A Beginner's Guide to Biological IPM in the Landscape
With Russ Schmeiss
Nursery Manager, Carolina Native Nursery
Date: Thursday, September 25, 2025
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Eastern via Zoom
(Registration is required to receive the Zoom link for the live presentation. The presentation will be recorded.)
Cost:
GAONC Members- Free
Non-Members - $10 (non-refundable) - once the recording is ready to view, we'll send you a link that will be valid for 30 days. OR you can join GAONC ($20 annual membership fee), attend ALL of our presentations for free, AND have access to all of the recordings in our Video Library to view on demand.
About this Presentation:
If you are hoping to "go more natural" in your landscape, this program is for you! We'll cover:
- Why we use biological controls and how this approach began
- The positives and negatives of IPM and best practices to follow to implement some of these controls within the landscape
- Some of the native predators that can be found in our own landscapes, how to attract them and keep them alive, working and happy so they'll continue from one year to the next
- BCA's (bio-control agents) that are used at Carolina Native Nursery and are also commercially available for the homeowner.
The presentation will be recorded for
members to view later in our Video Library.
About Our Speaker:
Russ Schmeiss began his horticulture career in New Jersey at the age of 16 and has since held nearly every role in the industry, from propagation and crop production to shipping logistics and management. He also owned and operated a successful retail garden center and design build landscape operation for over a decade in central NJ.
Russ spent four years as the Crop Health Specialist at Blooming Nursery in Cornelius, Oregon. There, he built upon his bio-friendly approach to IPM, further refining a system that prioritizes plant health, minimizes chemical inputs, and supports long-term sustainability.
After Hurricane Helene, Russ’ first reaction was to come back east to help out with relief efforts, as his parents live in nearby Fairview When the opportunity to join CNN as Nursery Manager arose, it felt like a natural next step; a way to continue serving both the horticulture industry and the local WNC community. His greatest professional satisfaction comes from delivering high-quality plants with minimal loss and doing so in the most sustainable way possible.
Russ lives in the Burnsville area with his wife, Dawn, and their beloved menagerie of pets: two Weimaraners and four cats.
*Approval of this presentation for continuing education credit is at the discretion of
your program.
