Landscape Maintenance Services

CITY OF NORCROSS A CERTIFIED PLATINUM

GREEN COMMUNITY

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATION

September 2026 Revision

Prepared by:

City of Norcross

Department of Public Works, Utilities and Parks

Norcross Landscape Maintenance Specification

PAGE

Appendix

Project Site Locations

Species Pruning Guidelines

Norcross Landscape Maintenance Specification

Section 1: GENERAL INFORMATION

condition all landscape areas, playgrounds, irrigation, and drainage systems, and other related work outlined in the Specification and as agreed in writing. All work shall be performed in a skillful manner, using quality equipment and materials, and the Specification methods.

The Contractor shall provide regular, weekly (unless otherwise noted) maintenance and inspection services as outlined in the Specification for the project sites.

The Contractor shall look for and note problems or potential problems that need to be addressed.

The Contractor shall make minor replacements and repairs to the landscape facilities as part of the required weekly maintenance work. Major items needing replacement or repair shall be reported to the Representative in accordance with the Specification. A minor item would be something that takes less than 15 minutes to repair by a skilled worker, using minimal replacement parts. Some specific guidelines for determining if an item is minor or major are given in the sections pertaining to each item. The Contractor shall be available to perform additional work related to landscape maintenance as may be authorized in writing by the Representative. Such work shall be non-minor items relating to landscape care, which are not a part of the normal maintenance work as outlined in the Specification.

Any facilities or property damaged or destroyed as a result of the Contractor's operations at the site shall be repaired or replaced at the Contractor's expense.

The Contractor must perform the work as specified herein to the satisfaction of the Representative. The Representative shall make inspections from time to time to determine the Contractor's conformity with the Specification and the adequacy of the work being performed. The City has the authority to suspend the work wholly or in part, for such period as the City deems necessary due to unsuitable weather or other conditions. The Contractor shall be available for consultation with the Representative as needed.

Site Description

Work to be performed is located within the city limits of Norcross, as defined in Appendix I, Project Site Locations. These areas are owned or supervised by the City, with the Director of Public Works, Utilities, and Parks and the Landscape and Beautification Manager as Representatives. The Contractor MUST verify area sizes and conditions on his/her own.

Sites are to be walked by the Contractor and Representative to identify any deficiencies in site conditions that need to be addressed before the start of the maintenance contract, unless otherwise approved by the Representative. Conditions to be noted include, but are not limited to, existing broken irrigation, shrubs or trees not to specified maintenance levels, turf conditions not to specified maintenance levels, pest damage, safety issues or concerns, other issues.

Limits of Work

Specified work does not include:

Any areas outside and not adjacent to those specifically enumerated in the locations above unless otherwise agreed in writing.

The inside of any buildings or facilities.

Any private property not belonging to the City, unless specifically directed by the Representative to include as part of additional work.

Replacement or repair of any traffic control signs or other similar devices, except where specifically damaged by the Contractor or his/her employees.

Any buildings or structures within the locations being maintained except where specifically damaged by the Contractor or his/her employees.

Repair of utilities, furnishings, hardscapes, curbs, roads, or sidewalks, except where specifically damaged by the Contractor or his/her employees.

Quality Assurance

Reference standards - conform to recommendations, specifications and standards of the following:

Standardized Plant Names, 1942 Edition, American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature.

American Standard for Nursery Stock, 1980 Edition, American Association of Nurserymen.

The selection of all materials and the execution of all operations required under the Specification and drawings shall be subject to the approval of the Representative. The Representative and the Contractor shall make site inspections quarterly (or as otherwise agreed to by Representative and Contractor) to determine any work which, in the opinion of the Representative, does not meet the requirements of the Specification. All rejected work shall be corrected promptly by the Contractor. Quarterly Site Inspection Reports shall be submitted by Contractor to the Representative within 5 business days of inspection; reports shall include corrective actions taken or scheduled.

The City shall be assured of a complete maintenance program for all trees, plants, lawn, and mulch areas such that the quality of all plantings and lawns shall not deteriorate but shall obtain vitality and healthy new growth for the duration of the contract.

The City shall be assured of a complete maintenance program for the site landscape irrigation system such that the performance of the system shall not deteriorate below the designed limits of operation and/or the manufacturer's performance specifications.

The Contractor is hereby made aware that the City anticipates that the landscape maintenance at the sites shall be of the very highest quality possible. All work to be performed, such as pruning, mowing, fertilizing, watering, weeding, irrigation maintenance, edging, spraying, policing, plant installation, over-seeding, aerating, and mulching shall be strictly managed, executed, and performed by experienced personnel.

Contractor Requirements

Qualifications - All work shall be performed by experienced personnel supervised by the Contractor. The Contractor must provide management and technical supervision as required to implement the work. The Contractor shall be responsible for the skills, methods and actions of his/her employees and subcontractors and for all work done.

The Contractor must have a valid Business license.

The Contractor must have at least one employee assigned to the project who is a 'Georgia Certified Landscape Professional'.

The Contractor must have assigned to the project at least one employee or subcontractor possessing a Georgia Department of Agriculture Pesticide Division's Commercial Applicator License and a Pesticide Contractor License for the control of weeds, plant diseases and other pests.

The Contractor is recommended to have at least one employee assigned to the project possessing a GSWCC Level 1B - Advanced Fundamentals Certification for Erosion Control.

