THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26
Updated: 01/24/2026
Schedule is subject to change.
PLENTY OF CEUs WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS & WORKSHOPS. LIST OF OPPORTUNITIES
WILL BE PUBLISHED BY MID-FEBRUARY!
Learn more about each presenter by clicking on their name.
FLOOR TALKS
8:15 am - 9:45 am
8:15 - 8:45 am
DEFEATING A DEFOLIATOR: MANAGEMENT OF THE INVASIVE ELM ZIGZAG SAWFLY
Delaney Serpan, Graduate Research and Extension Assistant, North Carolina State University
Elm zigzag sawfly [EZS; Aproceros leucopoda] is one of North America’s newer invasive pests whose range has been rapidly expanding across the eastern United States. Native to eastern Asia and invasive throughout Europe, EZS was first detected in North America in 2020 in Québec, Canada. In 2021, the pest was confirmed in the United States for the first time in Virginia. Since then, EZS has been documented in 14 additional states, including North Carolina. As larvae, EZS defoliate elm trees. Defoliation severity can range from almost undetectable to complete defoliation, but as a new invader little was previously known about its behavior, management, and impacts in North America. To address this, we conducted a pilot pesticide trial to evaluate the efficacy of two systemic insecticides that are accessible to stakeholders in much of the U.S., imidacloprid and dinotefuran. Both active ingredients significantly reduced larvae populations on infested trees compared to the control group. Treated trees also exhibited less defoliation and branch dieback when assessed visually. To better understand the behavior of the pest, we concurrently conducted a phenology study. Using the data collected, we were able to determine an active window for EZS that can be used to inform treatment timing, further increasing the effectiveness of the recommended management.
8:45 - 9:15 am
CRAPE MYRTLE BARK SCALE (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae): WHAT WE KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW, AND HOW TO MANAGE THIS NEW CRAPE MYRTLE PEST
Samantha M. Kennett, PhD Student, Graduate Research Assistant, Clemson University, Forestry and Environmental Conservation Dept.
Crape myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae; CMBS) is an invasive pest that impacts crape myrtles (Lagerstroemia spp.), one of the most popular ornamental species used in landscapes across the southern and eastern United States. Since its initial detection in Texas in 2004, CMBS has spread to at least 21 states, including the states in the ISA Southern Chapter. In their native range, CMBS can have 2-4 overlapping generations per year. While CMBS populations in the Western Gulf region of the US experience multiple generations each year, we do not have a full picture of these patterns in the Southeast. CMBS can negatively impact crape myrtles by facilitating the growth of black sooty mold fungi, which can lead to aesthetic decline including branch dieback, reduced flowering, and in extreme cases, plant mortality. We will discuss what we know about CMBS, current available management strategies, and what we need to know to improve these management tactics. Our data suggests that there are 3-4 annual generations in South Carolina which peak in May, July, and September-November. Identifying peak periods for early emergence of CMBS allow us to develop more effective, seasonally timed pest management methods.
9:15 - 9:45 am
IMPROVING ESTIMATES OF URBAN TREE CARBON USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING
Georgios Arseniou, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University; additional author: Samit Kafle, Graduate Research Assistant, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, Auburn University
Quantifying aboveground carbon (AGC) in urban trees is critical for climate adaptation planning, yet traditional allometric equations developed for natural forests often fail to capture the complex structure of open-grown urban trees. Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) offers a non-destructive approach to accurately characterize urban tree structure and carbon allocation. This study used TLS to estimate AGC in urban trees and compared these estimates with results from the i-Tree Eco model developed by the U.S. Forest Service.
Ninety trees representing Quercus falcata, Quercus lyrata, and Taxodium distichum were scanned under both leaf-on and leaf-off conditions to generate quantitative structure models and estimate aboveground biomass. Carbon content was calculated using two methods: published species-specific wood density values with a standard 50% carbon assumption, and measured wood density and carbon concentrations derived from chemical analysis of wood cores.
TLS enabled detailed assessment of carbon allocation between stems and branches, revealing that most branch carbon was concentrated in lower crown layers and first-order branches, with branch carbon positively related to branch-base diameter. Leaf-off scans improved branch detection, while applying rTwig-based corrections reduced branch-to-stem carbon ratios. TLS-based carbon estimates closely matched i-Tree Eco outputs across species, with improved agreement when measured wood properties were used. Species-specific responses to crown light exposure parameters were also observed.
Overall, this study highlights TLS as a powerful tool for refining urban tree carbon estimates and improving urban forest carbon models.
