(A) General. At locations indicated on the plans or special provisions or where designated by the Engineer, the Contractor shall prepare seed beds, furnish and spread fertilizers and famish and plant the seed specified herein on disturbed areas.
(B) Material.
(1) Fertilizer shall be standard commercial 10-8-6 or 10-4-6 grade, uniform in composition, free flowing and suitable for application with approved equipment, delivered to the site in bags or other convenient containers each fully labeled, conforming to applicable state laws.
(2) Lime shall be ground limestone containing all of the finer particles obtained in the grinding process and ground sufficiently fine so that not less than 80% will pass through a No. 8 sieve. The calcium carbonate equivalent by the percent of material passing through the No. 8 sieve will be equal to or in excess of 0.72. The moisture content at the time of shipment must not exceed eight percent.
(3) The classes of seeding mixture shall be designated on the plans and shall consist of one or more of the classes listed below. Seeding mixtures from the specified class shall be designated by the Engineer, based on the season of the year when seeding operations are performed. Spring seeding shall begin January 1 and terminate June 30 and Fall seeding shall begin July 1 and terminate December 31.
SEEDING MIXTURES | ||
Seeds | Lbs./Acre | Season to Use |
SEEDING MIXTURES | ||
Seeds | Lbs./Acre | Season to Use |
Class I | ||
Kentucky Bluegrass | 50 | Spring |
Perennial Ryegrass | 20 | |
Redtop or Creeping Red Fescue | 10 | |
Ladino or White Dutch Clover | 5 | |
Kentucky Bluegrass | 50 | Fall |
Perennial Ryegrass | 20 | |
Redtop or Creeping Red Fescue | 10 | |
Oats, Spring | 48 | |
Kentucky Bluegrass | 70 | Spring or Fall |
Redtop or Creeping Red Fescue | 20 | |
Class II | ||
Kentucky 31 or Alto Fescue | 50 | Spring |
Perennial Ryegrass | 20 | |
Redtop or Creeping Red Fescue | 10 | |
Ladino or White Dutch Clover | 5 | |
Kentucky 31 or Alto Fescue | 50 | |
Perennial Ryegrass | 10 | |
Redtop or Creeping Red Fescue | 10 | |
Oats, Spring | 48 | |
Class III | ||
Crown Vetch | 20 | |
Perennial Ryegrass | 10 | |
Lespedeza, Ladino, Alfalfa or White Dutch Clover* | 5 | |
Crown Vetch | 20 | Fall |
Winter Vetch | 40 | |
* Lespedeza shall not be sown north of U.S. 136.
(C) The percent purity, germination and weed content shall meet the requirements as set forth in the Indiana State Highway Specifications.
(D) Preparation of Seed Bed.
(1) After the areas to be seeded have been brought to the proper grades and cleared of all stones, boulders and debris, the areas shall be thoroughly tilled to a depth of at least three inches by discing, harrowing or other approved methods acceptable to the Engineer. The incorporation of fertilizer may be a part of the tillage operation specified above.
(2) Fertilizer shall be distributed uniformly at the rate of 400 pounds per acre, over the area indicated to be fertilized, and shall be incorporated into the soil to a depth of at least three inches by discing, harrowing, or other approved methods acceptable to the Engineer. The incorporation of fertilizer may be a part of the tillage operation specified above.
(3) Lime shall be distributed uniformly on all areas to be fertilized at the rate of one ton to one acre, and shall be incorporated in the soil to a depth of at least three inches by discing, harrowing, or by other methods acceptable to the Engineer, immediately following or simultaneously with the incorporation of the fertilizing.
(E) Seeding Methods.
(1) No seed shall be sown during high winds or when the ground is not in a proper condition for seeding, nor shall any seed be sown until the purity test has been completed for the seed to be used, and shows that the seed meets the noxious weed seed requirements. Equipment shall be operated in a manner to insure complete coverage of the entire area to be seeded. When seed or fertilizer is applied with a hydraulic seeder, the rate of application shall be not less than 1,000 gallons of slurry per acre. This slurry shall contain the proper quantity of seed or fertilizer specified per acre. When using a hydraulic seeder, the fertilizer nutrients and seed shall be applied in two separate operations.
(2) Within 12 hours, all seed areas shall be rolled at right angles to the run-off with an approved type roller or cultipacker to compact the seedbed and place the seed in contact with the soil. On areas seeded with a hydraulic seeder, rolling shall not be required.
(3) The optimum depth for seeding shall be ¼ inch.
(4) All legumes (clover, vetch, lespedeza, and alfalfa) shall be inoculated with the proper bacteria in the amounts and manner recommended by the manufacturer of the inoculant before sowing or being mixed with other seeds for sowing. The inoculation shall be furnished by the Contractor and shall be approved by the Engineer. The seed shall be sown, as soon as possible, after inoculation and seed that has been standing more than five hours after inoculation shall be reinoculated before sowing. If legumes are applied by hydro seeder, three times the normal amount of inoculation shall be used. The Contractor shall furnish the inoculant and the cost of furnishing it shall be included in the contract unit price per acre for seeding of the class specified.
(F) Replacement of Sodded Areas. At locations specified, shown on the plans, or designated by the Engineer, the Contractor shall remove and carefully store the sod. Upon compaction of the trench in a manner satisfactory to the Engineer, the sod shall be replaced in a neat, workmanlike manner, over a minimum of two inches of topsoil. Any deficiency in sod, necessary to restore the surface to a condition equal or better to that, which existed before construction operations began, will require new sodding to be performed by the Contractor. The Contractor shall maintain sodded areas until certification of completion by the Engineer.