SECTION 02900 - LANDSCAPING 1.1 SUMMARY A. Landscaping includes the layout, soil preparation, excavation for and planting of landscape materials, including trees, shrubs, ground covers, plants, and lawns, mulching, weed control barriers, erosion control, staking and guying trees and shrubs, and landscape edgings. B. Topsoil preparation includes soil amendments and fertilizers. C. Protection of existing trees and shrubs shall include fencing a minimum of 5 outside the dripline of the crown; lawn areas shall be protected with fencing at limits defined by the Project Manager. Any traffic or construction within this area requires authorization from the Project Manager or Manager of Horticulture and Grounds. D. The Consultant shall develop specifications with detailed material size and maintenance work standards so that such material and work can be measured in the field against said standard. 1. Where traffic is approved within the dripline, the area of travel is to be covered with 6 of mulch placed on the ground and then a layer of ¾ plywood prior to any work. E. The Consultant shall provide a typical photograph of each plant specified for the project. F. The Consultant shall include in the plant list the height, caliper, spread, and crown spread, as appropriate, of each plant specified both at installation and maturity. G. The Consultant shall prepare the construction documents such that installation of topsoil, lawns, and plant material and the maintenance thereof are packaged separately. The University reserves the right to install topsoil, lawn, and plant material and perform all necessary maintenance with its own forces or under a separate contract from the general construction. 1.2 SUBMITTALS A. Vendor s certification of grass seed and grass seed bag tag. B. Analysis of existing surface soil. C. Source of plant materials. D. Source of topsoil and analysis. 1. Furnish results to Project Manager before delivery of topsoil. Analysis must include ph, mechanical analysis, organic material, nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) balance, and noxious weed(s) content. E. Planting schedule. F. Description of site furnishings, text and photographic. G. Mulch sample. 1.3 WARRANTY Section 02900 Landscaping Page 1 of 6
A. Living Planting Materials: Two (2) years from Owner s acceptance, either a statement of substantial completion or regular use of the site. At a minimum, through the second growing season. 1.4 MAINTENANCE A. Begin immediately after planting, including watering through full term of maintenance period. 1. Consultant shall develop a watering schedule based on specified plant materials. B. Trees and Shrubs: Three months following Substantial Completion. 1. Prune according to ANSI A 300-1995; Section 5.4 Young Tree Pruning or most current version. C. Ground Cover and Plants: Three (3) months following Substantial Completion. 1. Remove all weeds in plant beds. D. Lawns: Three (3) months, with a minimum of two (2) lawn cuttings, until accepted by Owner. 1. Mow to a height of 3. 2. Contractor shall provide such barricades, temporary fencing, signs, or policing as may be necessary to eliminate or minimize damage to lawn. E. Control pests utilizing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Contact the Manager of Horticulture and Grounds prior to any pesticide application. 1.5 MATERIALS A. Plant Materials 1. General a. All plant material shall conform to the American Standard for Nursery Stock ANSI Z60.1-1996 or latest version. b. All plant material shall be nursery grown, grown in nurseries located in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a or colder and verified source. c. All plant material shall be free of wounds, damaged areas, conks, bleeding, and insect pests or disease. d. Plant material shall be true to botanical name. e. No substitutions shall be made without authorization of the Project Manager. f. Each tree and shrub is to be labeled with a waterproof tag. 2. Trees: a. Type: Shade, flowering, and coniferous evergreen. b. Stock: Balled and burlapped, rooted into ball so that soil or media remains in tact with the root crown exposed on the top surface of the root ball. The trunk should bend when gently pushed, not pivot at or below the soil line. c. Trees maturing over 25 in height are to have a single, strong central leader with a symmetrical canopy free of large voids and typical of the species or cultivar and having a live crown ratio of 3:5. d. Type 1 & 2 Deciduous trees, minimum 2-1/2 3 caliper with minimum branching height of 6 e. Type 3 & 4 Deciduous trees, minimum 2 2-1/2 caliper with minimum branching height of 4½. f. Coniferous trees, minimum 6-8 in height. Section 02900 Landscaping Page 2 of 6
