575 SECTION 652 SEEDING AND MULCHING 652.1 -DESCRIPTION : This work shall cover all operations incidental to the establishment of grass and legume vegetation, including the furnishing and sowing of seed, furnishing and applying fertilizer, agricultural limestone, and mulch material, all in accordance with these Specifications and at locations indicated on the Plans or designated by the Engineer. 652.2-MATERIALS : Materials shall meet the requirements in the following Subsections of Division 700: MATERIAL SUBSECTION Fertilizers 715.26 Ground Agricultural Limestone 715.25 Inoculating Bacteria 715.29 Matting for Erosion Control 715.24 Mulch Materials 715.27 Water * * Water shall be reasonably free from injurious chemicals and other toxic substances harmful to plant life. The source of water used is subject to the approval of the Engineer. Temporary seed, such as annual ryegrass (Italian ryegrass) and weeping lovegrass, used in the seed mixtures B, C, or D, shall be of a commercial grade meeting the requirements of the State Seed Law. Temporary seed labeled with the notation "germination below standard" shall not be used. Temporary seed shall not be used afte r one year from date of germination test shown on the label. Seed other than that specified above shall meet the requirements of subsection 715.28. Chemical mulch binders shall conform to the requirements in subsection 715.27.1. Topsoil, if called for, shall conform to the requirements in section 651. All materials will be subject to approval or rejection, in part or in whole. CONSTRUCTION METHODS 652.3 -SEASON OF WORK : Permanen t seeding or second and third seeding following the original seeding, under section 652, shall be performed between the dates of March 1 to June 15 and August 1 to October
15.Seeding under section 642 shall be applied following construction at any time t he weather will allow seeding equipment to operate; without regard to seasons. 652.4 -AREA PREPARATION FOR SEEDING AND MULCHING : Seeding and mulching shall not be applied until t he specified areas have been brought to lines and grades shown on the Plans. Topsoil, when called for, shall be spread to the depths indicated on the Plans. The application rate for agricultural limestone will be determined by a pH test after cuts and em bankments are completed just prior to seeding. The Plans will show the estimated tons of lime needed for the job based on general knowledge of the soils in the area. The final application 576 rate will be determined by the Engineer based on the pH test, cond ucted in accordance with MP 700.04.10. Interchanges, medians and similar areas with 3 to 1 slope or flatter, excluding areas involving subsurface drainage from base course material, shall be scarified sufficiently to produce a seed bed as directed by the Engineer. All large sticks, brush, loose roots, stones exceeding two (2) inches approximately in any dimension, and other debris shall be removed prior to seeding operations. The area shall be back dragged to eliminate depressions, ruts, or equipment tra ck marks on slopes. Seed bed preparation will not be necessary on slopes steeper than 3 to 1. 652.4.1 -Preparation of Lawn Type Area for Seeding: All areas to be seeded to "Type C-2" lawn mixture, and "Type C -1" mixture in rest areas shall be fine graded. The finished grade shall be uniform and free of irregularities or water pockets. The finished grade shall be free of weed and plant growth, st ones over one ( 1) inches in diameter, or other debris. This debris will be disposed of as directed by the Engineer. Immediately prior to seeding, all areas shall be cultivated to provide a reasonably firm but friable seedbed. The depth of tillage shall be three ( 3) inches or as directed by the Engineer. Limestone as required and fertilizer as specified shall be worked into the upper three ( 3) inches of the seedbed before seeding. 652.5 -SOWING SEED : Immediately following area preparation, seed shall be sown. Legume seed shall be inoculated with approved cultures, in accordance with the instruction of the manufacturer. When using a hydroseeder, the inoculant shall be increased to five times the normal rate. Seed shall be sown by approved methods which provide for uniform distribution of seed. Rates of application and type of seed mixture shall be in accordance with Table 652.5 unless otherwise specified on the Plans. For lawn areas, the broadcast se eding shall be made in two applications, using one half the seed each time and the second sowing to be at right angles to the first. After broadcasting or otherwise applying the seed, the seedbed shall be firmed by means of a roller or cultipacker. 