It is preferred that the Contractor have assigned to the project at least one employee who possesses a GSWCC - Level II Certification.

Contractor must have assigned to the project at least one employee or subcontractor who is a Certified Irrigation Contractor (Irrigation Association).

It is preferred that the Contractor have at least one employee assigned to the project who is a Certified Arborist or Certified Tree Worker (International Society of Arboriculture).

Contractor must have assigned to the project at least one employee or subcontractor who has experience or training in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques.

It is preferred that the Contractor have assigned to the project at least one employee who has experience or training in Best Management Practices for Landscape Water Conservation, sponsored and managed by The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Office.

Insurance

The Contractor shall provide the Representative an active policy with current Certificates of Insurance as specified in the RFP.

Insurance policies meeting these requirements shall remain in effect for the duration of the work. No payments to the Contractor will be authorized unless current Certificates of Insurance have been filed with the Representative.

Compliance with Laws, Ordinances and Policies

All services rendered shall be provided in accordance with all ordinances, resolutions, statutes, rules, laws, and regulations of the City, and any Federal, State, or local government having jurisdiction in effect at the time service is provided.

The Contractor shall adhere to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division's Rules Governing Outdoor Water Usage.

The Contractor shall adhere to the City's Tree Preservation and Protection Ordinance.

The Contractor shall adhere to State and local storm water pollution prevention requirements for the site and any storm water management and erosion control policies.

Any requirement of the Specification which conflicts with or is in violation of any government rule, ordinance, regulation, etc. shall be void. The Contractor shall notify the Representative immediately of any such requirement found in the Specification.

The Contractor shall, throughout the course of this work, comply with all rules, ordinances, regulations, etc. set forth by agencies having jurisdiction, which apply to the work site, the Contractor, and/or his/her employees.

General Work Requirements

Protection of existing property

The Contractor shall protect all existing plant materials, site improvements, structures, facilities, utilities, and natural areas from damage, both above and below ground. Any damages shall be reported immediately to the Representative. Any damages caused by the Contractor shall be corrected and/or paid for by the Contractor at no cost to the City.

The Contractor shall protect property from accidental chemical, fuel, oil or other contaminate spills.

The Contractor shall not wash or blow soil, chemicals, litter, mulch, soil amendments or other materials into storm drains, water features, or streets.

The Contractor shall replace at his/her own expense, any lawn area or other plant material requiring replacement due to negligence on his/her part. The Contractor is required to replace damaged areas considered strictly as normal maintenance conditions in accordance with accepted practice. The Contractor is not typically required to replace plants or entire lawns due to conditions totally beyond his/her control.

Contractor's personnel and supervision

All Contractors' employees assigned to the work site must be able to demonstrate they are United States citizens or have a legal right to work in the United States.

The Contractor shall assign, at a minimum, a qualified, trained 'crew leader' to oversee work performed at the work site and to act as work or task manager of the employees. This crew leader must inspect the work and provide direction to the Contractor's workers and/or subcontractors. This crew leader shall speak, write, read, and understand English and be capable of communicating any deficiency that needs correcting.

The Contractor's staff is to be personable, courteous, and presentable at all times. In areas where a decision is required, the Contractor's staff shall seek guidance from the Representative.

Subcontracting

A portion of the work covered by the Specification may be subcontracted with prior approval of the Representative. The Contractor shall supervise subcontractors and guarantee work quality.

All anticipated subcontractors and their qualifications must be submitted at the time of contract approval. All subcontractors assigned to the site must demonstrate they are United States citizens or have a legal right to work in the United States.

All subcontractors are subject to follow and maintain the terms of the Specification.

Work performance

The Contractor is responsible for:

Thoroughly investigating and considering the scope of services to be performed.

Carefully considering how the services should be performed.

Fully understanding the facilities, difficulties, and restrictions attending to the performance of the services required.

It is the Contractor's responsibility to carefully inspect the work sites prior to submitting the bid to become familiar with the particular concerns attributed to each individual site. No adjustments in payment or other contract provisions will be made due to failure to inspect sites and otherwise become informed of the particular characteristics of the work sites.

Should the Contractor discover any latent or unforeseeable conditions, which will materially affect the performance of services, the Contractor shall immediately inform the Representative of such fact and shall not proceed, except at the Contractor's risk, until written instructions are received from the Representative.

Plants, irrigation systems, etc., damaged by traffic accidents or vandalism, shall be reported immediately to the Representative.

Within 10 days after the Notice to Proceed is issued, the Contractor shall make a thorough examination of the current conditions at the site (see Section 2.2).

The Contractor shall make a list of all landscape items at the site that he/she believes are broken, missing, not healthy, or otherwise not in compliance with the Specification. A copy of this list, along with an additional itemized quote for correcting each item, shall be given to the Representative.

Upon confirmation of each item, the Representative shall either give the Contractor written authorization to make the correction, or a written release from responsibility for the item.

By the act of submitting a bid on this work, the Contractor shall be considered to have examined both the landscape and the Specification, and to have thoroughly familiarized himself/herself with the scope of the required work.

