Belmont Abbey College Earns PGMS Green Star Honor Award for Grounds Excellence
Belmont Abbey College has long been known for its welcoming campus and rich Benedictine heritage. Its peaceful walkways, historic architecture, and colorful landscapes create an environment where students and visitors naturally feel at home. The college’s grounds team plays an important role in caring for these spaces, bringing steady attention and pride to every part of campus.
This year, that ongoing dedication has earned Belmont Abbey a PGMS Green Star Honor Award, recognizing the beauty, sustainability, and thoughtful management of its grounds. For Belmont Abbey College and SSC Services for Education, this recognition reinforces a shared commitment to nurturing spaces where students can shine, grow, and feel empowered, surrounded by landscapes that reflect the college’s values and vision.
Honoring Excellence: PGMS Green Star Program
The PGMS Green Star Awards highlight exceptional landscapes across the country, celebrating both artistry and technical skill in grounds management.
Receiving a Green Star Honor Award places Belmont Abbey College among a distinguished group of campuses committed to creating beautiful, functional, and sustainable outdoor environments.
Recent enhancements reflect the team’s commitment to continual improvement. Over the past 18 months, Stowe Hall received an upgraded irrigation system, turf renovation, and strategic landscape updates to elevate this signature campus landmark. Flowerpots throughout the year showcase rotation plantings designed around major college events, including Homecoming and Commencement, ensuring the grounds reflect both tradition and celebration.
Wide-ranging plant selections, such as azaleas, camellias, perennial sage, and ornamental cabbage bring texture and color to campus throughout the seasons. Annual soil testing, proper pruning practices, and attentive fertilization schedules play key roles in the team’s horticultural success.
Sustainable Practices Rooted in Stewardship
The grounds team integrates eco-friendly practices into every aspect of work:
- Battery-powered equipment reduces noise and emissions in high-traffic areas.
- Native plants, organic fertilizers, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies promote resilience and reduce chemical use.
- Composting and mulching help conserve moisture and minimize waste.
- Irrigation upgrades support water conservation while meeting the needs of high-visibility lawns.
At Belmont Abbey, sustainability is more than a goal – it’s a guiding principle.
By focusing on soil health, proper mowing heights, reduced pesticide usage, and improved water efficiency, the crew ensures the campus landscape thrives with minimal environmental impact.
Safety is also central to their approach. Through SSC’s Safety 365 Program, team members receive ongoing training on equipment use, personal protective gear, seasonal hazards, and emergency procedures.
Regular check-ins and hands-on demonstrations help create a culture where everyone looks out for one another.
Beyond routine maintenance, the crew is quick to address seasonal challenges – whether it’s helping turf recover from drought stress or managing algae in the President’s Fountain.
Their combination of monitoring, problem-solving, and long-term planning keeps the campus resilient throughout the year.
Congratulations to the Belmont Abbey Grounds team and to Belmont Abbey College for being recognized with the PGMS Green Star Award. For more information on our Grounds Management services, visit our grounds service page.
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