215.01 215-1 TRANSPLANTING DESCRIPTION
215.01 This work consists of transplanting trees, shrubs, plugs of wetland material including
root mats from existing wetlands, and other plant material, referred to as "plants," of the designated species per this specification and accepted standard horticultural practice at the designated locations. Transplanting season is that period when plants are in a dormant condition and can be moved. Dormant means that deciduous material is without leaves and coniferou s material is without new candle growth. Transplanting done in periods not considered dormant transplanting season shall require advance approval. MATERIALS
215.02 Plants to be transplanted shall be those that are flagged on the project site within the
right of way, or as directed. Plugs shall be dug from areas noted in the Contract or as directed by the Engineer. Removal shall be dispersed throughout the areas so as not to impact the existing wetland. Plugs shall be taken in early spring when plants are emerging. Plugs shall be a minimum of 4 inches in diameter and 6 inches to 8 inches deep with the root mat to remain intact. Plugs shall not be stockpiled but shall be transplanted directly to wetland mitigat ion sites as directed. Transplanting shall be accomplished the day they are dug. Plugs shall be kept moist and shall not be placed in holding beds . CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS
215.03 Plants shall be dug, properly pruned, and prepared for transplanting per standard
practice. The root system shall be kept moist, and plants shall be protected from adverse conditions due to climate and transporting from the time they are dug to the actual planting. Before removal for transplanting, all coniferous trees shall be sprayed with an approved anti- desiccant. The following table represen ts the minimum diameter of rootballs for collected plants. Table 215-1 TYPE 6 COLLECTED PINON PINE MIN. ROOTBALL DIAMETER Caliper Min. Ball Dia. 1 to 1 1/2 inch 15 inch 1 1/2 to 2 inch 17 inch 2 to 2 1/2 inch 20 inch 2 1/2 to 3 inch 24 inch 3 to 3 1/2 inch 26 inch 3 1/2 to 4 inch 28 inch 4 to 4 1/2 inch 30 inch 4 1/2 to 5 inch 32 inch 215.03 215-2 Table 215-2 TYPE 7 ALL COLLECTED PLANTS OTHER THAN PINON PINE MIN. ROOTBALL DIAMETER For caliper sizes larger than those given under Type 7, the ratio of ball diameter to caliper shall be 8:1. Planting pits for balled and burlapped trees shall be circular in outline with vertical sides. Pits shall be at least two times greater in diameter than the earth ball. Before a tree is placed in a plant pit, the pit shall be filled half full of water. Backfill shall be thoroughly worked and watered to eliminate air pockets. Unsuitable backfill soils shall be replaced. Trees shall be machine transplanted with tree spades. The following table represents the minimum size of spade machine equipment to be used for transplanting plants based upon caliper size. The table also represents the minimum diameter of rootballs for machine transplanted plants. Table 215-3 MINIMUM SPADE MACHINE SIZE FOR MACHINE TRANSPLANTED PLANTS Caliper ( based on rootball width) Min. Spade Machine Size 1 to 3 inch 44 inch 3 to 6 inch 65 inch 6 to 9 inch 80 inch 9 to 12 inch > 90 inch Each tree shall be transported to the new site using the same spade that it was dug, or several trees may be spade -dug and transported in a pod trailer manufactured specifically for this purpose. Trees shall not be removed from spade or transported in a haul truck. The Contrac tor shall give the Engineer one- week notice before transplanting trees. At the time of transplanting the Engineer will designate a Department landscape architect to be on the site to oversee all tree planting. Caliper Min. Ball Dia. 1 to 1 1/2 inch 14 inch 1 1/2 to 2 inch 16 inch 2 to 2 1/2 inch 20 inch 2 1/2 to 3 inch 24 inch 3 to 3 1/2 inch 28 inch 3 1/2 to 4 inch 32 inch 4 to 4 1/2 inch 36 inch 4 1/2 to 5 inch 40 inch 215.04 215-3 Planting pits for machine -dug trees shall have the same dimension as the machine ball being placed. Before a tree is placed in a planting pit, the pit shall be filled half full of water and allowed to drain. Once the tree is placed, voids in the pit shall be filled with clean suitable backfill and tamped. If unsuitable soil is encountered in the planting pits, the Contractor shall dispose of said material and backfill with suitable material as determined by the Engineer. After the tree is planted (collected or machine transplanted), a basin shall be built to hold at least 30 gallons of water. For each inch of trunk diameter greater than 3 inches, the basin capacity shall be increased by 10 gallons. The depth of saucer shal l not be below the top of the root system of the tree. The basin shall be filled with water three times and allowed to stand each time until empty before refilling. Saucers shall be covered with a 4 -inch-thick layer of fresh moist wood chip mulch as shown on the plans. The size of mulch shall be approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 3 to 4 inches long. A sample shall be submitted in advance to the Engineer for approval. Transplanting shall be accomplished within one day. Trees shall not be placed in holding beds. All transplanted trees shall be subject to a 180 -day maintenance period during one or more growing seasons and shall be watered every seven calendar days. Each watering shall be 100 gallons per tree. All transplanted