The Landscape Alberta Nursery Producers have noted that the 2016 growing season has been incredibly favourable for the growth of trees. Trees dug and basketed this spring are continuing to show excellent progress with reports of specimens increasing up to two sizes already. With continued good weather, many varieties will see well beyond normal growth this season.

Contractors, municipalities, and developers should be aware that this may lead to the following issues later in 2016 and even through the 2017 season.

Trees that are experiencing vigorous growth is a good thing for Alberta consumers. If having healthy and happy trees is the goal; mission accomplished.

Please consider this information when sourcing or inspecting plant material in the coming months.  Consider the size of the tree at time of sourcing or purchase, as well as the overall health of the specimen. 

Landscape Alberta hosted a very successful Landscape Industry Certified test event on August 12 & 13, 2016 at the Olds College Landscape Pavilion. Fifteen candidates challenged the exam this year and we congratulate all participants for their hard work.

 

This event marks our twentieth year of providing certification exam opportunities to industry personnel on the prairies. Landscape Alberta staff members send a hearty thanks to each volunteer who gave their time and expertise to the tasks at hand: planning, calling, judging, timekeeping, emailing, digging, driving, arm-twisting and so much more. We extend a special thank you to our facility host, Olds College, and the support of Karmen Dilisio in the Landscape Pavilion. This event would not be possible without the support of many industry suppliers who provide material, equipment and staff for this annual event.

The Green Industry Show and Conference is back in Edmonton for 2016! Our amazing team of staff and volunteers have put together a conference programme aimed to inform and inspire everyone from designers to arborists, owners to students, growers to contractors. Our conference sessions are timely and responsive to industry issue - with an updated format for 2016 that focuses on variety with 32 one-hour sessions over the two days.

 

New this year are two full-day pre-conference workshops designed to fill the need of more in-depth technical level professional development. This year we have two sessions: one for Greenhouse growers, and the other for Landscape Designers.

 

Conference session highlights include pest diagnosis sessions with Dr. Ken Fry, landscape design process sessions with Gord Koch and Patrick DuChene. Mario Lanthier is speaking on tree pests and root management in nursery production, Paul Zammit with two sessions on edible gardens and winter container arrangements, as well as many more informative and engaging sessions on growing your business, managing work-life balance, improving performance and the latest and greatest in horticultural and business technologies. Everyone will find something to stoke their fire and those looking for continuing education credits will also find sessions to fulfill those needs.

 

Landscape Alberta members receive preferred pricing on trade show and conference registration. In addition to the educational opportunities, all conference attendees have access to the Green Industry Show. With over 250 booths, it is the largest green industry show in Western Canada and is an annual must-see event. For more information on the Green Industry Show & Conference and to view the full conference program, please visit www.greenindustryshow.com.

 

Registration opens in September!

CleanFARMS will be running obsolete pesticide & livestock medication collections in October of 2016 in Northern Alberta (Red Deer to AB Peace). The program is free and ag-retail collection locations/dates will be released in early summer. The program is delivered by CleanFARMS and its members in each province/region of the country every three years. Visit www.cleanfarms.ca for more information.