Climate Action and Sustainability Plan June 2021 | Page 43

our staff . Since 1993 we have eliminated turf in 244 ( 38 %) of these lots and replaced with a variety of sustainable groundcover plantings . Not only has this eliminated the need to mow approximately 75,000 square feet of turf , it has added a great deal of horticultural diversity and improved the visual interest and wildlife habitat value of the landscape .
Figure 6 . Waldsteinia fragarioides ( Barren strawberry ) replaces turf within the granite curb lot , eliminating the need to mow .
Figure 7 . Granite curb lot planted with perennials adding horticultural diversity and visual interest .
A list of the most successful groundcover species and varieties used in these plantings is included in the Appendix .
Leaf Mulching We started mulching leaves in the fall of 1998 , making adaptations to our fleet of rotary mowers to pulverize the leaves in place on the grounds rather than vacuum them up and carry them away . This has reduced the number of manhours required for fall clean-up each year and has also significantly improved the levels of organic matter and nutrients in the soil throughout the grounds . With the exception of a few highly visible areas such as the front entry precinct , we have eliminated the use of fertilizers on turf at Mount Auburn . We continue to vacuum up and stockpile just enough leaves to produce the compost we need for topdressing and other maintenance tasks . We currently collect about 1,200 cubic yards of leaves ( an estimated 1-2 % of the total leaves that fall to the ground each year ), which results in 100 cubic yards of finished compost .
Figure 8 - Gas and propane powered mowers are adapted with special serrated blades to mulch the leaves in place . This adaptation has reduced the number of manhours required for fall clean-up each year and has also significantly improved the levels of organic matter and nutrients in the soil throughout the grounds .
Mount Auburn Cemetery | Climate Action & Sustainability Plan 38