scheduled for March 8. The Hutchinson Horticulture Club’s “A Gathering for Gardners” will be held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Which is located at 407 East Twelfth Street

It will be at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 407 E. 12th, just west of the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson. After missing two years because of COVID-19, the club resumed having this annual event in 2023.

If not for those two years, this would be the 36th year for this event. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. with the morning session beginning at 9 a.m.

The first topic is “Backyard Chickens”by Patrick Bergkamp, Reno County agriculture and natural resources agent with K-State Research and Extension. Since eggs are so expensive, this might be a project to contemplate. He will cover what a person should consider before purchasing chickens and starting this type of endeavor.

At 10 a.m., the topic “The Sweet Slice of Summer: Growing Tomatoes” in Kansas will be presented by Jason Graves, horticulture Extension agent for Central Kansas District with K-State Research and Extension. This presentation will cover essential tips for cultivating healthy plants, selecting top-performing varieties, and growing tomatoes for maximum flavor.  His presentation is for beginners and seasoned gardeners.

The final presentation for the morning begins at 11 o’clock. Calla Edwards, Butler County horticulture agent with K-State Research and Extension, will present “Sedums and other Succulents.”Sedums are known for using less water. In the past few years, the availability of various varieties of sedums and other succulents has increased dramatically. She will share photos of some of her favorites and give suggestions for their use in the landscape.

The afternoon programs will resume at 1 p.m. with Mike DeRee, sales representative for Ball Seed Company, presenting “The Best Annual and Perennial Plants.” He will be looking back through the years and reviewing those plants that have proven themselves as true winners to consider as potential additions to your gardens.

At 2:15 p.m., Kevin Nelson, a master gardener from Douglas County, will address “Gardening as We Age.” This presentation will make the case for the benefits of gardening and will encourage gardeners to continue well into the golden years. He’ll give examples of how to change beds, look at plant choices and tools so a seasoned gardener can still do the most with the space he or she has and the desire to do so.

There will be no charge to attend any of the “gathering for gardeners” programs although registration at the door is requested. Door prize drawings will be conducted throughout the day. This schedule is designed so individuals may attend any or all of the topics.