University of Alberta
OP-9: Landscape Management

Exclusions: Agricultural experimental land *this makes up the majority of the excluded areas* Building footprints Areas maintained by other parties (e.g. hospital, transit)

Please see attachment for detailed description. OVERVIEW AND PRINCIPLES Effective and environmentally sound land stewardship is a fundamental component of the university’s landscape management philosophy. Controlling invasive pests while promoting healthy growth of desirable species helps to fulfill this responsibility by: • Reducing health dangers caused by insect or disease infestations • Maintaining indigenous and cultivated/introduced landscape vegetation • Supporting stakeholder activities, i.e. sports, recreational pastime, aesthetic enjoyment • Maintaining wildlife habitat Buildings and Grounds Services uses integrated pest management (IPM) to promote healthy vegetation and guide pest control activities on lands owned and leased by the University of Alberta. This program follows a “traditional” IPM approach (cultural/biological, mechanical, chemical, legislative) to improve plant health and to prevent and manage pest infestations. IPM is a decision-making guideline that gathers critical information and uses all necessary techniques to suppress pest populations effectively, economically and in an environmentally-sound manner that sustains a healthy landscape. IPM strives to reduce reliance on pesticides and to integrate preventative measures and alternative control technologies.

During new construction projects, landscape renovation and restoration initiatives, Buildings and Grounds Services always seeks opportunities to incorporate native and drought-tolerant plant species. The objective is to reduce irrigation demands and to select plants which more readily adapt to Edmonton's climatic conditions. To this end, landscape architects are encouraged to consider native plants – both shrubs and grasses. The use of grass as a ground cover is discouraged and used only in gathering spaces such as the quads.

The university actively looks for ways to incorporate water capture and reuse into landscape management plans and practices. Several examples of water capture for irrigation are highlighted in OP-22 Water Use. Additionally, the university's xeriscaping principles are outlined below. XERISCAPING The principles of xeriscaping are considered and incorporated into all landscape design initiatives, whether in landscape rejuvenation or in new capital projects. The underlying objective is to reduce dependency of all plant materials—whether trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals or turf grass—on potable water. The following eight practices of xeriscape landscape design and maintenance are part of the Buildings and Grounds Services maintenance philosophy: • Design for water conservation and water harvesting by directing rain water and surface run-off to planting beds. • Design groups of plants rather than single plants with similar water needs. • Amend soil to improve nutrient availability and water retention capacities; this provides for healthier plants that can survive with less frequent watering. • Schedule lawn irrigation to provide water at optimum times of the day, and in optimum quantities, such that water is not wated and plants do not become dependent on too much moisture. • Reduce lawn areas, wherever practical, by replacing grass with mulched shrub beds or expanding shrub beds to remove the narrow strips of grass along sidewalks and boulevards. • Increase mowing heights to three inches to decrease evaporation of moisture, encourage deeper plant roots, and promote more vigorous, weed-resistant growth. • Explore the extensive selection of drought tolerant plant materials available for prairie climates and incorporate them into campus landscapes. • Place organic mulch on all soil surfaces in shrub beds, borders and tree wells to conserve water. Examples of landscape construction projects that incorporated xeriscaping principles include: • Triffo Hall (2009) • Centennial Centre for Interdisciplinary Science (2011) • Edmonton Clinic Health Academy (2013); prairie grasses at the north forecourt. • Medical Isotope and Cyclotron Facility (2013); bioswale and rip rap.

All mowers have a mulch kit to grass-cycle trimmings. Yardwaste such as branches and leaves are collected and sent to a local composting facility. The university receives compost back from the same facility to use in flower and shrub beds.

Edmonton receives an average of eight months of snowfall from October to May, with an average annual snowfall of 115 cm (45 1/4 inches). By comparison, Vancouver receives an average of 43 cm (17 inches) over six months; and Toronto receives 133 cm (52 3/8 inches) over seven months. Thus, snow and ice removal practices are an important part of our operations and maintenance strategy. Buildings and Grounds Services (BGS) has taken steps to ensure the safety of the university community while minimizing any negative impact on the landscape. Steps include: • Eliminating salted sand use. • Using a rock chip that requires only a small percentage of salt content to keep the material usable, even in Alberta’s coldest winter months. • Using an eco-friendly ice melt product (Regard Eco-Melt) that minimizes the effects on landscaped areas. • Training staff in the proper use of the ice melt product. AUGUSTANA CAMPUS Augustana Campus in Camrose, Alberta receives an average annual snowfall of 122 cm over eight months, similar to Edmonton. Augustana Campus has implemented a snow and ice removal program that further enhances the practices already in place at other campuses. Along with standard practices consistent with those listed above, a detailed diagram of the campus has been prepared to assist equipment operators in ploughing and storing snow in such a way as to least affect grass, trees, shrubs and spring water runoff. NOTE Weather statistics presented here are from http://www.theweathernetwork.com/statistics/ and represent the average weather conditions over the past 30 years.

Additional Responsible Party Information: North Campus Tom McLean Manager of Landscape Services Augustana Campus Chris Blades Facilities and Operations Manager