I. Maintenance Requirements for Grassed Areas • Litter, Debris, and Clippings Control: All litter, debris, clippings, and/or other objectionable material shall be removed from each facility prior to work starting and subsequently strewn material on same shall be removed as work progresses or as instructed by the Resident Maintenance Engineer or his designee. Any paved surfaces (i.e. parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, paved road shoulders, curbs, etc.) shall be kept clean at all times. All clippings and vegetative debris shall be bagged and/or raked, and removed from the properties by manual or appropriate means by the end of each working day. All collected materials are to be disposed of off-site. No refuse material of any sort is to be placed in SCDOT owned trashcans, dumpsters or other waste receptacles. • Mowing: All grass within the bounds of the SCDOT properties listed above shall be mowed to a uniform height between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. Do not mow areas saturated with water or where standing water is present. Mowing operations are prohibited when conditions are such that turf damage will occur, erosion will be induced, or tire ruts will be left. The contractor shall replace all turf and/or vegetation damaged during mowing operations with like type and size material at no cost to SCDOT. • String Trimming: All grass adjacent to structures, fences, landscaping, sidewalks, material stockpiles, or any other area as deemed appropriate by the Resident Maintenance Engineer should be cut using a string trimmer. Grass will be cut to a uniform height between 1.5 and 2.5 inches. If any area is too wet or otherwise inaccessible for conventional type mowing equipment, or if access by such equipment would cause damage to the turf, this area is to be mowed using string trimmers. This includes steep slopes (greater than 3:1) or any slope that has less than half of its surface covered in established, mowable vegetation. • Chemical Vegetation Control: All concrete and asphalted areas shall be treated with commercially available herbicides to kill any existing growth and inhibit future growth of vegetation through cracks, joints, etc. Herbicides may also be used around material stockpiles, fence-lines, rock ditches, etc. where string trimming will either be ineffective or unreasonably time consuming. At no time shall the application of herbicides cause brown-out conditions in any area such that established ground cover becomes unable to prevent erosion. • Edging: Edging shall be performed around all sidewalks, curbs, landscaping and wherever it is necessary to maintain a clean turf edge. The turf edge shall be no more than one inch in total width and at least one half inch deep. Edging equipment shall be properly maintained at all times and blades will be kept sharp. No string trimmers are allowed for this operation. • Weed Control: All weeds appearing in mowed areas are to be kept eradicated by chemical and/or mechanical treatment. • Pest and Disease Control: Contractor is to provide labor and materials for reasonable control of disease and insect infestations including fire ants. All materials used must be generally accepted for use in controlling the disease and/or infestation present and approved by the Resident Maintenance Engineer or his designee. • Fertilization: The Contractor is to provide labor and materials to be fertilize all lawn areas at proper intervals to maintain healthy appearing grass. This work can be timed with the normal servicing of each facility and will be considered incidental to servicing each facility with no extra compensation provided. II. Maintenance Requirements for Trees, Decorative Plants, Flower Beds and Shrubbery • Litter, Debris, and Clippings Control: All litter, debris, clippings, and/or other objectionable material in and around plantings or beds shall be removed prior to work starting and subsequently strewn material in and around it shall be removed as work progresses. All collected materials are to be disposed of off-site. No refuse material of any sort is to be placed in SCDOT owned trashcans, dumpsters or other waste receptacles. • Weeding: All plantings and beds are to be maintained weed free on a bi-weekly basis by either chemical or mechanical means. All needed materials will be provided by the Contractor. At no time shall the application of chemical weed control adversely affect ornamental plants or established grass/groundcover. • Pruning: All hedges and shrubbery shall be trimmed and pruned in accordance with best horticulture practices on a bi-weekly basis to achieve the desired manicured appearance. • Preventative Maintenance Treatments: All appropriate shrubbery shall be sprayed with dormant oil in late winter or early spring and general herbicide shall be applied in May or June of each year. Fungicides will be applied as necessary. This work can be timed with the beginning and ending of the cutting season and will be considered incidental to servicing each facility with no extra compensation provided. • Mulching: The contractor shall provide all labor and materials to replenish all mulch in the fall of each year. This work can be timed with the ending of the cutting season and will be considered incidental to servicing each facility with no extra compensation provided. • Fertilization: The Contractor is to provide labor and materials to be fertilize all plants, flower beds, etc. at proper intervals so that a healthy appearance is maintained at all times. This work can be timed with the normal servicing of each facility and will be considered incidental to these services with no extra compensation provided. • Tree Trimming: Any low hanging or dead tree branches shall be cut and removed. This work can be timed with the normal servicing of each facility and will be considered incidental to these services with no extra compensation provided. III. Maintenance Requirements for Gravel Pads • Litter, Debris, and Clippings Control: All litter, debris, clippings, and/or other objectionable material in and around gravel pads shall be removed prior to work starting and subsequently strewn material in and around it shall be removed as work progresses. All collected materials are to be disposed of off-site. No refuse material of any sort is to be placed in SCDOT owned trashcans, dumpsters or other waste receptacles. • Weeding: All plantings and beds are to be maintained weed free on a bi-weekly basis by either chemical or mechanical means. All needed materials will be provided by the Contractor. At no time shall the application of chemical weed control adversely affect ornamental plants or established grass/groundcover. • Preventative Maintenance Treatments: All gravel pads shall be sprayed with dormant oil in late winter or early spring and general herbicide shall be applied in May or June of each year. Fungicides will be applied as necessary. This work can be timed with the beginning and ending of the cutting season and will be considered incidental to servicing each facility with no extra compensation provided.