3. Deciduous Shrubs: a. Provide shrubs of the height shown or listed and with not less than minimum number of canes required by ANSI Z60.1 for type and height of shrub required. b. Type 0, Top growth pruned, minimum 18 spread c. Type 1, Dwarf and semi-dwarf, minimum 2 spread d. Type 2, Flowering, minimum 3 spread e. Type 3, Upright and spreading, minimum 3 spread f. Type 4, Multi-stem, minimum 4 height g. Type 5, Upright, minimum 4 height h. Type 6, Dense upright, minimum 2 height i. Type 7, Hedging, minimum 3 height j. Stock: Balled and burlapped or container grown. 4. Coniferous Shrubs a. Type 1, Creeping or prostrate, minimum 2 spread b. Type 2, Semi-spreading, minimum 2 spread c. Type 3, Broad spreading, globe, and upright, minimum 30 height d. Type 4, Cone type/pyramidal, minimum 4 height e. Type 5, Broad upright, minimum 3 height f. Type 6, Columnar, minimum 4 height g. Stock: Balled and burlapped or container grown. 5. Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs a. Type 1, Spreading, minimum 2 spread b. Type 2, Semi-spreading, minimum 2 spread c. Type 3, Globe or dwarf, minimum 2-6 spread d. Type 4, Broad upright, minimum 3 height e. Type 5, Cone, minimum 3 height f. Stock: Balled and burlapped or container grown. 6. Ground Covers, Grasses, and Perennials: a. Stock: Ground covers, minimum 4 pot b. Stock: Grasses and Perennials, minimum 1 gallon 7. Lawns: Seeded sown or sodded. a. Turfgrass Seed Mix to be approved U of R Turfgrass Seed Mix available at Crosman s Seeds. b. Athletic Field Seed Mix to be approved U of R Athletic Seed Mix available at Lakeside Sod Company. c. Seed shall be of current crop year with a germination rate of no less than 85%, must be certified, and have a purity of no less than 95%. Certified seed tags shall be submitted to the Project Manager and available for inspection on site. Other vendors may be used, contact Manager of Horticulture and Grounds for current seed blend specifications. d. Total weed seed shall not exceed.05% of mixture. e. Acceptable stand of grass to be free of noxious biannual weeds and annual grasses. f. Preparation for planting lawns I. Loosen subgrade of lawn areas to minimum of 4. Remove stones over 1-1/2 in any dimension and sticks, roots, rubbish or other extraneous matter. Limit preparation to area which will be planted promptly after preparation. II. Spread topsoil to a minimum depth to meet lines, grades, and elevations shown after light rolling and natural settlement. III. Place approximately ½ of total amount of topsoil required. Work into top of loosened subgrade to create transition layer and then place remainder of planting soil. If amendments are specified, mix thoroughly into upper 4 of topsoil. g. Time of seeding: I. Seed immediately after preparation of seedbed at rate indicated per seed blend. Mechanical seed installation followed by hydromulch application. Seeding shall be done between April 1 and June 1, or between August 15 and October 1. When delays in operations carry the work beyond the seasons specified, or when conditions of high winds, drought, excessive moisture or ice are such that satisfactory results are Section 02900 Landscaping Page 3 of 6
II. not likely to be obtained at any stage of the work, the work will stop and it shall be resumed only when the desired results are likely to be obtained, or when approved corrective measures and procedures are adopted. Seed indicated areas within the contract limits and areas adjoining contract limits disturbed as a result of construction operations. h. Sod to be accepted in writing by the Manager of Horticulture and Grounds prior to installation. I. Lay sod within 24 hours from time of stripping. Do not plant dormant sod or if ground is frozen. II. Lay sod to form a solid mass of tightly fitted joints. Butt ends and sides of sod strips; do not overlap. Stagger strips to offset joints in adjacent courses. Work from boards to avoid damage to subgrade or sod. Tamp or roll lightly to ensure contact with subgrade. Work sifted soil into minor cracks between pieces of sod, remove excess to avoid smothering of adjacent grass. III. Anchor sod on slopes with wood pegs to prevent slippage. IV. Water sod thoroughly with fine spray immediately after planting. B. Topsoil: Reuse surface soil stockpiled on-site or import topsoil. Imported topsoil and stockpiled soil shall meet the following and be verified via soil test: 1. Fertile, friable, natural loam, surface soil, free of subsoil, clay, lumps, crushed stone, weeds, and other litter. 2. ph between 6.5 and 7.2 3. Minimum 5% organic material. 4. Soil must be tested and results approved by the Manager of Horticulture and Grounds prior to delivery. 5. Recommendations on type and quantity of additives required to establish satisfactory ph factor, supply of nutrients, and organic content. 6. Unapproved soil must be removed. 7. Lawn areas require 6 of approved topsoil; planting beds as outlined on plans require 18 of approved top soil. C. Soil Amendments 1. Trees & Shrubs a. No amendments at planting 2. Plant Beds a. 2 to 4 yards of peat per 1,000 sq ft b. Pre-emergent herbicide applied per label 3. Others as required to meet specifications a. Lime, aluminum sulfate, sand, perlite, peat humus, sawdust or ground-bark humus, manure, and herbicides. D. Fertilizers: Bonemeal, superphosphate, commercial fertilizer, and slow-release fertilizer applied per package label and standard professional practice. Commercial Fertilizer shall be of neutral character, with some elements derived from organic sources. 1. All applications shall be in accordance with labeled instructions, applicable local, state and federal laws and ANSI A300 (Part 2)-1998. 2. At least 50% of nitrogen to be in organic form. 3. Trees & Shrubs a. No fertilization at planting b. Subsurface liquid fertilizer, slow release nitrogen, 30-10-7, salt index of less than 50, 2-4 lbs actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft for established plantings. 4. Plant Beds Section 02900 Landscaping Page 4 of 6
