2026 Landscape & Grounds Maintenance Short Course
2026-02-18 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-02-25 13:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago)
The Landscaping and Grounds Maintenance Short Course is a virtual four week short course held each February designed to keep green industry professionals up to date on the newest industry practices and technology available. The presentations are live and include a question and answer period after each speaker. The cost of the four-week Short Course is $60. Individual weeks are $25 each.

Ceu’s available.

Short Course Speaker’s Bio

Short Course Website

February 4, 2026

Getting to the Root of the Problem with Container-grown Trees

Explore a decade of research on root defects in container-grown trees and strategies for mitigating these issues.Presented by: Bert Cregg, Ph.D., Professor of Horticulture and Forestry, Michigan State University

White Grubs and Other Turf Pests

Learn about the biology, management, and emerging trends of turfgrass pests including white grubs, chinch bugs, and cutworms.Presented by: PJ Liesch, Extension Entomologist / Director – Insect Diagnostic Lab, UW-Madison

February 11, 2026

Effects of Construction Activities on Trees in the Landscape

Understand how construction impacts tree health and discover methods to predict and prevent long-term damage.Presented by: Gary Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Urban and Community Forestry, University of Minnesota

Workhorse Perennials for the Landscape

Discover reliable, low-maintenance perennials that deliver lasting beauty and performance across diverse garden settings.Presented by: Mark Dwyer, Horticulturist & Landscape Designer

February 18, 2026

Fundamentals of Optimizing Turf Fertilization

Gain insights into science-based lawn fertilization practices that balance performance with cost-effectiveness.Presented by: Dr. Doug Soldat, Professor, UW-Madison Extension

The Aesthetics of Rain Gardens: Designing for Function & Beauty

Learn how to design rain gardens using native plants to achieve natural, clean, or hybrid aesthetics.Presented by: John Gishnock III, Owner/Landscape Architect, formecology, LLC

February 25, 2026

Top Five Diseases of 2025

Review the most notable plant diseases diagnosed at this he clinic in 2025 and their implications for landscape management.Presented by: Dr. Brian Hudelson, Director, Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic, UW-Madison Extension

Flowering Shrubs for all Seasons

Explore a diverse selection of flowering shrubs that provide year-round interest, curated from Wisconsin’s largest woody plant collection.Presented by: David Garison Stevens, Ed Hasselkus Curator, Longenecker Horticultural Gardens, University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum

Short Course via zoom To provide the quality education that you expect, while being mindful of the safety of our participants, we are providing the Landscape and Grounds Maintenance Short Course 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 participants with their personal link to access that specific Zoom session. This requires a unique email address for EACH registrant.

Short Course Website

iLandscape Show
2026-02-25 08:00 - 2026-02-27 14:00 | Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, Illinois, 60173, United States
iLandscape: The Illinois + Wisconsin Landscape Show will return February 25-27, 2026 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois. iLandscape is owned and managed by Landscape Illinois.

iLandscape is the show for today’s landscape professional. It is a show you will look forward to, eagerly attend, and talk about months after the show has concluded. iLandscape is the show that Midwestern landscape professionals deserve.

Close to 7,000 people attended the 12th iLandscape show in 2025. See for yourself what all the excitement is about.

Landscape Professionals Conference 2026
2026-03-04 08:30 - 15:30 | Sunnview Expo Center, 500 E County Rd Y, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, 54901, United States
Skills training in: hard-scape, landscape, maintenance and safety

Register by Feb 2, 2026. Please see the attached brochure for more information: https://outagamie.extension.wisc.edu/files/2025/10/Landscape-Professionals-Conference.pdf

ISA Michigan Plant Health Care 1/2 Day Webinar
2026-03-25 09:00 - 14:00
Join ISA Michigan for a focused half-day Plant Health Care (PHC) webinar designed to strengthen your diagnostic skills, improve treatment decision-making, and refine late-dormant application strategies. This program brings together nationally recognized researchers and industry leaders to address real-world PHC challenges facing arborists, municipal foresters, and tree care professionals.

