SECTION 32 93 23 LANDSCAPE PLANTING PART 1 - GENERAL 1.01 SECTION INCLUDES A. Placing topsoil or site soil; soil preparation and fine grading; furnishing and installing trees, shrubs and groundcovers; turf; and staking and guying trees. 1.02 RELATED SECTIONS A. Section 01 33 00: Submittal Procedures B. Section 01 43 10: Project Quality Program Requirements - Design/Build or Section 01 43 20: Project Quality Program Requirements - Design/Bid/Build (as applicable) C. Section 01 66 00: Product Storage and Handling Requirements D. Section 32 91 00: Topsoil E. Section 32 01 90: Landscape Maintenance and Plant Establishment 1.03 REFERENCES A. Standards Specifications for Public Works Construction (SSPWC), Latest Edition. B. American Association of Nursery Men (AAN): 1. American Standard for Nursery Stock 1.04 QUALITY ASSURANCE A. Comply with Project Quality Program Requirements (see 1.02 above). B. Qualifications: Licensed Arborist C. Verification of Dimensions and Quantities: Scaled dimensions are approximate. Before proceeding with Work, carefully check and verify dimensions and quantities; immediately inform Metro or its designee of discrepancies among Contract Drawings, Specifications, and actual conditions. Correct discrepancies before proceeding. D. Work Listed Below: Observed by Metro or its designee. Request observation at least 48 hours in advance of time observation is required. 1. Observation: Required for the following parts of Work: Landscape Planting 32 93 23-1 Baseline: 07/11/12
a. When trees are spotted for planting, before planting holes are excavated. b. When planting and other Work has been completed. c. During application of pre-emergent chemical, if required. d. At start of plant establishment and maintenance period. e. Final inspection at completion of maintenance period. E. Participate in each of above listed observations performed by Metro or its designee. F. Refer to Section 32 91 00, Topsoil, for testing of existing site soils and Class A topsoil. G. Conform to Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction (SSPWC), American Association of Nursery Standards, EPA, and to requirements of Federal, State, and local authorities having jurisdiction. 1.05 SUBMITTALS A. Refer to Section 01 33 00 - Submittal Procedures, for submittal requirements and procedures. B. Samples and product data, of fertilizer, root barrier, mulch and soil conditioner to Metro or its designee for approval. C. Soil reports to Metro or its designee for acceptance prior to soil amendment and soil import operations. D. Inspection Certificates: Accompany each shipment invoice or order for stock for plant materials as required by law. E. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS): Manufacturer s Material Safety Data Sheets for each type of material used in Work. 1.06 DEFINITIONS (Not Used) 1.07 DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING A. Refer to Section 01 66 00 Product Storage and Handling Requirements, for general requirements for delivery, storage, and handling procedures. B. Delivery: 1. Deliver fertilizer and soil conditioner to Worksite in original unopened containers bearing manufacturer's guaranteed chemical analysis, name, trademark and conformance to State law. At Contractor's option, furnish soil conditioners and amendments in bulk with manufacturer's certificate stating above information, accompanying each delivery. 2. Deliver herbicide material in original unopened containers. Containers without legible label identifying EPA registration number and manufacturer's registered users will be rejected. Landscape Planting 32 93 23-2 Baseline: 07/11/12
3. Protect plant material during delivery; prevent damage to root ball and desiccation of leaves. C. Storage: 1. Plant Storage: Store and protect plants not installed on day of arrival at Worksite. Protect outside storage locations from wind. Keep plants in moist condition by watering regularly until planting. 2. Storage of Other Material: Keep fertilizers, soil conditioners and amendments in dry storage away from contaminants. Keep herbicide material in dry storage, and handle and store according to manufacturers' directions. Do not contaminate adjacent material. Store materials in areas designated or accepted by Metro or its designee. 3. Handling: Handle, load, unload, and store plant materials carefully. Discard damaged plant materials if already installed, remove and replace with new, undamaged materials at no additional cost to Metro. 