Landcare is responsible for managing the physical assets and natural resources of the campus in a cost effective and efficient manner, to ensure that the exterior environment is aesthetically pleasing, safe, and accessible during inclement weather for students, staff, faculty, and guests.

Landcare’s core businesses include Maintenance (snow removal, plant care, turf care, irrigation repairs); Design & Implementation (project staging & restoration, landscape design & installation, irrigation design & installation); Campus Cleanliness (outdoor waste collection, hard surface cleaning, graffiti removal); & Other Services (Commemorative Planting Program, Landscape Infrastructure, Outdoor Space Use Coordination, Landscape Material Recovery).

DEFINITION OF SERVICES

TURF

• Mowing
  • Weekly throughout growing season (approximately 26 times)
  • Trash if present will be picked up prior to mowing
  • Cutting height: determined by season and climate—2.5-3.5 inches
  • Cross striping (back and forth pattern) where feasible
  • Excess grass on lawn will either be blown apart once dry or picked up and hauled to the landscape material recovery area
  • Keep clippings off walks and drives
  • Care will be taken to avoid damaging any trees, shrubs, buildings and objects

 

• Weed whip
  • Around building, poles, edges, etc. on an as needed basis

 

• Watering
  • As needed, where possible, to keep turf healthy
  • Where turf areas have automatic irrigation in place, systems will be set to provide approximately 1 inch of water per week

 

• Fertilization and Weed Control
  • Areas where applications have been made will be posted
  • 2 pounds of Nitrogen/1000 sq. ft/season, (normally .8 lbs of N mid May; 1.2 lbs of N mid September; high priority areas may see a third application of .5 lbs N at the beginning of July)
  • Low priority areas will receive no more than 1 lb of N
  • Chemicals that get on walks will be removed ASAP
  • Early to mid May application of pre-emergent herbicide for crabgrass, (spot spray
  • post-emergent as needed)
  • Late April to mid June blanket application of broad-leaf herbicide
  • Late August spot spray application of broad-leaf herbicide

 

• Monitor Based on Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
  • IPM for disease and pest problems in the turf and treat as needs require, (treatment could result in an additional charge)

 

• Edging
  • Sidewalks will be edged in mid June and mid August with all scraps picked up and sidewalks blown off

 

• Aeration
  • Will be done late April into May and mid August into September (more often in high priority/heavy use areas)
  • Plugs that fall on sidewalks will be removed
  • In irrigated areas, heads in the turf will be marked before aerating

 

• Seeding
  • As needed, generally in early May or mid August thru mid September
  • Location of the turf area will determine type of seed mix
  • Seed mix will be a premium grade and up to date
  • Where possible a mechanical seeder (slit seeder) will be used
  • Clean off walks when finished

 

• Fall Cleanup
  • Leaves mulched into turf
  • Excess leaves removed to landscape material recovery area

 

• Spring Cleanup
  • Leaves will be mulched or removed as needs require
  • Removal of winter debris/litter
  • Excessive sand and gravel on turf will be removed

TREE CARE

• Routine Care Corrective pruning done according to cultural and environmental needs
• Monitor trees for disease, insect, and structural problems, treat (IPM) if conditions warrant, treatment could result in an additional charge
• DED treatment done in mid to late June (at an additional charge)
• Two Line Chestnut Bore (treatment at an additional charge)
• Maintenance ring around tree trunk
• Provide weed control when needed in tree rings
• Water where possible as needs require keeping tree(s) healthy.
• Tree Removal/Replacement when needed
• Girdling Roots removal of adventitious roots that are girdling the trees main stem (program still under development in terms of time dedication)
• Other Services as Needed for an additional charge; Storm damage repair, fertilization/aeration, cabling, treatment of disease and insect problems, and stump removal

ANNUALS/PERENNIALS

• Annuals
• Beds will be designed during November and December
• Ordered by late December early January
• Planting will be done in May after the danger of frost
• Fertilizing on a weekly or every other week basis depending on the needs of the particular variety
• Maintain Beds (annuals and perennials)
• Weeding, watering, fertilizing, deadheading and dividing as needs require (frequency will vary based on time of season and environmental conditions)
• Fall clean-up after a killing frost remove and haul to landscape material recovery area

SHRUBS

• Plant Replacement - plant material will be evaluated after buds break in spring with unhealthy plants being replaced (evaluation on going thru the growing season)
• Replacement lists compiled and turned in by end of third week in May
• Plants in ground by mid to late June and continuing as needs require
• Weed control - application of pre-emergent herbicides done by end of May or as weather dictates
• Post emergent application on going through out growing season
• Hand weeding will start early June in priority areas, repeat as necessary during the season
• Mulch - top dress shrub beds as needed (generally on a 2-3 year basis)
• Water- where possible as needs require keeping plants healthy.
• Prune Maintain proper growth habit and health; timing will be based on variety and desired outcome
• Monitor insect and disease problems; treat as necessary based on IPM, (treatment could be an additional charge)
• Edging - bed edging will be done to accommodate plant growth in bed as aesthetics dictate (generally in July and August)
• Fertilization As needed with a non phosphorous fertilizer (e.g. 15-0-10) usually June/July