By the act of submitting a bid on this work the Contractor shall be considered to have thoroughly read and examined the Specification and forms provided herein, including the requirements for regular inspections and quarterly job walks. Further it shall mean that the Contractor understands that inspections and job walks will include evaluations and requirements to make revisions to the level and/or quality of services being provided in order to meet the terms of this contract. The Contractor's failure to make reasonable and timely corrections when requested shall constitute a breach of contract.

Loss prevention: The City may take any reasonable action necessary to control damage or protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public in the event of problems involving the landscape. Such action on the part of the City shall not relieve the Contractor of any responsibilities related to the problem

Safety

The Contractor shall always exercise necessary precautions to provide for the protection of the public and employees.

Any unsafe conditions must be reported immediately to the Representative or designee. The Contractor must not block any roadway at any time without prior authorization by the Representative.

Traffic lane closure - landscape maintenance services conducted in the roadway or center medians must be performed in a safe manner. The Contractor is required to perform traffic diverting lane closures prior to beginning any trimming operations in the center median. Litter pickup does not require a lane closure. All lane closure activities must comply with GDOT standard guidelines, and follow notification requirements of the city, Police, and Fire Departments.

The Contractor is responsible for keeping equipment in safe working order and to monitor the safe use of the equipment on site.

Do not use blowers around moving vehicles to avoid blowing debris into windows, etc.

Proper training in the safe and proper operation of vehicles, mowers and equipment used is solely the responsibility of the Contractor.

The Contractor's attention is directed to the fact that there are active utilities located within the limits of work. Before commencing any work required under the Specification, Contractor shall find the location of all utilities, subsurface drainage, and underground construction and take proper precautions not to disturb or damage any subsurface improvements. The Contractor is responsible for all repairs to damaged utilities resulting from the work covered by the Specification without claims against the city for additional cost.

Chemical applications

The Specification emphasizes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to control pests and diseases in the landscape. IPM uses cultural, mechanical, physical, and biological control methods before using pesticides. Chemical controls are applied only when preventative and non-chemical methods are not keeping pests below acceptable levels. When pesticides are required, the least toxic and the least persistent pesticide that will provide adequate pest control shall be used.

Contractor shall apply all chemicals in a safe manner and according to label instructions and Federal, State, and local requirements.

Appropriate signage shall be posted after treatment in accordance with Georgia's requirements for outdoor pesticide applications in public areas.

A Commercial Applicator License and a Pesticide Contractor's license are required by the Contractor/subcontractor for chemical applications.

The Contractor/subcontractor shall mix and apply chemicals to protect against accidental spills and drift to non-target areas, and to ensure safety of the applicator. Any spilled chemicals, as well as contaminated soil, water, and/or landscape materials must be removed from the site and disposed of in accordance with Federal, State and local requirements.

The Contractor/subcontractor shall maintain applicator's licenses and records of applications as required by the State.

A Chemical Work Report shall be completed for each chemical application. The Contractor is responsible for submitting the reports to the Representative if requested.

No part of this work shall be performed or installed in any location or manner which may endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public now or in the future.

Contact Person - Communications

The Contractor shall assign a qualified, trained supervisor to oversee work performed at the work site and to act as the Contractor's liaison with the Representative. This supervisor must inspect the site and provide direction to the Contractor's workers and/or subcontractors. This supervisor shall speak, write, read, and understand English and be capable of writing schedules and reports noting any deficiency that needs correcting and major projects.

The supervisor shall be a person in the employ of the Contractor who is familiar with, and regularly updated on, all the Contractor's activities at the site. The supervisor shall personally perform regular reviews of the Contractor's work at the site.

The Contractor shall provide the Representative a personal mobile phone number whereby the supervisor can be reached at any time between 8am and 6pm during the typical work week, except when he/she may be in a meeting or otherwise indisposed.

The Contractor shall provide the Representative with a phone number to contact the Contractor and/or supervisor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Regular communication between the Contractor and the Representative is encouraged. The Contractor is encouraged to ask questions, rather than make assumptions. As the landscape matures, some of the maintenance procedures may be eliminated and others may have to be added. For example, as the shrubs mature, they will require less fertilization.

The Contractor shall instruct staff to accept work instructions only from Contractor's supervisor. The Contractor's staff is never to accept work instructions from residents, business owners or staff of the City other than the Representative. The Contractor shall be held liable for any unauthorized work.

Check Lists and Inspections

The WEEKLY LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE CHECKLIST is made a part of this specification as if repeated in full here. It is an example for Contractor to use to ensure maintenance standards are met. Reports shall be available to the Representative if requested.

The QUARTERLY LANDSCAPE INSPECTION CARD is made a part of this specification as if repeated in full here. It is an example of a Quarterly Site Inspection Report required as specified in Section 1, 1.6.B.

The Contractor's supervisor shall conduct quarterly progress briefings with the Representative. These meetings are to be held in conjunction with the quarterly job walks. The supervisor shall be prepared to discuss issues and concerns and respond to questions. The supervisor shall

provide documentation of irrigation inspections, IPM monitoring, soil and pest management treatments and other chemical applications if requested.

The Contractor and/or the Contractor's supervisor shall meet quarterly with the Representative to conduct a job walk and site inspection to evaluate the work. A punch list shall be generated for items requiring attention. The Contractor shall be responsible for completing and reporting on correction of items on the punch list.

At any time during work or inspection conditions are found, including but not limited to, pests, disease, and damages that are beyond the scope of the Contractor's responsibility, they shall immediately be brought to the attention of the Representative.

