2026 OLCA Fall Online CE Training Courses
Enhance your knowledge, earn continuing education credits, and stay ahead of industry best practices with OLCA’s Spring Online CE Training Series. These live, online sessions feature leading experts from The Ohio State University and the green industry.
📍 Location: Online (Live Virtual Training via Zoom)
🕚 Time: November 5, 2026 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM (ET)
November 18, 2026 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (ET)
🎓 Continuing Education: CE credits requested
Registration Information:
Registration Fees (per session):
OLCA Members: $25 per person (members may register an unlimited number of additional attendees at the member rate, including non-members; each attendee must be individually registered and logged in for the session to ensure accurate CE credit tracking)
Non-Members: $50 per person
✔ Registration is required for each individual session
✔ Confirmation and webinar access details will be emailed prior to each training
✔ Each attendee will need to log into Zoom individually so attendance can be verified (please make sure you have downloaded the Zoom app if necessary)
_________________________________________________________________________________
Training Schedule & Program Agenda
________________________________________________________________________________
November 5, 2026 | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Identification, Lifecycle and Management of Crown and Root-Feeding Pests
Speaker: Shaohui Wu, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
CE Credit Requested: Category 8 - Turf Pest Control
Session Overview:
White grubs are important insect pests of managed turfgrass and can often go unnoticed because of their belowground feeding behavior until significant turf damage has occurred. This session will provide turfgrass professionals with information on the identification, biology, and life cycles of common white grub species and the factors that influence grub activity and turf damage. Participants will learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of white grub infestations and evaluate when management may be warranted.
The session will review integrated pest management strategies for white grubs, including chemical, biological, and cultural control approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed on preventive and curative insecticide strategies, appropriate treatment timing, factors affecting treatment effectiveness, and responsible pesticide use. Participants will also learn how monitoring and cultural practices can be incorporated into an overall turfgrass pest management program.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
Identify common white grubs affecting turfgrass and describe key aspects of their biology and life cycles.
Recognize signs and symptoms of white grub activity and assess turfgrass for potential infestations.
Distinguish between preventive and curative insecticide approaches and identify appropriate treatment timing for effective grub management.
Compare chemical, biological, and cultural management practices and incorporate them into an integrated turfgrass pest management program.
About the Speaker:
Dr. Shaohui Wu is an Assistant Professor and Turfgrass Health Specialist (55% extension, 20% research, 15% teaching, 10% service) in Depts. of Entomology (60%) & Plant Pathology (40%) at The Ohio State University. She has over 10 years of experience working on turfgrass health management and has expertise on integrated pest management and microbial biocontrol.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday November 18, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Weed ID Lifecycle and Control Options – Top 10 Weeds
Speaker: David Gardner, Ph.D., The Ohio State University
CE Credit Approved: Category 8 - Turf Pest Control
Session Overview:
This session will provide turfgrass professionals with practical information for identifying and managing common turfgrass weeds, including grassy and broadleaf species. Participants will review control strategies using preemergence and postemergence herbicides, with emphasis on factors that influence herbicide selection, application timing, and treatment effectiveness. The session will also address herbicide resistance, including how to recognize potential resistance issues and implement strategies to prevent or manage resistance. Best practices for improving weed control and promoting effective and responsible herbicide use as part of an integrated turfgrass management program will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
Identify common grassy and broadleaf weeds encountered in managed turfgrass.
Distinguish between appropriate uses of preemergence and postemergence herbicides and identify factors that affect treatment effectiveness.
Apply appropriate herbicide selection and timing strategies to improve turfgrass weed control.
Recognize signs and risk factors associated with herbicide resistance and identify practices that can help prevent or manage resistance.
About the Speaker:
David Gardner is a professor of turfgrass science at The Ohio State University. He received a B.S. degree from Iowa State University in Horticulture in 1993, an M.S. in Horticulture from Iowa State in 1996 and a Ph.D. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois in 2000. He teaches several undergraduate courses including turfgrass management, statistics, and plant taxonomy. His research interests are in weed management and turfgrass shade stress physiology.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you to the Ohio State Turf Team for sharing this invaluable education with us!
Questions? Email info@ohiolawncare.org or call 800-510-5296
