660.03 Construction Requirements.
manufacturer. HECPs shall be applied at the rate designated by the manufacturer specific to the slope. The application rate will be verified by measuring the air dry weight {mass} per pound {kilogram} and dividing by the surface dimensions of the area covered. HECPs should not be installed in areas subject to channelized flow or areas having a potential to flood during a local 2 year, 24 hour storm event.
d.Protection of ECP. The ECPs shall be protected during al l construction operations. Payment will not be made for the repair or replacement of the ECPs damaged by the Contractor, or for the repair or replacement of ECPs that fail because of improper installation.
659.04 Method of Measurement.
Erosion control prod ucts (ECPs) will be measured by the square yard {square meter} of the finished surface dimensions of the area covered. Separate measurement will not be made for folds, laps, check slots, anchor slots, etc.
659.05 Basis of Payment.
a.Unit Price Coverage . ECPs will be paid for at the contract unit price, which shall be full compensation for the furnishing and installation of the product including all materials, equipment, tools, labor and incidentals required to complete this item of work.
b.Payment will be made under Item No .: 659-C Erosion Control Product, Type * - per square yard {square meter} * Type of ECP: S4, S3, S2, S1, C2, C4, C6, C8, C10 VINES, SHRUBS AND TREE PLANTING
660.01 Description.
This Section shall cover the work of furnishing, planting, and establishing healthy, live, growing trees, shrubs, seedlings, vines or other designated plants at designated locations on the project. The specie, size, etc. of vines, shrubs, seedlings and trees will be as indicated on the plans or proposal. Basic work consists of furnishing or harvesting of plants and transporting thereof; preparation of plant site or beds including furnishing a nd preparation of soil, fertilizer, mulch and other miscellaneous items incidental to the planting procedure; the planting of the plants in a workmanlike manner in accordance with accepted horticultural practices along with the water necessary to establish and maintain the plants in a live, growing condition throughout the life of the project. The amount of water to be used and when it shall be applied shall be the Contractor's responsibility until acceptance of the project.
660.02 Materials.
All materials shall conform to the requirements of Division 800, Materials. Specific reference is made to Roadside Improvement Materials, Section 860.
660.03 Construction Requirements.
a.General . All planting operations for vines, shrubs and trees shall be done under the on -site, direct supervision of a person possessing a current and valid professional services permit for the Setting of Landscape Plants and a Nursery Dealer Certificate issued by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. Proof of the posses sion of these permits shall be furnished to the Engineer prior to the commencement of work. Any work performed without the on -site, direct supervision of these permitted individuals will be subject to rejection by the Engineer. The normal growing period fo r vines, shrubs, and trees is defined as that time period between April 1 and September 30. All vines, shrubs and trees shall be planted so as to provide the maximum growing time allowable under the contract time. All plantings shall be scheduled to provide a minimum of one growing season except as noted in Subarticle 860.06(b).
660.03 Construction Requirements.
Pine seedlings shall be planted in North Alabama only between December 1 and March 15; in South Alabama only between December 1 and February 15. Planting will not be permitted durin g periods of drought or when the ground is frozen. These seasonal limits may be changed only on written orders from the Engineer. Any rock or underground obstructions shall be removed to the depth necessary to permit planting according to the plans and Spe cifications unless other locations for the planting are approved. Explosives may be used only where and as expressly approved.
b.Planting Operations for Vines, Shrubs and Trees .
1.Row Planting .
a.Furrows or trenches shall be opened in the locations designated to a depth at least 6 inches {150 mm} greater than the depth of the roots or ball when extended in their normal position, and in no case less than 12 inches {300 mm} for vines and shrubs. The width of furrows or trenches shall be at least 12 inches {300 mm} greater than the spread of the roots when extended in their normal position, and in no case less than 12 inches {300 mm} for vines and 18 inches {450 mm} for shrubs.
b.The furrows or trenches shall then be partially filled with prepared plant topsoil and the vines or shrubs placed so that the crown, bud or base of the tops, as the case may be, is at or slightly below the previous growing level and the roots are in a natural spread. After the roots have been completely covered with pl ant topsoil, the commercial fertilizer 8 -8-8 shall be evenly scattered over the surface of the plant topsoil at the rate of approximately 0.1 pound per foot {0.15 kg per meter} of furrow or trench, followed by a satisfactory watering. After the water has s oaked in and the plant topsoil is no longer muddy, additional plant topsoil shall be added and firmly compacted. Compaction shall stop when the compacted plant topsoil is 2 inches {50 mm} below the finished grade. The balance of the furrow or trench shall then be filled with loose plant topsoil until it is slightly lower than the finished grade.