The Representative may at any time make unannounced and unscheduled inspections to ensure that complete and continuous maintenance is fulfilled and verify reported work. In addition, the city may obtain the services of a specialist (arborist, urban forester, landscape architect, etc.) to inspect plantings and make recommendations for improvements in the maintenance program.

Hours, Schedules, and Meetings

Hours and schedules

The Contractor shall conduct all operations in accordance with the requirements of the City's Noise ordinance (Sec 26-20-Prohibited Conduct), unless otherwise approved by the Representative. The Contractor may not work on any Federal, State, or local holidays unless approved by the Representative.

The Contractor must perform all necessary work detailed in the Specification without unnecessarily interfering with normal operations.

Any non-emergency work that may be deemed hazardous or disruptive (i.e., chemical spraying, tree pruning, etc.) shall be scheduled at least one (1) week in advance with the Representative. For emergency work, the Contractor must obtain verbal approval from the Representative prior to commencing work and confirm in writing after completion of emergency work.

The City reserves the right to change schedules for special events or conflicts with adjacent property owners/tenants with one (1) week advance notice.

Within 10 days after the Notice to Proceed is issued, the Contractor and Representative shall review and agree to: (see Section 2.2):

Deficient or pre-existing conditions and proposal to repair these conditions, including costs.

Watering schedule including days, times, and length of cycle (i.e., watering frequency), and locations of clocks.

A schedule for performing the landscape services outlined in the Specification, including the days the Contractor will work at each complex and any monthly or annual operations required by the Specification.

Meetings

The Representative shall schedule and administer a kick-off meeting prior to start of the maintenance contract work. The Representative shall schedule and administer quarterly progress briefings and job walks (inspections). Representatives of the Contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers attending the meetings shall be qualified and authorized to act on behalf of the entity each represents.

Usual attendees:

City Representative

Contractor and/or supervisor

Contractor's subcontractors as appropriate

Others as appropriate

Kick-off meeting

Meeting shall include visits to each site where the Contractor is authorized to work.

Typical agenda:

Discussion of what is to be done and by whom

Work schedule of activities

Procedures for inspection and approval of work

Procedure for approval of extra work and emergency work

The Contractor shall submit to the Representative for review and acceptance the annual projected schedule(s) of activities for all sites in the Specification:

Intended mow days

Debris/trash inspection(s) and removal

Irrigation inspections

Fertilization schedules

All other seasonal and related work schedules

The Representative shall provide a schedule of annual special events to the Contractor for use in scheduling work activities.

Billing

Invoices for regular monthly payments as stated in the contract shall be submitted at the first of each month. Payment for work done without written approval by the Representative is at the City's discretion.

No unacceptable or deficient work shall be billed to the City, nor paid for by the City.

Any work deemed unacceptable will be documented and will be corrected by the Contractor at the Contractor's expense before being signed off by the Representative as acceptable for payment by the city.

The Contractor shall be given additional time at the Representative's discretion to correct deficient work.

Additional Work and Emergency Work

Additional work - New and unforeseen work shall be classified as additional work when determined by the Representative that such work is not covered by the Specification. Upon notification that additional work will be required, the Contractor shall submit an itemized, written cost proposal for such work to the Representative. The City shall retain the right to reject such cost proposal and perform the additional work with City staff or other contractors. Should the proposal be acceptable to the City, the Contractor shall be advised in writing, and upon receipt of such written notification, shall begin the work within five (5) working days or as agreed to between the Contractor and the Representative.

The Contractor shall do such additional work in accordance with the agreement for the additional work and within the provisions of the Specification and shall furnish all labor, materials and equipment. Payment for additional work performed shall be as agreed to by Contractor and the City and as bid.

All requests for work that will require additional payment must be in writing. The Contractor may not start work until the request for additional work has been approved in writing by the Representative. Failure to obtain advance approval before starting the work may result in non-payment or delays in processing payment.

No additional payments will be made for herbicide or fertilizer applications. The cost of all regular weed control and typical annual fertilization work shall be included in the contract price for landscape maintenance.

Emergency work

The Contractor shall provide office, and mobile phone numbers of the employee responsible for emergencies; said employee shall be fluent in English.

City shall provide the Contractor with emergency numbers for the Representative and emergency personnel; said employees shall be fluent in English.

The Contractor shall respond to the following categories as noted:

Emergency - respond within four (4) hours

Urgent - respond same calendar day

Regular - respond within two (2) calendar days

If the Contractor fails to respond within the appropriate time frame, City may charge Contractor for time and materials to perform the repair performed by others, including City staff.

Emergency repairs may be made without authorization when immediate repairs are necessary to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the public, or immediate repairs are needed to prevent additional property damage. In these situations, make immediate repairs as needed to protect the public or stabilize the situation and immediately notify the Representative. Additional payment for the work will be negotiated with the Contractor by the Representative.

Uniforms, Appearances, Advertisements and Solicitations

Uniforms and appearances for employees working within city limits.

The Contractor's staff are to wear clothing properly identifying them as contractors with the Contractor's name or logo clearly visible at all times when working at all locations. Shirts and pants are to be maintained in a neat and presentable condition.