a. A 5-10-5 nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) slow release granular fertilizer at 2-3 lb. per 100 sq. ft. to be incorporated with peat moss at planting. 5. Turf a. 1 lb. actual nitrogen in 10-6-4 slow release granular fertilizer as seedbed is prepared per 1,000 sq. ft. E. Mulches: Shredded seasoned hardwood, minimum double ground, organic, free of deleterious materials peat, fiber, and mineral; 3 throughout planting bed. F. Weed Control Barriers: Nonwoven fabric; installed prior to installation of mulch. G. Erosion Control Materials: Blankets and fiber mesh. H. Stakes and Guys: Hardwood, with 3/8 rubber cord or equivalent to stabilize tree while allowing some movement; installed immediately after material is planted. I. Landscape Edgings: To be used only when stone mulch abuts lawn. 1. ¼ X 4 deep steel edging secured with minimum 15 stakes. Finish shall be two (2) coats of black rust inhibiting paint. J. Miscellaneous Materials 1. Tree grates and frames, as required by project. 2. Tree wrap is prohibited in all cases. K. Site Furnishings: 1. Outdoor Bicycle Racks: Cora, Expo model. 2. Trash Receptacles: Victor Stanley, Bethesda Series, model S42 with S2 Raised Dome, bronze (Medical Center, Eastman Quadrangle, and Forecourt only) or black. 3. Decorative Bollards: Unique Solutions, Columbia Series, black. a. Cast aluminum if removable and installed with quick release base. b. Cast iron if static and installed without quick release base. 4. Benches: Columbia Cascade, Timberform, Manor Arched Back Bench With Armrests, model 2824-6-P, black. 1.6 INSTALLATION A. The Contractor Project Manager shall stake out and review plant material locations for approval by the Project Manager and Grounds Manager prior to planting operations. B. The Contractor shall be responsible to maintain the health of all plant material stored on site including but not limited to watering and mulching. C. Plant Density: 1. Plants shall be placed at an acceptable distance from buildings, walkways, traffic and pedestrian intersections, entrance and light fixtures to maintain safe sight distances and passage, and conflicts with permanent structures without requiring extensive pruning throughout the life of the plant. 2. Plants shall be placed on centers that create a full, mature appearing landscape at installation. 3. Trees: Crowns shall not overlap more than one-third the spread of the mature tree size. 4. Ground Covers: Shall be placed on centers such that the area shall be covered, free of voids and gaps, immediately. Section 02900 Landscaping Page 5 of 6
D. Trees and shrubs may require French drains or other drainage systems for planting in clay soil. E. Recondition existing lawn areas damaged by Contractor operations, including relief of compacted areas with aerating and proper seedbed preparation prior to reseeding. Maintenance requirements shall match those of new plantings. F. Control dust and mud to keep the traveled way free from materials spilled from hauling equipment, including control in areas outside the contract limits. G. Maintain the traveled way such that snow, ice, and drainage control may be maintained by others. Within the contract limits, the Contractor shall maintain the traveled way including snow, ice, and drainage control. H. Remove and dispose of surplus soil and waste material off Owner's property. I. Augers are not allowed in planting pit preparation unless an additional 6 is removed by hand shovel to remove glazing caused by power augers. 1.7 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE A. The Consultant, Project Manager, and/or Manager of Horticulture and Grounds must inspect plant materials for general health, shipping damage, compliance with the standards stated herein and contract specifications and may reject plant materials at the place of growth or at the site, before planting. B. The Consultant, Project Manager, and/or Manager of Horticulture and Grounds must inspect planting pits for size, preparation, and backfill mixture, before planting. C. When landscape work is completed, including maintenance, the Project Manager and Manager of Horticulture and Grounds will make an inspection to determine acceptability. D. The Consultant shall prepare the bid form and the Contractor shall submit bids such that each aspect of maintenance is bid as a separate item, i.e. watering, fertilizing, mowing, pruning, etc. E. When landscape work does not comply with requirements, replace rejected work as specified and maintain until re-inspected and accepted by the Project Manager and Manager of Horticulture and Grounds. Replacement of rejected work will be at no additional cost to the Owner. END OF SECTION 02900 Section 02900 Landscaping Page 6 of 6