717.01 DESCRIPTION. Prepare seed beds, furnish, and sow grass seed
on the areas designated on the plans or as directed. Unless otherwise specified, apply seed either mechanically in a dry condition under this section or with hydro-seeding equipment in accordance with Section 739. Obtain the services of an established soil testing entity to coordinate soil sampling, perform testing and analyses, and prepare recommendations for materials and procedures to be used during the pre-planting phase of new turf establishment. When practical, perform soil testing early enough to permit agricultural lime or other additives (if required) to be applied sufficiently in advance of planting so that the soil pH adjustment will occur before planting. Test and analyze samples to determine pH and fertility conditions. Use the test results and recommendations to determine the quantities of agricultural lime and fertilizer required for pre-planting applications. Provide a copy of the test report with recommendations to the engineer. Testing will be at no direct pay. Consider probable time of application when making agricultural lime recommendations.
717.02 MATERIALS. Materials for seeding shall comply with the
following sections and subsections: Topsoil Section 715 Fertilizer 1004.01 Agricultural Lime 1004.02 Seed 1004.03 Obtain water from any source. Do not use brackish, chemically contaminated, or oily water.
717.03 SOIL AREAS. Select seed on the basis of five general soil areas
as follows:
1.Alluvial soils of Mississippi and Red River bottoms.
2.Mississippi terraces and loess hill soils.
3.Coastal plain soils (rolling, hilly, and flatwoods areas in the central, northern, and eastern parts of the state).
4.Coastal prairie soils.
5.Ouachita River bottom.
717.04 PREPARATION OF SEED BED. Prepare seed beds by
disking, harrowing, or other approved methods. On slopes of 3-horizontal- to-1 vertical and flatter, till the soil to a minimum of 4 inches depth. On slopes between 3-horizontal-to-1 vertical and 1-horizontal-to-1 vertical, till the soil to a minimum of 2 inches depth by scarifying with heavy rakes or other methods. Use rototillers where soil conditions and length of slope permit. On slopes 1-horizontal-to-1 vertical and steeper, no soil tillage is required. Maintain drainage patterns as indicated on the plans. Completely pulverize areas compacted by construction operations by tillage. Conform to topsoil requirements in Section 715 for soil used for repair of surface erosion or grade deficiencies. Apply the pH adjuster, fertilizer, and soil conditioner during this procedure. The prepared surface shall be a maximum 1 inch below the adjoining grade of any surfaced area. Blend new surfaces to existing areas. Lightly rake the completed surfaces to remove debris.
717.04.1 Lawn Area Debris: Remove debris and stones greater
than 5/8 inch in any dimension from surfaces designated on the plans as lawn areas, or as directed by the engineer.
717.04.2 Field Area Debris: Remove debris and stones greater than
2 inches in any dimension from the surface.
717.04.3 Protection: Protect prepared surface areas from
compaction or damage by vehicular or pedestrian traffic and surface erosion.
717.05 PERMANENT SEEDING. Plant seed within the dates shown in
Table 717-l, unless otherwise permitted in writing.
717.06 TEMPORARY SEEDING. During construction, place
temporary seeding as directed. Temporary seeding may be any of the types given in Table 717-1. Annual rye grass or clover is the only acceptable seeding types for winter cover. Use of a hydro-seeder will be allowed in accordance with Section 739.
717.07 WATERING. When necessary due to dry conditions,
periodically water seeded areas until final acceptance at no direct pay.
717.08 SEED ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD. The seed establishment
period shall begin on the first day of seeding work under the contract and shall end 3 months after the last day of the seeding operation. The contractor shall provide a written calendar time period for the seed establishment period. When there is more than one seed establishment period, the boundaries of each seeded area covered by each period shall be described. The seed establishment period may be modified for inclement weather, shut down periods, or for separate completion dates of areas as approved by the engineer. Bermuda turf will be considered to be established and completed when the areas to be turfed have produced Bermuda grass stems or runners which overlap adjacent Bermuda grass growth over a minimum of 85 percent of the entire area and no spots greater than 4 square feet are void of Bermuda grass. This will be determined by the engineer in random sampling on a square yard basis. Acceptance of the entire turfed area will be based on the engineer’s visual inspection and determination of the required coverage. Acceptance will be based on coverage by Bermuda grass only. Dying or dead turf and eroded areas will not be accepted. Correct deficient areas at no direct pay. Partial areas will not be accepted unless determined by the engineer to be in the best interest of the Department.
717.09 MEASUREMENT. Seeding will be measured by the pound.
717.10 PAYMENT. Payment for temporary and permanent seeding will
be made at the contract unit price per pound, which includes all labor, materials, equipment, and incidentals necessary to complete the work. Payment will be made under: Item No. Pay Item Pay Unit 717-01 Seeding Pound Table 717-1 Type Seed Mixtures 1 lbs/acre Soil Area 2 Planting Dates A Hulled Bermuda 30 1,2,3,4,5 Mar-Sep B Hulled Bermuda 20 1,2,3,5 Feb-Mar Crimson Clover3 25 C Kentucky 31 Fescue 25 1,2,3,4,5 Sep-Feb Unhulled Bermuda 20 D Unhulled Bermuda 20 1,2,3,4,5 Sep-Feb Crimson Clover 3 40 E Pensacola Bahia 4 25 1,2,3,5 Mar-Sep F Ball Clover 25 1,2,3,4,5 Feb-Mar Unhulled Bermuda 20 G Vetch (Common) 40 1,2,3,4,5 Sep-Oct Unhulled Bermuda 20 H5 Browntop Millet 6 1,2,3,4,5 Mar-Jul Hulled Bermuda 20 Pensacola Bahia 15 I Annual Rye 30 1,2,3,4,5 Sep-Jan 6 1 Only Hulled Bermuda or Unhulled Bermuda shall be planted in rest areas. 2 See 717.03. 3 Inoculated prior to planting with proper bacterial culture. 4 Type E shall be used only upon the approval of the Roadside Development Specialist. 5 This planting mixture is to be used in the Kisatchie National Forest areas only. 6 Annual Rye grass shall not be planted before September 20. Annual Rye grass may be planted as late as January 15 if climatic conditions and soil temperatures will allow germination.
Referenced in this section
Seeding in other states
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Source: Standard Specifications for Roads and Bridges, 2016 Edition. Pages 472–475 of 1,145. View official source ↗