Northwestern University
OP-10: Landscape Management

Northwestern follows IPM practices for our entire campus, although we do not have a written plan for IPM implementation. We use chemicals as the last resort in dealing with pests and weeds. We monitor our grounds for pests and invasions and stress proper identification, making sure the tactics being pursued match the problem, and that no unnecessary pesticides are used. As part of ongoing pest management, we practice prevention methods that ensure pests don’t become a threat. In the event that action is necessary to combat a pest, we choose effective, safe methods to find a solution. Some methods include cultivating more grass to crowd out invasive plants, handpicking weeds, introducing predators like nematodes, or pruning dead wood to prevent insect invasion.

Northwestern is committed to managing our campus landscape in sustainable and low-impact ways. We use rain gauges and “Smart” controllers for irrigation to avoid over-watering. We plant adaptive, low-maintenance, and drought-tolerant plants to reduce the need for fertilizer and irrigation. We’re also experimenting with “no mow” grass at one location on campus, which only requires mowing once per year and reduces fuel use from more frequent mowing.

Northwestern prioritizes using plants that are adaptable to our campus climate wherever possible. We also strive to protect old growth native trees, like the Oak Grove that covers south and central campus. During construction, we salvage trees and plants in and around the construction site by relocating them to other areas across campus. Northwestern’s ground crew manages invasive species by hand weeding.

Lack of space prevents us from composting yard waste on site, however, we do send our yard waste and clippings to a local composting site to be turned into mulch.

Because of our advantageous location in the Midwest and right along Lake Michigan, Northwestern’s campus has naturally ideal soil. Our Facilities Management team strongly prefers preserving and utilizing this native soil wherever possible. About 70 percent of our campus is made up of organic, native soil. When the use of native soil is not possible, we purchase soil that is free of chemicals and toxins and meets regulations.

The local climate prevents Northwestern from using locally-sourced landscape materials all the time, but we do get about half of our landscape materials and plants from local providers. Our annuals, perennials and some trees come from local nurseries. Unless a tree is diseased when it has to be removed it is turned into mulch that is then reused across campus.

Because our campus is right alongside Lake Michigan, maintaining the integrity of the shoreline is a high priority. Regulations by Northwestern and the City of Evanston prevent development and construction at certain points along the lake. When construction interferes with the lakeside, the coastline is repaired afterward. We also plant native species along the shoreline to prevent erosion by holding the soil together. We manage water across campus through the use of daisy basins, cisterns, and retention areas. Gray water has also been used in irrigation efforts around the newly constructed music building on south campus. Irrigation by potable drinking water is avoided where possible.

Northwestern’s number one priority for snow and ice is to ensure the safety of community members on roadways and walkways. When managing for snow and ice, a liquid brine solution is sprayed on roads and walks to pretreat the surface and utilize salt that includes beet juice as an additive, or a brine solution, as much as possible to reduce the amount of salt used. Sand is also sometimes used as a substitute for salt to avoid ice.

The Shakespeare Garden at Northwestern is a small section of North campus certified on the National Historical Register. As part of this register, the property is “considered for protection from destruction or impairment,” but Northwestern is not strictly prohibited from developing or otherwise using this land.