704 — TEMPORARY MULCH AND TEMPORARY SEED 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS CATEGORY 700 LANDSCAPING SECTION 704 — TEMPORARY MULCH AND TEMPORARY SEED
704.01 Description
Perform Temporary Mulch and Temporary Seed to provide temporary soil erosion protection as follows. Short-Term Temporary Stabilization. Refer to 704.03.02 and apply Temporary Mulch to stabilize topsoil, subsoil, common borrow, or other specified soil substrate for up to two months after installation. Long-Term Temporary Stabilization. Refer to 704.03.03 and apply Temporary Seed to stabilize topsoil, subsoil, common borrow, or other specified soil substrate for two months to six months after installation. Permanent Stabilization. Refer to Section 705 and perform Turfgrass Establishment when redisturbance is expected in more than six months, or perform other permanent vegetation establishment as specified or as directed. Do not apply Temporary Mulch or Temporary Seed when redisturbance of soil is expected in more than six months. Performance of Temporary Mulch and Temporary Seed as specified herein complies with all requirements of the Maryland Department of the Environment for temporary stabilization of soils.
704.02 Materials
Fertilizer 37-0-0 (SCU) 920.03.01 Straw Mulch 920.04.01 Wood Cellulose Fiber Mulch 920.04.02 Soil Stabilization Matting 920.05.01 Fasteners 920.05.02 SHA Temporary Seed Mix 920.06.07(c) Water 920.09.01 704 — TEMPORARY MULCH AND TEMPORARY SEED 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
704.03 Construction
704.03.01 General.
a.Schedule. Apply Temporary Mulch and Temporary Seed any time of the year.
b.Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). The fertilizer application rate specified in Table 2 of 704.03.03 shall be the NMP rate for Temporary Seed unless the Administration develops a NMP to revise the application rate.
c.Nutrient Management Reporting. Record the location and details of fertilizer applications on the Nutrient Management Reporting Form. Submit the Form within 24 hours after applying fertilizer.
704.03.02 Temporary Mulch. Refer to Description. Temporary Mulch may be either temporary
straw mulch or temporary matting mulch.
a.Selection of Temporary Mulch. Apply temporary straw mulch or temporary matting mulch to provide temporary erosion protection in flat or mildly sloping areas. Apply temporary matting mulch to provide temporary erosion protection in slopes or channels where flowing water may dislodge temporary straw mulch.
b.Temporary Straw Mulch. Lightly smooth excessively rough areas, but do not till the soil. Immediately apply straw and cover with wood cellulose fiber. Apply materials as follows. Cover at least 90 percent of the soil surface with straw mulch. When applied with mulch blower, apply straw mulch to a loose depth of 3/4 in. to 2 in. When applied by hand, apply straw mulch to a loose depth of 1-1/2 in. to 3 in. Secure straw mulch immediately after the completion of mulching operations by applying wood cellulose fiber uniformly over the straw without displacing the mulch. Do not operate machinery during windy weather that may interfere with uniform application. Do not allow materials to blow onto sensitive areas or structures. TABLE 1 - APPLICATION RATES - TEMPORARY STRAW MULCH MATERIAL LB PER yd2 LB PER ACRE Straw Mulch 0.826 4000 Wood Cellulose Fiber Mulch 0.155 750 704 — TEMPORARY MULCH AND TEMPORARY SEED 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
c.Temporary Matting Mulch. Select Type A, Type B, Type D, or Type E soil stabilization matting for installation in areas that will be redisturbed within two months. Install any of these matting types using methods and fasteners as specified in Section 709 for Type E Soil Stabilization Matting. Smooth the soil surface to allow uniform installation of matting. Install matting over the soil surface without tenting. Overlap edges of the matting at least 2 in. Install fasteners no more than 24 in. apart along edges, overlaps, and throughout the matting to firmly secure the matting to the soil surface. Do not water the matting. Remove matting and fasteners before performing permanent vegetation establishment. When approved, matting and fasteners may be removed and reused as Temporary Mulch in the same or different locations when their integrity is not degraded by damage or decomposition.
704.03.03 Temporary Seed. Refer to Description. Prepare the soil and apply seed, fertilizer,
straw mulch, and wood cellulose fiber mulch to areas that will remain undisturbed for two months to six months. Complete grading and shaping operations as directed. Perform operations when soil moisture and weather conditions are suitable. Cease operations when soil is frozen, or conditions are unsuitable. Loosen soil surfaces before applying seed and fertilizer. Refer to 705.03.06(b) through 705.03.06(d) regarding application equipment, and apply fertilizer materials according to Table 2 at any time of the year. Immediately apply straw and wood cellulose fiber over seeded and fertilized areas as specified in
704.03 02(b).
Refer to 704.03.02(b) and install Type A, Type D, or Type E soil stabilization matting in lieu of straw and wood cellulose fiber when approved. TABLE 2 - APPLICATION RATES - TEMPORARY SEED MATERIAL LB PER yd2 LB PER ACRE SHA Temporary Seed Mix 0.026 125 Fertilizer 37-0-0 (SCU) 0.021 100 Straw Mulch 0.826 4000 Wood Cellulose Fiber Mulch 0.155 750
704.03.04 Repair. Repair Temporary Mulch or Temporary Seed that is defective before
Acceptance.
704.03.05 Acceptance. Submit a request for Acceptance when operations are completed.
Inspection will be conducted to verify completion. 704 — TEMPORARY MULCH AND TEMPORARY SEED 2026 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
704.03.06 Disturbance, Removal and Replacement.
a.Do not disturb or remove Temporary Mulch or Temporary Seed except as necessary to prepare soil, or to install permanent vegetation, or to perform other work as directed.
b.Replace Temporary Mulch with approved materials when it has degraded, or when more than 2 months have elapsed since Acceptance. Replace Temporary Mulch as additional work when directed.
c.Replace Temporary Seed with approved materials when it has degraded, or when more than 6 months have elapsed since Acceptance. Replace Temporary Seed as additional work when directed.
704.04 Measurement and Payment
Temporary Mulch and Temporary Seed 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 material, labor, equipment, tools, disposal fees and incidentals necessary to complete the work.
704.04.01 Temporary Mulch, applied as either temporary straw mulch or temporary matting
mulch, will be measured and paid for at the Contract unit price per square yard. Any soil stabilization matting which may be installed as temporary matting mulch will be incidental to the Contract unit price for Temporary Mulch, and will not be measured and paid for.
704.04.02 Temporary Seed will be measured and paid for at the Contract unit price per square
yard. Any soil stabilization matting which may be installed with Temporary Seed will be incidental to the Contract unit price for Temporary Seed, and will not be measured and paid for.
704.04.03 Turfgrass Establishment will be measured and paid for at the Contract unit price per
square yard.
Referenced in this section
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Source: Standard Specifications for Construction and Materials, 2026 Edition. Pages 814–817 of 1,138. View official source ↗