The Lenexa Community Garden program provides gardening opportunities for City of Lenexa residents that may not otherwise have the opportunity to garden and to encourage the sharing of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers in the community. Assignment of a Plot to a Gardener is a privilege, not a right. All Gardeners must follow the Community Garden rules and procedures. The City reserves the right to modify and amend the rules and procedures provided herein at any time.
March 31–October 31, 2026 (May vary dependent on weather; does not apply to year-round gardeners)
Community gardens are located at:
Four plot sizes are offered:
- Full Plot: Approximately 400 sq ft plot
- Half Plot: Approximately 200 sq ft plot
- Raised Bed: Approximately 100 sq ft plot (Not offered at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park)
- Quarter Plot: Approximately 100 sq ft plot
Gardeners must be a current resident of the City of Lenexa, Kansas.
Proof of Lenexa residency is required by showing:
- A valid driver’s license, or
- A current utility bill showing a Lenexa address and valid photo ID.
- All Lenexa residents interested in participating must submit an application.
- Gardeners must accept their plot assignments by January 31, complete an agreement, and pay annual dues by March 31, or their plot may be assigned to another gardener.
- Only one plot will be assigned to each gardener.
- New gardeners can only be assigned to a quarter plot. They can apply to receive a half, full, or raised bed plot once they have gardened for at least one full season with no violations.
- If all plots are assigned, a seniority list is maintained, and available plots are offered based on the list.
- Returning gardeners may be assigned the same plot as they had the previous year, but it is not guaranteed.
- Gardeners cannot transfer or pass plots to another person.
- Gardeners can request to increase/decrease plot size, move to a new plot or move to a new garden. To do so, submit a written request to the Program Coordinator. Plot change requests are not guaranteed, and subject to availability and the seniority list. Additionally, to make a request, the gardener must not have received any notice of violations within the last year.
A plot is considered abandoned if the gardener:
- Informs the Program Coordinator in writing of their non-return;
- Fails to comply with any of the rules and procedures;
- Neglects to confirm their return by January 31 (for returning gardeners) or sign the agreement by March 31 (for new gardeners)
Abandoned plots will be reassigned based on the seniority list. If a plot is abandoned mid-season and is unable to be assigned to a new gardener, a current gardener may maintain it just for the remainder of the season. The plot will not be retained for the following season.
City responsibilities:
- Till all seasonal plots (not raised bed or year-round plots) by March 31, or as soon as practical depending on the weather, park staff schedules, and availability of equipment.
- Ensure community water spigots are turned on by May 1.
- Check plots weekly throughout the season.
- Inform any gardener of rule violations and give gardener a deadline to correct any issues.
Gardener’s responsibilities:
- Follow garden rules and agreement for the entire gardening season.
- Ensure watering and weed maintenance of the plot weekly. Gardeners are expected to make arrangements for someone to help if they will be absent for seven days or longer.
- Begin gardening or garden preparation by May 1.
- No climbing, walking or standing on a raised bed plot.
- Rotting of fruits and vegetables is prohibited. Fruit and vegetables left on the ground for an extended period of time will be harvested and given to a local food bank.
- Trash in plot and around plot (community isles) must be picked up and placed in trash receptacles.
- No pets are allowed in the community gardens.
- All plant materials and personal property, such as plant debris, fencing, tags and posts, must be removed from the assigned plot by October 31 of the current year unless authorized to garden year-round.
- At end of season, woody plants such as okra or tomatoes must be dug up entirely, including their root systems. Cutting these plants at their base and leaving their roots is not permitted.
- Selling produce grown within plot is prohibited. Sharing and/or donating is allowed.
- Do not remove produce from any plot other than the assigned plot, unless appropriate permission is received.
- Animal/bird feeders of any kind are not permitted in the community gardens.
If gardeners do not uphold their responsibilities, they will receive a warning from the Program Coordinator. All warnings are recorded. Several warnings will result in a removal from the community gardens the following year as well as removal from the seniority list.
Permitted fencing
- Feedlot panels shorter than 34”
- Poultry fencing
- Rabbit fencing
- Wire mesh fencing
- Woven fencing
Prohibited fencing
- Brightly colored snow fencing
- Partial fencing (entire plot must be fenced)
- Double fencing (If a neighbor already has a fence up on one side, do not add your own)
All fencing must be adequately maintained and free of weeds. Weeds along fence will be treated the same as weeds inside your plot, and a warning will be issued if fence becomes overgrown.
