KNLA's 2020 Winter Educational Outing & Expo

We welcome YOU to join us January 22nd – 23rd, 2019 to attend our annual Winter Educational Outing & Expo!

We had such a successful event last year, that we are planning to set up shop in the same location: The Holiday Inn, Louisville East, just off of Hurstbourne Parkway.

If you are planning to attend for the first time, or if you are a long time attendee, you will not be disappointed! The event space is just the right size for our group and we are planning a great couple of days of learning, friendship making, business handling, and CEU acquiring FUN!

Sign up to attend today

You can log on to KNLA.org to get you and/or your employees registered! Details for registration are listed below:

Full 2 Day Education Registration, Members – $220

Full 2 Day Education Registration, NonMembers – $250

Full 2 Day Registration for 4+ Persons – $199

Wednesday Only Education Member – $115

Wednesday Only Education NonMember – $130

Thursday Only Education Member – $115

Thursday Only Education Member – $130

Expo Only – $20

Expo w/ Lunch – $30

Kentucky Certified Nurseryman Exam Member – $75

Kentucky Certified Nurseryman Exam NonMember – $100

Join the fun and Be An Exhibitor!

You can log on to KNLA.org to get signed up for your booth! Details for registration are listed below:

Member Exhibitor Booth – $375

Member Exhibitor Booth w/ Electricity – $385

Non-Member Exhibitor Booth – $525

Non-Member Exhibitor Booth w/ Electricity – $535

It literally pays to be a member!

Go on over to KNLA.org to get that done as well!

CREW ACADEMY TRACK

DOT Regulations and CMV Safety in a World of Landscaping

Sgt. Jason Morris, KSP

A general overview of DOT and CMV laws and regulations with a focus on how they apply to landscaping and nursery related businesses and their vehicles. Topics covered will include: General applicability, vehicle registration, driver licensing, credentials, hours of service, and load securement. An ask anything Q&A will follow the presentation!

Considerations for Disease Diagnostics. Where do you start? What do you see?

Nicole Ward Gauthier, Ph.D.

Plant diseases are caused by microscopic pathogens that can only be seen with aid of a microscope. Their symptoms often are not diagnostic. Proper disease diagnosis requires a combination of site detail, proper sample, and examination of structures like spores with a microscope. Green industry professionals begin this process with a broad overview of sites and situations, followed by a closer examination of specific problems. This session will present a streamlined approach to site analysis, data gathering, and sample collection. Discussion will include “what to do first” and “what to do next” guidance, as well as example scenarios.

Principles of Pruning in the Nursery and Landscape

William Fountain, Ph.D.

Pruning is either one of the best things we can do for a plant or one of the worst things that we can do to a plant. This presentation will discuss the need for pruning with a purpose, how it should be done, and unintended effects when it is not done correctly.

Pest Detectives: Recognizing Insect Pest Symptoms

Jonathan Larson, Ph.D.

This presentation will focus on recognizing chewing and sucking damage symptoms and figuring out which bugs cause what problems.

Chainsaw Safety and Operation

Cody Dunkin

Students will gain knowledge of how to safely start and operate a STIHL chainsaw, including the reactive forces as well as the proper PPE to wear.

PRODUCTION/BUSINESS TRACK

Boxwood Blight Status in 2020 and the Impact on Production and Landscapers

Brian Decker

Review of all current research data from HRI

• Genetic testing

• Disease transmission

• Disease sites and extent of the spread

• Prevention protocols

Tolerance vs Immunity

• Best tolerant varieties for mid and northern usage

• New introductions

Business Opportunity

• Blight prevention in the landscape (spray programs for consumers)

• Blight prevention protocols in the Nursery (People buy with confidence)

Potential Legal Liability Issues

• Can you be held liable for installation of susceptible varieties?

Poly and Plastic Container Recycling Panel

Gregory M. Butler

Communities throughout Kentucky and the United States are questioning – is recycling a viable endeavor? National studies continue to show that residents desire recycling at their homes, businesses, and throughout their community. We will share insights on the state of recycling today and look into the future together (hint: recycling is here to stay). We will explore the merits and costs of single-stream recycling, how to maintain or expand recycling programs, and provide insights and best practices for recycling programs in Kentucky.

Ben Pedigo

Rumpke specifically handles post-consumer plastic bottles and jugs. This presentation will focus on existing markets for post-consumer plastic bottles and jugs and address the challenges with handling plastics generated from the nursery and landscaping industry.

Systems Approaches for a Better Future

Tom Buechel

The green industry is thinking big in order to diminish present and future invasive pest, disease, and plant problems. As interstate e-commerce (online) and wholesale sales continue to increase at a rapid pace, new pests, diseases, and invasive species do too. Until recently, there were no viable tools for growers to easily navigate the regulations in the fifty states. This made it especially difficult for growers with a diverse plant inventory. Now, however, the cooperative efforts of the industry—including organizations and regulation by use of systems approaches —are vastly improving odds to fend off future invasive problems and eliminate existing ones. The evolution of SANC (Systems Approach to Nursery Certification) and Plant Sentry™ is changing the game on growing and shipping plant product. These methods not only allow growing teams to excel, but they bring everyone together to focus on the common goal: minimizing, reducing, and eliminating the spread of serious pests, disease, and invasive species. These programs certify that teams have learned the tactical approach necessary to triumph over the next encounter with pests, disease, and invasive species. SANC has been certifying a few wholesale production nurseries each year for a few years. Plant Sentry is new to the market place. Optimize the compliant wholesale shipping of plants with up-to-date plant nomenclature and terminology coupled with up-to-date state by state current regulations and issues. Ship with no worries.

