This week’s issue of Nursery & Landscape Insider is heavy with activities. Actually, everything I’m going to share with you this week is an opportunity to learn, network and build your business. No standard news—isn’t it exciting?! 

 

First up is a promotion for next week’s International Plant Production Society annual Southern Region meeting (if you haven’t heard, IPPS changed from Plant Propagation to Plant Production to be more inclusive). This year’s event is being held right down the road from me in Orlando, Florida. As always, one of the greatest places to interact with growers and researchers, IPPS meetings are always a blast. 

 

This meeting officially kicks off this Sunday, October 19 at 5:00 p.m. with the 50th Anniversary Celebration! Yes, you read that right—50 years. What a monumental anniversary that we get to experience. So many years of seeking and sharing knowledge. As a student, this was one of the meetings where I always learned so much about all aspects of plant production. Who am I kidding—I'm STILL learning from every meeting. I can only imagine all the knowledge that's been shared over the past 50 years, and how many nurseries were made successful just from attending this meeting and networking with all the experts. 

 

From industry lectures to grower tours, this is the meeting the scientists come to learn from the growers and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Education sessions are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday, with industry tours on Monday and Wednesday. As always the schedule is jam-packed with fun. There's also an auction, which is one of the best places to find a unique plant or the next big thing. Plus, you can always scout out the students and find your next young grower in the crowd. 

 

 

If you haven’t yet, you can register HERE or check out the schedule. I truly hope you get a chance to join. However, if you aren't able to make it, don’t worry—I’ll be sure to write a follow-up newsletter with all the insights and information I learned. Here’s to another 50 years of Southern Region IPPS!

Back by popular demand, the Great Southern Tree Conference is being held this November in Gainesville, Florida. If you're interested in tree management—particularly once in the landscape—you won’t want to miss this two-day event. With education geared towards all segments of the nursery and landscape industry, this event is the place to be for folks working with trees.

 

Plus, the education isn't just in a classroom; you'll receive hands-on learning from tree experts in the field. University scientists are teaming with growers and landscape contractors to share experiences, knowledge and insights. Attending this conference, you'll experience the research as it happens. 

 

 

The program is held November 19 and 20. Attendees from Florida can earn up to 13 Continuing Education Credits that count to licensure for Landscape Architects, ISA (arboriculture), Pesticide Applicators Licenses and Landscape Inspectors Association of Florida (LIAF). You can register HERE. 

Do you find yourself tired of the constant battle with weed management? I know I do and I'm only working with a small research plot and home lawn. I can only imagine the constant fight that commercial landscape crews and growers deal with on a daily basis. Luckily, there are some very convenient resources available to help. 

 

The University of Florida Greenhouse Training Online courses offer support in several areas to help ensure that you and your team have all the resources, tools and knowledge available to handle just about anything the job throws at you (well, maybe not everything). One thing that we can tackle is weed management. Starting November 3, Dr. Chirs Marble of the University of Florida will lead a four-week course focused on supporting horticultural professionals with all the latest weed management strategies. 

 

You can register for this course HERE and while you’re there be sure to browse all the other topics. I hear there's a pretty exciting substrate science program going on right now. All the courses are available in both English and Spanish, so your whole team can participate.

 

This course has been rated 4.4 out of 5.0 by grower participants in the past with an outstanding 89% graduation rate! Past attendees describe this course as “very methodical and easy to learn.” It’s not just for chemical applications, but a holistic approach to weed management, with identification strategies, and both chemical and non-chemical methods for effective control that apply no matter where you're located.

 

The course costs $285 and contributes to the Plant Health Professional Certificate. Courses can be completed on your own time and typically require about five hours commitment each week. If you register five or more staff, you can get a 20% discount. You can email the team for more information.

With over 11,000 horticultural professionals in attendance, this is widely regarded as one of the most influential events in the industry. In 2025, over 82% of attendees identified as decision-makers or key influencers. That is a seriously high number and reinforces MANTS’ role as the premier green industry marketplace.

 

“MANTS isn’t just a trade show—it’s where serious business gets done,” said Vanessa Finney, Executive VP of MANTS. “Attendees return year after year because they find the right products, meet the right people and make the right deals to grow their business.”

 

Early bird registration is open now through December 5. With this deal you can get in for only $20 a person. There isn’t much you can do with just $20 these days and for a chance to build your business connections this seems like you're stealing! The 2026 show runs from January 7-9, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. Plus, early registration can also get you early access to the special hotel rates, which can fill up if you wait.