Interested in making your yard more earth-friendly? Come join us at the 13th annual Kansas Healthy Yards Expo taking place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 29 at the Shawnee Civic Centre, 13817 Johnson Drive, Shawnee. It’s a free event to attend.

Attendees will be able to listen to speakers on topics that can help to improve their landscape while also adhering to eco-friendly practices. Johnson County K-State Research and Extension partners with Johnson County Stormwater Management and the cities of Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas in sponsoring the public event.

This expo will offer educational seminars about landscaping practices presented by local businesses, non-profits, and city and county departments.

Expo visitors can:

• Register for door prizes.
• Take home a free tree seedling: First 100 visitors get a free tree seedling from the city of Overland Park.
• Talk with city representatives to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood and learn about cost share programs for establishing rain gardens and rain barrels.
• Listen to informative speakers on topics, including native plants, pollinators, vegetable gardening and landscaping.
• Choose from a wide selection of locally grown, organic native plants specially selected to thrive in local gardens.
• Discover how to test for radon. Johnson County Extension will sell DIY radon kits and experts will show attendees how to test their home.
• Learn about green house-cleaning and cooking with herbs from Extension Master Food volunteers.
• Visit with Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Master Gardeners, Extension Master Naturalists, nonprofit organizations and local plant societies for expert advice. Bringing children along? Check out these activities:
• Kids can enjoy a free puppet show by Stone Lion Puppet Theatre. Performances are at 10:30 a.m. and noon.
• Kiddos will also enjoy a traveling museum that brings soil to life in the Soil Tunnel Trailer.

Free soil tests

It’s important to know your soil nutrient levels to grow healthy plants and protect the water quality in local streams and lakes. Johnson County residents get one free soil test, compliments of Johnson County Stormwater Management and Johnson County K-State Extension. Attendees are invited to bring their soil sample to the expo for testing. They can learn how to take an adequate soil sample by visiting our website at johnson.k-state.edu.

The website also provides more information on the Healthy Yard Expo or call 913-715-7000.