Wednesday, February 3, 2027
7:00 AM - 2:45 PM
Join us for this educational, expert-led seminar designed for plant health care professionals, hosted by Rainbow Ecoscience and Atlanta Arbor. This free event will explore topics including drought management, proper planting and pruning techniques for trees and shrubs in the landscape, and creating a prescription protocol to protect urban landscape during site development, followed by outdoor demonstrations. Sessions are led by industry experts, with opportunities to network with peers.
Co-Host:
Location:
301 Old Clay St SE
Marietta, GA 30060
Additional Details:
- Free event
- ISA CEUs: TBD
- Pesticide CEUs: TBD
- Lunch provided
Agenda
7:00–7:30 AM Check-In & Breakfast
7:30–7:45 AM Introduction
Jason Townley
Georgia Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience
Juan C. Carrasco
Director of Plant Health Care & Sales Manager, Atlanta Arbor Tree Care Specialists
- Welcome & Introductions
- Safety brief
- Housekeeping
- Review of the agenda and expectations
7:45–8:45 AM Drought Management in the Urban Landscapes
Francisco Sicilia
Landscape Horticulturist Specialist, Rainbow Ecoscience
Urban landscapes face many challenges in keeping our properties healthy. One of those challenges is maintaining them from drought stress. In this session, we will define drought and its impact on the landscape. You will learn about management options to reduce drought stress.
Francisco Sicilia graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Agribusiness. Prior to joining Rainbow, Francisco had over 17 years of experience in the green industry as a maintenance and account manager with various companies such as Brightview and Tropics North Landscape Maintenance. As a Horticulturist Specialist, Francisco’s accountabilities include conducting training for Rainbow clients, providing education, and technical support.
8:45–9:45 AM Proper Planting for Tree and Shrubs in the Landscape, Soil Preparation and Amendments
Juan C. Carrasco
Director of Plant Health Care & Sales Manager, Atlanta Arbor Tree Care Specialists
Explore how planting practices, watering, and soil management strategies affect plant establishment and development. This session will examine best practices for supporting long-term health, improving resilience, and promoting structural stability.
Juan Carrasco, Director of Plant Health Care and Sales Manager at Atlanta Arbor, brings over 30 years of experience in Arboriculture and Plant Health Care across California, Florida, and Georgia. He holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Panamerican University of Agriculture “El Zamorano” and has been an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist since 2007. Juan is also ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) and a licensed Pesticide Applicator in Georgia. With extensive experience managing commercial, institutional, governmental, and residential projects, Juan delivers practical, science-based solutions that provide exceptional value to clients. Drawing on decades of field and leadership experience, he has successfully guided arborist sales teams and businesses toward sustainable growth through integrated, results-driven strategies. He has served as an instructor for the UF/IFAS Extension in Florida and continues to lead training seminars with the Georgia Arborist Association and other industry organizations. Juan has also been invited to speak in his home country of Ecuador, where he shares his expertise in tree risk assessment and proper arboricultural practices with municipalities and public and private organizations.
9:45–10:00 AM Break
10:00–11:00 AM Proper Punning Technique in the Landscape
Andrew Blenk
Co-founder, Pruning Professionals
How can we maintain thriving, longer-living plants while achieving a neat and professional landscape? This session will dive into why, when it comes to landscape pruning techniques, “less is more.” You will learn how strategic cuts can improve structural integrity, increase flowering, and protect your property from damage.
Andrew Blenk is a co-founder of Pruning Professors and has extensive experience in pruning and plant healthcare. He graduated from the University of Georgia Warnell School of Forestry in 2011 with a degree in Forest Science and is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). In 2019, Andrew earned his Board-Certified Master Arborist credential. Andrew has always had a passion for trees and finds fulfillment in making plants look their best.
11:00 AM–12:00 PM Creating a Prescription Protocol for Construction Damage Trees and Shrubs
Dr. Kendra Wagner
Research Scientist and R&D Team Lead, Rainbow Ecoscience
In this session, we will explore the development of a Prescription Protocol, a strategic framework designed to protect our urban landscape during site development. It moves beyond simple fencing to provide a technical, data-driven approach to preserving high-value specimens before, during, and after construction. Dr. Wagner will provide landscape managers and arborists with the tools to balance modern construction damage on the property to preserve our trees and shrubs.
Dr. Kendra Wagner oversees Rainbow’s nationwide research trials. She has a background in tree care specializing in tree injections, arboriculture, and integrated pest management (IPM). She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from the University of New Brunswick, along with a diploma in Urban Forestry. Kendra attended Mississippi State University for her Ph.D. in Forest Entomology, where she conducted international trials focusing on the effects of drought and forest management on invasive species. At Rainbow Ecoscience, Kendra focuses on drought-related research and the development of management strategies for invasive insect species.
12:00–12:15 PM Q&A
12:15–1:30 PM Lunch
1:30–2:30 PM Outside Demonstrations
Jason Townley
Georgia Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience
2:30–2:45 PM Thank You & Wrap-Up
Jason Townley
Georgia Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience
Juan C. Carrasco
Director of Plant Health Care & Sales Manager, Atlanta Arbor Tree Care Specialists