1.08 REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS A. Requirements of other Federal, State, and Local Authorities having jurisdiction. PART 2 - PRODUCTS 2.01 LANDSCAPE MATERIALS A. Except as modified herein, provide landscape materials in accordance with SSPWC Subsection 212-1. 2.02 PLANTS A. Add following to SSPWC Section 212-1.4.1: 1. Plants: True to name, and variety, and tag one of each bundle or lot with name and size of plants in accordance with standards of practice recommended by the American Association of Nurserymen. a. Container Grown Plants: Determine root condition of plants furnished in containers by removal of earth from roots of not less than two plants nor more than two percent of total number of plants of each species or variety. b. If container-grown plants are from several different sources, roots of not less than two plants of each species or variety from each source shall be checked. 2. Plants in one to 15 gallon containers shall be established in containers not less than three months and shall be fully rooted in container, but not root bound. 3. Quality: a. Grown in nurseries inspected by State of California, Department of Agriculture. b. Plants shall have a normal habit of growth and shall be sound well rooted (not root bound), healthy, vigorous and free of insect infestations, disease, fresh Landscape Planting 32 93 23-3 Baseline: 07/11/12
abrasions and objectionable disfigurements. c. Plants not meeting the above conditions are to be removed from site immediately and replaced with suitable plants. d. Amend SSPWC 212-1.4.2 and 212-1.4.3 to read: Trees and shrubs supplied by Contractor shall be of specified standard height and diameter set by American Standard for Nursery Stock. 1) Measure height of trees from root crown to last division of terminal leader, and measure diameter six inches above crown if trees are container size, and four feet above crown if trees are box type. 2) Trees: Stand erect without support. 3) Plant materials of given variety at each worksite shall be uniform in size and shape. e. Unless specifically authorized by Metro or its designee, plant materials in containers larger than 15 gallons shall be established in boxes not less than four months before delivery to Worksite. 2.03 FERTILIZER AND SOIL CONDITIONERS A. Beaded Fertilizer: Derived from organic material such as decomposed animal, vegetable and mineral matter. 1. Composed, relatively dry, friable, and pass one inch sieve. 2. Contain no poultry, animal or human waste, pathogenic viruses, fly larvae, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and poisonous chemicals that would inhibit plant growth. 3. Have following guaranteed chemical analysis: INGREDIENT PERCENT (MINIMUM) Nitrogen 5 Phosphoric Acid 3 Water Soluble Potash 1 Humus 50 Humic-Acids 15 Soluble Metallic Iron 1 Penetrant (alkyl naphthalene sodium 1.25 sulfonate) B. Planting Tablets: Seven gram, slow release and highly compressed homogeneous fertilizer tablets with following chemical analysis: INGREDIENT PERCENT (MINIMUM) Nitrogen 12 Landscape Planting 32 93 23-4 Baseline: 07/11/12
Phosphate 8 Water soluble potash 8 Humus 2 Humic acids 4 Soluble metallic iron 2 C. Sulphate of Potash: Minimum 50 percent potash as K20. D. Bonemeal: Fine ground, steam dried material with minimum analysis of 0.5 percent nitrogen, 30 percent phosphoric, and 69.5 percent undiluted bone. E. Urea Formaldehyde: 38 percent nitrogen F. Commercial Fertilizer: 16-6-8 as approved by Metro or its designee. 2.04 TOPSOIL A. As specified in Section 32 91 00, Topsoil. 2.05 BACKFILL MATERIAL A. Add following to SSPWC Section 212-1.2. 1. Soil Used for Backfill of Planting Pits: Native soil (exclusive of top two inches), except where imported soil is used to raise existing grade to finish grade or as indicated. a. In such cases, soil for backfill, comprise native and imported soil in proportion to amount of each soil excavated from planting pit. B. Planting Pits: 1. Soil used for backfill of planting pits. Enrich using following blend per cubic yard: a. 50 percent native site soil as specified above. b. 0.5 pounds beaded fertilizer C. Add gypsum and flour of sulphur to backfill mix in quantities determined by Metro or its designee and Contractor. Furnished agronomic soils tests as applicable. D. Mix soil backfill at each plant pit. 2.06 STAKES, TIES, AND GUYS A. Add following to SSPWC 212-1.5.3: Tree stakes - Straight-grained round lodge pole pine, made from entire bole of tree with bark removed, free from knots, checks, splits, and disfigurements; at least two inches in diameter, and not shorter than eight feet for trees in five-gallon containers, and ten feet long for trees in 15-gallon and larger containers. Conically point at one end, and with 10 inch taper and chamfer at other end. Two stakes per tree. Landscape Planting 32 93 23-5 Baseline: 07/11/12
