The 12 Top Lawn Care Conferences for Business Owners
Lawn care conferences give you access to like-minded professionals, networking opportunities, new trends and...
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Did you know that 52% of business leaders say that conferences and events deliver the highest return on investment (ROI) of any marketing channel?
It’s a wild figure, but when you think about the sheer amount of value events offer, it starts to make sense. Lawn care conferences give you access to like-minded professionals, which means plenty of worthwhile networking opportunities.
They also introduce you to new innovations and emerging trends. You walk away with a head full of bright ideas and a phone full of new connections.
To help you reap these business-boosting benefits, we’ve rounded up the top lawn care events you can’t miss out on.
Let’s explore the most valuable lawn care conferences based on real return and your aspirations!
Yes, Lawn Care Conferences Matter for Business Owners
If you have a business goal, chances are, a lawn care conference can help you achieve it.
You might find more reliable vendors. You could discover new pathways to train your team or renew certifications. Or, you might even purchase some innovative technology.
The resources you discover and connections you make at industry events can help you improve the quality of your services and attract a broader audience. For example, you might attend green industry events to appeal to environmentally conscious clients.
Then there are hands-on demo areas where you can try before you buy. You can sit in on expert panels where people who have walked in your shoes share their secrets to success.
And when software vendors exhibit at lawn care trade shows, you can ask how their systems handle the real problems you face—routing, crew management, upselling, or customer follow-up.
The networking is just as valuable. You meet owners with the same workload, weather challenges, marketing strategies, and regulatory headaches.
Incredibly, 71% of small businesses have closed deals with people they’ve met at trade shows. And, 7 in 10 say these industry events generate leads and lift brand visibility.
You can’t ignore these figures—not in an industry as competitive as landscaping and lawn care.
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National Lawn Care Conferences Every Owner Should Know
These national events bring together the entire industry. You get high-value access under one roof.
Equip Exposition 2025
When & Where: October 21–24, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky
Website: equipexposition.com
Equip Expo is the largest lawn and landscape equipment show in the US. There’s over a million square feet of exhibits and demo space.
You’ll see the newest mowers, trimmers, spreaders, UTVs, irrigation technology, and more. A lot of it is available for hands-on testing, too.
Business owners use this event to compare tools side by side. They also attend certification classes in areas like pesticide use and irrigation.
The education sessions cover business growth, pricing strategies, and leadership, and they’re offered in both English and Spanish.
NALP ELEVATE Conference & Expo
When & Where: November 2–5, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona
Website: landscapeprofessionals.org
The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) ELEVATE is a strategy-focused event made to serve the niche needs of owners and managers. It features 50+ sessions on finance, hiring, operations, and scaling. The lawn care expo also highlights select equipment and software in a quieter, more business-minded setting.
If your number one goal is to improve your business skills and strategic mindset, ELEVATE is a fabulous choice. Get high-level insights from the people who live and breathe business management.
Specialty & Advocacy Conferences
These events serve owners who want access to specialty insights or to get involved in industry policy.
GROW! Annual Conference
When & Where: February 10–12, 2026, in Dallas, Texas
Website: growgroupinc.com
This event is run by landscape business veteran Marty Grunder and his team. You get both classroom training and a behind-the-scenes tour of a top-performing company. In 2026, that’ll be Complete Landsculpture in Dallas.
Owners attend GROW! to work on leadership, pricing, sales, productivity, and strategy. Like ELEVATE, it’s more about the business side of the trade.
The event is intentionally kept small, allowing for practical and specific conversations.
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TPI International Education Conference & Field Day
When & Where: February 16–19, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona
Website: turfgrasssod.org
TPI’s turfgrass management conference is described as ”the premier event for leaders in the turfgrass industry to connect, gain knowledge, and elevate their businesses.” It brings together sod growers, breeders, equipment makers, and researchers.
It’s a valuable option for owners of companies that grow or install sod.
Field Day offers live demos at turf farms, too. And the education sessions teach you about production methods and new grass varieties. You’ll also meet suppliers and agronomists working at the edge of turf innovation.
SFMA Conference & Exhibition
When & Where: January 18–22, 2026, in Fort Worth, Texas
Website: sportsfieldmanagement.org
This is the leading conference for sports field professionals. It includes more than 60 hours of education, an extensive trade show, and tours of local athletic facilities.
If your business maintains sports fields or plans to add this service, SFMA is where you can learn best practices. You can build capacity in turf safety, irrigation, pest control, and field performance.
NALP Legislative Days on the Hill
When & Where: Dates TBD, in Washington, D.C.
Website: landscapeprofessionals.org
Organized by the NALP, this event brings lawn care business owners to Capitol Hill to meet with lawmakers and staff. Topics include H-2B reform, water rules, pesticide use, and small business labor laws.
