- 679 - SECTION 809 -- SODDING
809.01 Description
1.This work consists of furnishi ng, fertilizing, watering, and placing bluegrass sod in accordance with the contract.
809.02 Material Requirements
1.The sod shall be grown at a sod farm, licensed by the Department of Agriculture. A certific ation of origin shall accompany each load delivered to the project site.
2.The sod shall have been grown from more than one variety of bluegrass seed, grown specifically fo r the production of bluegrass sod, and maintained by accepted sod production methods.
3.Cutting: a. Prior to harvesting, the sod shall be mowed uniformly at a height of 1 to 2.5 in ches (25 to 60 mm).
b.The sod shall be machine cut at a uniform soil thickness of 0.60 inch (15 mm), plus or minus 0.25 in ch (6 mm), at the time of cutting. Measurement for thickness shall exclude top growth and thatch.
c.All sod shall be free from all weeds. d. Individual pieces of sod s hall be cut to the supplier’s standard width and length. Broken pads and those with torn or uneven ends will not be accepted.
e.The sod shall not have dry or dead edges.
4.Fertilizer: a. The composition and rate of application of fertilizer shall be a minimum of 8 lbs of available Nitrogen (N
2.and 23 lbs of available Phosphoric Acid (P 2O5) per 1000 square yards.
5.The acceptable pre-emergent w eed control chemicals and their rate of application shall be as shown in the table below. Acceptable Pre-emergent herbicides shall be: Chemical Name Trade Names Rate of Application Pendimethalin Pendulum Midrange of manufacturer’s suggested range Prodiamine Barricade Midrange of manufacturer’s suggested range Dithiopyr Dimension Midrange of manufacturer’s suggested range Siduron Tupersan Midrange of manufacturer’s suggested range Other Any other approved and equal weed control chemicals may be used.
809.03 Construction Methods
1.The area to be sodded will be show n in the contract or as directed by the Engineer.
809.03 Sodding
- 680 - 2. Sodding operations shall not be performed between June 1 and September 1, when the ground is frozen , or when weather conditions are not favorable for placement and growth as determined by the Engineer.
3.The sod shall be harvested, deliv ered, and installed within a period of 24 hours, unless a suitable pres ervation method is approved by the Engineer.
4.Subject to the dates established in this Section, the Contractor shall place the sod immediately after the finish grading work has been completed and approved by the Engineer for a section of the project.
5.Site preparation: a. The Contractor shall clear a ll areas to be sodded of debris and dead vegetation before the sod bed is prepared.
b.The soil shall not be crusted.
c.All eroded areas shall be filled and loose earth firmed before laying the sod.
d.The area to be sodded shall be graded smooth and free of debris, including roots, stones and clods larger than 1 inch (25 mm) in their largest dimension.
e.Topsoil, when specified, sha ll be spread and tilled into the soil by discing or other methods to the depth shown in the contract.
6.The sod bed shall be approved by the Engineer before laying the sod.
7.The sod shall be laid over the area with strips edge to edge in a compact mass. The sod shall be laid approximately 1 inch (25 mm) below adjoining ground surfaces and flush with the adjoining sod.
8.All sod placed on slopes steeper than 1 vertical to 3 horizontal and in ditch bottoms shall be adequately staked by the Contractor to prevent slippage. The stakes shall be wood-lathe and shall be at least 8 inches (200 mm) in length. Stakes shall be driv en flush with the sod line and with the broad face of the stake facing t he slope. Other types of stakes may be used with the approval of the Engineer.
9.Fertilizer and Herbicide: a. The Contractor shall apply fertilizer and/or a pre-emergent herbicide over the top of the sod immediately after laying the sod and before watering.
b.The pre-emergent is not required on sod laid after September 1.
c.All excess herbicide or fertilizer, which falls onto adjacent streets, sidewalks, parking or other pavements, shall be swept and/or removed to prevent it from being washed into adjacent drainages.
10.The Contractor shall thoroughly water all sod immediately after placing fertilizer and/or pre-emerg ent herbicide. Watering may also be required during the work operations to cool the sod. Sodding 809.05 - 681 - 11. Establishment Period:
a.The Establishment Period will begin upon installation of all sod in a section designated on the contra ct or agreed upon by the Engineer.
