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The work covered by this section consists of preparing seedbeds; furnishing, placing, and covering limestone, fertilizer, and seed; compacting seedbeds; furnishing, placing, and securing mulch; mowing; and other operations necessary for the permanent establishment of grasses and legumes from seed on shoulders, slopes, ditches, or other roadside areas; all in accordance with these specifications.
Seeding and mulching shall be performed on all earth areas disturbed by construction and on portions of areas seeded under previous contracts where in the opinion of the Engineer there is unsatisfactory vegetative cover.
The Contractor shall adapt his operations to variations in weather or soil conditions as necessary for the successful establishment and growth of the grasses or legumes.
In all operations covered by this section, care shall be taken to preserve the required line, grade, and cross section of the area treated.
The quantity of mowing to be performed will be affected by the actual conditions which occur during the construction of the project. The quantity of mowing may be increased, decreased, or eliminated entirely at the direction of the Engineer. Such variations in quantity will not be considered as alterations in the details of construction or a change in the character of the work.
All materials shall meet the requirements of Division 10 shown below:
Fertilizer Article 1060-2
Limestone Article 1060-3
Seed Article 1060-4
Mulch for erosion control Article 1060-5
The analysis of fertilizer and the kinds of seed shall be as stated in the special provisions.
1660-3 COORDINATION WITH GRADING OPERATIONS.
The work of seeding and mulching shall be performed on a section by section basis immediately upon completion of earthwork sections in accordance with the provisions of Article 2252. No exception will be made to this requirement unless otherwise permitted in writing by the Engineer or by the special provisions.
When grading operations have been suspended, and seeding and mulching has been performed on areas where work has been suspended, the work of seeding and mulching of the adjacent sections shall include any necessary overlapping of operations on previously established grass and legume cover.
Upon failure or neglect on the part of the Contractor to coordinate his grading with seeding and mulching operations and diligently pursue the control of erosion and siltation, the Engineer may suspend the Contractor's grading operations until such time as the work is coordinated in a manner acceptable to the Engineer. Such suspension will be in accordance with the provisions of Article 1087.
The Contractor shall cut and satisfactorily dispose of weeds or other unacceptable growth on the areas to be seeded. Uneven and rough areas outside of the graded section, such as crop rows, farm contours, ditches and ditch spoil banks, fence line and hedgerow soil accumulations, and other minor irregularities which cannot be obliterated by normal seedbed preparation operations, shall be shaped and smoothed as directed by the Engineer to provide for more effective seeding and for ease of subsequent mowing operations.
The soil shall then be scarified or otherwise loosened to a depth of not less than 5 inches except as otherwise provided below or otherwise directed by the Engineer. Clods shall be broken and the top 2 to 3 inches of soil shall be worked into an acceptable seedbed by the use of soil pulverizers, drags, or harrows; or by other methods approved by the Engineer. All rock and debris 3 inches or larger shall be removed on median, shoulder, and ditch cut or fill slopes which are 3:1 or flatter, prior to the application of seed and fertilizer.
On cut slopes that are 2:1 and steeper, both the depth of preparation and the degree of smoothness of the seedbed may be reduced as permitted by the Engineer, but in all cases the slope surface shall be scarified, grooved, trenched, or punctured so as to provide pockets, ridges, or trenches in which the seeding materials can lodge.
On cut slopes that are either 2:1 or steeper, the Engineer may permit the preparation of a partial or complete seedbed during the grading of the slope. If at the time of seeding and mulching operations such preparation is still in a condition acceptable to the Engineer, additional seedbed preparation may be reduced or eliminated.
Seedbed preparation within 2 feet of the edge of any pavement shall be limited to a depth of 2 to 3 inches.
The preparation of seedbeds shall not be done when the soil is frozen, extremely wet, or when the Engineer determines that it is an otherwise unfavorable working condition.
1660-5 APPLYING AND COVERING LIMESTONE, FERTILIZER, AND SEED.
(A) General:
Seasonal limitation for seeding operations; the kinds of grades of fertilizers; the kinds of seed; and the rates of application of limestone, fertilizer, and seed shall be as stated in the special provisions.
