Specifications include, but are not limited to: A. LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT: A.1. SPRING CLEAN-UP: The Contractor shall perform a one-time general clean-up of the grounds each season in March or April. The spring clean-up shall include the following services: a. Removal of debris from all landscape and turf areas b. Cutting back of all perennials and ornamental grasses c. Pruning of any visible deadwood from trees and shrubs to a height of 14’ and 3” branch caliper. d. Removal of existing mulch from all landscape beds and tree pits. Mulch shall be removed so that no more than one (1) inch of existing loose mulch remains in beds and tree pits. e. Edging of all landscape beds and tree pits. Edging shall be performed at a 90 degree angle to a depth of three (3) inches. All debris from the edging process shall be removed. All bed edges shall be smooth and continuous. f. One application of an organic pre-emergent weed control herbicide to all mulched areas, tree pits and groundcover beds. Pre- emergent is not to be applied to certain groundcover beds or perennial plantings where the application could damage the plant material. No annual planting areas are to receive pre-emergent. A.2. MULCHING: The Contractor shall provide two (2) applications of mulch, once in the spring and once in the early fall. Mulch shall be a dyed dark brown, high-quality shredded hardwood. Mulch is to be applied to all landscape beds and tree pits. Mulch will be applied so that no more than two (2) inches of mulch is present in bed and tree pit areas at any time. Mulch shall be kept away from the base of tree trunks and from the crown of shrubs. A.3. FERTILIZATION-TREES AND SHRUBS: Fertilization of shrubs and groundcovers shall take place in the spring in conjunction with the spring clean-up and prior to the spring application of mulch. Shrubs and groundcovers shall be fertilized with an organic 10-6-4 slow release fertilizer at the rate of three (3) pounds per 100 square feet of bed area. Acid-loving plant material shall be fertilized with an ericaceous fertilizer, i.e., Hollytone, at the manufacturer’s recommended rate. A.4. PRUNING - TREES AND SHRUBS: The Contractor shall prune and shear trees and shrubs as outlined below. All pruning is to be done in accordance with standard horticultural practices and at the horticulturally appropriate time of year for each species. Groundcovers shall be edged and pruned as needed to contain them within their borders. a. TREES: Deciduous trees shall be pruned throughout the year at the horticulturally appropriate time, so as not to cause damage to the species. Trees will be pruned to eliminate lowhanging branches and deadwood. Trees will be pruned from the ground to a height of 14’ and three (3) inches in branch caliper. Tree pruning shall be done in conjunction with shrub pruning whenever possible. All debris from the pruning process is to be removed and disposed of by the contractor. b. FORMAL HEDGES: Formal hedges shall be sheared three (3) times throughout the season. Hedges shall be sheared to maintain formal appearance. All debris from the shearing process is to be removed and disposed of by the contractor. c. INFORMAL SHRUBBERY: Informal shrubs are to be pruned three (3) times throughout the season. Shrubs are to be pruned to maintain their natural shape and under no condition are to be sheared. During the pruning process all suckers, shoots, dead and diseased branches shall be removed. Flowering shrubs shall be pruned after blooming, so as not to affect the flower production for the next year. All debris from the pruning process is to be removed and disposed of by the contractor. d. DORMANT PRUNING: Dormant pruning shall be performed during the winter months when the species is dormant. All debris from the pruning process shall be removed and disposed of by the contractor. B. TURF MANAGEMENT: B.1. MOWING and TRIMMING: Turf areas shall be mowed at a height of three (3) to three and a half (3 1/4”) inches throughout the season as conditions dictate. Mowing shall be performed weekly or every seven (7) to ten (10) days or as weather conditions dictate. The contractor shall take care to remove no more than one-third (1/3) of the grass blade per cutting. Mowing shall be free of any scalping, rutting and uneven cutting. Prior to each mowing all reasonable trash, litter, sticks and minor debris shall be removed and disposed of from turf areas, plant beds and paved areas. Notify the Contract Administrator as soon as possible of any unreasonable debris. Trimming around any obstacles and raking or bagging and removal of excess clippings is to be included with each mowing. Trimming shall not occur against tree trunks. Grass clippings shall be kept out of all plant beds and tree pits. Mowing patterns shall be established and changed frequently to present an aesthetic appearance. Clippings shall be blown from all walkways, roads and parking lots. *NOTE* - It shall be required for all string trimming, edging, and blowing services to be completed utilizing electric equipment designed for the specific task. This requirement, at this