A. General Landscape Maintenance. The Contractor must 1. Provide lawn mowing, edging, and trimming services on a set schedule every seven (7) calendar days, or as weather permits, during the growing season to maintain a well-manicured and healthy appearance. a. Grass must be cut to a uniform height for each season based on communications with the Contract Monitor. Any bare ground areas may become populated with grass or weeds through natural spread (i.e., not artificially planted) thus these areas must be cut. Grass cutting must be done such that it is free of scalping, rutting, bruising, and uneven and rough cutting. If such conditions occur, the Contract Monitor or Manager will notify the Contractor in writing of any changes to grass height. Prior to mowing, the Contractor must remove and dispose of all rubbish, debris, and trash, which includes but is not limited to leaves, rocks, paper, and other removable objects on the ground and any tree or shrubbery areas. Grass must be mulched whenever possible. When mulching is not possible, grass must be bagged and removed from property. b. All grass under and around trees, shrubbery, fences, poles, walls, sprinkler heads, valves, asphalt, or concrete paved areas including sidewalks, walkways, shrubs, or any other permanent structure must be trimmed to match the height and appearance of the surrounding mowed grass. Lawn edges along curbs, walkways, tree rings in lawn areas and tree wells must be edged. ii. Trimming and edging must be done on the same day as grass cutting. Grass cutting will not be considered complete by the Department until all trimming and edging operations are accomplished. 2. With Department approval, apply pre-emergent herbicide to control both annual and perennial grassy and broadleaf weeds in accordance with label directions. If weeds appear, control must be provided with post-emergence herbicides in accordance with label directions. The Contractor must use non-selective and/or pre-emergent herbicides as necessary for expansion joints and cracks of paved surfaces. The Contractor must remove all annual grasses and weeds from expansion joints and cracks of hard surfaces once they have been sprayed and are dead. a. Tree collars, flowering beds, and any additional bed areas must be maintained in weed-free condition through the use of herbicides and hand labor at the same seven (7) calendar day interval as lawn service. b. Where commercial herbicides may cause damage to sensitive plants (seasonal color, bulbs, ground covers, etc.), weeds must be pulled by hand to minimize plant loss or damage. 3. With Department approval, prune to less than twelve (12) feet in height, deciduous trees, and shrubs when dormant to promote open framework in crown and to remove suckers, dead branches, and leaves. a. Pruning must be performed in the appropriate season so as not to remove bloom. Every effort must be made to maintain a natural growth form for each plant species. New growth must be pruned to keep with the overall size and shape of plant. 4. With Department approval, place and/or replace bark in flower beds, as needed. 5. Perform debris control at the same seven (7) calendar day interval as lawn service, and remove clippings, branches, offcuts, etc. a. Remove all-natural vegetation (leaves, branches, grass clippings, trimmings, etc.) from the site, including, but not limited to flower beds, shrubs, sidewalks, parking areas, and any paved areas surrounding the location. b. Remove all inorganic materials (plastic, glass, metal, paper, rocks, etc.) and any other miscellaneous debris from the site, including, but not limited to flower beds, shrubs, sidewalks, parking areas, and any paved areas surrounding the location. c. Remove all materials, trash, and debris from the landscaped service area. All debris from the site must be collected and discarded off-site at a proper solid waste/compost disposal facility meeting all applicable federal, state, and local requirements. B. Sprinkler System 1. The Contractor must provide annual sprinkler system maintenance including but not limited to, spring startups and fall blow outs. This must be completed to prevent frozen water lines in the spring and fall and to maximize the duration of the natural vegetation. a. During the initial spring startup, head adjustment and back flow testing must be completed. b. The Contractor must repair or replace any malfunctioning sprinkler heads or other sprinkler system parts. Replacement parts must be compatible to existing system. i. Any sprinkler system parts damaged by the Contractor must be replaced at no cost to the Department. The Contractor must obtain the replacement parts. c. In the fall, the Contractor must clear the lines, valves, and heads of any water still trapped in the system. 2. The Contractor must monitor the sprinkler system, including back flow testing, for the appropriate water application for the specific time of year. If the Contractor determines that an adjustment of the sprinkler system is necessary (i.e., an increase in duration of water application), the Contractor must notify the Contract Monitor of the suggested modifications.