Equipment to be used for the application, covering, or compaction of limestone, fertilizer, and seed shall have been approved by the Engineer before being used on the project. Approval may be revoked at any time if equipment is not maintained in satisfactory working condition, or if the equipment operation damages the seed.
Limestone, fertilizer, and seed shall be applied within 24 hours after completion of seedbed preparation unless otherwise permitted by the Engineer, but no limestone or fertilizer shall be distributed and no seed shall be sown when the Engineer determines that weather and soil conditions are unfavorable for such operations.
During the application of fertilizer, adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent damage to traffic, structures, guardrails, traffic control devices, or any other appurtenances. The Contractor shall either provide adequate covering or change methods of application as required to avoid such damage. When such damage occurs the Contractor shall repair it, including any cleaning that may be necessary.
(B) Limestone and Fertilizer:
Limestone may be applied as a part of the seedbed preparation, provided it is immediately worked into the soil. If not so applied, limestone and fertilizer shall be distributed uniformly over the prepared seedbed at the specified rate of application and then harrowed, raked, or otherwise thoroughly worked or mixed into the seedbed.
If liquid fertilizer is used, storage containers for the liquid fertilizer shall be located on the project and shall be equipped for agitation of the liquid prior to its use. The storage containers shall be equipped with approved measuring or metering devices which will enable the Engineer to record at any time the amount of liquid that has been removed from the container. Application equipment for liquid fertilizer, other than a hydraulic seeder, shall be calibrated to ensure that the required rate of fertilizer is applied uniformly.
(C) Seed:
Seed shall be distributed uniformly over the seedbed at the required rate of application, and immediately harrowed, dragged, raked, or otherwise worked so as to cover the seed with a layer of soil. The depth of covering shall be as directed by the Engineer. If 2 kinds of seed are to be used which require different depths of covering, they shall be sown separately.
When a combination seed and fertilizer drill is used, fertilizer may be drilled in with the seed after limestone has been applied and worked into the soil. If 2 kinds of seed are being used which require different depth of covering, the seeding requiring the lighter covering may be sown broadcast or with a special attachment to the drill, or drilled lightly following the initial drilling operation.
When a hydraulic seeder is used for application of seed and fertilizer, the seed shall not remain in water containing fertilizer for more than 30 minutes prior to application unless otherwise permitted by the Engineer.
Immediately after seed has been properly covered the seedbed shall be compacted in the manner and degree approved by the Engineer.
(D) Modifications:
When adverse seeding conditions are encountered due to steepness of slope, height of slope, or soil conditions, the Engineer may direct or permit that modifications be made in the above requirements which pertain to incorporating limestone into the seedbed; covering limestone, seed, and fertilizer; and compaction of the seedbed.
Such modifications may include but not be limited to the following:
1. The incorporation of limestone into the seedbed may be omitted on (a) cut slopes steeper than 2:1 (b) on 2:1 cut slopes when a seedbed has been prepared during the excavation of the cut and is still in an acceptable condition; or (c) on areas of slopes where the surface of the area is too rocky to permit the incorporation of the limestone.
2. The rates of application of limestone, fertilizer, and seed on slopes 2:1 or steeper or on rocky surfaces may be reduced or eliminated.
3. Compaction after seeding may be reduced or eliminated on slopes 2:1 or steeper, on rocky surfaces, or on other areas where soil conditions would make compaction undesirable.
(A) General:
All seeded areas shall be mulched unless otherwise indicated in the special provisions or directed by the Engineer.
Grain straw may be used as mulch at any time of the year. If permission to use material other than grain straw is requested by the Contractor and the use of such material is approved by the Engineer, the seasonal limitations, the methods and rates of application, the type of binding material, or other conditions governing the use of such material will be established by the Engineer at the time of approval.
(B) Applying Mulch:
Mulch shall be applied within 24 hours after completion of seeding unless otherwise permitted by the Engineer. Care shall be exercised to prevent displacement of soil or seed or other damage to the seeded area during the mulching operations.
