Join landscape professionals from across the country as they tour several landscape companies across Southwest Ohio. Attendees will visit eight top-notch landscape companies over two days of tours. You'll have the opportunity to see some great businesses, learn about their technologies, observe their management strategies and network with other landscape professionals. The landscape operations in the tours are:

• The Site Group
• Scarff's Nursery and Landscape
• Siebenthaler's
• Bern's Landscaping
• Tom's Mulch
• Dan Druffel, Inc.
• Natorp's Nursery Outlet & Landscape
• Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The tours are taking place on November 5-6, 2018, with the busses departing from Miamisburg, Ohio (near Dayton, Ohio). It's always great to see other operations and bring back a few ideas. If these tours sound interesting, click here to learn more about them and how you can register to reserve your spot.

As I've traveled across the Northeast and other parts of the country that received above average amounts of rainfall, I came across case after case of bacterial leaf spot. Some of them were observed on familiar candidates such as salvia (below left), but in other instances bacterial leaf spot was observed on perennials such as nepeta (below right), which usually can be grown without the occurrence of leaf spot (of any kind).

Bacterial leaf spot is typically caused by two bacteria, Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. Diseases caused by bacteria can be very difficult to control or eradicate. Treatments are most effective when they are applied preventatively or upon early detection (before the leaves are completely covered with leaf spot).

My approach is to rotate between copper-based fungicides and the disinfectant/fungicide/bactericide KleenGrow. Alternate between these products every seven days until new leaf spot stops developing and then spray the plants using this rotation every three to four weeks thereafter to prevent new spot from developing.

If you've had leaf spot on certain perennials this summer or fall and intend to overwinter them, consider applying bactericides preventatively when growth resumes in the spring. This will keep any bacterium that overwintered from attacking the fresh new growth. 

If you've been looking for a fungicide that is approved for organic production, but can also be used with conventional disease programs, I've found a product that fits the bill. I'm referring to Gowan USA's new botanical fungicide called EcoSwing.

EcoSwing is based on the extract of Swinglea glutinosa and has been shown to be effective on a number of diseases including alternaria, botrytis, powdery mildew and 11 others. EcoSwing offers a unique mode of action, 4-hour re-entry interval, 0-day pre-harvest interval and exception from tolerances. EcoSwing is labeled for use on outdoor and greenhouse food and non-food crops. That's right, ornamentals are on its label.

Here's another tool for the IPM toolbox. Click here to check it out. 

As the fall festivities such as haunted houses, hayrides and autumn festivals quickly come to a close, I hope you've been able to sell a few perennials along the way. Many perennials are well-suited for marketing opportunities in the fall. I covered this topic in an article recently published in my Paul Talks Perennials column in GrowerTalks magazine. Click here to read the article.  

In the meantime, here's a few perennials I think are worth considering as you begin thinking about next year's fall perennial programs.

Agastache Sunrise Yellow

Not only is Sunrise Yellow from Greenfuse Botanicals appealing with its fall coloration, it's a little like the Energizer Bunny—the flowers just keep going and going and going. Hardy to Zone 5.

Asiatic Lily Tiny Orange Sensation

And you thought asiatics were only suited for spring sales. On the contrary, my friend—asiatic lilies can be programmed and grown year-round. Tiny Orange Sensation from 2Plant International/Growing Colors is just one example of a great asiatic for fall programs.

Echinacea Mooodz Satisfy

Coneflowers sell themselves with their familiar flowers. Now combine that familiarity with autumn color and Mooodz Satisfy from HilverdaKooij BV will do just that—satisfy the mooodz of those who buy it. This echinacea is well-branched and has a short 12 week grow time.

Gaillardia Mesa Peach

Gaillardia are one of my favorite fall perennials. Mesa Peach from PanAmerican Seeds is definitely a good candidate for fall sales. Colorful and impactful, but yet soft and pleasant.

Heuchera Peachberry Ice

Peachberry Ice from Proven Winners is an eye-catcher with its large 4.5 to 5-in. apricot-orange leaves with attractive silver overlays. Hardy to Zone 4.

These are just a few of the possibilities. I'd be interested in hearing which perennials or perennial combinations have been successful for you. Conversely, I'd also be interested in hearing about your challenges with marketing perennials in the fall. Don't be shy, send your responses to me at ppilon@ballpublishing.com.

Here are a few more upcoming industry events I thought might be of interest to you.

Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo

If you find yourself in the beautiful Northeast, consider attending the Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo in Boxborough, Massachusetts, November 7-8, 2018. The conference is packed full of educational opportunities covering numerous topics, including perennials. Some of the notable topics include insect and disease management, lighting, nutrition, hydroponics, greenhouse vegetables, e-marketing and more.

Check here for registration and more information on this event.

Independent Plant Breeders Conference 

The 2018 Biennial Independent Plant Breeders Conference will be held in Mobile, Alabama, on November 8-10, 2018. The meeting is full of educational opportunities from industry experts and propagators, plus you'll be able to see student research posters and get to hang out with some pretty cool people. Click here for event info.

Saskatchewan Green Trades Conference

If you're looking for a legit reason to travel into Canada and the ability to expense it, consider attending the Saskatchewan Green Trades Conference in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, November 8-9, 2018. In addition to the trade show, there are over 30 hours of presentations, workshops and networking opportunities. You can submerse yourself into the marketing expertise of industry guru Judy Sharpton, learn about business management from Jim Hole or gain cultural, marketing and business insights from several industry experts. Click here to learn more about the Saskatchewan Green Trades Conference.

Green Industry Show & Conference

Here's another opportunity to cross the border. The Green Industry Show and Conference is being held in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on November 15-16, 2018. This event is packed full of workshops and educational opportunities with several industry experts including Dr. Will Healy, Dr. Bridget Behe, Susan Martin and more on the docket. Click here to learn more about this conference designed especially for landscape, turf, tree nursery, greenhouse and garden center professionals.

GrowerTalks hosted its 10th FREE webinar of 2018 last week. I hope you were able to attend the live "New Research, New Innovation in Botrytis Management" webinar. However, if you weren't able to, I have some good news for you. The webinar was recorded and you can still view and hear all of the great content that Dr. Janna Beckerman and Dr. Aaron Palmateer presented. In fact, recordings of all of the webinars are available for viewing.

Below is a list of the 2018 GrowerTalks webinars; simply click HERE for full webinar descriptions and to view the recorded events.

New Research, New Innovation in Botrytis Management

Greenhouse vs. Indoor Cannabis Production

Measuring Light in a Greenhouse: Why, What, When and How

The Role of Substrates in Hydroponic Production

Current Recommendations for Weed Management in Container Nursery Production

Adding HydraFiber to Your Growing Mix

LED Lighting for Sole-source Propagation

Don't Balk at Plant Diseases - Strike Them Out!

Managing Ethylene Risk in the Supply Chain

Perennial Plants for Every Season - the Right Material at the Right Time

As you can see, there were some really great informative webinars in 2018. Be sure to check them all out. In fact, click HERE to see all the GrowerTalks webinars dating as far back as 2013. Have fun and I'm sure you'll learn a few things along the way.