Part One: Lawn Maintenance Consideration Mowing, Edging and Trimming: All turf areas shall be mowed on an as needed basis, often enough that no more than 1/3 of the leaf blades are removed per mowing. Mower blades will be sharp at all times to provide a quality cut. Mowing height will be adjusted for the seasons: Spring height is 1.5 to 2.5 inches, summer height is 2.5 to 3.5 inches, and Fall is 1.5 to 2.0 inches. All clippings will be collected and hauled off site. Edging: Tree rings, plant beds, buildings, sidewalks, fences, driveways, parking lots and other surface areas bordered by grass will be edged by use of a power edger. Sidewalks are to be edged as often as necessary during the growing season to insure a neat appearance. Grass and weeds growing in cracks of walks and parking lots are to be removed regularly. Tree Rings: Isolated trees and shrubs smaller than 12” caliber at their base growing in lawn areas will require mulched areas around them (minimum 2-foot diameter) to avoid bark injury from mowers and filament line trimmers and to reduce root competition from grass. The cost of this mulch for those trees and shrubs that are already treated in this manner as well the cost to renovate trees and shrubs that do not have “mulched tree rings,” will be included as part of the awarded contract. Trash Cleanup : Contractor will clean all clippings from walkway and sidewalk surfaces, parking lots, curbs, and roadways immediately after mowing and/or edging. Clippings will not be swept, blown or otherwise disposed of into sewer drains. The contractor will be responsible for the removal of all visible clippings off site. Before each lawn mowing, the Contractor shall pick up paper and/or trash and dispose of such material. Such disposal may be done in dumpster on site. Fertilization and Weed Control: Fertilizer/ Weed control applications will be done to all turf areas in both spring and fall, consisting of two (2) total applications. Fertilizer is to be applied in a slow or controlled release form. Herbicide shall be applied as necessary for the control of dandelions and other broad-leafed weeds. Pre-emergence weed seed treatment shall be applied no later than May 15 for the control of crab grass and other annual grasses. The cost of fertilizer and herbicide for all turf areas will be included as part of the awarded contract. Pest Control: The contractor will make sure that grub control is applied to all lawn areas upon award of the contract. The Contractor will inspect lawn areas each visit for indications of pest problems and advise the client or representative of such problems. Upon confirmation of a specific problem requiring treatment, pesticides will be applied as needed on a spot treatment basis, whenever possible, using the least toxic, effective pesticide. All spraying of pesticides and fertilizer applications will be performed when temperatures are below 90 degrees Fahrenheit and wind drift negligible. No pesticides will be applied to turf areas without the express approval of the client. This includes weed and feed formulations. Records will be turned in to the client any time that fertilizer, weed and feed, pesticides, or herbicides are used; records will state the date, time, area, name of chemical, and amount of treatment used. This same specification is required for pests identified and treatment(s) rendered for their control. The cost of all pest control service will be included as part of the awarded contract.
