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Chattanooga Landscape Short Course

The 2026 CHA Landscape Short Course sponsored by Hunter Industries & FX Luminaire

UT Extension – Hamilton County & the UGA Center for Urban Agriculture are partnering again for the 2026 Chattanooga Landscape Short Course sponsored by Hunter Industries & FX Luminaire. Taking place January 15-16, this event offers green industry professionals the opportunity to learn the latest research-based information from various experts across the state to advance their management practices.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

The 2026 CHA Landscape Short Course will be held at:

Chattanooga State Community College

Building: Gerald McCormick Center (MCC) | Room 107-109

4501 Amnicola Highway

Chattanooga, TN 37406

Please see the Google Maps to the right of this page for building directions.

Professional Credentials:

  • Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) Pesticide Recertification Applicator Points will be offered for TDA Commercial Applicators.
  • Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) Pesticide Recertification Credit Hours will be offered for GDA Applicators.
  • International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be offered for ISA Certified Arborists.
  • Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) Professional Development Hours (PDHs) will be offered for licensed landscape architects.

Program Schedule:

For each day, registration will begin at 8:30 am and adjourn around 4:00 pm.

Agenda
Thursday, January 15

English Session Spanish Session
8:30 am Check-in & Light BreakfastCheck-in & Light Breakfast
8:55 amWelcomeWelcome
9:00 amTurfgrass Weed Control Update
Dr. Jim Brosnan
UT Extension, Turfgrass Weeds Specialist		Efficient Irrigation Strategies for Landscape Plants and Turf
Rolando Orellana
UGA Extension, Urban Water Agent
10:00 amGetting to Know Your Landscape: Ornamental Plant ID Basics
Dr. Laura Ney
UGA Extension, Athens-Clarke County		Applying Pesticides Correctly: Safety and Success
Sergio Sosa
UGA Extension, Clayton County
11:00 amBreakBreak
11:15 amEfficient Irrigation Strategies for Landscape Plants and Turf
Rolando Orellana
UGA Extension, Urban Water Agent		Getting to Know Your Landscape: Ornamental Plant ID Basics
Dr. Laura Ney
UGA Extension, Athens-Clarke County
12:15 pmLunchLunch
1:30 pmBanks with Benefits: Managing Streamside Landscapes for Beauty and Biodiversity
Dr. Andrea Ludwig
UT Extension, Biosystems Specialist		Diseases in Turf: Recognition, Causes, and Management
Dr. Alfredo Martinez
UGA Extension – Plant Pathology Specialist
2:30 pmBuilding Resilient Landscapes Through Naturalistic Planting Design
Mike Ross
University of Tennessee – Professor		IPM: Smarter Pest Control for Sustainable Landscapes
Team: Sergio, Alfredo, Laura and Rolando
UGA Extension
3:30 pmWrap Up + SignaturesWrap Up + Signatures
4:00 pmAdjournAdjourn

Agenda
Friday, January 16th

English Sessions Only
8:30 amCheck-in & Light Breakfast
8:55 amWelcome
9:00 amEmerging Pests and Plant Diseases
Hannah Nelms & Scott Goldman
TN Dept of Agriculture, Plant Inspectors
10:00 amBeyond the Label: Turfgrass Weed Ecology and Management Strategies
Dr. Ben Pritchard
UGA Extension, Turfgrass Weeds Specialist
11:00 amBreak
11:15 amPlant Studs, Not Duds: From Bland to Grand in the Volunteer State
Justin Stefanski
UT Extension, Rutherford County
12:15 pmLunch
1:30 pmRethinking Urban Spaces: Sustainable Landscaping for Resilient Communities
Dr. Heather Kirk-Ballard
UGA Extension, Sustainable Urban Landscapes Specialist
2:30 pmTurfgrass Management Through the Seasons
Dr. Becky Bowling
UT Extension, Turfgrass Specialist
3:30 pmWrap Up + Signatures
4:00 pmAdjourn

Payment Information for 2026

Pay online with the button below – be sure to select whichever option suits your needs:

Early bird pricing will be available until January 8th. After January 8th, no refunds will be provided & registration costs will increase so make sure to register ASAP!

In addition to our typical program, we are excited to offer a one-day Spanish Track option for professionals seeking to learn green industry information in the Spanish language! This one-day option will take place on January 15th and is offered at a discounted price to celebrate this new addition to our program. Spots are limited so be sure to register asap!

Program DateLanguageEarly Bird Registration
*Before Jan 8*		Late Registration
*After Jan 8*
Thursday, January 15thEnglish Sessions$80$100
Thursday, January 15thSpanish Sessions$60$80
Friday, January 16th English Only$80$100
Both Days (Jan 15 & 16)Either Combination$150$190
Register Here

Professional Credentials:

Currently, all of the below Points/CEUs/PDHs, etc. are up to date for 2026. This page is relevant to those seeking some form of professional development credential such as TN & GA recertification pesticide points and/or ISA Continuing Education Units or Landscape Architecture Professional Development Hours. If you are a professional or non-professional in the industry exclusively seeking education, this page is not necessary to explore.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification Points for 2026 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, January 15th (English)
2 commercial applicator pointsCategory 9
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 3
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 10
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 12
Thursday, January 15th (Spanish)
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 1
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 2
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 3
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 4
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 5
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 6
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 7
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 8
2 commercial applicator pointsCategory 9
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 10
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 11
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 12
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 13
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 14
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 15
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 16
Friday, January 16th
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 1
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 2
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 3
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 5
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 6
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 8
1 commercial applicator pointCategory 9
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 10
5 commercial applicator pointsCategory 12

