IFMA_Sustainable Landscaping Guide_Final.pdf

7/29/2019 IFMA_Sustainable Landscaping Guide_Final.pdf

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Sustainable Landscaping

Steven W. Gustafson, PhD

Horticulturist, Agronomist

The GroundskeeperRandy Zellers

Community Services Manager

DC Ranch

Kent Miller, FMP

Vice President of Sales

and Development

The Groundskeeper

Sustainability How-To Guide Series


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SUSTAINABILITY GUIDE - SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING

3

2010 IFMA Foundation

IFMA Sustainability Committee (ISC)

The IFMA Sustainability Committee (ISC) is charged with developing and implementing strategic andtactical sustainability initiatives. A current initiative involves working with the IFMA Foundation on thedevelopment of a series of How-To Guides that will help educate facility management professionalsand others with similar interests in a wide variety of topics associated with sustainability and the builtenvironment.

The general objectives of these How-To Guides are as follows:

1. To provide data associated with a wide range of subjects related to sustainability, energy savingsand the built environment

2. To provide practical information associated with how to implement the steps being recommended

3. To present a business case and return-on-investment (ROI) analysis, wherever possible, justifyingeach green initiative being discussed

4. To provide information on how to sell management on the implementation of the sustainabilitytechnology under discussion

5. To provide case studies of successful examples of implementing each green initiative

6. To provide references and additional resources (e.g., Web sites, articles, glossary) where readerscan go for additional information

7. To work with other associations for the purpose of sharing and promoting sustainability content

The guides are reviewed by an editorial board, an advisory board and, in most cases, by invited externalreviewers. Once the guides are completed, they are distributed free of charge via the IFMA FoundationsWeb site www.ifmafoundation.org.

FOREWORD
http://www.ifmafoundation.org/http://www.ifmafoundation.org/


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ISC Members

Eric Teicholz, Chair, IFMA Fellow, President,Graphic Systems, Inc.

Charlie Claar, PE, CFM, CFMJ, Director,Academic Affairs, IFMA Foundation

Isilay Civan, PhD2

, LEED AP, Strategic Planner,HOK

Bill Conley, CFM, CFMJ, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow,Managing Director, Sustainable Development,Pacic Building Care

Laurie Gilmore, PE, CFM, LEED AP, Associate,Facility Engineering Associates

Chris Hodges, PE, CFM, LEED AP, IFMA Fellow,Principal, Facility Engineering Associates

Angela Lewis, LEED AP, PhD Candidate,University of Reading; High Performance

Buildings Engineer, Building IntelligenceGroup

Marc S. Liciardello, CFM, MBA CM, VicePresident, Corporate Services, ARAMARK

Robert S. Mihos, CFM, Conservation ProgramsManager, Holland Board of Public Works

Patrick Okamura, CFM, CSS, CIAQM, LEED AP,Facility Manager, General Dynamics C4 Systems

Cathy Pavick, Vice President of Education, IFMA

Cynthia Putnam, CSBA, Project Director,Northwest Energy Efciency Council

Andrea Sanchez, Director of Communications,Editor-in-Chief, Facility Management Journal,IFMA

Jon Seller, Optegy Group

Sarah Slaughter, Professor, MIT Sloan School ofManagement

Jeffrey J. Tafel, CAE, Director of Councils, IFMA

Wayne Tantrum, Managing Director, New WorldSustainable Solutions; Chairman, EuroFM

Pat Turnbull, LEED AP, President,Kayhan International

Kit Tuveson, CFM, President, Tuveson &Associates LLC

Brian Weldy, PE, CEM, DGCP, Vice President ofEngineering and Facility Management,Hospital Corporation of America (HCA)

Craig Zurawski, Executive Director, Alliance forSustainable Built Environments (ASBE)

June 2010

IFMA Foundation

1 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 1100Houston, TX 77046-0194Phone: 713-623-4362

www.ifmafoundation.org

The mission of the IFMA Foundation is to promote and sup-port scholarships, educational and research opportunities forthe advancement of facility management worldwide.

Established in 1990 as a nonprot, 501(c)(3) corporation, the

IFMA Foundation is supported by the generosity of a com-munity of individualsIFMA members, chapters, councils,

corporate sponsors and private contributorsand is proudto be an instrument of information and opportunities for theprofession and its representatives.

A separate entity from IFMA, the IFMA Foundation receivesno funding from annual membership dues to carry out itsmission. Supported by the generosity of the FM commu-nity, the IFMA Foundation provides education, research andscholarships for the benet of FM professionals and students.

Foundation contributors share the belief that education andresearch improve the FM profession.
http://www.ifmafoundation.org/http://www.ifmafoundation.org/


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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Landscaping provides many benets to a

facility. Some of the benets include shading

of surrounding buildings, areas for recreationand aesthetic appeal to help make a good rst

impression of the facility. Sustainable landscapingprovides these benets while balancing

environmental, economic and social needs of thefacility. The goal of this guide is to help facility

managers, and those who work with facilitymanagers, to better understand what sustainablelandscaping is and how to apply sustainablelandscaping practices.

The Introduction of this guide denes sustainability

and offers an overview of the three phases oflandscaping. Section 3, Detailed Findings,provides a summary of the three phases ofa landscape project: design, constructionand maintenance, including plant-specic

recommendations, tips when forming a landscapeteam and options to decrease maintenance costs.

Section 3 seeks to answer several questions: What is sustainable landscaping?

What are the advantages of a sustainable

landscape?> During design> During construction> During maintenance

What steps should a facility manager follow to

obtain a sustainable landscape?

Section 4, Making the Business Case, providesinsight for the facility manager to make thebusiness case for sustainable landscaping to thebuilding owner. The section includes a discussionof how to develop a plan and how to calculatereturn on investment (ROI).

In Section 5, Case Studies, three real world case

studies are presented. The rst case study, DeerValley School District, discusses what can beachieved when there is little to no extra budgetto work with. The second case study, Las VegasHilton, demonstrates how rebates can be usedto implement a project when funding is availablebut limited. The third case study, DC Ranch,showcases the sustainable design, constructionand maintenance of a landscape whensustainability is a priority and funding is availableto support the effort.

As the topic of sustainable landscaping is

continuously evolving and can vary broadly byclimate, this guide is not intended to be an all-inclusive resource. Readers are encouraged toconsult the extensive list of additional resourcesprovided in Appendix B.

Expand knowledge of the built environment, in a changing world,through scholarships, education and research

The Vision Statement of the IFMA Foundation


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2 INTRODUCTION

Sustainability is dened as the ability to meet

our needs without compromising the ability offuture generations to meet theirs (Brundtland1987). To apply the denition of sustainability, the

triple bottom line is often considered. The triplebottom line takes into account the environment,economics and social impacts. Applying the triplebottom line to landscaping:

Scial: The landscape and building exteriormake a signicant impact and rst impressionon those who work and visit a building. Thelandscape can set the tone for how buildingoccupants feel about being in the building andif they will choose to spend time outside thebuilding during breaks or lunch periods.

Ecmic: The cost of maintaining the buildinglandscape must be balanced with many othercosts, including capital improvements, utilities,custodial and scheduled maintenance costs.

Evirmetal: A sustainable landscaperequires proper selection of native and/or

adapted plants to minimize the amount ofirrigation and fertilizers required to maintaina healthy landscape.

There are three primary phases of landscaping:design, construction and maintenance. Eachsignicantly impacts the long-term outcome of

a sustainable landscape. This guide providesinsights for facility managers, and those workingwith facility managers, on introducing sustainablelandscaping practices at the site of a singlebuilding or campus of buildings, and on advancingsustainable landscaping practices at facilities that

have already started to implement sustainablelandscaping practices.

The purpose of this guide is to give an overviewof sustainable landscape design, construction andmaintenance, with an emphasis on sustainablelandscape maintenance. This guide is organizedinto several sections, including detailed ndings,

making the business case and case studies. Thedetailed ndings section includes an overview of:

Sustainable landscape design

> Design intent for soils and vegetation,material selection and human health

Sustainable landscape construction

Sustainable landscape maintenance and special

considerations dependent upon:> Soil, fertilizers and plant types> Irrigation methods> Pest and weed control> Plant sanitation> Maintenance activities, including pruning,

shearing, mulching, mowing and powerraking

The making the business case section builds uponthe detailed ndings by applying the concepts

discussed to help facility managers, and thoseworking with facility managers, to develop aplan and calculate the return on investment for

sustainable landscaping projects.

The case studies section gives three practicalexamples of how the business case was madeto design, construct and maintain sustainablelandscapes at three different facilities. Therst case study, Deer Valley School District,

captures the challenges when limited funding isavailable. The second case study, Las VegasHilton, demonstrates how available rebatescan help achieve sustainability goals whenfunds may be limited. The third case study,DC Ranch, showcases an owner committed to

having a sustainable landscape and who hadfunds available to support the sustainabilitycommitments.


