The spring gardening fair is a great opportunity to ask questions and chat one on one with people who garden here in the Lawrence area and know the unique challenges of Kansas weather, pests and soil.

Gardening can be a daunting task for new and experienced gardeners alike, but the Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners are hoping to take some of the guesswork out of it at their upcoming educational fair.

The spring fair, titled “Mastering Your Lawn and Garden” is set for Saturday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Building 21 at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. The fair is free and open to the public. Families are welcome.

Master Gardeners will be on hand at the fair with displays, demonstrations, ideas and fliers to take home on just about everything related to gardening.

Lists of recommended plant varieties, tips on composting and soil improvement, and the latest information on emerald ash borer are a few of the things visitors can pick up. Tool sharpening is available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The best part of the fair, though, is the depth of knowledge available to attendees. Master Gardeners have all been through an extensive training course coordinated by Kansas State University Research and Extension. Many of them have years of experience and knowledge on specialty topics like composting with worms, kitchen gardening, use of biological controls for pests and xeriscaping.

The fair is a great opportunity to ask questions and chat one on one with people who garden here in the Lawrence area and know the unique challenges of Kansas weather, pests and soil.

Another highlight of the fair is a family table with activities for children and ideas on how to get them involved in the garden. Visitors will be able to look and learn about plant growth stages. For fun, the table includes vegetable stamp painting, garden-themed coloring sheets and a scavenger hunt.

For those looking to start gardening on a budget, a garden “garage sale” will offer gently used and repurposed garden items for sale. Master Gardeners have also handcrafted many garden-themed crafts that will be offered for sale, and there are door prizes. All proceeds from sale items support Master Gardener educational programs.

Master Gardeners are participants in a volunteer and educational program; they receive university-supported education in exchange for time donated to community outreach. More information about the Douglas County chapter of Master Gardeners is available at www.douglascountymastergardeners.org or through K-State Research and Extension – Douglas County.

— Jennifer Smith is a former horticulture extension agent for K-State Research and Extension and horticulturist for Lawrence Parks and Recreation. She is the host of “The Garden Show.” Send your gardening questions and feedback to features@ljworld.com.