Preparations for the season in the green areas start as early as February, but the most intensive maintenance work takes place in April and May. This year, due to the weather, many of the treatments had to be carried out earlier than the horticultural work calendar so far.

Tree and shrub pruning

Tree and shrub pruning began in February to improve the condition and health of the trees and shrubs. These were planned to be carried out successively over several seasons on selected groups of plants. These include shaping, sanitation and rejuvenation cuts. This year, among others, the shrubs along the Faculty of Languages and the Faculty of History building on the side of Wita Stwosza Street, the shrubs along the Faculty of Social Sciences building and two clusters behind the administration building were pruned. Corrective pruning was carried out on older trees throughout the Campus.

Chipping

The spoil from the tree and shrub cuts was managed and turned into woodchips. Using a borrowed branch chipper, the material was obtained and will be used in the campus green spaces as mulch. It will be used to mulch trees and shrub clusters to retain moisture in the roots of the plants and reduce weed growth.

Obtaining and harvesting shrub cuttings

The shoots after shrub pruning are used to make cuttings. In this way, material can be obtained for subsequent plantings on the Campus. Shrub cuttings have been made of such shrubs as the calla bladderwort, intermediate forsythia, David's budleja and white dogwood. These plants have proven themselves in the conditions experienced on Campus, so it makes sense to plant more of them.

We also obtain seedlings from donors. They are brought to us by university employees. Some will be raised in the UG horticulturists' utility facilities, while others will be planted on Campus straight away. We receive seedlings of ornamental and fruit plants. Among others, 30 raspberries have found their place and have been planted behind the Faculty of Social Sciences building near the Chinese garden. Poles made of branches have been placed by them to give them support as they grow. Once the plants have borne fruit, there will be food available.

Taking care of the bees

The university apiary consists of five hives set up behind the administration building.

On any visits, we recommend observing from a distance so as not to disturb the bees.

At the beginning of April, honey plants were planted next to the hives and bee drinkers were set up. In consultation with the company that looks after the hives, roses, astragalus and gooseberries were chosen to start with. Gradually, plants will be added to provide the bees with an additional food source. Microconifera, which is also rich in food for the bees, has been sown into the turf around the hives. Two drinkers in the form of water-filled trays were placed by the hives. Stones and tree branches are used as landing pads. From the moment they are set up, the drinking troughs are visited by insects in large numbers.

Other gardening work

Spring maintenance work on green spaces is essential to prepare the plants for the coming season. They will allow them to remain fit and healthy and thus fulfil their recreational, natural and aesthetic functions.

Fertilisation of trees, shrubs and perennials will also be carried out on the Campus in spring. This will ensure that they are in good shape and increase their resistance to disease and pests, and flowering plants such as rhododendrons will bloom more profusely. In addition, there will be pruning of shrubs, which according to the art of gardening are done after flowering (e.g. forsythia shrubs).

The gardeners take care not only of the Oliva campus. As required, they support other university units, such as Leźno, where they carried out necessary cleaning work in April.

In the same time, planning work is taking place. For example, there are plans to develop a concept for the greenery of the campus, which will set the directions for its development and determine the priorities and sequence of activities, as we would like the UG green areas to be looked after in a planned and comprehensive manner.