All fencing must be removed from the assigned plot by October 31 of the current year, unless a year-round garden plot. Any fencing in seasonal plots that remains after that date may be disposed of by the city.
- Weekly watering plot is required, and gardener must be present at all times while watering is taking place.
- After each use of community garden hoses, hoses must be rolled up and on hose holder, and faucet must be locked.
- Water faucets are functional during the garden season but are shut off in the winter to avoid freezing. Year-round gardeners are expected to supply their own water during the winter months.
- Keep plot free of weeds including plot edges and adjacent pathways/isles. Weed warnings will be issued if plot or adjacent isle becomes noticeably overgrown, and a deadline will be given to remove them. Weed warnings are kept in records and impact ability for gardeners to return the following season.
- All gardeners share the responsibility to keep public pathways/isles free of weeds.
- Raised bed plot gardeners are expected to keep mulch boundary free of weeds.
- All plants, including tall or vining plants which may grow to more than five (5) feet in height, are to be planted an appropriate distance from adjacent plots to limit shading of another plot and/or encroachment.
- Growing vining plants on any fence along adjacent plots must be discussed with neighbor first.
Any use of herbicides (chemical weed killers or preventatives) is strictly prohibited.
Gardeners are allowed to use and apply fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides and in a way that will not affect adjacent plots.
- Before application to garden:
- Read all precautions
- Confirm that the chemical is labeled for edible plants and appropriate for both the plant you are using it on, and the issue that you have.
- Other possible organic options or biological controls may be available on the market, including homemade remedies that are considered organic. If a Gardener is unsure whether or not their fertilizer, pesticide or fungicide, including any homemade remedy, is permitted, Gardener must contact Program Coordinator prior to application to confirm whether such use is permitted.
Permitted pesticides and fungicides labeled as USDA organic:
- Pyrethrum: A powerful insecticide that knocks down (but doesn't necessarily kill) insects quickly.
- Rotenone: Used to control leaf-eating caterpillars, as well as beetles and aphids.
- Sulfur: Used to treat mildew, rust, leaf blight, fruit rot and spider mites.
- BT: Used for caterpillars and beetles.
- Neem: Used to control gypsy moths, sweet potato whiteflies, mealy bugs and caterpillars, among other insects.
Naturally derived fertilizers including, but not limited to, alfalfa meal, bat guano, blood meal, bone meal, and gypsum may be used.
- Do not store bags in plot. Mulch and compost must be spread immediately upon arrival.
- Mulching/compost should not exceed 3 inches.
- Wood mulch is prohibited.
- Plant based mulch such as straw, needles, leaves and grass clippings are permitted.
- Compost bins are available on site and are for plant materials only. Trash bins are located next to compost bins for non-compostable items.
Year-round gardening is available at Electric Park. Any gardener interested in year-round gardening should reach out to the Program Coordinator. Year-round garden plots are given out as they become available, and according to the seniority list.
- All plant materials and personal property, including but not limited to, cages and trellises used to hold up plant material, cannot be left in garden if they are not currently in use.
- Year-round gardeners are responsible for watering their plot during the months of November–May, as the city shuts off the community hose during the winter.
- Year-round gardeners are responsible for tilling their plots if they wish to. Park staff does not till year-round plots.
- Fencing must be maintained during the off season.
- The City recommends and prefers the use of feedlot panels for Year-Round Gardening. The Program Coordinator can provide a Year-Round Gardener with recommendations. The feedlot fencing when installed must be 34” tall when measured from the ground. Poultry fencing, rabbit fencing, wire mesh fencing, or woven fencing may be placed at the bottom of a feedlot panel prevent rabbits and other animals from entering the Plot.
- Cold frames are permitted – gardeners interested in implementing one must submit its design to the Project Coordinator for approval before installation.
- Year-round gardeners are expected to follow the same rules as seasonal gardeners, including but not limited to rules regarding, rot, weeds, and chemicals.
The City may terminate a gardener's plot privileges for any rule violation, inappropriate behavior, or other reasons, at the City’s sole discretion. Notices will be given with an opportunity to correct the issue. Termination may last for one year minimum, and the gardener will be removed from the Seniority List.
The City retains authority over the community garden program and the property it takes place on, with the right to end the program or use the property for other purposes at any time at its sole discretion. The City can remove and dispose of any personal property left on plots after October 31.