GREEN GTBOP Webinar Series - Thursday, May 14, 2026

Welcome to the 2026 Getting the Best of Pests - Green Webinar Series

Announcements will begin at 2:45 p.m.

Less Stress, Less Mess: The Hidden Link between Plant Stress and Disease - Dr. Jeremy Pickens, Auburn University

• Plant diseases often get the blame, but stress is usually the real culprit. This webinar explores how reducing environmental and cultural stress can dramatically improve plant resilience and lower disease pressure. We'll look inside the plant's immune system and examine how everyday management decisions - like irrigation, root zone, temperature, shade, and nutrition - can strenthen or weaken natural defenses. Topics will include the effects of heat, hypoxia, and fertilizer imbalances, and how to recognize when "disease" is actually stress in disguise.

Tackling Nematode Concerns in Turfgrass Landscapes - Dr. Joseph Roberts, Clemson University

• Nematodes continue to be of concern for turfgrass managers in southern and transition climates. While some may consider these pests to be more of an issue on golf courses and in some cases commercial athletic fields, they can also be a major issue in home lawns. This presentation will offer ways to recognize, test, and treat for nematodes attacking turfgrasses in the landscape. Attendees will see examples of nematode damage on common landscape turf and both cultural and chemical controls will be discussed.

CEUs for this Webinar:

• GA - 2 hours Cats 21, 23, 24, 27, 31, 32 and 1 hour in Private

NO CREDIT will be issued for those who do not meet the State's mandatory viewing time limitations.

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NOTE: Event registration is required for each location or CONNECTION that will be viewing the webinar. For further information on multi-location or multi-connection, please contact our office at 770-228-7214.

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The DAY OF the webinar:

• Log into the webinar using the unique link that appears in the zoom.us confirmation email or the Join or View Webinar button.
• Whether watching alone or with a group, each location must complete and return a sign-in sheet(s) to receive CEU credits. Complete the required sign-in sheet and return it via email to immediately following the webinar.
• Please make sure that when signing in to view the webinar, enter your first and last name.
• If you must use your phone for audio, make sure your sign-in sheet reflects the phone number that was used.
• Keep a copy of the sign-in sheet(s) for your records.

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January 15 - Tree health and proper pruning - Dr. Ryan Klein, University of Florida; and, Non-native and native pests targeting non-native and native trees: three stories- Dr. Ignazio Graziosi, University of Georgia

March 12 - Autonomous mowers in the landscape - Dr. Paul Bartley, Auburn University; and, W**d management in greenhouses and nurseries - Dr. Chris Marble, University of Florida

May 14 - Less Stress, Less Mess: the Hidden Link between Plant Stress and Disease - Dr. Jeremy Pickens, Auburn University; and, Tackling Nematode Concerns in Turfgrass Landscapes - Dr. Joseph Roberts, Clemson University

July 16 - Understanding seasonal biology and host preference of Spotted Lanternfly in Tennessee - Dr. Midhula Gireesh, University of Tennessee; and, Management of diseases in southeastern landscapes - Dr. Bikash Ghimire, University of Georgia

September 17 - How excluding ants from tree canopies can aid soft-scale insect management - Dr. Caleb Wilson, University of Kentucky; and, Dr. Jim Kerns, University of Delaware

November 12 - Industry update: Turfgrass 2026 - Dr. Ben Pritchard, University of Georgia and Dr. Alfredo Martinez, University of Georgia; and, Industry update: Ornamentals 2026 - Dr. Shimast V. Joseph, University of Georgia and Dr. Bikash Ghimire, University of Georgia

University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact the Center for Urban Agriculture at 770.228.7214 or [email protected], at least three weeks prior to the program date.

Photo by Mel on Unsplash

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