Landscaping

Visitors to George Mason University often comment on how lovely and clean its campuses are kept.  By designing our landscaping features to reduce the demand for water and minimizing chemical applications, we can ensure the health and vitality of not only our valuable freshwater ecosystems, but also our local Chesapeake Bay watershed.

We have implemented several sustainable landscaping initiatives on campus grounds such as:

  • Compliance with Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation regulations
  • Utilizing an Integrated Pest Management program which focuses on preventative measures to reduce and control pests
  • Incorporating best practices from Mason’s Honey Bee Initiative
  • Bumblebee and butterfly havens that encourages wildlife and minimizes maintenance;
  • Native plants in gardens to maintain wildflower areas as buffers to forested areas;
  • Composting its grass clippings and leaves for mulch;
  • Annual soil testing to determine chemistry needs of the soil;
  • Invasive species management and removal program;
  • a Certified National Wildlife Habitat;
  • Working with students, faculty, and staff to catalog some species on campus;
  • Educational signage about some plant species on campus;
  • Minimizing the need for irrigation; and
  • Edible gardens, like the Innovative Food Forest and Potomac Heights Organic Vegetable Garden

Check out our Sustainability Map to locate some of these areas on campus!

Wildflowers at the School of Art Garden