Cutting-Edge Strategies for Sustainable Tree Care
Join us for an engaging and informative workshop designed to equip you with the latest techniques and insights in sustainable tree management. This seminar will offer practical expertise and actionable strategies to effectively protect and enhance the trees on your clients' properties. Through expert presentations and interactive discussions, you'll explore how climate change is reshaping treatment protocols, uncover the critical challenges facing urban forests in our region, and discover innovative approaches to advance your tree care practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and elevate your skills in tree preservation and management.
Date: Thursday, October 9th 2025
Time: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Venue: Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center
4601 N Choctaw Rd. Choctaw, OK 73020
Room: A103
Additional Details:
- ISA CEUs: Pending
- Light Breakfast and Lunch Provided
- Free Event and Parking
Workshop Sponsors
Registration
Agenda
7:00 – 7:55 AM: Registration / Sign In / Breakfast
7:55 – 8:00 AM: Introduction
Jim Casey, South Central Territory Manager, Rainbow Ecoscience
8:00 – 9:00 AM: Managing Piercing-Sucking Insect Pests on Oklahoma Trees and Shrubs
Cory McCurry, Midwest Arbologoist, Rainbow Ecoscience
Piercing-sucking insects such as aphids, scale insects, mites, and lace bugs pose threats to the health and aesthetics of trees and shrubs in Oklahoma landscapes. This talk will explore the biology, life cycles, and damage symptoms of key pest species, emphasizing their impact on both native and ornamental plants. Attendees will learn how to identify common pests, monitor populations, and implement effective, environmentally responsible management strategies. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches, including cultural, biological, and chemical controls, will be discussed to help professionals make informed decisions for long-term plant health.
9:00 – 10:00 AM: Increase Use of Microbials in the Green Industry
Jon Oren, Regional Sales Manager, Horticulture Alliance
Over the past few decades, microbial research has steadily increased for the green industry. The market has also recently trended upward with several large-scale acquisitions of microbial companies by synthetics manufacturers. The increased use of the biostimulants (both derived and naturally occurring) appears to be a permanent fixture for several reasons: increasing costs of synthetic fertilizers, environmental concerns, regulatory demands and consumer health issues.
10:00 – 10:15 AM: Break
10:15 – 11:15 AM: Emerging Pecan Disease Pressures in Oklahoma: Insights from Recent Research and Extension Outreach
Mustafa O. Jibrin, Ph. D, Assistant Professor, Oklahoma State University
Pecan growers in Oklahoma continue to face significant challenges from both fungal and bacterial diseases. Pecan scab (Venturia effusa) remains the most damaging issue, with additional pressures from anthracnose, leaf die-back, powdery mildew, and leaf spot diseases. Recent findings also highlight the potential threat of pecan bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa) and other emerging pathogens.
This presentation will provide an overview of current research and field observations, while outlining practical integrated management strategies. Emphasis will be placed on the use of the Mesonet Pecan Scab Advisor, effective fungicide programs, and cultural practices that improve orchard health. Attendees will leave with updated tools for early detection, prevention, and long-term management of pecan diseases.
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM: Don't get caught with your plants down -- Diseases of urban trees in Oklahoma
Jen Olsen, Associate Extension Specialist, Oklahoma State University
Urban trees face a unique set of challenges that can compromise their health, longevity, and ecological value. This presentation will provide an in-depth overview of several significant diseases affecting urban trees in Oklahoma, including Botryosphaeria canker fungi, pear rust, elm black spot, and various wilt diseases. Attendees will learn to recognize key symptoms, understand the biology and environmental conditions that contribute to disease development, and apply accurate diagnostic techniques. Dr. Olsen will also discuss integrated disease management strategies tailored to each pathogen, including cultural practices, chemical treatments, and long-term prevention approaches. This session is designed for arborists, urban foresters, and landscape professionals seeking to enhance their diagnostic skills and improve tree health outcomes in urban environments.
12:15 – 1:00 PM: Lunch
Sponsored by: Vermeer
Experience the cutting-edge of outdoor equipment with an in-depth, hands-on demonstration featuring the latest innovations from Vermeer. Over the course of this dynamic hour, you'll have the opportunity to dive into the advanced technology and superior performance of their newest machinery.
1:00 – 2:00 PM: Wood Decay Fungi
Chelsi Abbott, Davey Technical Advisor & Education Specialist, Davey Tree
Wood decay fungi pose a serious threat to the structural integrity and overall health of trees, especially in urban and managed landscapes. When parasitic fungi invade, they can silently compromise internal wood tissues, leading to weakened trunks and limbs that may fail without warning—posing significant risks to arborists, property, and public safety. This presentation will explore the biology and life cycles of wood decay fungi, with a focus on distinguishing characteristics of common species and their varying levels of virulence. Attendees will gain practical insights into identifying signs of infection, assessing the severity of decay, and understanding the implications for tree risk management. By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to recognize and respond to wood decay issues, enhancing both tree care practices and safety outcomes.
2:00 – 3:00 PM: Navigating CRM Solutions for Local Treecare Services: Lessons from Rainbow Treecare
Nick Kantola, Arborologist, Rainbow Treecare
As a business with nearly half a century of experience preserving landscapes in the Twin Cities marketplace, Rainbow Treecare's local services division has had to navigate the challenges of managing large customers databases and the service offerings that go along with them. Rainbow's Arborologist Nick Kantola will provide a brief look into their history with Customer Relationship Software (CRM), discuss their current CRM - their practices, some pitfalls, and the benefits that software provides for them - and answer questions you may have about how they employ digital tools to manage the different aspects of their local services delivery.
3:00 – 3:10 PM: Break
3:10 – 4:10 PM: Soil Oxygen: The Real Limiting Factors for trees
Dean Absrer, Tree Diaper
This session provides a science-based exploration of common landscape design and maintenance challenges, with a focus on arboricultural impacts and sustainable solutions. Attendees will learn to identify and address issues such as soil compaction, oxygen deficiency, overwatering, and improper mulching practices (e.g., volcano-mulching). The course will demonstrate how these factors affect tree and plant health, and how new technologies—such as smart irrigation, biochar, and permeable surfaces—can enhance landscape resilience and green infrastructure.
4:10 PM: Closing Remarks
