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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Landscape Services

Committed to Excellence

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Mission:

Committed to excellence, we provide supportive services necessary for learning, discovery, and service.

Strategic Initiatives:

Customer Service. Developing/maintaining/enhancing our relationships with customer-partners as we strive to consistently meet and exceed their expectations

Collaboration and Improved Communication. Building and enhancing partnerships with our customer-partners and among ourselves, and improving customer knowledge of B&F practices and procedures, including enhanced marketing of B&F services and training programs

Investments in People. Training, developing careers, compensating and empowering B&F staff

Innovation. Maximizing the use of interactive technology

Change Management. Improving the way business is transacted and implementing best business practices
 
DEPARTMENT STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS OF UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN BOTANICAL GARDENS ARBORETUM (UNLBGA)

Administrative Structure
UNLBGA is under the supervision of the Director of Landscape Services, Botanical Garden and Arboretum. This position reports to the Facilities Management and Planning who in turn reports to the Vice Chancellor for Business and Finance.

Operations
The Department of Landscape Services provides the following services:
  • Landscape planning and design
  • Landscape construction
  • Landscape maintenance
  • Design, planting, and care of garden areas
  • Development and management of campus botanical gardens
  • Production and planting of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals
  • Design, installation and maintenance of irrigation systems
  • Maintenance of streets, sidewalks, malls, parking lots
  • Landscape lighting, and outdoor signs
  • Solid waste and recycling services
  • Campus litter cleanup
  • Snow removal

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln landscape profile includes:

  • 624 total acres (City Campus=285, East Campus=339 acres)
  • More than 280 acres of green space
  • Approximately 8,840 accessioned trees and 30,254 shrubs
  • 130,200 square feet in annual and perennial beds
  • Landscape valued at $9.1 million
  • 12 miles of streets
  • 26 miles of paved sidewalks
  • 92.6 acres of parking (13,450 parking stalls)

The UNL Botanical Garden and Arboretum (UNLBGA) is an integral part of the campus landscape. Funding for UNLBGA operations comes from departmental funds, donations, grants, and proceeds from special events. As part of UNL's Department of Landscape Services, the arboretum and botanical garden plants and collections are maintained by the Landscape Service professionals. For UNL, this has proven to be a cost effective way to develop and operate a botanical garden and arboretum. It also allows an added use of campus spaces by enhancing landscape plantings to a higher level and dedicating them to educational and academic use. Two nonprofit organizations, the UNL Garden Friends and the Friends of Maxwell Arboretum, provide additional support.

The planning and development of campus landscape gardens and the arboretum of the campus landscape are integrated into the UNL Master Plan and comprehensive planning efforts of the University administration. Design work and landscape installation is usually accomplished in-house.

Maintenance of botanical plantings is integrated with daily landscape and grounds activities, allowing for efficient use of personnel, equipment and funding. Both city campus and east campus are divided into distinct areas, each maintained by a crew of groundskeepers. Area crews are responsible for the housekeeping of their areas, along with maintenance of the landscape and botanical resources. This includes turf, trees, shrubs, perennials, surfaces, lighting and irrigation systems. Plant care involves planting, pruning, watering, mulching, mowing, fertilizing, and pest control. Landscape amenities such as benches, litter containers, walls, fences and special features are installed and cared for by the department. Crews are also responsible for keeping their areas clean and litter-free. Along with area maintenance crews, other departmental divisions such as Nursery Production, Irrigation and Operations crews participate in the maintenance and enhancement of the campus landscape.

Campus maps, plant records and inventories are maintained by Landscape Services for departmental use as well as use by other university departments and entities. The Landscape Architectural Services division maintains and provides campus maps that include plant locations on campus. Plant records and inventories are kept in a computer database.

Educational walks and tours are scheduled at various times. These activities are carried out with assistance from staff members, friends groups and volunteers. There is a great deal of cooperation with other university departments and groups to ensure that the campus community can effectively utilize the UNL botanical gardens, arboretum and campus landscape. The education mission of the University encourages continued development, refinement and educational opportunities for the UNL Botanical Garden and Arboretum.