2025 Replacement Apple Trees.docx

City of Livonia Parks and Recreation Department Replacement Apple Tree Planting for Greenmead Historical Park 2025

Project Location Greenmead Historical Park- Simmon’s Orchard 20501 Newburgh Road Livonia, MI 48152

Project shall be completed by Oct. 3, 2025 Site Visit: By appointment, week of Aug. 25, 2025 (not mandatory) Questions: contact Emily Tchorz-Fielder (248) 477-7375 or etchorz@livonia.gov Response Due Date: 2 p.m. Sept. 2, 2025, on bidnetdirect.com only

Instructions to Bidders Please provide at least three (3) references, with contact name and phone number, of similar projects that you have completed in the last five years.

Unit prices of assorted tree species balled and burlapped, and 4-5’ tall.

Plant material shall be true to name. No substitution of species or variety shall be accepted except upon written approval from the City of Livonia Parks and Recreation Department. Authority for name shall be Standardized Plant Names prepared for the American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature. Trees shall be #1 grade balled, and burlapped using natural degradable, not plastic, burlap and trees conform to the standards for nursery stock of the American Association of Nurserymen.

The quantity of each species or variety of tree to be planted is specified on the attached proposal form. The size of the trees to be planted shall have a root ball capable of sustaining healthy growth, and a height of from six (6) feet to ten (10) feet.

Plant material shall conform to all standards of handling, height, size and quality as adopted by the Committee on Horticultural Standards for nursery stock of the American Association of Nurserymen (American National Standard Institute (ANSI) 260.1 2004).

Plant material shall be nursery grown, in an approved nursery, under climatic conditions similar to those in the locality of the project. Nursery sources shall be disclosed to the Greenmead Historical Park Supervisor prior to the award of bid. The City’s staff May perform inspection, and marking of specified trees. The contractor will be responsible to assure this service is available, and that marked trees are delivered.

After award of bid, the contractor may be asked to supply an employee from their company to assist the City in marking tree-planting locations. If bilingual crews are used, the contractor’s crew leader must be bilingual, and have the ability to communicate with City representatives at all times.

All trees shall be made available to the Parks and Recreation staff for inspection before planting. The City’s representative shall have the authority to be present when burlap is pulled back from the trunk of the tree.

Plant material shall be freshly dug, vigorous, of normal habit of growth, free from disease, insects, insect eggs and larvae.

Plant material shall have normal healthy root systems, having been subjected to proper transplanting and annual root pruning.

Contractor will notify Miss Dig and locate all underground utilities before commencing work on the site.

INSPECTION

Plant material shall be available for inspection by the Parks and Recreation Department in the growing nurseries before they are dug. Final inspection will be made at the point of delivery. An authorized representative of the Parks and Recreation Department shall make inspection, and any rejected trees shall be replaced and delivered at the contractor’s expense. Tree wrap shall not be used. Any scarring of the tree bark during transport, or installation may cause rejection of the tree by the City’s staff.

There may be three (or more) inspections. The first may occur at the time of tree delivery before they are planted, either on site, or on the trailer bed. The second may occur when trees are planted, and before they are mulched, or staked. The last shall be after the trees are mulched and staked and ready for final delivery.

Plant material shall comply with State and Federal laws regarding inspection for plant diseases, and infestation. Inspection certificates as required by law, shall accompany each invoice, or consignment of stock and upon arrival at the point of delivery, shall be given to the authorized Parks and Recreation representative.

The contractor shall notify the City’s staff 1-2 days prior where and when work will be performed in order for tree inspections to be completed in an efficient manner.

DIGGING AND HANDLING PLANT MATERIAL

Digging and delivery shall be made during the dormant season, preferably between October 1 and May 1. Experienced workers, avoiding all possible injury to roots, branches, or trunks, shall dig all plant material with care. Digging shall be done in such a manner as to retain the full fibrous root system, and avoiding damage to root systems by mechanical agencies, frost, or other weather conditions.

Specific species to be spring dug are oaks, filberts, redbuds, tulip trees, and sweet gums. These trees will not be accepted unless they are dug in the spring months.

Plant material shall not be pruned prior to delivery except upon written approval from the City of Livonia representative.

All precautions, which are customary in good nursery practice, shall be taken to insure the arrival of plant material in good condition for successful growth. Plant material which is poorly packed, or which arrives with the roots in a dry condition, as a result of improper packing, delay in transit, or from any other cause, will not be accepted.

Actively growing trees, or trees with leaves on them shall be covered when transported to the planting site.

It is extremely important that trees are tarped during transportation so they are not exposed to harsh conditions just prior to planting.

Stock shall be handled in such a manner that the roots shall remain intact, the branches unbroken, the bark intact, and not loosened from the wood. Stock shall be protected from drying, and from temperatures in excess of 50ºF prior to planting.

Tree balls must be transported, and unloaded in such a way as to minimize breaking of the tree ball. Rolling of tree balls down ramps is an unacceptable procedure. Ball carts or “tree jaws” are the preferred methods for moving trees. Loading with mechanical buckets is permitted provided padding is in place to protect the tree trunks from abrasion.

TIME OF PLANTING

Trees balled (in the original and undisturbed soil in which they were growing) and burlapped may be planted when weather conditions are favorable and the ground is workable in the spring. Planting at any other time shall be by authorization of the City of Livonia representative. Fall replacements may be planted until the ground freezes. Planting for this contract shall be completed by June 30, 2024.

