(1) Hydraulic method.-The seed and fertilizer, or the seed, fertilizer and suitable mulch materials shall be mixed in the specified amount of water to produce a slurry and then applied under pressure at the rates indicated on the plans or in the special provisions. When wood cellulose mulch materials are to be incorporated as an integral part of the slurry mix, it shall be added after the seed and fertilizer, and ground limestone if required, have been thoroughly mixed. The mixture shall be applied at the rates and on the areas shown on the plans or as contained in the special provisions. Any area inadequately covered shall be re-treated as directed by the Engineer. Legume seed, if specified to be used in the seeding mixture, shall be inoculated with approved cultures in accordance with instructions of the manufacturer. The inoculum used for hydraulic seeding shall be four times that recommended for dry seeding. When seeding, or reseeding, fertilizing and mulching are applied in water, compaction or rolling will not be required. (2) Dry method.-Mechanical seeders, seed drills, landscape seeders, cultipacker seeders, fertilizer spreaders or other approved mechanical seeding equipment may be used when seed and fertilizer are to be applied in dry form. Fertilizer in dry form and ground limestone if required, shall be spread separately at the rates indicated on the plans or in the special provisions, and incorporated in one operation to the required depth on those areas indicated on the plans or in the special provisions. Seeded areas shall be lightly compacted within 24 hours after seeding has been completed or as directed by the Engineer. Hand operated seeding devices may be used when seed, fertilizer and ground limestone if required, are applied in dry form. Generally, hand-operated seeders shall be used only on areas which are inaccessible to mechanical seeders. (d) Application of mulch.-Straw, hay or other mulch, when specified, shall be spread uniformly over seeded areas at the rate shown on the plans or designated in the special provisions. The mulch shall be anchored by light disking, by covering with brush, by covering thinly with soil, by staking and tying, by spraying with asphaltic material or by other methods as shown on the plans or in the special provisions. When asphalt emulsion is used as a tiedown or adhesive, Type SS-1 or approved equal shall be applied either simulataneously with the straw or hay or in a separate operation at the rate shown on the plans or in the special provisions. The Contractor shall take precautionary measures to prevent asphalt adhesive materials from marking or defacing structures, pavements, utilities or plant growth. When immediate protection of newly-graded slopes is necessary at other than the normal seeding season, hay or straw mulch shall be applied before the seeding with actual seeding completed later during the specified seeding season. (e) Grub proofing.-Grub proofing when specified shall be per formed on those areas and with materials and rates of application thereof as shown on the plans or contained in the Special Provisions. (f) Care during construction.-The Contractor shall be responsible for protecting and caring for seeded areas until final acceptance of the work. He shall repair at his own expense any damage to seeded areas caused by pedestrian or vehicular traffic or other causes, except for conditions as covered in Section 107.16. Method of Measurement 625.04 Measurement shall be based upon the number of 1,000 square feet (92.9 m2) units of ground surface covered by seed, limestone if required, fertilizer and mulch of the type specified, completed and accepted. Basis of Payment 625.05 The accepted quantities of turf establishment will be paid for at the contract unit price per 1000 square feet (92.9 m2) for turf establishment, which payment shall be full compensation for furnishing and placing all materials, labor, tools and incidentals necessary thereto except Topsoil which will be paid for separately under Section 624. Payment will be made under: Section 626.-FURNISH AND PLANT TREES, SHRUBS, VINES AND GROUNDCOVERS Description 626.01 This work shall consist of furnishing, delivering, and planting trees, shrubs, vines and groundcover plants of the type, size, or age indicated on the plans or in the special provisions including all materials and incidental operations completed in reasonably close conformity with these specifications. Materials 626.02 Materials shall meet the requirements specified in the following subsections of Section 700—Materials: 626.03 (a) Planting seasons.—The planting shall be done during the seasons as shown on the plans, or directed by the Engineer. No planting shall be done in frozen ground, when snow covers the ground or when the soil is in an unsatisfactory condition for planting. (b) Delivery and inspection.—The Contractor shall notify the Engineer in writing not less than 15 days in advance of delivery of plants from the nursery or collecting source. All plant materials shall be available for inspection in the nursery or collecting source. All plant materials shall be available for inspection in the nursery or collecting fields before it is dug. The Contractor shall furnish the Engineer complete information concerning the source of supply for all plant material. Inspection of materials at the source shall be at the discretion of the Engineer. Approval to move nursery material shall not be considered as final acceptance. All plant materials shall comply with State and Federal laws controlling inspection for plant diseases and insect infestations, and the Contractor shall deliver to the Engineer all required certificates of inspection. (c) Protection and temporary storage.