Parks Standards: Tree and Landscape Area Maintenance

Tree and Landscape Area

The addition of new plant material will be approached with site characteristics in mind first. Both woody and herbaceous plants will thrive and require the least amount of additional inputs when they are located at an appropriate site.
Stylistically, plant material will be chosen to match or compliment the original design of existing landscaped areas when rehabilitation or expansions are undertaken.
When a master plan exists, choices will be made from the recommendations of the landscape architect. Once species have been selected, improved varieties that display insect, disease, and other stress resistance will be sought for use.
The thought process is to plant areas which will require less water for plants to thrive. Ground color consists of stone/river rock or crushed granite and the plants are usually a cactus type plant or background.

It is expected that grounds staff will have a working knowledge of these practices and techniques.
An inventory and assessment of trees throughout the parks and public spaces will be developed and administered by the Grounds Manager.
Pruning or removal will first be applied to any specimen that poses a safety threat.
Additional pruning or removal will be scheduled primarily in winter months as time and labor allows.

Hard edging will be performed Bi‐weekly with soft edging to follow as needed throughout the season to maintain a defined edge.
Mulch or other treatments may be applied to cover the soil for aesthetic and protective purposes.
Mulching will take place once annually in the spring.
Cleaning, raking, or the addition of a mulch material will take place at the discretion of the Grounds Manager to maintain a neat appearance.

Many plants situated on an appropriate site with desirable soils do not require additional inputs of fertilizer to perform well. Granular fertilizers will be slow release, like Osmocote, for season long feeding. In some cases a foliar application of soluble 20‐20‐20 may be used; especially for flowering herbaceous material.

Many plants situated on an appropriate site with desirable soils do not require additional inputs of water to perform well. Water will be applied at times when evaporation is least likely to interfere with retention.
Irrigation will be applied to roots, and not overhead, whenever possible to limit leaf wetness.
Where in‐ground irrigation is available, such as the islands on 228, scouting and weather reports will determine run times for the sprinklers.

Both pre‐emergent and post‐emergent herbicides will be utilized in all appropriate areas to control weed infestations.
Pre‐emergent herbicides will be applied annually in the spring at a rate that will provide season long control of weeds that germinate from seed.
Post‐emergent herbicides will be used as a spot treatment to eradicate unwanted weeds.

Products will be applied only as needed to be determined by Grounds Manager
Woody and herbaceous plant materials that continue to display low resistance to diseases and insects should be considered for replacement with an improved variety rather than receiving perennial pesticide applications.