SECTION 811 – PLANTING
811.01 Description
This Section describes the requirements for furnishing, delivering, and installing plants.
811.02 Materials
Provide materials as specified: Topsoil................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 917.01 Fertilizer, 1-2-1 Ratio ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 917.02.02 Pulverized Limestone ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 917.02.03 Mulch ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 917.04 Plant Materials ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 917.08 Antidesiccant ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 917.09.02 Herbicide ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................. 917.09.03 Water Retaining Polymer ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 917.09.04 Stakes ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ................... 917.10.G.2 Water ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 919.08 Provide wire staples made of No. 25 plain iron wire that are formed into a U shape, 1 inch wide and 12 inches long.
811.03 Construction
811.03.01 Planting
A.Furnishing, Delivering, Installing, and Caring for Plants. Submit to the RE the current Materials Questionnaire Form for landscaping material, as specified in 106.04, 30 days before delivery with a copy to the Office of Landscape Architecture in the Bureau of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Solutions. Handle and pack plants to prevent injuries during transit. Do not dump or drop plants while unloading. Protect the roots of all plants from freezing or desiccating by heeling-in, watering, covering or keeping shaded, or placing in a climate controlled building or trailer. Coordinate work to prevent delays in planting that may expose the root systems of plants to the air, sun, or freezing conditions.
B.Optimal Planting Seasons. Table 811.03.01-1 Optimal Planting Season Type of Plant Season Broadleaf and coniferous evergreen trees, shrubs, vines, and ground covers March 1 to May 15 August 15 to December 1 Deciduous trees, shrubs, vines, ornamental grasses, and perennials March 1 to May 15 October 15 to December 1 Container grown plant materials March 1 to May 15 August 15 to December 1 Narcissus October 15 to December 1 Hemerocallis March 1 to May 15 Peltandra virginica and Pontederia cordata Specified Season - Non-dormant March 15 to June 15 only Spartina species and Distichilis spicata Specified Season - Non-dormant May 1 to July 15 only When planting outside the optimal planting seasons, ensure that plants installed are kept watered and protected from freezing and desiccation.
C.Layout. Before planting, stake plant locations and bed outlines and obtain Department approval. Immediately notify the RE to arrange for Departmental guidance for the “Naturalized Plant Material” or if existing conditions prevent planting at the exact locations shown on the Plans. The Department may adjust plant locations to meet field conditions.
D.Planting Beds. Spray existing vegetation within proposed planting beds during the growing season with glyphosate at the manufacturer’s recommended rates. The Department may direct the reapplication of glyphosate 10 days after the first application. Mow the dead vegetation as closely as possible to existing ground, or turn it into the soil. Ensure glyphosate is applied by a Pesticide Applicator Business, under direction and supervision of a Commercial Pesticide Applicator in accordance with the NJ Pesticide Control Program regulations in NJAC Title 7 Chapter 30.
E.Excavation for Plant Pits and Beds. Excavate as specified in 202.03.03. Before excavating plant pits and beds, ensure that the areas conform to the specified lines and grades. On slopes steeper than 4H:1V, excavate plant pits no more than 5 days in advance of planting. Excavate pits for balled and burlapped plants to a minimum of 2 times the width of the root ball and no deeper than the root ball as measured from the bottom of the trunk flare to the bottom of the ball. Excavate pits for containerized plants to a minimum of 2 times the width of the container and no deeper than the actual height of the root mass within the container. Ensure that side slopes of all pits taper down from the rim of the pit to the outer edge of the bottom of the ball. Ensure that the sides of the pits are loosened and roughened to promote root penetration. Obtain RE approval before reusing topsoil from the excavated pits. Plant pits may be adjusted to fit site conditions. Ensure volumetric equivalent. For seedlings, vines, ground covers, and perennials, excavate pits to a minimum 12 inch diameter and 12 inch depth. Dispose of excavated soil from plant pits as specified in 202.03.03.C.2. When requesting reuse of excavated material, obtain Department approval before reuse as specified in 202.03.03.C.1. Dispose of sod, weeds, roots, and other objectionable material as specified in 201.03.01.H. If the Contractor does not plan to plant excavated pits before the end of the working day, provide a plan, to the RE for approval, 5 days before planting that details the measures to ensure safety.
F.Pruning. Prune according to ANSI A300 to preserve the natural character of each plant. Limit pruning at the time of planting to the removal of dead, conflicting, and broken branches. Do not prune the leaders of trees. Ensure that experienced personnel, using properly conditioned equipment and methods in keeping with accepted horticultural practice, perform all pruning.
G.Setting Plants. Set plants plumb and at the same depth at which they were grown in the nursery, except set trees with a trunk flare 1/2 to 1 inch above the surrounding grade to allow for settling. Set roots for the various conditions as follows:
1.Balled and Burlapped Plants. Handle and move plants only by the ball. Either remove, or loosen and fold back the burlap from the upper 1/2 of the ball. When balled and burlapped plants are in wire baskets, remove the entire wire basket, preserving the integrity of the ball.
2.Containerized Plants. Immediately before p lanting, remove the container, and make 3 vertical cuts equidistantly spaced around the perimeter of the root mass. Make each cut 1/2 inch deep from the top of the root-earth mass to the bottom.
3.Wetland Plants. Pin the plugs within tidal elevations with wire staples to prevent floating. Fertiliz e the herbaceous plants with 1 ounce of 3 to 4 month slow release fertilizer.
H.Backfilling. Backfill with topsoil and a water retaining polymer around the root system. Hand-tamp the topsoil and water at the rate of 15 gallons per square yard of pit area to settle the topsoil and to remove air pockets. Ensure that the topsoil is not frozen at the time of backfilling. Where necessary, backfill area s that have settled with topsoil. Form a 4 inch high compacted berm using topsoil around individual plants to a diameter equal to that of the pit. Ensure that the berm functions properly throughout the plant establishment period.