Kentucky Fatality Prevention Task Force

Colonel Danny Davis, USAF retired

This briefing provides an overview of Kentucky fatality trends and prevention efforts among the most fatal industries: landscaping, roofing, site preparation, logging, and manufacturing.

Overview of hemp production and the Kentucky hemp program

Doris Hamilton

This presentation will cover the basics of hemp production for all three types: grain, fiber, and floral material. We will discuss the growth and changes in the industry as well as the regulations governing the 2020 Kentucky hemp licensing program. If you are interested in becoming a hemp grower, this presentation will outline the steps to obtaining a hemp license.

Opportunities in Commercial Hemp Propagation

Robert Geneve, Ph.D.

Bob will provide a prospectus on opportunities to provide seedling plugs and rooted cuttings for the emerging hemp industry. Preliminary research on seed germination and cutting propagation will be included.

Plant and Design Track

Garden Innovations: The Golden Age of Plant Breeding

Tom Ranney, Ph.D.

The golden age of plant breeding is upon us. Never before has there been such a groundswell of exciting new plants, and we have barely scratched the surface. Tom will touch on new developments, recent innovations, and future potential of diverse genera.

Underutilized Landscape Plants for Zones 5 and 6

Jake Shreckhise, Ph.D.

We all have our “go-to” plants that seem to make their way into nearly every landscape design. While plants like Red Sunset maple, China Girl holly, and ‘Green Giant’ arborvitae have their merits, there are a plethora of less mainstream alternatives that can set your landscapes apart from the rest. This presentation will delve into the qualities and applications of some underutilized landscape plants hardy to USDA Zones 5 and 6.

Building the Botanical Garden: Beyond the Name and Expectations

James “Jamie” Burghardt

There is no certification required to use the name “botanical garden,” which leads to a broad array of experiences for visitors to such places across the U.S. The most successful and renowned botanical gardens master their role as leaders in public horticulture as well as embracing their part as centers for culture, natural beauty, human well-being and “what is possible.” Louisville’s Waterfront Botanical Gardens is in its infancy and joins a tiny number of gardens in the country that are atop former brownfield sites. While there indeed are physical and engineering challenges in development, there also are hurdles of meeting expectations, overcoming assumptions and anecdotes, finding scientific information to inform decisions, desiring best horticultural practices and praying visitors understand our values.

Creating and Managing Green / Natural Spaces in Your Community –Basics of Why and How

Jack Pizzo, PLA, ICN

Jack will discuss the design, installation and management of sustainable landscapes, naturalized landscape, stormwater management areas and ecological restoration.

Thinking Beyond the Conventional: Decoding Landscape Performance Metrics

B. Scott Southall, PLA, LEED AP BD+C, ASLA, AICP

We live in a closed loop environment, so we need to think, learn and act in this circular economy. Landscape Performance Metrics aims to qualify and quantify the multiple benefits of the natural environment with the manmade built environs. The session will provide attendees with an overview of the Landscape Performance Metrics system. As with most new systems, a number of questions arise: Why are metrics or baseline assessments important to our future landscapes? How do we apply systems approach thinking to landscape design, development and maintenance? What do landscapes look like that follow Landscape Performance Metrics? What is the future of landscape design and maintenance? These questions and others regarding Landscape Performance Metrics will be discussed during this session.

Nature, Health, and Well Being

Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar

This talk will address how different elements of nature affect the risk of chronic disease, particularly heart disease. It will also cover the contribution of the urban environment in moderating the effects of nature and present to the audience an overview of the Green Heart Project, which is a unique study designed to investigate how increasing vegetation and greenspaces in a neighborhood affect the health and disease risk of the community living in the area.

PEST MANAGEMENT TRACK

Water Molds and Root Rot Disease: Getting to the Root of the Problem

Nicole Ward Gauthier, Ph.D.

Water molds (aka oomycetes) are not fungi. These soilborne pathogens are most commonly known as root rot pathogens. They are water lovers that require wet conditions in order to complete their life cycles. This session will focus on root rot diseases of woody and herbaceous plants. Pathogen life cycles, spread, overwintering, and host susceptibility will be covered, and disease management will be discussed.

Weed Control for Landscapes and Field Nurseries

James Atland, Ph.D.

Weed control in field nursery production shares many similarities to weed control in urban landscape beds. This presentation will discuss weed biology and how understanding the life cycle of troublesome weeds can be used to limit their establishment and growth. It will also address cultural practices and herbicide usage for preventing and reducing weed growth in these settings.

It’s Not Easy Being (ever)Green: A Closer Look at Needle Cast and Pine Decline

Nicole Ward Gauthier, Ph.D.

Evergreens are susceptible to a range of diseases, much like other landscape plants. However, the most common diseases of evergreens are typically host specific. Kentucky’s environmental conditions often lead to higher incidence of many of these diseases. It is important to understand disease risks and to prevent infection by their causal fungi. This session will examine some of the most common and most destructive diseases of evergreen trees. The first portion will focus on needle cast diseases of spruce, and the second will examine disease and decline problems of white pine. Management options will be discussed, and references will be provided.

Dealing with Invasive Species in Landscapes

Jonathan Larson, Ph.D.

This presentation will focus on pests such as Japanese beetles, Japanese maple scale, brown marmorated stink bugs, and European elm flea weevil.