Professional Courses

Download information on professional credits for DE, PA, NJ, MD and DC (in pdf format).

Pest Identification Walk

with Mike Leventry

DATE:  Thursday, June 19. 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Acer Room & Outdoors
CODE:  081PFPIM 
OR  
DATE:  Thursday, Sept 11. 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Catalpa Room & Outdoors
CODE:  082PFPIM

Dealing with insect and mite pests is an essential part of managing any garden or landscape. Both professionals and homeowners should learn to identify damage to their plants and differentiate between beneficial and harmful arthropods. In a lecture and guided walk through Longwood's outdoor landscape, Mike Leventry will cover the components and theories that make up a complete integrated pest management program. Mike will detail pest life cycles and corresponding control strategies, focusing on the “hot bugs” in our area. You'll have the opportunity to ask questions about beneficial insects, pests, and how to scout for damage. Discussion will also include pesticide safety and selection, stressing a least-toxic, yet most-effective approach.
Bring a good quality l0x lens if you have one. Dress for the outdoors.

Plant Disease Identification Walk

with Bob Mulrooney

DATE:  Thursday, June 19. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Acer Room & Outdoors
CODE:  081PFPDA 
OR  
DATE:  Thursday, Sept 11. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Catalpa Room & Outdoors
CODE:  082PFPDA

Learning to recognize the symptoms of plant diseases and the conditions that cause them will enable you to monitor landscapes effectively and apply controls when necessary.
Identification is the key to control or deciding if a control is warranted. In a combination classroom session and walk through the Gardens, you will see first hand common diseases of ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers, and learn the characteristic signs and symptoms of plant diseases most common to our area. Control measures including proper horticultural practices, sanitation, resistant cultivars, and fungicides will also be addressed.
A 10x hand lens is suggested but not required for use in diagnosing plant diseases. Dress for the outdoors.

Greenhouse and Interiorscape Pests

with Dr. Casey Sclar

DATE:  Wednesday, Sept 10. 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Acer Room
CODE:  082PFGIA

Pest control on plants grown in your home, greenhouse, or interiorscape is a challenge! Pest management expert Dr. Casey Sclar combines a lecture/discussion with a walk through Longwood's greenhouses and conservatories to observe indoor plant pests. He will show first-hand how pest problems are managed in these environments. His discussion will focus on the accurate identification and life-cycles of typical indoor plant pests and the corresponding natural, biological, and "least-toxic" chemical controls.
A good-quality 10x hand lens for diagnosing insect problems is recommended, but not required.

Weed Identification Walk

with Nancy Bosold

 DATE:  Friday, Sept. 19. 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Catalpa Room
CODE:  082PFWIM

Weeds are an inevitable and unwelcome addition to any landscape, but why are they so successful, and how can you outsmart them? The basis to successful weed management is proper identification. This hands-on session will help you learn how to identify and manage some broadleaf and grassy weeds common to landscape, turf, and roadside sites. Classroom instruction will focus on life cycles, key characteristics, and plant structures that are useful in identification. Learn the language needed to get through an identification key. Test your new knowledge by examining live samples of over 20 weed species. Discussion will include management strategies to keep weeds in check.
Dress for the outdoors.

Turf for the Professional

with Nancy Bosold

DATE:  Wednesday, Sept 19. 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
FEE:  $70 passholder; $79 non-passholder
WHERE:  Catalpa Room
CODE:  082PFTPA

One of the keys to successful turf culture is growing species that are well suited to the site conditions. Another is being skilled at properly diagnosing problems when they arise. Many pest and cultural problems can be diagnosed once you pinpoint the turf species affected. This workshop will teach you how to identify cool-season turf grasses and understand site requirements and cultural conditions for lawn grasses. The classroom session will focus on proper site selection, maintenance requirements, and pest problems of individual turf species. A hands-on workshop will teach you how to identify cool season turf species, and includes a tour of turf used on Longwood’s grounds.
Dress for the outdoors.

Commercial Landscape Technician (CLT) Review

DATE:  Friday, Aug 8. 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM 
FEE:  $99 lunch provided 
WHERE:  Acer Room 
CODE:  082PFCLD

Longwood Gardens is now working in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Landscape and Nursery Association to offer a review of plant material for landscape professionals interested in completing the examination necessary for qualification as a Commercial Landscape Technician (CLT). The CLT certification is for those individuals who need the skills associated with landscape installation, landscape maintenance or irrigation with a fundamental knowledge of plant identification. Completing Longwood’s plant identification review session will not only prepare you for Problem 1.05 Plant Identification portion of the CLT exam, it will also give you knowledge you can immediately use in your landscape business career. And, there is no better plant environment in which to learn than Longwood’s Conservatory and Gardens. The review session includes a three-hour morning plant walk, a break for lunch followed by a practice plant identification exam. The group will review the exams together with plenty of time for questions.
This review is timed to prepare you for the PLNA exam being offered at Penn State Berks County on August 15-16, 2008. Contact PLNA offices at 1.800.898.3411 or visit www.PLNA.com to register for the exam.