Grounds Maintenance and Operations

• Introduction
• Organization
• Standards and Scheduling
• Training
• Equipment
• Grass and Turf
• Plant Materials
• Indoor Plants
• Maintenance of Other Grounds Facilities
• Snow Removal
• Conclusion

Introduction

It is now commonly known that the appearance of a college campus is directly related to recruitment and the mental and physiological health of the students, faculty, and staff who live and work there. First impressions of the grounds can affect enrollment of students, employment of faculty and staff, and the attitudes of visitors and benefactors. Creating a "quality environment for learning" is the mission of all grounds managers as they attempt to balance campus aesthetics with real-world economics. In addition, grounds maintenance operations have the unique challenge of having to contend with unpredictable variables such as living plants, pests, and weather. More than ever, these administrators need to identify best practices to accomplish this mission.

Grounds maintenance organizations operate with varying degrees of success. Real success is achieved through leadership by staff well trained in forestry, turf, and horticultural practices, task management, equipment maintenance and management, human resources, work loading, and scheduling. In addition, modern grounds managers must be aware of their operation's effect on the environment, such as from the use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and sand and salt during winter de-icing operations.

The wealth of information that has been collected in this area provides a new sophistication, allowing grounds managers to better accomplish their mission. Administrators as well as employees must now be aware of the latest technological advances as well as government regulations, which often require specialized training and even specialized individuals to accomplish the many tasks confronted.