CATEGORY 700 LANDSCAPING SECTION 711 — ANNUALS AND BULBS INSTALLATION AND ESTABLISHMENT
711.01 Description
Install and establish annuals and bulbs in topsoil. When it is not possible to perform this work, refer to Section 704 and perform Temporary Mulch, or as directed to provide temporary soil stabilization.
711.02 Materials
Type B Compost 920.02.05(b) Fertilizer 920.03 Shredded Hardwood Bark (SHB) Mulch 920.04.03 Plant Materials 920.07 Marking and Staking Materials 920.08 Water 920.09.01 Pesticides 920.09.03
711.03 Construction
711.03.01 General
a.Regional Areas. Refer to 705.03.01(a).
b.Planting Seasons. Perform operations when soil moisture and weather conditions are suitable. Cease operations when conditions are unsuitable. Install plants according to Table 1. ANNUALS AND BULBS TABLE 1 - PLANTING SEASONS SEASON PLANTS INSTALLATION DATE Region 1 Region 2 Region 3 Spring Container Grown Summer Annuals 5/20 – 6/20 5/10 – 6/10 5/01 – 6/01 Fall Container Grown Winter Annuals 9/01 – 10/20 9/10 – 10/31 9/20 – 11/10 Spring Flowering Bulbs 9/01 – 11/30 9/10 – 12/31 9/20 – 12/31 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
c.Modification Request. Refer to 710.03.01(b).
d.Pesticide Application. Refer to 701.03.01(b).
e.Pesticide Application Reporting. Refer to 701.03.01(e).
f.Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). Refer to 710.03.01(e).
g.Nutrient Management Reporting. Refer to 710.03.01(f). (h) Plant Storage and Handling. Refer to 920.07.05.
i.Standard Details. Refer to Maryland Standard MD 710.03-11 and MD 710.03-12 when constructing planting beds and installing plant materials.
711.03.02 Submittals and Inspection. Submit the following items as indicated:
a.Breakdown List of Contract Prices. Refer to 710.03.02(a). (b) Installation Phase Schedule. Refer to 710.03.02(b) and submit the Schedule with dates for completing 711.03.02 through 711.03.12.
c.Plant Material Inspection and Approval. The Inspection will be conducted by the Landscape Programs Division as specified in 920.07.01.
d.Establishment Phase Schedule & IPM Program. Refer to 710.03.02(d) and submit the Schedule with dates for completing 711.03.17.
711.03.03 Utilities Marking, Layout, and Inspection. Refer to 710.03.03.
711.03.04 Preparing Planting Beds and Planting Areas.
a.Planting Beds. Refer to 710.03.05 for preparing beds and planting holes for container grown annuals and bulbs. Dig holes for bulbs to the depth and width recommended for the species or variety by the grower.
b.Planting Areas for Naturalized Daffodils. Dig planting holes to 3 in. diameter and to a 5 in. depth. Mix 0.20 oz of 14-14-14 fertilizer into the backfill soil of each bulb, or as specified in the NMP. Firmly cover each bulb with backfill soil to the level of the surrounding grade. Omit 711.03.05 through 711.03.10 when installing naturalized daffodils.
711.03.05 Soil Berming. Refer to 710.03.10.
711.03.06 Edging. Refer to 710.03.11.
711.03.07 Mulching. Refer to 710.03.13.
711.03.08 Plant Acclimation. Refer to 710.03.06.
711.03.09 Plant Care. Refer to 710.03.07. 711.03.10 Installing. Handle annuals and bulbs with care to avoid damage or bruising. Refer to
710.03.09 and the following.
a.Foliage Removal. Remove dead foliage of annuals and other unwanted vegetation from the previous season without damaging or disturbing perennials or other desirable vegetation.
b.Mulch. Remove and conserve SHB mulch at sites where annuals or bulbs will be installed before digging the planting hole. Replace mulch to a depth of 2 in. over bulbs and around the stems of annuals.
711.03.11 Watering After Installation.
a.Application Equipment. Refer to 710.03.14(a).
b.Follow-Up Watering. Refer to 710.03.14(b).
