Landscape Illinois

10/19/2026

🍂 Registration closes on Wednesday, October 21st at 12pm for this Thursday’s Young Professionals Fall Event! 🍂

Don’t miss out on an afternoon of learning, networking & inspiration with your peers. Registration is free! Must be 35 or under to attend.

📅 Thursday, October 22, 2026
🕑 2:00PM – 6:00PM
📍 Landscape Material & Firewood Sales | West Chicago, IL

Thank you to Landscape Material & Firewood for hosting and providing the food and beverages! 🙌

👉 Register today: landscapeillinois.org/il-events/young-professionals-fall-event

10/17/2026

Nearly 200 landscape professionals gathered Thursday, October 15th for The Impact Conference to learn from leading experts, connect with peers, and explore sustainable and ecological landscape practices. Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for making it an inspiring day!

Keep the learning growing! Attendees can watch session recordings on Bloom beginning December 1st.

Save the Date: The next Impact Conference is October 14, 2027, at NIU Naperville!

10/16/2026

10/16/2026

Thirty-one landscape professionals stepped away from their busy fall schedules yesterday to sharpen their pruning skills at our Central Region Pruning Workshop in East Peoria, IL. Despite the rain and damp conditions, this group came ready to learn and get their hands dirty!

Special thanks to Aaron Schulz of Oak Bros Tree Care & Removal for his continued leadership in bringing this training to regions across Illinois, and to Caleb Smith of Taylor’s Way, and Kinser Maxwell of Green View for sharing their expertise during the hands-on instruction. We couldn’t offer programs like this without certified arborists willing to teach! Special thanks to Corinne Brown and the ICC Horticulture Program for sharing their incredible arboretum. What a dream training ground! One arborist remarked that he’d never pruned such a large bottlebrush buckeye, while another had never worked on such a beautiful Persian ironwood. Even experienced professionals encounter something new when they get together to learn. Thanks to everyone who made the day a success!

OakBros TreeCycle Taylor's Way Horticulture at ICC Green View

10/16/2026

For suppliers In small markets, you need to treat customers like family. If a customer walks out the door, there isn’t ten more to replace them. Landscape Illinois President Kevin McGowen talks about the supplier-contractor relationships he observed on his “On the Road” trip with Kellie Schmidt. Kellie and Kevin joined the latest episode of the Landscape Insider podcast. This conversation was recorded in the Vermeer Midwest Studio, the official studio of Landscape Illinois.

10/14/2026

Residential and commercial properties are eligible for the Excellence in Landscape Awards!

Review your recent projects and choose which ones to enter.

Learn more about the awards program and start your application today! 👉 landscapeillinois.org/awards-program-and-application

10/14/2026

America can have an urban-rural divide, it doesn’t mean Landscape Illinois has to have one too. Statewide Director of Development Kellie Schmidt shares her strategy and philosophy for making statewide members feel at home in this dynamic organization. Kellie and President Kevin McGowen share observations from their “On the Road” tour of central and northwest Illinois on the most recent episode of the Landscape Insider podcast. The new episode is available on Bloom, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. This conversation was recorded in the Vermeer Midwest Studio, the official studio of Landscape Illinois.

10/13/2026

🚨 LAST DAY TO REGISTER! 🚨

What is the value of a sustainable landscape? How do we build one that will last for generations?

Join us at The Impact Conference this Thursday to hear our keynote speakers, Bill Sullivan and William Moss!

A big thank you to our Premier Sponsor, Ball Horticultural Company.

👉 REGISTER NOW: landscapeillinois.org/il-events/impact-conference

🌿 This event is brought to you by the Sustainable and Ecological Landscape Committee of Landscape Illinois. 🌿

10/13/2026

🎉 Don’t miss the party of the year on November 12th! 🎉

Join us for an evening filled with networking, recognizing achievements, delicious food, and drinks! 🍻✨

💥 Don’t Wait—REGISTER NOW to receive the early bird rate! The rate goes up this Friday, October 16th.

Sign up here 👉 landscapeillinois.org/il-events/annual-party-and-member-meeting