Tree planting shall include the supplying of all materials, and completion of all work items associated with the installation, including maintenance and guaranty of all trees installed on property owned by or managed by the city. The work shall be performed by a contractor specializing in commercial landscape installation. Provide coordination of landscape work with all other trades as required. The city reserves the right to accept or reject trees at any time during delivery, storage, installation, or maintenance procedures. Trees which do not survive the stated guarantee period will be replaced as specified herein.

1.

Publications and standards:

a.

American Association of Nurserymen, Inc. (AAN) Standard: American Standard for Nursery Stock (ANSI Z60.1, latest edition).

Note: Caliper or "cal." as noted herein refers to the caliper of the trunk at six inches above the ground level for tree trunks of four inches caliper size or less, and 12 inches above the ground level for trunks of more than four inches in caliper.

b.

Hortus Third, Cornell University, 1976.

1.

To provide standards and requirements for any landscaping installation for which the city will take ownership or maintenance responsibility.

2.

Provide guidance for the installation and maintenance of private landscaping. These specifications only become required where specifically referenced by the Allen Land Development Code.

(Ord. No. 2721-3-08, § 1(Exh. A), 3-25-2008)

1.

All submittals shall be in accordance with the requirement set forth herein.

2.

Upon authorization to proceed with the work, submit project schedule indicating the dates of each of the following items:

a.

Delivery of plant material to the site.

b.

Planting.

c.

Other associated work, e.g., grass planting, irrigation, etc.

d.

Substantial completion of the work.

3.

Submit the following items:

a.

Manufacturer's data or "cut sheet" for:

i.

Mulch.

ii.

Weed control product.

iii.

Soil amendment(s) product literature and delivery tickets. Note: Contractor shall submit original delivery tickets for soil amendment material attached to contractor's application(s) for payment.

iv.

Fertilizers.

4.

Submit documentation to the city within ten working days after award of contract that all trees and associated materials are available. Contractor shall be responsible for all material listed in the construction documents. Any tree substitution proposed due to unavailability must be requested in writing prior to confirmation of ordering. All trees shall be subject to inspection by the city at any time after confirmation of ordering.

5.

The contractor shall submit specifications of any material being used in conjunction with the trees at the request of the city.

1.

All trees shall be grown under the supervision of standardized nursery conditions. Any tree with uncharacteristic growth, weakness in structure of material, infestations or irregular coloration will not be accepted.

2.

Stock furnished shall be at least the minimum size indicated by ordinance or by city-approved construction documents as applicable. The use of stock larger than required or specified is acceptable at no additional cost to the city. If the use of larger stock is approved, the spread of roots or root ball of earth shall be increased in proportion to the size of the tree in accordance with ANSI Z60.1, latest edition.

3.

Contractor shall employ only skilled personnel and provide adequate supervision.

1.

All trees provided and planted by contractor shall be guaranteed for a period of one year from the date of final acceptance. Final acceptance will be certified after all trees are in place in accordance with contract documents. Warranty period shall terminate only if trees have been in full leaf for a minimum of three weeks. In the event the warranty period of one year would expire prior to aforementioned requirement, period shall be extended to comply. Trees which have partially died so that shape, size or symmetry has been damaged shall be considered subject to replacement. In such case, the opinion of the city shall be final.

2.

Replacement trees shall be at least the same overall size of any other trees of the same species installed on the job, at the time of replacement. All work associated with replacement shall be at no cost to the city.

3.

The contractor shall immediately repair any damage, including ruts in lawn or bed areas, breaks in paved surfaces or any damage incurred in making replacements at no additional cost to the city.

4.

The guarantee shall apply to any growing condition in which like materials that have been established could be expected to survive. The guarantee shall not apply after planting and final acceptance to trees that are subjected to harm beyond the contractor's control, including injury by storms, fires, mechanical injury by humans or machines, hail, insects, theft or natural disaster.

5.

At the end of the 12-month warranty period, the contractor shall send a written request for inspection at least 14 days prior to the anticipated date of warranty termination. An inspection may be made by the City of Allen upon receiving written request from contractor. Any tree to be replaced as determined by the City of Allen shall be removed from the site. These and any trees missing due to contractor's negligence shall be replaced as soon as conditions permit during normal planting season, at no additional cost to the City of Allen.

