LANDSCAPE PLANTS
PART 1 GENERAL
1.1SECTION INCLUDES
A.Furnishing and installing landscape plants.
1.2RELATED SECTIONS Not Used
1.3REFERENCES
A.ANSI Z60.1: American Standard for Nursery Stock
B.ANSI A300, Part 1 (Pruning Standard)
C.Utah Nursery Act, Utah Code, Title 4, Chapter 15
1.4DEFINITIONS
A.Nursery Plants – plants grown in a nursery and conform to the current
ANSI Z60.1 (American Standard for Nursery Stock) and compliant with Utah Nursery Act.
B.Basal End – lowest end or bottom of the pole planting and live cutting
harvested from the live plant and the end that will be planted into the ground and establish roots.
C.Dormant Season – the non-growing season for woody plant species which
is after leaf drop in fall and before bud break in spring.
D.Root Collar – point along a tree or shrub lower stem or trunk where the
root system starts, just above where the flare roots go out horizontally from the trunk.
1.5SUBMITTALS
A.Copy of the plant purchase order indicating plant botanical and common
names, sizes, quantities, and unit prices, for information.
1.Submit 14 calendar days before placing the order.
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PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1NURSERY PLANTS
A.Supply healthy plants true to the species and size as shown which are
correct to form, free from disfiguring knots, sunscald, frost cracks, bark abrasions, and all forms of infestation and disease.
B.Provide legible and weatherproof labels attached to all plants, flats,
bundles, or other containers indicating size, and both the botanical and common name.
C.Supply trees with straight central leaders capable of standing upright
without the support of stakes or guys.
D.Supply container plants with root systems fully established in the
container.
2.2POLE PLANTINGS AND LIVE CUTTINGS
A.Pole plantings and live cuttings are cut woody stems or branches
harvested from a native willow or cottonwood plant or other species that must meet the following:
1.Cut and harvested from a live plant during the dormant season.
a.Removed from 2 to 4 year old branch at an approximate 45
degrees angle pruning cut.
B.Pole plantings size requirements as follows:
1.Basal end diameter is between 1½ to 3 inch.
2.4 to 6 foot length that is sufficient to reach water table when
installed.
C.Live cuttings requirements as follows:
1.Basal end diameter is between ¾ to 1½ inch.
2.3 to 4 foot length that is sufficient to reach water table when
installed.
PART 3 EXECUTION
3.1GENERAL
A.Plant substitutions are allowed if they are of the same genus, species, and
variety but larger in size than shown.
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B.Complete all site grading and any topsoil placement.
C.Install and have fully operational the irrigation system as shown and
specified before installing plants, where required.
D.Stake or delineate plant locations for verification by the Engineer before
installation.
3.2NURSERY PLANTS PREPARATION
A.Notify the Engineer at least 14 calendar days before delivering the plants
to the site.
B.Maintain delivered plants in a healthy condition.
1.Protect balled and burlapped root balls from sun and wind by
covering with soil or other suitable material if not planted immediately upon delivery.
C.Do not use balled and burlapped plants if the ball of soil containing its root
system has been cracked or broken or if the burlap is not secure.
3.3POLE PLANTINGS AND LIVE CUTTINGS PREPARATION
A.Coordinate with Engineer the following:
1.Location and timing to harvest pole plantings and live cuttings.
a.Consider collecting from suitable existing trees and shrubs
that will be removed as part of project construction.
B.Collect and harvest pole plantings and live cuttings as follows:
1.Follow ANSI A300, Part 1 (Pruning Standard) when harvesting
poles and cuttings from trees or shrubs that will remain.
a.Remove no more than 2/3 of the branches from existing
plant unless the entire plant is removed as part of project.
2.Remove all side branches and top growth.
C.Pole plantings or live cuttings may be harvested and installed on the same
day.
D.Soak pole plantings and live cuttings in water between 5 to 7 calendar
days before planting if not harvested and installed on the same day.
1.Install immediately after soaking.
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3.4INSTALL NURSERY PLANTS
A.Install irrigated plants as shown and specified within the planting season
according to Table 1.
1.Install non-irrigated plants in the fall after the plant is dormant and
before the ground freezes.
