Saturday 11-08-25 09:00 am (Eastern)
Location: Haggerty Education Center
Special thanks to Bartlett Tree Experts for their generous support of this event.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Registration, Coffee, Welcome. Plus a chance to shop for special plants from Ted Hildebrant of Coldwater Pond Nursery and Steve Kristoph of Steve Kristoph Nursery.
10:00 AM – Ted Szczawinski
Hazardous Tree Identification
Hazardous trees pose a double danger, they are tough to recognize and they can be costly, even deadly, if not managed before an avoidable accident happens. In this presentation, Ted will walk you through the step-by-step process of identifying, assessing and developing a hazard mitigation plan to assist you in maintaining a healthy tree resource.
Ted Szczawinski is a graduate of both Rutgers University and Seton Hall University. He has worked in the field of arboriculture for over 40 years; he started teaching industry programs 30 years ago at Rutgers University’s NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education. Ted currently serves as a faculty adjunct at Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station’s Office of Continuing Professional Education and the Horticulture Department at Bergen Community College, teaching plant science.
Ted is a NJ Licensed Tree Expert, ISA Certified Arborist and NJ Department of Education Licensed Teacher of Agriculture.
11:00 AM – Jean Epiphan
Tree Care Fundamentals to Reduce Stress and Disease
Jean Epiphan will discuss important foundational steps to reduce transplant shock and establishment stress to improve tree health and longevity. Topics include key aspects of site selection, soil types and amendments, proper planting of B&B and container stock, root collar excavations, ideal mulch options, bed size, structural pruning, best watering options, and reducing impacts of lawn trimming. Cultural practices can go a long way to support tree health and avoid the use of pesticides.
Jean Epiphan is an Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent/Assistant Professor at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County. She is a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert and ISA Certified Arborist and certified in wetland delineation, wetland construction, and ecological restoration. She received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the Univ. of Vermont and has a graduate degree in Ecology from Rutgers Univ. Jean has spent over 20 years researching and exploring local vegetation, plant communities, and forest ecosystem health; she has led forest and terrestrial ecosystem surveys throughout the greater NJ-NY-CT tristate area, including multiple research studies in Morris County. Jean has worked in the landscape & tree care industry as a grounds manager, tree curator, landscape designer, and an arboricultural and ecological consultant. In her current role she focuses on improving environmental sustainability and ecological health in ornamental horticulture as well as landscape management and conservation practices.
12:00 Noon – Lunch – Assorted Sandwiches
1:00 PM – Kevin Chase
Current and Future Threats to Urban Trees and Shrubs
The focus of this talk will be on two recently established pests – box tree moth and beech leaf disease. Both pests are plant killers and are spreading rapidly. The biology, spread and management of each pest and disease will be discussed. Additionally, we will discuss a new canker and leaf spot affecting American and European hornbeam.
Kevin conducts entomological research on a variety of tree and shrub insect pests across North America, the United Kingdom and Ireland. Some of the major insect groups Kevin works with are scale insects, invasive caterpillars, bark beetles and wood boring insects. Kevin is also involved in trialing biological control agents and safer products for both human applicators and non-target insects.
Based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kevin’s applied research focuses on integrated pest management of ornamental pests on the urban landscape. He researches how biological control can be used in plant health care programs as well as how to manage new invasive insect pests as they move across the globe. Kevin holds a Master of Science in Forest Entomology from Mississippi State University, a Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology from University of Canterbury, New Zealand and a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Forest Entomology from the University of Minnesota.
2:00 PM – Bruce Crawford
NJ Champions and Special Trees at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum
The Frelinghuysen Arboretum is home to a number of unique and specimen quality trees. In fact, some of these trees are not only the largest in the state, but are difficult to find anywhere else! Join Bruce for this fun presentation as he discusses the history of these trees along with some thoughts on how many could possibly benefit and enhance your garden! Bruce will also lead a brief tour around the grounds so that everyone can become personally ‘acquainted’ with a few of these specimens
Bruce has a degree in Biology from Bucknell University and studied Landscape Architecture and Horticulture at Cook College, Rutgers University. For nearly 25 years he had his own design/build gardening business that specialized in plantings for year-round interest. From 1987 to 2020, Bruce was an instructor in the Landscape Architecture program at Rutgers University. From 2005 to 2020, he was the Director of Rutgers Gardens, the botanical garden for Rutgers University. In 2021, Bruce joined the Morris County Park Commission as Manager of Horticulture for The Frelinghuysen Arboretum and two other horticultural sites.
3:00 PM – Bruce will lead a brief tour of the Arboretum grounds following his talk. Thanks to a donation from Bartlett Tree Experts, a native Halesia will be planted during the walk.
Attendees will have the opportunity at the Symposium to purchase plants from Ted Hildebrant of Coldwater Pond Nursery and Steve Kristoph of Steve Kristoph Nursery.
This program has been approved by the New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry Program for 4.0 NJUCF CEUs
This program has been approved by the New Jersey Board of Tree Expertsfor 5.0 CEUs
This program is eligible for 4.0 Rutgers Master Gardener CEUs
For questions, contact: mennist@arboretumfriends.net or lbencivengo@arboretumfriends.net
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