SEED, TURF SEED, AND TURF SOD
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1SECTION INCLUDES
A.Seed, turf seed, and turf sod requirements and application.
B.Surface preparation.
1.2RELATED SECTIONS Not Used
1.3REFERENCES
A.Utah Fertilizer Act, Utah Code, Title 4, Chapter 13
B.Utah Seed Act, Utah Code, Title 4, Chapter 16
1.4DEFINITIONS Not Used
1.5SUBMITTALS
A.Manufacturer’s directions on drill calibration seven calendar days before
seeding, for information. Refer to this Section, Article 3.3.
B.Seed substitution request, for review, if required. Refer to this Section,
Article 2.1
C.Quantity of seed required, for review. Include at least the following:
1.Description of the measuring technique of the area to receive seed.
2.Calculated area to receive drill seed, broadcast seed, turf seed, or
turf sod.
3.Calculation of total quantity of seed, turf seed or turf sod to be
purchased.
D.The following documentation from seed supplier, for information:
1.Letter of Certification documenting the purchase and mixing of
project seed schedule, including any authorized seed substitutions. Include at least the following:
a.Common name of each seed.
b.Lot number of each seed
c.Purity percent of each seed
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
d.Germination percent of each seed
e.Dormant or hard seed percent of each seed
f.Bulk lb and percent of each seed.
g.Pure Live Seed (PLS) lb of each seed.
h.Total combined bulk lb of project seed schedule.
i.Total combined PLS lb of project seed schedule.
j.Total number of bags and bulk lb per bag delivered.
2.Certified Copy of Seed Analysis for each seed, including any
authorized seed substitutions. Include at least the following on seed certification reports and labels:
a.Botanical name and common name, including variety.
b.Name of seed testing laboratory
c.Origin and Lot number
d.Purity percent
e.Inert matter percent
f.Other crop percent
g.Weed seed percent
h.Noxious Weed percent
i.Germination percent
j.Dormant or hard seed percent
k.Total Viability percent
l.PLS percent
m.Last seed germination test date (month and year)
E.Certification that turf sod is nursery grown and contains grass species
shown, for review.
F.Documentation indicating the date and time turf sod was cut at the
nursery, for information.
G.Fertilizer labels, for information.
1.6DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING
A.Notify Engineer seven calendar days before purchasing and mixing project
seed schedule shown or as modified by authorized seed substitution request.
B.Deliver seed or turf seed to project in original seed supplier bags showing
analysis of seed mixture, net weight, and date and location of packaging.
C.Cut turf sod from nursery no more than 24 hours before installing.
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
D.Deliver fertilizer in original manufacturer packaging bearing labels
including brand name, weight and guaranteed analysis.
1.Store in a weatherproof location.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1SEED AND TURF SEED
A.Must conform to Utah Seed Act.
B.Obtain seed from lots that have been tested by a state certified seed
testing laboratory such as Association of Seed Analyst (AOSA) or Society of Commercial Seed Technologists (SCST).
1.Seed germination test older than 18 months for grass seed and
older than 12 months for shrub or tree seed are not acceptable.
C.Do not use wet, moldy, or otherwise damaged seed.
D.Seed Substitutions.
1.Coordinate with the seed supplier and submit recommended
substitution alternatives and revised project seed schedule to the Engineer if seed substitutions to project seed schedule are required.
2.2TURF SOD
A.Healthy and well-rooted nursery grown turf sod comprised of grass
species shown and free of weeds.
B.Machine cut in straight, uniform strips or rolls, cut at a depth between ¾
inch and 1 inch.
2.3FERTILIZER FOR TURF SEED OR TURF SOD
A.Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium (NPK) fertilizer:
1.Must conform to Utah Fertilizer Act, be uniform in composition,
granular, dry, and free flowing.
2.Apply at the rates indicated on the label.
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1PREPARATION
A.Measure the area to receive seed, turf seed, or turf sod before ordering
from the supplier.
B.Coordinate with Engineer within 14 calendar days before installation seed,
turf seed or turf sod begins to verify that the following suitable topsoil surface conditions are met:
1.Lightly compacted to a firm surface with a friable or crumbly soil
texture.
a.Re-work any topsoil surface that is over-compacted, hard, or
crusted topsoil surface must be reworked such as cat- tracking, discing, or harrowing the topsoil surface.
2.Free from noxious weeds and other undesirable plants that have
germinated and are actively growing.
a.Remove plants growing in topsoil by hand or mechanical
methods, or by appropriate chemical herbicide application.
3.Free from soil erosion.
a.Regrade and repair any surface, rill, or gulley erosion.
C.Turf Seed Preparation.
