University of Georgia

Managing Shocks and Disruptions to the Green Industry: COVID-19 and Beyond

Join us for a FREE three-part webinar series on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses in the state and strategies for strengthening financial resilience to disruptions or change. Experts will present tips on evolving marketing, building business continuity, increasing operational flexibility, managing essential workforce and enhancing customer service.

*Participants may register to attend all three parts or attend parts individually.

The dates are 1/21, 2/18, & 3/18.

Register now by clicking here!

Using Clay Models to Track the Activity of Beneficial Insects in Turfgrass

Tracking Bug Tracks

Posted on Sep 11, 2020

Preliminary Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Green Industry Sales in the Southeastern U.S.

Ben Campbell, University of Georgia; Alicia Rihn, University of Tennessee; & Julie Campbell, University of Georgia The Green Industry consists of wholesale nursery, greenhouse, turfgrass sod producers, landscape design, construction/maintenance firms and wholesale and retail distribution firms (e.g., garden centers, home stores, mass merchandisers with lawn/garden departments, brokers/rewholesale distribution centers,...

Posted on Jun 20, 2019

Rain, overwatering can cause slippery algae to pop up in turfgrass lawns

Recent dry weather encouraged the use, and possible overuse, of irrigation systems. Followed by tropical conditions characterized by heavy rainfall and humidity, there have been reports of a jelly-like substance growing in turf. The jelly-like matter is Nostoc, a genus of cyanobacterium formerly classified as blue-green algae. The algae —...

Posted on Jun 20, 2019

Wet growing season and popularity have Georgia’s zoysiagrass inventory running low

About a week ago, I heard from a couple of sod producers that spring sales of turfgrass sod were strong and they were worried about potential shortages of popular species like Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. I wondered if these were isolated incidences or an industry-wide issue. As the University of Georgia...

Turf and Ornamental Pest Management

Posted by Shimat V. Joseph and Midhula Gireesh on Feb 15, 2021

Watch for hunting billbugs in turfgrass

Hunting billbug, Sphenophorous venatus vestitus (Family: Curculionidae) (Figure 1) is one of the important weevil pests of turfgrass in Georgia. It is called a billbug because of its long snout or “bill” which has small mandibles at the tip. Hunting billbug infestations in turfgrass are not easily detected until the...

Turf and Ornamental Pest Management

Posted by Bodie Pennisi, Dan Suiter, Shimat Joseph on Feb 11, 2020

It’s Finally Here! CEU-Granting Distance Education for Green Industry Professionals

University of Georgia is offering online, live program that will allow green industry professionals to receive world-class training while at their home or office. Logging on, watching a live presentation, and then going back to work (all while receiving CEUs) is just a few mouse clicks away. Watch as a...

Turf Team Events

Thursday, January 21, 2021 – 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. Wintergreen Lunch and Learn Webinar sponsored by Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) Wintergreen is typically attended by several thousand people. Conference will be held virtually for first time Agenda: 12:15-12:20 p.m. - Introduction (Greg Huber) 12:20-12:35 p.m. - Overview of COVID-19 and impact on small businesses in the state (Ben Campbell) 12:35-12:50 p.m. - Financial Resilience: Continuity plans and business flexibility (Steve Newton) 12:50-1:05 p.m. - Changing marketing practices in the nursery and landscape industry (Cheryl Boyer) 1:05-1:15 p.m. - Q&A Forum (Jill Gambill) Thursday, February 18, 2021 – 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. Zoom webinar co-sponsored by Georgia Recreation and Parks Association and the Georgia Urban Ag Council Agenda: 8:00-8:05 a.m. - Introduction (Greg Huber) 8:05-8:25 a.m. - Overview of COVID-19: Impact and a changing reality (Julie Campbell) 8:25-8:45 a.m. - Customer service: extending the safety message from crew to customer (Steve Newton) 8:45-9:05 a.m. - Managing the essential workforce in a pandemic: crew dynamics, challenges, and opportunities, adaptations, efficiencies. (Teddy Russell) 9:05-9:30 a.m. - Q&A Forum & Discussion: safety precautions and facility adaptations. Panel (Kerry Shay, Steve Faber, Stan Deal, Pam Dooley, Mary Kay Woodworth, TJ Imberger, Jill Gambill) Thursday, March 18, 2021 – 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. Zoom Webinar Agenda: 8:00- 8:05 a.m. - Introduction (Jill Gambill, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant) 8:05-8:40 a.m. - Planting and establishment for the sustainable community forest (Alex Ballard, Georgia Forestry Commission) (35 minutes) 8:40-9:15 a.m. - Eco-friendly landscaping (Keren Giovengo, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant) (35 minutes) 9:15-9:30 a.m. - Empowering employees with educational pathways - GCLP, GCPP, Supercrew, and more. (Greg Huber, UGA Center for Urban Agriculture)

