from Nursery & Landscape Notes Fall 2023

by North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association

Keep Your Nutrients in Your Plants!

This year’s education program includes two keynote speakers who are well known to the nursery and landscape communities. On Tuesday, January 16, Leslie Halleck provides the lunchtime keynote, “Take Back Control: The Importance of Driving Trends Instead of Chasing Them.” And on Wednesday, January 17, Jeffrey Scott provides the lunchtime keynote, “Every Business Needs a Number 2.” Be certain to join us for these entertaining and educational presentations. Lunch will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis before the presentations begin. If you prefer to do your own thing for lunch, you can still attend the presentations and earn continuing education units (CEUs) — just be certain you are scanned into the ballroom in order to receive CEUs.

The educational tracks on Tuesday and Wednesday have been revamped again this year to focus on timely and significant topics within the industry. Tuesday offers four tracks: Management Principles; Business Operations; Landscape Operations; and Pests, Weeds & Diseases. The four Wednesday tracks cover Landscape Operations, Turf Management, Irrigation and Tree Care. You can select from an impressive 48 educational sessions offering CEUs in a variety of license areas, including landscape contractor, irrigation contractor, pesticide applicator, landscape architect, arborist and more.

Specialty Classes and Certifications

This year’s offerings include:

• North Carolina Pesticide Safety Course: Due to the state/federal holiday on Monday, January 15, this

• Sustainable and Profitable Planting Design: One of your favorite instructors, Richard Ludwig, returns with a new course you do not want to miss. This eight-hour workshop on Monday focuses on the effective use of plant material — especially natives and eco-smart choices. Attendees will learn how to draw in realistic elevation view and how to price their work properly, including design, installation and management.

• Bringing Landscapes to Life: The Magic of Outdoor Lighting Design: This Monday morning workshop will explore a variety of techniques that can be used to create the desired effects on a customer’s property. From the dramatic to the more subtle, learn how to create unique and attractive atmospheres with proper lighting applications.

• Drip by Drip: Precision Irrigation Techniques

Unveiled: This Monday afternoon workshop will discuss technologies that can be incorporated into an irrigation system to deliver just the right amount of water when Mother Nature fails to stick to a regular schedule. Learn the checklist of important components that drive irrigation efficiency and landscape health, and how they can benefit your business.

• Pruning for Professionals: Another of your favorite instructors, Bryce Lane, is back to lead this Monday afternoon workshop, which will equip landscape professionals with the essential pruning information needed to successfully maintain a wide array of plants. Plant pruning theory, tools, technique and timing are all key to a thriving landscape — learn how you can apply each of these principles in the field.

• North Carolina Certified Plant Professional (CPP) Review: Whether you’re gearing up for the final push to become a Certified Plant Professional (CPP) or are simply exploring the depth of horticulture knowledge required, this review may be for you. Join Danny Lauderdale and a few of his extension colleagues who have over 75 years of combined ornamental experience for this review. To take full advantage of this opportunity, NCNLA strongly recommends you purchase, read and study the CPP manual before attending the review and study the plant list to become familiar with what you know well and what you need help with during the review. The review will be focused on plant identification using images and questions will be answered about the multiple choice manual exam.

Marketplace

The 150,000-square-foot trade show floor will be open Thursday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and Friday, 9:00 AM3:00 PM. Visit more than 300 exhibitors who provide the products and services you need for a successful business. This year we have added a second demonstration area hosted by Stihl, in addition to the area hosted by SiteOne Landscape Supply. Hands-on demonstrations will be offered on Thursday and Friday. Take a short break from walking the show floor, learn a new skill, and earn CEUs for your landscape contractor’s license and/or irrigation contractor’s license. Due to logistical issues, we are no longer offering CEUs for four hours of walking the marketplace floor. Attendees and exhibitors who attend a one-hour demonstration will receive one CEU.

Complimentary lunch will be provided on Thursday and Friday next to the demonstration areas — no need to scatter in search of food trucks or off-site restaurants. Stay engaged with your colleagues and customers on the trade show floor and enjoy lunch on us!

President’s Reception

Join us Thursday evening at 8:00 PM for the President’s Reception, hosted by Caterpillar. Network with your friends and colleagues as we recognize the incoming NCNLA president. There will be food, drink and Corn Madness ’24, the most prestigious cornhole tournament in the industry. Let’s stay up late and party all night — or until 11:00 PM, whichever comes first!

Green & Growin’ 24 has something for everyone, so make plans to join us January 15-19 in Greensboro.

As always, stay well and stay passionate about the industry you love!

Cline’s Nursery