(Ord. No. 2721-3-08, § 1(Exh. A), 3-25-2008)

PART 2. PRODUCTS

1.

[General requirement.] This part shall include the furnishing of all materials of the dimensions and types as shown in construction documents or as established by the city.

2.

Source quality control.

a.

Certification. All materials incidental to tree planting shall comply with governmental regulations prevailing at the supply source and the job site.

b.

Analysis and standards. Products packaged in sealed containers shall be labeled and manufacturer's certified analysis.

c.

Plant material selection. Plant materials shall be inspected for approval or rejection at the project site by the City of Allen. The contractor is responsible for giving the City of Allen 48-hour prior notice of tree delivery. Failure to provide such notice and planting of the trees without such notice shall subject the installation to rejection by the City of Allen without recourse.

3.

Product delivery, storage, and handling.

a.

General. Store materials only in areas as designated in construction documents or as approved by the city.

b.

Packaged materials. Deliver packaged materials in unopened containers showing weight, analysis and name of manufacturer. During shipment and storage on site, protect materials from breakage, moisture, heat or other damage.

c.

Trees.

i.

Shipping shall be scheduled to minimize on-site storage of trees. Stock shall not be shipped until the planting preparations have been completed and staking of tree locations is approved by the city. All trees delivered to the site shall be planted on the day of delivery. Theft of any trees or incidental materials is the sole responsibility of the contractor.

ii.

Labels: Trees which are shipped shall be clearly identified, with legible labels stating correct name and size of the tree, securely attached to individual trees, or to groups of like species and size.

iii.

During shipment, trees shall not be bent, stacked or bound in a manner that damages bark, breaks branches, deforms root balls or destroys natural shape.

iv.

Transport plant material in closed vehicles or in open vehicles with the entire load properly covered for protection from drying winds, heat, freezing or other harmful exposure.

v.

If delays in planting beyond the contractor's control occur after delivery, trees shall be kept watered and protected from sun, wind, freezing, or mechanical damage; and root balls shall be covered with topsoil (not heavy clay). This shall be considered an incidental cost to the planting of each tree. Do not remove container grown stock from containers until planting time. "Heel in" trees in moist soil immediately upon delivery. Keep the roots constantly moist until planted. The heeling-in grounds shall be a well-protected, shaded area and shall be restored to its original or better condition prior to acceptance of the project.

vi.

Handle trees at all times in accordance with the best arboricultural practices. Lift ball and burlapped trees from the bottom of the ball only. Trees handled otherwise will be subject to rejection. Balled and burlapped trees which have cracked or broken balls are not acceptable and shall not be planted.

vii.

Protect trees in transit. Material not properly protected and which is damaged will be rejected.

(Ord. No. 2721-3-08, § 1(Exh. A), 3-25-2008)

1.

Trees.

a.

Trees shall be true to name and variety described in Hortus Third, Cornell University, 1976, or by cultivars generally accepted in the trade.

b.

Trees shall be free of disease, insects, eggs, larvae, and defects such as knots, sun-scald, injuries, abrasions, or disfigurement. They shall be sound, healthy and vigorous, of uniform growth, typical of the species and variety, well-formed, free from irregularities with the minimum quality conforming to American Standard for Nursery Stock.

c.

If indicated on the plans, trees indicated as specimen shall have exceptional character, be unquestionably superior in form and branching, and have the best attributes representative of the species. Uniformity of height and growth habit are critical to the acceptance of "specimen" trees.

d.

The minimum acceptable sizes of all trees shall be measured before pruning with branches in normal position. Unless otherwise designated in the construction documents, all tree dimensions shall conform to those listed in ANSI Z60.1, American Standard for Nursery Stock, latest edition. The city reserves the right to require a credit adjustment to the contract price for trees which do not meet the specified sizes.

e.

Tree root balls shall be firm, neat, slightly tapered and well wrapped. Trees with loose or broken balls at time of planting shall be rejected.

f.

Root treatment: Root treatments on all trees shall conform to the requirements of ANSI Z60.1. Trees shall be dug and prepared for shipment in a manner that will not cause damage to branches, roots, shape, and future development after planting.

i.

Balled and burlapped trees shall have a firm, natural ball of earth of sufficient diameter and depth to encompass the fibrous and feeding root systems necessary for full recovery of the tree. Root balls shall be securely wrapped with burlap and bound with cord or wire.

ii.