Earn 4 CEUs!

For more information and to register visit: ISA Michigan Plant Health Care 1/2 Day Webinar

Urban Forestry Today Webinar: "They’re Coming – the 2026 Pests of the Landscape" -Brian Eshenaur
2026-04-09 11:00 - 12:00
​Join Brian Eshenaur, NYS IPM Program at Cornell University, as he returns to discuss the potential insects and diseases of importance for the upcoming growing season.

To attend live on 4/09/26 @ Noon (Eastern) and receive an ISA/0.5 MCA CEU at no cost:click here or visit www.joinwebinar.com & enter: 300-245-659

​(Space will be limited – all attendees should be prepared to join the live broadcast promptly)

TREE Fund Webinars
2026-04-21 12:00 - 13:00
Tree Health Implications of Long-term Strategies to Treat Emerald Ash Borer: Long-term Effects on Tree Injections and Tree Tissue

Tuesday April 21 @ 12:00pm CST

Dr. Richard Hauer along with Dr. Andrew Koeser and Dr. Jake Miesbauer will present their 2021 Hyland Johns Grant Program titled, “Tree Health Implications of Long-term Strategies to Treat Emerald Ash Borer: Long-term Effects on Tree Injections and Tree Tissue”

Registration is open here

2026 PDDC Plant Disease Talks
2026-04-22 18:30 - 20:30
For information about all the PDDC talks visit this link: Plant disease talks

Plant Disease Management by Design:Preventing Plant Disease Problems During the Landscape Design Process

Date: April 22, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about common diseases in landscape settings and strategies in site evaluation, plant selection, plant installation, and post-installation maintenance that will help you design and establish landscapes that will have long-term sustainability.

Register for this talk

The Science (and Art) of Plant Disease Diagnosis

Date: May 27, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about the fascinating and complex process involved in identifying plant diseases. Learn about how to visually assess for plant disease symptoms, as well as about the range of lab tests that are often needed to confirm the identity of plant diseases.

Register for this talk

Plant Diseases in History

Date: June 24, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about how plant diseases have impacted human history and how plant diseases continue to be important in our daily lives and in pop culture.

Register for this talk

Evil Twins: Plant Disease Look-Alikes

Date: July 22, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about common diseases that have similar symptoms and can be misidentified, but may have very different management strategies.

Register for this talk

Hosta Diseases

Date: August 26, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about common diseases of hostas. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Register for this talk

Growing Healthy Plants: Basics in Plant Disease Management

Date: September 23, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about common methods for disease control, their pros and cons, and how you can adapt these techniques for use in your own home garden.

Register for this talk

Orchid Diseases

Date: October 28, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about common diseases of orchids. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them.

Register for this talk

Confessions of a Black Thumb: Plants That I Have Killed (or at Least Seriously Maimed)

Date: November 18, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about the favorite plants of Brian Hudelson (aka Dr. Death) and his epic failures in attempting to grow these plants in his home garden, either through his encouragement of plant diseases, his insistence on practicing “Darwinian gardening” or through his sheer gardening stupidity. Use these cautionary tales to improve your own gardening skills.

Register for this talk

Plant Disease Holiday Gift List

Date: December 16, 2026Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Description

Learn about plant diseases that can be beneficial to people and might make a great holiday gift for a loved one.

