The Porcelain Masterclass: Challenging Landscape Design & Installation FAQ's

Aayush Goel - Porcea Stone Inc.

Understand the future of outdoor porcelain with an in-depth masterclass covering how the product is manufactured, its technical advantages and limitations, installation best practices, and FAQs. Whether you're a novice or a pro, gain invaluable insights to elevate your outdoor projects by incorporating this new landscape material into your designs to enhance outdoor spaces.

Growing Trees for the Landscape - The importance of Water, Air and Nutrients 

Ryan Munroe - NVK Nurseries

Ryan will summarize some of the trials conducted by the Plant Health Team at NVK Nurseries, focusing on water, aeration, and fertility requirements for different species and stock types grown both in the field and containers. In 2024, we will conduct a wide range of trials to determine the efficacy of various irrigation systems, the benefits of different fertilizers, and the importance of providing adequate aeration to tree root systems in containers and in the field. 

Ryan will interpret the findings and offer practical recommendations for other nursery growers, horticulturalists, urban foresters, and landscapers. The goal of the presentation is to share universal "tree-growing principles" and provide flexible tools that can help achieve these conditions in the landscape.

Beyond the Green: Growing Your Social Media Presence and Reputation - How to Use Social Media to (Actually) Grow Your Business

Diego Lopez - Compass Creative

Discover effective strategies for enhancing your online presence and leveraging social media platforms to showcase your portfolio, engage with customers, and build a reputation as a trusted landscaping authority.

The Two Profit Killers for Contractors

Weston Zimmerman - SynkedUP.com

Profit is ultimately the output of a healthy business, and there are countless ways to lose it, leading to stress and frustration. However, I have found that you can simplify the main profit drainers into two categories. This helps clarify your vision for planning profitability and ensures you avoid common pitfalls that drain your business of profits.

We’re going to deep dive into each of these two profit killers and share a game plan for how to overcome them. Ultimately, this will help you achieve the profits of a healthy business.

Exactly How am I Suppose to Build These Walls

Glenn Herold - Oaks Landscape Products

Segmental retaining walls often appear as lines on a site plan with the notation “Designed by Others.” Unfortunately, little consideration is given to constructability, surrounding conditions (such as fences, guards, and plantings), or final aesthetics. Because the final designs are not completed until just before construction, estimating these unknowns is left to the contractor.

This presentation will cover important factors to consider when tendering wall projects, including tools available to assist in creating an accurate materials estimate, which can make or break your project. We will also examine some of the most common oversights that can come back to haunt contractors when trying to build, obtain certification, and receive final payment for the wall—remember, the devil is in the details.

What You Need to Know About Spotted Lanternfly

Cassie Russell - OMAFRA

The Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive species that has spread throughout the eastern U.S. SLF feeds on over 70 known host plants, many of which are commonly found in natural and cultivated landscapes. It has the potential to become a widespread pest. While it has not yet been detected in Canada, there have been numerous interceptions of this insect in Ontario. As we prepare for its eventual arrival, this presentation will cover what horticultural professionals need to know to properly identify and report SLF, as well as share information with clients and customers.

Leadership

Peter Guinane - Knowledge Tree Consulting.

"Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence." - Sheryl Sandberg    

Better is a direction not a destination, the skill of leadership can be learned, practiced and shared your entire career. 

Fungamentals of Mushroom Identification: Ecology and Basic Fungal ID Skills

Kyle McLoughlin - Ironwood Arboriculture Solutions Inc.

Much like the fruits that trees produce, fungal fruiting bodies are helpful indicators of the species, life cycle, and ecological niche of an organism. Developing skills for identifying plants and fungi often begins with examining parts of the fruit or fruiting body. While there are over fifteen different types of fungal fruiting bodies, this workshop will focus on identification skills for fruiting bodies with the classic agaricoid (mushroom) shape.

Key Topics:

• Identification tips for two species of deadly fungi

• Insight into the sheer volume of fruits and fruiting bodies produced in the plant and fungal kingdoms

• Identification skills for three species of fungi that produce mushroom fruiting bodies

• Discussion of the taxonomic place of mushrooms in the fungi kingdom and what proper identification reveals about the rest of the mushroom

• Methods for assessing and communicating details about mushroom fruiting body anatomy

• Review of various gill attachment types

• Techniques for improving recognition skills to ensure accurate diagnosis

A case for raising the standard of fungal knowledge in the industry for everyone working with plants and nature, both indoors and outdoors.

How to Make Wood Last Longer Outdoors

Yuill McGregor - North on Sixty

This presentation explores the science behind modified and pressure-treated woods, as well as woods that naturally weather well outdoors. Yuill McGregor, a Toronto-based builder (R-2000, 1988), is one of Canada's foremost authorities on wood. Yuill’s passion for wood began at age four when his grandmother gave him a set of maple building blocks, and he’s been building ever since. His expertise—spanning from forestry to building applications—is matched only by his enthusiasm for sharing knowledge with peers and the next generation of designers and builders. His company, North on Sixty, takes on ambitious building projects of all kinds, most utilizing the unmatched aesthetic and performance characteristics that only his favorite building material can offer.

