The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension is pleased to announce the 2026 Landscape & Grounds Maintenance Short Course, a virtual four-week program designed to provide green industry professionals with the latest insights into industry practices and emerging technologies. The short course will be held on Wednesdays in February—Feb. 4, 11, 18, and 25—from 1 to 3:30 p.m. CST.
Participants can register for all four sessions at a discounted rate of $60 or choose individual sessions for $25 each. Registration is open to green industry professionals from Wisconsin and neighboring states. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) will be available.
Course Schedule and Topics:
Sessions are held Wednesdays from 1-3:30 p.m.
- February 4, 2026
- Getting to the Root of the Problem with Container-Grown Trees
Presented by Bert Cregg, PhD, Professor of Horticulture and Forestry, Michigan State University - White Grubs and Other Turf Pests
Presented by PJ Liesch, Entomologist and Director of the UW-Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab
- Getting to the Root of the Problem with Container-Grown Trees
- February 11, 2026
- Effects of Construction Activities on Trees and Landscape
Presented by Gary Johnson, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Urban and Community Forestry, University of Minnesota - Workhorse Perennials for the Landscape
Presented by Mark Dwyer, Horticulturist and Landscape Designer
- Effects of Construction Activities on Trees and Landscape
- February 18, 2026
- Fundamentals of Optimizing Turf Fertilization
Presented by Doug Soldat, PhD, Urban Soil Extension Specialist and Professor, UW-Madison - The Aesthetics of Rain Gardens: Designing for Function and Beauty
Presented by John Gishnock, Owner/Landscape Architect, Formecology, LLC
- Fundamentals of Optimizing Turf Fertilization
- February 25, 2026
- Top Five Diseases of 2025
Presented by Brian Hudelson, PhD, UW-Madison Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic - Flowering Shrubs for All Seasons
Presented by David Garison Stevens, UW-Madison Arboretum
- Top Five Diseases of 2025
The short course will be delivered live via Zoom, and sessions will not be recorded for later viewing. Registered participants will receive a personalized link to access each session.
This program is administered by UW-Madison Extension Horticulture educators from Dane, Kenosha, Racine, and Waukesha Counties. For more information and to register, please visit the official course webpage: go.wisc.edu/LGMSC
This event will be conducted in English. You may request an interpreter, materials in an alternative language and/or format, and/or other services to make this event more accessible. Contact us at lboyer@waukeshacounty.gov or (262) 548-7775. It takes time to make arrangements. To help us serve you best, please contact us as early as you can. Services are provided at no cost to you.
About UW-Madison Division of Extension
UW-Madison Extension extends the knowledge and resources of the university to people where they live and work. We are committed to engaging with communities to understand their needs, delivering timely education, and empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions about horticulture practices. The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming in compliance with state and federal law.
