1.1. Garden beds include all beds within park boundaries around all park perimeters, entrance signage including memorial signage, buildings, walkways, tree rings, fences and other landscape beds as designated in site-specific scopes. 1.2. Garden bed maintenance shall consist of spring clean-up, planting annuals, replacing perennials, mulching, weeding, pruning and periodic (no less than bi-weekly) inspection so walkways, sidewalks, mulched areas and steps are kept clean and look well-cared for. 1.3. All debris shall be removed from the site. 1.4. All vegetative debris must be disposed of at the contractors own expense. 1.5. Spring Bed Clean-Up Specifications 1.5.1. Remove debris including leaves, dormant herbaceous materials, sticks, paper, bottles, stones, etc. from garden bed areas. 1.5.2. Spring Clean Up shall be completed within 10 days from the start of the season but no later than April 30. 1.6. Pruning Specifications 1.6.1. Pruning Standards: Landscape Maintenance Contractor must comply with ANSI A300 (part 1) “Tree, Shrub and other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices (pruning)”. 1.6.2. Pruning is to be done with clean, sharp tools leaving neat, clean cuts with no jagged edges. No more than 1/3 of the plant will be pruned in one season. 1.6.3. Pruning during the growing season shall occur as needed to ensure the following standards are met: 1.6.3.1. Remove dead damaged and diseased portions of the plants. 1.6.3.2. Prune trees and shrubs to maintain their naturalistic, informal shape according to the natural growing and flowering pattern of each plant type. 1.6.3.3. Trees and shrubs will be pruned to avoid conflict with vehicular or pedestrian traffic and will not be allowed to interfere with site lighting. 1.6.3.4. Shrubs around the buildings will be kept below the windowsills and not touching building walls. 1.6.3.5. Shrubs near signage shall not obstruct the wording on the sign. 1.6.3.6. Trees, shrubs and ground cover must be kept off fire hydrants, signs, and fences, walls, sitting areas, walkways and driveways. 1.6.3.7. Pruning should be completed by July 1st 1.7. Site Cleaning Specifications 1.7.1. Sweep or blow clean all sidewalks, driveways, parking lots and walkways affected by work. 1.7.2. Keep planting beds free of weeds including but not limited to invasive species such as Japanese stilt grass, knotweed and hop, kudzu, and English ivy throughout the contract period. 1.7.3. Control weeds with hand-weeding, selective and proper use of contact spray herbicides, and/or selective use and proper timing of pre-emergent herbicides unless otherwise noted in site-specific scope. 1.1.1. Before applying herbicides to areas larger than six (6) square feet, submit a schedule listing proposed materials, application rates and application times prior to the County Parks representative. 1.7.4. Apply herbicides only at manufacturers approved rates to avoid soil toxicity. Verify the herbicide is appropriate for use with various plant materials. 1.7.5. Contractor is responsible for any damages incurred as the result of herbicide application and must repair or replace any such damage at no cost to the County of Essex. 1.8. Bed Edging Specifications 1.8.1. All edged beds will have sharp, well-defined edges of at least 3” deep. Soil from the edge definition will not be left in the bed areas. 1.8.2. Bed edges shall be true to their form in that they are straight or curved without jagged edges.
