2025 Conference Agenda

8:00 am - 8:25 am

Registration 

8:25 am - 9:15 am

Troubled Trees
Presenter:  Dave Leonard, Arboradvocate

9:15 am - 10:05 am

25 Years and Beyond:  A Look at Invasives in Kentucky
Presenter:  Joyce Bender, Retired Nature preserve Branch Manager 
​A look back at twenty five years of promoting awareness of invasive plant species impacts in Kentucky. And an invitation to assist with what needs to be done going forward.

10:05 am - 10:20 am

Coffee Break & Trade Show

10:20 am - 11:10 am

Measuring the Environmental Effects of Landscapes
Presenter: Russ Turpin, EcoGro
We likely share intuitions about the ways landscaping may affect the environment and quality of life. Aside from costs to install and maintain a given landscape scenario, there is less understanding of the silent values of environmental services and benefits. This presentation will provide an overview of environmental benefits, some of the ways they are measured, as well as the tools available to help you communicate the potential effects of landscaping options to clients and customers.​

11:10 am - 11:40 pm

Establishing and Maintaining Native Prairies and Meadows in the Mid-South
Presenter:  Robert Hoffman, Roundstone Seed Company
Have you ever had trouble establishing a native planting?  If so, this talk helps walk you through the process of proper site preparation and installation techniques to help improve your success rate. Establishing and maintaining meadows is not hard, it is just different from the traditional turf species.    We will learn what natives are and what makes them different and how their difference makes site preparation crucial to success.  We will go through different scenarios for site preparation mainly focused on the use of herbicides to remove the noxious and invasive weeds on the landscape.  We will also talk about the techniques for installations and for both small scale and large-scale plantings.  Lastly, we will discuss what can be done during the establishing years to give you meadow the best chance of success.

11:40 am - 12:50 pm

Lunch Break & Trade Show

12:50 pm - 1:40 pm

Turfgrass IPM: Ecology, Physiology, and Pesticide Use
Presenter:  Kenneth Clayton, UK Turf Extension Associate
This talk will discuss turfgrass topics and research relating to integrated pest management in the turfgrass system. It will emphasize how understanding the driving factors to the growth of the grass affects our management. This talk will emphasize management strategies that can reduce the need for pesticide use and improve pesticide efficacy when applied.

1:40 pm - 2:30 pm

Resilient Trees for Urban Landscapes
Presenter:  Dr. Bill Fountain, UK Professor Emeritus of Arboriculture 
"What is THE best tree for my landscape?" We've all been asked this question too many times. When we respond with a list or the statement that there is no single best species, the suspicion is that we are either lying or being secretive. The reality is that there is no single best species for most locations. We must know enough to match the cultural and aesthetic requirements to the location. Sometimes this requires a last-minute change at the time of installation. This talk will consider some of the better selections for disturbed urban sites.​

2:30 pm - 2:45 pm

​ Afternoon Break & Trade Show

2:45 pm - 4:05 pm

 Disease and Insect Update
 Presenters: 
 Julie Beale, Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab Director & Diagnostician, UK Pathology
​ Dr. Jonathan Larson, Assistant Professor, UK Department of Entomology

4:05 pm - 4:30 pm

Pesticide Regulation Update
Presenter:  Samantha Anderson, Division of Pesticides