| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 56.45 |
| Liaison | Bambi Ingram |
| Submission Date | Feb. 7, 2020 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Alabama at Birmingham
OP-9: Landscape Management
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.00 / 2.00 |
Julie
Price Sustainability Coordinator Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Total campus area (i.e. the total amount of land within the institutional boundary):
503
Acres
Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
| Area (double-counting is not allowed) | |
| Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses a four-tiered approach | 503 Acres |
| Area managed in accordance with an organic land care standard or sustainable landscape management program that has eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials | 0 Acres |
| Area managed using conventional landscape management practices (which may include some IPM principles or techniques) | 0 Acres |
| Total area of managed grounds | 503 Acres |
If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:
Building footprints, sidewalks, and parking lots are not included in these calculations.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
100
If reporting an IPM program, provide:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
Inspection
1. Groundskeepers monitor for pests during regular maintenance of their areas.
2. Groundskeepers remain with the same area for many growing seasons, so they have historical knowledge of plant performance in their areas and typical pests on the plant material, acceptable thresholds, etc.
Landscape Design
1. Resistant varieties: Insect and disease resistant varies are preferred choices in all landscape designs.
2. Native selections: The use of in the landscape design is preferred.
3. Flora displays: All flora displays have a 25% goal for perennial choices to supplement the annual displays.
4. Container flora displays: All container flora displays have succulents as the preferred plant choice
Pest Control
1. Thresholds: Thresholds are determined by each groundskeeper for his/her area, with emphasis on pesticide application being the last resort.
2. Herbicide, pesticide, and fungicide: Judicious use of herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides will be practiced.
3. Herbicide, pesticide, and fungicide delivery: Where applicable pesticides and fungicides will be delivered by injection
4. Herbicide application timing: Pre-emergent applications for all common spaces will occur during the third shift and on weekends.
• Water management: Irrigation shall be timed to coincide with the period of time dew normally forms to minimize disease forming pressure. Drip irrigation shall be used on all shrub and tree areas. Refer to UAB Irrigation Specification:
https://www.uab.edu/facilities/images/dept/PDC/PDF/Standards/Landscape_Standard.pdf
• Of the 85 acres of highly managed turf 59.8 acres receives no post emergent herbicides applicants. Remaining turf receives only 3 annual pre-emergent applications and post-emergent as needed.
Fertilization
1. Fertilizer: Judicious use of fertilizer will be practiced.
2. Soil tests: Soil test shall be performed to determine pH and nutrients needs.
3. Slow release products: Slow release nitrogen of no less than 40% shall be used.
4. Turf: No fertilizer will be used on common and utility areas.
• Of the 85 acres of the managed turf 67 acres receives no fertilizer applications.
5. Shrubs: Fertilizer will be used if the shrub growth or color is under preforming.
Cultural Practices:
1. Mowing height shall be set to avoid shearing.
2. Mower blade sharpening shall occur every eight hours of operation.
3. Mowing return all clippings to turf for nutrient cycling.
4. Leaf litter which falls on turf shall be mulch and returned to the turf.
5. Mulch layers consisting of pine bark and pine straw shall be maintain at 3” to 4” in all shrub and tree acres.
Organic Program
0
If reporting an organic program, provide:
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Optional Fields
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A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
Efficient water use in irrigation systems is a top priority. Irrigation standard specifications at UAB call for rain check devices designed to stop irrigation in the event of heavy rains. In addition, many sites, including Baseball, Softball, and West Campus playing fields, have systems equipped with soil moisture sensors that measure soil conditions and utilize irrigation only when a set low-water status is reached. Irrigation systems are designed with plant-specific irrigation zones, so plants that require less water are irrigated at a lower rate than plants that require more water. In the landscape design process, drought tolerant plant selections are preferred. Mowing blades are sharpened at regular intervals to provide a clean cut of the grass blade, promoting more efficient water use by the plant and thereby requiring less irrigation. Shearing is avoided because it promotes rapid growth and higher water use of the plant.
A brief description of the institution's approach to materials management and waste minimization (e.g. composting and/or mulching on-site waste):
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A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
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A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution (e.g. use of environmentally preferable landscaping materials, initiatives to reduce the impacts of ice and snow removal, wildfire prevention):
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The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.