Exhibitor Load In -Exhibit Halls Closed

The exhibit hall floor is closed during exhibitor load-in. This is for the safety of our exhibitors, and load in crew. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation!

CAT 24 Pesticide Certification Review

Join Tim Daly and other ANR Extension Agents to prepare for your Commercial Pesticide Applicator's License (Category 24) test. The class is targeted at turf and landscape professionals that that do contract spraying of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides in Georgia for residential, industrial, or business applications. This session is also open to licensed applicators who would like a refresher course. Participants are required to purchase and bring both the National Pesticide Applicator Certification Core Manual and the Ornamental & Turf Pest Management (Cat. 24) Study Guide.

Advanced Disease 1: Fundamentals of disease management: A review of the basics

This session will cover a review of the fundamentals of disease management from cultural, chemical, and biological perspective to help reduce the more common diseases affecting nursery production and landscape maintenance.

Key Principles and Practices for the Green Industry Professional pt 1

Are you interested in a comprehensive series covering plant identification, plant installation and establishment, irrigation components and watering principles for disease management, pesticide and equipment safety, and reading and interpreting a landscape and grading plan?  This series of five sessions will highlight key principles and practices for the green industry practitioner, registration is open to all industry professionals, the material covered will be helpful to candidates preparing for the Georgia Certified Landscape and Plant Professional Certification Exams. Spend a few hours with an outstanding line up of UGA Extension faculty and industry experts covering a dynamic range of topics.

Advanced Disease 2: New and worrying in diseases affecting ornamental plants and trees.

This session will cover newer and often overlooked diseases affecting ornamental plants that can cause severe production losses. Learn some of the tricks and tips to help identify the pathogens, and also how best to reduce disease spread.

Key Principles and Practices for the Green Industry Professional Pt 2

Are you interested in a comprehensive series covering plant identification, plant installation and establishment, irrigation components and watering principles for disease management, pesticide and equipment safety, and reading and interpreting a landscape and grading plan?  This series of five sessions will highlight key principles and practices for the green industry practitioner, registration is open to all industry professionals, the material covered will be helpful to candidates preparing for the Georgia Certified Landscape and Plant Professional Certification Exams. Spend a few hours with an outstanding line up of UGA Extension faculty and industry experts covering a dynamic range of topics.

Thrips parvispinus: Managing the Threat Panel

Thrips parvispinus is an emerging pest in the Southeast United States and Georgia and has the potential to create significant damage to ornamental horticultural crops with tremendous losses for growers. This panel invites experts from both universities and industry to have a discussion on Thrips parvispinus. We will talk about Thrips parvispinus' basic biology, potential damage it might cause, current efforts on understanding it and future directions in managing this pest.

Cut Flowers: Grow, Market, and Design

This day-long training session boasts four top-notch instructors focused on helping you grow your cut flower business. This training will cover flower selection, disease management, marketing and economics of cut flower production, and a hands-on workshop teaching floral design. There is plenty of time built into the agenda to meet new vendors and network on the trade show floor. This is a must-attend for cut flower farms that are hoping to grow their business!


Cut Flowers: Grow, Market, and Design Agenda

8:30 - 9:30: Jessica Cudnik - Behind the Scenes of the Cut Sunflower Industry

9:45 - 10:45: Dr. Jean Williams-Woodward - Disease in Cut Flower Production

10:45 - 2:00: Trade Show Exhibit Hall and Lunch (on your own - there is a food court on site)

2:00 - 3:00: Dr. Julie Campbell - Economics & Marketing Cut Flowers

3:15 - 4:45: Randy Wooten, AIFD PFCI - "Designing for Success!"- Floral Design Workshop

Searching for the Super Tree

It is now recognized that trees and shrubs planted within towns and cities face a multitude of environmental stresses detrimental to their health. Drought and heat waves have become more predominant over the past few years with record heat temperatures recorded world-wide annually. Consequently, inappropriate species selection can be short-lived planting schemes as 100'000's of plants degenerate and die as they fall victim to one stress, or another. This talk will discuss the processes by which trees are selected for urban plantings and if the right choices being made? If not, what alternative options are available to enable more appropriate species/site selection. These questions will become of greater importance as future resource allocations to urban tree management are likely to decline, increasing pressure to deliver superior services at less costs. Results from ongoing research trials by the author will show how many tree species exist that possess superior drought and heat tolerance which are under utilized in urban planting schemes. In addition, this talk will address important physiological characteristics within a tree that confer robustness to heat and drought stress and so offer a means to identify tree species with inherent heat and drought tolerance. Finally, the importance of provenance selection will be highlighted as a means of offering an abundance of largely untapped genetic resource to select for stress tolerance.

