Community Tree Care Series 2026

Not all who care for trees are certified arborists, but many are carrying out the work arborists often do. This training provides information and resources to those seeking additional training to accomplish their goals of keeping trees healthy and minimizing risks regardless of whether or not they are certified.
This program is of special interest to arborists, public and private tree care professionals, municipal or county staff, community volunteers, and anyone interested in developing their tree care knowledge.

Registration will give access to six webinar sessions and recordings. Live sessions are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The dates and discussion topics are as follows:

January 13, 2026:
9-10 a.m.
People, Pollinators, and Trees: The Power of the Urban Forest
Emily Swihart
Trees are keystone species in a healthy ecosystem, especially an urban setting. This program highlights the essential role trees play in supporting wildlife, especially pollinators, while enhancing the character of neighborhoods and public spaces. Participants will learn how to select tree species that provide critical habitat for birds, insects, and other wildlife, and develop a basic understanding of the benefits trees provide to the people who inhabitant communities.
10-11 a.m.
Needle Little Help? Evergreen ID & Functions in the Landscape
Sarah Vogel
Explore evergreen identification and physiology in urban environments. This session equips participants with species-level ID skills, insights into stress tolerance, and management strategies for common problems for evergreens in Illinois landscapes including emerging pests, site incompatibility, and abiotic stress. Learn how evergreen traits can help make informed decisions for planting, pruning, and diagnosing decline.

January 20, 2026:
9-10 a.m.
Forest Pest Update: Who's Here, Who's Coming, and What Can You Do
Tricia Bethke
Join for an engaging update on forest pests - who's here, who's on the way, and how to identify and manage them. Early detection is our best defense against invasive species. In this lively and informative session, you'll learn how to recognize the signs of trouble, report findings, and take practical steps to protect your trees and community forests.
10-11 a.m.
Fungal Mutualists: The Good Guys of Fungal Infections
Karla Griesbaum
Not all plant fungal infections are bad. In fact, some are very necessary for a healthy and resilient plant ecosystem. This presentation will focus on plant fungal partners that do more good than bad.

January 27, 2026:
9-10 a.m.
Protecting Trees During Construction
Jenny Lee
This session will cover strategies for minimizing tree damage before, during, and after construction projects. We'll discuss the importance of planning ahead to protect trees and preserve their health. Learn about common construction injuries trees sustain, practical strategies to reduce harm, and best practices for post-construction tree care. Whether working with urban trees, managing landscapes, or overseeing building projects, this webinar will equip participants with the knowledge to safeguard valuable trees through every stage of development.
10-11 a.m.
Addressing Urban Soils for Healthier Trees
Chris Enroth
Urban soils can be hostile environments for tree roots that are often compacted, low in nutrients, and poorly structured. In this session, we'll dig into what causes these conditions and how they impact tree health. Then, we'll explore a range of soil modification strategies, comparing short-term fixes with long-term solutions that promote sustainable root development and canopy growth.

February 3, 2026:
9-10 a.m.
Chainsaw Safety: Practices, Equipment, and Behaviors
Kevin Rohling
This presentation will provide an overview of chainsaw safety practices, equipment and behaviors aligned with OSHA and ANSI Z133 standards. It emphasizes the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), situational awareness, and safe practices before and during operations. The sessions integrates visual examples of safe felling cuts, kickback zones, and field procedures to promote both safety and efficiency in chainsaw use.
10-11 a.m.
Pruning Young Shade Trees
Ryan Pankau
Young shade trees face a variety of challenges in the landscape, resulting in surprisingly low survival rates for many of these plants. While planting practices and follow-up care are major factors in mortality of younger trees, canopy failure from poor branch structure is a bigger risk for trees that make it beyond establishment. Learn how proper pruning early in a tree's life can drastically reduce the risk of canopy failure or hazard development from structurally unsound limbs later.

February 10, 2026:
9-10 a.m.
Urban Forest Trees in a Changing Climate: Impacts and Strategies
Justin Vozzo
Climate change is intensifying biotic and abiotic stressors on urban forest trees, from extreme temperature fluctuations to increased pest pressures. This session will explore how these evolving conditions impact tree health, species performance, and urban canopy resilience. We'll also examine adaptive strategies to mitigate climate-related risks and sustain healthy urban forests
10-11 a.m.
Historic Forest Pest Outbreaks in North America
Ryan Pankau
North America has a history of exotic pests that extirpate individual tree species, with Emerald Ash Borer serving as our modern example. In our current, ever-globalizing society there is significant risk for future outbreaks that may impact all of our trees from the urban forests to our woodlands. This presentation examines past outbreaks to compare what we have learned from history with the current pests threatening our native trees.

February 17, 2026:
9-10 a.m.
Rooted in Success: Tree Care After Planting
Emily Swihart
Planting a tree is just the beginning of a long-term investment in community health, environmental resilience, and landscape beauty. This program covers best practices for tree care following planting, ensuring that newly planted tree thrive, and clients are satisfied. Participants will gain an understanding of the best practices during the critical establishment and learn how to recognize signs of stress or disease. The program also connects participants with trusted resources--such as extension services, arborists, and tree care guides--to support long-term success.
10-11 a.m.
Branch Management: Tree Responses to Cultural Practices
Sarah Vogel
Trees react to pruning, planting, and environmental stress in ways that aren't always visible. Explore how common tree care practices influence growth, healing, and decline through internal processes like hormone signaling. Attendees will learn how tree biology can lead to better decisions and healthier trees.

Two hours of CEUs (Continuing Educations Units) are available to ISA Certified arborists for attending each session. During registration, please specify that you are attending as a certified professional and enter your ISA certification number.

Webinars will be recorded and posted to a closed Media Space site within three weeks of the live webinar date. Recordings will be available until May 1, 2026.