Register for this talk

Rocky Mountain Chapter Webinar Event
2026-04-24 09:00 - 12:30
Building Resilient Urban Forests: Preparing Trees for Heat, Drought & Severe Weather

April 24, 2026

Location: Zoom Online Webinar, Casper, WY, UNITED STATES

Organizer: Learn Trees

Sponsor: Rocky Mountain Chapter ISA

Cost: $97

Description: Urban trees face mounting stress from hotter summers, extended dry periods, and increasingly intense storm events. This course equips arborists with practical, science-based strategies to improve resilience before these challenges peak. Participants will learn how to strengthen tree defenses through spring interventions such as soil and water management, canopy care, and proactive planting decisions. Broader resilience tools—including species diversification, improved planting systems, and site design innovations—will also be addressed. The course highlights how both municipal forestry programs and private tree care companies play critical roles in preparing urban forests for environmental stress, focusing on applied arboriculture and measurable outcomes without political framing.

ISA CEU Categories Requested

3.5 – ISA Certified Arborist

3.5 – ISA BCMA – Science

3.5 – ISA Practice

3.5 – ISA Management

3.5 – ISA Urban Forest Professional

For more information and to register visit the event link below:

WAA Student/Apprentice Conference - April 24-26, 2026
2026-04-24 17:00 - 2026-04-26 11:00 | Camp Whitcomb/Mason, W294N8436 Camp Whitcomb Rd, Hartland, Wisconsin, 53029, United States
Registration – Now closed

Registration Deadline: Wed. April 22

Includes educational sessions, connections between students and industry professionals, and a fun skills competition between students.

Housing for the 2 nights is included. Bring your own bedding, (sleeping bag and pillow)

Please eat dinner before you come on Friday. Meals will be provided Saturday, along with breakfast on Sunday.

Bring your own gear and PPE. House gear will also be provided.

Hope you can make it!

Conference Agenda

Friday, April 24th

5:00pm-7:00pm Registration

7:00pm- 7:30pm Welcome program

7:30pm-8:30pm Speaker: Sydney Hudzinski – Gear Wants vs. Needs

8:30pm-10:00pm Networking

10:00pm-6:00am Quiet hours

Saturday, April 25th

7:00am-8:00am Networking

8:00am-8:45am Breakfast and Speaker: Sam Finco – Lanyard Tips and Tricks

8:45am -9:00am Safety Brief to students – Shelly Wollerman

8:45am- 9:00am Skills challenge Volunteer meeting/Safety Brief

9:00am-10:00am Skills challenge walk-through

10:00am-12:00pm Skills challenge

12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch and Speaker: Tim Walsh – Careers and Resumes

1:00pm-5:30pm Skills challenge continues/ Free time when done

5:30pm-6:30pm Dinner Speaker: Dr. Richard Hauer – Choose Your Own Tree Adventure

6:30pm-10:00pm Light up the Future Event

11:00pm-7:00am Quiet hours

Sunday April 26th

8:00am-9:00am Breakfast & Speaker: Shelly Wollerman – Focus on Safety

9:00am-10:00am Awards and closing statements

10:00am-11:00am Check out of lodge by 11am

About the Speakers

Sam Finco – Sam Finco is a practicing arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist, and 9th place finisher in the 2025 International Tree Climbing Championship.

Richard Hauer – Richard Hauer is the Director of Urban Forestry at Eocene Environmental Group and an Emeritus Professor of Urban Forestry at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. He was honored as the 2023 Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Education and the 2018 & 2024 L.C. Chadwick Award for Arboricultural Research. He has published over 200 publications and presented over 500 talks throughout the world.

Sydney Hudzinski – Sydney Hudzinski started in the industry in 2019. She spent her first year working on obtaining her credentials. She recognized a gap in onboarding and mentoring in the industry. She has always been passionate about paving a better way for the next generation, so she started training and mentoring. She now works for the City of Plymouth. She stays active in the industry by going to multiple climbing competitions a year, volunteering with the MSA, and instructing at The Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop.