577 TABL E 652.5 -SEED MIXTURES Variety of Seed Type B Type C ** Type D Type L C-1 C-2 Medians, Shoulders (Ditch Slope) Waterways, and Mowable Areas of Interchange * Coarse Lawn Grass ----------- For Use in Urban and Rest Area Locations Fine Lawn Grass ----------- For Use where a Fine Lawn is Desired Cut and Fill Slopes ----------- (Including Benches and Bifurcated Median) All areas Lb. per acre Lb. per acre Lb. per acre Lb. per acre Lb. per acre Kentucky 31 Fescue 65 45 20 Red Fescue (Pennlawn) 20 20 20 20 41 Kentucky Bluegrass 25 40 Merion Bluegrass 30 Crown Vetch 20 Hard Fescue Mixture*** 63 White Dutch Clover 3 Annual Ryegrass Aug 1 to May 15 7 7 7 7 12 or Weeping Lovegrass May 15 to Aug 1 3 3 3 5 * Areas will be considered mowable when slopes are 3 to 1 or flatter. ** Type C -1 and C -2 seed mixtures shall be used in all urban, suburban, and rest areas where lawn type turf is desired with mowing maintenance intended. C -2 lawn mixture shall be used along sidewalks, adjacent to private lawns. *** A combination of approved certified varieties with no one variety exceeding 50% of the total hard fescue component. 652.5.1 -Reseeding, Refertilizing and Remulching: Any area failing to establish a stand due to weather conditions or adverse soil conditions shall be reseeded, refertilized and remulched as directed by the Engineer. 578 652.6 -APPLYING MULCH AND FERTILIZER : 652.6.1 -General: Whenever permanent or temporary seeding is made on bare soil or newly completed construction work, the following criteria shall be followed in regard to mulching. Straw mulch (including hay) shall be used on all areas and slopes 1½ to 1 or flatter. Wood cellulose fiber mulch shall be used on cut slopes steeper than 1½ to 1. The Engineer may make adjustments in the type of mulch to meet local conditions on the job. When using straw mulch, the mulch shall be anchored with an acceptable binder as described in Section 652.6.2 below. The sequence of application, when using straw mulch shall be as follows: (1) Seed and fertilizer shall be sown prior to mulching. (2) Mulc h and mulch binder shall be placed within 24 hours of sowing seed. When permanent seeding follows a temporary cover crop, wood cellulose fiber mulch shall be used and the quantity of mulch shall be determined by the amount of living and dead plant residu e on the soil surface in accordance with subsection 652.6.3.2. Where the temporary seeding has been destroyed by subsequent construction, the mulch will be the same type and amount as required for bare soil or new construction. 652.6.2 -Straw Mulch: Straw shall be applied at the rate of approximately two tons per acre. Straw mulch around buildings, sidewalks or other structures may be held in place with a form of netting or chemical mulch binders applied according to the manufacturers' specif ications. 652.6.3 -Hydraulic Application of Wood Cellulose Fiber as a Mulching Agent : 652.6.3.1 -Equipment: Hydraulic equipment shall be used for the application of a slurry of fertilizer, seed, prepared wood cellulose fiber, and water. This equipment shall have a built -in agitation system with an operating capacity sufficient to agitate, suspend, and homogeneously mix a slurry of the specified amount of fiber, fertilizer, seed, and water. The slurry distribution lines shall be large enough to prevent stoppage. This discharge line shall be equipped with a set of hydraulic spray nozzles which will provide even distribution of the mixture or slurry in the various areas to be seeded. The slurry tank shall have a minimum capacity of 1,000 gal and shall be mounted on a traveling unit which may be either self -propelled or drawn, with a separate unit which will place the slurry tank and spray nozzles within sufficient proximity to the areas to be seeded to provide uniform distribution without waste. 652.6.3 .2-Preparation of Slurry and Application of Fertilizer, Seed, and Mulch: Wood cellulose fiber shall be applied at a minimum rate of 1,500 lbs. net dry weight per acre when seeding bare soil or new construction. When seeding into a residue or growth where temporary seeding has previously been performed, the rate will be determined by the Engineer, usually 1,000 lbs. net dry weight per acre. The seed, fertilizer, wood cellulose fiber, and water shall all be combined into the slurry tank for distribution of all ingredients in one operation by the hydraulic seeding method. The agitator shall be operating at a rate sufficient to keep all materials in suspension at the time such material is added. Seed shall be added first, shall be thoroughly mixed, and the f ertilizer then added and put into suspension. When the tank is 40 percent (40%) full, the mulch material may be added and shall be in complete suspension by the time the tank is 75 percent (75%) full. Such increased mixing speed as is necessary for putti ng the entire admixture in suspension shall be maintained until the tank is emptied. Spraying may commence at such time as the full 579 complement of water has been mixed into the slurry. It is the intent of this Specification to maintain the slurry, during the spraying operation, as a homogenous mixture of suspended solids in the tank until the tank is emptied. 