Chattanooga Landscape Short Course

The 2025 CHA Landscape Short Course will take place January 16-17th at Chattanooga State Community College.

UT Extension – Hamilton County is excited to present the 2025 Chattanooga Landscape Short Course January 16-17. Formerly known as the Green Express Short Course, this program is the same format as before, just with a new name! The 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.

The 2025 CHA Landscape Short Course will be held at:

Chattanooga State Community College

Building: Charles W. Branch Center | Room 30

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.

Payment Information for 2025

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

  • January 16 (1 day)
    • $80 until January 8
    • $100 after January 8
  • January 17 (1 day)
    • $80 until January 8
    • $100 after January 8
  • January 16 & 17 (both days)
    • $150 until January 8
    • $190 after January 8

Early bird pricing will be available until January 8th. After January 8th, registration costs will increase so make sure to register ASAP!

Program Schedule:

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16


Urban Tree Management: Making It Work
Pete Stewart & Benjamin Moore
City of Chattanooga Urban Forester & Scenic City Arborists Owner

City of Chattanooga Tree Commission


TDA Plant Certification: Pests & Diseases of Concern
Hannah Nelms
Plant Inspector

Tennessee Department of Agriculture


Overwatering: The Hidden Enemy of Your Landscape’s Health
Rolando Orellana
Urban Water Management Agent

University of Georgia Extension


Top Performing Ornamentals in the Landscape
Dr. Andy Pulte
Professor of Plant Sciences

University of Tennessee


Turf Weed Control 2024 – A Year in Review
Dr. Jim Brosnan & Gregory Breeden
Turf Weed Specialist
University of Tennessee Extension


FRIDAY, JANUARY 17


Planting Good Trees in Bad Soil: Experimenting with Recommended Soil Amendments
Michael Strok, Chris Winters, & Jimi Miller
Understory Team
Green Spaces Chattanooga


At Water’s Edge: Managing Riparian Lands for Ecosystem Services
Dr. Andrea Ludwig
Stormwater Specialist

University of Tennessee Extension


Green Roofs 101: How Design & Horticulture Interface
Mike Ross
Professor of Landscape Architecture & Design

University of Tennessee


Let’s Talk Turfgrass
Dr. Becky Bowling
Turfgrass Specialist

University of Tennessee Extension


Field-Based Plant Health Diagnostics for Trees
Neal Vercler, Kayla Stuart, & Mel Mount
Board Certified Master Arborist

University of Tennessee


Professional Credentials:

This page is relevant to those seeking some form of professional development credential such as TDA recertification pesticide points and/or ISA Continuing Education Units. If you are a professional or non-professional in the industry only seeking education, this page is not necessary to explore.

If you are a certified applicator with the Tennessee or Georgia Department of Agriculture, this page outlines the number of points that will be awarded to you for attending. If you are an ISA-certified arborist, this page will inform you as to the number of CEUs you’ll receive from this program.

Tennessee Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification Points for 2025 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, January 16th

  • 2 commercial applicator points for category 2
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 3
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 10
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 12

Friday, January 17th

  • 1 commercial applicator points for category 2
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 3
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 10
  • 4 commercial applicator points for category 12

Category 2 = Forest Pest Control | Category 3 = Ornamental/Turf | Category 10 = Researchers/Regulators | Category 12 = Pesticide Dealer


If you attend both days, then you will be awarded 8 total TDA pesticide points if you fall into the categories of 2, 3, 10, or 12.

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.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Recertification credit hours for 2025 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, January 16th

  • 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 3 private applicator credit hours for category 10

Friday, January 17th

  • 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 3 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 2025 are awarded as follows:

Thursday, January 16th

  • 4 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Category
  • 1 CEU for the BCMA – Science Category
  • 4 CEUs for the Municipal Specialist Category
  • 3 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Category

Friday, January 17th

  • 4 CEUs for the Certified Arborist Category
  • 2 CEUs for the BCMA – Science Category
  • 4 CEUs for the Municipal Specialist Category
  • 2 CEUs for the BCMA – Management Category

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 16th

  • 5 professional development hours

Friday, January 17th

  • 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.