after which the remainder of the backfill shall be placed. Earth saucers or water basins shall then be provided and the plant thoroughly watered.

(3) Container Grown Stock.-Container grown stock which has become "pot-bound" or for which the top system is out of proportion (larger) to the size of the container or has roots growing out of the container will not be acceptable. The stock shall have a fibrous, cohesive root system. Container grown plants shall not be removed from the vessel until just before planting, and all due care shall be exercised to prevent root system damage.

(i) Fertilizing.—A commercial fertilizer of the type indicated on the plans or in the special provisions shall be provided and applied uniformly around the pit area of individual trees, shrubs, vines and ground covers and over shrub beds. The rate of fertilizer application for the varieties of plants used shall be shown on the plans or in the special provisions. Fertilizer shall be applied and cultivated into the top two inches (50.8 mm) of the plant pit area or shrub bed within five days after planting. At the discretion of the Engineer, fertilizer in the proper amounts for each type of plant may be worked into the prepared backfill material. Fertilizer shall be applied prior to mulching of plant pits or shrub beds.

(j) Watering.-All plants shall be watered during and immediately after planting and at such intervals during the plant establishment period as determined by the Engineer. Water shall not contain elements toxic to plant life. At each watering the soil around each plant shall be thoroughly saturated. Watering ordered by the Engineer to be applied to plants during the plant establishment period shall be measured and paid for separately.

(k) Guying and staking.-All trees shall be guyed and staked in accordance with the details shown on the plans as soon as the plant is in place.

(1) Wrapping.-Only deciduous trees shall require wrapping. Trunks of trees at least 2 inches (50.8 mm) and over in caliber shall be completely wrapped with burlap or other approved material beginning at the base of the tree and extending to the first branches. Wrapping shall be tied at the top and bottom and at two-foot (610 mm) intervals. Wrapping of tree trunks shall not be completed until after inspection and approval by the Engineer. Wrapping of tree trunks shall be completed within 24 hours after inspection by the Engineer.

(m) Anti-desiccant spray.-The use of an approved anti-desiccant spray in place of wrapping shall be at the direction of the Engineer.

(n) Pruning.-Pruning shall be done before or immediately after planting in such a manner as to preserve the natural character of each plant. All pruning shall be done by experienced personnel with properly conditioned equipment and in keeping with accepted horticultural practice. Cuts over 4 inches (19.1 mm) in diameter shall be painted with an approved tree wound dressing.

(0) Mulching.-Mulch material shall be furnished and placed over all

pit or saucer areas of individual trees and shrubs and over the entire area of shrub beds to the depth as indicated on the plans. Mulch material may be wood chips, sawdust, peat moss or other material approved by the Engineer. Plants to be mulched with wood chips or sawdust shall receive 8 pounds (3.6 kg) of nitrogen per cubic yard of mulch material in addition to the normal dressing of commercial fertilizer. Mulch shall be placed within 24 hours after planting.

626.04 Restoration and Cleanup. Where existing grass areas have been damaged or scarred during planting operations the Contractor shall be required to restore the disturbed areas to their original conditions as directed by the Engineer at no additional cost to the Government. The Contractor shall clean up all debris, spoil piles, containers, etc., and leave the project in an acceptable condition.

626.05 Plant Establishment Period and Replacements. The acceptability of the plant material furnished and planted as specified shall be determined at the end of a period of establishment during which the Contractor shall employ all possible means to preserve the plants in a healthy growing condition. The plant establishment period shall be one full growing season. Care during the establishment period may include watering, cultivating, pruning, repair and adjustment of guys and stakes, and such other work as ordered by the Engineer. Dead or unsatisfactory plants shall be promptly removed from the project. A semi-final inspection by the Contractor and the Engineer will be held to determine the acceptability of the plant material 15 days before the end of the full growing season. During the next planting season following completion of spring or fall planting all dead and unsatisfactory plants shall be replaced in kind or quantity and size with live healthy plants installed as originally specified. Alternate or substitute varieties of plants shall be used only if approved by the Engineer. A final inspection of all plant material will be held within 15 days after the replacement planting has been completed.

Method of Measurement

626.06 The quantity of plants to be paid for shall be the number of living trees, shrubs and vines of specified kinds and sizes furnished and planted in accordance with these specifications and accepted. Only living plants in healthy condition at the time of final inspection will be accepted.

Basis of Payment

626.07 The quantity of trees, shrubs, and vines measured as provided above planted and maintained in accordance with these specifications shall be paid for at the contract unit prices each for planting of the types, species and sizes called for in the bid schedule.

Topsoil, other than prepared backfill soil, if required, will be measured and paid for as provided under Section 624.