Mulch shall be uniformly spread by hand or by approved mechanical spreaders or blowers which will provide an acceptable application. An acceptable application will be that which will allow some sunlight to penetrate and air to circulate but also partially shade the ground, reduce erosion, and conserve soil moisture.
(C) Holding Mulch:
Mulch shall be held in place by applying a sufficient amount of asphalt or other approved binding material to assure that the mulch is properly held in place. The rate and method of application of binding material shall meet the approval of the Engineer. Where the binding material is not applied directly with the mulch it shall be applied immediately following the mulch application.
During the application of asphalt binding material, or other approved binding materials which may cause damage, adequate precautions shall be taken to prevent damage to traffic, structures, guardrails, traffic control devices, or any other appurtenances. The Contractor shall either provide adequate covering or change methods of application as required to avoid such damage. When such damage occurs the Contractor shall repair it, including any cleaning that may be necessary.
The Contractor shall take sufficient precautions to prevent mulch from entering drainage structures through displacement by wind, water, or other causes and shall promptly remove any blockage to drainage facilities which may occur.
1660-7 MAINTENANCE OF SEED AND MULCHING.
Areas where seeding and mulching have been performed shall be maintained in a satisfactory condition until final acceptance of the project.
Maintenance shall include mowing at the location and times directed by the Engineer.
Areas of damage or failure due to any cause shall be corrected by being repaired or by being completely redone as may be directed by the Engineer.
Where correction can be made without extensive seedbed preparation, the area shall be repaired in accordance with Section 1661.
Where correction will require extensive seedbed preparation, or where earthwork repairs or complete reshaping are necessary, the seeding and mulching shall be redone in accordance with this section.
As an exception to the above, areas of damage or failure resulting either from negligence on the part of the Contractor in performing subsequent construction operations or from not taking adequate precautions to control erosion and siltation as required throughout the various sections of the specifications, shall be repaired by the Contractor as directed by the Engineer at no cost to the Department.
(A) Seeding and Mulching:
The quantity of seeding and mulching to be paid for will be the actual number of acres of seeding and mulching, measured along the surface of the ground, which has been completed and accepted.
(B) Mowing:
The quantity of mowing to be paid for will be the actual number of acres, measured along the surface of the ground, which has been mowed at the direction of the Engineer. Where an area has been mowed more than once at the direction of the Engineer, separate measurement will be made each time the area is mowed.
(A) Seeding and Mulching:
The quantity of seeding and mulching, measured as provided in Subarticle 16608(A), will be paid for at the contract unit price per acre for "Seeding and Mulching."
(B) Mowing:
The quantity of mowing, measured as provided in Subarticle 16608(B), will be paid for at the contract unit price per acre for "Mowing."
(C) Limestone and Fertilizer:
No direct payment will be made for furnishing and applying the limestone and fertilizer as such work and materials will be considered to be incidental to be the work covered by "Seeding and Mulching".
(D) Compensation:
Where seeding and mulching has been damaged or has failed to establish a satisfactory stand of grasses or legumes, the areas of damage or failure shall be corrected and the Contractor will be compensated for the work of correction.
Where correction can be made without extensive seedbed preparation, the work will be paid for as provided in Article 16616 for "Seed for Repair Seeding" and "Fertilizer for Repair Seeding".
Where earthwork and seeding and mulching has been damaged to the extent that earthwork repairs or complete reshaping are necessary, the Contractor will be paid at the contract unit price for the excavated material required for repairs to the damaged earthwork, and at the contract unit price for "Seeding and Mulching" for correcting the damaged seeding and mulching.
As an exception to the above, the Contractor shall repair, at no cost to the Department, any damage to earthwork or seeded and mulched areas which is due to carelessness or neglect on the part of the Contractor.
The above prices and payments will be full compensation for all work covered by this section including but not limited to furnishing all limestone, fertilizer, seed, mulch, asphalt, and other materials; cleanup of vegetation, stone, and other debris prior to seedbed preparation and mulching; seedbed preparation; applying and covering limestone, fertilizer, and seed; applying mulch; holding mulch; maintenance; and mowing.
(E) Pay Items:
Payment will be made under:
Seeding and Mulching Acre
Mowing Acre