Grant: Engage Grants Program

A biowall is an interior, vertical structure that includes plants in its surface for the purpose of enhancing the indoor work environment and improving air quality. The first biowall was constructed in Canada in 1994 and by 2007, the number of biowalls had increased to 20. Built in 2009, the biowall at Saint Mary's University is housed in the newly constructed Atrium & Global Learning Commons. It is the largest biowall in Atlantic Canada, comprised of more than 1000 individual plants that collectively span three stories in height. More recently, biowalls have been installed at the Nova Scotia Community College, Cape Breton University and Halifax Farmer's Market. At this rate of implementation, the inclusion of biowalls in new construction is destined to increase in Nova Scotia and throughout the rest of Canada. Because biowalls are comprised of living plants, routine maintenance is required to retain aesthetic appeal (pruning, plant selection & replacement). Maintenance must include the provision of effective pest control; however, there is no information available regarding the means by which pest populations are effectively managed in this unique, vertical plantscape. Current pest control practices involve the repeat application of insecticidal soaps but this is ineffective at managing pest populations, results in loss of materials due to gravity, and leaves unsightly residues on plant foliage. Because an effective pest control strategy for biowalls is lacking, maintenance costs are very high due to trial and error, frequency of visits, dependency on the use of specialized equipment (portable hydraulic lifts to access parts of the wall) and time. An overarching and integrated ""biowall maintenance plan"" is needed to efficiently and effectively target pest control on biowalls. We propose to pilot the use of commercially available ""natural enemies"" (live parasitoids & predators) as a pest control solution. We will test a series of combinations and delivery mechanisms over a period of 6 months that will lead to a recommended biowall maintenance plan for service providers in Nova Scotia and throughout Canada.