Tim Walsh – Tim Walsh is the VP of Safety & Training at Townsend Company, LLC. Tim has a Doctorate in ergonomics and safety and has a Master’s degree in ergonomics. He has Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Urban Forestry from UWSP. Tim is a Certified Treecare Safety Professional, an ISA Certified Arborist and Certified Tree Worker Climber Specialist. He was a voting member of the 2022 revision of the ANSI Z133 and has been involved with the Accredited Standards Committee Z133 for several revisions. He serves on the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) Board of Directors and is the Champion for UAA Safety Committee and has served as the chair of the UAA Professional Development Committee. Tim has also been a climbing arborist for more than 35 years, has owned his own business, worked as a contract climber and worked with companies around the world.

Shelly Wollerman – Shelly Wollerman has 10 years experience in production tree care, 3 years experience as a trainer, and is the Owner/Operator of Soteria Training Solutions. She is a Licensed Wilderness EMT.

Volunteers Needed

We are looking for a few more volunteers!

Interested? Please email WAA Student Organization Liaison, Audrey Earle.

Sponsors Needed

Skills Events, Connections Corner, Snack Break, and T-Shirt sponsors still needed!

Check out the 2026 WAA Sponsor Program itemized sponsor list for details.

Interested or have questions? Please email our Sponsorship Chair, Nathan Schuettpelz.

Camp Whitcomb/Mason, Hartland

WAA Kids' Climb 2026
2026-05-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Veteran’s Memorial Park, 410 N. Lake St., Port Washington, Wisconsin, 53074
Veterans Memorial Park, 410 North Lake Street, Port Washington, WI 53074

This year the Milwaukee Area Kids Climb Task force is holding 3 kids climbs:

Port Washington Veterans Park on Sat May 2nd. This is part of their annual park clean up event.
Fox Point Village Hall on Sat June 13th. This is part of the Village’s 100th anniversary celebration.
River Bend Nature Center on Sunday Oct. 4th. This is part of the annual Chainsaw Carving and Art Festival.

We are seeking volunteers to help out with these events. Each event needs the following:

Tree climbers to help kids in the trees
People on the ground belaying the kids up the trees
A couple logistical people to outfit helmets and saddles and sign waiver forms.

Please use this link to view times for each event and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B45A9A72EA7FA7-63327718-2026

We can use all the volunteers we can get. This is great way to get active in the WAA, even if you are not a tree climber.

Any questions: contact August Hoppe august@hoppetreeservice.com or 414-640-8714

Urban Forestry Today Webinar: "Urban Forests & the Digital Era - Environmental Analysis Tools for Practitioners" ​
2026-05-07 11:00 - 13:00
​UFTs 2-hr ‘Spring Tree Summit’ @ 11:00 AM (Central) Returns, May 07, 2026

“Urban Forests & the Digital Era – Environmental Analysis Tools for Practitioners” ​with Sean Mullen, Regreen Springfield & Corrine Basset, PhD, USDA Forest Service ​Education and awareness can help inform decision-making and resource allocation in urban forest management. Join Sean Mullen, ReGreen Springfield & Dr. Corey Basset, USDA Forest Service, as they discuss freely-available tools like ‘Tree Canopy’, ‘Tree Equity Score’, and ‘i-Tree’ that promote an essential understanding of the key benefits of urban trees.

To join this event on 5/07/26 from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (Central) and pay the $25 USD pre-registration fee, click here or visit http://tinyurl.com/SpringTreeSummit

Attendees will have the opportunity to receive 2 ISA CEUsQuestions? Email: RD@UMass.edu

​​

2026 WAA Day of Service
2026-05-09 08:00 - 16:00 | Wisconsin Lion’s Camp, 3834 County Rd A, Rosholt, Wisconsin, 54473
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Click here for sign-up genius

We are hosting the first 2026 Day of Service at the WI Lion’s Camp. The site address is 3834 County Rd A, Rosholt, WI 54473. The event is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th.