WORKMANSHIP

1. Planting Tree holes shall be dug so root flair is at soil level. Tree holes shall be 12” wider than the root spread of the tree to be planted. On wet, poorly drained sites, the tree should be planted a few inches higher than normal. Measure the proper depth before placing the tree in the hole. All trees shall be planted plumb. A general drawing is attached showing a properly planted tree as required. All planting holes shall be at least twice the size of the root ball at the top of the planting hole. Planting in the rain, or snow shall be at the discretion of the City’s staff. If unsure about planting in the rain, contractor shall check with City representatives. Tree holes are not to be dug and left open overnight.

Tops of wire baskets, and burlap that need to be removed shall be done after the tree is firmly set in place in the planting hole. This removal shall include binding twine, burlap, wire loops, and first row of wire squares. The contractor will dispose of existing roots, and balls from previous trees. Cut, and remove the upper part of the wire basket so it will not interfere with roots as they grow. The hole shall be backfilled with topsoil and watered. The surface for a radius of three (3) feet around the tree shall be slightly saucered to retain moisture.

The area shall be mulched with a maximum of 2” to 3” of wood bark or wood chips.

(Note: The City of Livonia may be able to supply wood chips). No mulching shall be done until trees are inspected by the City’s representative for proper planting height of the root ball. Keep mulch away from root flair. If the tree-planting hole is being dug, repair the area as best as possible.

For fall planting programs, planting will be allowed until frost has begun actively penetrating the ground in the fall. The contractor shall remove any existing trees, or stumps that may be in the planting location. Restoration of any lawn damaged during installation shall be the responsibility of the tree-planting contractor.

All unused excavated material shall be removed from the location, and shall be disposed of in a legal, and approved manner. The planting site shall be left in a neat, and clean condition.

Trees that are planted at the wrong site will be removed, and replaced at the contractor’s expense, and the correct species of tree will be planted. The City of Livonia reserves the right to reject the replanting of a tree that was planted at a wrong address if it is to be transferred to the correct address.

Planting procedures shall conform to ANSI A300 (part 6) – 2012 ‘Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Management Standard Practices (Planting and Transplanting)’

2. Topsoil Backfill material shall consist of one-half native soil, and no more than one-half imported topsoil. Native soil, especially clay, is NOT to be placed on top of any planted root ball. Only topsoil is to be used in this application. [NO backfill shall be placed on top of the root ball of the tree]. Topsoil for backfilling shall be fertile, friable, natural topsoil. It shall be without admixture of subsoil and shall be reasonably free of stones, lumps, plants or their roots, sticks or other extraneous matter, and shall not be delivered in a frozen condition. Soil shall contain at least five percent (5%) but not more than twenty percent (20%) by weight of organic matter determined by ignition after being dried to a constant weight at 221ºF. The City reserves the right to reject any loads of topsoil that do not meet the above specifications.

3. Pruning Trees should have a central leader and a radial branching structure. Any branches that might tend to develop into “V” crotches shall be subordinated so as not to become co-dominant. Care shall be taken in pruning to preserve the natural character of the tree. Dead, broken, and badly bruised branches shall be removed with a clean cut.

4. Watering Trees shall be adequately watered immediately after planting. Five (5) gallons of water shall be deposited on the original tree ball. A second watering of five (5) gallons shall be applied one (1) month after planting.

5. Staking Staking of trees is to be done in all instances, and tree tie will be used when the tree is planted, and stakes are set in the ground. Staking shall consist of two (2) six-foot long 2” x 2” square wooden stakes placed at least 12” from the trunk and fastened by a soft material (“Arbor Tie”) or equivalent approved equal. Trees shall be tied to individual stakes with 1” or wider non-abrasive material. NO wire shall be used around the trunk of the tree.

6. Responsibility for Damage The contractor shall be responsible for all damage done to sod, sidewalk, drive approaches, underground sprinkling systems, wiring, piping, etc., that may occur during the planting operation. The contractor shall also be responsible for notifying Miss Dig of the starting date of the project far enough in advance to allow all of the utilities to respond. Contractor will repair any broken sprinkler lines within 24 hours of any breakage. Contractor will carry 10 couplers, 20 hose clamps, five

(5) feet of ¾”, and 1” irrigation pipe at all times.

7. Guarantees and Replacement An inspection shall be made by the contractor in the presence of the City’s representative following planting, and all dead or dying plants shall be replaced. An inspection shall be made after August 15 following one growing season for spring-planted trees, and May 15 of the following year for fall-planted trees. Any plants, which are not in a vigorous growing condition, shall be replaced during the succeeding Fall planting season.

The contractor shall not be further responsible for trees accepted by the City of Livonia at final inspection.

The contractor, as a condition precedent to final payment, shall execute in favor of the City, a Maintenance and Guarantee Bond in an amount at least equal to 100% of the contract price. The guarantee shall cover all work performed and materials furnished under this contract for a period of one (1) year subsequent to the date of the final payment.

8. Payment Each submitted bill, on approved City form, must have a Contractor’s Declaration with it to process the payment. If this is not included, payment will not progress until it has been supplied. City staff will process payments as soon as possible.

Delays in payment can occur due to leave time, workload, and schedules of staff in the payment process.

The City shall retain 5% of final payment until the warranty inspection has occurred, the inspection has been agreed on between the contractor, and City forestry representatives, and the warranty trees have been replaced by the contractor. This fee is to assure the replanting of any trees that do not survive the one-year guarantee period.

9. Storage of Trees, Equipment, or Material for this Contract The City will not provide storage of plant material, or contractor’s equipment to carry out any portion of this contract.

Bonding and Insurance:

Company awarded the bid will provide the City of Livonia with the following:

If subcontractors are used, material and labor bond is required.

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