Overview (All sessions)

Networking Event & Panel Discussion: Build New Relationships for Success in 2026

Learn about aquatic invasive plant species of Michigan, including how to detect and monitor them and their impacts on ecosystems. Find out how to avoid spreading them in the course of your work and explore the range of response options available when invasive plants are discovered.

This presentation will take place at the Mobile Truck Simulator on the Trade Show Floor.

Register Directly with MDARD Here.

Pre-Registration and Attendance at BOTH the Exam Review and Exam is required.

MDARD is NOT accepting payment the day of testing (Jan. 22, 2026).

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.