The Importance of Priortizing Health and Well Being in Order to Optimize Output as a Contractor/Business Owner

Charlie Kerrigan - V.I.L Landscaping

In the trades, business owners often neglect taking care of themselves and fail to recognize the importance of health and personal development. This leads to burnout, especially during the busy spring season. Many focus solely on hitting material goals like "I want to have five trucks" or "Everything will be better when I hit $5 million." However, these goals alone won’t solve their problems. What’s often missing is a deeper sense of purpose—understanding the "why" behind the work, beyond just achieving material success.

2025 Garden Trends

Katie Dubow - Garden Media Group

Why should you care about trends? It’s simple. Trends drive consumers and consumers drive sales. Knowing trends helps you stay relevant and make data-driven decisions to grow your business.

Join Katie Dubow, global trendspotter, president of Garden Media Group and QVC guest host, in this informative session. Katie will outline the seven 2025 Garden Trends, including the color of the year, and offer tips on how to apply each trend to your own business. 

Rural Design Crash Course: Drainage, Septic Systems and Landscaping, Oh My!

Michelle Dada - MNT Consulting Group Inc.

For rural landscaping projects, it is important to consider infrastructure on the property as part of any holistic landscape design. Drainage and environmental features are important to consider along with private onsite services such as wells and septics when considering landscaping projects in rural areas. Increasing requirements for design approvals and processes have necessitated additional design and planning in recent years. 

Michelle Dada, P.Eng., Designated Consulting Engineer, will share insights gained from nearly 20 years in development planning and engineering experience working with many types of rural designs. From basic drainage and stormwater principles to septic design considerations, Michelle will share practical tips and tricks for landscape professionals working in rural areas including shoreline properties, agricultural + equestrian sites and estate custom homes. 

Underrated Plants for the Residential Landscape

Heather Jerrard - My Landscape Artist

Join us for a vibrant presentation on "Underrated Plants for the Residential Landscape" that will transform your garden design game! Discover the hidden gems of the plant world— stunning, low-maintenance species that can elevate outdoor spaces from ordinary to extraordinary. 

We'll dive into unique textures, colors, and benefits, showcasing how some of these often-overlooked plants can thrive in gardens while attracting pollinators and enhancing biodiversity. Whether you're an experienced contractor or just starting out, you'll leave inspired and armed with fresh ideas to create a lush, dynamic landscape that stands out from the crowd. 

Don’t miss the chance to rethink one of the most important garden design choices you can make by unlocking the potential of these botanical treasures!

Nighttime Photography

John Higo - Illumicare Group Ltd.

Presenting your job in the best possible light.  Nighttime photography is tricky.  Learn about the gear required, settings, and editing tips to make your projects shine! Explore beyond cell phone photos, and grainy, dark images, to capture scenes that win awards, and future customers!

Using Technology to Grow your Landscape Business

Tom Murphy - EXT

While landscape technology software offers numerous benefits, it's important to acknowledge potential challenges. One of the scary aspects could be the overwhelming nature of transitioning to a new system. Learning curves and initial setup may feel daunting, especially for those less familiar with technology. Additionally, there could be concerns about data security and privacy breaches, particularly if sensitive client information is stored within the software. Furthermore, dependence on technology may lead to a fear of job displacement or reduced human interaction in the industry. However, with proper training, robust security measures, and a focus on augmenting human expertise rather than replacing it, these challenges can be effectively addressed, ensuring a smooth and beneficial integration of landscape technology software into your operations.

Ecological Landscaping

Karina Lapierre McIntosh - Lavish Gardens Inc.

If you are interested in ecologically-focused landscaping, this seminar is for you. Karina will discuss principles of sustainable landscaping, including the use of native plants, water conservation, ecosystem services, regenerative or dynamic landscapes, environmental stewardship and invasive plants. Also subject to discussion will be various challenges to sustainability in landscape construction.

Ecological landscape designs and builds do not preclude contemporary structural elements. It is possible to create impressive contemporary landscapes while also working toward resilience and biodiversity. Learn how to foster resilience in your constructed landscapes by working with nature, developing dynamic plant communities, restoring habitat for pollinators and other wildlife and improving quality of life for people.

Nurturing Talent: Transforming the Landscape Through Apprenticeships and Empowerment

Mark Bradley - LMN

Join us for an insightful seminar led by Mark Bradley, CEO of LMN Software, as we delve into a pressing issue facing the landscape industry: the shortage of skilled laborers. In this dynamic session, we'll explore the transformative power of apprenticeships in bridging this gap and revolutionizing the way we approach talent development. 

Mark built an Industry Top 100 Landscape Company in only 15 years. One of the major reasons for this success was the focus on developing a highly skilled and motivated workforce to solve the needs of the customers better than the competitors.

Big Ideas for Small Spaces to Meet the Needs of Today's Consumers

Jackie Morra - Planting Inspiration.com

Get ideas on how to uncover the unique needs and wants of today’s consumers looking to create an outdoor oasis in small spaces that are multi functional and low maintenance. Learn how Jackie applied various design concepts from her own backyard oasis, that has been featured in media nationally, to connect to homeowners wanting it all, in a small space.

Jackie will also tie in marketing principles on how to create partnerships that provide a “turn key” approach to project management that will make closing sales easier and ultimately increase customer satisfaction and referrals.