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3 DETAILED FINDINGS

Sustainable landscaping is dened as the design,

construction, operation and maintenance of asite that meet the needs of the present withoutcompromising the ability of future generationsto meet their own needs (SSI 2009b). Thisdenition covers the three phases of sustainable

landscapes: Design, also known as planning

Construction Maintenance

3.1 Sstaiable Ladscape DesiAll landscape projects, large or small, shouldbegin with planning and design. New installationsor complete landscape renovations are usuallyreferred to as landscape construction. Smallerrenovations are often called improvements. Therst step of landscape planning and design is team

selection. Team selection includes forming a teamthat includes architect(s), landscape architect(s) ordesigner(s), a full-service landscape management

company, client (owners), end users and otherswith expertise in landscape construction andmaintenance. Members of the team should haveexpertise in soils, hydrology, vegetation andlandscape ecology.

The second step is site selection. When selectinga site, the following should be considered: Protection of soils that are designated as

prime farmland, unique farmland or farmland ofstatewide importance

Protection of oodplains, aquifers and

groundwater

Preservation of wetlands and habitat supportingendangered species

How plants can be used to minimize storm

water runoff

Desirable sustainable sites for new landscapesand building development include grayelds,

brownelds, those in existing communities, and

those that encourage nonmotorized transportationand use of public transit (SSI 2009b).

Once a site is selected, the third step is toconduct a pre-design site assessment andidentify sustainable opportunities. The purposeof the pre-design site assessment is to collectdetailed, accurate information about siteconditions. Detailed site information helps tomake sustainable decisions about the site design,construction and maintenance processes.

After the pre-design process is complete, thedesign process can begin. A well-developedlandscape design will include practices to reducewater consumption, pruning and repetitive labortasks as the landscape matures. Each amenity inthe landscape turf, trees, shrubs, groundcoverand seasonal color needs to be thought aboutlong term. Microclimates will change as thelandscape matures. Therefore, to avoid replantingcosts it is important to take into account matureplant sizes when locating plants.

SSI (2009b) identies four major emphases forsustainable landscape design: Water

Soil and vegetation

Materials selection

Human health and well-being

The emphasis for water includes the protectionand restoration of site hydrologic processes,including: Reducing use of potable water for irrigation by a

minimum of 50 percent Protecting and restoring riparian, wetland and

shoreline buffers Rehabilitating lost streams, wetlands and

shorelines Managing storm water on site

Protecting water quality and enhancing on-site

water resources Designing rainwater/storm water features to

provide landscape irrigation


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3.1.1 Desi Itet r Sil ad VeetatiThe design intent for soil and vegetation is toprotect and restore associated processes andsystems. This includes (SSI 2009b): Taking inventory of soils and plant quantities

that are naturally occurring on the site Controlling and managing invasive species

Using native and adapted, noninvasive plants

Creating a soil management plan

Minimizing soil disturbance during design andconstruction, including preservation of specialstatus plants

Preserving and restoring plant biomass

Preserving and restoring native plant

communities, and using vegetation to reducebuilding heating and/or cooling, thus reducingurban heat island effects

Reducing the risk of catastrophic wildres

3.1.2 Desi Itet r Material SelectiMaterial selection and use are signicant

components of site sustainability. Sustainablesite design practices related to materialselection include eliminating the use of woodfrom threatened tree species; maintaining on-site structures; using hardscape and landscapeamenities (water features, gazebos, sculptures,etc.); designing for demolition and disassembly;reusing salvaged materials, plants and on-sitefeatures; using recycled content materials;

using certied wood; using regional materials;

supporting sustainable plant production practices;and supporting sustainable practices in materialsmanufacturing. Structural, architectural or pavingsurfaces should be selected to have a minimumsolar reectance index of 29 (SSI 2009a)

3.1.3 Desi Itet r Hma HealthThe landscape design should be appropriate forthe intended end use. To determine appropriateend use conditions, human health and well-being should also be considered. The intentof sustainable site design for human healthand well-being is to build strong communitiesand a sense of stewardship. This includes thepromotion of equitable site development and use;sustainability awareness and education; protectionand maintenance of unique cultural and historical

places; designs that support optimum siteaccessibility and safety; opportunities for outdoorphysical activity; views of vegetation and quietoutdoor spaces for mental restoration; outdoorspaces for social interaction; and reducing lightpollution (SSI 2009a).

3.2 Sstaiable Ladscape CstrctiAfter the design is complete, a contractor is hiredto start construction. Techniques used duringconstruction can have long-term impacts onthe site and surrounding land. Therefore, when

selecting and working with the contractor todetermine appropriate construction techniques,be sure to keep sustainability in mind. If a lowbid process is being used, the contractor maybe looking for cost reduction measures that maynegatively impact construction methods and/ormaterial selection and thus negatively impact thesustainability goals for the project. Keeping thedesign team engaged during construction shouldhelp to build a relationship with the contractor andkeep the goals at the forefront until the project iscomplete.

Before construction can begin, it is important tohave a plan in place for: Controlling and retaining construction pollutants

Restoring soils disturbed during construction

Using appropriate equipment for the task

To control and retain construction pollutantsmeans to prevent and minimize discharge ofconstruction site pollutants from the site during

REDuCIng uSE of PoTABLEwATER foR IRRIgATIon CAn BEACHIEVED THRougH A nuMBER

of wAyS

use adapted r ative ladscapeplats, as the reqire lessirriati

Redce r elimiate tr ithithe ladscape

use drip irriati, mistresesrs ad/r eather data

use ra (reclaimed) r -ptable ater, he available;sme l crses se retetipds t cllect raiater rirriati


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construction; to protect water and air quality; andto maintain a safe environment for the publicaround the construction site. To control and retainconstruction pollutants, a storm water pollutionprotection plan (SWPPP) should be developedand followed. The SWPPP should list and

mandate best management practices (BMP) toprevent: Loss of soil from the construction site from

storm water runoff or wind erosion Runoff or inltration of pollutants such as fuels,

lubricants, solvents, hydraulic uids, concrete

wash or other hazardous chemicals Sedimentation of receiving waters or other

public infrastructure Pollution of the air with dust and particulate

matter

To restore soil that was disturbed during

construction requires rebuilding the soils abilityto support healthy plants, biological communities,water storage and inltration. The soil restoration

process includes ve categories: organic matter,

compaction, inltration rates, biologic function

and chemical characteristics. When restoringsoil, it is also important to consider how thecurrent construction efforts could help to restoresoil surrounding the construction site disturbedby previous development; how construction anddemolition waste can be diverted from the landll;

how reuse and recycling methods can be usedfor surplus vegetation, rocks and soil; and how

greenhouse gas emissions can be minimizedduring the construction process (SSI 2009). Seethe Sustainable Site Initiative (2009a) for detailedinformation.

Often, surplus vegetation, rocks and soil canbe reused and/or recycled on site during theconstruction process. The most economicalpractice is to reuse the materials on site becauseit does not require hauling or landll costs. Soil

and rocks can often be used for cut and ll, as well

as building berms and/or rock features. Surplusvegetation can often be used in the landscapeor be ground into mulch on or off site for reuse(SSI 2009a). If the materials cannot be used onthe current site, it may be possible to use them atanother site or within a manufacturing process.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions duringconstruction requires careful review of currentconstruction practices. Practices that should bereviewed include (SSI 2009a): Equipment and vehicle idle time

Equipment manufacturer maintenance

requirements Low sulfur diesel fuels usage

Alternative fuel (such as electric, natural gas or

biodiesel) equipment usage Local vendor selection to decrease emissions

associated with travel time Product choices emphasizing low volatile

organic compound (VOC) content

Cranes and other equipment can be used toprevent soil compaction in landscaped areas and/or prevent disturbing natural areas (see Figure 1).

Some landscape contractors are also starting

to use biodiesel fueled vehicles (Hall 2009). Inaddition, low decibel equipment can be used toreduce noise pollution.

fire 1: Crae istalli 48 (1,220 mm) bx pal verde tree


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3.3 Sstaiable Ladscape MaiteaceSustainable landscape maintenance begins with amaintenance plan. The maintenance plan shouldbe developed by a team including the facilitymanager, the landscape architect or designer,and the account manager of the landscape

maintenance rm. The plan should be a long-term, 10-year document outlining the desiredoutcome as a result of implementing the plan.More specically, the plan should include:

Scaled site plan

Inventory of existing vegetation

Skill level required to complete specied tasks

and training requirements Schedule for each maintenance practice for

each season Plant and soil stewardship

Invasive species management

Organic plant materials management

Irrigation and water use Storm water management

Snow and ice management

Hardscape and structure management

Recyclable material and waste management

Equipment use and maintenance

Fertilizer management practices

Mulching and composting practices

Maintenance requirements for paints and

sealants

As the plan is developed and implemented, it isimportant to acknowledge that the plan should be

modied as new sustainable practices becomeavailable and needs for the landscape change.

