SECTION 216 - SOLID SODDING
216.01 Description. This work consists of furnishing, transporting, and planting
approved grass sod in accordance with the plans and these specifi cations. This work shall also include plant establishment as sp ecified and required to assure satisfactory growth of the solid sod.
216.02 Materials. Unless otherwise specified, solid sod shall be common bermuda,
bahia, or other approved sod species and shall be live, fresh, growing grass, unless in the dormant season, with at least one and one-half inches of soil adhering firmly to the roots when placed. The sod shall be reasonably fr ee from obnoxious weeds or other grasses, and shall not contain any matter deleterious to its growth, or that might affect its subsistence or hardiness when transplanted. The sod shall be in blocks at least eight inches by eight inches and reasonably free from ragged edges. All sod shall be harvested from areas where the topsoil is fertile, and the areas shall have been grazed or mowed sufficiently to form a dense turf. The area from which the solid sod is to be harvested shall be closely mowed, and raked if deemed necessary to remove excessive top growth and debris. When a kind of solid sod is specified, the ma terial shall be nurser y grown, healthy, free from damage, and free from noxious weeds and grasses. The nursery grown sod shall be in blocks at least eight inches by eight inches by one inch and reasonably free of ragged edges. All solid sod materials shall be approved by the Engineer prior to transplanting.
216.03 Construction Requirements.
216.03.1 Procuring and Handling Sod. Approved sod cutters shall be used for cutting
the sod into strips or blocks. Care shall be exercised at all times to retain the native soil on the roots of the sod during the process of excavating, hauling, and planting. The sod shall be transplanted within 24 hour s after arriving on the project, unless it is stacked in a manner satisfactory to the Engin eer. All sod in stacks shall be kept moist and protected from exposure to the wind and sun and from freezing. In no event shall more than three days elap se between the cutting and planting of the sod without approval of the Engineer.
216.03.2 Grading of the A rea to Receive Solid Sodding . Prior to ground preparation
for solid sodding, all excavating, shaping, and dressing shall have been completed in such a manner that the foundation for the sod has th e proper cross section, line, and grade and so that the sod after placement will be flush with or slightly below the adjacent final ground line.
216.03.3 Ground Preparation and Fertilizing . After the area has been graded as
required, the specified types and quantities of fertilizers shall be uniformly spread and incorporated in accordance with Section 21 2 for standard ground preparation. The prepared area shall be at an approved mois ture content and shall present a smooth, uniform surface with reasonably close conform ity to the specified lin e, grade, and cross section. After approval by the Engineer of the prepared and fertilized area, sodding shall follow immediately.
216.03.4 Planting Sod. The sod shall be placed on the prepared surface with edges in
close contact and starting at the lowest point and working upward. Cracks between blocks of sod shall be filled with small pieces of fresh sod, and all cracks too small for sod shall be filled by a light dressing of appr oved soil. The entire sodded area shall then be compacted and watered to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Light rollers, hand tamps, or other approved equipment shall be used for compacting. If the Engineer deems that in a particular ar ea the sodding might slide due to the height and slope of the surface or nature of the soil, the sod shall be "pegged" with wooden pegs driven through the sod blocks into firm earth. Pegs shall be at intervals deemed suitable to hold the sod in place.
216.03.5 Limitations. Solid sodding shall be performed only when weather and soil
conditions are deemed by the Engineer to be suitable for proper placement.
216.03.6 Plant Establishment. Plant establishment shall consist of preserving,
protecting, replacing, watering, mowing, and other work necessary to keep the sod in a satisfactory condition at all times until final acceptance. A satisfactory growth of solid sodding shall be understood to mean a healthy, living, and growing grass turf, unless in the dormant season, which has been planted on an approved prepared foundation and has been maintained in accordance with the requirements of these specifications.
216.04 Method of Measurement. Solid sodding will be measured by the square yard.
Solid Sodding in other states
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