The 2025 Foothills Winter Landscapers Meeting on Thursday, January 23, at the J.E. Broyhill Center offers a full day of education and networking for landscape professionals.
Sessions cover tree and shrub health, invasive species management, pest identification, stormwater solutions, turfgrass irrigation, and key business topics like staff training and small business legal essentials.
Earn up to 5 technical credits, 2 business credits, and 3 pesticide credits in L, X, N, D category and 1 in H category (pending approval) while enhancing your skills and staying informed on industry trends. Agenda below.
Don’t miss this opportunity to grow your knowledge and connect with experts!
Sign up at go.ncsu.edu/2025foothillsls
Agenda
7:30-8:00 AM- Check-in
8:00-9:00 AM- Sam Marshall- Abiotic and Biotic issues of Trees and Shrubs
This session explores the identification and management of abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) factors that impact tree and shrub health. Participants will learn to diagnose common stressors such as nutrient deficiencies, drought, pests, and diseases, and discuss strategies for maintaining healthy landscapes.
9:00-10:00AM Sarah, Cari, and Matt (N.C. Cooperative Extension) Invasives and Their Control
This session covers the identification, impacts, and control of invasive plants in the landscape. Attendees will learn about the latest control techniques, including cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods, and their application in managing invasive species.
BREAK 10:00-10:10AM
10:10-11:10AM – Joanna Radford Surry County Extension- Friend or Foe? Beneficials vs. Pests and How to Treat
This talk highlights the role of beneficial insects in pest management and how to distinguish them from harmful pests. Strategies for promoting beneficial populations and treating pest outbreaks using integrated pest management (IPM) practices will be discussed.
11:10-12:10- Mitch Woodward- Area Specialized Agent, Watersheds and Water Quality Small Scale Stormwater Solutions
This presentation focuses on practical, small-scale solutions for managing stormwater in the landscape. Topics include techniques for reducing runoff, improving water quality, and integrating environmentally friendly practices into residential and commercial landscapes.
12:10-1:00 LUNCH(PROVIDED)
1:00-2:00PM Dr. Grady Miller- Water Requirements of NC Turfgrasses
This session focuses on efficient irrigation practices, emphasizing water conservation, system design, and troubleshooting common irrigation challenges. Attendees will gain practical tips to enhance water use efficiency in both residential and commercial landscapes.
2-4PM Business Credits
2pm-3pm Brad Stowe with Chandler Concrete- Benefits of Staff Training
Staying ahead in the green industry requires more than just cutting-edge technology and innovative practices – it demands a skilled and empowered workforce. In today’s challenging labor market, investing in your team with internal trainings presents a variety of competitive advantages, both tangible and intangible, including superior employee performance and confidence, reduced errors, improved operational efficiency, adaptability of staff to embrace change, increase employee morale and creation of a positive and collaborative work culture. Join Brad Stowe from Chandler Concrete as he focuses on the benefits of investing the time and effort into training your employees.
3pm-4pm- Dr. Andrew Branan - NC State University Agricultural Resources and Economics
Small Business Legal 101: A Survey of Requirements
This session will provide a broad overview of risk management with attention to liability protection, including business entity set-up and insurance, basics of employment law requirements, contracts and management of income and sales taxes.
This meeting offers 5 technical credits, 2 business credits, and 3 pesticide credits in the L, N, D, X, and 1 credit in the H category (pending approval).
Attendance will be taken at the end of the course. No partial credit is given if attendees leave early.
