10:02 a.m., May 18, 2009----The University of Delaware has taken a leadership role in sustainability initiatives, and individuals from the University of Delaware Botanic Gardens (UDBG) and the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have been pioneers in sustainable landscaping on the UD campus.

According to the UDBG Web site, “A sustainable landscape is a stable and productive ecosystem that conserves the physical and biological processes occurring on that landscape. Designers and managers of sustainable landscapes minimize site disturbances and work with existing site elements to the extent possible.”

The major benefits of a sustainable landscape include maintaining soil integrity, animal and plant diversity, hydrological function and human wellness.

Susan Barton, an assistant professor of plant and soil sciences and an ornamental horticulture Cooperative Extension specialist, is a leader in sustainable landscaping on campus and throughout Delaware. She is part of collaborative project with the Delaware Department of Transportation to help implement sustainable roadside management practices to enhance Delaware highways. Barton is also part of the Plants for a Livable Delaware program, designed to encourage homeowners and landscapers to seek more sustainable landscaping instead of invasive plants.

Barton is currently working with UDBG's “green subcommittee,” composed of UD faculty and maintenance staff members, to address sustainable landscaping on campus. One of the first sites on campus to receive landscaping attention was the new University Visitors Center, where a sustainable landscape was installed last year.

An interpretive sign has been installed at the main entrance of the center outlining a general definition of sustainability. In addition, six smaller, more detailed signs are currently being made to put in various spots around the center to discuss such topics as adding compost to soil, rain gardens, attracting wildlife, installing low maintenance ground covers, engaging people in their landscape, and selecting appropriate plants for specific conditions.

There are also plans for Laird Campus to become more involved in sustainable landscaping projects. Currently, there are plans to install new plants and work on sustainable ways to manage the current landscaping with the goal of being able to keep routine mowing to a minimum and incorporating aesthetically pleasing meadows into the current landscape. It is hoped this will allow for sustainable landscaping to expand across the entire campus in years to come.

Rebecca Pineo, a UDBG intern, has created a Web site with supporting information on sustainable landscaping. The site Pineo created is based on the “Sustainable Landscape Practices” developed by the UDBG Green Initiatives Subcommittee and various other sustainable landscaping fact sheets.

“This Web site was picked up by Ray Mims of the U.S. Botanic Garden and they plan to use this site as a model for other regions,” said Pineo. “It is really exciting and I am glad I fell into the University at this time. It is really great to see people interested in this subject and gaining awareness. A lot of people think sustainability is just about light bulbs. They don't realize that their landscape is important, too.”

Another exciting project currently underway on the UD campus is the installation of a green roof on Colburn Laboratory, the chemical engineering building on central campus. The installation of the green roof -- comprised of grasses and shrubs -- will give relief to areas within the lab that overheat because of direct sunlight, and serve as an insulation layer and barrier to that light. This roof will reduce energy costs and also has benefits for native birds and insect populations.

Article by Rachael Dubinsky