Wake Forest University Integrated Pest Management Plan
The goal of integrated pest management (IPM) at the Wake Forest University is to provide acceptable levels of pest management within the landscape in an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable way through best management practices (BMPs), collaborative innovative design and common sense methods.
Objectives:
§ Maintain an aesthetically pleasing healthy landscape.
§ Minimize and reduce pesticide use.
§ Continually improve through education and innovation.
§ Be exemplary in regard to use of BMP’s and industry standards.
Key Elements of the IPM Plan are: Design, Implementation, Materials Selection, Maintenance and Renewal.
1. Design
1.01 Prior to initial design stake holders meet with the architect to discuss site use, needs, maintenance expectations and capabilities, materials and general theme or feel of the design.
1.02 After design plant species selection is carefully reviewed. See 3.3.01-3.3.07
1.03 After design non-plant materials selection is carefully reviewed. See 3.3.08
1.04 After design hardscape and other features are carefully reviewed. Consideration is given to whether the hardscape meets the current and foreseeable future functional needs of the area. Historically, undersized walkways and a lack of adequate service areas have put unnecessary demands on the campus softscape by compaction, damaging aesthetics and increasing maintenance cost. Plants under stress are more prone to pest problems.
1.05 Adjustments are made to the final design based on recommendations from 1.02-1.04.
1.06 Final Landscape plans are reviewed by Landscaping Services prior to implementation.
2. Implementation
2.01 Landscaping staff inspects the site during installation to ensure all methods are met per the specified requirements.
2.02 Landscaping staff inspects the site before final sign off to ensure materials and quality specifications are met.
2.03 Adjustments are made as necessary per 2.01-2.02
2.04 Other minor field adjustments are made as needed.
3. Materials Selection
3.05 Plants are carefully chosen to best fit the site’s specific physical properties such as light exposure, soils and moisture levels. Careful consideration is given to microclimates and their potential effects on plantings.
3.06 Plants are carefully chosen to best fit the sites use.
3.07 Regarding size, shrubs and especially trees are chosen with long term size in mind. This helps reduce pruning needs.
3.08 Pest resistant cultivars and varieties are used.
3.09 As appropriate, dwarf or slow growing cultivars are chosen to prevent unnecessary pruning.
3.10 In order to be good environmental stewards and to create a biologically diverse landscape that serves as a living laboratory, planting of native species is strongly encouraged and practiced.
3.11 Planting of highly invasive species is not allowed unless it is an integral part of historic landscape. See the NC Native Plant Society invasive species list. http://www.ncwildflower.org/index.php/plant_galleries/invasives.
3.12 Plant materials are generally sourced within a 100 mile radius of campus. Although some rare and hard to find species are ordered from more distant suppliers from time to time. These tend to be bare root and small container size plants that are easily shipped via FedEx or UPS. Whenever possible, regional plant varieties are used. Quality is the most important aspect of plant sourcing and takes precedence over initial cost and travel distance. Wholesale vendors, bulk pricing and freight sharing are used to reduce costs.
4. Maintenance
4.01 BMPs are used to ensure the long term health of landscape plantings. A healthy growing environment created through good cultural practices including proper soil amendment is the foundation of a sustainable healthy, pest resistant, planting.
4.02 Organic soil amendments such as, decomposed leaves, finely ground pine bark, compost, and biochar/bio-activated carbon are added to all new plantings.
4.03 Existing landscape beds receive supplemental soil amendments as needed to maintain good tilth and support healthy soil biology.
4.04 Inorganic amendments like Axis or Permatill (expanded shale) are used in bed areas to permanently aerate heavy clay soils. This cultural practice increases soil porosity and reduces the incidence of root rot diseases.
4.04 Supplemental fertilizer is given to established trees and shrubs only on an as needed basis to correct nutrient deficiencies.
4.05 Mulches are applied to reduce water use, suppress weeds, increase organic matter, moderate soil temperatures and improve aesthetics.
4.06 Careful monitoring of pest is used to determine when economic thresholds are met. This practice facilitates a more efficient use of pesticides and helps with overall reduction in pesticide use.
4.06 When they are necessary less toxic pesticides are used only as needed to maintain acceptable levels of pest control.
4.07 Whenever possible spot treatments are chosen over broadcast sprays for lawn applications.
5. Renewal
5.01 As part of a long term renewal plan Landscaping Services is strategically removing large overgrown shrubs such as Burford Holly and Privet that require a great deal pruning maintenance. These are replaced with more appropriately sized plants that require less maintenance.
5.02 Many outdated, maintenance heavy landscapes are replaced each year. A good example of this is the recent chapel landscape renewal on Hearn Plaza.
5.03 Invasive plants are removed and replaced with sustainable alternatives.
5.04 Where appropriate existing lawn areas are reduced in favor of low maintenance native plantings.