When developing the maintenance plan, besure to differentiate between the needs for livingversus nonliving components. Living componentsinclude plants, animals that inhabit the landscapeand unseen soil fauna. Hardscapes includenonliving components, such as berms, terraces,masonry, pavement, water features, swimmingpools, sculptures, boulders, rock mulches, trailsand outdoor lighting. Most nonliving landscapecomponents, except water features and swimmingpools, require relatively low maintenance. Alllandscape components should be maintainedfor safety, function and longevity. To sustainablymaintain hardscapes, clean them only as often asneeded using water and environmentally friendlyproducts when possible. If it is necessary torepaint or reseal hardscapes, be sure to use lowVOC paints and sealants.

To maintain water features and swimmingpools using sustainable practices requirescareful selection of methods that will minimizeenvironmental impacts. For example, to minimizealgae blooms, microbes can be used to removephosphates from water. The use of microbes can

increase soil fauna when the water is used forirrigation.

Snow and ice removal can have harmful effectson site safety, longevity of pavement surfacesand plant health. Carefully select snow and iceremoval products to determine which will have alower environmental impact. If deicing chemicalsare used, be sure to store them in a place andmanner that avoids contaminating water sources(SSI 2009a). If deicing chemicals must bemixed for use, be sure to follow manufacturersuggestions to decrease negative environmental

impacts.

Trash and debris removal is a major aestheticand safety concern for landscape maintenance.

All plant debris, whether due to human activity ornatural events, should be removed as soon aspossible. Plant debris should be composted eitheron or off site. When picking up trash from the site,sort waste and recyclable materials and dispose ofappropriately (SSI 2009a).

3.3.1 Sil Tpe

Soil type is an important factor to be consideredwhen developing the landscape maintenance plan.There are three major soil types: neutral, acidicand alkaline. It is important to select plants for thecorrect soil type. When alkaline soil is present,plants adapted to alkaline conditions should beselected. It is not advisable to neutralize the soilto allow the selection of non-alkaline plants. Somescientists (Chalker 2007) report that amending thebackll of planting holes will actually lead to poor

root establishment and eventual high mortalityof landscape plants. This suggests that usingorganic mulches and soil amendments is notalways a panacea to healthy landscape plantsand stresses the importance of choosing plantsadapted to specic site conditions.


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3.3.2 fertilizersUsing high-quality organic top dressing can reduceor eliminate the need for traditional syntheticfertilizers. When fertilizers must be used, it isimportant to rst determine the correct type to

apply, given climate and application requirements.

After the correct fertilizer is selected, when it isapplied, it is important to remember to not applymore fertilizer than necessary. Over applicationcan cause nitrates to pollute surface andgroundwater, and is uneconomical. To reduceconcerns regarding over application, considerusing synthetic fertilizers. Slow-release syntheticfertilizers minimize nutrient leaching and runoff.Synthetic fertilizers should be applied with a topdressing after the rst aeration of the season and

again in the late fall. Humic acid can also beapplied with a synthetic fertilizer to stimulate bioticactivity and nutrient uptake.

Compost teas are an organic alternative tosynthetic fertilizers. Compost teas containsubstantial and diverse microbes and nutrients toincrease plant growth and decrease some plantdiseases and insect pests. The use of compostteas are likely to increase as the use and cost ofsynthetic fertilizers increases.

3.3.3 IrriatiWater is a precious resource. Even somemetropolitan areas like Seattle, Washington, andPortland, Oregon, known for their extended wetseasons, have placed restrictions on residentiallandscape irrigation over the last few years. Therestrictions are due to infrastructure deciencies,

drought and increases in population.

In most regions, proper irrigation is also essentialfor healthy turf. Most turfgrass needs 1 inch(2.54 centimeters) of water per week duringgrowing seasons. Without enough water, manyturfgrasses will dry out and go dormant or die. In

most circumstances, for healthy turf, a single deepirrigation once per week is preferential to severalshort applications. However, climate and soil typeimpact the frequency and amount of irrigationnecessary. For example, clay or sandy soils canincrease the frequency of irrigation. Irrigation

is important, but be careful to not over irrigate.Over irrigation is wasteful and can increase plantmortality.

Automated irrigation systems are the mostsustainable irrigation method. Automatedirrigation systems can be tied to rain gauges orevapotranspiration data to minimize the amountof irrigation needed, maximizing the benets of

precipitation. Automated irrigation systems canutilize reclaimed water or harvested precipitationto reduce the volume of potable water used forirrigation. Manual irrigation is not recommendedas a sustainable landscape maintenance practice.Manual irrigation generally results in too much

or not enough irrigation. An exception to thisrecommendation is for turf located on steep slopesor for turf planted on soil with poor percolation. Amore sustainable option is to plant turf alternativeson steep slopes and on soils with poor percolation.

When selecting an irrigation system, it isimportant to understand the long-term return oninvestment, including reduced water costs andtighter management of irrigation controllers. Oneirrigation system that should be considered is acomputerized central control system. A centralcontrol system uses data to calculate irrigationruntimes for individual stations. The runtime isbased on a factor of wind speed, temperature andmoisture loss of plants. Water leaks and overusage are also reported daily to irrigation staff toquickly address these concerns. Central controlsystems can be a valuable tool to reduce waterconsumption.

oraic ardeers ill te sealala pellets t bst the amt

itre i the sil r rametalplatis.

Deep irrigatin encurages the rtsf the turfgrass t grw deeper intthe sil and have greater surface areafrm which t extract misture andnutrients, resulting in healthier turf.


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Sustainable irrigation practices minimize the useof potable water. To obtain credits under thesustainable sites category for LEED certication

requires potable water used for irrigation bedecreased by 50 percent (SSI 2009a). AdditionalLEED points can be earned when the use ofnon-potable water for irrigation is increased to 80percent or more. The use of non-potable water,

also called graywater, should be utilized both on alarge scale and on the individual residential level.Within the United States, southwestern desertcities like Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona, andLas Vegas, Nevada, frequently use graywater toirrigate golf courses and parks.

To ensure that plants are not being over irrigated,

meter, trend and track irrigation water consumption.

Metering, trending and tracking irrigation water

consumption will also help determine if there are

leaks or other problems with the system.

Other sustainable irrigation practices to considerinclude: Rain gardens and retention ponds

Graywater reclamation

Xeriscaping

Rain gardens and retention ponds are two waysrainwater can be collected for irrigation andaesthetic use on a site. A rain garden is a smallgarden that is designed to capture storm water

and can withstand extreme moisture and nutrientconcentrations. Rain gardens are generallyattractive and can be the home of birds andbutteries (Rain Garden 2007). Retention ponds

are typically larger areas of land that are used tocapture storm water. In some cases, retentionponds are designed to be aesthetically pleasingand provide a source of irrigation water and amethod to decrease runoff rates from a site. Inother cases, aesthetics may not play a part inretention pond design.

Graywater is water that is not treated to potable(drinking) quality, but can be used for non-potable applications, such as irrigation and toiletushing. When considering using graywater

for irrigation or uses within a building, it is veryimportant to contact the local code and/or zoningofcials having jurisdiction over the building and

site. Requirements for water treatment, storage,coloration, signage and use vary widely by

jurisdiction and how the graywater will be used.Figure 3 is an example of required signage at apublic park within the San Francisco Bay Area

stating that reclaimed (recycled) water is beingused for irrigation.

fire 2: Cre istalli drip irriati tbi i Tcs,

Ariza

Avidi late evei irriatica help prevet al attacks liae.

fire 3: graater irriati siae at Madis Sqare

Park, oaklad, Caliria


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Xeriscaping is an irrigation practice thatminimizes the need for supplemental irrigation.Supplemental irrigation is reduced by: Planting native and drought-tolerant plants

Zoning plants according to their water needs

Using water efcient irrigation methods, such

as drip irrigation, and using mulch to minimizemoisture loss from soils

3.3.4 Pest ad weed CtrlControl of plant pests, disease and insects isan important aspect of sustainable landscapemaintenance. Integrated pest management (IPM)principles should be adhered to. The UnitedStates Green Building Council (USGBC) denes

IPM as the coordinated use of knowledge aboutpests, the environment, and pest prevention andcontrol methods to minimize pest infestation and

damage by the most economical means whileminimizing hazards to people, property and theenvironment (USGBC 2009). IPM includesregular scouting of the landscape to assessplant health and monitor levels of pests. If pestpopulations are above acceptable levels, it isnecessary to reduce the pest population.

