Addison Landscaping

The Addison Parks Department is responsible for maintaining 13 parks, 9.3 miles of recreation trails and 164 acres of irrigated high-level landscaping. Addison has several initiatives that focus on creating sustainable landscapes.

1. Landscaping Regulations
   • The purpose of the landscaping regulations is to “encourage sustainable landscaping. Sustainable landscapes are managed by using practices that preserve limited and costly natural resources, reduce waste generation, and help prevent air, water, and soil pollution. The goal is to minimize environmental impacts and maximize value received from dollars expended.” These regulations serve as the guidelines for new development and redevelopment with Addison.
2. Native and/or Well-Adapted Plant Selection
   • As stated in the landscaping regulations, Addison encourages the use of sustainable landscapes. This includes the use of native and/or well-adapted plants that are suited to the climate, eco-region and available water quantities. Addison uses a mixture of native and well-adapted plants in the road medians, parks and other landscape areas.  
3. Sustainable Maintenance
   • As a part of the Addison Circle Park renovations, the town used a combination of organic materials to help reinvigorate the turf grass. A healthy soil profile reduces the reliance on pesticides and fertilizers while increasing the soils nutrients and water holding properties.
     • Zeolite - used to increase the soil's water-holding properties (the water is slowly released back into the soil as it dries out), increases porosity, improves retention of nitrogen and potassium, and increases the length of time between watering.
     • Molasses - increases the microbial acitivity in the soil, which adds organic matter and micro nutrients back into the soil. Molasses has also been kown to repel fire ants.
     • Compost - a great organic fertilizer which is great for soil building. It also improves the soils ability to retain water and reduce run-off.
4. EarthKind Landscape Management Program
   • Partnering with the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, Addison has installed an EarthKind rose trail garden. The purpose of the EarthKind program is to identify plants that are well suited to our climate, eco-region and available water quantities while also providing an aesthetically pleasing alternative for traditional landscapes. This trial garden provides a great resource for the homeowner/gardener.  
5. Central Irrigation System
   • Addison has a central control system to minimize water consumption for irrigation use. The central controller also takes advantage of the weather station (current wind speeds, temperature and EvapoTranspiration levels) which is located at the Addison Service Center. “Central operations integrate EvapoTranspiration (ET) data and automatically adjust each satellite station runtime daily to maximize savings.” By utilizing real time evaporation and transpiration information the central controller is able to provide the landscape with the optimal amount of water while reducing run-off and water waste from overwatering.
6. Drip Irrigation
   • Addison has installed drip irrigation in road medians and parks (where economically feasible) in an effort to reduce water quantities and run-off. A well design drip irrigation system is intended to get water directly into the soil while reducing the amount of water waste from evaporation, wind drift and run-off.  
7. Mulching Program
   • The Parks Department mulches the tree clippings generated from landscape clippings and annual tree pruning. This mulch is used within the parks landscaped areas to improve water holding capabilities while also reducing the amount of herbicides needed for weed control.  
8. Integrated Pest Management Program
   • The Integrated Pest Management Program is a comprehensive approach to solving pest problems. The Parks Department only applies fungicides or insecticides as a last resort and proactively pursues plant selections that are not susceptible to these pests based on industry field tests.  
9. Surveyor Demonstration Garden
   • The Surveyor Demonstration Garden features native Texas shrubs, perennials, succulents and trees. The goal is to familiarize residents, business owners and visitors with Texas natives that can be used at home or in future landscape projects.  
10. Community Garden
    • The Addison Community Garden is located on 0.8 acres of Addison property and was constructed in 2010. It provides residents the opportunity to grow their own fruits, vegetables, or flowers in their plots. Excess produce from the Garden is donated to Metrocrest Services to be distributed to needy families.