893Miscellaneous Planting Materials

893.1General Description

This section includes the requirements for miscellaneous planting materials, such as the following: • Plant topsoil • Mulch • Vines, shrubs, trees, and miscellaneous plants • Inoculants • Porous material • Prepared plant topsoil • Tree paint • Stakes • Organic soil additives • Erosion Control Compost • Engineered Topsoil 893.1.01 Related References

ANSI Z60.1 American Standard for Nursery Stock Standardized Plant Names Method of Test for Moisture Content of Hay or Straw United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Composting Council, Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost (TMECC). GDT 41 893.1.02 Submittals For erosion control compost submit a notarized certification that includes the following: • The feedstock by percentage in the final compost product. • A statement that the compost meets federal and state health and safety regulations. • A statement that the composting process has met time and temperature requirements. • A copy of the lab analysis, less than four months old, performed by a Seal of Testing Assurance certified lab verifying that the compost meets the physical requirements specified. When requested by the Engineer, one Solvita Compost Maturity Test kit (six tests) for every 1000 yd. 3 (765 m3) of compost supplied shall be provided. The Solvita Compost Maturity Test kit is available from: Woods End Research Laboratory Inc. Box 297 Mt. Vernon, Maine 04352 1-800-0451-0337 email: info@woodsend.org or approved equal. 1720 1720 1720

893.2Materials

893.2.01 Plant Topsoil

• Obtained from well-drained, arable land, but not from fields where tobacco grew in the last three years, or where Johnson grass or kudzu is present. • Friable, loamy soil with between 2 and 30 percent organic matter. Determine the percentage by measuring the loss on ignition of oven-dried samples ignited at 1,200 °F (650 °C). • Reasonably free from subsoil, heavy or stiff clay, coarse sand, and other deleterious substances. • Has no toxic amounts of acid or alkaline elements. • Can sustain healthy plant life. • Meets the grade requirements of Subsection 814.2.01.A.8.

reject any material that does not meet the specifications.

coarse litter, and other substances that would interfere with mixing, planting, and maintenance.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury. 893.2.02 Mulch

893.2.07.A.2 for pine bark and hardwood mulch).

• Are accepted by the Engineer. • Can be distributed uniformly when properly loosened • Produce the desired results 1721 1721 1721

• Meet the moisture requirements specified herein • Contain no excessive amounts of noxious weed seeds

Do not use hay or straw mulch material that has matured seeds from noxious weeds or other species that would harm surrounding farmland.

Ensure that the mulch material is reasonably dry.

Use compost that meets the requirements in Table 1. Erosion Control Compost can be 100% compost or a blend of no more than 50% wood chips by volume.

with 100% passing a 2 in. (50 mm) sieve and less than 10% passing a 1 in. (25 mm) sieve. Wood chips shall not contain any visible refuse or other physical contaminants, material toxic to plant growth, or over 5% sand, silt, clay or rock material.

feedstock may include, but is not limited to, leaves and yard trimmings, Class A biosolids, food scraps, food processing residuals, manure or other agricultural residuals, forest residues, bark, and paper. Compost shall not contain any visible refuse or other physical contaminants, material toxic to plant growth, or over 5% sand, silt, clay or rock material. Mixed municipal solid waste compost and Class B biosolids, as defined in the United States Environmental Protection Agency Code of Federal Regulations (USEPA, CFR), Title 40, Part 503 are unacceptable. Ensure Compost meets all applicable USEPA, CFR, Title 40, Part 503 Standards for Class A biosolids and the following requirements: TABLE 1 – PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPOST Test Requirements Test Method Organic Matter Content 25-100% (dry mass) TMECC 05.07-A Particle Size 100% passing 2 in. (50 mm) sieve 50-70% retained on 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) sieve TMECC 02.02-B Soluble Salts 5.0 max. * dS/m TMECC 04.10-A Fecal Coliform Pass TMECC 07.01-B pH 5.5 – 8.5 pH TMECC 04.11-A Stability 8 or below TMECC 05.08-B, Maturity greater than 80% TMECC 05.05-A Heavy Metals Pass TMECC 04.06 and TMECC 04.13-B *A soluble salt content up to 10.0 dS/m for compost used in Compost Manufactured Topsoil will be acceptable. NOTE: All physical requirements are in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Composting Council, “Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost” (TMECC). Organic Matter Content and Particle Size requirements are in accordance with AASHTO R51-13. 1722 1722 1722

General Provisions 101 through 150.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury. 893.2.03 Vines, Shrubs, Trees, and Miscellaneous Plants

infestation.

destination, and that meet Federal regulations governing interstate movement of nursery stock.

healthy root systems. NOTE: Use plant names according to the edition of “Standardized Plant Names” in effect at the time of Invitation For Bids.

contract size requirements.

systems, or are infected with disease or infested with insects.

Furnish all certificates of disease and infestation inspection, a list of plant materials purchased, and a complete list of nurseries from which each plant was grown.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

The Department will inspect plants at the nursery whenever necessary.