8:00AM - 9:30AM Managing Shocks and Disruptions to the Green Industry: COVID-19 and Beyond (3-part webinar series) https://outreachregistration.uga.edu/search/publicCourseSearchDetails.do?method=load&courseId=2501994

Optimizing the use of insect-pathogenic nematodes for turfgrass insect pest management Dr. Albrecht Koppenhofer, Rutgers University, NJ Talk with cover basic information on biology and ecology of entomopathogenic nematodes and discuss the optimal use of them for the management of important turfgrass insect pests in GA incl. white grubs, billbugs, and caterpillar pests. The integration of the nematodes into IPM of turfgrass pest will be discussed. Recognizing and combating turfgrass disease issues in the landscape Dr. Joseph Robert, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Clemson University This presentation will cover prominent turfgrass diseases commonly observed on turfgrasses used in the landscape. Key diagnostic features and ideal environmental conditions will be outlined for individual pathogens, along with cultural and chemical management tools for combating disease.

3:00PM - 5:00PM GTPOB Green Webinar Series Session 2 https://ugaurbanag.com/

Hard To Kill—Why It Is Important To Understand The Mode Of Action Of Insecticides And Miticides Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Dept. of Entomology, Kansas State University Raymond will initially discuss what constitutes a modes of action, and then he will describe the modes of action associated with commonly used insecticides and miticides and why this information is critical in avoiding resistance developing in insect and mite pest populations. He will also present information from the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) and address how modes of action are used in rotation programs. Invasive ornamentals and non-invasive cultivars/species Dr. Gary Knox, University of Florida A number of widely grown woody ornamentals are recognized as being invasive in parts of the southeastern USA. Fortunately, breeding, selection and research has identified a number of cultivars that are sterile or much less invasive than the widely cultivated forms. Dr. Knox will discuss issues surrounding invasive woody plants and highlight sterile or less invasive cultivars that the Green Industry should grow and promote to consumers.

3:00PM - 5:00PM GTPOB Green Webinar Series Session 3 https://ugaurbanag.com/

Managing environmental stresses in the landscape Dr. Mengmeng Gu, Texas A &M University Plants in landscapes may or may not encounter diseases or insect issues, but they are very likely exposed to one or more types of environmental stresses, also known as abiotic stresses. Environmental stresses may include temperature stresses (both high and low temperatures), air quality (e.g. air pollution and gas leaks), water stresses (too much and not enough), light levels (too much and not enough), fertility, and of course soil conditions. Some of these factors are interconnected, and thus complicated. This presentation hopes to elucidate these abiotic stresses in landscapes for cost-effective landscape management. Disease management in ornamentals Dr. Jean Willian-Woodward, Dept. of Plant Pathology, Univesity of Georgia Jean will talk about the major disease issues and their biological information on o

3:00PM - 5:00PM GTPOB Green Webinar Series Session 4 https://ugaurbanag.com/

What should you do if you have a pesticide accident? Dr. Mickey Taylor, Dept. of Entomology, University of Georgia This webinar will help you recognize the hazards you and your fellow workers face when handling and applying pesticides. You will be able to differentiate the types of harmful effects associated with pesticide exposure and relate the hazard classification system & its corresponding signal words to the personal protective equipment you must wear according to the pesticide’s label. Finally, we will discuss how you should respond to a pesticide spill and how to use the three Cs (control, contain, and clean-up) to manage all sizes of pesticide spills. Managing ambrosia beetles in nurseries and landscape plantings Dr. Will Hudson, Dept. of Entomology, University of Georgia The speaker will cover the biology of the beetles, seasonal timing, trapping, and factors known to increase susceptibility in plant material. Also, current management options for the ambrosia beetle problem in the landscape will be discussed.

3:00PM - 5:00PM GTPOB Green Webinar Series Session 5 https://ugaurbanag.com/

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Late-winter pruning can benefit summer-blooming and nonblooming plants by Mary Carol Sheffield

Pruning plays an important role in the health, productivity and well-being of woody plants.

Expect slightly higher sod prices this year by Josh Paine

Price increases for sod this year could range from 2 to 8% over 2019 prices.

Clay models track the activity of beneficial insects in turfgrass by Allison Fortner

Entomology study developed clay models as a tool to aid in future research.

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