711.03.12 Cleanup. Refer to 710.03.15.
711.03.13 Unacceptable Plants and Replacement Plants. Refer to 710.03.18, 920.07 and
replace unacceptable plants as specified in Section 711 for the remainder of the growing season until Final Acceptance.
711.03.14 Installation Phase Inspection. Refer to 710.03.19.
711.03.15 Installation Phase Punch List. Refer to 710.03.20.
711.03.16 Installation Phase Acceptance. Refer to 710.03.21 and provide the Establishment
Phase Schedule as specified in 711.03.02(d). Installation Phase Acceptance will be granted when the Punch List and all Installation Phase requirements are completed according to Table 2. 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS ANNUALS AND BULBS TABLE 2 - REQUIREMENTS FOR INSTALLATION PHASE ACCEPTANCE Item Requirement Section a Submittals are accepted and Inspections are completed. 710.03.01(b), 711.03.02, 920.07 b Dead foliage in existing beds is removed. 711.03.10(a) c Fertilizer and compost is applied, as required. 711.03.04 d Planting pits and planting beds are bermed and edged. 710.03.10 and 710.03.11 e SHB mulch is uniformly spread to the specified depth. 710.03.13 and
711.03 10(b)
f Plants receive initial watering and follow up watering. 711.03.11 g Damaging pests are controlled. 711.03.09 h Cleanup is completed, plant tags and ribbons are removed. 710.03.15 i Washouts in and around planting beds are repaired. 710.03.13 j Unacceptable plants are replaced as needed or required. 710.03.18 k Damage repairs and Installation Phase Punch List is completed. 710.03.20 l Pesticide Application and Nutrient Management Reporting Forms are completed. 710.03.01(d) and
710.03 01(f)
m Plants are properly installed, are none are unacceptable or require replacement. 711.03.01 through
711.03 13
n Establishment Phase Schedule & IPM Program is accepted. 710.03.02(d) and
711.03 16
711.03.17 Establishment Phase. The Establishment Phase for annuals and bulbs planted in beds
begins upon Installation Phase Acceptance. Maintain all plants except naturalized daffodils as specified in 711.03.01 through 711.03.16 and as follows.
a.Period of Maintenance. Plants shall be maintained for one Planting Season, until Final Acceptance.
b.Plant Watering. Refer to 710.03.22(b).
c.Pest Management. Refer to 710.03.22(c).
d.Unacceptable Plants and Replacement Plants. Refer to 710.03.18. Promptly remove and replace plants that have become unacceptable during the Establishment Phase as needed, or at the request of the Engineer.
e.End-of-Season Foliage Removal. Remove the foliage of annuals that have declined in late summer or fall, as directed by the Engineer. Remove the foliage and flower stems of bulbs planted in beds after they have declined at the end of their growing season in June.
f.Refertilizing. Refer to 710.03.22(f). 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
g.Partial Establishment Phase Inspection. Refer to 711.03.02. The Engineer and the Landscape Programs Division will inspect plant establishment according to Table 2 on the scheduled inspection date, approximately 1 month after Installation Phase Acceptance. The Inspection Report will include actions to perform before Partial Establishment Phase Acceptance is granted. When it is not possible to perform the Inspection, Partial Establishment Phase Acceptance will be delayed until Inspection is possible. Perform repairs, replacements, and other work as specified in the Contract Documents and Inspection Report.
711.03.18 Establishment Phase Inspection and Final Acceptance. Refer to 711.03.02. The
Engineer and the Landscape Programs Division will inspect plant establishment according to Table 3 on the scheduled inspection date, at least 1 month after the Partial Establishment Phase Acceptance is granted. The Inspection Report will include actions to perform before Final Acceptance is granted. When it is not possible to perform the Inspection, Final Acceptance will be delayed until Inspection is possible. Perform repairs, replacements, and other work as specified in the Contract Documents and Inspection Report. Final Acceptance will be granted when the requirements of Table 3 are satisfactorily completed. The Inspection Report will be included in the Punch List requirements for the project. Complete the Punch List requirements as directed. ANNUALS AND BULBS TABLE 3 - REQUIREMENTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT PHASE AND FINAL ACCEPTANCE Item Requirement Section 1 Washouts in and around planting beds are repaired. 710.03.13 2 Plants are watered as needed and refertilized when directed. 710.03.22(b) and 710.03.22(f) 3 Damaging pests are controlled. 710.03.22(c) 4 Planting beds are weed free. 710.03.22(c) 5 Pesticide Reporting and Nutrient Management Reporting Forms are completed. 710.03.01(d) and 710.03.01(f) 6 Unacceptable plants are replaced as requested. 711.03.17(d) 7 End-of-season foliage removal is completed. 711.03.17(e) 8 Damage repairs and Establishment Punch List are completed. 711.03.18 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
711.04 Measurement and Payment
Annuals and Bulbs Installation and Establishment will be measured and paid for at the Contract unit price for one or more of the specified items. The payment will be full compensation for all plants, material, labor, equipment, tools, disposal fees and incidentals necessary to complete the work.
