Specifications include, but are not limited to: Mowing: 1. Lawns shall be maintained at 3 ½ to 4 ½ inches removing no more than 1/3 of the leaf blade with each mowing. Operations shall commence as soon as turf conditions require mowing, and continue typically weekly. Examine the site and remove rocks, limbs, or trash prior to each mowing. With the exception of fall leaf removal as stated below, grass clippings shall be mulched and left to remain evenly distributed in the turf without clumping.; 2. Turf shall be mowed with sharp, well-maintained rotary equipment that will provide a clean cut of the grass blades without tearing. Care shall be taken to avoid damage to turf, including scalping, rutting, and chemical burns. Where feasible, alternate the direction of mowing with each site visit.; Lawn area leaf and debris removal: 1. Fallen leaves shall be mowed and mulched into the lawn continuously until the time that clippings are no longer being assimilated into the lawn 24 hours after mowing and mulching, or are distributed unevenly over the turf immediately after mowing.; 2. Remove accumulated leaves and debris from curbs.; Shrub and Herbaceous Perennial Maintenance: 1. Shear or prune shrubs up to twice per year to maintain size and remove dead or damaged branches.;; 2. Between February and April, cut ornamental grasses to ground level without leaving visible tufts of cut stems.; Plant Bed Maintenance: 1. Maintain a clean natural edge that consists of a wedge shaped void between turf or pavements and plant-beds.; 2. Maintain weed-free plant beds, tree saucers, curbs, and pavements.; At any time that slippery conditions exist or are anticipated, or there is a complete covering of snow on pavements, the successful bidder shall commence management services at each designated property with the application of deicers, snow-plowing, shoveling, blowing, or sweeping, so that pavements are reasonably clear between 6:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Contractor may also be called in by the Landscape Branch Manager, or his representative, to commence operations or remedy problems within the pre-arranged Response Time.; Treatments shall be made in advance of 6:30 a.m. to allow time for deicers to sufficiently take effect and for melting to occur. Repeat applications may be required if adverse weather conditions continue or initial treatments are insufficient. Vendor shall notify Agency Rep of the need for repeat applications, and such work shall be approved, deferred, or disallowed by the agency representative.; The Contractor is required to respond (at the work site) to all call-back issues (unacceptable work, etc) a maximum of one hour after receipt of notification of unsatisfactory/needed service.