The Contractor's employees are to wear clothing, eye protection, ear protection and proper shoes or boots that meet Federal, State, local, or OSHA regulations pertaining to the type of work being performed.

The Contractor's employees are to be dressed in a manner that would not be found offensive to the general public that Contractor's employees are working around. Torn, cut-off shirts or pants are never acceptable. At no time shall any employees work without their shirts on or any other typically prudent clothing.

At no time shall any uniform give the impression to the general public that the Contractor's employee is a City of Norcross employee.

Advertisements

At no time shall signage be placed in parks or landscaping promoting the Contractor's company.

Solicitations

At no time shall the Contractor's employees solicit work from the general public or commercial companies during regularly scheduled work for the City, unless a separate staff person or crew other than the ones assigned to the City work is used.

At no time shall the Contractor's employees do work for others during regularly scheduled work for the City, unless a separate crew other than the ones assigned to the City work is used.

Supplies and Equipment

Supplies and equipment

The Contractor shall implement strategies in work operations to reduce fossil fuel consumption and emissions, such as:

Use hand-powered equipment when possible

Select smallest, most fuel-efficient equipment to accomplish the task

Consider alternate fuel vehicles that operate on natural gas, electric batteries, solar power, biodiesel, or some combination of these things

Maintain equipment properly and keep it well tuned

Emphasize employee carpooling to project sites

Limit the use of large equipment around parked vehicles to avoid scratching vehicle paint.

Blowers shall not be used where prohibited by law.

Equipment refueling and repair

The Contractor shall refuel and repair equipment in a safe manner to protect against accidental spills. Limit refueling to specific areas on a site. Measures shall be taken to prevent, control, and clean-up spills. Clean-ups should be immediate, automatic, and routine and performed by a trained staff member or a licensed cleaning company. Contact the local emergency response team agencies to report all spills. Damage done by leaking of mower fluid shall be repaired at the Contractor's expense.

Put away all tools and equipment at the end of each day. Leave no tools or equipment on site.

Trucks, trailers, and other equipment

All equipment used in the City of Norcross on a City approved project shall have the company name on the equipment.

All Contractor vehicles shall have a readable sign with the Contractor's name or logo and telephone number. Trucks shall be maintained in a clean, safe, and presentable condition.

Any equipment that has the company name and the City of Norcross on it shall have the company name in larger lettering above the City of Norcross.

At no time should a piece of equipment be marked as to give the impression to the general public that it belongs to the City of Norcross.

Any equipment used in the City of Norcross must meet any qualifying Federal, State or Local laws, codes or ordinances, such as tagged, registration, GDOT registration, working lights, permissible advertising, etc.

The Contractor may not store equipment in, or have access to, any City storage facilities unless authorized by the Representative.

Clean Up - Site Cleanliness

General - Clean-up is important for public safety, area-wide appearance, and plant health. It includes the removal of leaves, clippings, and any other debris. Cleanup should be done routinely as the final part of every task and as the season dictates. Excessive materials and waste should be removed each time the Contractor is on site or at a minimum of once per week. When planting has been completed, the Contractor must clean the area of all debris, spoil piles, and containers. Where grass has been damaged or scarred during planting or maintenance operations, it shall be restored to its original condition.

All litter shall be removed from sidewalks, gutters, and all planted areas each week. All trash, litter, leaves, etc. shall be collected, hauled away, and disposed of legally. Do not sweep or blow trash, leaves, clippings, or landscape debris into planting beds, water features, storm drains, onto adjacent property, or into the road. Collect and/or bag all debris swept or blown from landscape areas and remove from the site and place at an approved compost facility.

Maintain at least one clear paved pedestrian access route to each building at all times during such work.

In addition to removing all litter from sidewalks, gutters, and planted areas, the Contractor shall remove and dispose of any large miscellaneous debris or trash in the parking lot. For the purpose of the Specification, "large" shall mean items the size of a small beverage cup or larger. The intent of this requirement is that the Contractor's workers should take sufficient pride in the appearance of the site that they would pick up any significant litter they come across at the site. Sweeping of the parking lots is not included in the landscape maintenance. All litter shall be removed from planting areas and sidewalks, regardless of the size of the litter.

If a job is not completed before the end of the workday, enough time shall be allowed to make the job site neat and safe. Do not plan work that cannot be completed before the weekend. Clean up shall include all components within each site including parking lots, ground cover, turf, bushes, walkways, and driveways.

Any settling, washouts or damage that are created by the Contractor's employees due to vehicles or equipment must be filled, graded, replanted, and repaired to original condition. Any damage done by others shall be reported to the Representative and repaired after an agreed amount and scope of work is issued on an approved work order.

Tarps - The Contractor shall employ the use of large tarps or ground cloths as much as possible to limit disturbance to other areas of the landscape and reduce labor efforts. For example, when repairing an irrigation head adjacent to a sidewalk, the Contractor shall place a tarp on the sidewalk and excavate the soil as needed, piling the soil on the tarp, thus enabling the soil to be easily and quickly deposited back into the pit when the work is complete. In the fall tarps shall be used in lieu of bags to collect mass amounts of large leaf litter and transport it to the nearest deposit area or vehicle.

