Planting the Plains: Understanding Compost Tea

By Anthony Reardon

Published April 4, 2025 at 8:00 AM CDT

Care for a spot of tea? Or maybe, for some tea that might help your garden grow? Compost tea is a great way to benefit from the microorganisms that thrive in your compost bin, and to bring those benefits anywhere you might need them. You won't want to drink it, but you will want to make it, after hearing this week's episode!

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Planting the Plains Planting the Plains

Anthony Reardon

Anthony Reardon is the Horticulture – Small Farms Extension Agent for Johnson County, Kansas.

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Planting the Plains: Fall Debris Removal

Anthony Reardon

As September kicks in, and the usual weather changes approach, it's time to do some cleanup...AND to decide on what to do with what you clean up. This week, we'll talk about some things you can do to prep for next year's garden!
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Planting the Plains: Garlic and Shallot Planting

Anthony Reardon

Growing edibles like garlic and shallots in your garden can be rewarding in many ways...but it's important to know how to grow these finicky plants, and to obtain your bulbs for planting from a specialized garden center, to help avoid contaminants like fungal diseases and nematodes...this week, we'll talk about how to get the most viable crop possible!
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Planting the Plains: Lawn Establishment Tips

Anthony Reardon

Fall is an excellent time to see new grass growth due to a combination of factors: warm soil temperatures, cooler air, and increased rainfall, which all favor seed germination and healthy root development. This week, we'll talk about how to kick-start your lawn, for a richer, thicker turf in the spring!
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Planting the Plains: Planting Fall Mums

Anthony Reardon

We're coming up on the late summer/early fall time that's ideal for planting chrysanthemums. Early planting (late August/early September) is crucial to allow for root development before the first frost, and so it'll be important to get them into the ground soon. This week on Planting the Plains...mum's the word!
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Planting the Plains: Separating Perennial Plants

Anthony Reardon

Early fall and early spring are the best times of the year to divide perennials, in order to provide transplants with enough time to devote energy to root growth before the hot or cold weather sets in.