Commerical Horticulture

Horticulture is the science of growing plants which include fruits, vegetables, flowers, lawns, or ornamentals.  Generally, horticulture is seperated into commercial and residential horticulture (includes backyard gardening - visit https://extension.umd.edu/wicomico-county/gardening for backyard and home gardening). 

Regardless of the production sector you may be involved with, the main focus of horticulture is to improve

• crop yield
• quality
• nutritional value
• integrated pest managment (IPM)
• disease resistance

Ginny Rosenkraz is UME's regional Commercial Horticulture Educator for the Lower Eastern Shore, serving Wicomico, Worcester and Somerset Counties.  Her responsibilities include assisting and educating greenhouse, nursery, landscape contractor, garden center, cut flower and golf course operations on Integrated Pest Management (IPM).  Contact the Wicomico County Extension Office for any questions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCERS

Maryland Professional Lawn Care Applicator Certification

Lawn care professionals hired to apply fertilizer to turf must be certified by Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) or work under the direct supervision of an individual who is certified.  This ruling also applies to professionals for hire as well as individuals responsible for turf management at:

• Golf Courses

• Public Parks

• Airports

• Athletic Fields

• Businesses

• Cemetaries

• Other non-agricultureal properties.

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Check the UME Events page for additional upcoming trainings pertaining to commercial horticulture.

2018 Eastern Shore Procrastinators Pesticide Re-Certification

This conference is for professional landscapers to get education credits for renewing their license:

Eastern Shore Procrastinators Conference

June 1, 2018

Wye Research and Education Center

124 Wye Narrows Drive

Queenstown, MD 21658

Registrtion required by 5/29/2018

https://2018esprocrastinators.eventbrite.com

8:00-8:30 am              Registration 

8:30-9:15                     Aquatic Weed Control

                                    Don Webster, University of Maryland Extension 

9:15-10:00                   Top 10 Pests of Woody Landscape Plants – and How to Deal With Them

Created by Dr. Dan Potter, Professor of Entomology, University of Kentucky                         

10:00 - 10:15               BREAK            

10:15-11:00                 What New Insects will Bug your Landscape? 

Mary K Malinoski, Extension Educator, UME 

11:00-11:45                 What New Diseases will Pester your Landscape?

                                    Dave Clement, Extension Educator, UME 

11:45– 12:45 pm         LUNCH -

12:45 - 1:30                 Calibrating sprayers and spreaders for the best results and savings

Chuck Schuster, Extension Educator, UME

1:30 – 1:45                  Break!             

1:45- 3:30                    Weed Control – Cultural, Low Risk and Conventional Herbicides to keep Weeds Under Control

Chuck Schuster, Extension Educator, UME                            

 2:30-3:15                     Bees, Pesticides, and Politics: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Urban Landscapes.

Created by Dr. Dan Potter, Professor of Entomology, University of Kentucky