-The Contractor shall keep all plant material moist and protected from drying out. Protection shall include the time when the plants are in transit, in temporary storage, or on the project site awaiting planting. Plants delivered but not scheduled for immediate planting shall be protected as follows: Bare root materials in bundles shall have the bundles opened, plants separated and then heeled-in in trenches. Balled and burlapped (B&B) materials shall have the earth balls covered with sawdust, woodchips or other suitable material and kept in a moist condition. (d) Layout.-Plant material locations and bed outlines shall be staked on the project site by the Engineer. The Engineer may adjust plant material locations to meet field conditions. (e) Excavation for plant pits and beds.-Prior to excavating for plant pits and beds the area shall conform to the lines and grades shown on the plans. All sod, weeds, roots and other objectionable material unsuitable for backfill shall be immediately removed from the site and disposed of by the Contractor in a manner satisfactory to the Engineer. The size of pits in earth excavation shall bear the following relation to the spread of the roots (or diameter of ball) of the plants to be planted in them. For root spreads up to two feet, (610 mm) pit diameters shall be twice the root spread. For root spreads from two to four feet, (610 mm to 1.22 m) pit diameters shall be two feet (610 mm) greater. For root spreads over four feet, (1.22 m) the pit diameter shall be 11⁄2 times the root spread. The depth of all pits shall be adequate to permit a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) of prepared backfill soil under all roots or balls. The following depths are required unless otherwise shown on the plans or ordered by the Engineer. Under 5 feet (1.52 m) height 8 inches (203 mm) plus height of ball. Over 5 feet (1.52 m) height 12 inches (305 mm) plus height of ball. Shrubs (deciduous and Evergreen): Under 2 feet (610 mm) height Shrubs (evergreen) evergreen) (6 inch (152 mm) 1 foot. (305 mm) 2 feet. (610 mm) 18 inches. (457 mm) 18 inches. (457 mm) The soil at the bottom of the plant pit shall be loosened to a depth of at least six inches by spading or other approved methods before backfilling for planting begins. (f) Plant boxes and header boards.-Plant boxes and header boards shall be constructed as shown on the plans. Plant boxes shall be installed so that the top of the box is level. Header boards shall be installed so that they are level across the area between the headers, but follow the finished grade longitudinally. Where asphalt concrete or portland cement concrete surfacing must be removed to permit the installation of plant boxes or header boards, the area to be removed shall be outlined with a concrete saw or other suitable equipment, and cut to sufficient depth that a clean, straight edge will remain after removal of the surfacing. Lumber for header boards and wooden plant boxes shall be construction grade heart redwood, S4S, or shall be construction grade Douglas fir, S4S, pressure treated. Sides of wooden plant boxes 16 feet, (4.88 m) or less, in length shall be constructed of one continuous board. Nails, lag screws, and hardware shall be galvanized. Commercial quality galvanized nails, lag screws, and hardware will be accepted. After construction, the outside surfaces of wooden plant boxes shall be stained with a commercial quality stain. The color shall be as specified in the special provisions or as directed by the Engineer. Concrete masonry blocks used in the construction of masonry plant boxes shall conform to the requirements of ASTM C 129. Portland cement concrete shall be produced from commercially available aggregates and cement and shall contain not less than 564 pounds (255.8 kg) of cement per cubic yard (0.765 m3). Hand mixing of concrete will be permitted. (g) Prepared backfill soil.—The prepared backfill soil shall consist of a mixture of topsoil, loam, or selected soil, and peat moss or peat humus. The mixture shall contain four parts topsoil, loam, or selected soil to one part of peat moss or peat humus. (h) Setting plants. -All plants shall be set approximately plumb and at the same level or slightly lower than the depth at which they were grown in the nursery or collecting field. (1) Bare root Stock.-Prepared backfill soil shall be placed in the plant pit to the required minimum depth. Bare rooted plants shall then be placed in the center of the plant pit and the roots properly spread out in a natural position. All broken, or damaged roots, shall be cleanly cut back to sound root growth. Backfill soil shall then be carefully worked around and over the roots and thoroughly and properly settled by firming or tamping. Thorough watering or puddling shall accompany backfill around bare-rooted plants. Earth saucers or water basins at least 4 inches (102 mm) in depth for trees and 3 inches (76.2 mm) in depth for shrubs, shall be formed about individual plants with a diameter equal to that of the plant pit. (2) Balled and burlapped stock.-Balled and burlapped plants shall be carefully placed in the prepared pits on the required depth of tamped backfill soil so as to rest in a firm, upright position. Plants shall be handled and moved only by the ball. Backfill soil shall then be filled in around the plant ball to half the depth of the ball, then tamped and thoroughly watered. The burlap shall then be either cut away and removed from the upper half of the ball or loosened and folded back, |