Wesleyan University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Land excluded from managed grounds includes the footprint of all buildings, the solar farm at the east side Long Lane parcel, the cross country track at the west side Long Lane Parcel, the field areas in front of Cady Building along Long Lane, the field area along Pine and Wadsworth Street and the sloped area in front of Fauver apartments and Bennet Hall along Pine Street.

100% Organic Treatment Areas (12 acres)
Foss Hill, Butterfields, West Side of Mt. Vernon Avenue, High Rise dorm, Neighborhood Preschools on High St. and Lawn Ave.
No pre or post-emergent pesticides for crabgrass or other weeds
No treatment for grub control

Wesleyan's center campus and athletic fields use an IPM plan that includes fertilizer and pesticides to control pests and increase the health of turf. Wesleyan bases its IPM program primarily on the history of the athletic fields and the many different campus areas - essentially looking at what has worked, and what hasn’t, while spending the least amount of money and using the least amount of chemicals. Wesleyan's Grounds Manager has (in the few years since he started in his position) focused more closely on cultural and mechanical processes.

1) Main Campus Area – 5-10% threshold for weeds, disease and other pests. Outer Campus Areas – 100% threshold. Athletic Field – 0-5% threshold.
2) Grounds Employees monitor changes/signals in the landscape. The Foreman and Assistant Foreman notify the Grounds Manager, who then investigates. The Grounds Manager also constantly evaluates changes in the landscape. On athletic fields, the Grounds Manager gets feedback from the Athletic Department via the Assistant Athletic Director For Facilities.
3) In Wesleyan's lower threshold areas, the Grounds Manager has instituted a practice of aerating or slicing on an annual basis to increase the aeration and health of turf, which help it to fight off any pests.
4) Wesleyan's Grounds Manager has extensive knowledge of what areas of campus are prone to what pests. He and his team try to be more proactive on the main campus and athletic fields. For example, on some of the athletic fields, Wesleyan has a history of Brown Patch, Summer Patch, and grub activity. Wesleyan has worked chemical controls into our program for these areas, as they can destroy an athletic field in a matter of days. Other areas use a much more reactive, as needed, approach.

60% Organic Treatment Areas
Remainder of campus excluding the athletic fields, including the Rugby Field
4 of 6 yearly applications use 100% organic fertilizer; the remaining 2 applications are 50% organic
Dimension is applied in granular form in the spring as a crabgrass preventative; applied only on an as-needed basis during the rest of the year
Triplet Low Odor is applied in liquid form and used as a selective herbicide for broadleaf weeds
Acelepryn is applied in granular form in early summer to treat grubs (Merit had been used in the past but was discontinued because of safety concerns)

Athletic Field Areas
All athletic fields, excluding the Rugby field
The IPM program for athletic fields is continually changing based on environmental pressures
Wesleyan maintains fields most strictly for player safety and field playability, with a high priority placed on field appearance
Dimension is applied in granular form in the early spring as a crabgrass preventative
Other fungicides, herbicides and grub control are used on an as needed basis (may be granular or liquid)
Stonehedge has experimented with a 100% organic fertilizer on Jackson Field that worked well but is currently too expensive for regular use

Wesleyan prioritizes the use of native plants whenever possible for in-ground species. Annuals are used in pots around campus to add color. Wesleyan avoids planting invasive tree and other plant species.

Wesleyan has one rain barrel at the West College Courtyard. West College Courtyard has a rain garden and plantings designed to prevent runoff. The plantings in Butterfields Courtyard, as well as new plantings throughout campus, are designed to reduce runoff and maintain natural hydrology.

In the past 3 years we have replaced most of our irrigation clocks with "smart" controllers.  These controllers have many water saving features.  A few of the main features include: 1) Remote control which allows broadcast changes to be made to all sites as environmental conditions change.  2) The tracking and elimination of system errors, including mainline breaks, and head malfunctions. Currently a new rain garden is being installed in the area of Knowles Avenue and Vine St.

Wesleyan composts or mulches most of its landscape waste either on-campus or at the Middletown Transfer Station. Wesleyan operates a plant dump on the Long Lane property for discarded annuals, which are collected for replanting or composted. Grounds crews use mulching mowers, which leave grass clippings on the fields and lawn areas. Any campus-generated clippings, trimmings, and leaves are brought to the Middletown Transfer Station, where they are ground and left for the community to use as mulch. Any trees removed on campus are chipped and put on the Long Lane property for campus and community members to use as compost amendments.

Wesleyan has planted over 500 trees and shrubs in the last five years to revitalize its tree population. As we do this, Wesleyan considers planting to provide shade to buildings and lawn areas.

Wesleyan has moved away from using sand because of large cleanup challenges and damage to building floors. Instead, Wesleyan now uses Magic Salt and is experimenting with other snow melt products on most campus walkways. Conventional bagged salt is still used on some stairways. Wesleyan continues to experiment with more sustainable salt varieties specifically when it comes to bagged salt. 

In the past 5 years we have focused on eliminating hard to mow areas.  These areas are often close to buildings, behind railings or other obstacles.  In these locations we have tried to create planting beds that contain native species.  Some of these areas include, Boger Hall, 92' Theater, PAC, Exley, and Clark Hall.

100% Organic Treatment Areas
Foss Hill, Butterfields, West Side of Mt. Vernon Avenue, High Rise dorm, Neighborhood Preschools on High St. and Lawn Ave.
- No pre or post-emergent pesticides for crabgrass or other weeds are used
- No treatment for grub control in these areas

60% Organic Treatment Areas
Remainder of campus excluding the athletic fields, including the Rugby field area
- 4 of 6 yearly applications use 100% organic fertilizer; the remaining 2 applications are 50% organic
- Dimension is applied in granular form in the spring as a crabgrass preventative; applied only on an as-needed basis during the rest of the year
- Triplet Low Odor is applied in liquid form and used as a selective herbicide for broadleaf weeds
- Acelepryn is applied in granular form in early summer to treat grubs; Merit had been used in the past but was discontinued because of safety concerns

Athletic Field Areas
All athletic fields, excluding the Rugby field
- The IPM program for athletic fields is continually changing based on environmental pressures
Wesleyan maintains fields most strictly for player safety and field playability, with a high priority placed on field appearance
- Dimension is applied in granular form in the early spring as a crabgrass preventative
- Other fungicides, herbicides and grub control are used on an as needed basis (may be granular or liquid)
- Stonehedge has experimented with a 100% organic fertilizer on Jackson Field that worked well but is currently too expensive for regular use

In the past, Wesleyan used to spray infected elms to protect against disease, but now injects infected trees to protect against fungus and insects. Wesleyan does not treat hemlocks or ash, as both species are in decline in the area.