652.6.4 -Fertilizer: The kind and amount of fertilizer per acre shall consist of any type with 1 -2-1 ratio (nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash) providing the minimum nutrient equivalent of 1,000 lb. of 10 -20-10. In addition, 300 lb. per acre of slow release urea formalde hyde fertilizer shall be added whenever second step seeding and fertilizing is not feasible due to the Contract completion date. When hydraulic seeding methods are used, the fertilizer shall be applied concurrently with the seeding and mulching operation as part of the slurry mix. When commercial fertilizer is applied by the spray or hydraulic method, it need not be worked into the soil. Fertilizer applications for second and third step seeding shall be in accordance with subsection 652.8. 652.6.5 -Wood Chips: Wood chips, recovered from clearing and grubbing operations, or bark will be acceptable as a mulch for seeding and shall be used at a rate of 35 cubic yard per acre in lieu of straw or hay. 652.7 -MAINTENANCE OF SEEDED AND MULCHED AREAS : The Contractor shall maintain all seeded areas until final acceptance of the project. All areas shall be protected from equipment traffic and any damaged areas shall be repaired and reseeded. 652.8 -SECOND AND THIRD STEP SEEDING, FERTILIZING AND MULCHING : The Engineer will require second or third step seeding, or both, depending upon the completion date and estimated completion time of any remaining items on the project. The second application of fertilizer, seed and mulch shall be applied as directed by the Engineer. The application rates will be based on the stand of grass, severity of erosion and condition or growth of grass as described. Spring seedings shall be refertilized and reseeded as needed in the fall from August 15 to October 15. Fall seeded areas shall be given a second step seeding and fertilizing, as required, the follow ing spring from March 15, to May 15. The following shall be used as a guide for second step application:
i.For areas with less than 50 percent (50%) stand or subject to sever erosion, apply the complete amount of seed, fertilizer, and mulch (wood cellulose fiber) as specified in the original seeding. ii. For areas with over 50 percent (50%) of grass and slight to moderate erosion, apply one half the original fertilizer and seed. If erosion is a problem apply one half the original wood fiber mulch. The third step seeding, mulching, and fertilizing shall consist of spot application on areas not showing a satisfactory stand after the second step application. The quantity of material will be determined on the same basis as for the second step applic ation. No urea formaldehyde fertilizer will be needed for third step seeding. 652.9 -METHOD OF MEASUREMENT : Ground agricultural limestone, fertilizer, and mulch will be measured by the ton. Seed wi ll be measured by the pound. 580 Wood chips or bark will be measured by the cubic yard. It is assumed that 17.5 cubic yard of chips or bark are equal to one (1) ton of straw for seeding. Wood chips or bark mulch will be measured by truck load or other loose volume measurement, and payment will be made on one ton equivalent of straw for each 17.5 cubic yard of wood chips or bark mulch. Second and third step seeding operations will be measured and included for payment under items in subsection 652.11. Chemic al mulch binders will not be measured separately, but their cost shall be included in the unit price bid for mulch. 652.10 -BASIS OF PAYMENT : The quantities determined as provided above, will be paid for at the contract unit prices bid for the items listed below, which prices and payments shall be considered full compensation for furnishing all materials and performing all the work prescribed in a workmanlike and acceptable manner, including all l abor, tools, equipment, supplies, and incidentals necessary to complete the work. Topsoil will be measured and paid for in accordance with the provisions of section 651. The bid price for fertilizer is based on 10 -20-10 type. When other types of fertili zer are used, pay quantities will be determined using the following table. Type o f Fertilizer Actual Quantity Used Pounds Pay Quantity Pounds
5-10 5 100 50
8-16 8 100 80
10-20 10 100 100
12-24 12 100 120
15-30 15 100 150
When fertilizer types other than those shown above are used, the relationship between the pay quantity and the actual quantity used will be established by the Engineer. 652.11 -PAY ITEMS : ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT 652001 -* Agricultural Limestone Ton 652002 -* Fertilizer , “type” Ton 652003 -* Seed Mixtures , “type” Pound 652004 -* “type” Mulch Ton * Sequence number
Source: West Virginia Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2023 Edition. Pages 595–600 of 1,006.