Warranty

The Contractor shall guarantee and completely replace at no additional cost to City 100% of the plants which fail to maintain a healthy, vigorous condition (excluding theft or vandalism) as a result of poor or improper maintenance procedures. Size of the replacement plant material shall be equal to or be as close as possible (using typically grown nursery stock not requiring a special

order) to that of the plant which is being replaced and/or the size of existing adjacent like specimens.

Section 2: LANDSCAPE STANDARDS AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS

Overview - Norcross Landscape Maintenance Principles and Objectives

The Contractor shall maintain the specified landscape in an integrated approach, consistent with the principles set forth in the Norcross Landscape Maintenance Specification. The seven Maintenance Specification principles are:

Contextual landscape - The Project landscape is part of a larger natural ecosystem of the Georgia Piedmont areas and Chattahoochee River basin. The materials and methods used to maintain the Project should support the health, diversity and sustainability of these ecosystems.

Reduce waste - Reduce plant debris by fertilizing, irrigating and pruning judiciously. Additionally, employ grasscycling, mulching and composting of plant debris.

Nurture the Soil - Create a healthy soil that supports a healthy landscape by protecting the soil from compaction and erosion, replenishing organic matter and mulching, using slow-release and organic fertilizers, grasscycling and minimizing use of chemicals that harm beneficial soil organisms.

Conserve water - Use Georgia's water supply efficiently by reducing irrigation requirements, irrigating according to plant needs, maximizing irrigation system performance, increasing the water holding capacity of the soils, and replacing plants with higher water demands with native drought tolerant varieties.

Conserve resources - Look for opportunities to conserve fuel and energy by choosing and maintaining materials and equipment for fuel conservation.

Protect water and air quality - Reduce runoff, reduce contaminants in runoff through an integrated pest management (IPM) program, and increase the soil's ability to remove pollutants from runoff through steps such as mulching bare soil.

Protect and maintain natural habitats - The Project may provide food, water, shelter for plants, animals and beneficial insects that contribute to the ecological diversity of the region. Methods to protect them include minimizing application of chemicals by implementing an integrated pest management (IPM) program, and conserving flowers, berries, fruits, seed heads, low branch cover, and natural vegetation in open space areas.

Applicable standards and Best Management Practices (BMPs)

The Contractor shall adhere to applicable professional standards as defined by a professional organization including:

American National Standard for Tree Care Operations - ANSI A300, Parts 1 and 2

International Society of Arboriculture BMP for Tree and Shrub Fertilization and BMP for Tree Pruning

Irrigation Association BMPs

Gwinnett County Water Quality BMP's (Chapter 8)

Norcross Landscape Maintenance Specification

Grounds maintenance standards

The Representative shall apply one of the following three designation types to each of the areas to be maintained under the contract.

PRIORITY 1 AREA: These areas include highly visible focal points, gateways into the city, heavily used areas and places frequented by citizens on a daily basis. They include parks, City Hall, the Community Center, downtown streetscapes, front entrances to public buildings and gateway areas. The Contractor shall maintain these areas at the highest level of expectations. Mulch is to be kept off walks; mulch added or refreshed as needed; grass

neatly trimmed and free of weeds, edges well maintained and clearly demarked, weeds removed from beds weekly, annuals and perennials to be 'dead headed', debris removed from landscape areas, etc.

PRIORITY 2 AREA: The Contractor shall maintain these areas at a slightly lesser level than Priority 1 Area. The removal of weeds, edging of beds, etc may be done bi-weekly or monthly rather than weekly. Mulch requires top dressing annually vs. bi-annually. Turf must still be cut as needed but may not require as much fertilization, pre-emergent, etc. Annuals and perennials may be present but will not require dead heading, etc.

PRIORITY 3 AREA: The Contractor shall maintain these areas at a slightly lesser level than Priority 2 Area. The removal of weeds, edging of beds, etc may be done bi-weekly or monthly rather than weekly. Mulch requires top dressing annually vs. bi-annually. Turf must still be cut as needed but may not require as much fertilization, pre-emergent, etc. Annuals and perennials will likely not be present. Includes road medians, etc.

ALL AREAS: In all areas regardless of Type, the Contractor shall maintain plants off and from under fence lines, curbing strips and property lines. In addition, Contractor must keep storm drains, irrigation valve boxes, sewer clean outs, electrical boxes, cable boxes, telephone boxes, etc., clear for easy identification and accessible to service at all times in both the turf and ground cover areas.

Site Analysis

The Contractor shall characterize the site conditions as a precursor for developing the water management program.

The Contractor shall identify plants species present in the Project landscape.

Determine key plant species

Determine plant water use classification for each plant species present as a precursor for developing the water management program

Identify plants in the Project landscape that are protected from removal or damage by the tree or buffer ordinance, and adhere to all protection requirements

Soil tests

The Contractor shall collect and submit soil samples to an accredited and approved testing laboratory when planning a renovation and/or when experiencing ongoing problems. At a minimum one soil sample shall be collected from turf and one from shrub/ground cover areas that are representative of site conditions. Sample collection procedures shall adhere to recommendations of the soil testing laboratory. Submit soil lab report and any proposed soil amendments and cost adjustments to the Representative for written approval. Analyses to be performed include:

pH, electrical conductivity, nitrate, ammonium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, saturation percent, sodium, chloride, sodium adsorption ratio, boron, % sand-silt-clay, lime, % organic

The Contractor shall determine infiltration rate and drainage characteristics within the Project. This information shall be considered when scheduling irrigation.