Mechanical spade-dug plants shall have a firm, natural ball of earth of sufficient size to ensure the full recovery of the plant. Ball sizes, at minimum, shall meet the requirements of ANSI Z60.1 both for ball diameter and depth: trees with root balls less than such may be subject to rejection at the discretion of the city.

g.

Trees shall be subject to final approved by the city at the site before installation.

h.

Container-grown stock:

i.

Shall be grown in a container for a sufficient length of time for the root system to have developed to hold its soil together.

ii.

No trees shall be loose in the container.

iii.

Container stock shall not be pot bound.

i.

Tree height shall be measured from the crown of the roots to the top of the highest branch and shall not be less than the minimum size designated in the construction documents.

2.

Planting mix/soil amendments.

a.

Soil excavated for tree planting pits shall be used as backfill.

3.

Mulch. Shredded hardwood mulch in a minimum three-inch layer, free from other foreign material, or approved equal. Pine bark nuggets are not acceptable.

4.

Staking and guying materials. Three six-foot steel-T fence posts per shade tree, space uniformly around the tree. All stakes shall be new and green. Used posts will be accepted if newly repainted to the city's satisfaction. Rubber hose chafing guards of one color throughout the job. All wire/cable shall be 12 or 14 gauge steel. Arbor tie (or approved equal) woven tree ties may be used in lieu of wire.

5.

Tree planting fertilizer.

a.

Greenlight root stimulator, or approved equal.

b.

Tree saver packets (Jenco), or approved equal.

c.

Bio-pack plus (plant health care), or approved equal.

PART 3. EXECUTION

1.

This part shall include the installation of all trees at the locations and elevations as shown on the drawings or as established by the city. The work performed hereunder shall conform in every respect to the contract documents, the applicable city requirements, the applicable local ordinances and sanitary codes, the regulations of the state health department, the regulations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In the event that the contract documents do not adequately specify materials, methods of construction, or workmanship of any portion of the proposed work, the standards of the trade shall govern.

2.

Prior to bidding the work, the contractor shall examine and verify the acceptability of the job site. Notify the city in writing of defects and deficiencies of work in place by others prior to bidding. Any site conditions found after bids are received by the city will not be admissible as grounds for increasing the project construction cost. Do not proceed with the work until unsatisfactory conditions have been corrected or resolved. Commencement of work shall be construed as acceptance of the site.

3.

Where planting occurs in close proximity to other site improvements, adequate protection shall be given to all site features prior to commencing work. Any site features damaged during planting operations shall be promptly repaired to their original condition or completely replaced at no cost to the city.

4.

Utilities: Hand-excavate to minimize possibility of damage in the vicinity of utilities. The contractor shall repair and restore utilities damaged by planting operations at no cost to the city.

5.

The contractor shall provide and maintain the means necessary for conveying water from an approved potable source to the project site.

6.

Excavation: When conditions detrimental to plant growth are encountered, such as land fill, rock, adverse drainage conditions, or obstructions, notify the city before planting.

7.

Planting season:

a.

Refer to the construction documents for planting season constraints, if applicable.

b.

If special conditions exist which warrant installation outside specified planting season, submit a written request to the city describing conditions and stating the proposed variance.

8.

Work schedule: Notify the city in advance of any deviations from schedules.

9.

Coordination with other work: Proceed with and complete tree planting work as portions of the site become available.

10.

The contractor shall be a company specializing in landscape installation.

11.

Do not willfully plant trees in low areas that do not drain. Such areas shall be brought to the attention of the city prior to planting so that adjustments to tree locations can be made. Any tree planted in such an area shall be relocated at the city direction at no additional cost.

12.

Do not plant any tree closer than eight feet from any trail or other pedestrian pavement without consent from the city. Any tree planted in such an area shall be relocated at the city's direction at no additional cost.

1.

Excavation.

a.

Rocks and other underground obstructions shall be removed to a depth necessary to permit proper planting according to plans and specifications. If underground utilities, or other structural obstructions are encountered, the contractor shall notify the city immediately for determining a suitable alternate planting location. The original planting pit shall be backfilled and properly compacted. Such operation is considered incidental to the project cost.

b.