2.Spot Planting . Planting operations shall be in accordance with the specifications for row planting as far as applicable. Commercial fertilizer, 8 -8-8, shall be a pplied at a rate of 0.1 pound per square yard {0.05 kg per square meter}. Pits for trees and shrubs shall not be less than 18 inches {450 mm} deep and 3 feet {900 mm} in diameter unless otherwise shown on the plans. If the trees to be planted are larger than 2 inches {50 mm} in caliper or 10 feet {3 m} in height, the size of the pits shall be increased in proportion to the increase in size of the trees. For shrubs the pit shall be 12 inches {300 mm} greater than the ball diameter or root spread. The bottom of all planting pits for trees shall have the soil loosened at least 6 inches {150 mm} deeper than excavated. The side walls of all planting pits shall be vertical and the bottoms flat. Sloping walls of pits or crowding of root systems will be cause for rejection of the planting.
3.Drainage . Tile or pipe underdrain subsoil drainage shall be installed as provided by the plans or directed. Such tile pipe shall meet the requirements of Section 853. Trenches shall be not less than 18 inches {450 mm} below fini shed grades. Drain tile shall be connected with a suitable outlet.
4.Disposal of Excess Soil . Excess soil shall be disposed of as directed.
5.Plant Topsoil . Unless otherwise provided by the plans, plant topsoil shall be used in preparation and in the backfill of plant pits in connection with row planting and spot planting.
6.Setting Plants .
a.All plants shall be set plumb at such a level that after settlement they bear the same relation to the level of the surrounding ground as they bore to the ground from which they were dug. All plants shall be planted in plant topsoil which shall be settled by watering when required and by tamping. For spring planting, a shallow saucer capable of holding water shall be formed about each plant by placing a moun d of soil around the edge of each pit, unless otherwise directed. Care shall be taken in setting plants to protect adjacent planting from damage.
b.Balled and burlapped plants or balled platform plants (BB, BP) are to be planted with plant topsoil careful ly tamped around and under the base of each ball to fill voids. Platforms shall be removed. All cloth, ropes, et cetera, shall be removed from the tops of balls, but no cloth shall be pulled out from under the balls.
660.03 Construction Requirements.
c.Roots or bare- root (BR) plants shall be properly spread out in a natural position and plant topsoil shall be carefully worked in among them. All broken and frayed roots shall be cleanly cut off.
c.Planting Operations for Seedlings .
1.General . The pine seedlings shall be transported to the planting area in a manner that will protect the roots from the wind and sun and guard against skinning or otherwise damaging the plant or root system. The roots shall be kept moist at all times. The recommended method of hand planting is shown in detail o n the plans. Seedlings shall be placed in the hole to an approximate depth of 1/4 of an inch {6 mm} deeper than the depth the plant grew in the nursery. Care shall be taken not to bend or fold the roots due to a small shallow hole. Planting by use of a soi l auger will be acceptable, if care is taken to remove the air pockets by packing to ground level.
2.Fertilizer . No extra fertilizer will be required on areas that have been previously fertilized, fertilizer will be applied as directed by the Engineer, an d payments made for extra fertilizer quantities provided on the plans.
3.Spacing . The seedlings shall be spaced approximately 6 feet {1800 mm} on centers, or as shown on the plans, planting in an irregular pattern as outlined by the Engineer.
d.Pruning . All pruning shall be done on the site before planting in accordance with the schematic drawings provided in the plans and as directed. Pruning shall follow modern horticultural practices (American Standard for Nursery Stock) and shall be done with approve d tools designed for the purpose intended. Lopping, topping or shearing of trees or shrubs will be grounds for rejecting the plants as unsuitable and not meeting the requirements. Damaged, scarred, frayed, split, or skinned branches, limbs or roots shall b e pruned back to live wood nearest to the next sound outside lateral bud, branch, limb or root. The terminal leader or bud in all trees or shrubs shall be left intact and not removed unless damaged. The top growth of all vines shall be cut back approximately one -third unless otherwise directed.
e.Guying, Staking and Wrapping of Trees .