I.Watering. Ensure plants receive a minimum of 1 inch depth of water per square yard of planting surface area per week. Ensure that the soil surrounding the root system remains moist but not saturated.
J.Staking and Guying. Immediately after planting, stake or guy trees either 1 inch or more in caliper or more than 3 feet in height. Ensure that guy wires are not used to plumb trees but allow for normal sway. Ensure that trees remain plumb.
K.Tree Protection. Install tree protectors to a height of 2 feet above the ground surface on all planted Malus and Crataegus species to prevent damage from bark consuming rodents.
L.Mulching. Treat all beds with a pre -emergent herbicide before placing mulch. Ensure pre-emergent herbicide is applied by a Pesticide Applicator Business, under direction and supervision of a Commercial Pesticide Applicator in accordance with the NJ Pesticide Control Program regulations in NJAC Title 7 Chapter 30. Mulch plants as specified in 809.03.03. Neatly edge the beds to a depth of 4 inches to produce a smooth, flowing edge line and to retain mulch in bed.
M.Caring for Plants. Inspect plants for condition and health. Maintain plants in a h ealthy growing condition by watering, weeding a minimum of once per month during growing seasons , sprayin g with pesticides, pruning, remulching, maintaining guys and stakes, and other horticultural operations as necessary. Replant missing plants or those that are not alive and healthy.
811.03.02 Plant Establishment and Maintenance Period
After completion, request that an inspection be made by the Department to determine if 100 percent of plants are alive and healthy. The Department will inspect plantings between May 1 and October 1. Install plants as specified in 811.03.01 that are missing or not alive and healthy. If replanting plants outside of the optimal or specified planting season as specified in Table 811.03.01-1, only use containerized or balled and burlapped plants that are certified as being dug dormant. The plant establishment and maintenance period will begin when the Department determines that 100 percent of the plants are alive and healthy. Ensure the plantings are cared for during the plant establishment and maintenance period by keeping the plants in a healthy growing condition by watering, weeding, spraying with pesticides, pruning, remulching disturbed areas, maintaining guys and stakes, and by other operations as horticulturally necessary. Remove and dispose of weeds, debris, and damaged plant material as specified in 201.03.01.H. Inspect plants annually and replace any missing plants or those that are not alive and healthy. The Department will reinspect the plants annually for the number of years spec ified in the Special Provisions. The reinspection by the Department will be yearly after the start of the plant establishment and maintenance period. If the Department determines that plants need to be replaced after each inspection, install plants as specified in 811.03.01 within 3 weeks of notification. If replacing outside of the optimal planting season a s specified in Table 811.03.01-1, only use containerized or balled and burlapped plants that are certified as being dug dormant. Remove stakes, guys, and guy wires within the last month of the conclusion of the plant establishment and maintenance period. At the conclusion of the plant establishment and maintenance period, remove and dispose of weeds, debris, and damaged plant material as specified in 201.03.01.H. Treat planting beds with a pre-emergence herbicide. Provide the Department’s Office of Landscape Architecture with the following for the duration of the plant establishment and maintenance period:
1.Highway Occupancy Permit (HOP). Obtain a Highway Occupancy Permit from the NJDOT Centralized Permits office. Provide 2 copies of the approved permit to the Department’s Office of Landscape Architecture. Include the following with the permit application, which will become part of the approved permit:
a.Submit project description, location, and copy of the landscape plans, details, and specifications.
b.Submit, for approval by the Department, a plant establishment and maintenance plan based on
811.03.01 M.
c.Submit, for approval by the Department, a detailed work schedule describing when the plant establishment and maintenance work will occur.
2.Maintenance Bond. Provide a bond to the Department in the amount specified in the Special Provisions with 2 copies sent to the Office of Landscape Architecture.
3.Ensure that the HOP and maintenance bond remain in effect for the duration of the plant establishment and maintenance period. Notify the Office of Landscape Architecture 3 days before the date plant establishment and maintenance work will be performed. Failure to care for, maintain, or replace material that is missing or not alive and healthy both on and off site in each year of the Plant Establishment and Maintenance for the period specified i n the Special Provisions will be cause for the Department to access the bond and contact the bonding company to complete this work.
811.04 Measurement and Payment
The Department will measure and make payment for Items as follows: Item Pay Unit LARGE DECIDUOUS TREE, ___ UNIT LARGE DECIDUOUS TREE, SEEDLING ___ UNIT SMALL DECIDUOUS TREE, ___ UNIT EVERGREEN TREE, ___ UNIT EVERGREEN TREE, SEEDLING ___ UNIT DECIDUOUS SHRUB, ___ UNIT EVERGREEN SHRUB, ___ UNIT GROUND COVER OR VINE, ___ UNIT PERENNIAL, ___ UNIT BULB UNIT CORM UNIT TUBER UNIT ROOT UNIT RHIZOME UNIT TOPSOIL CUBIC YARD WATERING MG PLANT ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE PERIOD LUMP SUM The Department will not include payment for the various mulching work under various Items. The Department will make payment for the various mulching work under STONE MULCHING, GRAVEL MULCHING, SHREDDED HARDWOOD BARK MULCHING, and WOOD MULCHING as specified in 809.04. The Department will not include payment for TOPSOIL and WATERING required in various Items of work. The Department will make payment for topsoil and watering works under TOPSOIL and WATERING.
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Planting in other states
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Source: Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2019 (rev. 2022-12-21) Edition. Pages 409–413 of 651. View official source ↗