Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. Spring Clean-up Clean all areas, planting beds, fence lines, and parking lots of leaves, paper, cans, and other debris and dispose of same.; All sidewalk and curbs shall be edged as outlined per sketch.; All planting beds and tree rings shall be edged, cultivated, and re-mulched to remove unsightly weeds. Soil shall be loosened to a depth necessary to remove weeds but not to damage the root system of any plantings. Stones or debris surfaced during cultivation shall be removed and the area shall be hand raked to remove any rubbish or other unsuitable material. Hardwood mulch shall be added after cultivation is completed to a depth of 2” to 3”. ; B. Lawn Cutting All accessible lawn areas shall be cut a minimum of once per week, (if needed and determined by prior communication between the Vendor and KCFM), from April 01 to October 31. ; Prior to lawn cutting or concurrently all debris shall be removed from the areas governed by this contract. Debris shall mean leaves, paper, trash, garbage or any item that will look unsightly if mowed over. During late summer and fall all fallen leaves shall be collected and disposed of by vendor prior to lawn cutting commencing. Leaf collection shall continue until November 30 of each year or until the first snow fall which ever occurs first. ; Mulching commercial mowers shall cut grass to a height of 2 ½“and clippings shall be left in place. Upon the request of KCFM lawn clippings shall be collected and removed by Vendor for an additional charge. During hot or drought conditions a cutting height not to exceed 3 ½“shall be maintained. The vendor is responsible for maintaining cutting blades in a sharp condition at all times. ; C. Weekly Weed Control Weeds shall be pulled from all planting beds and tree beds on a weekly basis. At a minimum two (2) eight (8) hour days are required at the Government Center campus on Route 34 and one (1) eight (8) hour day is required at the Office building & Historic Courthouse campus on Fox St. The use of a pre-emergent herbicide may be used to accomplish this task. All nuisance weeds growing in between curbs, sidewalks, driveways, fence lines, and stone areas shall be removed by spraying a vegetation killer in those areas. Care shall be exercised to prevent over-spray on desirable plants, decorative sidewalks, buildings, and automobiles. Weed remains shall be removed once the plant has completely died.; D. Fertilization Immediately following the Spring Clean-up and first cutting an application of fertilizer and pre-emergence crab grass preventer shall be applied as outlined per sketch. A broad leaf weed control and fertilizer shall be applied after May 1st and prior to May 15th to the areas outlined per sketch. Upon completion of the final grass cutting of the season a winter fertilizer (10-10-10) shall be applied to the same area. Immediately following any application of herbicide or fertilizer the Vendor shall ensure that signs are posted notifying the public of the application. Any fertilizer used must be a fertilizer with very low or no phosphorous. An eradicating herbicide is to be used to control the cat tails and algae in the pond at the Northwest edge of the Government Center Campus. At a minimum an application is to be applied at the beginning and end of the growing season no later than May 15 and before November 1 each year.; E. Tree, Shrub, and Evergreen Maintenance All trees, shrubs, and evergreens shall be pruned and shaped at the proper season of the year for the specific species and variety of each plant to accomplish the following objectives: Remove dead, diseased, or injured wood.; Retain the individual plants’ natural form, symmetry, and conformation, which also include removing suckers and other growth which may jeopardize the appearance of the planting.; Prune to eliminate branches, which may damage surrounding structures, interfere with clear line of sight, or cause a security concern.
