Right here stands the Landcare and Facilities Operations Building. It is vital to the University of Minnesota. Landcare presents a beautiful safe and accessible exterior environment. This is for campus users throughout the year. As part of the FM team, they provide efficient cost effective stewardship. This includes natural and built campus assets.
Landcare’s services are diverse. They include landscape design and installation. They also offer project staging and restoration. Landscape maintenance is another key service. The team manages a centrally controlled irrigation system. It is evapotranspiration ET based. This system ensures efficient water use. Naturalistic area irrigation is used during plant establishment. It is also used during extreme drought.
All landscape materials are recovered. Herbaceous plant waste is composted. It is used as soil amendment. Woody plant waste is processed for mulch. Lawns receive comprehensive care. This includes mowing weeding and watering. Turf alternatives like meadows and prairies are also maintained. Shrubs get planted pruned and monitored. Perennials are planted fertilized and watered. Bulbs are planted to encourage long term vigor. Annual flowers add seasonal color. Winter interest plantings are also maintained.
Tree care is a significant part of Landcare’s work. They prune treat and protect trees. They also remove or replace them when necessary. This is done in accordance with the campus tree plan. The team monitors trees for diseases insects and structural problems.
Snow removal is a critical service. Landcare prioritizes high traffic areas. This includes vehicular and pedestrian ways. They prep surfaces with anti-icing brine before storms. Hard surface maintenance and litter control are also important. Landcare cleans walks plazas and loading docks. They sweep campus streets and permeable paver surfaces. The team maintains a litter free landscape. They remove postings from kiosks at the end of each semester.
Landcare works with event planners. They arrange event waste collection and turf maintenance. They also handle furniture and general review of outdoor events. Outdoor furniture is installed repaired moved and stored. This includes benches tables chairs and litter receptacles.
Landcare services are funded from the University’s cost pools. Some design project and specialty services are charged to departments. This is done on a time and materials basis. Landcare uses an Integrated Pest Management philosophy. This improves management lowers costs and reduces risks. All gardeners are licensed pesticide applicators. This ensures safe chemical application if needed. The team has reduced chemical use on campus. They have converted traditional lawns to prairie and wildflower meadows. Soil is tested before fertilizing. Organic amendments are explored as alternatives to chemical fertilizers.
Water usage is carefully managed. Landcare conserves water while meeting plant needs. Their irrigation system uses real time climate data. This delivers ET based watering. The systems run early in the morning. This minimizes evaporative loss.
Landcare is the primary snow removal service provider. They clear nearly 100 miles of streets and walkways. They also clear 106 acres of parking surfaces. Snow removal priorities are based on opening high traffic areas first. Landcare monitors weather conditions and adjusts plans accordingly. They use specialized equipment. Staff shovel steps and ramps. They partner with custodial crews. Landcare staff complete Smart Salting training. They balance public safety with stewardship of resources.
Before a storm, anti-icing brine is applied. During or after a storm, priority paths are plowed. Within 12 hours, plowing is done to full width. Within 24 hours, pavement is broomed. Edges are widened. De-icing chemicals are applied. Standard parking lots are cleared after 2 inches of snow. Priority walkways are cleared with visible snow cover.
The Landcare and Facilities Operations Building plays a crucial role. It maintains the beauty safety and functionality of the University of Minnesota’s campus.