Texas A&M University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Besides building footprint and infrastructure, a significant portion of the campus acreage is still dedicated to agriculture and engineering extension and research. SSC is contracted to manage 2810 acres of campus. 1800 acres are formally managed, 450 acres are irrigated, 50,000 square feet of annual color beds, and 11,000 trees.

At the Presidential Library, Rose Garden, Campus flower beds, and Leach Teaching Gardens, we follow the standard organic management practices that have eliminated the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides in favor of ecologically preferable materials.

SSC Grounds Management uses a 4 tier approach in the Integrated Pest Management Procedures used across the entire campus.
These procedures include setting action thresholds, monitoring and identifying pests, prevention, and control.

Our approach to new and replacement plantings is multi-faceted.
Before any planting decisions are made, we consider the other elements that contribute to both a sustainable and durable solution. Areas of consideration include: sun exposure (duration & time of day), proximity to heat and light reflective surfaces, soil conditions including: taxonomy, physiological, chemical; grade, precipitation and/ or supplemental irrigation issues, desired use, financial considerations, etc.

Those decisions affect the form and function of plant selection. Where prudent and warranted, the use of native / native adapted plants are promoted.

Invasive Species-
The SSC Grounds Management staff is comprised of formally educated and highly credentialed personnel who are able to identify invasive species of all forms- insects, weeds, misc. fungal, bacterial, and virus vectors. We continually stay abreast of new threats, causal agents, and possible mitigation activities.

The Texas A&M University Campus has a rich history of cutting-edge landscape irrigation technology and management. In 1972, Texas A&M installed a campus-wide state of the art irrigation system. It was arguably the most technologically advanced system of any comparably sized campus in the country.

After 40-plus years of utilizing controllers with mechanical technology, SSC Grounds Management, Texas A&M University, Weathermatic, and a private philanthropic organization have cooperatively invested roughly 1 million dollars to upgrade the irrigation system and restore it to its former "State of the Art" condition. The project includes installation of state of the art cloud-based irrigation controller assemblies complete with weather stations, flow control, and master valves. Our goal is to reduce irrigation water consumption by 100 million gallons annually.

SSC Grounds Department generates upwards of 5,000 cubic yards of miscellaneous green waste annually. SSC Grounds Department diverts 100% of green waste to our campus composting operation for use on campus. These composted materials include: composts, composted wood mulches, wood chips, compost sand blends for turf top dressing, etc.

TAMU is utilizing native adapted & water resourceful plant material, employing drip irrigation technology in planting beds in lieu of conventional spray irrigation, phasing in water-efficient “Smart” irrigation controllers, and utilizing organic fertilizers when possible. Additionally, the university utilizes proper drainage design to mitigate nonpoint source pollution.

Our climate is not conducive to significant ice and snow events. In the case of a minor event, SSC Grounds utilizes Magnesium Chloride Ice melt as a spot treatment on affected pedestrian areas. This blend is significantly less corrosive and does not adversely affect the turf or landscape plantings.

For key campus intersections and other vehicular thoroughfares, sand is utilized for traction. At the conclusion of the event, SSC Grounds Utilizes a sweeper truck to remove the sand.

Information for this section was supplied by SSC Service Solutions, a third-party contractor for Texas A&M Grounds Maintenance.

SSC currently has extra credit for the PGMS Accreditation and the Tree Campus USA. In 2020, SSC completed the re-application for the PGMS accreditation and was moved from a 2 Star to a 4 Star. It has maintained that 4 Star rating to present.

Also for extra credit, under associates with certifications, we have 100% of our managers (7) with one or more certifications including Turf, Arboriculture, and Pest Control. The Director of Grounds is a Licensed Landscape Architect, as well as a degreed Horticulturist.

SSC awarded a $1875 scholarship to 8 SSC families having students that attend Texas A&M University, one of those being a Grounds Student. This totals $15,000

SSC Grounds currently uses approximately 30+ handheld electric-powered lawn equipment pieces daily and multiple handheld tools such as electric drills, saws, grinders, etc. The lawn equipment includes back packs, blowers, weed eaters, trimmers, and electric saws. We also have five battery-powered push mowers. We have one 60" Mean Green zero turn mower that is used daily.

We purchased 30 100% Recycled Eko Mats for use on campus in 2019. It is my understanding there is a credit available through STARS for the use of these.

Current students that work in my department are:
Brannon Hill Horticulture department– pursuing Bachelors in Civil Engineering and a bachelors in World History at Texas A&M University
Jeremy "Blake" Alexander-Landscape Construction Team, is pursuing his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree at Texas A&M, after transferring from Blinn Jr. College.
Luke Townsend-Special Project Team-Working on BS in Horticulture at TAMU.
Justin Watsabaugh-Fine Hort Team-Working on Business Degree at TAMU.
Hunter Clements-Turf Team-Working on Construction Science Degree at TAMU.
Faith Cruz is a student worker in our Administrative Office for Grounds.

GIS team information:
Jacob Reaves served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Expeditionary Airfield Technician after graduating high school and has worked for SSC for 2 years as a GIS Technician

The GIS technicians are currently collecting campus arboriculture data to update the campus tree inventory by collecting GPS locations of each tree on campus and data through a list of attributes for each tree. They are also collecting data on all turf panels located on campus and all horticulture/annual color beds located on campus that are within our contract to eventually update our campus APPA maps that detail our service level provided to Texas A&M. With that information, we will have accurate statistics throughout campus (ie: number of acres maintained, how many acres irrigated, what type of irrigation throughout campus). The GIS team also collects data for new buildings on campus and will help provide information for the bidding process which includes measurements of the turf and landscape and how much it would cost to maintain the new building if SSC takes care of the building. Lastly, the GIS team puts together maps for other grounds managers when needed if they are simple maps to be created. All of the data is collected through a software called ArcGIS.