Drought-Tolerant Landscaping with Joe Jackson

Director, Grounds and Sanitation Services
Duke University, Durham, N.C.

Your region of the country has suffered through serious drought conditions. How did those conditions affect your department’s daily operations and interfere with its long-term goals?
In August 2007, our local government imposed mandatory water-restriction measures because of the drought. All outdoor irrigation on campus was stopped. Our traditional fall and early spring planting of trees, shrubs, and seasonal flowers, as well as turf-renovation projects, were all put on hold.

A number of construction projects that included landscaping could not be completed because the planting moratorium. Our grounds supervisors had to modify work plans for their crews in consideration of the water-use restrictions. Workers’ motivation and morale had to be addressed on a variety of levels.

You turned off most of your irrigation systems and eliminated most outdoor watering. How did this change the appearance of your landscaped areas, and what type of reaction did you receive from campus occupants?
Fortunately, on our campus, we have some well-established landscapes that typically can withstand some dry periods. The most noticeable impact occurred with the absence of our accent- or seasonal-flower plantings and the browning of some turf areas. Given the severity of the drought regionally and the amount of press it received, the public and our customers generally were sympathetic and understanding of the situation.
Our fish-bowl existence became even more pronounced because the public was closely monitoring all of our grounds activities to ensure compliance.

What types of drought-tolerant materials or plants did you specify, and what happens to those materials now that the drought has subsided?
Remember, all plantings, drought tolerant or not, require adequate watering in order to get established. Also, putting the right plant in the right place always should be the practice of a good grounds operation. That practice will reduce the need for unnecessary watering. Along with using materials that might not require as much watering once established, such as junipers, pines, and sedum, the proper use of mulch is a valuable piece of the process.

What would you suggest for grounds managers who want to develop a plan to prepare for drought conditions?
Good grounds managers always should constantly search out ways to protect and conserve. The old saying that you can’t manage what you don’t know is certainly appropriate in this situation. Know what your water-consumption rate is through proper metering. Perform an audit on your irrigation systems to assess effectiveness and efficiency. Design irrigation systems that respond to specific plant needs and dispense water accurately. Use drip irrigation wherever feasible. Finally, practice and investigate water-conservation measures continuously, particularly in managing storm water.

Will the drought change your department’s approach to water conservation and sustainability?
It already has changed by forcing the department as a whole to know who, what and where the big water users are on campus. Surprising to some, the grounds operation was a small user in the greater scheme of things. We are exploring, analyzing, and implementing a large number of new and innovative water-conservation measures. Our department is revisiting its long-term strategic plan to include water-conservation efforts more prominently.

Did the drought affect the specification of grounds equipment? Did you have to purchase new or specialized equipment to manage the water-stricken landscapes?
At this point, it has not affected the specification of grounds equipment. We have added a couple of large trucks to our vehicle fleet for hauling water. The department will use these trucks to transport reclaimed and non-potable water to various landscape sites on campus. We will add a few more small water pumps and tanks in the future.

posted:  5/6/2008