Sustainable methods of pest control that do notuse synthetic pesticides include mechanical,benecial organisms, and use of biological-based

pesticides or compost teas. Mechanical pestcontrol includes the use of traps, a y swatter,

a shoe sole or ones hands. Biological-basedpesticides include neem oil and safe soaps. Safesoaps are low toxicity soaps and detergents usedto control aphids, white ies, mealy bugs and other

types of pests. Synthetic pesticides should onlybe used as a last resort to keep pest populationsat an acceptable level.

Proper sanitation practices during landscapemaintenance have a large impact on minimizingdisease and pests. The rst step for disease

and insect control for shrubs and other woodyornamentals is to routinely hose off foliage. Theuse of a mild antiseptic (1 percent bleach solution)during pruning can minimize the spread of diseasefrom infected to healthy plant material. The samemild antiseptic can also be used on mowing andpruning equipment between sites to prevent sitecontamination.

Mulching should be the rst line of defense against

weeds for sustainable landscapes. If mulchingcannot be done or does not sufciently control

weeds, preemergent herbicides may be an option.Preemergent herbicides are nontoxic (high LD50 ratings) and bind to the soil, preventing runoff.Preemergents kill the roots from newly germinatedseeds before they grow above the surface of thesoil. They are highly effective and reduce the

need for other herbicides by 85 to 95 percent.Preemergent herbicides can also be coupled withorganic mulches to provide a very effective weedbarrier. Preemergents should not be used onnewly planted herbaceous plants.

Weeds can be sprayed with a systemic herbicide,such as glyphosate, or other selective herbicides,such as triclopyr, dicamba and/or 2,4-D. Whenused according to label instructions by trainedlicensed applicators, herbicides pose little dangerto humans or the environment. When herbicidesenter the soil, they are digested. In some cases,herbicides will also dry to plant surfaces, wherethey are not very mobile.

Weed control for annuals is best accomplished bymulching after planting. Preemergent herbicidesshould not be used on newly planted annuals.Weeds around perennials can be controlled bymulching and limited use of preemergents, afterthe plants are established.

Diversi platis t prevet aparticlar pest rm ivadi aetire arde.

Health, virs ri platsrm capies hse shade helpslimit the establishmet maeed species.


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3.3.5 Pri ad SheariPruning (Figure 4) is the select removal ofbranches to maintain appearance, sight lines,adequate air ow within and through the canopy,

and clearance from structures, as well as to keepplants in allocated spaces and remove potential

nest sites for undesirable species. When pruning,be sure to remove no more than one-third of thefoliage at a time. Woody ornamentals should bepruned back to either the laterals or main stems.

Formal hedges should be sheared. Shearingis trimming all branches to a uniform lengthto give the plant a specic shape (Figure 5).

Shearing can be done using manual or powershears and does not take into account where acut is made on new growth. Repetitive shearingcreates hardened wood within a plant, shorteningits lifespan and usefulness in the landscape.

Shearing demands more frequent trimming,requiring more manpower and often generatesmore plant debris. Therefore, it is recommendedthat the use of formal hedges be minimized.

3.3.6 MlchiMulching helps to retain soil moisture. Tomaintain healthy plants and minimize weedgrowth, mulches should be created from healthytrees. Be sure to avoid inadequately aged orcured compost mulches, as they may contain

weed seed and produce weeds on the landscapewhere they are applied.

Mulches should be applied once per growingseason. In general, about a 2 inch (50 millimeter)layer of mulch should be applied. If mulchwas applied the previous growing season, it isnot necessary to remove the old mulch beforeapplying new mulch.

3.4 TrTurf, often called lawn or grass, is made up of

many individual grass plants, up to 1,000 plantsper square inch (645 square millimeters). Alawn may contain a single cultivar of turfgrassor be a blend of turfgrass types. Grass rootsand leaves grow from a meristematic zone justabove or below the soil line referred to as thecrown. Crowns produce roots and shoots, leavesor stems depending on what stage of growth thegrass is in. The ratio of roots and shoots growthis largely dependent upon the climate. Grasscan also grow by specialized shoots that growhorizontally from the crown. Below are some turfterms. Shts: Can grow either above or below the

ground. Stolons: Shoots that grow above ground.

Stolons can produce new plants at each nodealong the stolon.

Rhizmes: Shoots that grow underground.Rhizomes can either terminate in a newshoot (determinant) or multiple new shoots(indeterminant). Kentucky bluegrass is arhizomatous plant.

Stoloniferous:Plants that produce roots andshoots, such as creeping bent grass.

fire 5: Example a sheared bsh

fire 4: Example a pred bsh


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A sqare t (0.09 sqare meters) la ma ctai p t 1,000idividal plats.

Geographical differences, such as climate, greatlyinuence turf. Turfgrasses are generally classied

as cool season or warm season types. Some coolseason turfgrasses include Kentucky bluegrass,perennial ryegrass, ne fescue and bent grass

cultivars. Some warm season turf types includeBermuda grass, Saint Augustine grass and zoysiagrass cultivars. The frequency of maintenancefor each type of grass is dependent on the climateand grass growth cycle. In general cool season

grasses grow best from early spring until summerwhere temperatures are above 85F (29C). Mostcool season turfgrasses produce stolons andrhizomes during the cool season. Shoots growfaster in the fall than in the spring. Warm seasongrasses grow best when ground temperaturesexceed 60F (16C) and air temperatures areabove 80F (27C). Warm season grass growthpeaks at the warmest temperatures givenadequate moisture. Bermuda grass goes dormantwhen soil temperatures fall under 50F (10C).Optimal conditions produce the healthiest turf.

Optimal soils for turf are well draining and havegood porosity, 25 to 33 percent organic matter andadequate levels of plant nutrients. In most cases,turf is often planted on less than optimal soil,initially requiring more care to produce healthyturf. Sustainable methods to improve soil fertilityinclude: Inoculating soils with benecial microbes,

bacteria and fungi Regular aeration

Application of various top dressings, depending

on soil needs

Poor soil conditions can be improved byincreasing the soil porosity. To increase porosityof clay soils, aerate the soil using deep-tineaeration. Then, dress the top of the soil with acourse of sand. After repeating this process forseveral seasons, the porosity and drainage of thesoil will greatly increase.

In most cases, aeration has the greatest benet

when completed early in the growing season.However, for turf that is breaking dormancy and/or tillers, such as Bermuda grass after winter, foroptimal results it is better for the turf to be activelygrowing a few weeks before aeration.

Poor soil conditions can also be improved byadding organic matter as a top dressing, suchas peat moss or lime. The addition of organicmatter can alter the pH of the soil. Peat moss willdecrease the pH while lime will increase the pH.Turf benets the most when all three techniques

discussed above are applied. It is recommendedthat all three methods be part of a regularlyscheduled turf maintenance program. At aminimum, each technique should be performed atleast annually, although monthly aeration and top

dressing during growing season is optimal.

3.4.1 Is Tr Sstaiable?Turf is the most controversial plant type within thediscussion of sustainability. There are two generalopinions: Opinion #1: Lawns are not sustainable because

they are maintenance intensive Opinion #2: Lawns are sustainable and provide

many sustainable benets

The number of people who support each opinion,

the strength of the opinions and rationale forsupport varies, often by geographical location.Within the southwestern United States,xeriscaping has been practiced for nearly 30 yearsand it is becoming the norm to minimize the use ofturf and other hydrophilic plants. In Oregon, thereis support for the use of turf substitutes, such asdwarf yarrow, clove and perennial rye blends, orweed-tolerant turf. Weed-tolerant turf includesturfgrass blends, including some nebuloustolerant level of weeds, such as white clover anddandelions.

When determining which opinion to align with,a facility manager must answer the followingquestion: What are the owners and clientsexpectations for turf? Do they want turf?

Would they accept a turf alternative?

Would they accept weedy turf?


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Throughout the authors many years of experiencein landscape management very few clientswith turf were delighted with weeds. However,this does not preclude the possibility that timesare changing. Change is acknowledged by anincreasing number of local governments putting

restrictions on pesticides and a growing numberof organic lawn care rms. As restrictions are puton pesticides, lawn care rms will need to nd

alternative solutions to maintain healthy turf.

It is not the goal of this guide to conclusivelydetermine if turf is sustainable but to outline theimpacts of turf on the environment and to discussturf maintenance practices. It is up to each facilitymanager to ask, is turf sustainable? If so, howshould it be maintained? If not, what can be donewithin the current budget to provide a sustainablelandscape without turf?