Topography and potential for runoff

The Contractor shall assess topography within the Project and evaluate potential for runoff. This information shall be considered when scheduling irrigation and determining need for mulching, additional ground covering plants or erosion control measures.

Soil and Nutrition Management

Goals

A healthy, biologically diverse soil is required to sustain a healthy landscape. A basic concept of Norcross Landscape Maintenance is to cultivate a functional, living soil foodweb which shall then sustain healthy and attractive plants while avoiding excessive growth that might attract pests and/or need to be removed through pruning, edging or mowing. Landscape maintenance activities shall be implemented to nurture beneficial biological activity, provide organic material, and protect soil from damage. Riparian water quality and soil and aquatic habitat shall be protected by controlling soil erosion.

Protect soil from compaction by:

Cultivating soil when it is moderately moist; wet and dry soils shall not be cultivated

Scheduling maintenance operations that require driving equipment over the soil (e.g., mowing turf) when the soil is dry

Confining heavy equipment to paved areas

When temporary access is needed over non-paved areas, distribute the load over the soil with 6" thick coarse organic mulch or reusable planks

Protect the soil from erosion by:

Maintaining vegetative cover over the soil to the extent possible

Placing compost berms, blanket, socks, or tubes along slopes to slow water

Maintaining minimum of 2-3" mulch cover over bare soil

Using coarse mulch on slopes to avoid washing of mulch into storm drains

Soil and plant tissue analysis

The Contractor is recommended to submit soil samples for testing as described in Section 2.2.C. The types and quantities of fertilizer and/or soil amendments to be applied shall be determined from the results of the soil analysis and shall be based on an 'organic' approach to soil management.

Where plant micronutrient deficiencies are suspected, plant tissue analyses are recommended to determine need for fertilizer application.

Maintain organic mulch cover (see Section 3.9)

The Contractor shall maintain a minimum of 2-3" of coarse organic mulch at all times over soil surface that is not covered by vegetation.

Sheet mulching shall be employed where possible.

Retain natural leaf litter and clippings

To conserve nutrients on-site and protect the soil surface, the Contractor shall retain natural leaf drop under trees or in shrub beds. Select only tree and shrub beds that will not allow leaf litter or mulch to wash out into storm drains. Where leaf litter detracts from landscape appearance due to large leaf size or heavy use of the area (such as parks), it is preferable that leaves be chopped and returned to landscape beds. Remove diseased leaves that would provide inoculums for plant infection.

The Contractor shall practice grass cycling (see Section 3.2.B.3).

Fertilizers and other soil amendments

Norcross Landscape Maintenance prefers organic fertilizers and soil amendments from natural sources that release elements slowly where applicable.

The Contractor shall supply fertilizer and soil amendment labels including the guaranteed analysis, identifying components of the material and the percent nutrient content if requested. The Contractor shall apply the appropriate amount of fertilizer to supply the specified quantity of nutrient as determined by soil analysis and/or plant tissue analysis.

The Contractor shall apply and manage fertilizers and amendments to prevent pollution of surface and ground water and to avoid creating a toxicity to plants.

Application frequency

Fertilizers shall be applied on a prescription base only or by schedule as agreed upon by Representative. Application frequency shall be determined by plant need and assessed through soil and/or tissue analyses. For proposal purposes, the following maximum annual number of applications is provided.

Trees, shrubs, woody ground covers Two times per year

Herbaceous ground covers, perennials Two times per year

Annuals and turf Four times per year

If used, foliar applied fertilizer shall be water soluble and non-burning. Apply at manufacturer's maximum recommended concentration for plant type. Saturate the entire foliage of each plant with foliar spray until it runs off.

Granular fertilizer shall be slow release formulations or similar, applied at maximum label rate for plant type at 90-day intervals. Water immediately after applying to move the fertilizer into the soil and wash the fertilizer off plant surfaces.

When applying granular fertilizers to drip-irrigated areas, the fertilizers shall be washed in by hand or rainfall before turning on the drip system. Running the drip system immediately after application will push the fertilizer away from the emitters, resulting in a high concentration of fertilizer at the edge of the wetted zone. This highly-concentrated fertilizer can kill or damage plants. It is recommended that granular fertilizers be applied to drip-irrigated areas only in early spring, just prior to a moderate rainfall.

All chemicals shall be used in accordance with label directions and the manufacturer's recommended handling methods. All chemicals shall be handled in accordance with all applicable regulations. Registered chemicals shall be used only on the advice of a qualified, licensed pest control advisor. Nothing in this specification shall be construed to be the advice of, or to substitute for the advice of, a pest control advisor.

The Contractor shall provide seven (7) calendar days notice of fertilizer, pesticide, and/or herbicide applications to the Representative.

Water Management and Irrigation

General

It is the responsibility of the Contractor to conserve water and assure that all watering rules and regulations are followed. Any penalties, fines, or citations for watering ordinance violations shall be paid by the Contractor.

Irrigation shall be made via permanent irrigation systems. Primary watering will be done at night by automatic systems. Some hand watering may occasionally be necessary due to poor water coverage or malfunctioning sprinkler heads. The City is responsible for the cost of water.

Failure of the irrigations system to provide full and proper coverage shall not relieve the Contractor of the responsibility to provide adequate irrigation. It is the Contractor's responsibility to make sure that the irrigation system is maintained, provides adequate coverage and operates properly.