Table 1 Elevation Planting Season March 1 to May 31 and Below 4,000 ft September 1 to December 31 4,000 to 6,000 ft April 1 to October 31 Above 6,000 ft May 1 to September 30
B.General Plant Installation:
1.Dig planting hole as follows:
a.Minimum width of two times the diameter of the root ball.
b.Deep enough for the root ball to be installed on undisturbed
soil and with the root collar at or above elevation of the surrounding surface.
c.Do not disturb or loosen soil at bottom of hole.
2.Install plants as shown or for each plant type, see this Article,
subparagraph C to F.
a.Maintain trunk and root collar free from soil, mulch, or other
material.
b.Prune and remove any circling and damaged roots near the
edge of root ball so that cut roots may grow perpendicularly into backfilled soil of the planting hole.
3.Backfill installed plant and planting hole:
a.Place excavated native soil in 4 inch lifts around the root ball
and eliminate voids by tamping the soil between each lift, continue until backfill is level with surround soil surface.
4.Water root ball and planting hole immediately after installation to
settle the backfilled soil and remove air pockets.
a.Add more soil backfill if settling occurs.
C.Container Plants:
1.Remove plant from container, lightly scarify or loosen the sides and
bottom of root ball.
2.Place in the bottom of the hole with the stem or trunk vertical.
3.Remove any packing materials such as rope, ties or other material
that may be surrounding top of the root ball, the trunk or root collar.
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D.Balled and Burlapped Plants:
1.Place the plant in the prepared hole with burlap and wire securely
intact without damaging or breaking root ball.
a.Adjust so that stem or trunk is vertical.
b.Stabilize by placing and tamping soil beneath or at the base
of the root ball.
2.Remove packing materials such as wire basket, burlap, rope, ties,
and other material from a minimum of the top two-thirds of the root ball and around the trunk or root collar without disturbing the root ball.
E.Bare-Root Plants:
1.Dig hole at a depth for root collar to be placed at or above elevation
of the surrounding soil.
a.Depth and width of hole must fit entire root system.
2.Place within hole with root system spread out evenly within hole
without bending, breaking, or kinking any roots.
3.Backfill and lightly compact soil around the root system and hole.
a.Add water and soil as need to firmly compact soil around
plant roots
F.Tubeling Plants:
1.Auger or dig a hole to the similar width and depth as the tubeling.
2.Place tubeling within the planting hole so that the roots are not
tangled, compacted, or curled up at the ends and add water.
3.Backfill and lightly compact soil at the base of the tubeling to
eliminate voids between the root ball and existing soil.
3.5INSTALL POLE PLANTINGS AND LIVE CUTTINGS
A.Install pole plantings and live cuttings during the dormant season.
B.Create a pilot hole for pole plantings and live cuttings with an auger, drill,
planting bar or other method that meets the following requirements:
1.Sufficient diameter to install pole plantings or live cuttings.
2.Sufficient depth for the basal end to reach below the water table.
C.Remove 1 inch from the basal end by making a 45 degree angled pruning
cut to each pole planting or live cutting just before planting.
D.Install pole plantings or live cuttings into the pilot hole with basal end
below the water table.
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E.After installation, complete the following:
1.Backfill, compact, and water the hole and around the pole plantings
or live cuttings for good soil contact and to eliminate air pockets.
2.Prune any portion of pole planting or live cutting to maintain a
maximum of 3 to 4 buds or bud scars remaining above the ground.
a.Install pole planting or live cutting so that 80 percent is below
the ground.
3.6POST-INSTALLATION, CLEANUP AND MAINTANENCE
A.Install tree staking and trunk protection as shown or specified.
B.Prune all installed nursery plants according to acceptable pruning
standards, as follows:
1.Remove dead, broken or poorly spaced branches.
2.Remove double leader branches from deciduous trees.
C.Remove foreign materials from site such as containers, burlap, and twine
collected during installation.
D.Remove any tags, labels, or other items attached to the plant material
after final plant inspection.
E.Maintain the plants in a healthy condition until substantial completion.
END OF SECTION
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Source: Utah Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 860–865 of 1,331.
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