SESSION 5
10:00 - 10:45 am
SOIL SOLUTIONS: IMPROVING URBAN TREE VITALITY THROUGH TARGETED AMENDMENTS
Dr. Glynn Percival, Senior Arboricultural Research Manager, Bartlett Tree Experts
Soil amendments have long played a vital role in arboriculture, serving as tools to enhance tree health and resilience in urban landscapes. Recent innovations have expanded the range of available materials, including biochar, synthetic and inorganic compounds, organic fertilizers, mycorrhizal inoculants, seaweed extracts, molasses, humic substances, biostimulants, and protein/fish hydrolysates. These products are widely promoted for their potential to improve soil structure and fertility, stimulate root development, mitigate pest and disease pressures, and bolster tolerance to abiotic stressors such as drought and heat.
Despite their promise, the effectiveness of these amendments varies widely-ranging from significant improvements in tree performance to negligible impact. This presentation will examine the current understanding of soil amendment efficacy, with a focus on four key areas:
• Alleviating Soil-Moisture Stress: A critical concern in unirrigated urban landscapes where tree survival depends on natural precipitation.
• Enhancing Root Systems: Addressing transplant-related root loss, which contributes to water deficits and increased mortality.
• Adapting to Climate Change: Exploring amendment strategies to mitigate the effects of increasingly hot and dry summers.
• Managing Disease Pressure: Evaluating how soil amendments influence pest and pathogen dynamics.
Through a synthesis of research findings and field observations, this talk aims to provide practical insights into the strategic use of soil amendments for improving urban tree health and landscape sustainability.
10:45 - 11:30 am
THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL: THE FLASHY BUT DESTRUCTIVE SPOTTED LANTERNFLY
Dr. Kelly Oten, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Forest Health, North Carolina State University
It’s beautiful, it’s bold—and it’s bad news for our plants. The spotted lanternfly, first detected in the U.S. in 2014, may look flashy with its bright wings, but behind the showgirl exterior lies a destructive pest that threatens vineyards, orchards, landscape plants, and forests. It is spreading quickly, leaving behind plant damage, sticky messes, and big headaches for landowners. This presentation will cover the full story of the spotted lanternfly—its life cycle, the damage it causes, and, most importantly, what can be done about it.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
CULTIVATING INNOVATION: AN UPDATE FROM THE TREE RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND (TREE FUND)
Dr. Paul G. Putman, President & CEO, TREE Fund
SESSION 6
10:45 - 11:30 am
UTILITY RIGHT-OF-WAY AS HABITAT
Randall H. Miller, Director of Research and Development, Eocene Environmental Group
Utility rights-of-way have often been misunderstood as sacrifice areas because trees often can’t be allowed in them. Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Best Management Practices (BMPs) transform rights-of-way into areas of opportunity, where electrical infrastructure can be protected while providing habitat for pollinators, ground nesting birds and other early successional species. This presentation will characterize IVM BMPs, identify standards that contribute to establishing early successional habitat, explain chemically-facilitated biological control and describe some supporting research.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
CONSERVATION ARBORICULTURE AND TREE LONGEVITY
Michael Murphy, Consultant, Preservation Tree, LLC
Have you ever wondered if there really is a fountain of youth? Arborists now have the capacity to ensure that many tree species live to an indeterminate life expectancy. Conservation Arboriculture procedures, honed for centuries in Europe and the UK, present unique opportunities to forward thinking arborists giving them the ability to extend tree life indefinitely.
This presentation will open up arborist's toolboxes to pruning techniques formerly labeled as harmful and missing from most prior A300 Standards.
Not all tree species respond favorably, nor can they adapt to these processes in the long run. The genus must have what is known as a differential species response to actively be considered for long-term Conservation Arboriculture, although ALL mature trees will benefit from periodic reduction throughout their lives.
The sole act of general maintenance pruning of a tree does not in itself produce a healthier tree; but anytime a tree has reduction pruning performed, by design it increases in its structural stability.
When a majority of the outer canopy of a tree is pruned using reduction and heading cuts, then combined with a minimum of inner canopy removal cuts, trees can be made more compact and stable, resulting in longer lived and safer trees. By minimizing live wood removal cuts of inner canopy growth, the tree will always have quality growth points to reduce back to.
Arborists who attend this session will never look at water sprouts in the same way again.
SESSION 7
1:00 - 1:45 pm
AI IN URBAN FORESTRY: WHAT WORKS TODAY, WHAT DOESN’T, AND WHAT’S NEXT
Russ Warnock, Sales Manager, PlanITGeo
AI is transforming urban forestry -- but not always in the ways vendors promise. This session cuts through the hype to explain what AI can actually do today with street-level LiDAR and canopy data, where it reliably breaks down, and what’s coming in the next wave of innovation. You’ll walk away with RFP language that protects your city, sets realistic deliverables, and positions your projects for the next generation of canopy intelligence. We’ll also cover how platforms like PlanIT Geo's are embedding AI into canopy and LiDAR workflows to give cities faster, more defensible insights.
