Elevating VM Training Through Adult Learning Best Practices

By Daryl Chesley
Vegetation management (VM) programs are measured by outcomes. Total miles treated or acres cleared matter, but what truly defines success is whether the work improves reliability, efficiency, and performance; reduces risk; supports compliance; and builds a healthier and more resilient compatible vegetation community over time.

In a similar vein, I think VM training is more than just a checkbox. It’s a best management practice that has the power to significantly improve worker performance and VM outcomes in the field.

Training as a VM Best Management Practice

As our industry grows alongside a tightening labor market, traditional training approaches are showing their limits. Dedicated one-day, once-per-year training sessions yield limited (to no!) retention of training content, which leads to inconsistent outcomes in the field.

At Grow With Trees, we believe the future of Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) is clear. It lies in the hands of a well-trained, unified, and empowered workforce that is able to consistently implement a utility's strategic VM goals across its entire system.

In other words: Better Training = Better Stewardship = Better Outcomes.

And, that starts with applying adult learning principles to VM training.

How Adults Actually Learn

Adult learners are different. They:

  • Learn best in short, focused segments on a regular cadence
  • Retain more when learning is immediately applicable
  • Engage more when training is interactive and relevant
  • Improve through reinforcement—not repetition alone

When these principles are ignored, training fades quickly. 

When they are applied, knowledge sticks—and shows up in the field.

Grow With Trees infographic for “Turning Principles Into Practice,” showing how Vegetation Management University (VMU) applies adult learning principles to vegetation management training and how the Let Grow app reinforces real‑time, field‑based learning.

Click the image for more information about VM University and the Let Grow app.

From Learning to Stewardship

When training reflects how people actually learn, something important happens: crews don’t just follow instructions—they understand them. 

That understanding leads to more consistent decisions; more selective and effective vegetation management; and increased confidence and engagement in the field. 

This is what better stewardship looks like in practice—driven by knowledge, not guesswork.

Driving Better Outcomes

When adult learning principles are applied at scale:

  • Rework decreases
  • Consistency improves across crews and contractors
  • Operational costs are better controlled
  • Reliability and compliance outcomes are strengthened

The connection is clear:

Better Training leads to Better Stewardship—and ultimately, Better Outcomes.

Join the Conversation

I’ll be expanding on this topic during an upcoming webinar with the Utility Arborist Association:


Elevating Utility Vegetation Management Training Through Adult Learning Principles
📅 Wednesday, June 24
🕐 1:00–2:00 PM EST

As Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) grows amid a shrinking labor pool, this session will explore scalable, technology-supported training approaches grounded in adult learning principles. Attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen workforce capability, consistency, and engagement while advancing UVM expertise.


If you're ready to move beyond traditional training and adopt a more effective, field-connected approach, we’d love to help.

Contact support@growwithtrees.com to learn more.

Let’s grow together. 


Daryl Chesley is the Director of Operations and Client Service at Grow With Trees. He spearheads strategic planning, product innovation, and team optimization to ensure unparalleled client satisfaction, operational efficiency, and scalable business growth.