Section 626 — Plants, Trees, Shrubs, Vines, and Ground Covers

Description

626.01This work consists of providing and planting trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, and other plants.

Material

626.02Conform to the following Subsections: Fertilizer 713.03 Miscellaneous planting material 713.08 Mulch 713.05 Plant material 713.06 Topsoil 713.01 Water for vegetation 725.01(b)

Construction Requirements

626.03General. Do not plant in frozen ground, when snow covers the ground, or when the soil is saturated, extremely dry, cloddy, hard pan, not friable, or is otherwise unsatisfactory for planting. Provide stock with a live and fibrous root system. Do not provide container -grown stock that is pot -bound, has a top system out of proportion (larger) than the size of the container, has rooting media that does not hold together when plant is removed from the container, or has roots growing out of the container. Dig out transplants by gently removing the root ball. Ball and burlap the root ball before moving the transplant. Ensure the attached soil root ball diameter is at least two -thirds the size of the branch spread. Transplant shrubs and small trees after plants have gone dormant. Harvest stakes from dormant plants. Do not salvage trees or shrubs within 15 feet of a stream bank. Tag each plant or groups of plants with a weatherproof tag showing species name and date of delivery. Install plants received on site within 7 days.

626.04Delivery. Notify the CO at least 30 days before delivery of material to allow the CO the opportunity to select material at the source. Submit commercial certifications and complete written information concerning the source of supply for plant material at least 14 days before delivery of plants to the project.

626.05Protection and Temporary Storage. Package plants to provide protection against weather and breakage during transit. Tie and co ver plants to prevent wind damage and dehydration when transporting by open vehicle. Pack and ventilate plants to prevent sweating when transporting by closed vehicle. Keep bare root plants below 35 °F during transport. Keep growing media moist. Protect bark, branches, and root systems from damage. Replace damaged plants including plants with cracked or crushed root balls. Protect plants not scheduled for immediate planting as follows:

(a)Keep bare root plants below 35 °F;

(b)Protect plants from over -exposure to sunlight and keep moist;

(c)Protect plants from animals and insects; and

(d)Hold salvaged woody species no more than 7 days.

626.06Excavation for Plant Pits and Beds. At least 14 days before planting, submit planting locations and methods of planting for approval. Mark planting locations with stakes or flagging. Remove sod, weeds, roots, and other unsuitable material from the planting site. Excavate plant pits as follows:

(a)Width of excavation.

(1)For root spread or ball diameters up to 48 inches, excavate the pits circular in outline to the root spread plus 24 inches.

(2)For root spread or ball diameters over 48 inches, excavate one and one -half times the root spread.

(b)Depth of excavation. Excavate the pits to a depth that allows at least 6 inches of backfill under the roots or balls or excavate the pits to the following depths, whichever is deeper:

(1)Deciduous trees.

(a)Under 1½- inch caliper 24 inches deep

(b)Over 1½-inch caliper 36 inches deep

(2)Deciduous and evergreen shrubs.

(a)Under 2 feet height 12 inches deep

(b)Over 2 feet height 24 inches deep

(3)Evergreen trees.

(a)Under 5 feet height 8 inches plus ball height

(b)Over 5 feet height 12 inches plus ball height

(4)Vines and groundcovers. Double the size of the pot. Loosen soil at the sidewalls and bottom of the plant pit to a depth of 6 inches before setting the plant. Do not leave planting holes open overnight.

626.07Setting Plants. Do not plant material until inspected and approved. Prepare a backfill mixture of 4 parts topsoil, loam, or selected soil to one part peat moss. Place backfill mixture in the bottom of the plant pit. Set plants approximately plumb and at the same level or slightly lower than the depth at which they were grown in the nursery or collected in the field. Set plants as follows:

(a)Bare root stock. Place bare rooted plants in the center of the plant pit with the roots properly spread in a natural position. Work backfill mixture around and over the roots, tamp as hole is being filled, and water thoroughly.

(b)Balled and burlapped stock. Handle and move plants by the ball. Place balled and burlapped plants in the prepared pits on tamped backfill mixture. Score the root ball to a depth of 1 inch along the entire side equally on 4 sides. Backfill around the plant ball to one-half of the depth of the ball. Tamp and thoroughly water. Cut the burlap and remove it from the upper half of the ball or loosen the burlap and fold it back. If wire baskets are used cut the wire from the upper half of the basket. Backfill the remainder of the plant with backfill mixture.

(c)Container -grown stock. Remove the container immediately before planting. Place plants in the prepared pits on tamped backfill mixture. Backfill the remainder of the plant with backfill mixture and tamp.

(d)Live stakes. Use a planting bar or other tool to plant live stakes in fine to medium textured soils. Make planting hole at least 24 inches deep and place one live stake in each hole. Place live stakes with the basal end pointed downward and in contact with the water table and with buds pointing upwards and the tip extending at least 5 to 7 inches above the soil surface. Backfill planting hole with topsoil and tamp soil around stake to ensure good soil to stem contact.

(e)Plugs. Plant plugs slightly beneath the level of the soil grade. Place soil around the plug, tamp, and water thoroughly.

626.08Fertilizing. Fertilize using one of the following methods:

(a)Mix the fertilizer with the backfill mixture when it is prepared.

(b)Spread the fertilizer uniformly around the pit area of individual plants or over shrub beds. Cultivate the fertilizer into the top 2 inches of the backfill mixture.

626.09Watering. Construct 4-inch- deep water basins around trees and 3-inch- deep water basins around shrubs. Make the diameter of the basin equal to that of the plant pit. Water pl ants during and immediately after planting until final acceptance, and throughout the plant establishment period. Saturate the soil around each plant at each watering.

626.10Guying and Staking. If guying and staking is specified, guy deciduous trees just below the first lateral branch and guy evergreen trees halfway up the height of the tree.

626.11Pruning. Prune before or immediately after planting to preserve the natural character of each plant. Use experienced personnel to perform the pruning. Use accepted horticultural practices. Paint cuts over ¾ inch in diameter with tree wound dressing.

626.12Mulching. Remove weeds and other live vegetation from pit and water basin areas around individual plants and from entire shrub beds. If wood chips are used, do not import without approval. Place mulch within 24 hours after planting.

626.13Plant Establishment Period. The plant establishment period starts after all plantings have been completed. The plant establishment period ends at 1- year after all plantin gs have been completed or final inspection, whichever occurs later. Employ necessary means to preserve the plants in a healthy growing condition during the plant establishment period. Water, weed, prune, adjust guys and stakes, and protect from animals, in sects, and disease during the plant establishment period. At the end of the plant establishment period, remove guys and stakes. An inspection of the plant material will be made 14 days before the end of the plant establishment period to identify dead, dying, or diseased plants for removal and replacement. During the following planting season, remove and replace identified plants. A final inspection of all plant material within 15 days after completion of all replacement planting will be the basis for final acceptance.

626.14Acceptance. Material for plants, trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers (including fertilizer, mulch, and topsoil) will be evaluated under Subsections 106.02 and 106.03. Planting of plants, trees, shrub s, vines, and groundcovers will be evaluated under Subsections 106.02 and 106.04.

Measurement

626.15Measure the Section 626 pay items listed in the bid schedule according to Subsection 109.02 .

Payment

626.16The accepted quantities will be paid at the contract price per unit of measurement for the Section 626 pay items listed in the bid schedule. Payment will be full compensation for the work prescribed in this Section. See Subsection 109.05 . Progress payments will be paid as follows:

(a)75 percent of the pay item amount will be paid after initial planting.

(b)The remaining 25 percent of the pay item amount price will be paid after the final acceptance.