Specifications include, but are not limited to: 1. Plant Material a. All plant material shall be true to name and type, and first-class representatives of their species or variety. They shall have normal, well-developed branches, be healthy, vigorous plants free from defects, plant disease, and all forms of infestation or objectionable disfigurements. All plant material shall conform to American Standard for Nursery Stock. b. Trees may be bareroot or balled and burlapped. c. Balled and burlapped plants shall be freshly dug with firm, natural balls of earth of diameter not less than that recommended in the current edition of American Standard for Nursery Stock, securely wrapped with non-synthetic, untreated, biodegradable burlap, and tightly bound with non-synthetic, untreated, biodegradable rope or twine. The root system within the root ball shall contain a sufficient balance of support, conducting, and fibrous roots. Trees with manufactured balls or balls that are dry, cracked or broken before or during installation will not be accepted. d. Trees are to appear symmetrical in shape and have a single, straight leader. Trees with multiple leaders, unless specified, will be rejected. Trees with a damaged, cut, or crooked leader, excessive abrasion of bark, sunscald, disfiguring knots, insect damage, mold, prematurely opened buds will also be rejected. e. Plants shall be 1.5” – 2” in caliper, except that plants larger than those specified may be used if approved by the Village Forester. If larger plants are approved, the root ball and root spread, shall be increased in proportion to the size of the plant, conforming to ASNS standards. f. Caliper measurements shall be taken on the trunk 6 inches (15 cm) above the root flare for trees up to 4 inches (10 cm) in caliper. Plant material larger than 4 inches (10 cm) shall be callipered at standard d.b.h. (4.5’). Plants shall be of normal height and spread as this compares to caliper. Plants that have great discrepancies and do not possess a normal balance between height and spread shall be rejected. g. Substitutions of plant materials will not be permitted unless authorized in writing by the Village Forester. If proof is submitted, substantiated in writing, that a plant specified is not obtainable, consideration will be given to the nearest available size or similar variety, with a corresponding adjustment of the contract price. h. Plants shall be inspected upon delivery, and the Village Forester reserves the right to reject any plants that do not meet the standards or that have been damaged during shipment. Such approval shall not impair the right of inspection and rejection during progress of the work. i. The Village Forester shall be the sole judge of acceptability of stock at any time during the course of this contract. j. Plants must be protected from damage during moving. Plants shall be tied and/or padded to prevent rubbing or scrapping damage during transit. Plants shall be protected from wind damage to foliage if trees are not dormant. k. Plants stored on site shall be mulched and watered. Roots balls are not to dry out. Trees shall not remain unplanted for more than 3 days. 2. Planting Operations a. The Village Forester will mark all planting areas prior to planting and provide the Contractor with detailed maps of planting locations. b. The Contractor shall notify Diggers Hotline to verify location of underground utilities before planting begins. c. All planting holes shall be dug with a stump grinder to pulverize soil. d. All planting holes shall be at least 3 times the size of the root ball in diameter. e. All planting holes shall be dug to a depth that allows for proper tree planting with the root flare at final grade. The soil pad on which the soil ball or root ball will be placed shall be of undisturbed soil, the depth of which shall correspond to the distance from the bottom of the soil ball to the root flare, or slightly less. If the hole has been dug too deeply soil should be compacted in the bottom of the hole to sufficiently prevent the root ball from settling, which would result in the tree being planted too deeply. f. If turf is present, the first pass with stump grinder shall skim off turf grass as to not allow for clods of sod in soil backfill. g. The Contractor shall notify the Village Forester, in writing, of soil conditions or other obstructions the Contractor considers detrimental to tree growth. Such conditions shall be described, as well as suggestions for correcting them. Proper water drainage must be assured. h. Where soil conditions or below ground obstructions which cannot be remedied are encountered, the Village Forester shall designate alternate planting locations. i. Plants shall be set with the top of the root flare (not graft) at finished grade. If the root flare is buried in the soil ball, soil shall be carefully removed to expose root flare. Plants shall be set so that they will be at the same depth 1 year after planting. j. All ropes, strings, wire baskets, burlap, and other wrappings shall be removed from ball after the plant has been set. This material shall be removed from the hole. k. Planting holes shall be backfilled with excavated soil. Remove all sod, large clods, and stones/concrete from backfill. When holes are approximately twothirds full, they shall be thoroughly watered to eliminate air pockets. After this initial watering, excavated soil shall be installed to the top of the hole and watered. l. Excess soil must be removed from the site daily. m. All plants shall be mulched over the root system with a 3-4” layer of wood chips or bark mulch immediately after planting. Mulch rings shall encompass excavated hole and be circular in appearance. Mulching material shall be pulled back no less than 3" and no more than 6" from the trunk. n. Plants shall be thoroughly watered immediately after planting. o. All twine, rope, transit guards or wrappings, and plant labels secured around the trunk or branches shall be removed after planting is completed. p. Only broken or dead branches shall be cut off the trees at time of planting. q. Removal of any branches, binding and wrap material, rejected trees, and all other debris associated with and derived from the planting of the trees shall be completed at the end of each working day.