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Spring Kickoff for Landscapers: UMass Extension Landscape Education Day

Event date/time: 
Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 9:15am to 3:15pm

Every new year comes with its own challenges for successful maintenance of healthy and attractive landscapes. These challenges include variable and unpredictable weather, insect pests, weeds and changing regulations. Join UMass Extension Educators at a Southeastern MA location for a day of learning about the latest research-based information to help you kick off a successful landscape management season.

Registration

The cost is $75, $68/person for a group of three or more registrations from the same company. Online registrations include a nominal processing fee.

This event has reached capacity and registration is now closed.

Agenda

8:45 – 9:15 AM Registration
9:15 – 10:15 IPM Systems for Turf in the Landscape
Mary Owen, UMass Extension
Careful attention to cultural practices as well as pest potential is critical to the successful implementation of an integrated management system for commercial and residential turf. This session will cover the use of key cultural practices including grass species selection, mowing, irrigation, aeration and fertility as the basis of IPM, with attention to how those practices influence populations of damaging insects and diseases as well as weed infestations.
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30-11:00 Pruning Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
Geoffrey Njue, UMass Extension
Pruning is the most common cultural practice performed on trees. It is also probably the practice that can do the most harm if performed incorrectly. Learn when to prune and how to apply proper pruning methods for trees and shrubs.
11:00 – 12:00 PM Troubleshooting Problems of Annuals and Perennials in the Landscape
Tina Smith, UMass Extension
Insect pests, diseases and cultural practices can have a serious impact on the health and attractiveness of annuals and perennials in the landscape. The presentation will provide a review of problems caused by insects, diseases and cultural practices of annuals and herbaceous perennials in landscapes. Learn to recognize signs and symptoms, tips for diagnosis, problem prevention and management strategies.
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch (provided)
12:45 - 1:45 Early Season Weed Management in the Landscape
Randall Prostak, UMass Extension
Weeds compete with landscape plants for moisture, nutrients and sunlight and can have a negative impact on the attractiveness of the landscape. This presentation will focus on items associated with landscape weed management that one should be thinking about as we begin a new growing season.  A brief review of new and overlooked products will be included.
1:45 - 2:00 Break
2:00 - 3:00 PM Disease and Insect Pest Forecast for Woody Ornamentals
Nick Brazee, UMass Extension
Diseases and insect pests can have a serious impact on the health of woody ornamentals. This session will provide a projected forecast for the 2015 season disease and insect pest problems of woody ornamentals. Discussion will include illustrations of symptoms and suitable management approaches to use in landscapes and nurseries.
3:00 - 3:15 PM Wrap-up and adjourn

Credits

4 pesticide contact hours available for categories 29, 36, and Applicators License.  2 pesticide contact hours availabel for category 37.  Pesticide contact hours are valid for equivalent categories in all New England states.

ISA, MCA, MCH, MCLP and AOLCP credits have been requested.

Contact's name: 
Ellen Weeks
Contact's email: 
Contact's phone on day of event: 
413-545-0895
2855 Cranberry Highway East Wareham MA