University of Kentucky
Tier2-1: Native Plants

LANDSCAPING

The function, maintenance needs, and growth requirements of plant materials should be the basis of selection and placement of landscaping materials. Plants can be used to focus attention on attractive features, enhance and identify building entrances, form a screen or wall to block views, improve the micro-climate, control glare and heat reflection, direct or guide circulation, provide pedestrian scale, reduce noise, deter soil erosion, provide windbreaks and climate control, reduce dust and air pollution, define outdoor spaces, soften architectural elements and unify the campus,.

Plant materials include deciduous shade trees, evergreen trees, ornamental trees, shrubs and ground covers. The following guiding principles apply to all types of landscape plantings:

Select plant materials native to the region whenever possible. Avoid the use of exotic, difficult to maintain plant materials.
Selected plant materials should be repeated throughout the campus to provide a sense of order and unity.
Plantings should be simple and primarily informal.
When used in mass, plants should be grouped together in clusters of odd numbers of plants such as three, five or seven of the same shrub.
A sense of openness on the campus should be maintained by not over-planting with trees and maintaining a high canopy to preserve views.
Messy plants or those with thorns should be avoided adjacent to pedestrian walkways or near parking areas and roadways.
Mature, trees and shrubs should not block windows, graphics or other building elements. The location of overhead utility lines and building overhangs should be considered in the selection and placement of trees and shrubs.
Planting designs should be completed as a collaboration between the building and grounds department, an experienced landscape architect or horticulturist, and the University Architect. Items to be considered include exact site conditions and the particular requirements of the plant, ultimate desired size of plant materials versus its potential growth, purpose of the planting and maintenance capability and desired effort.
All planting beds should have well-defined edges. Open areas between plants should be covered with a thick mulch of bark or stone.
Plantings throughout the campus should provide year-round interest with a mixture of evergreens, shade trees and ornamentals providing color, texture and form. Native species should be used whenever possible.
Formal plantings should be used only in specific settings such as ceremonial areas and major gathering points or as designated by the applicable physical development plan .
Develop plans for planting that are sensitive to the landscape hierarchy set forth in the applicable physical development plan.
Plantings of annual flowers and perennials may be used in special locations on the campus. Plantings of flowers should be used sparingly and massed to provide an adequate display.
Plantings should be arranged to provide room for maneuvering grounds maintenance equipment.