654.14CARE AND REPLACEMENT OF PLANTS :

654.10 Mulching :

Mulch material shall be furnished and placed around the plants a soon as possible after planting. However, during extremely wet periods, the application of mulch shall be delayed and placed as directed by the Engineer. The mulch shall be applied in the saucer areas of individual trees and shrubs and over the entire area of shrub beds. Heavy mulches like woodchips and wood bark products shall be applied to a depth of three ( 3) inches. Light mulch material shall be applied four ( 4) inches deep. When black polyethylene film is specified for weed control, the mulch depth shall be reduced to two ( 2) inches.

654.11 Wrapping and Foliage Protection :

The trunks of all deciduous and small flowering trees shall be wrapped with four (4) inch waterproof sisal paper. The wrapping shall start from the ground and extend up the trunk in a spiral manner with one -third ov erlap, ending with one wrap above the lowest branch. The wrapping shall be neatly secured with binder twine at approximately eighteen ( 18) inch spacing and at the top and bottom. All evergreens shall be thoroughly sprayed at the nursery prior to delivery , with an anti - desiccant spray (protective emulsion) at the rate specified by the manufacturer. All deciduous trees and shrubs in any stage of leafing out, at the time of delivery, shall receive the anti -desiccant spray. Certification of this spray appli cation will be required by the Division. Deciduous trees and shrubs that have leafed out while in the "heeling -in" area will require the anti -desiccant spray before being transported to the planting site.

654.12 Rain Basins :

A shallow rain basin equal to the diameter of the planting hole shall be formed by shaping the soil around each tree or shrub and shall be maintained until final inspection and acceptance of the work.

654.13 Clean -Up After Planting :

After the planting has been completed, all planting sites shall be cleaned up. Subsoil, rock, excess topsoil, and other waste material shall be removed and disposed of as directed. All holes dug and not used, or areas disturbed in attempting to find a suitable planting site, shall be refilled by the Contractor, and the area shall be restored to its original condition and reseeded.

654.14 Care and Replacement of Plants :

654.14.1 Care: The Contractor shall maintain the plants in a healthy, living condition

during the life of the Contract, which includes any warranty period indicated in the Contract, and shall maintain an adequate supply of moisture in the root zone at all times. The Contractor and the Engineer shall make a monthly inspection of the plantings to determine the need for maintenance and water during the first growing season, June through October. Any maintenance determined necessary shall be taken care of during the two -week period immediately following the inspection. When moisture in the root zone is deficient, 588 watering shall be started within 48 hours with sufficient labor and equipmen t to completely water all the plants within a two -week period unless otherwise directed by the Engineer. Other maintenance required during the contract period shall include:

654.14.2 Replacement of Plants: The Contractor and the Engineer will make an

inspection of the plantings between September 1 and 10 following the initial planting period, to determine the number of dead, mis sing or defective plants, for which replacement will be required. During this fall replacement period, September 15 through November 30, all maintenance including stake and wire tightening, mulch replacement, rain collar repair, pruning or trimming, trunk wrapping, and removal of any wire tags shall be accomplished. The replacement plants shall be planted in the same manner as the original plants with necessary backfill and mulch added to accomplish the job. The fertilizer shall be added in the hole prior to replacing the plant. However, when a plant has been lost due to poor drainage or other adverse soil condition, the replacement shall be planted at a more acceptable location, and the old site shall be restored to its original conditio n. All replanting and maintenance shall be completed by November 30 for final acceptance of the Contract by December 15.

654.15 Method of Measurement :

The quantity of plants to be paid for wi ll be the number of living trees or shrubs planted in accordance with these Specifications and accepted. Only living plants in healthy condition at the time of final inspection will be accepted. Progress payment for the initial planting of trees and shru bs will be based on the premised that 90 percent (90%) of the work has been completed when the plants have been completely planted. The remaining 10 percent (10%) withheld will be considered for maintenance, plant replacement, and for any delayed mulching when authorized by the Engineer. Retainage, from the amount determined as above, will be in accordance with subsection 109.6. The final acceptance and payment fo r any particular plant will be made after completing proper care and replacement as described in subsection 654.14. Water for maintenance during the period of establishment will be measured by the gallon, expressed in thousand -gallon units.

654.16 Basis of Payment :

The number of plants, determined as provided above, will be paid for at the contract unit prices bid for the items listed below, which prices and payments will constitute full compensatio n for furnishing and delivering plants and all incidental materials including water required during the process of planting, topsoil, mulch, fertilizer, ground agricultural limestone, and additives; for planting, staking, pruning and for performing all the work prescribed in a workmanlike and acceptable manner, including all labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals necessary to complete the work.