3.4.2 Impact Tr the EvirmetTo understand if turf is sustainable, it is importantto examine the impact of turf on the environment.

There are many benets to turf. Turf (TPI 2010):

Provides a natural, comfortable and safe setting

for outdoor recreation Releases oxygen and cools the air

Controls pollution and reduces soil erosion

Puries our water supply by reducing storm

water runoff and controlling erosion from rain

and wind Can enhance curb appeal, adding as much as

15 percent to the value of a home, when wellmaintained

Traps and removes dust and dirt from the air

Uses water very efciently

Acts as a natural lter, reducing pollution by

purifying the water passing through its root zone

Additionally, On a hot summer day, lawns will be 30F (-2C)

cooler than asphalt and 14F (10C) cooler than

bare soil. The cooling effect of irrigated turf reduces theamount of fuel burned to provide the electricityto power air conditioners.

A healthy lawn absorbs rainfall six times more

effectively than a wheat eld and four times

better than a hay eld.

A sodded lawn will absorb greater amounts of

rain than a seeded lawn, even after three yearsof growth.

Some disadvantages of turf, compared to nativeplants, include: May require more irrigation in some locations

Requires more maintenance to ensure it

maintains proper appearance and health Can be more expensive to plant and maintain

due to irrigation and pest managementrequirements

Turf can have a positive impact on water, soiland air quality. Storm water runoff is a majorcontributor to water pollution. Runoff during aprecipitation event can overow combined sanitary

and storm sewer systems. As a result, rawsewage may be directly diverted to waterways. Asthe ratio of impervious surfaces (roads, parkinglots and roofs) to pervious surfaces increases, thepotential for sewage overow events increases.

Turf improves water quality by greatly reducing

runoff. Recent research demonstrates that stormwater runoff is rare from healthy, relatively denselawns, even on modest slopes. A very intenserainfall event must occur for runoff to occur.However, a few exceptions are very steep slopes,frozen ground conditions, saturated soils and/or severely compacted soils. Turf allows rainfallto inltrate into the soil, reducing the amount

of sediment that leaves a site and recharginggroundwater (SULIS 2006).

Rain inltration onto turf increases soil moisture.

Benecial biotic activity is higher in moist, non-saturated soil than in dry soil. Healthy soils are

composed of nonliving minerals and a vast array of

biotic activity, including microbes, arthropods, worms

and insects. The interaction and size of benecial

species and pathogenic species determines how

healthy a soil is. The ability for soil to hold water and

nutrients is mostly due to its organic content. Turf

adds a signicant amount of organic matter to soil

through decaying roots and shoots.

The rt las eiht hses havethe cli eect abt 70 ts air cditii. That is amazihe the averae hme has a aircditier ith jst a three- r r-t capacit (TPI 2010).


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Turf has at least three major affects on air quality.First, healthy turf can help cool air temperaturesby evaporative cooling. As water from a plantis evaporated off of leaf surfaces, it cools theair. This process is called evapotranspiration.Second, as plants lose water through theirleaves they remove carbon dioxide from the airin a process called photosynthesis. The carbondioxide is converted into sugar providing energyfor plants and oxygen for humans and animals tobreathe. Third, plants lter particulate matter (dust

and other pollutants) out of the air. Particulatesstick to leaf surfaces, purifying the air. Theimpact of plants ltering particulate matter can be

signicant in areas where particulates are a major

concern.

3.4.3 Sstaiable Tr MaiteaceSustainable turf maintenance focuses onminimizing resource use, including materials,water and labor, to keep the landscape healthy.

A healthy turf landscape requires less materialinputs than an unhealthy turf landscape.

Additionally, healthy turf can tolerate higherpopulations of pathogens and insect pests than

unhealthy turf. Healthy turf is more likely torecover from infestations of disease and/or pests.

Regular mowing is essential for healthy turf. Ageneral horticultural rule is to never remove overa third of a plants leaf area. Thus, the mowingrule of thumb is to mow high and often becauseroot depth decreases as leaf height decreases.For example, if the mow height is 2.5 inches (64

millimeters) up to 3/4 inch (19 millimeters) canbe removed. If the turf height is only 1 inch (25.4millimeters), only 1/3 inch (8 millimeters) of newgrowth should be removed. Therefore, duringrapid growth periods shorter turf requires moremowing. Shorter turf is also more susceptible todrought and other stress because it has fewerresources to recover. In contrast, higher turfprovides more shade to the soil, reducing waterloss. Reduced water loss from the soil helps keepthe turf strong and resistant to weed seedlings.

Turf should be mowed before it owers. Flowering

turf emits pollen into the air causing some peopleto have allergic reactions, which cause discomfort.If the ower seeds are caught by the wind, they

can blow into adjacent ornamental plantingscausing grass to grow in undesirable locations.

A power rake is a gas-powered rake that hasmany ail blades that rotate on a horizontal shaft

and is used to rake turf. Power raking should be

done when thatch buildup is greater than 1/2 inch(13 millimeters) thick to improve penetration ofirrigation water and nutrients to the soil.

In summary, turf maintenance includes: Regularly scheduled irrigation and mowing

Aeration, which should be done at least

once in the early stages of the plant growthseason, although monthly aeration is highlyrecommended

Application of appropriate top dressing (which

should follow aeration) that meets the needs ofthe soil

Coupling the use of synthetic fertilizer, if used,

with humic acid to stimulate the soil microbesand more efciently utilize available nutrients

Application of compost teas either biweekly or

monthly to supply the soil with nutrients and aidin pest control

Scouting weekly to make sure pest populations

are at or below an acceptable level; IPM

methodology should be followed to control pests

Ladscapes ca pla a imprtatrle i mderati smmer airtemperatres i rba evirmets.Plats ard hmes ca redceair temperatres rm 7 t 14 f(-14 t -10C) thrh the eects shadi ad evaptraspirati.This cli eect ca decreasesmmer air cditii csts. oeestimate sests that strateicladscape platis redce ttal aircditii eer reqiremetsi the uited States b 25 percet(SuLIS 2006).

Mlchi mers reccle plattriets rm the clippis itthe sil, hich redces the eed radditial ertilizer.


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3.5 orametalsThere are over 250,000 species and cultivars ofornamental plants that can be used in landscapes.Ornamental plants can be divided into two basiccategories: woody and herbaceous. Woodyplants have secondary cell thickening of lignin.

While herbaceous plants lack lignin (wood). Thelandscape function of ornamental plants includesscreens, walls, ceilings, backdrops, hedges,accents and groundcovers. When selecting anornamental plant, be sure to choose plants thatare native or adapted to the environment andthat the location and function are well aligned.Otherwise, plants will demand unsustainablelevels of maintenance, such as pruning, irrigationand/or fertilization and not provide the desiredfunctionality. For example, if a low hedge isdesired, but a laurel is planted instead, the laurelwould need to be pruned very frequently, resulting

in an unattractive and probably unhealthy plant.

Ornamentals have different environmentaltolerances, including temperature, soil moisture,nutrient levels, drainage requirements, pH,aeration and other conditions. Thus it is importantto select plants that are well adapted to theconditions to which they will be exposed. Themost sustainable practice is to select native plantsor those tolerant to the environmental conditions.

3.6 Herbaces PlatsHerbaceous plants include perennials andannuals. Perennials are plants that live morethan one year. The irrigation requirements forperennials vary by location. Some examples ofperennials include herbs, grass, succulents andcacti. Perennial ornamental grasses can provideoff season texture. Perennial ornamental grassesrequire limited pruning. It is best to prune them

just before the start of a new growth season.Perennials are more tolerant in poor soils anddrought conditions than many types of annuals.

Many perennials produce ornamental fruitsand can require less individual care than someannuals. Thus, in some cases perennials aremore sustainable.

Annuals are plants that live for one year. Theseasonal requirements for annuals include ano-frost and sun-tolerant environment. Annualsrequire well-prepared soil and irrigation. To keepannuals aesthetically pleasing, many annualsneed to be dead headed to continue to bloomthroughout the season. Dead heading is theremoval of withered owers or buds that have

dried up before opening. When fertilizing annuals,use slow-release granular fertilizer.

Perennials and annuals are an important part

of a landscape because they provide color anddiversity and can be used as accents. Whenfertilizing both perennials and annuals, fertilizershould be selected based on soil testing.

whe selecti plats, ative platsill reqire the least amt maiteace ver time, ad thsare eerall the mst sstaiablechice.

fire 6: Pereials, sch as basket ld, hiterckcress ad cadtt, ca beati rck alls

fire 7: Dca garde, Mait Park, Spkae,

washit, displas a variet aals. frerdble aeratm brders ell marilds, hite alssm

ad laveder petias.


