This session equips landscape managers with the knowledge and tools to identify, control, and prevent the spread of knotweed and other aggressive brush species.
Attendees will learn about integrated management strategies, including mechanical, chemical, and ecological approaches, along with timing and safety considerations for effective control.
Pesticide label, pesticide formulations, sensitive areas, root uptake damage.
Join us for a presentation about nature-based solutions for retrofitting underutilized and aging parking lots with native plants. This presentation will introduce various options for parking lot green infrastructure, then highlight lessons learned from two case studies of parking lot projects that Plaster Creek Stewards installed in the Plaster Creek Watershed.
Plant performance in the Midwest is driven less by aesthetics and more by soil realities, microclimate, and correct identification at the species and cultivar level. This session highlights reliable ornamentals—trees, shrubs, and small specialty species—that consistently succeed in our Midwest landscapes, including site-tolerant, underused, and contractor-friendly choices.
Tree decline is often blamed on insects, diseases, or “mystery stress,” when the real cause lies below ground. This session provides arborists with a clear, repeatable framework for diagnosing subsurface issues, including compaction, fill layers, perched water tables, improper planting depth, poor soil structure, and legacy construction impacts.
Come learn with Jason Bornhorst from WillowVersity in this fun and interactive class exploring Plants to Know: Designing for Today's Client. Discover the must-know plants for 2026 – from exciting new introductions to classic favorites making a comeback in the landscape. Jason will guide you through the latest trends in plant selection and how to use them effectively in modern designs.
Session Description coming soon!
For over two decades, John Kennedy has been speaking and consulting to the independent garden center community, and has created a process to drive relevance, revenue and relationships with your customers…one interaction at a time. John will share his toolbox with the audience to allow them to follow a simple and effective process to delivering an exceptional and consistent customer experience.
Whether you are in the field as a foremen or part of a successful install or maintenance crew, the same challenges exist that stop companies from going for good to great—Effective Communication. Join John Kennedy as he helps break down these barriers and open up the chain of command and lines of communication with effective techniques for techs and listening skills for leaders. The outcome will be a clear approach to communication that is supported by a memorable exercise you will want to take back to your teams.
The health of your garden retail business and the health of your body are very similar. Each have key performance indicators (KPI’s) that make all the difference when it comes to creating a business and a body that is built to last.