North Carolina Group Embraces New Landscaping
Tools During Massive Reconstruction Project
BASF is a global alliance dedicated to developing advanced environmental technology. The German based company says it ‘creates chemistry for a sustainable future’ through chemical, material, industrial, nutritional, and agricultural solutions. Researchers at BASF’s headquarters for the North American crop protection division produce weed and pest control products used in turf, ornamental, forestry, and public health markets. The development campus sits in North Carolina, on a 124 acre site maintained by GreenView Partners. The GreenView team works closely with the BASF facility leadership to be sure the innovation happening inside the facility is reflected on the outside.
GreenView Partners began working with BASF 8 years ago. Maintenance teams are on site 3 days a week and contractors work on various projects throughout the year. During the past 8 years, GreenView has renovated different areas of the site to implement sustainability initiatives, improve the campus aesthetic, support BASF’s research programs, and even propel their own landscape technology standards.
In 2018, GreenView Partners converted the BASF main lawn area from Tall Fescue to Tif Tuf Bermuda turf, due to the maintenance and product needs. One of the earliest challenges in the process was a customer request to finish the work without distracting any staff members. That meant no noise interference during working hours. GreenView kept things quiet the majority of the time, but the excavation and preparation had to take place starting on a Friday night through Sunday to avoid heavy equipment noise during business hours. The team used several skid steers, excavators, and dump trucks to tackle the bulk of the job in one weekend, working more than 24 hours from Friday to Monday morning. Work continued for several weeks with the same rules. No noise. They were able to update the irrigation and complete the Bermuda Sod installation quietly.
To create a “carpet-like” look for the new lawn area, the group installed the company’s first autonomous mower at the event lawn. The switch to autonomous mowers took more research and training than the switch to other electric tools. Teams had to learn the best techniques to use the mowers, from a battery, maintenance, and operator standpoint. GreenView embraced the change though, and the success led BASF to convert the majority of the site’s turf. To date, GreenView has converted approximately 170,000 square feet of turf to Tif Tuf Bermuda at the BASF campus. They also installed nine more autonomous mowers throughout the site. One auto-mower is fully powered by solar, and a second solar powered auto-mower is in the works.
Tyner Tew, a company director, says Bermuda is a solution to a unique challenge facing horticulturists all over North Carolina. The state is in what’s called the U.S. transition zone, the area of the country sandwiched between colder and warmer climates. The rapid weather changes in North Carolina, and other level states like Tennessee and Arkansas, are tough on species of flowers, trees, shrubs, even turf.
Entrance Foliage
“Our area has been heating up little by little over the last decades. Fescue used to be really popular, but bermuda has performed better in the last five years because its a warm season turf. As North Carolina is in the transition zone, plant material doesn’t always grow well. We have big ebbs and flows for years, then all of a sudden the plant that was used for 15 or 20 years doesn't work anymore.”
Another major change happened to the property’s trees. Thin and weak trees were scattered around the grounds for years, each only about 2’-4’ caliper in size. People called them “Tim Burton” trees, because they looked like something from the movie “Nightmare Before Christmas”. The BASF facility manager asked GreenView to bring in larger species that resembled the thick Michigan foliage, where he grew up. GreenView brought in new varieties to add more upright architectural elements, provide shade, and even bring fall colors. Some installments are up to 12 inch caliper maple trees, all with added architectural elements. The process took place over two years.
This team also revamped the landscape by adding thousands of new pollinator plants, a natural water feature, outdoor lighting, raised stone-veneer vegetable beds, new site furniture, corten planters, ornamental flowering trees, shade trees, and new ADA compliant walkways. The raised vegetable garden beds grow fruits and vegetables for BASF employees to pick and enjoy. Strawberries, squash, bell peppers, rosemary, basil, and oregano, are just a few of the plants available. They also redesigned the sustainability center on site, which now houses 6 to 7 bee hives. The bees are taken care of and researched by onsite BASF personnel.
During the BASF projects, and the majority of their work, the GreenVew team prioritizes long term success. They look for elements that incorporate innovative techniques to make properties sustainable, lasting and functional.
“Too often, projects are too short sighted, even when it comes to picking out plant material. I’ve seen a lot of new installs fail because of the tree material chosen, or because they are planted within 5 feet of a building. Being a maintenance first company, we are thinking about a longer term vision.”
The BASF projects are helping create that long term vision. Tyner expects to see the tools and technology developed for the site in many projects, and not just within his company.
“The inevitable thing that will continue to evolve is going to be autonomous intervention of our industry. Really, it is already here and being tested. In many locations, like in BASF, it's working! With the labor shortages that have affected our country as a whole and have always affected our industry, that's going to be inevitable going forward.”
The National Association of Landscape Professionals gave GreenView Partners the level 1 Gold Award of Excellence for their landscape management work at BASF.
GreenView Partners operates in North & South Carolina with commercial landscaping services. It launched in 2010, and now employs dozens of crew members in 6 locations. The group says they formed their company by bringing together industry leaders and extraordinary talent to offer a level of service and customer centric approach to landscaping.