Nursery Stock.

during planting and reject any that does not meet specification. 1723 1723 1723

• Stock damaged during digging, loading, transporting, planting, and transplanting • Broken or loose balls or balls of less diameter than that specified • Large canopy shade trees without a single dominant central leader

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury. 893.2.04 Inoculants

vitality and ability to transform nitrogen from the air into soluble nitrates and deposit them into the soil.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

The Engineer will review acceptable cultures.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury. 893.2.05 Prepared Plant Topsoil

described in Subsection 893.2.07.B.

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• Four parts plant topsoil, Subsection 893.2.01 • At least one part organic soil additive, by volume, Subsection 893.2.07. • A commercial fertilizer, grade 6-12-12, at the rate of 3 lbs./yd³ (1.8 kg/m³) • Lime at the rate of 5 lbs./yd³ (3 kg/m³)

The Department will accept the materials based upon their compliance with this specification.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury.

893.2.06 Stakes

and miscellaneous plantings.

rough or dressed.

The Department will reject any stake that does not meet the following test:

center of the stake.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

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Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury.

893.2.07 Organic Soil Additives

Use four types of organic additives: peat moss, pine bark, compost, and hardwood mulch.

Use peat moss that meets the following requirements:

• Be granulated sphagnum virtually free from woody substances, consisting of at least 75 percent

partially decomposed stems and leaves of sphagnum

• Be essentially brown in color

• Be free of sticks, stones, and mineral matter

• Be in an air-dry condition

• Shows an acid reaction of 3.5 pH to 5.5 pH

• Meets State and Federal regulations

Use pine bark that meets the following requirements:

• Be obtained from disease-free wood, 100 percent of which is 9 in² (5625 mm²) or less in area, and 50

percent is more than 1 in.² (625 mm²) in area.

• Contain no noxious weed seeds, soil, sawdust or any substance toxic to plant growth

• Be at least two years old

Use compost that meets the following requirements:

• Be organic materials that have undergone biological decomposition

• Be disinfected using composting or similar technologies

• Be stabilized so it is beneficial to plant growth

• Be mature, dark brown or black in color and have minimal odors

• Contain no human pathogens

• Fall within a pH range of 5 to 8

Provide to the Department a list of all the ingredients in the original compost mix in the order of their relative

proportions on a weight basis.

Use hardwood mulch that meets the following requirements:

• Derived from disease-free deciduous trees

• Particle size of less than 1 in. (25 mm) diameter and less than 3 in. (75 mm) in length. Hardwood mulch

shall complete two composting cycles of 140 o F (60 o C) so that all viable weed seeds are destroyed and

no further decomposition due to nitrification will occur

• Free from toxic levels of acidity and alkalinity

• Derived from sources other than cypress trees

Provide test results stating that the ingredients meet Federal, State, and local requirements for priority

pollutant limits and do not contain levels of any chemicals that are harmful to plants or humans. 172617261726

General Provisions 101 through 150.

The Department will accept the materials based upon their compliance with this specification.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury.

893.2.08 Engineered Topsoil

substances. Obtain the materials from sources approved by the Engineer. Ensure the aggregate retained on

No. 10 (2 mm ) sieve is of hard, durable particles.

screens or by hand if few oversized pieces exist. Otherwise, crush the oversized pieces to less than 2 in. (50

mm) and use them in the proportions shown by the sieve table below.

shall reach temperatures of 55-65oC (131-149oF) for a minimum period of 24 hours to kill pathogens. Obtain

composted organic matter certified as having gone through the prescribed composting process and whose

raw materials are from the following approved sources: grass clippings; leaf litter; cafeteria waste (with the

exception of meat products); livestock manure from cows, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, chickens, etc.; and

brewery waste. All components shall be free of pesticides and herbicides.

Sieve Size Percent Passing by Weight

Passing 2 in. (50 mm) 100

Passing 1-1/2 in. (37.5 mm) 95-100

Passing No. 10 (2 mm) sieve 75-90

Passing No. 40 (425 μm) 50-70

Passing No. 60 (250 μm) sieve 30-60

Passing No. 200 (75 μm) sieve 10-25

Clay size (< 2 μm) 3-10 172717271727

Property Value

Liquid Limit (LL) 25 or less

Plasticity Index (PI) 10 or less

Volume change, max. percent 12

Maximum dry density, lb./ft.³ (kg/m³)* 105 (1680)

*by standard proctor

General Provisions 101 through 150.

The engineered topsoil to be used shall be sampled and tested as directed by the Engineer according to the

following properties:

Test Method

Soil gradation GDT 4

Volume change GDT 6

Maximum density GDT 7

Liquid Limit AASHTO T 89

Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index AASHTO T 90

The engineered topsoil shall be resampled and retested as directed by the Engineer when 150 tons of use on a

project is reached; and it shall be resampled and retested for every 150 tons of use thereafter.

General Provisions 101 through 150.

Pack stock for shipment to properly protect against drying, freezing, breaking, or other injury.. 1728 1728 1728