County-Specs-02930-Lawns-and-Grassing.pdf

LAWNS & GRASSING 02930-1

GREENVILLE COUNTY

PUBLIC WORKS

STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS

SECTION 02930

LAWNS AND GRASSING

LAWNS & GRASSING 02930-2

LAWNS AND GRASSING

SECTION 02930

RELATED DOCUMENTS: Attention is directed to related sections of the Specifications, as they pertain to the guidelines, materials, and methods described in this section. Also, the General Provisions and Special Provisions of the Contract shall apply to all Sections of the Work.

1.0 SCOPE OF WORK:

a. General Requirements: Provide seedbed preparation, topsoiling, liming, fertilizing, seeding, sodding, and mulching of all newly graded finish earth surfaces, unless indicated otherwise, and at all areas inside of outside the limits of construction that are disturbed by the Contractor's operations.

2.0 MATERIALS:

a. Fertilizer and Lime: Deliver materials to the site in original, unopened containers bearing the manufacturer's chemical analysis, name, trade name, trademark, and indication of conformance to State and Federal laws.

b. Fertilizer: Commercial grade, free flowing, uniform in composition granular fertilizer shall contain a minimum percentage by weight of 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent available phosphoric acid, and 10 percent potash. Apply fertilizer at the rate of 1000 pounds per acre.

c. Lime: Lime shall be commercial agricultural limestone containing a minimum of 94 percent of total carbonates, 80 percent calcium, and 14 percent magnesium. Agricultural limestone shall be incorporated into the soil at the rate of 2000 pounds per acre.

d. Seed: Deliver seed to the site in original sealed packages bearing the producer's guaranteed analysis for percentages of mixture, purity, germination, weed content, seed content, and inert material. Label in conformance with USDA Federal Seed Act and applicable State seed laws.

Wet moldy, or otherwise damaged seed will be rejected. Seed shall be State-certified seed and of the latest season's crop. Mix seed on site according to the following mixtures by weight:

VARIETY %GERMINATION %PURITY NOXIOUS WEEDS

Kentucky 31 Fescue 90% 98% 0% Annual Rye 90% 98% 0% Bermuda (hulled), Spring 90% 98% 0% Bermuda (unhulled), Fall 90% 98% 0%

SEASON VARIETY RATE

Summer (May1-Aug1) Common Bermuda (hulled) 3 lbs/1000 SF (130 lbs/Ac) Fall / Winter (Sep1-Feb1) Common Bermuda (unhulled) 3 lbs/1000 SF (130 lbs/Ac) Kentucky 31 Fescue 7 lbs/1000 SF Annual Rye 2 lbs/1000 SF Spring (Feb1-May1) Common Bermuda (hulled) 3 lbs/1000 SF Kentucky 31 Fescue 5 lbs/1000 SF Annual Rye 5 lbs/1000 SF

e. Mulch: Free from noxious weeds, mold, or other deleterious material. Provide wood cellulose fiber mulch when hydroseeding.

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f. Straw: Stalks from oats, wheat, rye, barley, or rice. Furnish in air-dry condition and of proper consistency for placing with commercial mulch blowing equipment or by hand.

g. Wood Cellulose Fiber: Processed to contain no growth or germination-inhibiting factors and dyed an appropriate color to facilitate visual metering of material's application. Composition on air-dry weight basis: 9-15 percent moisture, pH range from 3.5 to 5.0.

h. Emulsified Asphalt Adhesive: ASTM D-977, Grade RS-1. Use with straw mulch.

i. Water: Suitable quality for irrigation.

j. Erosion Control Matting: Provide as specified in Section 02270 - "Erosion Control".

3.0 SEEDING:

a. Storage and Handling: Store lime, fertilizer, and seed in dry locations away from contaminants.

Protect seed from drying out. Do not drop or dump materials from vehicles.

b. Soil Preparation: At the completion of rough grading, spread topsoil over areas to be seeded or as indicated, to a minimum thickness of 4 inches. Topsoil shall be the material stripped from the site during the grading operations. Do not spread topsoil when frozen or excessively wet or dry. Areas not receiving topsoil shall be loosened to a minimum depth of 4 inches before agricultural lime, fertilizer or seed is applied. Lawn areas shall be fine graded to a smooth, positively draining slope, removing all stones over one inch.

c. Seeding: Seed shall be sown within 24 hours following the application of fertilizer and lime, and preparation of the seedbed. Do not seed when the ground is muddy, frozen, snow covered, or in any unsatisfactory condition for seeding. If special conditions exist that may warrant a variance in the above seeding dates or conditions, submit a written request to the County Engineer stating the special conditions and proposed variance.