IRRIGATION

• Activate systems beginning first week of April making sure coverage is in correct areas; clocks, valves, heads all functioning as required; check for leaks
• Maintenance adjusting heads, cleaning nozzles, making sure system is functioning correctly

REPAIR AS NEEDS REQUIRE

• Damage Control line location, cutting & capping lines, etc for construction projects (this generally involves an additional charge)

WINTERIZE SYSTEMS (beginning October 1 completing by November 1)

• Design systems(additional charge)

INSTALLATION (additional charge)

• Pull permit if necessary
• Coordinating access to water source with plumbers
• Coordinating with electricians to power up the clock
• Clear for digging and install system
• Inspect, document as built and zone areas, turn over to maintenance crew

HARD SURFACES

• Sweep, vacuum or blow walks on a bi-monthly basis during growing season
• Beginning mid March a major spring clean up removing the sand from winter de-icing activities
• Winter months work with Building Service to sweep areas susceptible to having sand tracked into buildings
• Loading Docks weekly picking up trash that has accumulated

WEED REMOVAL SPRAY AND/OR REMOVE WEEDS AS NEEDED
(early June thru September)

• Street Sweeping - major spring clean-up scheduled for last weekend in March, followed by a once a month service thru October. (Each sweeping will be concluded with a vacuum sweeper to ensure fine particles are picked up).

LITTER REMOVAL

• Litter containers, ash urns and campus grounds service based on location and time of year; could be daily, weekly or as needed
• Clean litter container lids in May and in August
• Refurbish lids when they have faded
• Wash away residue stain under containers in August
• Provide containers per request – (at an additional charge)
• Special Events Service as requested (at an additional charge)
• Kiosks – at the end of each semester clean kiosks by removing all notices

GRAFFITI REMOVAL

• Graffiti Hot Line to provide phone service to collect graffiti sites, sort by area and budget responsibility, and add to removal report
• Zone gardeners will compile a report to be turned in each Friday to supervisor
• Cumulative report sent on Wednesday to the Paint Shop for removal services (removal is contingent on weather particularly in the winter)
• Removal will take place Wednesday - Friday
• Offensive graffiti will be removed ASAP

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES (Provided at an additional cost)

• Planning
• Site Selection
• Site Analysis
• Design
• Cost Estimating
• Project Management
• Design Review
• Commemorative Program

LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION SERVICES (Provided at an additional cost)

• Staging Area Preparation
• Site Preparation
• Soil Work
• Irrigation Installation
• Planting
• Sodding and Seeding
• Hardscapes – pavers, walls

LANDSCAPE MATERIAL RECOVERY

• Herbaceous plant material waste will be collected from work areas, composted and used as soil amendments
• Woody plant material waste collected and processed to create a wood mulch to be reused on Campus
• Soil - where and when possible top soil will be stripped for reuse
• Soil Manufacturing - mixing compost, soil, sand and other ingredients to create the desire product (at an additional cost)
• Organic waste generated by Greenhouses/Departments will be collected and disposed of (at an additional cost)

SNOW REMOVAL

• Landcare is responsible for snow removal on the Twin Cities Campus. They receive assistance from several other groups, but if problems exist with or as a result of snow removal Landcare will investigate and resolve the problem.
• Monitor weather conditions to determine when service needs are required
• Call snow removal crews when conditions require actions
• Contact contractors if accumulations reach 2” or when conditions warrant and oversee their plowing and hauling operation
• Plow, sand and de-ice high priority service areas, streets and major pedestrian traffic routes, continuing to monitor weather conditions and adjust snow removal plan to accommodate current and planned activities/events
• After snowfall stops, clean and widen all traffic areas to full width and do loading docks
• Clear secondary sites for access (fire hydrants, phones, litter containers, garbage dumpsters, etc.) and haul snow piles

INFRASTRUCTURE (Provided at an additional charge)

• Retaining Walls - seal coating and rebuilding
• Repair of pedestrian walkway that Parking Services doesn’t service
• Fences - R&R maintenance
• Landscape water features (fountains)
• Outdoor Furniture such as benches, tables & chairs, litter receptacles, ash urns, free standing planters
• Street Light Banners & Flags – routine service and replacement
• Accent lighting - maintenance as needs require
• Entrance Monuments - maintenance as needs require

 

ADDITIONAL SERVICES (Provided at an additional charge)

• Banner hanging (additional cost)
• Holiday lighting installation & removal (additional cost)

 

NOTES:

• In dealing with emergencies, the resources needed to achieve these service levels will be redirected. Therefore, these service levels may be delayed.
• As a result of seasonal changes and weather conditions these service levels may not be attainable.