BALTIMORE, MD—One of America’s most entertaining and knowledgeable green industry experts and speakers will be presenting at the 2008 Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS) School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO taking place October 22-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. Tracy DiSabato-Aust, who has over 30 years of experience, will present a two-part lecture “Sustainable Design of the Mixed Garden” that will focus on sustainability issues on the second day of the event, Thursday, October 23.
With sustainability being such a hot issue in the grounds profession right now, her program will focus on such issues including design fundamentals of border building using a wide palette of plant material and will strive to answer the question “How do we effectively combine the plethora of woody and herbaceous plants available today?” In regards to sustainable references she will stress selecting the proper plants for designs including:
· Long lifespan (five or more years)
· Tolerant of heat and humidity and drought tolerant
· Cold-hardy
· Deer-proof
· Pesticide and insecticide free
· No heavy fertilizing
· Required infrequent pruning
· Not invasive or overly aggressive
Having earned an M.S. in horticulture from The Ohio State University, DiSabato-Aust’s broad career has included stints at such prestigious sites such as Longwood Gardens in the U.S., The Montreal Botanical Garden in Canada, the Kalmthout Arboretum in Belgium, and Knightshayes Court in England.
The PGMS School of Grounds Management & GIE+EXPO is the grounds management professions most anticipated event of the year. Highlights include a multidisciplinary education schedule including programs focusing on sustainability, behind-the-scenes tours of the grounds operations of well known places, educational breakfast programs, and other social and educational opportunities. Additional information, such as online registration, an informational brochure, a full schedule of events, list of faculty, and hotel registration materials are available online at www.PGMS.org/2008school.htm or by contacting PGMS at 800-609-PGMS.