Florida State University
OP-9: Landscape Management

The FSU building footprint for Main Campus, SW Campus/Innovation Hub, and the Reservation is 310.83 AC. The parking lot acreage for the same locations is a total of 133.21 AC. This combined total of 444.04 AC for buildings and impervious surfaces was subtracted from the total campus area of 1,529.37 AC. The result is the total land area of managed grounds, 1,085.33 AC.

FSU Grounds utilizes organic practices and has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and methods in favor of ecologically preferable materials. Currently, the only measures utilized in pest prevention are taken are to control cycad scale on sago palms by the use of coffee grounds and horticultural oils to smother scale insects. At the FSU nursery, whiteflies are controlled with insecticidal soap and horticultural oils. In the FSU greenhouses, aphids and mites are controlled with horticultural oils and bio-rational products. Good sanitation, physical removal of infected plants, bio-rational techniques, and little to no chemical spraying on campus are all utilized. Only in rare instances, after organic methods have not been successful, inorganic pesticides may be utilized for specific plants that are endangered by severe infestations, such as the selective use of the systemic insecticide Zylam.

Native plant species and drought tolerant plants are considered first in the landscape design planning process. The Grounds department works with landscape architects to protect and incorporate already existing plants as well as utilize as many native plant species as possible and where appropriate (considering their aesthetic qualities, suitability to light exposure, soil conditions, ultimate height, educational merit, etc.). During construction, FSU Grounds will salvage and move trees to other spots on campus for replanting. Additionally, FSU maintains certain outlying properties in their natural state, to be used for educational purposes.

Due to the age of the FSU campus and the infrastructure currently in place, all irrigation systems utilize potable water with one exception- a small cistern that operates a three zone courtyard irrigation system. However, in an attempt to reduce the amount of potable water used, Grounds is systematically converting irrigation control systems to utilize smart controllers which are better at managing water usage than previous campus irrigation systems.

Grounds collects yard debris, limbs, and cut trees from campus to the FSU nursery to be ground into mulch, which is used again on campus. Cut grass clippings are reused on site during mowing.

As with any good landscape design, FSU Grounds always considers the existing conditions created by the built environment and attempt to improve the space. This is accomplished through the use of appropriate tree placement to increase available shade during the hottest months of the year, shrub placements to soften the built environment, and arrangement for visual interest. Together, these elements create a micro climate which, improves upon heat island affects. Ultimately, each location lends itself to specific treatments and plant selection due to specific environmental conditions such as: exposure, amount of shade, availability of or opportunity to provide irrigation, existing plant material, and utility locations above and below grade.

FSU properties at Alligator Point and the surrounding forest at the FSU Coastal & Marine Laboratory are kept in their natural state.

The Grounds department utilizes numerous environmentally preferable materials, including beneficial microbes as a natural soil amendment to help in the decomposition process. Removal of weed barrier fabric allows for natural decomposition and contributes to the organic components of the surrounding soil. Where feasible, natural leaf litter is left on site to decompose. The grounds of FSU are spot fertilized rarely (a few times a year), with a 15-0-15 fertilizer to reduce phosphorus runoff.