• Establish a tree planting program which will anticipate the life span of the existing trees and provide replacements.

• Recognize and reinforce the planting framework and structure of the campus, i.e. large groups of informal tree plantings within somewhat ordered or formal open spaces.

• Use plant material to intentionally develop microclimates and help augment architectural systems, i.e. help to cool buildings in the summer while allowing winter solar gain. (Deciduous plantings.)

• Introduce trees into the parking areas to soften the impact of the asphalt.

• Utilize native plant materials to reduce overall water consumption.

Planting Strategies

• Recognizing the leadership role of the UNC campus in community development, provide a method of campus growth which is sensitive to environmental concerns.
• Utilize a method of landscape, site and open space development which balances aesthetic impact and environmental stewardship and sustainability.
• Utilize a hierarchy of plant palettes or lists responding to a hierarchy of site and land use, identity and importance.
• Order these palettes from high to low in terms of maintenance, cost and water consumption; and generally from low to high in terms of the incorporation of indigenous or native plant materials.
• For any given site or campus land use, order the planting design palettes so that they respond to the appropriate landscape planting zones.

For example, planting zone 1 may represent the relative highest use of water, the greatest intensity of landscape ornamental materials, the highest level of maintenance and the highest long term cost. Planting zone 10 may represent native and undisturbed areas. The planting zones between represent a gradient from high to low regarding water consumption, cost and maintenance and from low to high regarding the quantity of indigenous plant material incorporated.

Utilize updated and current landscape irrigation design technologies including rain sensors and soil moisture sensors to provide efficient use of water resources. Capture and re-use storm and irrigation water whenever feasible.

Ensure that grounds and maintenance personnel are versed in these technologies.

Group plants with like water needs and limit unnecessary expanses of turf grasses and ground covers requiring high levels of irrigation.

Employ composting, recycling, dark sky initiative and environmental conservation techniques campus wide in order to become a community example in environmental stewardship and sustainability.