The Southern Nursery Association has announced details of the new SEGreen Landscape Conference, scheduled for Aug. 31 – Sept. 1, 2016, at The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia.

The conference, produced by SNA in cooperation with University of Georgia Extension and sponsored by the Georgia Urban Ag Council, will be held in conjunction with the new SEGreen event and is a major component of the educational program and will run parallel with the SEGreen Plant Conference.

The SEGreen Landscape Conference provides the perfect platform for the landscaper to gain valuable knowledge and expand their business. This new conference offers six tracks in Career Advancement, Business Expansion,

Integrated Pest Management, Environment & Design, Landscape Design, and Landscape Pro Certification.

Topics include plant selection, estimating, design and installation, pruning, pest management, turf management, equipment safety and maintenance, irrigation installation and more.

Thirty-four of the industry’s top experts in their field will share their knowledge and expertise during this two-day conference. The speaker lineup and sessions include:

Brian Arnold, owner, Song Bird Landscape

Exotic versus Natives: The Battle Goes on!

Rick Barnes, Downey Trees
Investing for the Long-Term in Tree & Plant Health Care

Dr. Kris Braman, professor of entomology, University of Georgia

Natural Enemies & Biological Controls

Dr. Ben Campbell, economic specialist, University of Georgia Extension

Economics: Understanding the Green Industry Consumer

Greg Curtis, ANR County Extension agent, University of Georgia Extension

Selecting Woody Ornamentals for Urban Sites

Dr. Mark Czarnota, weed specialist, University of Georgia Extension

Weed Management in Ornamentals

Tim Daly, ANR County Extension agent, University of Georgia Extension

Insect Pests & Disease Identification

Brad Davis, associate professor, BLA Program Director, UGA College of Environment & Design

Kirk Hines, director of horticultural therapy, A.G. Rhodes Health & Rehab

Applying Horticultural Therapy in Hospitals: A Practical Approach

James Davis, training coordinator, Georgia Utility Training Academy

Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission Level 1A Fundamentals Seminar

Dr. Charles Guy, professor, plant physiology and biochemistry, University of Florida IFAS
The Healing Power of Plants

Greg Huber, training coordinator, UGA Center for Urban Ag

Preparing for the Georgia Certified Landscape Professional Written and Hands-On Exams and Georgia Certified Landscape Professional Hands-on Exam and Written Exams

Dr. Will Hudson, entomology specialist, University of Georgia Extension

Insect Pests of Landscape Ornamentals and Insect Pests of Turf

Dr. Elizabeth Little, pathology specialist, University of Georgia Extension

Turf Diseases

Dr. Richard Ludwig, retired director of horticulture, Gwinnett Technical College

Bill Slack, landscape architect and Vicki Proano, landscape designer

Landscape Design Fundamentals Workshop and Landscape Design Advanced Workshop

Keith Mickler, ANR County extension agent/coordinator, University of Georgia Extension

Equipment Maintenance & Troubleshooting

Dr. Wilf Nichols, director, UGA State Botanical Garden

Native Plants

Rolando Orellana, ANR County extension agent, University of Georgia Extension

Equipment Safety

Dr. Bodie Pennisi, landscape specialist, University of Georgia Extension

Becky Griffin, community and school garden coordinator, Center for Urban Ag and UGA Extension

Strategies to Promote Georgia’s Pollinators and their Habitats

Steve Pettis, Jr., agricultural and natural resources agent, University of Georgia Extension

An Introduction to Commercial Pest Management Services

Aaron Poulsen, program director environmental horticulture, Gwinnett Technical College

Plan, Take-Off & Estimating

Jake Price, Extension agent/coordinator, University of Georgia Extension

Selection & Use of Palms and Cold Hardy Citrus

Paul Pugliese, MPPPM, County coordinator, agricultural and natural resources agent, UGA Extension

Identification and Prevention of Phenoxy Herbicide Damage

Mary Carol Scheffield, ANR County extension agent/coordinator, University of Georgia Extension

Pruning Ornamentals

Tom Shannon, water conservation advisor Eastern US, Ewing Irrigation and Landscape Supply

Fundamentals of Irrigation Design

Amanda Tedrow, agriculture & natural resources agent, County extension coordinator University of Georgia Extension

Made for Shade: Ferns, Hostas, Hellebores and Other Great Plants

Craig Thurmond, environmental horticulture instructor, North Georgia Technical College

Hardscapes: A Look into the Elaborate Hardscapes of Large and Small Scale Designs

Kim Toal, County coordinator, agriculture and natural resources agent, University of Georgia Extension

Landscaping Roadsides and Right-of-Ways

Chris Wakefield, president, The Outdoor Lights

Landscape Lighting: A System for Success

Dr. Clint Waltz, professor and turfgrass extension specialist, University of Georgia Extension

Turf Management: Fine Tuning Your Turfgrass Fertility Program

Dr. Jean Williams-Woodward, plant pathology specialist , University of Georgia Extension

Diseases of Landscape Ornamentals and Update on Boxwood Blight

“We are very fortunate to have had the collaboration and support of UGA Extension to build such a robust educational program for landscape professionals,” said Karen Summers, executive vice president of the Southern Nursery Association. “And, we are very excited to have the Georgia Urban Ag Council as a sponsor.”

“Education is the key to growing and expanding your business, and differentiating your business from your competitors,” said Mary Kay Woodworth, executive director of the Georgia Urban Ag Council. “We are proud to support SEGreen in the shared goal of raising professionalism in our industry, and encourage our members and all landscape industry professionals to attend.”

Registration for the conference is $90 for a 1-day access pass (Wednesday or Thursday), and $150 for an all access pass (Wednesday and Thursday), with the option of attending any SEGreen Plant Conference or SEGreen Landscape Conference sessions. A SEGreen Name Badge is included with registration for access to the SEGreen Marketplace. Speaker bios, session titles and description, schedule and registration information can be found on the SEGreen website at www.segreen.org.

SEGreen, scheduled for Aug. 30 - Sept. 1, 2016, will offer vision for Southeast grower, landscaper, and retailer through a regional marketplace, education, and garden, nursery and retail tours. A host of the region’s top experts will participate, sharing their expertise and perspectives on the road ahead.

The event will kick off with a garden, nursery and retail tour on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Included on the agenda is the SEGreen Marketplace, SEGreen Plant Conference and the SEGreen Landscape Conference (Aug. 31 and Sept. 1). SNA will be conducting annual business as well during SEGreen with the 61st SNA Research Conference (Aug. 30 – Aug. 31), the 118th Annual SNA Business Meeting (Sept. 1), and the SNA State Officer’s Conference (Sept. 2).