B. Amend SSPWC Section 212-1.5.3 to read: 1. Tie: Expandable, with spring action mechanism inserted into 1/2-inch internal diameter by 14 inch vinyl tubing. Two ties per tree. 2. Tree Guys: Comprise guy wire and covers for guy wire. Guy wire - Pliable, double strand 11 gauge galvanized wire. Covers for remainder of wire above finish grade: 1/2-inch diameter white polyethylene plastic tubing not shorter than five feet. 3. Deadman: Two inches by four inches (nominal) by 30 inches heart redwood. Deadman stakes: Two inches by four inches by 18 inches heart redwood. 2.07 DECOMPOSED GRANITE A. 1/8-inch diameter and smaller particle size. Color: Natural tan to buff. 1. Rock- Consistent in color, texture and material, and from single source. 2. Submit sample for acceptance by Metro or its designee. 2.08 PERMEABLE FABRIC A. Submit sample for acceptance by the Metro or its designee. 2.09 SURFACE MULCH A. Redwood bark uniformly shredded and free from insects, foreign matter, and pieces of bark larger than 1/2 inch in every dimension. 2.10 ROOT CONTROL BARRIER A. High impact root control barrier fabricated from polyvinyl chloride, ABS, or polyethylene, with 0.060-inch minimum thickness by two feet deep. 1. Plastic Sheeting: 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch high raised vertical ribs on inner surfaces spaced not more than six inches to eight inches apart. 2.11 NITROGEN FORTIFIED WOOD PRODUCTS A. Derived from redwood, fir, or cedar sawdust, or from the bark of fir or pine treated with non-toxic agent to absorb water quickly; comply with the following: 1. Gradation: SIEVE SIZE PERCENT PASSING 1/4 inch 95% minimum 80% minimum 30% minimum NITROGEN CONTENT %, DRY WEIGHT Redwood 0.4-0.6 % Landscape Planting 32 93 23-6 Baseline: 07/11/12
Fir 0.56-0.84 % Cedar 0.56-0.84 % Fir Bark 0.8-1.2 % Pine Bark 0.8-1.2 % 2. Salinity: Maximum saturation extracts conductivity 3.0 milliohms/centimeter at 25 C. 3. Wetability: When one teaspoon of tap water is applied to four cubic inches of airdried products, material becomes completely damp in period not exceeding two minutes. PART 3 - EXECUTION 3.01 LANDSCAPE GRADING AND WEED CONTROL MEASURES A. Add following to SSPWC Section 308-2.4: 1. Fine Grade-Planting Areas: a. Fill as needed or remove surplus dirt. b. Remove rocks, concrete, asphalt and debris larger than one inch in diameter, and float to smooth uniform grade. c. Slope areas to drain. d. Establish flow lines to existing road curbs or to sidewalk, or both, as indicated. e. Fill material placed within top 12 inches from finish grade elevations in planting areas with Topsoil. f. Finish Grades: One inch below walks, curbs, and headers in ground cover and shrub areas. B. Upon completion of landscape grading and installation of irrigation system, but before preparing soil: 1. Irrigate areas designated to be planted not less than ten minutes per wetting, two wettings per day, for ten days. 2. Apply a contact weed killer and allow sufficient time to obtain complete kill of germinated weeds. 3. Repeat step one above. 4. Repeat step two above. 3.02 SOIL PREPARATION A. Add following to SSPWC Section 308-2.3: 1. Complete fine grading before preparing soil. 2. Do not begin soil preparation until planting is ready to proceed. If 30 days elapse between completion of soil preparation and commencement of planting, prepare Landscape Planting 32 93 23-7 Baseline: 07/11/12