trees shall be guyed per Standard Plan M 214 -1. Guying material shall be removed at the end of the 180 -day maintenance period. All trees damaged by the Contractor's operations shall be replaced and replanted at the Contractor's expense as approved. At the end of the 180- day maintenance period all dead trees shall be replaced and replanted with trees at the Contractor's expense. Further maintenance will not be required. The Contractor shall not damage existing landscaped areas, including but not limited to turf, irrigation equipment, and other plants, during the transplanting operation. The Contractor may use suitable platform material over existing turf to prevent damage from heavy machinery. Wetland plugs shall be a minimum of 4 inches in diameter and 6 to 8 inches in depth. Holes left in the existing wetlands from plug removal shall be filled with topsoil and tamped lightly. After tamping, the filled hole shall be at the same elevation as the existing s urrounding wetlands. Transplant plugs shall be placed in containers (one plug per container) after harvesting to facilitate handling and placing of material. Plugs shall be spaced as directed in the Contract. Plugs shall be planted to match surrounding grade. Water shall be applied to plugs until soil is saturated. Plugs shall be watered thoroughly every day for a period of one month. METHOD OF MEASUREMENT
215.04 The quantity of transplanting to be measured will be the actual number of plants of the
various types transplanted and accepted. The quantity of transplanted trees to be measured will be the actual number of trees of the various calipers and types transplanted and accepted in their final location. Caliper measurement shall conform to the USA Standard for Nursery Stock, sponsored by the American Association of Nurserymen, Inc. (AAN) 215.05 215-4 Only living plants in healthy condition at the end of the maintenance period will be accepted. If all other work is completed on the project, contract time will not be charged during the maintenance period. The quantity of transplanted plugs to be measured will be the actual number of plugs transplanted and accepted in their final locations. BASIS OF PAYMENT
215.05 The accepted quantities of transplanting measured as provided above will be paid
for at the contract unit price each. Payment will be made under: Pay Item Pay Unit Transplant Tree Each Transplant Shrub Each Transplant Plug Each Water required will not be measured and paid for separately but shall be included in the work. Hauling plants to their new location, removing unsuitable backfill, and providing clean suitable backfill for planting pit voids will not be measured and paid for separately but shall be included in the work . 216.01 216-1 SECTION 216 SOIL RETENTION COVERING DESCRIPTION
216.01 This work consists of furnishing, preparing, applying, placing, and securing soil retention
blankets and turf reinforcement mats for erosion control on roadway slopes or channels as designated in the Contract. MATERIALS
216.02 Soil retention covering shall be either a soil retention blanket or a turf reinforcement
mat as specified in the Contract. It shall be one of the products listed on CDOT’s Approved Products List and shall conform to the following:
a.Soil Retention Blanket . Soil retention blanket shall be composed of degradable natural fibers mechanically bound together between two slowly degrading synthetic or natural fiber nettings to form a continuous matrix and shall conform to the requirements of Tables 216 -1 and 216- 2. The blanket shall be of consistent thickness with the fiber evenly distributed over the entire area of the mat. When specified, lightweight polypropylene netting shall be 1.5 pounds per 1 ,000 square feet; heavyweight netting shall be 2.9 pounds per 1 ,000 square feet. When biodegradable blanket is specified, the thread shall be 100 percent biodegradable; polypropylene thread is not allowed. When photodegradable netting is specified, the thread shall be polyester, biodegradable or photodegradable. Blankets and nettings shall be non- toxic to vegetation and shall not inhibit germination of native seed mix as specified in the Contract. The materials shall not be toxic or injurious to humans. Class 1 blanket shall be an extended term blanket with a typ ical 24 -month functional longevity. Class 2 blanket shall be a long -term blanket with a typical 36 -month functional longevity. The class of blanket is defined by the physical and performance characteristics.
b.Soil Retention Blanket (Straw -Coconut). Soil Retention Blanket (Straw -Coconut) shall be a machine- produced mat consisting of 70 percent certified weed free agricultural straw or Colorado native grass straw and 30 percent coconut fiber. The blanket shall be either biodegradable or photodegradable. Blankets shall be sewn together on a maximum 2 -inch centers. Netting shall be as follows: When biodegradable netting is specified, the top and bottom netting shall be 100 percent biodegradable organic jute fiber. Netting shall be constructed using a weave unattached at intersections , which allows the strands of the net to move independently of each other. When photodegradable netting is specified, the bottom side shall be lightweight polypropylene. The top side shall be heavyweight or lightweight polypropylene.
Source: Colorado Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2023 Edition. Pages 303–306 of 943.