1:45 - 2:30 pm
FROM CLIPBOARD TO CLOUD: BRINGING TREE DATA TO LIFE WITH ArcGIS ONLINE
JP McDonnell, Director, Natural Resources Consulting, SavATree
As more tree owners and managers look for clear and actionable tree information, arborists are increasingly asked not only to collect data, but also to organize, communicate, and share it in ways that support tree management and decision-making. ArcGIS Online offers a practical, accessible platform for achieving this. This presentation will introduce the basic elements of ArcGIS Online, with a focus on how arborists can use this tool in practice to help their clients and improve their own operations. We will walk through the process of developing a field data collection map and survey as well as a client facing web map and web app. The second part of the session will feature case studies and use cases demonstrating how these workflows have been applied in real world examples. The goal is to equip attendees with practical steps to be able to use ArcGIS Online tools in their own work.
2:30 - 3:00 pm
REFRESHMENT BREAK
Sponsored by: Kendall Vegetation Services
3:00 - 3:45 pm
ADVANCING DROUGHT RESILIENCE WITH RESEARCH AND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
Kendra Wagner, Research Scientist, Rainbow Ecoscience
This presentation examines the science of drought and its profound effects on landscape plants, emphasizing the physiological responses to water stress and the cascading physiological and aesthetic impacts. It will highlight evidence-based management strategies designed to mitigate drought stress, focusing on proactive and practical approaches for arborists and landscape professionals. By integrating recent research findings, including collaborative studies on drought tolerance with the University of Florida, this talk bridges scientific insight with real-world application. Attendees will gain actionable knowledge to enhance plant health and build resilient landscapes in an era of increasing water scarcity.
3:45 - 4:30 pm
SPEAKING TREES TO THE LAYPERSON. BUILDING TRUST AND A LIFELONG CLIENT
Christie Bryant, Owner, Speaking for Trees
This talk is designed to equip arborists with the communication tools necessary to effectively "talk trees" with clients, transforming everyday interactions into opportunities for education, trust-building, and long-term care. Arborists often carry deep technical knowledge, but translating that into meaningful, accessible language for the average property owner is both an art and a skill. This course explores strategies to demystify arboriculture for clients—breaking down complex concepts like risk assessments into clear, engaging explanations that empower informed decision-making. We’ll examine how to reframe a risk assessment not just as a report of liabilities, but as a chance to educate clients about tree biology, structural integrity, and proactive care. Additionally, the class will clarify the vital difference between a consultation and an estimate, helping arborists define their roles as both service providers and professional advisors. Through real-world scenarios and guided discussion, attendees will leave with practical approaches to elevate client conversations—turning each site visit into an opportunity to grow both trees and trust.
SESSION 8
1:00 - 1:45 pm
A GROWING QUESTION FOR TREES: IMPLICATIONS FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
Dr. Richard Hauer, Director of Urban Forestry at Eocene Environmental Group; Professor Emeritus of Urban Forestry, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
Lets’ take a journey and explore how biology is a basis for how trees grow. Trees have limits and learn the limits that make trees thrive and how growth responds to changes. Learn how cultural treatments, site changes, and site limitations can affect growth rates. Estimating elongation rates for vertical and horizontal twigs based on site conditions, tree attributes, past maintenance, and other factors is covered. In summary, learn about tree growth and how to make management decisions based on biology and how sites and maintenance affect tree growth.
1:45 - 2:30 pm
ENGAGING TEAM MEMBERS FOR OPTIMAL RISK REDUCTION
Alaina Zieglar, Vice President of Safety and Human Performance, Lewis Tree Service
A foundational component of any safety program includes empowered leadership at every level. This session will incorporate Lewis’ “Leadership in Action Principles” and focus on the critical role that engaged leaders play in hazard reduction beyond tactical training.
2:30 - 3:00 pm
REFRESHMENT BREAK
Sponsored by: Kendall Vegetation Services
3:00 - 3:45 pm
THE PERFECT STORM - HUMAN PERFORMANCE & SAFETY DURING EMERGENCY STORM RESPONSE
James Wendt, National Training Coordinator, Xylem Kendall Infrastructure Group (XKIG)
Utility mutual assistance response during storm emergencies puts our crews and arborists in the way of the "perfect storm" of stressors, complexity, and hazard mitigation under the very worst conditions. Planning, preparation, and training can help mitigate the risks while assisting our crews to work at their safest and most efficient. Join the conversation as we share experiences, best management practices for emergency mutual assistance call outs, and lessons learned to help you prepare your crews for their next storm call.
3:45 - 4:30 pm
UTILITY WILDFIRE SAFETY
Frank Archuleta, Fire Mitigation Manager, Wright Tree Service
This talk will provide resources that help us understand when fires are most likely to occur. How to prevent work place fire, and fire behavior.