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3.7 TreesMost trees grow best when irrigated with deepirrigation methods, as opposed to methodstypically used to irrigate turf. Therefore, treesshould be on a separate irrigation zone thatprovides less frequent, but longer (deeper) periods

of irrigation. Drip emitters or bubbler types bothwork well for tree irrigation. Alternately, specialdeep irrigation injectors can be utilized. Whendeep irrigating, fertilizers can also be appliedthrough the irrigation system. This process iscalled fertigation. Fertigation can use eitherorganic-based soluble fertilizer or compost teas.

Tree maintenance presents special challengesbecause poorly maintained trees can resultin displeasing aesthetics or serious liability

issues. Therefore, tree maintenance shouldbe done under the supervision of highly trainedprofessionals, such as Certied Arborists.

The use of integrated pest management (IPM)is also an important part of tree maintenance.To control pests, the use of spray insecticidesand/or fungicides should be avoided. Somemunicipalities and owners have restrictions onthe use of sprays to control pests and diseases.Instead of using spray insecticides, regularlymonitor trees to detect early signs of disease.

3.7.1 Tree RemvalIf a tree needs to be removed, efforts should bemade to seek input from the client before removalor major tree pruning is undertaken. In somecases, input from the surrounding community mayalso need to be considered before action can betaken. Additionally, many towns and cities haveordinances that impact how trees are maintainedin the right of way and/or on private property.

When removing or performing a large amount ofpruning, determine if the debris can be mulched onsite. This can provide several benets:

If mulch is used on the site, the fresh mulch can

be directly applied to the site. When debris does not need to be removed from

the site, it is possible to reduce fuel costs by25 to 40 percent (McCoy 2009; Santos 2009).Reducing fuel use also reduces environmentalemissions.

3.8 gree RsGreen roofs are roofs of buildings that are partiallyor completely covered with plants, planted overa waterproong membrane. Green roofs can

be categorized as intensive, semi-intensive orextensive, depending upon the depth of theplanting medium and the amount of maintenance

required. Traditional green roofs (roof gardens)are intensive green roofs and may look parklikewith roof access for building occupants. Planttypes may include herbs and small trees.Intensive green roofs require a soil depth of about6 to 24 inches (150 to 600 millimeters), weighabout 80 to 150 pounds per square foot (390 to730 kilograms per square meter) (GLWI 2010) andare labor intensive because they require irrigation,fertilization and other maintenance. Extensivegreen roofs require a soil depth of about 1 to 6inches (25 to 150 millimeters), weigh about 15 to50 pounds per square foot (73 to 245 kilograms

per square meter) (GLWI 2010), are designedto be nearly self-sustaining and require minimalmaintenance, such as annual weeding and/orapplication of slow-release fertilizer. Extensivegreen roofs are generally only accessed formaintenance. A semi-intensive green roofincludes features of both intensive and extensivegreen roofs.

Some benets of green roofs include:

Absorbing rainwater to reduce storm water

runoff from the site

Providing insulation to reduce heat loss from thebuilding, reducing energy bills Creating habitat for wildlife

Reducing urban heat island effects

A full discussion of green roofs is beyond thescope of this paper. A few resources aboutgreen roofs are found in Appendix B: AdditionalResources.

Phsical ijr t tree trks det cllisis b mers ad/rirdli b stri trimmers are majr

ctribtrs t earl tree mrtalit.Istallati mlch ris ardtrees i tr ca miimize theseijries. Hever, mlch shld tbe alled t accmlate directlaaist tree trks.


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3.9 SmmarHealthy plants are essential for a sustainablelandscape. Using sustainable landscapemaintenance practices reduces resourceconsumption, including irrigation water, energyand chemicals. As shown in Section 5,

sustainable landscapes can be maintained,even with a limited budget.

.


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Many consumers desire a sustainable landscape(McCoy 2009). Major corporations, governmentsand foundations are investing in sustainability,including Cisco Systems (Santos 2009), City ofVirginia Beach, Virginia, (Fentress 2009) and TheMeadows Foundation, Dallas, Texas (SSI 2009b).Some corporations, governments and foundations

are investing in sustainable landscape renovationsas a way to control or lower increasingmaintenance costs (Santos 2009; Agudelo-Silvaet al 2002) and because they believe it is theresponsible thing to do.

4.1 Develpi a Acti PlaFacility managers who want to have sustainablelandscapes should form a team to evaluatethe property, analyze potential savings andreturn on investment (ROI) opportunities, anddetermine sources of project funding. If the facility

managers team does not include an experiencedlandscape architect, horticulturalist or agronomist,it is important to hire a landscape consultant.

When evaluating the property and sustainabilityalternatives, consider what is most important,such as: Irrigation methods

Types of plantings

Use of fertilizers

Reducing costs and available budget

Plant health

Reuse and/or use of native plants on site

End landscape use

Cultural factors of the site

Reducing time or cost to maintain

After an agreement is reached about what is mostimportant, set several attainable goals within eacharea of importance. Be sure the goals include arealistic timeline and budget. When developinggoals, it can be helpful to talk with other

professionals, companies and consultantswho have successfully completed similar projects.The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI) and theProfessional Landcare Network (PLANET) canalso be helpful resources to consult to determinewhat is most important and how to set goals.

4.1.1 Sstaiable Sites Iitiative (SSI)The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SSI) is aconsortium whose goal is to produce guidelinesand performance benchmarks to be used inconjunction with LEED to certify sustainablelandscapes during design, construction andmaintenance. The SSI consortium includes the

American Society of Landscape Architects, theLady Bird Johnson Wildower Center at The

University of Texas at Austin and the United StatesBotanic Garden. In 2009, SSI published the SSIGuidelines and Performance Benchmarks (SSI

2009a), a step-by-step guide of over 200 pagesabout how to: Design, construct and maintain sustainable

landscapes Document and prepare submittals for achieving

LEED certication

Table 1 presents the guiding principles of asustainable site. As shown in the table, theguiding principles include actionable items thatcan be used to dene what is important for a

sustainable landscape at a specic site. For

example, if the goal of the team is to designthe landscape with an emphasis on nature andculture, the team would need to identify what isimportant to the natural landscape surroundingthe site and also what is culturally important. Inan arid environment, this may include selectingdrought resistant plants that have culturalsignicance to indigenous groups within the

region.

4 MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE


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Table 1: gidi priciples a sstaiable site (SSI 2009a)

D harm Make no changes to the site that will degrade the surrounding environment. Promote

projects on sites where previous disturbance or development presents an opportunity to

regenerate ecosystem services through sustainable design.

Precatiar priciple Be cautious in making decisions that could create risk to human and environmental health.

Some actions can cause irreversible damage. Examine a full range of alternatives including no action and be open to contributions from all affected parties.

Desi ith atre ad cltre Create and implement designs that are responsive to economic, environmental and cultural

conditions with respect to the local, regional and global context.

use decisi-maki hierarch

preservati, cservati ad

reeerati

Maximize and mimic the benets of ecosystem services by preserving existing

environmental features, conserving resources in a sustainable manner and regenerating

lost or damaged ecosystem services.

Prvide reeerative sstems as

itereeratial eqit

Provide future generations with a sustainable environment supported by regenerative

systems and endowed with regenerative resources.

Spprt a livi prcess Continuously re-evaluate assumptions and values and adapt to demographic and

environmental change.

use a sstem-thiki apprach Understand and value the relationships in an ecosystem and use an approach that reectsand sustains ecosystem services; re-establish the integral and essential relationship

between natural processes and human activity.

use a cllabrative ad ethical apprach Encourage direct and open communication among colleagues, clients, manufacturers and

users to link long-term sustainability with ethical responsibility.

Maitai iterit i leadership ad

research

Implement transparent and participatory leadership, develop research with technical rigor,

and communicate new ndings in a clear, consistent and timely manner.

fster evirmetal steardship In all aspects of land development and management, foster an ethic of environmental

stewardship an understanding that improves the quality of life for present and future

generations.

Ecosystem services are goods and servicesproduced by ecosystem processes that providedirect or indirect benets to humans. Ecosystem

processes include the interaction of livingelements with nonliving elements. Living elementsinclude, but are not limited to, vegetation andsoil organisms. Nonliving elements include, butare not limited to, bedrock, water and air. SSIsustainable philosophies of ecosystem servicesrelevant to sustainable sites are further claried

in Table 2. This table can also be helpful indetermining what is most important for goal settingbecause it provides a list of how the environmentand people are impacted by landscapes. Forexample, during the landscape design process,a team within a new development or constructionzone may decide that erosion and sedimentationcontrol is very important, while pollination is lessimportant.

