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, and Long Lane Farm.

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 central campus and athletic fields use an IPM plan that includes fertilizer and pesticides to control pests and increase nutrients. 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.

Wesleyan has significantly cut back on chemical weed control on all campus grounds and now use both organic and synthetic weed treatments for crabgrass, invasive plants, and grub control. In an effort to continue to minimize pesticide use, the campus is divided into 3 separate categories. These areas include; 100% Organic Treatment, 60% Organic Treatment, and the Athletic Field areas. The first two areas are maintained by New England Turf, and the athletic fields are maintained by Stonehedge Landscaping.

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.

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.

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

Wesleyan has replaced most of its irrigation clocks with "smart" controllers that have many water saving features including: 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. The Vine/Knowles backyard also has smart controllers on site.

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 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.