The Lion’s Camp in Rosholt, WI is a 440 acre property that includes a 45 acre private lake to provide quality camp experiences for Wisconsin youth and adults with disabilities at no charge. The Wisconsin Arborist Association had a successful work day in April of 2017 but since then there have been some severe weather events on the grounds that caused damage. The camp is in need of various forms of tree care ranging from pruning to removals. Some of the work needed is over the camp cabins and recreation center as well as removing hazards from the site. It would be beneficial to have bucket trucks and chippers. The larger wood can be used at the camp fire pit and chips can be used on the trails so debris will not need to be hauled off site.

Our work day will start at 8am. All volunteers bringing heavy equipment such as bucket trucks, chip trucks, and lifts, please bring proper cones and signage to set up a safe work area. We plan to begin work around the main cabins and buildings before moving to the golf area to remove dead ash and other trees. This scope is dependent on the final number of participants.Lunch and refreshments will be provided by the Lion’s Camp. Students from a number of urban forestry programs will be doing some work the Friday before, and some will be in attendance on Saturday. This will be a great opportunity to mentor, teach and advertise to the new generation of arborists!

Safety: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required for everyone entering the work zones, including camp staff.Please contact Tina Johnson with any questions. If you plan on attending, please use the signup genius to let us know how many people are attending and what kind of equipment you can volunteer for the day by May 5th so we can plan accordingly.

North American Tree Climbing Championship (NATCC)
2026-05-15 08:00 - 2026-05-17 17:00
The 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship (NATCC) will be a site to remember, thanks to The Davey Tree Expert Company’s new SEED Campus.The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is excited to partner with the Ohio Chapter ISA and The Davey Tree Expert Company for the upcoming NATCC on May 15 -17, 2026. The Davey Tree SEED (Science, Employee Education and Development) Campus is nearly 200 acres dedicated to specialized training and research facilities. At this state-of-the-art facility, the NATCC will highlight arborists’ climbing prowess, innovative techniques, safety practices and cutting-edge equipment.

WAA Kids' Climb
2026-05-16 10:00 - 15:00
Kiwanis Youth Outdoors Day at Kiwanis Lodge on Lake Wazeecha – 3221 80th St S, Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494
Bring your family, children and neighbors for this Kids’ Climb event!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

To make these events successful we need help.

We are looking for volunteers to help. There are many ways to get involved such as collecting waiver forms, fitting saddles and helmets on kids, belaying climbers or being an arborist in the tree. We have some new hardware and gear to use this year! We’d love to have a great showing of WAA volunteers to help support our mission.

To volunteer or questions please contact Luke Haas: lukehaas13@gmail.com

WAA Kids' Climb 2026
2026-06-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Fox Point Village Hall, 7200 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Fox Point, Wisconsin, 53217, United States
Fox Point Village Hall, 7200 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Fox Point, WI 53217

This year the Milwaukee Area Kids Climb Task force is holding 3 kids climbs:

Port Washington Veterans Park on Saturday, May 2nd. This is part of their annual park clean up event.
Fox Point Village Hall on Saturday, June 13th. This is part of the Village’s 100th anniversary celebration.
River Bend Nature Center on Sunday Oct. 4th. This is part of the annual Chainsaw Carving and Art Festival.

We are seeking volunteers to help out with these events. Each event needs the following:

Tree climbers to help kids in the trees
People on the ground belaying the kids up the trees
A couple logistical people to outfit helmets and saddles and sign waiver forms.

Please use this link to view times for each event and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B45A9A72EA7FA7-63327718-2026

We can use all the volunteers we can get. This is great way to get active in the WAA, even if you are not a tree climber.

Any questions: contact August Hoppe august@hoppetreeservice.com or 414-640-8714

SAVE THE DATE: July 14, 2026 - WAA SUMMER CONFERENCE
2026-07-14 07:30 - 16:00 | Klipstine Park,, 900 Anderson Dr, Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, 54304, United States
Location: Klipstine Park, Ashwaubenon

More information and registration will be forthcoming!

