FLORENCE-The 20th Annual Urban Forestry and Horticulture Conference, sponsored by the City of Florence, Tree Commission, Beautification Board, Urban Forestry/Horticulture Department, Electricity Department, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, will be held on Friday, February 20, 2015, at Cross Point Church of Christ.
The theme of this year’s event is “Current Trends in Plants and Trees.” Three specialty tracks will be offered again this year: Horticulture, Urban Forestry, and Pesticide Management. Participants can receive continuing education recertification credits (CEUs).
Roald Hazelhoff, Director of the Southern Environmental Center
Keynote speaker Roald Hazelhoff, Director of the Southern Environmental Center at Birmingham-Southern College, will speak on establishing sustainable forested landscapes on unused urban land.
Urban Forestry presentations will highlight recommendations for selecting urban tree species, safety practices for working with trees and power lines, preventive pruning to promote health and resilience in urban trees, best practices for protecting trees during construction, and the story of the Auburn Oaks at Toomer’s Corner.
The Horticulture track offers presentations on vegetable gardening fundamentals, 
preventive structural pruning for young trees in the home landscape, selecting the right plant for the right place, raising camellias in North Alabama, and managing nuisance wildlife around the home.
Pesticide management will include presentations on protecting pollinators, fire ant control, diagnosing herbicide and other damage to urban trees, common diseases and pathogens affecting ornamental plants, and pesticide application laws and safety.
Local vendors will exhibit a wide variety of products and services for landscaping and home gardening.
The conference has been a longtime favorite with both the public and professionals in urban forestry and horticulture.
The hours of the conference are 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. The cost is $45, which includes lunch.
The registration form and conference brochure are available on the City of Florence website www.florenceal.org.
For more information, please call the Mayor’s Office at 256-760-6400.
