- Develop, maintain and implement a climate-based plant list with landscape features using a regionally appropriate palette of materials to promote energy efficiency, preserve drainage patterns, inhibit erosion, improve air quality, lower maintenance and add beauty.
- Each base shall maintain a current plant list in its Installation Facilities Standards (IFS).
- Landscaping is required for all newly developed sites and facilities; preserve existing native landscape where possible and avoid overplanting.
- Use only native, naturally occurring plant materials including grasses or turf suited for the local climatic conditions in the landscape design; potable-water irrigation systems are discouraged beyond the establishment period.
- Buildings shall cost-effectively integrate a grey-water reclamation system following IFS, which provides source water for an automatic drip irrigation system; all non-xeric, adaptive plantings adjacent to facilities shall be connected to a grey-water irrigation system when available and discourage the use of potable water for irrigation.
- Life cycle cost effectively equip grey-water irrigation systems to sense soil moisture, rainfall and wind to minimize unnecessary watering; incorporate drip irrigation systems as the primary source.
- Concentrate landscaping in Facility Group 1 (facilities having the highest profile) and along major thoroughfares and integrate these landscaped areas into the base’s stormwater management plan.
- All Facility Group 1 and 4 sites shall be landscaped at their entire perimeter; limit formal planting arrangements to formal spaces typically associated with Group 1.
- Facility Group 2 and 3 sites may have a native undisturbed landscape except at the main entrances of Group 2.
- Facility plantings shall follow the Installation Facilities Standards (IFS) plant list, which is based on the specific microclimates created by the adjacent building: shadow areas, protected areas, zones adjacent to thermal mass, and availability of rainwater and/or grey water.
- Trees should be the focus of landscape plantings and, where possible, should be a mix of deciduous and evergreen species for variety; provide tree grates when appropriate and use tree guards on smaller trees.
- Ground covers are only recommended when the local climate yields minimal maintenance requirements.
- Turfs areas should be limited to areas that can be sustained by natural rainfall or grey water (non-potable) irrigation systems; turf may be defined by at grade concrete mow strips to lessen maintenance.
- Analyze soils and provide organic amendments as needed to improve plant growth and conserve water.
- Define planting areas with walkways, edging or concrete header curbs following IFS.
- Provide planting islands within parking lots for shade and appeal following IFS and the base stormwater management plan.
- Integrate appropriate landscaping elements into parking areas to visually soften the appearance at a minimum rate of 10 percent of the total area.
- Avoid trees that drop sap, fruit, or seeds, and use long-lived species; keep trees trimmed, removing dead and dying trees or branches.
- Create public spaces near the main entrances of Group 1 facilities.
- Provide open spaces as transitions between developed and native areas that promote quality of life, provide visual relief and allow walkable connections to the transportation system.
- Return suitable areas to a natural state to minimize and, whenever possible, eliminate ground maintenance requirements; expand wooded areas where appropriate with native trees and understory plants to eliminate mowing and maintenance requirements.
- In tree clusters replace grass with naturalized shrub beds and leaf litter mulch to eliminate mowing requirements.
- Use plantings in open spaces to reinforce the space as a visual asset.
- Consider landscape windbreaks when suitable for the local climate per IFS.
- Providing landscaping as visual screening is preferred to the construction of walls and fences; berming and mounding may supplement landscape screening.
Cost effectively provide climate-based landscape features following principles of sustainable design and low impact design integrating existing context, safety, security, circulation, accessibility, functionality, cost effectiveness, and aesthetics following UFC 3-201-02. Adhere to IFS for landscape materials and irrigation and for minimum ongoing maintenance requirements.
Sustainability
Use water-efficient regionally appropriate landscape and irrigation strategies, such as water reuse and the use of harvested rainwater, following UFC 1-200-02. Comply with DoD Memorandum, “Water Use for Landscape Architecture on Department of Defense Installations / Sites”, with strategies to meet the requirement for no potable water irrigation. Cost-effectively integrate grey-water irrigation systems following IFS. Coordinate landscape with other site features and building elements to promote efficiencies in passive systems such as shading.
UFC 1-200-02 High Performance and Sustainable Building Requirements http://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-1-200-02
UFC 3-201-02 Landscape Architecture http://www.wbdg.org/ffc/dod/unified-facilities-criteria-ufc/ufc-3-201-02
DoD Memorandum, "Water Use for Landscape Architecture on Department of Defense Installations / Sites", 10 March 2017 https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/Downloads/IE/Water%20Use%20for%20Landscape%20Architecture%203.10.17.pdf
