Diseases and Pests of Trees Interactive Online Course – Rutgers NJAES Office of Continuing Professional Education

Learn how to identify, prevent, and treat disease and pest problems affecting ornamental trees, conifers, and shade trees in this interactive online class.

NEW COURSE!

This is a new, online version of our popular in-person course. Now you can benefit from the expertise of instructor Steve Kristoph with the convenience of learning anytime, anywhere!

Course Status Notice – Not Scheduled

We do not have an offering of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!

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Course Details

Course Name: Diseases and Pests of Trees Interactive Online Course
Course Code: AL0819WA26
Date of Most Recent Offering: November 3-14, 2025

Course Opens: November 3, 2025 at 12:00 pm EST
Course Closes: November 14, 2025 at 12:00 pm EST
Optional Live Online Q & A Session with Instructor: November 14, 2025, 9:00 am – 11:00 am EST

Location: Online
Format: Self-paced and instructor-led*

*Participants will complete approximately 5 hours of course content (comprising videos, text, photos and assignments) at their own pace anytime while the course is open. Participants may also interact with the instructor through discussion boards and a live Zoom session.

Registration Fee: $195 per person

Registration Closes: November 4, 2025

Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Course Overview

This exciting online class takes place over a period of two weeks. A wide range of pests and diseases affecting trees across the eastern half of the United States are presented through videos, text, and photos.

Course Content

This course covers:

Basic tree biology
Common and less common tree diseases
Insect pests and pesticide options
How to deal with decay and fungi

Course Format

Plan to spend approximately five hours reviewing the course content and completing assignments at your convenience during the two-week period. You will also have access to a message board where you can write in questions to instructor Steve Kristoph during the course. The course concludes with a live Zoom Q&A session at 9:00am EST on November 14 where you can interact with the instructor.

NOTE: In order to participate in the Zoom session, it’s recommended (though not required) that students have a device with a camera and microphone.

Required Assignment

Students will also need to upload two photos that show examples of tree pests and diseases that they find. They’ll be able to see and discuss the examples posted by other students as well as possible solutions on the message board.

Who Should Attend?

This class is well-suited for individuals in the tree care, grounds management, and landscaping industries who want to improve their ability to identify and treat pest and disease problems in trees. Past participants have included:

Arborists
Department of Public Works Employees
Foresters
Gardeners
Grounds Managers
Invasive Species Specialists
Landscape Architects

Landscape Designers
Licensed Tree Experts and Tree Care Operators (LTE/LTCO)
NJDOT Employees
Plant Protection Managers
Shade Tree Committee Members
Tree Climbers
Tree Service Owners/Operators

Meet Your Instructor

Steve Kristoph, Steven Kristoph Nursery

Steve Kristoph is widely known for his encyclopedic knowledge of plant material. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from Rutgers University, and he has been an adjunct instructor at Rutgers for over 25 years. He also owns and operates Steven Kristoph Nursery in Monmouth County, NJ, where he grows many types of ornamental trees, shrubs, and herbaceous perennials. The landscaping division of his business, P. Steven Kristoph Garden Design, serves both residential and commercial customers and offers a full range of services, including design, installation, maintenance, and seasonal color. Steve is passionate about plants and enjoys sharing his passion with others.

Student Reviews

“Very useful for on-staff tree crews. Shade tree commissions really need to attend. [Most useful aspect was] Learning how to notice the details.”

– Kevin Collins, Township of Chester

DPW Superintendent

“It’s a good way to get lots of quality information in a very short time. The instructor was great. It is information that can help to make a sale and increase profit in a company.”

– Past Participant

Landscape Supervisor

“Teacher was great. All content was useful. Enjoyed the hands-on tree inspections.”

– Celeste Sitarski, Roselle Borough

Supervisor of Tree Division

Continuing Education Credits

The most recent offering of Diseases and Pests of Trees (5.5 contact hours) was approved for the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.

The Diseases and Pests of Trees course (5 contact hours) is approved for the following credits from professional organizations.

New Jersey

NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 2 Technical Contact Hours

NJ Licensed Tree Experts (LTE/LTCO): 5.0 CEUs

NJ Urban and Community Forestry (NJUCF): 5 CEUs

National

Society of American Foresters CFE Credits: This program has been reviewed and is approved for professional CFE credits by the Society of American Foresters. Category 1: 5.00; Category 2: 0.00

Course Requirements and Policies

Meals

No meals will be provided at this course.

Technology Requirements

This online course will be delivered via Canvas and Zoom.

Equipment you will need to access this training:

Laptop or desktop computers are recommended for this class.
A camera and microphone are recommended for the Zoom portion of the class.

Email Requirement

A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.

If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
- Your full name
- The shared email address that needs to be changed
- Your unique email address
- A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

Cancellations and Substitutions

A $35 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions about Diseases and Pests of Trees, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Program Coordinator: Joe Canzano
848-932-7317
joe.canzano@rutgers.edu

Administrative Assistant: Damiana Parada
848-932-7107
damiana.parada@rutgers.edu

For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Hazardous Tree Identification students standing outside looking up at trees