areas again. 3. Soil Amendments a. Add organic amendments, as indicated at uniform rates as recommended in soils report. Mechanically till into soil to a depth of six inches. 3.03 PLANTING TREES AND SHRUBS A. Amend SSPWC Section 308-4.5 as follows: 1. Except where landscape plans indicate larger planting holes, make planting holes approximately two times width of plant container and same depth as container. Scarify bottom of planting holes to depth not less than four inches. a. Soil Surrounding Planting Pit: Friable. 1) Fill planting hole with water and allow draining immediately before planting. b. Backfill with specified soil mix. 1) Within bottom 1/3 of root ball, place designated plant fertilizer tablets spaced evenly around perimeter of root ball approximately two inches from tips. 2) Complete backfilling to finish grade. 3) Tablet quantities be as follows: Liners 1 tablet 1 gallon plant 2 tablets 5 gallon plant 6 tablets 15 gallon plant 12 tablets 24 inch box 14 tablets 36 inch box 18 tablets c. Tree Planting: 1) Plant trees at such depth that crown roots are as noted in planting details. 2) Carefully compact backfill into place after planting without injuring roots of trees or breaking up ball of earth surrounding roots. 3) If soil settles away from ball of earth around plant after planting, fill topsoil around the ball of earth to bring to proper level with finish grades. 4) Form topsoil into well for water. 5) Box trees 36-inches and larger: Install before installation of irrigation system. d. Palm Tree Planting: 1) In preparing palm trees for planting, remove dead fronds; prevent injury to trunk of tree. Green fronds below horizontal position shall be neatly cut off, leaving a four-inch stub. 2) Lift remaining fronds and tie together around crown of palm in upright position; do not bind or injure crown. Use lightweight binder's twine in tying up Landscape Planting 32 93 23-8 Baseline: 07/11/12
the fronds; do not use wire. Hedge off tips of tied up fronds above crown; do not damage crown. Defrond and tie fronds before planting palms. Fronds shall remain tied for three months or until vigorous new growth is observed. 3) Do not cut size of ball in width or depth, unless cutting has been approved by Metro or its designee. 4) Do not abuse palms or strain crown of palm while planting. Before lifting and planting palm, protect palm trunk; do not scar or skin trunk. Do not ball out and lay palms on ground exposed. 5) Diameter of Planting Hole: At least 12 inches clear on all sides of root ball. 6) Drainage Sump in Planting Hole: As indicated in planting details. 7) Set root ball on 12 inches of backfill in bottom of planting hole. 8) Backfill: One hundred percent sand. 9) Apply two treatments, one immediately after planting and one ten days following, of plant hormone Superthrive or approved equivalent to each palm tree in quantities and procedures recommended by the manufacturer. 10) Thoroughly saturate planting holes by flooding prior to planting. e. If underground utilities, construction, or solid rock ledges are encountered, other locations for planting may be selected by Metro or its designee. B. Add following to SSPWC Section 308-4.7: Treat bare soil and ground cover areas with pre-emergent chemical, subject to approval by Metro or its designee before application. 1. Chemicals: Applied by licensed Pest Control Agent. 2. Give Metro or its designee not less than one Working day notice immediately before chemical is applied. 3. Apply chemicals in presence of Metro or its designee. 3.04 TREE STAKING A. Amend SSPWC Sections 308-4.6.1 and 308-4.6.2 to read: Stake trees according to standard details and manufacturer's recommendations for installing Wonder Tree Tie, V.I.T., or approved equivalent. Remove nursery stake before staking tree. 3.05 DECOMPOSED GRANITE A. Apply to depth of four inches in areas indicated. Install weed control fabric under areas receiving decomposed granite. 3.06 SURFACE MULCH A. Apply surface mulch to planted areas to a minimum depth of two inches unless otherwise indicated on Drawings. 3.07 ROOT CONTROL BARRIER Landscape Planting 32 93 23-9 Baseline: 07/11/12
A. Install root barrier in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and as indicated. 3.08 WATERING A. Add following to SSPWC Section 308-4.9.5: 1. Maintain balanced watering program; ensure proper growth until final acceptance of installation Work. 2. Immediately after planting, apply water to each plant. Apply water in a moderate stream in planting hole until material about roots is completely saturated from bottom of hole to top of ground. 3. Apply water in sufficient quantities and as often as seasonal conditions require ensuring robust plant establishment and growth. 3.09 CLEAN UP A. Upon completion of Work, smooth ground surfaces; remove excess materials, rubbish, and debris; sweep adjacent streets, curbs, gutters, walkways, and trails; and remove construction equipment from premises. 3.10 MAINTENANCE A. As specified in Section 32 01 90 Landscape Maintenance and Plant Establishment. END OF SECTION 32 93 23 Landscape Planting 32 93 23-10 Baseline: 07/11/12