ITEM 661 PLANTING TREES, SHRUBS,
Perennials AND
VINES
661.01
Description
661.02 Plant
Materials
661.03 Location
and Source of Supply
661.04
Transportation, Storage and Handling
661.05 Labeling
661.06
Acceptance
661.07
Scheduling
661.08 Layout of
Plant Materials
661.09 Backfill
Mix
661.10 Planting
661.11 Mulch
661.12 Wrapping
661.13 Bracing
661.14 Period
of Establishment
661.15 Final
Acceptance
661.16 Removal
of Stakes and Wrapping
661.17 Method
of Measurement
661.18 Basis of
Payment
661.01 Description. This work
consists of furnishing, planting and maintaining trees, shrubs, perennials, and
vines, described in the plans. Additionally, provide landscape watering
according to Item 662.
661.02 Plant Materials. Plant materials
include all trees, shrubs, perennial and vines, and plants required as part of
the Work. Provide plant materials that are healthy specimens, typical of
their species or variety, and that exhibit a normal habit of growth as set
forth in the most current edition of the American
Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60).
661.03 Location and Source of Supply. Supply
the Engineer with complete and detailed information concerning the source of
supply for each item of required plant material within 15 days after receiving
the notice of award of the Contract.
Ensure
that all plant materials have been grown in the same hardiness zone or 1 zone
colder than the project.
661.04 Transportation, Storage, and Handling. Transport
all plants from nursery sources to the project site with the entire load
completely covered for protection from drying winds. Thoroughly water all
plants that cannot be immediately planted so as to keep the roots in a
continually moist and protected condition. The Engineer may reject plants
that are not adequately protected during transportation and storage.
Immediately remove all rejected plant materials from the project site.
Handle all plant materials by the root ball or container.
661.05 Labeling. Attach legible labels to all
specimens, or boxes, bundles, and other containers, indicating detailed
information including, but not limited to, the botanical genus and the species
name, the common name, the size or age of each species or variety and the
quantity contained in the individual bundles or boxes. Remove all labels
no more than two weeks prior to the completion of the establishment
period. Notify the Engineer prior to removing the plant material labels.
661.06 Acceptance. Prior to acceptance by the
Engineer, notify the Engineer when plant materials are delivered to the project
site. Ensure that the plant species delivered are as described in the plans and
are healthy, vigorous, and free from harmful plant diseases, and insect
pests. Species substitutions must have written approval from the project
engineer prior to delivery to the project.
Do
not install any plant materials until the Engineer provides the contractor with
notification that the plant materials have been accepted.
661.07 Scheduling. Install all plant materials after
March 15 and before June 1 or after September 15 and before November 30.
Do not install plant materials in frozen or saturated soil conditions.
Ensure a sufficient water supply is available to satisfy the requirements of
the plant materials and Item 662.
661.08 Layout of Plant Materials. Before
installation, use suitable staking to lay out the locations of all planting
holes and beds. Provide the Engineer with a scaled drawing that indicates
the location, species, and size of plant materials required in the plan.
Obtain the Engineer’s approval of these locations before installation.
661.09 Backfill Mix. For all
plantings, use backfill mix consisting of the following:
A.
One part soil.
B.
One part sphagnum peat moss, shredded pine bark, or EPA rated Class IV compost.
C.
One part sand.
Do
not use backfill mix that is frozen or muddy.
A. Planting Holes: Dig planting
holes that have sloping side walls and are ‘bowl
shaped’. Slope the side walls to approximately 45 degrees. Dig the
planting hole so that the diameter at the top is at least two times the
diameter of the root ball. Dig the planting hole to the same depth as the
root ball structure.
Dig planting holes
for vines and perennials to a minimum depth and diameter of 6 inches (150
mm). Make planting holes for rooted cuttings and tree seedlings large
enough to accommodate the root system.
B. Planting Beds: One month before
cultivation, treat all planting beds that are to be developed in areas of
existing turf with pre-emergent and post-emergent type herbicides. Use a
State-licensed pesticide applicator to apply the herbicide according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Before planting, top
dress all planting beds with a minimum of 2 inches (50 mm) of backfill mix,
then cultivate it to a depth of 6 inches (150 mm) using a plow, disc, or roto-tiller.
C. Planting Trees & Shrubs: Set each
plant in the center of the planting hole, plumb, and straight at a level such
that the top of the root structure (i.e., trunk flare or root collar) is 1 inch
(25 mm) above the surrounding soil. Set the root ball on compacted or
unexcavated soil to prevent settlement. Prior to backfilling the hole,
remove all twine, bags, and roping. For trees shipped with wire baskets
supporting the root structure, remove the top two-third of the wire basket from
root balls. Remove all rot-proof burlap. Remove or fold down the
top one-third of standard (biodegradable) burlap. Take care not to
separate the soil of the root ball from the plant’s root system. Cut or
remove circling roots before planting.
Backfill
the planting hole with the backfill mix. Fill the hole gradually and settle the backfill with water to
the top of the root structure. Do not place backfill mix in direct
contact with the trunks or stems. Add backfill mix around the root
structure up to the plant’s root collar is at the soil surface.
Do not plant
groundcovers, vines, or perennials closer than 12 inches (300 mm) to tree
trunks and shrub stems or within 6 inches (150 mm) of the edge of planting
beds.
