Pest and Disease Solutions for a Changing Environment
As stewards of our planet, it is our duty to safeguard the health and vitality of our trees. This workshop will provide in-depth practical expertise, tips and knowledge to allow participants to best protect the landscapes of your client’s properties. Through a series of expert presentations and interactive dialog, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of how climate change is impacting treatment protocols, the key issues affecting our urban forests in the Midwest region, and the innovative approaches available to enhance your ability to protect and preserve your client’s landscape.
Date: Tuesday, October 8th 2024
Time: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Venue: Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022
Room: Burnstein Hall
Additional Details:
- Lunch Provided
- ISA CEUs: Pending
- $50 cost to attend
- Complimentary Parking
Registration
This event is full and no longer accepting registrations.
Agenda
8:00 – 8:15 AM Registration / Sign In / Breakfast
8:15 – 8:30 AM Introduction
Lee Fredericks, Western Great Lakes Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience
8:30 – 9:30 AM Management Challenges and Solutions in the Changing Climate
Dr. Trent Ford-University Illinois at Urbana Champaign
Climate change in the Midwest has created or worsened many challenges in horticulture and landscape plant care. Including shifting hardness zones, increasing insect and disease pressure, and more exposure to extreme heat and humidity. Many of the changes we've seen recently are projected to continue or intensify into the future. However, sustainable landscape care offering health and vitality is one of the most effective means to assist with this adaptation. With the increasing reliance on nature based solutions. A healthy plant care industry is critical for climate resilience in the Midwest. We will discuss climate change and its unique landscape management problems it's created. We will also highlight weather trends, facts and tips to help you successfully managed landscapes into our uncertain future.
9:30 – 10:30 AM Approaches to Addressing Wood Boring Tree Pests: Integrating Ecology and Management Strategies
Dr. Kendra Wagner, Research Scientist, Rainbow Ecoscience
This talk delves into the intricate realm of wood-boring pests, which inflict damage on a diverse array of tree and shrub species. Exploring pests within the insect orders of Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Coleoptera, we unravel their biology, behavior, and ecological impacts. Through case studies and expert insights, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of these pests' nuances and their implications for tree health. Discussion will encompass suggested management tactics, and exploring chemical and cultural options, to combat these pests effectively. This talk aims to equip attendees with practical tools and strategies to mitigate the impact of wood-boring insects on urban and natural landscapes.
10:30 – 11:30 AM Crucial Identification and Optimal Management Strategies for Mites on Woody Plants
Cory McCurry, Arborologist, Rainbow Ecoscience
Effective identification and management practices are essential for mitigating the impact of mites on woody plants. This abstract explores the significance of accurate identification in early detection and prevention of mite infestations. It also delves into the best management practices, including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical controls, aimed at maintaining plant health and minimizing mite-related damage. By integrating these strategies, sustainable management of mites on woody plants can be achieved, ensuring their continued vitality and aesthetic appeal in landscapes.
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM Lunch
12:15 – 1:15 PM Problematic Diseases of the Midwest: What, Why, and How to Manage Them
Dr. Chad Rigsby, Research Scientist and Technical Support Specialist for Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory
Unpredictability and inconsistency in weather patterns have become predictably inconsistent over the past 10-15 years. Climate change has provided the Midwestern U.S. certain years with bone-dry springs and summers, record-setting wet springs and summers, virtually non-existent winters, and growing degree days that can begin accumulating in January. This wild variation in weather from year-to-year (and even within growing season) has caused widespread stress to trees, particularly to mature specimens, and has resulted in boom-and-bust disease infection dynamics. In this session, we will discuss common problematic diseases of Midwestern trees and how to manage them within the context of our changing climate. Conifer and oak problems will be particularly highlighted.
1:15 – 2:15 PM A Preventative and Curative Approach to Treating Iron Chlorosis for Landscape Trees
Lee Fredericks, Western Great Lakes Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience
Chlorosis is a serious condition where a tree’s ability to manufacture chlorophyll has been compromised. This can become a long-term problem for trees. Chlorosis results in a weaker, less durable tree that will rarely make it to maturity. This discussion will cover the following aspects such as, what Chlorosis is and the causes of it and addressing how the plant responds to the lack of availability of essential nutrients. We will also explore the importance of important cultural options, leaving attendees informed of the key distinctions of treatment options and chlorosis knowledge.
2:15 – 3:15 PM A Year in review of Pest Call-ins and Analysis at Morton Arboretum
Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic Manager, The Morton Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic is a free resource available to the public to answer any question about plants, trees, and horticulture. Staffed by trained professionals and supported by extensive resources from the Arboretum's collections and research, the clinic serves as a vital resource for both amateur and professional horticulturists. This presentation will share insights from the past year, highlighting significant diagnostic cases and effective treatment strategies, focusing on how to effectively communicate those findings to the general public and the green professional community.
3:15 – 3:30 PM Closing Remarks