Sow seed with approved sowing equipment using one or a combination of the following methods at the rate of 130 pounds per acre. Sow 1/2 the seed in one direction, and sow the remainder at right angles to the first sowing. For Drill, Broadcast, and Drop Seeding, incorporate fertilizer and lime into the soil to a minimum depth of 6 inches prior to seeding. For Hydroseeding, apply liquid fertilizer in amounts sufficient to promote the specified stand of turf and apply lime manually during subgrade preparation.

d. Drill Seeding: Use cultipacker seeders or grass seed drills. Drill seed uniformly to a maximum depth of 1/4 inch in clayed soils and 1/2 inch in sandy soils. Cover seed by spike tooth harrow, cultipacker, or other approved devices.

e. Broadcast Seeding and Drop Seeding: Use Broadcast or Drop Seeders. Cover seed uniformly to a maximum depth of 1/4 inch in clayey soil and 1/2 inch in sandy soils. Cover seed by spike tooth harrow, raking, or other approved devices. Immediately after seeding, firm entire area, except for slopes in excess of 3 to 1, with a roller not exceeding 90 pounds for each foot of roller width.

f. Hydroseeding: Mix seed, fertilizer, and wood cellulose fiber in required amount of water to produce a homogeneous slurry. After seed, water, and fertilizer have been thoroughly mixed, add 200 pounds of wood cellulose fiber per acre (dry weight) and apply the slurry. Seed shall not remain in water containing fertilizer for more than one hour prior to application, unless otherwise approved. Keep liquid fertilizer agitated during application. Immediately following application of slurry mix, make separate application of wood cellulose mulch at the rate of 800 pounds (dry weight) per acre. When hydraulically sprayed on the ground, material shall form a

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blotter-like cover impregnated uniformly with grass seed. Cover shall allow rainfall of applied water to percolate to underlying soil.

g. Mulch: Except when hydroseeding, spread straw mulch evenly at the rate of 1.5 tons per acre.

Anchor by crimping mulch with a serrated disc or by spraying asphalt emulsion on the mulched surface at the rate of 5 gallons per 1000 square feet. Take precautionary measures to prevent asphalt materials from marking or defacing structures, pavements, utilities, or plantings and do not use asphalt near pedestrian traffic areas.

h. Erosion Control Matting: Install as specified in Section 02270 - "Erosion Control".

i. Protection of Seeded Areas: Immediately after seeding, protect the area against traffic or other use by erecting barricades, as required, and placing approved signs at appropriate intervals until final acceptance.

4.0 SODDING:

a. Preparation of Sodbed: Prepare sodbed as specified for Soil Preparation and apply fertilizer and lime as specified.

b. Laying of Sod: Place first line of sod along straight walk, edging, building face, or staked string, and butt following courses closely to preceding courses, taking care that lateral joints do not coincide. Place boards over sod for foot traffic and tamp all pieces to insure total sod contact with sodbed. Lightly top-dress with topsoil and/or sand and work into joint between sod pieces using a broom or mat. Thoroughly soak sodded area with water. After roots have developed sufficiently to hold sod firmly in place, allow surface to become quite dry and then apply additional topdressing of topsoil or sand to true the lawn surface. The sod shall then be rolled with a lawn roller to finish surface.

c. Interim Maintenance: Perform all maintenance operations necessary to properly care for sodded areas until they can be maintained by the County without danger of dislodgment or other significant damage to sod pieces.

d. Replacement of Sod: All portions of sodded areas shall give evidence of development into a smooth, homogeneous lawn of the material specified and shall have roots sufficiently developed to hold sod pieces in place during County maintenance operations. Sod which does not properly root and develop into a homogeneous lawn shall be replaced at no extra cost using the procedures specified above.

RESTORATION, ESTABLISHMENT, & FINAL INSPECTION

a. Restoration: Restore to original condition existing lawn areas which were damaged during grassing operations. Keep at least one paved pedestrian access route and one paved vehicular access route to each building clean at all times. Clean other paving when work in adjacent areas is complete.

b. Establishment Period: The establishment period will be in effect until the seeded and sodded areas are mowed three times. During the establishment period, the Contractor shall mow the seeded and sodded areas to an average height of 2 inches whenever the average height of grass reaches 4 inches. The Contractor shall remove excess clippings, eradicate weeds, water, fertilize, overseed, and perform other operations necessary to promote growth.

c. Final Inspection and Acceptance: At the end of the establishment period, final inspection will be made upon written request at least 10 days prior to the anticipated date. Final acceptance will be based upon a satisfactory stand of grass, defined as 95 percent ground cover of the

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specified species. The Contractor will repair any bare spots over 2 inches square due to uneven seed distribution, drought specified planting dates.

d. Reseeding and Repair: Any areas that require reseeding and/or refertilization will be designated by the County Engineer. Any damage following seeding or if seedings are destroyed, the portion affected shall be repaired to re-establishment condition and grade of the soil prior to original seeding, and then reseeded following the above specifications.

END OF SECTION