1.Guying and Staking . All trees shall be staked or guyed unless otherwise directed. Unless otherwise directed, all trees up to 2 inches {50 mm} in caliper, or up to 10 feet {3 m} in height, shall be supported by a single 8 foot {2.5 m} (above ground line) stake; all trees from 2 inch {50 mm} caliper up to 3.5 inch {100 mm} caliper, or from 10 to 14 feet {3 to 4.2 m} in height, shall be supported by two 10 foot {3 m} (above ground line) stakes. All trees from 4 to 6 inch {100 to 150 mm} caliper shall be supported by 4 stakes at least 12 feet {3.6 m} (above ground line) long. All stakes shall be at least 2 feet {600 mm} in the ground. All trees larger than 5 inch {125 mm} cali per, or other trees with heavy crowns shall be supported by anchored wires and guyed 3 ways with double No. 10 wire. Stakes shall not injure plant balls. No. 12 wire and rubber hose, or approved substitutes, shall be used to secure the tree to stakes witho ut chafing or injury. Wires used for guying shall be secured to the tree by passing through a rubber hose, by using wood stakes protected from the bark by heavy cloth padding, or by similar means to prevent chafing and injury at a point approximately 2/5 o f the height of the tree. Guy wires shall be anchored in the ground to stakes or deadmen at a distance from the trunk of about 3/4 of the height of fastening. Guy wires shall be tightened by driving the stakes, leaving subsequent tightening to be done by m aintenance forces by twisting the wires.
2.Wrapping . Trees shall have their bark protected from transpiration using Method A, B, or C.
a.Method A. All trunks and branches shall be sprayed with "Dowax" or similar approved wax compound immediately before o r after digging, The material shall be applied as directed by the manufacturer.
b.Method B. The trunks of all trees, from the ground line to the height of the second branches, or to the height directed, shall be wrapped not later than four (4) days after planting. Trees over 4 inches {100 mm} in caliper shall also have their larger branches wrapped. A single layer of burlap bandage shall be wound spirally starting from the base and overlapping 1.5 inches {38 mm}. The burlap shall be securely tied in place with binder twine at about 6 inches {150 mm} intervals.
660.04 Method of Measurement.
c.Method C. The trunks of all trees from the ground line to the height of the first branches shall be wrapped not later than four (4) days after planting with an approved wrapper, overlapping as noted in Method B.
f.Pine Straw Mulch . Mulch shall be baled pine straw. All pine straw shall be fresh and shall be without decomposition. The minimum size of a bale of pine straw shall be 13 inches tall by 14 inches wide by 26 inches long and shall have enough straw to cover a minimum of 40 square feet to a depth of 3 inches. Pine straw shall be free of weeds, weed seeds, spores and fern fronds.
g.Watering . The vine, shrub and tree plantings shall be given one watering during the course of the planting operations and additional waterings as needed. Sufficient water shall be applied to wet thoroughly the adjacent area down through the root system. Water shall be applied in such a manner that will prevent erosion of the finished surface.
h.Care During Construction. The Contractor shall properly care for all vine, shrub and tree planted areas in a satisfactory condition until the work has been completed, and un til final acceptance as defined in Section 105 and other requirements contained in provisions included in the proposal. Care shall consist of providing protection of the planting beds and seedling areas by the use of clearly visible stakes or markers to prevent damage by State maintenance vehicles and/or others. Weeding and repairing of all planted areas or pits, including an area 3 feet {1 m} outside of the normal perimeter of the beds, pits or bedding areas, shall be required with particular attention dir ected to the following specific times:
1.At the inspection of all planted areas to be made prior to placement of the plants.
