Overview (All sessions)

As landscapers and gardeners we typically spend most of our time thinking above ground. We spend countless hours selecting the right plant, considering the right exposure, combinations, size, color, and textures.  Woody plant success is equally dependent on what is going on below ground. A scientific understanding of soil chemistry, biology, physics, and fertility makes us all better at our craft. 

This talk will address basic soil principles, and how we can use them to build and maintain “healthy” soils that maximize woody plant success.

Herbicide injury has traditionally been evaluated as a visual observation of percent injury to the shoots of desired plants, known as phytotoxicity. But what about the damage that can't be seen? This talk discusses the full consequences of herbicide injury, including those not easily visually observed such as root damage, negative impacts on growth index, damage to photosynthesis, and long-term injury.

Workers, new growers and some landscape customers have increased concerns about glyphosate. Additionally, the overuse of glyphosate has resulted in more glyphosate resistant weeds. This presentation will focus on nine combinations of preemergence and postemergence herbicide that we have been researching via MNLA in the past few years as alternatives to glyphosate.

This presentation will cover key aspects that impact labor in your landscape maintenance business. In this fast-paced world of constant demand for production and less labor to perform that work, it is critical to use product technologies to your advantage over competitors in the Green Industry, which allows your business to adapt and innovate. Unfortunately, 71% of Green Industry companies indicate that skilled labor is becoming scarcer, compromising companies' abilities to grow.

In his role as Michigan’s Plant Doctor, aka “The Tree Doctor”, Dr. Dave is called upon every year by Nurserypersons, Arborists, Landscapers, Suppliers and the Public to solve perplexing plant problems in the landscape and nursery. These plant problems range from pests to diseases and from environmental issues to dilemmas from cultural inputs. In this interesting session, a variety of problem-solving scenarios will be presented in his interesting story-telling style that will not likely lull you to sleep.

In recent years, it has become a growing priority to establish and maintain resilient urban forests. This has been motivated, in part, by significant tree loss following varied pest and pathogen infestations, and in part due to concerns regarding urban tree survival in changing climatic conditions. Plans for urban forest resilience are rooted in principles of urban forest biodiversity, begin with comprehensive inventories of urban tree cover, and are often laid out in urban forest management guidance documents.

Oak Wilt continues to spread in Michigan. The disease has infiltrated some communities so insidiously that it has become almost impossible to stop. Property owners are so confused with the array of management options and the cost estimates that they become indecisive about how to proceed. Community associations often become gridlocked.  In these situations, the disease continues to spread and becomes far more difficult and costly to manage. Furthermore, mismanagement is not uncommon, leading to more costs and disease advancement.

Container-grown trees continue to increase in popularity due to their light weight and ease of handling. However, the effects of circling roots on tree health and establishment are a major concern when planting container-grown trees. Since 2012, personnel in my lab have conducted a series of trials to determine the impact of various approaches to mitigating circling roots at planting including slicing, shaving, and even bare-rooting.

Location: Grand Gallery

Location: Grand Gallery