2026 Landscape & Grounds Maintenance Short Course
2026 Landscape & Grounds Maintenance Short Course
Wednesdays in February from 1-3:30 p.m.
Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25
The Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Short Course is a virtual four-week short course held in February to keep green industry professionals in up-to-date on the newest industry practices and technology available. Register for all four courses for $60 or individual courses for $25 each.
Registration
These courses are open to green industry professionals from Wisconsin and neighboring states. Registration is managed by Extension staff in Waukesha and Dane counties. No matter which county you register through, the program content and experience will be the same.
Course Format
The Landscape and Grounds Maintenance Short Course is presented online via Zoom. The class will only be available during the live presentation on the specified date and time. It will not be available to view later. An email will be sent the day before the class to registered participant with their personal link to access that specific Zoom session. This requires a unique email address for each registrant.
This program is administered by Horticulture educators from Dane, Kenosha, Racine, and Waukesha County Extension.
Short Course Descriptions
(CEUs for ISA and NALP will be available)
February 4, 2026
Getting to the Root of the Problem with Container-grown Trees
Presented by: Dr. Bert Cregg
Explore a decade of research on root defects in container-grown trees and strategies for mitigating these issues.
White Grubs and Other Turf Pests
Presented by: PJ Liesch
Learn about the biology, management, and emerging trends of turfgrass pests including white grubs, chinch bugs, and cutworms.
February 11, 2026
Effects of Construction Activities on Trees in the Landscape
Presented by: Dr. Gary Johnson
Understand how construction impacts tree health and discover methods to predict and prevent long-term damage.
Workhorse Perennials for the Landscape
Presented by: Mark Dwyer
Discover reliable, low-maintenance perennials that deliver lasting beauty and performance across diverse garden settings.
February 18, 2026
Fundamentals of Optimizing Turf Fertilization
Presented by: Dr. Doug Soldat
Gain insights into science-based lawn fertilization practices that balance performance with cost-effectiveness.
The Aesthetics of Rain Gardens: Designing for Function & Beauty
Presented by: John Gishnock
Learn how to design rain gardens using native plants to achieve natural, clean, or hybrid aesthetics.
February 25, 2026
Top Five Diseases of 2025
Presented by: Brian Hudelson
Review the most notable plant diseases diagnosed at this he clinic in 2025 and their implications for landscape management.
Flowering Shrubs for all Seasons
Presented by: David Garison Stevens
Explore a diverse selection of flowering shrubs that provide year-round interest, curated from Wisconsin’s largest woody plant collection.
Short Course Registration
The registration fee for all four sessions is $60. Single sessions are $25 per session. Choose from the following County Extension site link to register for this program. If you do not reside in any of these counties, you are still welcome to attend the short course. Please register under any county you wish.
Questions?
Contact any of the County Extension offices above for more information about the short course, including how to register. Call (262) 548-7775 with registration questions.