Category 1 = Agricultural | Category 2 = Forest Pest Control | Category 3 = Ornamental/Turf | Category 4 = Seed Treatment | Category 5 = Aquatic Pest Control | Category 6 = Right-of-Way | Category 7 = Industrial, Institutional, Structural, & Health Related Pest Control | Category 8 = Public Health | Category 9 = Limited Herbicide Applicator | Category 10 = Researchers/Regulators | Category 11 = Wood Preservatives | Category 12 = Pesticide Dealer | Category 13 = Antifouling Marine Paint | Category 14 = Microbial Pest Control | Category 15 = Reserved | Category 16 = Sewer Line Treatment
*Read more about Commercial Applicator Information Here

To gain these points, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about Commercial Applicator information, click here to navigate to our Tennessee Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) website.

Check Your TDA Points Status

Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification credit hours for 2026 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, January 15th

  • 3 commercial applicator credit hours for category 21
  • 2 commercial applicator credit hours for category 23
  • 4 commercial applicator credit hours for category 24
  • and/or 1 private applicator credit hours for category 10

Friday, January 16th

  • 3 commercial applicator credit hours for category 21
  • 2 commercial applicator credit hours for category 23
  • 5 commercial applicator credit hours for category 24
  • and/or 2 private applicator credit hours for category 10

Category 10 = Private Applicator | Category 21 = Agricultural Plant | Category 23 = Forest | Category = 24 Ornamental & Turf

To gain these points, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about Pesticide Applicator information, click here to navigate to the Georgia Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) website.

International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for 2026 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, January 15th (English Session)

  • 4 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Credits
  • 4 CEUs for the Urban Forest Credits
  • 1 CEU for the BCMA – Practice Credits
  • 3 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Credits

Thursday, January 15th (Spanish Session)

  • 4 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Credits
  • 4 CEUs for the Urban Forest Credits
  • 2 CEU for the BCMA – Practice Credits
  • 2 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Credits

Friday, January 16th

  • 3 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Credits
  • 3 CEUs for the Urban Forest Credits
  • 2 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Credits
  • 1 CEUs for the BCMA – Practice Credits

To gain these points, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about ISA Certification, click here to navigate to the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Website.

The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System (LA CES) is a collaboration of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) among other national and international landscape architecture organizations.

Thursday, January 15th

  • 5 professional development hours

Friday, January 16th

  • 5 professional development hours

To gain these hours, participants must arrive to the program on time in the morning and may not leave until the conclusion of the program that day. No points will be awarded if a participant arrives late or leaves the program early.

To learn more about LA CES, click here to navigate to their website.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Chattanooga Landscape Short Course is an educational program designed to provide research-based, practical training on landscape management topics. Sessions are led by Extension specialists and industry professionals and focus on science-backed practices relevant to the Southeast.

This event is ideal for landscape professionals, turfgrass managers, grounds and facilities staff, green industry employees, municipal staff, and more! From the very advanced to the beginner, this program will have insights to offer individuals at all skill levels. No prior experience is required.

These various continuing education credits correspond to various professional associations. For example, many arborists are ISA certified and they are required to continue their education in order to maintain their status. Our program offers a variety of these types of ‘points’ for professionals to learn and earn credit at the same time. There is no expectation to be certified by any of these organizations to participate. This offering is simply a bonus for anyone who happens to need these credits.

Yes! While the course includes technical content, presentations are designed to be accessible and practical. Beginners will glean a lot of great info, while experienced professionals will benefit from updates and applied research findings. For more comprehensive learning opportunities tailored to beginners, we recommend checking out the our online Certified Landscape Professional program or Certified Lawn Care Professional program.

The Chattanooga Landscape Short Course is held in person at Chattanooga State Cimmunity College. The exact location, parking details, and directions will be provided after registering for the program – this can be found under the Registration tab on this site.

While participants are encouraged to attend the full program for the best learning experience, it is not required for all. If you are seeking professional credentialing such as pesticide points, ISA CEUs, or Landscape Architecture PDHs, then you must arrive on time and stay for the entire program to receive credit.

Be sure to reach out to the Hamilton County Extension Office with any questions you might have. You can call the office at (423) 209-8560 or email Haley Treadway at haleytreadway@utk.edu

Other Learning Opportunities:

Certified Lawn Care Professional
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Certified Lawn Care Professional
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UTHort Pros
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UTHort Pros
This page keeps landscape professionals up-to-date on the latest resources and programs related to the commercial green industry.
Certified Landscape Professional
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Certified Landscape Professional
This online, comprehensive program is a great opportunity to learn landscape fundamentals on your own timeline!
Haley Treadway Profile Page
Haley Treadway
Extension Agent I, Hamilton County

423-209-8560

haleytreadway@utk.edu

  • UT-TSU Extension Hamilton County
  • 6183 Adamson Circle
  • Chattanooga, TN 37416
  • P: 423-209-8560