Registration Eligibility
Landscape professionals including contractors, designers, architects, arborists, and growers.
Start Date
01/27/2026
End Date
01/28/2026
Description
The hot, droughty summer of 2025 left its mark on landscapes across Illinois. In this session, Dr. Fredric Miller will uncover how drought stress disrupts plant function, weakens natural defenses, and increases susceptibility to pests and diseases. Through case studies and decline models, attendees will learn how drought accelerates problems like root rot and borer damage. Fredric will also provide the latest updates on threats like elm zigzag sawfly, bacterial leaf scorch, and spider mites.
Location
Bloomington, IL
Distance Learning
No
Course Equivalency
Yes
Subjects
Horticulture / Plants
Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Hours
1.0
Learning Outcomes
1) Describe how drought stress impacts plant water relations, regulation, and overall physiological health. 2) Explain the connection between drought stress and plant susceptibility to pests and diseases, using Armillaria root rot and two-lined chestnut borer as examples. 3) Identify how drought alters plant defense mechanisms and increases vulnerability in urban and landscape settings.
Instructors
Fredric Miller, The Morton Arboretum
Course Codes
Landscape Illinois
Provider
Illinois Landscape Contractors Association