Payment will be made under:

628.01 This work shall consist of furnishing and planting of living grass plants, furnishing and placing fertilizer, also ground limestone when required, all in reasonably close conformity with these specifications at locations shown on the plans or designated by the Engineer.

Materials

628.02 Materials shall meet the requirements of the following sub

628.03. Harvesting Sprigs. The Contractor shall notify the Engineer at least 5 days before sprigs are to be harvested, and the source shall be approved by the Engineer before harvesting begins.

To begin harvesting, grass and weeds shall be mowed to a height of 2 to 3 inches (50.8 to 76.2 mm) and all clippings removed. Sprigs shall then be loosened by cross-discing, shallow plowing, or other acceptable methods. After loosening the sprigs from the soil, they shall be gathered in small piles or windrows, watered, and kept moist until planted.

Not more than 24 hours shall elapse between harvesting and planting sprigs, except that when weather or other uncontrollable conditions

interrupt the work, a time extension may be granted, provided the sprigs are still moist and viable. Sprigs that have heated in stockpiles, have become frozen, permitted to dry out, or otherwise seriously damaged during harvesting or delivery will be rejected and shall be disposed of as directed.

628.04 Advance Preparation and Cleanup. After grading of areas has been completed and before applying fertilizer and ground limestone, areas to be sprigged shall be raked or otherwise cleared of stones larger than 2 inches (50.8 mm) in any diameter, sticks, stumps, and other debris which might interfere with sprigging, growth of grasses, or subsequent maintenance of grass-covered areas. If any damage by eroison or other causes has occurred after grading of areas and before beginning the application of fertilizer and ground limestone, the Contractor shall repair such damage without additional compensation. This may include filling and smoothing irregularities, and repairing other incidental damage.

628.05 Topsoiling. If topsoiling is shown on the plans, it shall be done in accordance with the requirements of Section 624.

628.06 Planting Sprigs. Sprigging shall be done only within the periods stipulated in the special provisions. Sprigging shall not be done during windy weather, or when the ground is dry, excessively wet, frozen, or otherwise untillable. If the soil is not moist when the sprigs are being set, water shall be applied until the soil is moist and in a workable condition. One or more of the following methods shall be used, whichever is shown on the plans:

(a) Broadcast sprigging.-Sprigs shall be broadcast by hand or by suitable equipment in a uniform layer over the prepared surface with spacing between sprigs not to exceed 6 inches (152 mm). The sprigs shall then be forced into the soil to a depth of 2 to 4 inches (50.8 to 102 mm) with a straight spade or similar tool, or with a disk harrow or other equipment set to cover the sprigs to the required depth.

(b) Row sprigging.-Furrows shall be opened along the approximate contour of slopes at the spacing and depth indicated on the plans. Sprigs shall be placed without delay in a continuous row in the open furrow with successive sprigs touching, and shall be covered immediately.

(c) Spot sprigging.-Spot sprigging shall be performed as specified under row sprigging, except that, instead of planting in continuous rows, groups of four sprigs or more shall be spaced 18 inches (457 mm) apart in the rows.

628.07 Mulching and Compacting. After planting of sprigs has been completed, and prior to compacting, the surface shall be cleared of stones larger than 2 inches (50.8 mm) in any diameter, large clods, roots, and other litter brought to the surface during sprigging.

If mulching of sprigged areas is shown on the plans, the sprigged area shall be covered with mulch in accordance with the requirements of Section 625 within 24 hours from the time sprigging has been completed, weather and soil conditions permitting.

If mulching is not shown on the plans, the sprigged area shall be lightly compacted within 24 hours from the time sprigging has been completed, weather and soil conditions permitting, by cultipackers, rollers, or other satisfactory equipment operated at right angles to the slope. Compaction shall not be done when the soil is in such condition that it is picked up by the equipment, nor shall clay soils be compacted if so directed by the Engineer.

628.08 Care and Protection of Sprigged Areas. The Contractor shall protect sprigged areas against traffic by the use of warning signs or barricades approved by the Engineer. Surfaces gullied or otherwise damaged following sprigging shall be repaired by regrading and resprigging as directed without added compensation. The Contractor shall mow, water as directed, and otherwise care for the sprigged areas in a satisfactory condition until final inspection and acceptance of the work.

Method of Measurement

628.09 The quantity of sprigging to be paid for will be the number of units of 1,000 square feet (92.9 m2), measured on the ground surface, completed and accepted.

Basis of Payment

628.10 The quantity, determined as provided above, will be paid for at the contract price per unit of measurement for the pay item listed below, which price and payment will be full compensation for the work prescribed in this section except as follows:

(1) Topsoiling will be paid for as provided in Section 624.

Payment will be made under:

629.01 This work shall consist of preparing the sod bed, furnishing, cutting, hauling and laying live sod of perennial turf-forming gras