Grounds Maintenance

Home >Facilities > Grounds Maintenance

Our Grounds Maintenance is based on a minimal impact on nature by utilizing the following strategies:

Maintaining habitat for beneficial insects by planting pollen and nectar plants as well as keeping winter habitat, i.e. leaves and flower stalks, standing over the coldest months.
Allowing beneficial insects to multiply and keep pest insects in check by using only narrow spectrum pesticides.

Branches, leaves, weeds, etc., are chipped and composted for use as mulch and soil amendments.
When conditions permit, return all grass clippings to the turf, reducing the need for fertilizer and helps retain soil moisture.
Amending sports fields with organic topdressing compost to increase fertility and retain moisture.

Fertilizing landscape beds with natural debris, such as compost and leaves when aesthetically acceptable to the College Community.
We use organic and chemical fertilizers to amend landscape beds only when there is a severe deficiency.
We use natural organic fertilizer on 25% of our sports turf.

Integrated pest management is used to apply only to precise type and quantity of pesticides needed by:

Applying pesticides only when an identified pest has surpassed the allowable threshold.
Our goal is to use pest-specific pesticides to ensure non-target species are not harmed.
Applying pesticides only when pests are most easily controlled.
Our goal is to treat 95% of turf for insect pests only when acceptable infestation threshold is exceeded.

Reducing the use of mulch by mulching most areas on a two or three year rotation—this ensures mulch is not building up.
Mulching to no more than three inches to aid in weed control and moisture retention.
Applying mulch in a manner that provides proper application control.

Using native plants in all new planting projects, this ensures that the plants are low maintenance, able to withstand regional temperature extremes, require no irrigation once established, and take very little soil amendment.
Focusing on planting the right plant in the right place which also lowers maintenance time and increases survival rates.
This strategy provides food and cover for native insects, birds, and animals with native plants.

Several years ago the College implemented the College’s first Growing Greener grant to create storm water retention areas on the stream flowing into Lake Placida so the water quality is improved by the action of bacteria in the retention areas prior to flowing into the lake.
Maintain wetland plantings around Lake Placida and entering waterways to control erosion and filter water-borne pollutants to ensure cleaner water.
Created several infiltration swales to collect storm water runoff from fields and parking lots, these areas serve as recharge areas for ground water levels and also help filter sediment and pollutants. These areas are:

The recent installation of our aquifer recharge facility between Founders and the Hackman North lot is the latest in our implementation of storm water best management practices. This project was funded from the College’s second Growing Greener grant. A copy of the grant application can be seen at this link.

Below Schreiber Quadrangle
Below Boyd Field
Beside Leffler Chapel
Our planned new residential construction will also incorporate storm water retention/treatment areas and aquifer recharge areas and providing habitat for wetland species in these areas.

Maintain several wildflower areas whose deep rooted plants help decrease water runoff and increase ground water absorption
Reduce time and resources spent by mowing turf
Provide native habitat for insects and birds in these areas

We have a Pennsylvania Certified Horticulturalist and a Certified Turfgrass Professional on staff.