Northern Arizona University
OP-9: Landscape Management

We have another 450 Acres that are forest land that we do little maintenance to besides thinning for fire prevention.

No chemicals used for pest control. Pesticide-free: No pesticides used for pest control related to turf and landscape maintenance. For the purposes of this document the term “pesticide-free” refers specifically to the use of synthetic pesticides. EPA Rule 25B: Identifies what materials are considered minimum risk pesticides. These products are a special class of pesticides that are not subject to federal registration requirements because their ingredients, both active and inert, are demonstrably safe for the intended use. Weed: An undesired, uncultivated plant growing in a manner so as to adversely compete with desirable plants for water, light and nutrients, or destroy aesthetic qualities of a lawn or landscaped area. Weeds are also identified as undesired plants growing in areas which are not designed for plant growth such as parking lots and sidewalks. Pesticide: Any chemical (or mixture of chemicals) or biological agent used to control plant or animal pests in order to protect and/or preserve desirable plants. Herbicide: A pesticide designed to control or kill plants, weeds, or grasses. Selective: Term usually applied to an herbicide that has the ability to only destroy one type of plant while not affecting others. Non-Selective: Term usually applied to an herbicide that will destroy any type of plant to which it is applied. Contact Herbicide: A weed killer that kills primarily by contact with plant tissues. Systemic Herbicide: A weed killer that kills by being translocated throughout the plant. Pre-emergent: The application of an herbicide before the weed emerges from the soil. Post-emergent: The application of an herbicide after the weed has emerged from the soil. Synthetic: Product that is chemically engineered normally using non organic sources. (There are herbicides, such as the Nicotinal Class, that are engineered products which are based on naturally occurring compounds, in this case Nicotine.) Natural: Product derived from various organic sources. Campus Grounds: Outdoor areas that have the potential to be accessed by humans and animals. This definition includes: turf, shrub and rock beds, parking lots, and sidewalks. As it related to this document campus grounds excludes natural areas which may require specific work for noxious weed control and athletic fields which may require a high level of maintenance as prescribed by the NCAA sports turf guidelines. Campus grounds also excludes injections for tree health, however any pesticide spraying for tree health should be reviewed by the Campus Pesticide Application Advisory Board. Unmanageable Areas: Turf areas that have conditions such as poor quality soil, improper grading, irrigation deficiencies, extreme microclimates, and/or concentrated student and or event usage that are too small or tight to use existing equipment to perform follow up cultural practices (i.e. aeration, seeding) necessary to improve soil and turf health.

Campus lawns are maintained at a level that allows the grass to out-compete the weeds. This process includes: aeration/processing of pulled cores, top dressing and over seeding. Manual removal of weeds is also part of the process.

General: All specified planting materials shall be of species that has a proven history of resilience in this Northern Arizona locale. Preference shall be given to designs that center around a xeriscape approach and utilize drip irrigation. Trees and Shrubs: All specified tree and shrub plant material must be in place prior to September 1. All plant material used shall be of types proven hardy for the area and situation. New, novel or “different” plants shall be restricted to approval from grounds administration. Current turfgrass species being seeded in the SLM project are perennial rye and Kentucky bluegrass (choosing cultivars which are best adapted to our climate). Native grasses that have proven success are being utilized in natural landscape areas. In 2015, NAU created a Tree Plan in accordance with the Arbor Day's Tree Campus USA requirements. NAU maintains current Tree Campus certification by administering a tree care plan.

Preference shall be given to designs that center around a xeriscape approach and utilize drip irrigation. NAU uses native plants that require less watering. NAU is implementing a central control system called Calsense. this system will save about 30% of our water and reclaimed water use.

NAU Grounds department collects all grass clippings, pine needles, and leaves for use in composting. We also use food waste from our dining halls that is incorporated in our compost program. We use mulching blades on our mowers

The university uses a commercially available naturally occurring de-icer. This de-icer is magnesium chloride and it has been tested and meets environmental requirements in Arizona and Colorado. We are currently working with our forestry dept on forest management for healthy forest which includes thinning and tree inventory.