This session updates landscape managers on current quarantines, movement restrictions, and compliance requirements affecting plant sourcing and maintenance. Learn practical strategies for early detection, monitoring, and treatment using integrated pest management (IPM) principles. Attendees will gain the tools needed to protect boxwood plantings, meet regulatory standards, and maintain healthy, pest-resilient landscapes.
General overview of all 3B, categories in sections, Records, PPE, storage, Pest ID, Environmental stewardship, some job site scenario questions.
Pest ID importance in turf and ornamentals, product selection, PPE, drift/off-target prevention, location awareness, label comprehension, and some job site scenario questions.
Homeowners are investing more in outdoor living than ever before—yet many landscaping pros leave money on the table by focusing only on traditional turf installations. In this session, you’ll learn how to expand your “backyard wallet share” by positioning artificial turf as a premium, end-to-end solution that enhances every square foot of outdoor space. From patios and play zones to pet areas, side yards, rooftops, and full-property transformations, we’ll explore strategies to identify new use cases, upsell effectively, and increase project value without increasing crew size.
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 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.
Each growing season brings distinct challenges for turf management. In 2025, prolonged heat and humidity increased disease pressure, followed by late-season heat and drought that stressed turf and amplified grub damage. This presentation will review key disease, insect, and weed issues from 2025 and outline cultural practices and pesticide strategies for maintaining high-quality turf.