1.Coordinate with Engineer to establish an appropriate irrigation
operating schedule.
2.Apply NPK fertilizer at the rates indicated on the label and mix
thoroughly into upper 1 inch of topsoil.
a.Do not apply fertilizer and seed at the same time in the same
machine.
D.Turf Sod Preparation.
1.Coordinate with Engineer to establish an appropriate irrigation
operating schedule.
2.Apply NPK fertilizer at the rates indicated on the label and mix
thoroughly into upper 1 inch of topsoil.
3.2SEED – GENERAL
A.Notify the Engineer seven calendar days before seeding.
B.Apply seed at the rate shown.
1.Drill seed and broadcast seed are applied at different rates.
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
C.Install drill seed and broadcast seed within the seeding window assigned
to ground elevation specified in Table 1.
1.Do not begin seeding activities if topsoil is covered in snow, frozen
or saturated.
2.Postpone seeding until the following year if the seeding is not
completed within the given window.
3.A late winter exception to the seeding window may be obtained
from the Engineer if suitable weather and soil conditions exist.
Table 1 Seeding Window Elevation Date
Below 4,000 ft October 15 to December 31
4,000 to 6,000 ft September 15 to November 30
Above 6,000 ft September 1 to November 15
D.Install rolled and hydraulic erosion control products within 24 hours after
seed or turf seed application.
3.3DRILL SEED METHOD
A.Use drill seed on slopes 3:1 and flatter.
B.Use a minimum-till drill, no-till drill, rangeland drill seeder or equivalent drill
seeding equipment designed to plant a variety of seed types into rugged soils with minimal soil disturbance and equipped with the following:
1.Depth band
2.Seed box agitator
3.Seed metering device
4.Furrow opener
5.Seed-to-soil packing devices such as packer wheels, imprinters or
drag chains
C.Follow the drill manufacturer’s directions in the presence of the Engineer.
1.Calibrate the drill to apply seed at the rate shown.
D.Space drill rows a maximum of 8 inch apart.
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
E.Set depth bands to drill seeds to a ½ inch depth.
F.Drill parallel to the contours.
G.Maintain the drill at the calibrated setting throughout the seeding
operation.
H.Allow the furrows that are created by the drill to remain.
3.4BROADCAST SEED METHOD
A.Use the broadcast method of seeding under the following conditions:
1.Slopes steeper than 3:1.
2.Slopes 3:1 and flatter where the area to be seeded is inaccessible
to drill.
3.The area to be seeded is not large enough to justify using a drill.
4.Rocky surface conditions.
5.Other areas allowed by Engineer.
B.Do not mix seed as part of a Hydraulic Erosion Control Product (HECP)
application.
C.Broadcast the seed onto the topsoil using either of the following:
1.Mechanical, cyclone or hand seeder.
2.Hydraulic hydroseeder machine which is capable of continuous
agitation and application of the seed, water, and up to 300 lb of a cellulose fiber mulch (allowed only as application tracer) slurry mixture per acre.
D.Incorporate the seed into the topsoil using either of the following:
1.Cat-track seeded area with tracked equipment perpendicular to the
contours to create continuous cleat tracks that run parallel with the contours.
2.Drag or rake the seed into the topsoil to a depth between ¼ to ½
inch.
E.Coordinate with Engineer to be on site and observe the first 100 yd2 of
broadcast seed.
F.Do not broadcast seed during windy weather.
3.5TURF SEED PLACEMENT
A.Apply turf seed after seedbed preparation. Refer to this Section, Article
3.1.
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
B.Verify good seed to soil contact by either lightly dragging, raking or rolling
seeded areas using a minimum 24 inch wide turf roller half filled with water.
C.Lightly water and program the irrigation system to maintain a moist
seedbed.
D.Rope off newly seeded areas along walkways using bright plastic ribbon
tape attached to stakes placed frequently enough to delineate the newly seeded area.
3.6TURF SOD PLACEMENT
A.Place turf sod with all edges and joints tightly butted.
1.Do not stretch or overlap turf sod.
2.Keep length seams in a straight line.
3.Lay turf sod with staggered joints.
4.Trim off excess material along the edges.
B.Roll turf sod immediately after placing using a minimum 24 inch wide turf
roller half filled with water.
1.Re-roll if high spots remain.
2.Lift turf sod and place sufficient topsoil to fill any depressions that
remain.
3.Thoroughly water with a fine spray to a depth sufficient that the
underside of the new turf sod and soil immediately below the turf sod are thoroughly wet.
END OF SECTION
Seed, Turf Seed, And Turf Sod
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Source: Utah Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 849–855 of 1,331.
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