D. Planting Seedlings, Groundcovers,
Vines or Perennials: For seedlings, groundcovers, vines, or perennials that are
not in a planting bed, , remove all grass and weeds by
scalping an area that has a minimum diameter of 12 inches (300 mm). Plant
seedlings or perennials in the center of the scalped area using a spade or
planting bar.
661.11 Landscape Mulch. Provide Landscape Mulch that
consists of shredded bark and shredded wood. The length of any individual
component cannot exceed 2 inches (50 mm). Ensure that at least 75 percent
of the mulch can pass a 1-inch (25 mm) screen. Landscape Mulch may
contain up to 50 percent shredded wood. Wood chips are not
acceptable. Provide mulch that is free of soil, rocks, and weeds, and
that has been aged at least one year before installation.
Smooth
and shape the backfill mix to form a shallow basin slightly larger than the
planting hole. Mulch these areas with a 4-inch (100 mm) layer of
Landscape Mulch uniform in texture and size. Do not place mulch in direct
contact with the trunks of any trees. Rake and smooth all planting beds upon
completion of the work.
661.12 Wrapping. Wrap all single deciduous tree
trunks of 1-inch (25 mm) caliper and larger. Before wrapping, inspect for
insect infestation and take corrective measures. Wrap trees within 48
hours after planting, using a double-layered, bituminous-cemented, waterproof,
crinkled paper. Start at the ground and wrap the trunk neatly and snugly
to the height of the first branches, then attach securely. With each turn
of the wrapping, overlap the previous turn by half the width of the paper.
661.13 Bracing. Use only flexible, biodegradable
ties when bracing trees. Use bracing only in areas where mower damage,
vandalism, or windy conditions are a concern or as directed by the
Engineer. Install loose fitting ties that will not girdle the
trunk. Ensure that the tie will allow trunk movement and growth.
Install all bracing as shown on the standard construction drawing.
661.14 Period of Establishment. Before
final inspection, install all plants and care for them for a period of
establishment. The period of establishment begins immediately upon completion
of the planting operations and continues until October 1. The minimum period of establishment is one complete growing season,
beginning June 1 and ending the following October 1.
During
the period of establishment, follow standard horticultural practices to ensure
the vigor and growth of the transplanted material including watering (according
to Item 662), re-mulching, re-staking, and cultivating as
necessary. Prune branches of deciduous plants to preserve the natural
characteristics of the species according to ANSI Pruning Standards
(ANSI A300). Remove broken, damaged, and dead branches. Do not
trim the central leader of trees.
Completely
remove weeds and grasses from the planted and mulched areas by weeding and
mowing (around trees, shrubs, and bed edges) at least two times during the
growing season. Weed and mow the first time on or about June 15 and again
approximately 8 weeks later.
661.15 Final Acceptance. On or about October 1 at
the end of the establishment period, the Engineer, in coordination with the
Department’s Office
of Environmental Services, will inspect the plantings and supply the
Contractor with a list of plant materials that do not comply with the contract
requirements. Install all replacement plantings in accordance with the contract
requirements. Replacement plants are subject to a new establishment
period. Care for, water and maintain the replacement plant materials
throughout the new establishment period at no additional cost to the State.
661.16 Removal of Stakes and Wrapping. After
receiving notification from the Department of the date of the final inspection,
remove all stakes and wrapping material from all plants not more than 14 days
before the final inspection, with the exception of the replacement plantings
that have not been in place for a full growing season.
661.17 Method of Measurement. The
Department will measure the number of healthy plant materials that exhibit
typical growth habit for the species and variety.
The
Department will measure each species and size, completed and accepted in place.
The
cost associated with wrapping, bracing, mulching and staking is included in the
unit price bid for Item 661 Planting Trees, Shrubs,
Perennials and Vines.
If
the Contract does not include an estimated quantity for Item 662
Landscape Watering, the Department will not pay for landscape watering
separately. In this case, include the cost of landscape watering in the unit
price bid for Item 661 Planting Trees, Shrubs, Perennials
and Vines.
661.18 Basis of Payment. The Department will pay
40 percent of the bid price for plant materials delivered and accepted at the
project site. The Department will pay 40 percent of the bid price when
the plant materials have been installed. The Department will pay the
remaining 20 percent of the bid price at the end of the establishment period
following final acceptance.
If
for each pay item, less than or equal to 5% of the installed plants require
replacement at the time of Project Completion, the Engineer may waive the
establishment period for the replacement plantings, provided that the
replacement plantings are installed in accordance with this specification and
in the presence of the Engineer or Inspector.
If
for each pay item, more than 5% of the installed plants require replacement at
the time of Project Completion, the contractor is required to install the
replacement plantings in accordance with this specification. The
Department will pay the remaining percentage of the bid price at the time of
Project Completion. The replacement plantings are subject to the one year
establishment period regardless of the Project Completion date. After the
replacement plantings complete the one year establishment period, the
Department will inspect the replacement plantings and notify the contractor of
the Departments’ findings. As final remedy under the contract, the
Contractor is required to install replacement plants for all plantings that did
not survive the establishment period at no additional cost to the State.
The
Department will pay for accepted quantities at the contract prices as follows:
Item
Unit
Description
661
Each
Tree Seedling, (Size), (Species)
661
Each
Perennials, (Size), (Species)
661
Each
Groundcover and Vines, (Size), (Species)
661
Each
Deciduous Shrub, (Size), (Species)
661
Each
Evergreen Shrub, (Size), (Species)
661
Each
Deciduous Tree, (Size), (Species)
661
Each
Evergreen Tree, (Size), (Species)