This event helps business owners understand regulations. You can nurture relationships with other engaged operators and even speak directly to decision-makers about how national policy affects your work on a day-to-day basis.
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Regional & State Lawn Care Conferences Worth Attending
These region-specific events deliver targeted education. You’ll also find local vendors on display.
ProGreen EXPO
When & Where: February 3–5, 2026, in Denver, Colorado
Website: progreenexpo.com
ProGreen is the largest green industry event in the Rocky Mountain region. It brings together lawn care professionals, arborists, irrigation specialists, and suppliers for training and networking.
The trade show features hundreds of booths, equipment demos, and product showcases tailored to the western United States. For owners operating in high-altitude or arid environments, ProGreen offers localized insight and continuing education units (CEUs) for pesticide and irrigation licenses.
It’s a cost-effective way to keep teams certified and explore tools that perform in mountain climates.
Great Lakes Trade Exposition (GLTE)
When & Where: January 20–22, 2026, in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Website: glte.org
GLTE is the premier green industry event for Michigan and the surrounding region. It combines over 70 educational sessions with a full-scale trade show. Topics range from turf care and arboriculture to business operations and compliance.
Owners bring staff to earn CEUs and explore new service ideas. The event also supports recertification for pesticide applicators and other licensed roles. You save time and money on off-site training.
Purdue Turf & Landscape Management Conference (Indiana Green Expo)
When & Where: February 9–11, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana
Website: indianagreenexpo.com
Also known as the Indiana Green Expo, this event is co-hosted by Purdue University and the Indiana Nursery & Landscape Association. It features over 75 educational sessions and a large trade show.
The expo offers CEUs and product access for all areas of turf and ornamental care.
What makes this event unique is the information on research-backed practices and compliance training.
Texas Nursery & Landscape Expo
When & Where: August 11–13, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas
Website: nurserylandscapeexpo.org
This is the largest green industry event in Texas. Hosted by the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association, the expo features:
- 900-plus booths
- Hands-on demos
- Education sessions focused on Texas-specific needs like heat stress, drought, and regional regulation
- And more
If you’re a local business owner, you can attend this event to weigh your purchasing decisions. You can also connect with suppliers who know Texas conditions and what they demand.
Ohio Lawn Care Association Conference & Tradeshow
When & Where: December 9-11, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio
Website: ohioturfgrass.org
This event is run through the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation. It’s recognized as one of the largest regional turfgrass events of its kind.
It includes over 100 hours of education, a major tradeshow, and CEUs related to Ohio pesticide and lawn care regulations.
You can update your license and network with vendors. You can also build relationships with peers facing the same pricing, labor, and regulation challenges specific to Ohio and the Midwest.
Farwest Show
When & Where: Dates TBD, in Portland, Oregon
Website: farwestshow.com
The Farwest Show is described as “the biggest green industry show in the West.” It includes around 400 exhibitors and educational seminars on plant health, irrigation, design, and business operations.
Companies that deliver design-build or plant-heavy services use Farwest to explore new cultivars, build relationships with growers, and learn about water-efficient landscaping.
It’s also a valuable event if you work in the Western climate. You’ll find plant innovation and equipment suppliers.
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How to Choose the Right Conference for Your Business
Once you know which conferences are worthwhile, you have to determine which ones are also right for your business. And that depends on a few different things.
First and foremost, ask yourself, what are your business goals?
If you’re trying to cut downtime or upgrade equipment, hands-on expos like Equip are a good fit. If you’re focused on leadership or scaling, landscaping business growth events like ELEVATE or GROW! will give you more to work with.
Not every event is built for owners, so look closely at who the sessions are for and how the vendors align with your operation.
Here are some other questions to get you thinking:
- What’s your primary goal? (e.g., equipment upgrades, CEUs, business strategy)
- How much time and travel can your team realistically manage?
- Will you get face time with suppliers you could actually buy from?
- Do you need certification or CEUs tied to your state’s regulations?
- Can you test tools or software before investing in them?
- Will the sessions solve real issues you’re facing now?
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Lawn Care Conferences: Next Steps
If you plan ahead, you can choose and attend the right events to move your business forward. Here are some tips to make the most of your lawn care conference schedule:
- Look at the conference schedules for late 2025 and 2026. Then, check your calendar. Block the dates you’d like to attend landscaping conferences now.
- Narrow down your options by considering events that are nearby or have convenient travel routes. Remember, ROI is the goal here. You don’t want to spend a fortune attending an event that gives you no value in return.
- Assign an event budget per quarter. Build conferences into your yearly operating plan so you’re not deciding last-minute or missing out on opportunities.
- Make a short list of what you want to learn or improve. Use it to select events with sessions and vendors that can genuinely benefit you.
- Take advantage of early bird specials. Many events offer a discount to those who book well in advance.