2.At the time of Final Inspection. In addition to the above, any damage to the adjacent areas mentioned above caused by the work involved in the preparing of or by the existence of the beds shall be repaired by the Contractor without cost to the State.
i.Basis of Acceptance and Replacements . The Engineer shall make periodic inspections of the work to determine the condition of the plantings. On these inspections, especially those noted in this Section, all plants which the Engineer determines are not in a healthy growing condition shall be rejected. All plants rejected shall be immediately replaced by the Contractor with the same k ind and sizes and in the same manner as originally provided except that plantings out of season shall comply with the requirements for out of season plantings noted in Article 860.06. Not less than 60 or more than 75 calendar days prior to the completion d ate of the project, an inspection of the plantings shall be made by the Engineer, at which time all defective, dead or missing plants shall be replaced as prescribed for out of season plantings. Based on the findings of the above noted inspection, the Engi neer shall direct the Contractor to replace dead, defective or missing plants; such replacements shall be replaced in the same manner as noted for rejected plants in the paragraph next above. All replacements, etc., for plants prior to final acceptance sha ll be considered incidental to the work and no additional compensation other than the unit prices bid will be allowed. At the final inspection of the project, all dead, defective or missing plants shall be rejected and deleted from the contract and no compensation for rejected plants will be allowed.
660.04 Method of Measurement.
a.Plant Topsoil . The accepted quantity of this material used as ordered will be measured in cubic yards {cubic meters} (loose measurement) in the vehicle at point of dumping. No measurement will be made for overhaul of this material.
b.Vines, Shrubs, and Trees . The quantity of vines, seedlings, shrubs and/or trees to be paid for under this item will be the actual number ordered, planted and accepted. Only vines, seedlings, shrub s and trees in a living, healthy condition will be accepted.
661.02 Materials.
c.Pine Straw Mulch . Pine Straw Mulch will be measured in bales and will be that quantity used on site during planting operations and post planting care. The quantity subject to payment shall be that quantity verified by the Engineer.
660.05 Basis of Payment.
a.Plant Topsoil . This material will be paid for at the contract unit price bid per cubic yard {cubic meter} which price and payment will be full compensation for furnishing, excavating, lo ading, hauling (including overhaul), unloading, furnishing, and mixing all component materials and for all labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals necessary to complete the work.
b.Vines, Seedlings, Shrubs, and Trees . Vines, Seedlings, Shrubs, and Trees ordered, planted and accepted will be paid for at the contract unit price for each. Such price and payment shall be full compensation for furnishing plants, plant test or certification service, planting, pruning, guying and staking, wrapping, mulching, fu rnishing and applying fertilizer (including all fertilizers covered by Article 860.12 and/or provided by the plans), and for all materials, labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals necessary to complete the work.
c.Watering . No direct payment will be made for water used in the placement and care of planting during the construction. All water necessary shall be considered as a part of the unit price bid for items provided by this Section.
d.Pine Straw Mulch . Pine straw mulch will be paid for at the contract unit price which shall be full compensation for furnishing, loading, transporting, applying, and for all labor, tools, equipment, and incidentals necessary to complete this item of work.
e.Payment will be made under Item No.: 660-A Plant Topsoi l - per cubic yard {cubic meter} 660-B Vines, Type - per each 660-C Shrubs, Type - per each 660-D Trees, Type - per each 660-E Seedlings, Type - per each 660-K Pine Straw Mulch – per bale SECTION 661 TRANSPLANTING TREES, SHRUBS AND VINES
661.01 De scription.
This Section shall cover the work of transplanting of specified trees, shrubs and vines and the reestablishing of them in positions shown on the plans or designated. Basic work consists of digging plants, preparing them for transplanting and tra nsporting thereof; preparation of plant sites or beds, furnishing and preparation of soil fertilizer, mulch and other miscellaneous incidentals necessary to planting procedure; the planting of plants in a workmanlike manner in accordance with accepted hort icultural practices along with the water necessary to establish and maintain the plants in a live, growing condition throughout the life of the project. The amount of water to be used and when it is to be applied shall be the Contractor's responsibility un til acceptance of the project.
661.02 Materials.
All materials shall conform with the requirements set forth in Division 800, Materials, with specific reference made to Section 860.
Source: Alabama Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, 2022 Edition. Pages 556–559 of 934.