Public Works and Environmental Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Our administrative offices are open 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Mon - Fri
703-324-5500 TTY 711
12000 Government Center Parkway
Suite 449, Fairfax, Va 22035
Shannon Curtis
Chief, Watershed Assessment Branch

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Revitalize, Restore, Replant FAQs

It’s time to plan your Revitalize, Restore, Replant (R3)!

Team up with Fairfax County Stormwater Management to bring native plants to your school! The program is free for Fairfax County Public School with all materials provided - plants, gloves, trowels, and mulch. Just get administration approval, sign our maintenance agreement, and let's get planting! For more information, check out these FAQ’s.

  • We only work with grades 4 and above. We can suggest ways for younger students to get involved.
  • We can accommodate special needs students with advance notice.

  • We can accommodate up to five classes of 20-30 students per class, per day.
  • Up to two consecutive planting days per school.

  • The planting area must be connected to a stormwater feature, such as a drain inlet, a rain garden, or a stormwater pond.
  • The area will need to be watered consistently for a few weeks following the event, so the location should have easy access to water.

  • Students will install a variety of native plants, including Swamp Milkweed, Blue Flag Iris, Soft Rush, Coneflower/Echinacea, and Beebalm, with possible adjustments based on availability.
  • We order an average of five plants per student.

Our planting seasons are in the Spring (late April - early May) and Fall (October). Here's an example breakdown for our two-day planting schedule:

  • Monday:
    • Plant delivery, tilling, sign installation, and mulch delivery.
    • If more than 300 plants are delivered, student assistance is required for offloading and transporting to the site.
    • Coordination of tilling, sign installation, and mulch delivery is managed by Stormwater staff in collaboration with FCPS, with locations finalized in advance.
  • Tuesday and Wednesday:
    • Main planting days.
    • 30 minutes of planting for each class.
    • 30 minutes of preparation time before each class.
  • Thursday and Friday:
    • Reserved as rain dates for flexibility.
    • For single-day plantings, there is one scheduled planting day with an accompanying rain date.

A class schedule must be finalized before the week of the planting and must include the following:

  • A maximum of 5 classes per day,
  • One-hour time blocks (30 min. for planting, 30 min. preparation),
  • Teacher name, grade level, and number of students per class, and
  • One-hour lunch break for staff.

Plant Care Guidelines

  • Water! Water! Water! Installation day is very stressful for plants, they will need a good soaking the day of and the day after planting.
  • Ongoing Watering: Run a sprinkler over the planting area for 20-30 minutes three times a week, adjusting based on weather conditions. Continue watering until the first frost (for fall) or until the end of the school year (for spring) to increase survivability.
  • Mulching: Apply the provided mulch at a depth of 2-3 inches throughout the entire planting area. Create a 1- to 2-foot-wide mulch border to deter grass encroachment, reduce weeds, and retain soil moisture between watering.
  • Annual Maintenance: Trim back last year's growth in late winter or early spring to make way for new growth. This provides food and habitat for native wildlife over the winter. If asked to remove material earlier, the planting can still thrive.
  • Seed Harvesting: Consider harvesting seeds in the fall to grow over winter, allowing for a new planting in the spring. A sustainable way to enjoy the benefits of the planting year-round!
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