pon completion of final cut at ground level on all non-invasive hardwood species, apply a cut stump treatment herbicide approved for use by the Engineer to prevent re-growth. Apply herbicides at labeled rates and treatment recommendations immediately after final cut is performed. Apply herbicide using a blue dye additive. No additional compensation will be paid for this treatment. Apply herbicide treatments to invasive plant species as follows: Woody Types: Upon completion of final cut at ground level on all invasive woody species, apply a cut stump treatment herbicide with blue dye additive approved for use by the Engineer to prevent re-growth. Apply herbicides at labeled rates and treatment recommendations immediately after final cut is performed. Vines: Spray invasive vines during the growing season with a herbicide that is labeled to control the specific vine approved for use by the Engineer. Apply herbicide at labeled rates and treatment recommendations. Spray foliage that is within 4 feet of the ground. No foliar spray shall be above 4 foot high. Cut vines that extend above 4 feet and treat as woody plants. Spray invasive grasses and weeds during the growing season with a herbicide that is labeled to control the specific grass or weed approved for use by the Engineer. Apply herbicide at labeled rates and treatment recommendations. Side Trimming This work consists of side trimming of the tree branches that are encroaching or are a threat to encroach from the sides of the R/W onto the travel ways. The work may range from the systematic pruning of every tree along the R/W to the selective pruning of individual trees which encroach. All tree branches encroaching on the travel ways will be removed to the vertical line of the specified R/W limits or as directed by the Engineer. Side trimming will be performed from the lowest branches to a height of at least thirty (30) feet from grade level along the vertical line of the R/W trees or at the Engineer’s discretion. Branches shall never be removed in a manner to create an unbalanced canopy, where one side has many more branches than the other, nor shall all the branches be removed on one side of any tree. No more than 25% of the total leaf bearing crown shall be removed from any tree. No more than 25% of the branches on any one side of a tree shall be removed. This may require selected trees outside the vertical line of the R/W trees to be removed completely. Trees that are leaning over the vertical line that are greater than 8 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) must be cut at ground level. Dead, diseased or dying trees within the R/W limits must be cut at ground level. All side trimming will be performed by equipment designed to make a clean branch cut.