1.The Establishment Period will be 30 days. (2) Sod laid after November 15 will be inspected between April 1 and April 15 of the following year.
3.All sod shall be growing at the time of acceptance. b. The Contractor shall keep all sodded areas thoroughly watered for 30 calendar days after laying. Watering may be necessary multiple times within a day to ensure sod survivability.
c.If, at the end of the establis hment period, the growth or stand of the sod is deemed unacceptable by the Engineer, the sod shall be rejected. The Engineer will determine whether the rejected sod is to be replaced or reseeded.
d.Rejected Sod: (1) Rejected sod shall be replaced or overseeded with a mixture of rye and bluegrasses or other suitable mixtures as determined by the Engineer.
2.The Contractor shall water replacement or overseeded sod for 30 calendar days.
12.The Contractor shall apply the post-sodding fertilizer on accepted sod at the end of the establishment period.
13.In the event the replaced or overseeded rejected sod fails, the Engineer may direct the Contractor to remove and replace the sod in the affected areas.
809.04 Method of Measurement
1.The sod shall be measured for payment by the number of square yards (square meters) of surface area of sod furnished and placed.
809.05 Basis of Payment
1.Pay Item Pay Unit Sodding Square Yards (SY) [Square Meter (m 2)]
2.Watering required by the Engineer except as noted above will be Extra Work.
3.Furnishing and placing of fert ilizer, pre-emergent herbicide, and water, are subsidiary to the sodding operation.
4.There will be no extra compensation for replacement sod, overseeding, or watering the areas where the sod was rejected.
5.Removal and replacement of sod, as directed by the Engineer, after the failure of the original installati on and replacement or reseeding of rejected sod, will be paid for at the contract unit price.
6.Payment is full compensation for all work described in this Section. - 682 - SECTION 810 -- EROSION CONTROL
810.01 Description
1.This work consists of the pr eparation of slopes and waterways and the furnishing and application of soil retention blankets at the locations shown in the contract or the temporar y erosion control plan, or as directed by the Engineer. Seed and fertilizer ar e not required with Erosion Control “Class 1A” (Slope Protection Netting).
810.02 Material Requirements
1.The soil retention blanket shall be of the type specified in the contract and shall be on the Depa rtment’s Approved Products List.
2.Soil retention blankets used in a temporary capacity shall be any product designated on the Department’s Approved Products list as Erosion Control “Class 1”.
3.Wire staples used for anchoring the soil retention blanket shall be from products designated on the Depart ment’s Approved Products List.
4.The seed shall comply with and be applied in accordance with the applicable portion of Section 801. The s eed mixture shall be of the types and applied at the rate shown in the contract.
5.The fertilizer shall comply with the applicable portion of Section 804.
810.03 Construction Methods
1.This work shall be performed as soon as practicable after finish grading operations have been completed or as directed by the Engineer.
2.No restrictive seeding time periods will apply to this work.
3.Site Preparation:
a.The Contractor shall fill, tamp and shape earth to the finish grade as needed to repair erosion to the grades and conditions shown in the contract.
b.If additional fill dirt is r equired, it must be provided and placed at no additional cost to the Department.
c.The Contractor shall perfor m all work in the areas to be protected so that the land surface is graded smooth and free of all debris, including roots and stones larger than 1 inch (25 mm) in their largest dimension.
d.Vegetation shall be removed from these areas except for the desirable native vegetation that has been designated by the Engineer to remain undisturbed.
e.The soil in the areas to be protected by the soil retention blanket shall be loosened to a depth of not less than 1 inch (25 mm) by discing, harrowing, raking, or other approved methods.
f.The site shall be drill seeded and fertilized prior to the installation of the soil retention blanket. In the event that it is impractical to install seed or fertilizer by mechanical means due to safety concerns, size or accessibility of the location, the seed and/or fertilizer may be installed by manually broadcasting and lightly incorporating the seed into the soil in a uniform manner.
Source: Nebraska Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, 2017 Edition. Pages 713–715 of 1,048.