Join Us for the 4th Annual UConn IPM Seminar for the Home Gardener
Thursday, August 14th, 2025
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
UConn Research Farm
99 Agronomy Road, Storrs, CT 06268
*Free Parking*
$5.00 Per Person
Learn basic principles of Integrated Pest Management and techniques to implement in your gardens with a day designed for the home gardener. Speakers from the UConn IPM team will present on various topics to help you improve the plant and soil health of your gardens, lawns, and landscapes.

Registration has Closed!
Thank you so much for your interest in the IPM Seminar for Home Gardeners. Unfortunately, we have reached capacity for registration. If you would like to be considered for the wait list, please email: holly.mcnamara@uconn.edu.
Schedule of Events
Time | Presentation/Activity |
9:00AM – 9:30AM | Event sign-in, light refreshments |
9:30AM – 10:00AM | Plant Disease Troubleshooting with Holly McNamara |
10:00AM – 10:30AM | IPM & Plant Diagnostic Techniques with Emily Leahy |
10:30AM - 11:00AM | Spring or Fall? The Garden Cleanup Debate Explained with Heather Zidack |
11:00AM - 11:15AM | Break |
11:15-AM - 11:45AM | Pesticide Timing, Application & Safety with Dr. Srikanth Kodati |
11:45AM – 12:00PM | You put the citizen in scientist! with Amelia Martin |
12:00PM - 12:30 PM | Plant Disease Update and Management Tips for Disease Prevention with Dr. Nick Goltz |
12:30PM - 1:00 PM | Seminar Wrap-Up, Extra Questions with Speakers |
Presentation order/Schedule is subject to change
Event Speakers
Holly McNamara
Emily Leahy
Emily is a research technician at the UConn Plant Diagnostic Lab. She has been working in the lab since last summer when she began as an Extension intern. Emily recently graduated from UConn in May with a degree in Biological Sciences.
Heather Zidack
Heather Zidack is a Horticultural Educator at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center. An alumna of the University of Connecticut, she holds a B.S. in Plant Science and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on agricultural education. Heather brings a unique blend of industry experience and teaching expertise to her work, drawing from her background in horticulture and high school agriscience education. She develops educational resources, engages with the public through various outreach platforms, and contributes regularly to the Hartford Courant. Heather has also been featured as an expert on CRIS Radio, NBC30 CT, and The Spruce.
Dr. Srikanth Kodati
Amelia Martin
Amelia is a second-year master’s student in the Plant Science Department, specializing in Plant Health. For the past year, she has worked alongside her advisor, Dr. Nick Goltz, in the Plant Diagnostic Clinic, contributing to both diagnostic services and research efforts. With over three years of laboratory experience, Amelia’s current research focuses on needs assessments and stakeholder surveys related to plant disease diagnostics and clinic engagement.
Dr. Nick Goltz
Dr. Nick Goltz is a plant pathologist and Assistant Extension Educator at the University of Connecticut. He directs the UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, where he diagnoses plant health issues and provides management recommendations for various clients including home gardeners and commercial growers. Nick holds a Doctor of Plant Medicine degree from the University of Florida. Before UConn, he worked at the UF Plant Diagnostic Center and at state and federal regulatory laboratories since 2016, performing research to develop biological control options for the management of invasive insects. Nick has a passion for plant health and integrated pest management and has been published in Fine Gardening Magazine several times in addition to the academic journals Insects and Biodiversity Data Journal. He is always excited to work with growers and home gardeners alike to find comprehensive solutions for any plant problem they may be dealing with.
Directions & Parking
Parking is free at the UConn Research Farm
This event is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no. 2021-70006-35582] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.