Box Tree Moth as the New Invader for the US Nursery Industry

This presentation will summary two years of field research conducted in Western NY, where the first populations of box tree moth (BTM) were first detected in the US feeding on boxwood. Information on BTM general biology, phenology, beneficials and an areawide management approach will be presented.

Managing Urban Habitats for Pollinators

Supporting your local pollinator community begins with understanding who they are, what they do, where they live, when they are active, why they are at risk, and how we can help them. We will discuss helpful tricks for spotting different groups of pollinators commonly found in urban gardens. Walking through the complex interactions between pollinators and flowers will help you understand how pollinators perceive their surroundings, which will inform how to best manage habitats intended to support pollinators. Lastly, you will feel energized and enabled to become pollinator promoters in your own communities as you learn why pollinators are at risk and how we can take action to mitigate these potential harms.

Southeast Green Trade Show

You won't want to miss the Southeast Green Trade Show! Take the opportunity to connect with suppliers and network with industry. Guaranteed to help you grow your business!

Updates on Existing and Emerging Insect Pests in Nurseries and Landscapes

Join Dr. Joseph as he discusses biological and management updates on the redheaded flea beetle and ambrosia beetles affecting the nurseries. Many invasive insect pests pose a serious threat to Georgia nursery production. He will also discuss the biology, dispersal, and management of invasive insects, such as boxwood tree moth, spotted lanternfly, and Thrips parvispinus.

Blooming Profits: Exploring the Economics of Floriculture

Join us for a talk about the economics of the floral industry in Georgia. We will explore how local businesses thrive, innovations in the industry, and more. From supply and demand to seasonal trends, we'll uncover the economic factors shaping this blooming industry. Don't miss out on this informative discussion about the business side of Georgia's flourishing floral landscape!

Trade Show Walkabout with Dr. Michael Dirr

Tour the trade show floor with one of Georgia’s green industry legends, Dr. Michael Dirr. Get his take on hot new plants and trends and learn from his longstanding relationships with some of his favorite growers. Meet at the GGIA booth just inside the trade show entrance.

Trade Show Walkabout with Dr. Allan Armitage

Tour the trade show floor with one of Georgia’s green industry legends, Allan Armitage. Get his take on hot new plants and trends and learn from his long-standing relationships with some of the favorite growers. It’s a crash course in spotting the best of the best from the Southeast Green exhibitors. Meet at the GGIA booth just inside the trade show entrance.

Biology and Management of Crape Myrtle Bark Scale

Crape myrtle bark scale is an introduced pest to the southeastern US that continues to spread into new states and counties. Where it spreads, there is an increase in insecticide use and costs associated with maintaining and producing crape myrtles. This presentation will cover the biology of crape myrtle bark scale and the current management strategies. We will also consider recent research on the application of biological control to this invasive pest.

Landscape / Nursery Weed Control Update

Weeds covering you up? There are several methods to prevent and control weeds in landscape and nursery. These weed control methods can provide excellent weed control if performed correctly. In order to get the best weed control results, it is extremely important that you have a firm understanding of the weeds you are trying to control and the tools to control them. This presentation will cover the latest updates on weed control in the nursery and landscape.

Sustainable Native & Nativar Garden Design

This presentation focuses on considerations for landscape selection and landscape maintenance using native plants. Much of this presentation will highlight experiences with plant availability and sourcing, 'nativar' versus native species and ecological considerations. In addition, opportunities for native plant breeding and use will also be presented.

Vascular Streak Disease Update

Vascular streak dieback (VSD) is an emerging threat to the woody ornamental industry. This session addresses the research updates regarding identification of the causal agent/s of the VSD, fungicide efficacy trials and redbud cultivar screening. Finally, best management practices for VSD will be discussed.

Expanding the Toolbox: Applied Research for Improving IPM in Specialty Crops

This presentation will address the concept of IPM, and include examples of different control tactics, such as conservational and augmentative biological control using drones. Other control tactics will be discussed, using several pests as case studies. Information on remote pest monitoring, mating disruption and chemical control will be also presented.

The Social After-Hours & Cornhole Tournament

You're Invited! Bring your name badge for a cool beverage on us.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Social begins at 5:00 pm.
StillFire Brewery
343 US-23, Suwanee, GA 30024

Cornhole Tournament Sponsored by Specialty Tag and Label

GGIA Annual Meeting of the Membership

Join Chairman Matt Whiddon and the GGIA Board of Directors for updates on the work of the association as well as updates from our key strategic partners.

