G. Landscape Maintenance The success of this plan will depend to some extent, upon the quality and sustain- ability of UNK landscape maintenance. Current levels of maintenance vary from one section of campus to another however, to meet the goals of this plan, some reordering will be required. Since the creation of a more contiguous green core and the development of a consistent landscape image and character is a primary principle of this plan, a consistent level of landscape maintenance throughout the major green spaces is recommended. APPA’s Guidelines for Grounds Management describes five levels of maintenance. Ideally the campus gateways and key public plazas such as the fountain plaza and the proposed plaza at the west end of the 26th Street Mall, would receive “Level 1” maintenance. Green spaces within the core of the campus such as Founders Quadrangle, University Green, and West Park as well as the residential portions of campus and the roadway edges would receive “Level Two” maintenance, and locations outside of these zones should receive a “Level 3” maintenance, or better. To achieve this goal as well as the sustainability objectives of this plan, some changes may be required to UNK’s maintenance staff size, personnel qualifications, and management approach. Landscape Maintenance Standards prepared by the University of Nebraska-Lin- coln’s Landscape Services Department address these requirements and should be consulted for direction in responding to the challenges of this plan. UNK should also consider becoming a “Tree Campus USA”. UNL achieved this goal by meeting the core standards of tree management and community engagement required by the Arbor Day Foundation.
Grass Recommendations Turf Grass: utilize UNL’s RTF (Rhizomatous Tall Fescue) Water Saver Sod from Todd Valley Farms, Mead, NE, Tel. 800-869-8544. Warm Season Native Grass: In native areas with full sun and lower soil moisture, use the following seeds at the allocated PLS LBS/AC: Little Bluestem (1.5), Sideoats Grama (2.0), Blue Grama (.5), Buffalograss (1.25). Oats can be used as a winter cover crop (32). Available from United Seeds, Omaha, NE, Tel. 402-331-4800 Cool Season Native Grass: In native areas with shade and higher soil moisture, use the following seeds at the allocated PLS LBS/AC: Western Wheatgrass (1.5), Slender Wheatgrass (1.0), Canada Wildrye (2.0), Thickspike Wheatgrass (1.0). Oats can be used as a winter cover crop (32). Available from United Seeds, Omaha, NE, Tel. 402-331-4800 Wildflowers: native wildflowers can be seeded into native grass areas in the spring after the grass has had a full season of growth. Use 3 PLS LBS/AC with the following percentages: Blackeyed Susan (25%), Pale Purple Coneflower (25%), Purple Cone
d. Educational and training sessions should be provided on a regular basis to maintenance employees on such topics as: integrated pest management, soil preparation and maintenance, tree and shrub selection and maintenance, turf grass maintenance, perennial plant selection and maintenance, native grass seeding and maintenance, wildflower seeding and maintenance, and sustainable practices for landscape maintenance. e. Motor vehicles including trucks, vans, cars, and maintenance vehicles should not be driven or parked on lawns or planted areas. f. Campus locations that exhibit chronic landscape maintenance problems should be identified and mapped. Experts should be consulted to assist the Univer- sity in developing strategies for resolving these issues. g. Trees and shrubs should never be topped. Pruning should maintain the central leader of each tree and the natural shape of each tree and shrub. Shearing of shrubs should only be practiced on formal hedges composed of plants that are tolerant of these practices such as Ligustrum species (Privet.) h. Set mower deck elevations at 3” for mowing turf areas. Grass of this height will reduce weeds and requirements for herbicides and irrigation. i. Perennial planting beds should receive special maintenance to ensure that the planting is full and healthy during each growing season and that dead or dy- ing plants are promptly removed and replaced. Special requirements for pruning, composting, herbicide application, and pest control should be followed, per UNL standards. j. To maintain a sense of safety, clear visibility into nearby landscape areas should be maintained from parking lots, building entries, and pathways. Trees and large shrubs that are adjacent to pathways or parking lots should be pruned up, removing lower foliage producing branches up to 7 feet in height to allow clear sight lines. Shrubs in these critical zones should be carefully selected to ensure that their height does not exceed 3 feet. Taller shrubs and low branching trees that have foliage within the critical sight zone from 3 to 7 feet in height are acceptable if they: are not adjacent to key activity areas, planted in small groupings, and there is clear visibility on all sides of the plant mass. H. Sustainability and Storm Water Management As our climate changes, resources become more valuable, and the effects of pollu- tion become more pronounced, the preservation, development, and maintenance of college campus landscapes in the traditional way, becomes more difficult and expensive. Counteracting these forces and moving toward more sustainable plan- ning is a goal of this plan. Sources for site sustainability recommendations made herein include the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system; the Ameri- can Society of Landscape Architects’ (ASLA) Sustainable Sites Initiative; New York City Parks’ A Plan for Sustainable Practices within NYC Parks, and UNL’s “Land- scape Maintenance Standards.” Small changes in policies, materials, and practices can make a big difference over time. Applying the following recommendations will benefit environmental health, as well as reduce costs, and the consumption of resources.
flower (20%), Purple Prairie Clover (25%), Western Yarrow (5%).
Flowering Annuals
The addition of colorful flowering annuals to planting beds and planter pots is recommended for the summer months at the most publicly visible zones on cam- pus such as building entrances, the visitor’s center, student union, fountain plaza, and administrative offices. An annual budget should be established for the instal- lation and maintenance of flowering annuals. Grants and donations should also be sought for this specialized beautification. The selection of colors and types of plantings should be consistent throughout campus. Planter pots should be of the same type and finish but arranged in odd numbered groupings that include at least one of each diameter: 24”, 36”, and 48.” Recommended model: “Downtown” Round, glass reinforced concrete with internal self-watering irrigation system, acid etch finish, and Terra Cotta color. Manufactured by Tournesol Siteworks, Hayward, CA 800-542-2282.
UNK Maintenance
Recommendations for UNK Landscape Maintenance to help achieve the goals of this plan: a. A Nebraska Certified Arborist, should perform all tree pruning. b. A Horticultural expert with a Bachelors or Masters degree in Horticultural Science and a specialty in landscape maintenance should be on site to supervise and participate in landscape maintenance on a day-to-day basis. He or she should also participate in the review of proposed landscape and irrigation plans for cam- pus projects. c. University landscape maintenance employees should be encouraged to become Certified Master Gardeners through the UNL Master Gardener Program. Incentives to volunteer for this program and personal recognition of certified members should be provided.
Colorful plantings at Texas Tech University
UNK Trash & Recycling Enclosures
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Chroma Design Inc.
University of Nebraska - Kearney Campus Landscape Master Plan
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