Welcome and thank you for your interest in the HP Boise campus Sustainable Landscape Project!

Here you will find the latest information on the project.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The overall objective for the HP Boise campus Sustainable Landscape Project is to replace approximately 30 acres of resource intensive turf grass with sustainable native grasses and plants. By doing this HP will further illustrate and demonstrate its long-standing commitment to social and environmental responsibility by transitioning from a water-, fertilizer- and maintenance-heavy landscape to one that requires less water, significantly less fertilizer and significantly fewer fossil-fuel-powered machines to keep it beautiful.

One of the visions is to inspire others – homeowners, other local businesses and even global businesses – to adopt and adapt to a more natural and less-resource-intensive landscaping over traditional turf grass and water-intensive plants and flowers.

FAQ

Why is all the grass dying?

Much of the resource intensive turf grass is being replaced with native grasses and native plants. The first step in this process is to stop watering the turf grass so it dies and is easy to till into the soil where it will provide much needed organic growing medium for the new native grass seed. Native grasses and native plants require far less water, electricity to pump the water, fertilizer and maintenance.

Are the trees being cut down?

NO! The trees will be pruned and trimmed but will not be cut down. The cherry trees in the visitor parking lot are being replaced with trees more suited for the location.

Are the recreation fields being eliminated?

No. The recreation fields will remain. In fact, they will be improved! The fields will be regraded to flatten and improve the playing surface and will receive all new sod.

What do the new plants look like?

There is a demonstration garden located in the courtyard outside of the cafeteria with many of the new plants for employees to look at and enjoy.

When will the dead-lawn phase be over?

The “bad haircut” phase, as it’s come to be known, will be completed this fall before the ground freezes. Once the turf grass is tilled-in the lawn areas will be seeded with the new native seed mixes. Seed germination will begin this fall and the new native grasses will begin to grow in the spring.

How much water will the project save?

When all phases of the project are complete the HP Boise campus landscape will use approximately 60% less water than it does currently.

PROJECT DOCUMENTS

Project Overview

Native Plants and Grasses

Idaho Fescue

Bluebunch Wheatgrass

Indian Ricegrass

Slender Wheatgrass

Sandberg Bluegrass

Thickspike Wheatgrass