Meet New Woodies for Low Maintenance Landscapes

With the emerging challenge of climate change, there is a growing demand for new wood ornamental plants suitable for low-maintenance landscapes. Donglin (Arnold) Zhang will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest woody plants with enhanced adaptability in the market, sharing their unique characteristics. You are cordially invited to participate in a hands-on experience to learn the art of identifying woody landscape plants. By working together, we can collaboratively select and cultivate new woody ornamental plants that thrive in our ever-changing landscapes.

Biological Control of Plant Diseases and Biopesticides

This presentation will provide growers with research-based recommendations for the incorporation of biological products into sustainable production practices that will insure the production of high quality crops with a greater and more consistent return on grower investment.

Water Management - It’s not Just about Quantity, Quality Matters

This presentation will cover some key factors influencing the outbreak of pests on ornamental plants. We will also lay the basic ecological groundwork to understand principles of how plants and insects interact on ornamental plants. The overall goal of this presentation is to provide insights on how to apply IPM and reduce our dependence on insecticides.

Past Chairman's Meeting

Past Chairmen of the Georgia Green Industry Association are invited to meet with the current Executive Committee of GGIA to discuss the organization.

Southeast Green Trade Show

You won't want to miss the Southeast Green Trade Show! Take the opportunity to connect with suppliers and networking with industry. Guaranteed to help you grow your business!

GGIA Industry Awards and Scholarships Ceremony

Join us for a special gathering as we honor the outstanding achievements of our industry’s finest with the GGIA 2024 Industry Awards and celebrate the bright futures of our scholarship recipients. This event marks a momentous occasion where excellence is recognized and potential is nurtured, reflecting our commitment to the growth and prosperity of Georgia’s Green Industry.

Hurdles to IPM for Ornamental Plants

This presentation will cover some key factors influencing the outbreak of pests on ornamental plants. We will also lay the basic ecological groundwork to understand principles of how plants and insects interact on ornamental plants. The overall goal of this presentation is to provide insights on how to apply IPM and reduce our dependence on insecticides.

Georgia Water Wise Council Meeting

This is a meeting of The Georgia Water Wise Council. The Georgia Water Wise Council (GWWC) promotes water conservation and efficiency practices, standards, and policies to benefit Georgia residents. GWWC brings together water utilities, the Georgia Green Industry Association, and non-governmental organizations to meet our shared water demands through all weather patterns.

New Plants on the Trade Show Floor

Dr. Ruter will lead a tour on the tradeshow floor to visit with companies that have developed new and exciting plants for the nursery and landscape industries. The tour will conclude with a discussion of the latest and greatest plants being developed by breeders at the University of Georgia.

Heat Safety Training for OSHA Compliance

Join us for this critical training session focused on mitigating heat stress in the workplace. This educational opportunity is FREE to all attendees interested in strengthening their knowledge of heat-related risks and preventive measures.

This session will provide a comprehensive understanding of heat stress, its contributing factors, and its potential impact on employee health and safety. Participants will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related disorders, with a particular emphasis on heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and gain insights into effective treatment methods.

The training will also explore practical strategies for preventing heat stress in the workplace, including hydration protocols, acclimatization procedures, rest schedules, shade provision, and the use of appropriate personal protective equipment.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to learn about resources offered by the Georgia Tech Enterprise Innovation Institute for comprehensive heat safety training for their teams.

Landscape Practices and Structural Pests

Many arthropod pests of suburban homes originate in the environment immediately surrounding the structure. These pests require what all organisms require - water to survive, food to eat, and harborages to live. Some landscape practices around homes promotes pest populations. In this presentation I will discuss the biology and identification of the primary nuisance pests in the Southeastern U.S., and discuss landscape practices that are most likely to promote their survival and reproductions.

Angry Dogs and Irate Customers

The presentation will use case studies that examine biotic and abiotic factors that affect turfgrass. The first step to problem solving is distinguishing between pest and pesticide related issues, environmental factors, and microclimate influences. The biology and science behind real-world examples will be dissected and explained, making the participant a better problem solver.

Recent Research on Integrated Turfgrass Disease Management.

Latest research on diagnosis and management of main foliar, crown and root turfgrass diseases will be discussed. Environmental and cultural factors that promote each disease as well as the implementation of sound sustainable IPM strategies for disease management will be examined. Emerging diseases, new fungicides and latest research in turfgrass disease control will be emphasized.