SSI ad PLAnET are valableresrces r acilit maaersseeki detailed irmati abtsstaiable ladscapes, especiallhe strivi t ear sstaiablesites credits ithi the uited Statesgree Bildi Ccil Leadershipi Eer ad Evirmetal Desi(LEED) rati sstems.


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4.1.2 Pressial Ladcare netrk (PLAnET)PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network,is an international association that serves lawncare professionals, landscape managementcontractors, design/build/installation professionalsand interior plantscapers. PLANET was formedin 2005 as a joint effort between the AssociatedLandscape Contractors of America (ALCA)

and the Professional Lawn Care Associationof America (PLCAA) to increase the networkof green industry professionals. PLANET haspublished many educational materials, includingCrystal Ball Report #29 Green Industry

ECOnomics: Innovating Toward a Sustainable

and Protable Future (2009). This report providesinsight into how landcare is sustainable (PLANET2010).

4.2 Calclati Retr IvestmetThe ROI of a sustainable landscape can vary

greatly depending on geographic location. Inarid climates where irrigation water is expensive,adopting xeriscape principles and minimizing turfcan yield a ROI of 1.5 to 3 years (Agudelo-Silva etal 2002). In other cases, the ROI for a sustainablelandscape may be longer or come in the form ofless tangible effects on the bottom line, such ascompany and employee pride, acceptance as

good community partners, cleaner air and water,and/or healthier citizens and employees.

In the desert southwest of the United Statesand in California the annual cost per area of turfmaintenance is reported to be $0.40 per squarefoot ($4.31 per square meter) (US dollars) orhigher depending on water and uctuating fuel

costs (Santos 2009). In comparison, the annualcost per area of sustainably maintained nativeor adapted ornamental shrub beds is $0.20 persquare foot ($2.15 per square meter) (US dollars).For new landscapes, there is clearly an economicsavings. To replace a turf landscape with nativeor adapted ornamental shrub beds, assuming acost of $2.00 to $3.00 per square foot ($21.50to $32.30 per square meter) (US dollars), theROI is estimated to be 10 to 15 years. However,where rebates are available, such as Las Vegas,Nevada, the ROI can be as low as four to sixyears.

When irrigation requirements are low, turf is ofteneconomical to maintain. For example, the costto maintain turf in Virginia Beach, Virginia, isabout $0.057 per square foot ($0.60 per squaremeter) (US dollars), where the cost to maintainornamental beds is about $0.40 per square foot($4.31 per square meter) (US dollars).

Global climate regulat ion Maintaining balance of atmospheric gases at historic levels, creat ing breathable air and

sequestering greenhouse gases

Local climate regulat ion Regulating local temperature, precipi tation and humidi ty through shading, evapotranspiration

and windbreaks

Air and water cleansing Removing and reducing pollutants in air and water

Water supply and regulation Stor ing and prov iding water within watersheds and aquifers

Erosion and sediment control Retaining soil within an ecosystem; preventing damage from erosion and siltation

Habitat functions Providing refuge and reproduction habitat to plants and animals, thereby contributing to

conservation of biological and genetic diversity and evolutionary processes

Waste decomposition and treatment Breaking down waste and cycling nutrients

Hazard mitigation Reducing vulnerability to damage from ooding, storm surge, wildre and drought

Pollination Providing pollinator species for reproduction of crops and other plants

Human health and well-being benets Enhancing physical, mental and social well-being as a result of interaction with nature

Food and renewable non-food products Producing food, fuel, energy, medicine or other products for human use

Cultural benets Enhancing cultural, educational, aesthetic and spiritual experiences as a result of interaction

with nature

Table 2: SSI Sstaiable philsphies ecsstem services (SSI 2009a)


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4.3 Implemeti the PlaAfter the goals are set, the ROI has beencalculated and the action plan steps have beendetermined, it is time to start implementing theplan. To implement the plan, be sure that allteam members are aware of the sustainabilitygoals. It is important that landscape designers,constructors and maintainers, as well as thosewho are assisting with procurement and projectplanning, are all aware of the sustainability goals.If the goals are not shared across the entireteam, it will be difcult to ensure the goals are

understood. If the goals are not understood, it willbe difcult to obtain buy-in and achieve the goals.

It is imprtat t se reialcst data t aalze ladscapemaiteace csts ad RoI.


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The rst two case studies demonstrate what can be

done with a small budget and a substantial budget,

respectively. The third case study describes the

design, installation and maintenance of a large

development using sustainable landscape methods.

5.1 Deer Valle Schl District, gledale,

Ariza

5.1.1 ItrdctiThe Deer Valley School District consists of 35schools: ve high schools, three middle schools,

nine kindergarten to eighth grade schools, 16kindergarten to sixth grade schools and two tradeschools. Total enrollment across the district isabout 30,000 students. Within the district, thelandscape operations manager reports to theschool district superintendent. The superintendentwas dissatised with the landscape and thought thegrounds and athletic elds needed improvement.

A landscape consultant was hired to help addressthe concerns. The rst question the consultant

asked was how many acres of turf does thedistrict own? Since the answer was unknown,the rst objective was to measure and quantify

the districts grounds and to evaluate the groundsoperation processes. The completion of both ofthese tasks was necessary to set a standard ofservice and gain staff accountability.

The evaluation began with quantifying thelandscape at each school, including turf, trees,shrubs, accents, irrigation valves, heads and

controllers, and other landscape features.Labor, equipment, material requirements andinventories were also quantied. Next, the

operations management team was interviewed todetermine production expectations and priorities,maintenance schedules, irrigation controlleraccess, irrigation and irrigation maintenanceschedules, client use schedules, equipmentservice schedules and chemical applicationschedules.

5.1.2 Develpi a Acti Pla: Reslts thegrds Evalati

As a result of the grounds evaluation, it wasfound that mowing was about the only task beingaccomplished. Each crew focused on mowingprior to students arriving on campus for safetyand liability reasons. The campuses lookedundesirable and unkempt. Weeds were not

controlled and dead plants were not removed andreplaced with new plants. Irrigation methods alsoneeded improvement. When irrigation valves werefunctional, turf was over irrigated. In other areas,turf was completely dead due to nonexistentirrigation. The crew structure was found to beinefcient. Each crew serviced one school per

day. Other challenges discovered included: A landscape specication for plant, irrigation

methods and other landscaping materials didnot exist.

Each school wanted landscape work to be

completed at the same time. However, they

also wanted the school to be aestheticallypleasing to help set high expectations forscholastic achievement versus a defeatistattitude at rst sight. (Aesthetically pleasing

was described to include the absence of grafti,

weeds and dead plants, and removing treestakes after they were no longer needed.)

As a result of the grounds evaluation, severalsuggestions for improvement were made.Recommendations and actions taken are listed inTable 3.

5 CASE STUDIES


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Based upon the landscape area and amount of

work needed to improve the landscape, it wasrecommended to add four people to the landscapestaff and to increase the landscape budget from$125,000 (US dollars) to $400,000 (US dollars).However, the district budget limited the landscapestaff budget to 15 people and could not beincreased to the recommended amount. Afterfurther review, the consultant determined thata large bat wing mower could increase mowingefciency by as much as 40 percent. Purchasing

this mower would allow crews to be restructured.Therefore, the ve crews that performed all

three functions mow, irrigate and detail were

restructured to have two crews mow, three crewsirrigate and four crews perform detail work (seeTable 4).

Table 3: Recmmedatis ad actis reslti rm rds evalati

Recmmedati Acti

Mowing cannot be completed just before students arrive on campus;

it must also be done while school is in session.

Negotiate with administrative personnel to allow mowing while

school is in session. A mandate was also put in place so that

physical education classes moved out of the way of mowingcrews.

Create detail crews. Detail crews will be responsible for weed

control, dead plant removal, trash removal and raking.

Detail crews were created.

Create irrigation crews. Irrigators were assigned to two schools per day to completely

analyze the functionality of the irrigation system and prioritize

tasks to repair as much of the irrigation system as possible.

When it was not possible to repair or the repair was too costly,

turf was removed if it was nonessential to the campus.

Crews should service more than one school per day. Crew scheduling was changed so that each crew serviced

several schools per day.

Crews need to be held accountable to complete assigned work. Work was divided by crew and into zones to determine who

was/was not completing assigned work.

Create landscape specications. A landscape specication that included performance levels

was created, including clearly dened goals so that each crew

member know what was expected of him or her.

Develop a maintenance plan. A maintenance plan, including mowing, detail and irrigation

requirements, was developed.

Implement methods to increase labor ef ciency. The landscape was divided into areas: high prole, high traf c

and the back 40. High prole and high trafc areas are to be

maintained at higher frequencies than the back 40.

whe cre members k hat isexpected them the are mtivatedt d their best ad take pride itheir rk. Ecrae cre rkersb prvidi dail reciti r ajb ell de.