time, does not apply to mowers, aerators, chainsaws, tree pruning equipment, and the like. B.2. EDGING: Mechanical edging of all sidewalks, curbs and other paved areas shall occur in conjunction with each mowing. String trimmers are not to be used for edging operations. Debris from edging operations shall be removed and areas blown or swept clean. *NOTE* - It shall be required for all string trimming, edging, and blowing services to be completed utilizing electric equipment designed for the specific task. This requirement, at this time, does not apply to mowers, aerators, chainsaws, tree pruning equipment, and the like. B.3. WEED CONTROL: Weed control shall be performed in conjunction with each mowing. All plant beds, tree pits and raised planters shall be either hand weeded or treated with an organic pre-emergent or post-emergent herbicide. Herbicides shall be used in accordance with the product label and local regulations. A non-selective and/or pre-emergent herbicide will be applied on a continual basis to all walks, curbs and other paved areas to help prevent the growth of weeds. B.4. TURF FERTILIZATION AND WEED CONTROL: The Contractor) shall implement a turf fertilization program for all turf areas covered by this contract. All fertilizer and weed control products shall be organic in composition. The fertilization program shall be as follows: a. Early Spring (March - Early April): Fertilize turf to promote root growth Pre-emergent weed control b. Spring (Late April – Early May): Fertilize turf- .75 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 SF Postemergent broadleaf weed control c. Mid Fall (October): Fertilize turf- .75 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 SF, (50% slow release) Post-emergent broadleaf weed control d. Late Fall (November): Fertilize turf- .75 lbs. of nitrogen per 1,000 SF B.5. SOIL TESTING: The Contractor shall take soil samples of all turf and ornamental areas. The samples shall be submitted to an approved, independent laboratory for testing. Tests shall show soil pH level, mechanical analysis, percentage of organic content and recommendations to establish satisfactory pH level and supply of nutrients for the plant materials. Results of the soil test shall be presented to the Contract Administrator. B.6. TURF INSECT AND DISEASE CONTROL: The Contractor shall monitor all turf areas for insect and disease problems in conjunction with monthly IPM inspections and treat affected areas as needed. B.7. AERATION AND OVERSEEDING: Aeration and overseeding of turf will be performed once in the early fall, between August 15th and September 15th. Aeration will be performed using a mechanical open-tine, coringtype aerator. Aerator spikes should penetrate the soil to a minimum depth of one and onehalf (1.5) inches, depending on existing soil conditions. B.8. LEAF REMOVAL: Leaf removal shall take place in the fall from October through December. All turf areas, bed areas, walkways and parking lots are to receive leaf removal. Three (3) leaf removals shall take place each fall. Residual leaves on turf shall be removed during each mowing operation during October and November. All debris from the leaf removal operation shall be removed and legally disposed of by the contractor. C. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT: C.1. The Contractor shall be responsible for the detection, monitoring and control of plant damaging insects. The IPM inspections shall be done on a monthly basis. The contractor shall be aware of the potential pests and shall make regular inspections of the plant material and treat as necessary. Organic products will be used whenever possible. Non Organic products must be approved by Contract Administrator. These principles will be practiced under an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program. C.2. Pesticides will be applied under the supervision of a Maryland Department of Agriculture certified pesticide applicator. C.3. Spraying operations will cover all plant material on the property. C.4. Dormant oil shall be applied in early March to all plants susceptible to over-wintering insects, to include needled Evergreens, Junipers, Euonymus, Hollies, Cherries, Oaks and Maples. C.5. Applications of pesticide shall not be done as calendar scheduled or general cover sprays. Pesticides shall only be applied as needed, when pests are detected through regular inspections. C.6. The contractor shall receive prior approval from the Contract Administrator before applications of pesticide is initiated. C.7. The Contractor shall provide the Contract Administrator an annual report for each property, which will detail current status of property, improvements made in the previous calendar year. This report shall be submitted to the Contract Administrator in the first week of January. The report should also include all organic chemicals and fertilizers applied to property in the previous calendar year, Number of ounces of concentrate applied and gallons of liquid applied. We also ask the contractors using organic/non- synthetic pesticide to share any insights they have that can be included in the report.