TREE Fund Webinars
2026-07-21 12:00 - 13:00
Efficacy of Aphidoletes aphidimyza predator releases to control aphid populations on linden street trees

Tuesday July 21 @ 12:00pm CST

Thomas Whitney, PhD will present their 2023 John Z. Duling Grant Program titled, “Efficacy of Aphidoletes aphidimyza predator releases to control aphid populations on linden street trees”

Registration not yet open for more information visit:

Save the Date: August 10-12, 2026 ISA Annual International Conference Detroit, Michigan
2026-08-10 08:00 - 2026-08-12 17:00
ISA 2026 Annual International Conference in Detroit, Michigan, US

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Christchurch, New Zealand for our 2025 Annual International Conference. We look forward to seeing you all on 10-12 August 2026 in Detroit, Michigan, US.

The ISA Annual International Conference offers a forum for participants to learn and network with others in the arboricultural profession. This event provides a lineup of keynote speakers and educational breakout sessions led by industry leaders from around the globe, sharing their thoughts and views about research, practice, and technology.

SAVE THE DATE: Friday, August 21st - 2026 Golf Outing
2026-08-21 07:30 - 13:30 | Broadlands Golf Club, 18 Augusta Way, North Prairie, 53153
The Broadlands Golf Club, North Prairie, WI.

More information and registration will be forthcoming!

Save the Date: 2026 WAA Tree Climbing Championship - September 18-20, 2026
2026-09-18 16:00 - 2026-09-20 17:00 | Legion Park, 1212 Charles Street, De Pere, Wisconsin, 54115
Location: Legion Park, 1212 Charles St., De Pere, WI 54115

Climbers from around WI compete to see who is the best of the best. The best man and best woman climbers will be sent to compete in the ITCC. More information to come.

SAVE THE DATE: September 30, 2026 - WAA FALL SEMINAR
2026-09-30 07:30 - 16:00 | West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, 1900 S. 18th Ave, West Bend, Wisconsin, 53095, United States
Location: West Bend Insurance Company Prairie Center, West Bend WI

More information and registration will be forthcoming!

WAA Kids' Climb 2026
2026-10-04 09:00 - 13:00 | Racine- Riverbend Nature Center, 3600 North Green Bay Road, Racine WI 53404, Racine, Wisconsin, 53404, United States
Racine – River Bend Nature Center – 3600 North Green Bay Road, Racine WI 53404

This year the Milwaukee Area Kids Climb Task force is holding 3 kids climbs.

Port Washington Veterans Park on Saturday, May 2nd. This is part of their annual park clean up event.
Fox Point Village Hall on Saturday, June 13th. This is part of the Village’s 100th anniversary celebration.
River Bend Nature Center on Sunday Oct. 4th. This is part of the annual Chainsaw Carving and Art Festival.

We are seeking volunteers to help out with these events. Each event needs the following:

Tree climbers to help kids in the trees
People on the ground belaying the kids up the trees
A couple logistical people to outfit helmets and saddles and sign waiver forms.

Please use this link to view times for each event and to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080B45A9A72EA7FA7-63327718-2026

We can use all the volunteers we can get. This is great way to get active in the WAA, even if you are not a tree climber.

Any questions: contact August Hoppe august@hoppetreeservice.com or 414-640-8714

2026 International Tree Climbing Championship
2026-10-09 08:00 - 2026-10-11 17:00
The International Tree Climbing Championship (ITCC) provides a competitive but educational opportunity for working arborists around the globe to demonstrate and exchange new climbing techniques and equipment, as well as safe work practices. The ITCC also increases the interaction between ISA chapters and Associate Organizations and members, and provides positive public exposure for the profession in that region of the world.

2027 WPRA Annual Conference & Trade Show
2027-02-02 00:00 - 2027-02-05 23:59 | Kalahari Resort & Convention Center, 1305 Kalahari Dr, Baraboo, Wisconsin, 53913, United States
Save the Date!

2027 Wisconsin Park and Recreation Association Annual Conference & Trade Show