All pits for trees which will be planted within ten feet of the location of a known utility shall be hand dug. No mechanical equipment shall be used. Contractor will be fully responsible for damage to utility lines. Scarify the sides of tree planting pits dug by auger or mechanical spade.

c.

All trees planting locations shall be staked and approved by the city before excavation of tree pits.

d.

Excavate planting pits as shown on the city standard tree planting detail, with a gradually flared or widened top of planting pit.

2.

Planting.

a.

Set balled and burlapped trees on the undisturbed bottom of the planting pit (unless indicated otherwise on drawings) with the top of the root crown three inches above finish grade (trees), oriented to give the best appearance or relationship to one another and adjacent structures. The city reserves the right to direct the reorientation or repositioning of any tree which is accepted but nonetheless has gaps of missing foliage in the canopy, rendering one or more sides more preferable to viewing.

b.

Cut away burlap, rope, wire, or other wrapping materials from the top of the ball and remove from pit. Do not remove burlap or ties from sides or bottom of ball. If plastic wrap or other nondegradable materials are used in lieu of burlap, completely remove them before placing of backfill. Cleanly cut off broken or frayed roots. Place existing soil backfill around the ball and carefully compact to avoid injury to the roots and to fill the voids. After backfilling planting pit approximately two-thirds full, add water and allow backfill to settle. After the water has been absorbed, fill the planting pit with backfill and tamp lightly to form a watering basin of the size indicated on the city standard detail for tree planting. Except on steep slopes, watering basin shall be no higher than four inches above surrounding grade.

Note: Backfill for tree plantings shall be existing on-site soil. All inorganic materials and debris shall be removed from the site. Apply approved fertilizer/tree food as recommended by the manufacturer.

c.

Plant container-grown stock with existing soil backfill. Remove containers before planting, and sever the sides of root ball in several places, loosening the roots on the outside of the ball sufficiently to encourage rapid root extension into the surrounding soil and to prevent girdling of root mass. Tree with girdling roots shall not be accepted and shall be rejected.

[3.

Reserved.]

4.

Mulching.

a.

Mulch tree watering basins to a uniform depth of three inches.

5.

Pruning. Prune only dead or damaged wood from each tree. Do not use "tree paint."

6.

Guying and staking. Perform per industry standards, with stakes driven substantially into solid, undisturbed ground as shown in the city standard tree installation detail. Wires or other tying material shall be tied tight above the lowest branch of tree.

7.

Maintenance.

a.

Maintenance during installation shall begin immediately after each tree is planted and shall continue until as required until the date of final acceptance. Only upon final acceptance of the entire project or tree installation will the city assume maintenance responsibilities.

b.

Tree shall be inspected at least twice per week by the contractor during the installation period and until final acceptance.

i.

Trees shall be pruned and mulch replaced as required to maintain a minimum three-inch depth.

ii.

Stakes, guys, and eroded tree saucers shall be tightened, repaired or replaced as required.

iii.

Remove grass and weeds including root growth from tree planting pits.

c.

If an operable city irrigation system with suitable hose bibbs or quick-coupler valves exists in the vicinity of the tree planting, the contractor may utilize the system at no cost to the contractor for watering the trees after securing permission from the parks and recreation department. If no such irrigation system exists, the contractor shall hand water all trees with water secured from a city-approved source at his or her own expense. Contractor will be required to reimburse the city for excessive water usage arising from leaks or contractor negligence.

i.

The contractor shall be responsible to inspect, at least twice weekly, all tree plantings and deep water if necessary to supplement any surface irrigation that exists at the site. More frequent watering may be necessary during periods of extreme heat or drought, and shall be performed by the contractor at no additional cost to the city.

ii.

The contractor shall be responsible for adhering to all water conservation regulations and drought restrictions.

d.

The contractor shall be responsible for trash and litter removal from all tree planting areas, removing grass and weeds and restoring mulch levels prior to final acceptance.

(Ord. No. 2721-3-08, § 1(Exh. A), 3-25-2008)

1.

Cleanup.

a.

Excess and waste material shall be removed and legally disposed at least weekly.

b.

When planting in an area has been completed, the area shall be cleared of all debris, soil piles, and containers.

2.

Repairs.

a.

Any damage to existing landscape, utilities, paving, or other improvements as a result of work related to this contract shall be repaired by the contractor to its original condition at no cost to the city.