Ohio University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Forested acreage at Ridges Approximately 630 acres, Abandoned farm at Hebbardsville, Airport non-mowed areas, etc

Ohio University Grounds Dept developed an IPM Program and adopted in 2019. 2020 is the 4thyear OU has been designated Tree Campus USA status. Areas managed organically include the Student Food Farm (formerly known as the P Biology Learning Gardens) which provides outdoor classroom education in growing food plants, Food is sold to general public, restuarants and donated to local Food Banks. Proceeds fund student scholarships. Native planting sites (11 sites) which are mowed 1x per year in late March or April, and two Ridges cemeteries which receive no chemical inputs.

IPM Plan completed and adopted Spring 2019.

Campus Grounds Dept specifies and utilizes diverse groups of both native and adaptive, drought tolerant,disease and insect resistant, low maintenance plants throughout campus. Deer-browse resistant plants have become important as the population of deer on campus has grown. Particular emphasis is placed on preservation of canopy cover to mitigate hardscape and heat island effect, provide carbon sequestration, and to clean and absorb storm water. In locations where exclusive native plantings occur, signage is offered to educate passersby. Invasive species are controlled by hand removal, mechanical removal and follow-up chemical treatment if necessary with attention to species flowering cycles and timing of seed production.

Ohio University Sustainability Plan prevents construction and use of potable water irrigation for use on ornamental lawns unless plant material health is in jepordy or during plant establishment period. ICA Facilities and Golf Course use pond water for irrigation.

All landscape waste (from Athens campus) is sent to Ohio University's Class IV compost facility located on Dairy Lane on the Athens campus. This is an open air system. This system provides compost as a soil conditioner for use on Campus Grounds areas. Tthe Class II, in-vessel system also creates valuable compost and mulching materials from food waste and wood chips for use on Campus Grounds and at the OU Student Farm.. Wood chips from campus tree maintenance are also used on campus pedestrian paths and in secondary landscape beds as well as the campus tree nursery Purchased mulch is a ground hardwood bark harvested from temperate zone trees. Plants are routinely transplanted to new locations when displaced by building renovations or new construction.

Trees are strategically sited to shade hardscape, buildings and mitigate heat island effect. GreenRoofs exist in 3 locations with a 3rd project slated for Schoonover Center. Steep slopes are planted to naturalized meadow/prairie plantings or no-mow fesuces which protects employees, reduces mowing emissions and creates wildlife/insect habitat (these areas are identified with signage).

Battery Operated push mowers, blowers, weed-eaters and trimmers have been in use for over 4 years. No noise and no emissions on-site allow work to be performed at any hour. Electric vehicles (ATV's) are being examined in an effort to swtich out from diesel. Bee populations are routinely protected by altering Grounds practices during bee emergence & mating activity and also through the use of signage educating the public about bees and why they are being protected. All trees in mainatained areas are surrounded by mulch rings to prevent mower damage and reduce competition with turf.

Data provided by Susan Calhoun on 5/7/2020 and entered in by Sydney Hutchinson on 5/8/2020.