This work shall consist of furnishing, planting and/or transplanting specified trees, shrubs, vines and ground cover to locations as shown on the plans and/or directed by the Engineer. The work shall include excavation of pits, placing of backfill mixture, mulching, watering, staking or guying, wrapping for transport, adding fertilizer and/or other soil amendments, seeding, weeding, watering, care of plants, and replacement of unsatisfactory plants and materials during the life of the contract and throughout the plants guarantee period. The contractor performing work under this section shall have five years continuous experience and expertise in management, handling and install of ornamental plant material in large-scale landscape construction projects. The contractor shall provide a designated supervisor who shall be a Certified Arborist and shall be responsible for the crew’s activities for the assigned work and will remain on site while all work is being performed. Planting work will primarily take place during the Spring and Fall planting seasons. On occasion plantings may take place outside of these times, as approved by the City’s Tree Warden. a) Spring: April 1st – June 15th b) Fall: September 15th – November 30th Materials 1) Trees • Trees shall be nursery grown and have survived the last two winters in a climate substantially equal to Massachusetts. Trees shall be ball and burlap or bare root trees ranging from 1.5” to 3.5” caliper. Trees less than 1.5” caliper will be rejected. Tree stock, planting and maintenance must be in accordance with the American Standards for Nursery Stock or meet the minimum appropriate ANSI standards. Measurement of caliper shall be 6” above the finish grade as measured at the digging site at the nursery. Trees shall have a single straight leader, not cut back. Trees shall have a symmetrical development and strong healthy branches. Trees shall have no included branch attachments starting from approximately 6’-0” from grade. Below this point, the bark shall be clean, not scarred and free from cankers. • All plants to be used for this contract shall be inspected by the City or its designee upon delivery and the City or it’s designee shall reserve the right to reject stock deemed substandard. The contractor shall supply the tags with a continuous numbering system to log and track trees and plants. All stock shall conform to the American Standards for Nurserymen, Inc. This standard shall be referred to for nomenclature and dimensions of materials called for in this specification. The standards shall determine all requirements of acceptable nursery stock.
