Campus Grounds
The Rockefeller University maintains a lush and beautiful 14-acre campus by using green horticultural practices. Located on the east side of Manhattan, the university's landscaping was designed by noted landscape architect Dan Kiley in 1956 and imitates the idea of the outdoor "rooms." Money received from energy rebates goes towards purchasing native plants.
Horticultural Green Practices
- Watering of landscape is carefully monitored and changes are made quickly depending on weather conditions, plant needs, etc.
- A zoned irrigation system allows matching of watering requirements with different growing conditions in various areas.
- A concerted effort is made to incorporate native plants and indigenous trees whenever possible.
- Only organic fertilizers are used in tree and shrub beds and on lawns.
- All plantings are mulched regularly with organic compost material.
- Only organic pesticides are used and they are applied extremely sparingly. Instead, living organisms are applied, including beneficial worms and bacteria.
- The use of power equipment, such as electric leaf blowers, has been cut back considerably.
- A butterfly garden was introduced in order to attract native species of butterflies to the campus.
- A section of the grounds has been allowed to revert to its natural uncut state to see what kinds of plants and insects organically grow there.
- Several families of ducks spend their springs and summers in the Philosopher's Garden fountains.
Did you know...?
Rockefeller paper recycling bins accept catalogs, file folders, paperback books, paper bags and cardboard.
