Help Cut Landscaping Costs

Help Cut Landscaping Costs: Reduce the CTC Budget and Keep Future Rents Low

Did you know that CTC residents pay the cost of landscaping in their rent? CTC has a contract with the University of Minnesota Land Care who manages our landscaping. CTC Management Team and Board of Directors formulated an ad hoc Landscape and Environmental Design (LED) Task Force Committee, in purpose of answering the call to action of residents’ concerns about the current landscaping practices. The LED Task force focuses on examining the use of alternative methodologies to naturalized beatification, low cost maintenance and drastic reduction in necessity of chemical based herbicide and pesticide use.

The Costs of Land Care

The co-op budgetary costs of annual lawn care (including chemicals, labor for mowing and weed control applications, etc.), fluctuates based on needs and allocated with an $112,000 historic cost base.

Collectively we can reduce this budgetary strain to help sustain lower rental rates.

LED Task Force Financial Impact Goal

Our goal is to cut down 20% of land care costs over a 2 year period, savings of over $22,000, assisting in the reduction of per unit costs of nearly $50.

What are some ideas for cutting costs?

• Reduction of chemical use of pesticide/herbicides.
• Reducing the number of times Land Care mows the lawn via turf alternatives.
• Installing native prairie landscape in some areas.
• Naturalized playground areas
• Community weeding volunteers

To learn in more depth about what the LED Task Force is evaluating, watch for our resource landing page 

How can I support this initiative?

• Get a sign from the office which requests that no pesticides are used on your section of lawn. You can place one in the front and one in the back of your house. 
• Come to an LED committee meeting to learn more and share your concerns and ideas. Contact ctc@umnctc.org to get on our e-mail list and learn about upcoming meetings. No expertise in landscaping is required! Anybody who is interested is welcome to join a meeting.
• Check out the LED chemical-free lawn pilot sites (located near the CTC office), which were not treated with pesticides this spring and the interior lawn of Ward 9, which has not been treated with pesticides since 2013.
• Voice any concerns about current landscaping practices and share your ideas for making changes if you cannot attend a meeting. Contact ctc@umnctc.org
• Become a LED Weed Team Volunteer