Auburn University
OP-10: Landscape Management

All areas maintained have a four-tiered management system, however all areas are not equal in tolerance and /or action thresholds. These thresholds are based on pedestrian traffic, tolerance thresholds set down by building occupants and historic importance of an area. Our objective is to survey/monitor selected areas on campus and determine if the thresholds of a pest warrants chemical applications. Also, we incorporate best management practices such as aeration, fertilization and proper irrigation to promote healthy trees, shrubs and turf. Based on our 235 IPM (Integrated Pest Management) acreage, an average of 10.5\5 pounds of actual N is used per acre per year. This is calculated by the following method: 4000 pounds of 35-0-10: 4000x.35= 1,400 pounds N /235 acres = 6 pounds per acre 4000 pounds of 15-0-15: 4000x.15= 600 pounds N / 235 acres = 2 pounds per acre 2000 pounds of 24-0-5: 2000x.24=480 pounds N / 235 acres = 2 per acre Total is 10.5 pounds per acre Fertilizer applied once a year The 35-3-10 Spread it & Forget it with Duration CR fertilizer used is a polymer coated slow release fertilizer.

Water infiltration is promoted by aerating turf. Organic Lawn Care Standards are utilized in 8,400 sq. ft. of turf at The Garden of Memory. The division has a short term goal to increase the area where these standards can be utilized. There are 47 self-watering earth planters currently on campus that reduce the amount and frequency of water needed in traditional planters. LS recycles or reuses pots from prior plant purchases for propagation of new plants from the greenhouse. For Earth Day 2015, LS partnered with Village Dining to grow plants in compost made from food scraps. Water conservation measures include 22 Smart Irrigation Systems that cover 2,140,000 sq. ft. or 49 acres of the campus. In 2014, the water consumption in Level 1 attention area of Samford Park was reduced by 25,000 gallons. This information was derived from metered usage between FY’13 and Fy’14. Longleaf Pine Straw is used in landscape areas to retain moisture, suppress weeds and control erosion. 6,722 cubic yards of leaf volume was mulched and returned to soil on site, limiting the use of chemical fertilizers. This is based on one inch of leaves on the surface mulched on site to one quarter inch of mulched leaves. Leaves are harvested twice a year, in the spring and fall 650 cubic yards of composted wood chips-leaves-grass clippings for future use in the landscape, use ice\snow melting compounds (on hardscape) that are safer for our landscape. This is calculated by using a self-contained 14 cubic yard vacuum, measuring the total yards by total number of loads in the machine. Protects and uses existing vegetation such as tree care practices to manage our existing trees.

Projects designed and installed by Landscape Services give preference to native plants, provided they meet the above criteria. The use of native plants in campus landscapes is likely to be reinforced by the campus landscape master plan currently being developed. The University's Design Standards also require native species for all new buildings. In addition, efforts are underway to eliminate invasive species, including an annual invasive species removal volunteer day at the Donald E. Davis Arboretum.

Longleaf Pine Straw is used in landscape areas to retain moisture, suppress weeds and control erosion. 6,722 cubic yards of leaf volume mulched and returned to soil on site, limiting the use of chemical fertilizers.This is based on one inch of leaves on the surface mulched on site to one quarter inch of mulched leaves. Leaves are harvested twice a year, in the spring and fall. 650 cubic yards of composted wood chips-leaves-grass clippings for future use in the landscape. This is calculated by using a self-contained 14 cubic yard vacuum, measuring the total yards by total number of loads in the machine. When necessary, we use ice\snow melting compounds (on hardscape) that are safer for our landscape.

Organic Lawn Care Standards are utilized in 8,400 sq. ft. of turf at The Garden of Memory. The division has a short term goal to increase the area where these standards can be utilized.

There are 47 self-watering earth planters currently on campus that reduce the amount and frequency of water needed in traditional planters. Landscaping Services also recycles or reuses pots from prior plant purchases for propagation of new plants from the greenhouse. Longleaf Pine Straw, a material indigenous to Alabama, is used in landscape areas to retain moisture, suppress weeds and control erosion.

Auburn has restored a portion of Parkerson Mill Creek, which runs through the heart of campus, by daylighting it, restoring vegetation to the riparian corridor, and utilizing best management practices to slow runoff into that portion of the creek. In addition, there are a number of stormwater best management practices in use around campus, including bioswales, rain gardens, and cisterns.

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