Arizona State University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Land excluded includes footprints of buildings, impervious surfaces, and areas not maintained.

Weeds are mechanically removed. Insects found on plant material are first removed with a water hose. If an insecticide is needed only organic based insecticides containing Bt, pyrethrums or diatomaceous earth are used. Weed control in granite and undeveloped areas are maintained only with "Caution" labeled pesticides. The Polytechnic campus action threshold is determined to only handle pest oriented situations if there is a perceived threat to human health or safety. Otherwise, wildlife is left alone. Through empirical data (observation) several species of “pests” have been identified on the Polytechnic campus that include bees, skunks, roaches, coyotes, aphids, rattle snakes and feral cats. Any perceivable small mammal habitat is discouraged through grounds maintenance efforts of restricting access. Proper and continuous housekeeping protocol minimizes or completely reduces the need for pest management on interior spaces of the campus. Arizona State University has an organization that deals specifically with the feral cat population through a “Trap, Neuter and Release” program. (Friends of Feral AZ) If and only if an animal is determined to be a legitimate health or safety hazard is it dealt with in one of two ways; trap and release in the case of all mammals and occasionally bee swarms, and in the case of most other insects lethal means are used by way of calling in a pest management professional. Insecticides are rarely used as part of the IPM management plan for the Downtown Phoenix Campus. If a pest is discovered we will do our best to remove them using a water hose. If need be only an organic based insecticide is used. Weeds are manually removed but pre-emergents are used in the granite areas and applied once a year at the end of summer/beginning of fall. We do treat for nut grass and clover on the Post Office lawn which is part of the Downtown Phoenix Campus.

The organic soils management practices at of the Tempe campus uses all organic fertilizers and compost. The turf areas are aerated to combat compaction and to allow air and water to penetrate the soil along with organic matter from the compost.

The Tempe campus is a registered Arboretum with an extensive collection of plants. It encourages the use of Native Plants where appropriate. Since there is a limited pallet of native trees to this area, the Tempe campus Arboretum also uses non native plants. Only non-native plants and trees that are adapted to the heat of our Sonoran desert climate are selected by the Office of the University Architect's landscape architects. The landscape architects specify the plant material for all of the ASU campuses. The Tempe campus does not have a problem with invasive species. The West campus has an extensive collection of native trees in their arboretum east of the Faculty Administration Building. The Polytechnic campus is a registered desert arboretum. It maintains native plant species specific to the Sonoran desert including varieties of cacti, succulents, shrubs, herbaceous wild flowers and deciduous drought tolerant trees.

The composted areas on campus allow rain water to be filtered and cleaned as it flows through the soil profile. Every effort is made to avoid irrigation water runoff to keep it on the landscape and out of the storm drains.

Arizona State University is developing a university-wide composting program that includes food waste. Currently, the Tempe campus composts about 7 tons of landscaping waste monthly by a local farm. The University purchases the compost for use on campus landscapes therefore replacing artificial fertilizers. A similar program exists on the Polytechnic campus. The amount of landscaping waste generated on the Downtown Phoenix Campus is negligible. The Tempe organics including food scraps not sent to the compost farm and the organics including food scraps from the other campuses is hauled to a commercial composting facility.

Arizona State University installed a PowerParasol next to the Memorial Union building which provides shade for a series of study tables and a performance stage. There are several shaded gardens for outdoor lunch areas and social gathering spaces. ASU has replaced it's palm walk palm trees with date palms that not only provide more shade but also provide an edible landscape.

Arizona State University’s approach to sustainable landscape management is we utilize desert adapted plants, installing in phases a centrally controlled irrigation system (Calsense) that is run by Evapo-Transporation at the Polytechnic and Tempe campuses and a Maxicom system at West, only use compost, compost tea, hydrolyzed fish solution, and other organic fertilizers are used on the Tempe campus with many organic fertilizers also used on the Poly and West campuses, divide and split plants and replant in other areas, harvest our edible plants (dates, citrus, and herbs) for use by campus food service provider, sale at campus locations, and local food pantries, and reuse landscape elements and leftovers from construction (boulders, pavers, and misc. items) for use in the landscape.