711.04.01 Annuals and Bulbs Installation and Establishment. Annuals and Bulbs Installation
and Establishment shall include the cost of plants, layout, marking, pruning, planting pit excavation, fertilizer, compost, backfilling, berming, edging, watering, pest management, plant maintenance, refertilizing, and all operations related to the Installation and Establishment Phases of each plant, until Final Acceptance. Annuals and Bulbs Installation and Establishment will be paid according to Table 4 based upon the approved Breakdown List of Contract Prices. Refer to 711.03.02(a). In the event of change in the quantities required, payment adjustments will be based on the approved Breakdown List of Contract Prices.
a.Payment Schedule. Payments will be made according to Table 4 when construction requirements are met. ANNUALS AND BULBS TABLE 4 - PAYMENT SCHEDULE PERCENT OF TOTAL CONTRACT PRICE INSTALLATION AND ESTABLISHMENT PHASE COMPLETION Annuals in Beds Bulbs in Beds Naturalized Bulbs PAYMENT FOR COMPLETED WORK
711.03 01
through
711.03.16 Installation Phase 70% 70% 100% At Installation
Phase Acceptance
711.03 17(a)
through
711.03 17(d) Establishment Phase
In-Season Maintenance 15% 15% — At Partial Establishment Phase Acceptance
711.03 17(e)
through
711.03 17(g) End-of-Season
Maintenance, Removal & Replacement, and Final Acceptance 15% 15% — At Final Acceptance Total Payment 100% 100% 100% —
b.Forfeiture. Failure to complete operations as required or directed in conformance with the Payment Schedule will result in forfeiture of that percentage of payment based upon the Breakdown List of Contract Prices.
711.04.02 Constructing Planting Beds. Refer to 710.04.02.
711.04.03 Temporary Mulch will be measured and paid for at the Contract unit price.
712 — TREE BRANCH PRUNING 2025 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS CATEGORY 700 LANDSCAPING SECTION 712 — TREE BRANCH PRUNING
712.01 Description
Prune tree branches as indicated in the SP 700 Tree Preservation Program, or in the plans. Perform Tree Branch Pruning in conformance with 101.03.02, and Section 120 when pruning is specified within the limits of a Tree Preservation Area.
712.02 Materials
Not applicable.
712.03 Construction
712.03.01 General.
a.Permits. Obtain a Roadside Tree Permit from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources - Forest Service.
b.Tree Preservation Program (TPP). Conform to the requirements of the TPP when developed by the Administration.
c.Schedule. Perform operations when weather conditions are suitable. Cease operations when conditions are unsuitable.
712.03.02 Breakdown List of Contract Prices. Refer to 712.04 and develop a Breakdown List
of Contract Prices for each tree or group of trees in the Contract. Include costs for pruning and completing all operations per tree or group of trees. Submit the written Breakdown List within 14 days after Notice of Award. The Breakdown List will be reviewed by the Engineer and Landscape Programs Division for completeness and balance, and will be approved or returned for correction.
712.03.03 Maryland Licensed Tree Expert (LTE). A LTE shall perform or directly supervise
the Operations in conformance with the Maryland Roadside Tree Law, the Forest Conservation Act, and accepted arboricultural practices.
712.03.04 Meetings. Meet with the Engineer, the LTE, and the LPD to review areas, Operations,
and the approved Breakdown List of Contract Prices before beginning Operations.
Source: Maryland Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials, 2025 Edition. Pages 852–857 of 1,113.