Labr is eerall the larest item

i the ladscape bdet. Labrtpicall represets 35% t 60% aladscape bdet.

Acti


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In addition to restructuring the crews, daily tasklists were generated as part of the performancespecications so that each crew knew what it

needed to accomplish within a given time period.

The performance specications included workschedules and chemical application schedules.The schedules were also posted for staff.

Route books were created to map and identifyhigh trafc areas and information about each site.

More specically, the route books included:

Landscape specications

Daily, weekly, monthly schedules

Location of water meters and valves

Site-specic considerations and instructions

Site contact information

High trafc areas were to be policed twice per dayand fertilized more frequently to endure higherlevels of foot trafc and meet quality expectations.

Any grafti found in a high trafc area was to be

removed within 48 hours.

Methods to reduce the amount of labor to maintainthe landscape were explored. Such methodsincluded the use of chemical edging instead ofmechanical edging, the creation of tree wells inturf areas to eliminate mechanical edging andincreasing mowing speed.

Rain days became education days. Educationdays are mandatory horticultural trainingprograms. The education days helped staffto become knowledgeable and more efcient,

take pride in their work and receive accoladesfrom the principals, athletic directors and districtadministrators for landscape improvements.

5.1.3 ResltsBy implementing the recommendations, theefciency of the crews increased, while they

gained knowledge about horticulture. Additionally:

High trafc areas were kept clean. Mow crews completed special projects during

the winter, including the conversion of 25,000square feet (2,322 square meters) of turf todecomposed granite beds. Irrigation methodswere adjusted from turf sprinklers to dripirrigation for plants, and adapted and nativedesert trees added to the beds. The conversiondecreased irrigation and mowing costs.

Attitude of staff and school ofcials improved.

Landscape crews continued to receive

recognition for high-quality work.

The efforts also included multiple sustainableimprovements: Decreasing annual irrigation needs by

converting over half an acre of turf to desertlandscape

Decreasing irrigation to entry plants (plants at

the focal point of building entrances) to restrictgrowth

Irrigating based on proper scheduling and

properly maintaining irrigation systems Adopting naturalistic pruning methods thinning

versus shearing Planting native and low water use plants in

replacement, new and perennial plantings

Table 4: Ladscapi persel bere ad ater ladscape imprvemets

Bere imprvemets Ater imprvemets

nmber cres Peple per cre Cre cti nmber cres Peple per cre Cre cti

5 3 Mow, irrigate and detail 2 2 Mow

4 2 Detail

3 1 Irrigate

Total people: 15 Total people: 15


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5.1.4 Lesss Leared rm Deer Valle SchlDistrict Case Std

The main lessons learned from the case study were:

Start by quantifying the landscape and feature

types including area of turf and quantity oftrees, shrubs and irrigation valves. As statedby Deming, You cant manage what you cantmeasure.

Having exact data about landscape features

provided a structure to hold crews accountablethrough time and motion studies for eachlandscaping task. Increased accountabilityimproved quality control and routing efciency

of the landscape crews.

5.2 Hilt Htel, Las Veas, nevada

5.2.1 ItrdctiThe purpose of the Hilton Hotel Las Vegas projectwas to convert turf to desert landscaping. Theproject was designed in ve phases to limit

inconvenience to the hotels clients. The scope ofthe project included: Removal of 323,000 square feet (30,000 square

meters) of turf Installation of over 10,000 ornamental plants of

various sizes including 1 gallon (3.75 liters), 5gallon (18.9 liters) and 15 gallon (56.8 liters)

Placement of over 4,500 tons (4,082 tonnes) of 3/4

inch (19 millimeters) ornamental rock and 2 to 4

inch (102 millimeters) cobble rocks as rock mulch

Best practices used for the desert landscapeincluded:

Planting native or adapted species to provide adrought resistant, colorful landscape

Spacing plants to allow them to grow to their

genetic potential and avoid the necessity offrequent pruning

Planting in holes twice the diameter of the plant

pot size and backlling with 25 percent organic

soil Using rock mulch. Rock mulch inhibits moisture

loss while minimizing blowing dust Installing weed barrier cloth prior to the rock

mulch to minimize the need for pre- and post-emergent herbicides by controlling weed growth

Converting the pop-up heads irrigation systemto a drip irrigation system

5.2.2 ResltsThe results of this case study were quantitatively

measured using return on investment to demonstrate

economic benets, while environmental benets

were quantitatively demonstrated by decreased

resource consumption.

The return on the investment for the turfconversion was substantial. The total project costwas $726,750 (US dollars). To reduce the costof the project, a rebate of $484,500 (US dollars)was received from the Southern Nevada Water

Association (SNWA). The annual saving onirrigation water was $61,500 (US dollars). Thereturn on investment for the project was four yearswhen maintenance costs were not included andtwo years when maintenance costs were included.

fire 8: Deer Valle Schl District: desert ladscape

ith ative plats


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The sustainable benets from this project included:

Decreased irrigation

Decreased herbicide used

Decrease in plant debris generated

Reduced maintenance costs by 50 percent

5.2.3 Lesss Leared rm Hilt HtelCase Std

The main lessons learned from the Hilton Hotelcase study were: The value of nding a rebate from the water

utility: Although removing the 323,000 square

feet (30,000 square meters) of turf wasthe right thing to do from an environmentalperspective, without the rebate program it wasnot economical for the hotel owners.

To reduce weed growth during the transition

from turf to a native landscape, a one-yearweed control program should have been putin place.

5.3 DC Rach: A Sstaiable Ladscape i aMaster Plaed Cmmit

5.3.1 ItrdctiThe purpose of this project was to develop thedesign concepts and maintenance practices toensure a lasting and sustainable landscape for amaster planned community, the DC Ranch. TheDC Ranch is a golf and residential community inthe high Sonoran Desert in Scottsdale, Arizona.The community consists of four villages. Eachvillage has a landscape theme to create a specic

look as one drives through the village.

The SnwA rebate ered as $1.50(uS dllars) per sqare t ($16.15per sqare meter) cverted tr.

fire 9: Hilt Htel bere tr cversi t desert

ladscapi

fire 10: Hilt Htel ater tr cversi t desert

ladscapifire 11: DC Rach


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5.3.2 Acti PlaThe action plan for the DC Ranch included design,construction and maintenance of a sustainablelandscape. One of the rst considerations of the

design team was to observe the land surroundingthe proposed development. The developer of DC

Ranch wanted to respect the Sonoran Desert andhad a high level of sensitivity for the communitylocated at the base of the McDowell Mountains innorth Scottsdale, Arizona. The developers visionwas to honor and celebrate the native desert withintheir landscape design and to provide a seamlesstransition from native desert to developedlandscape. To do so, species that were alreadythriving on the property were selected. Thisdecision had many benets:

Enhanced the survival rate and reduced the

maintenance costs of the plantings Eliminated nearly all pruning costs for shrubs

Understanding maintenance costs during designis important to a sustainable landscape. Many

designs start with extensive amenities in aneffort to sell property. However, this doesnot take proper horticultural practices intoconsideration. One of the best checks andbalances the developer went through during thedesign of the DC Ranch was to quantify eachlandscape amenity and afx a cost for long-term

maintenance. This analysis drove many decisionsabout turf quantities, species of trees and plants,and the overall layout and orientation of thecommunity.

In the desert, turf is costly to maintain because itmust be irrigated. At DC Ranch, 6 percent 18acres (7.3 hectares) of the total maintained

landscape is turf. The turf was strategicallydesigned to be a gathering point for residentsliving in the neighborhoods, minimizing the amountof turf around each home. Turf was not usedfor ornamental purposes. Therefore, when turfwas used it needed to be placed in a functionallocation of adequate size. The turf also had toblend naturally with the surrounding landscape.Turf parks were created to meander betweenhome sites and walkways within each communityto add value, aesthetics and meeting places foreach neighborhood. The average size of the turfareas within DC Ranch is 13,300 square feet(1,240 square meters), large enough to play ball,exercise the dog or have a quiet picnic with friendsand family. To encourage activities within thepark areas, grills and shaded seating areas wereinstalled.

A al a ladscape desishld be the radal redcti maiteace csts as the ladscapematres.

DC Rach averaes e sta persr ever 10 acres ladscapedarea.

Figure12:DCRanchrecrackerpenstemon,Parrys

pestem, Mjave lpie


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During the build out and marketing phase of thedevelopment, turf was mowed twice per week asinstructed by the developer. However, after thebuild out and marketing phase was complete,mowing was decreased to once per week. Duringthe build out and marketing phase, the developer

subsidize

IFMA_Sustainable Landscaping Guide_Final.pdf

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