Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. Times of Work - Dethatching of lawn areas, reseeding of bare patches, watering and pruning of trees and shrubs must be performed during each plant’s appropriate gardening season and hours of the day to the benefit of each plant. The Local Court Contact may assign additional work. 1). Early Spring clean up - should include a light raking and pick-up of debris and major corrective pruning to correct limbs entangled in iron tree guards and damaged by snow, wind, and vandalism. Remove guy wires and hose clamps from trees whose roots are established. 2). De-thatch and aerate lawns - in the Spring after ground has dried out, grass has greened up and prior to application of fertilizers. De-thatch only if thatch is greater than ½” thick. Samples may be taken to Cooperative Extension Service to determine if de-thatching and/or aeration are necessary. 3). Reseeding – Contractor shall prep and reseed dead or thin grass patches with the seed mixture originally placed: 5% rye, 30% Kentucky Bluegrass-Nugget, 25% Kentucky Bluegrass-Merion and 40% Boreal Fescue. 4). Pruning/Weeding – Contractor shall prune trees and shrubs in the Spring and when needed. Prune to remove dead branches and maintain an appropriate and pleasant appearance of the plant as approved by the Contract Manager. All beds and lawns shall be kept free of weeds. Applications of an appropriate biodegradable herbicide shall control weed growth in the bed and lawns. 5). Fertilize Trees and Shrubs– In the Spring, apply a liquid 15/30/15 fertilizer via a root feeding process. If a dry fertilizer is used, it shall be 8/32/16 applied 2-4 lbs. per 100 sf. 6). Fertilize Lawn – In the Spring, upon completion of de-thatching, apply dry 16/16/16 or 8/32/16 fertilizer to lawn areas at a rate of 12 lbs. per 1,000sf. Again, at mid-season (no later than August 1st) apply 16/16/16 or 8/32/16 fertilizer at a rate of 6-7 lbs. per 1000sf. 7). Watering – This shall include the surface watering of lawns in order to ensure no wilting or browning of the lawn and deep watering of trees and surface watering plant basins. All Hose Bibs are identified on the Site Plans. Building Maintenance staff will turn water to hose bibs off/on per request and as weather permits.