The Contractor is responsible for the complete operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems, except as noted below. The Contractor shall examine the irrigation system for damage or malfunction weekly and shall report damage or malfunction to the Representative in writing. If the Contractor fails to report the broken or malfunctioning irrigation system components within two weeks of the breakage or malfunction, the Contractor shall be responsible for all damages resulting from the broken irrigation system component.

Adjust watering times as needed and alert Representative when changes are made. Do not overwater plantings. Drip systems should be left on for sufficient time to allow for saturation of the root zone. Do not allow run-off from irrigation.

When breakdowns or malfunctions exist, the Contractor shall hand water, if necessary, to maintain all irrigated plant material in a healthy condition. If the irrigation repairs are major and will be billed as additional work, the labor costs for hand watering may also be submitted for payment as noted in the General Requirements section of the Specification. Do not wait for approval to begin hand watering if it is required to save the plantings.

Landscapes shall be irrigated to maintain plant appearance and health and managed to conserve water and avoid overspray and water damage to the City's hardscape and property.

Irrigation system assessment

Irrigation application rates and distribution uniformity are best assessed through an irrigation audit. The Contractor is encouraged to perform an irrigation audit bi-annually (refer to Landscape and Turf Irrigation Auditing at a UGA Cooperative Extension Office Publication).

If a water audit is not performed, the Contractor shall inventory of the irrigation system at the start of the job.

Irrigation scheduling - water budget method

The water budget approach to irrigation scheduling shall be used to match plant need with water application and avoid over-irrigation and overspray.

Irrigation intervals and frequency shall be suitable for weather conditions, soil infiltration rates, and plant species' rooting depth and water requirements within each irrigation zone. Calculation methods are described in Irrigation Scheduling Methods, available at or the UGA Cooperative Extension Office.

Irrigation duration within each hydrozone shall be based on the soil infiltration rate, species water requirement and rooting depth within the hydrozone, and the application rate and distribution uniformity of the irrigation system within that zone. Enough water shall be applied at each irrigation cycle to wet through the depth of root zone. Where runoff occurs, the application time shall be divided into shorter time intervals and repeated as needed.

Irrigation frequency for each hydrozone shall be adjusted a minimum of every four weeks to reflect Evapo-Transpiration (ET) expected in the next month.

Whenever possible, landscape irrigation shall be scheduled between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00

a.m. to limit the growth of mold or fungus on leaves.

No watering Friday or Saturday nights unless prior approval is given in writing by the Representative.

Irrigation monitoring

Contractor shall monitor soil moisture within plant root zones using a soil probe or shovel and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly.

The Contractor shall observe the irrigation system in operation to identify and correct water runoff or standing water problems. Problems and concerns are to be immediately reported to the Representative.

Irrigation is to be carefully coordinated with all other maintenance activities including mowing, aeration and fertilization. For example irrigation should not be set to turn on the night before a typically scheduled mowing, but instead should follow it. The same can be said for fertilization.

Irrigation system maintenance and repair

The Contractor shall check the entire irrigation system including each zone for items such as dry spots and missing or malfunctioning irrigation components. Check for leaking valves, water running across sidewalks, over spray, water standing in puddles, or any other condition which hampers the correct operation of the system or the public safety. The contractor shall carefully observe plant materials for signs of wilting, indicating a lack of water. Plants which

die due to irrigation failure will be considered to have died due to the Contractor's negligence and shall be replaced at the Contractor's expense.

The Contractor shall replace or repair, at the Contractor's expense, any irrigation components damaged, unless due to excluded damage. Repairs shall be made as soon as possible within two weeks of the day the damage occurred. If the damage was due to excluded damage, the irrigation repairs will be paid for as additional work. The Contractor shall make notification of needed repairs as soon as possible within two weeks of the day the damage occurred as noted in the General Requirements section of these specifications. Regardless of the cause of damage, the contractor shall take immediate action to prevent further damage by shutting off the damaged part of the irrigation system and commencing with hand watering as needed. As soon as possible after receiving written authorization to proceed, the Contractor shall make repairs. The following items are considered to be minor repairs:

Damaged or clogged sprinkler nozzles

Adjustment of sprinkler patterns or arcs

Adjustment of sprinkler position, i.e. raise, lower, or straighten sprinkler head

Replacement of clogged, broken, or missing drip emitters

Replacement or repositioning of drip distribution tubing smaller than 1/2 inch or 15 mm diameter

These minor repair items shall be corrected by the Contractor at the Contractor's expense.

The Contractor shall inspect the irrigation system in operation to ensure proper function according to the following schedule:

April - October Weekly

November - March Monthly (when system operating)

All malfunctioning equipment shall be repaired prior to the next scheduled irrigation.

For safety, in turf or typical pedestrian access areas never install sprinklers on risers above the ground level, even if the risers are flexible. Always use spring-operated, pop-up style sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads are available with pop-up heights up to 12 inches (30 cm) above ground level.

Plastic sprinkler nozzles with bad patterns shall be replaced with new nozzles of the same gallonage and arc as part of the regular maintenance of the sprinkler system. Do not attempt to clean plastic nozzles by sticking knife blades or wire into the openings. The plastic will be scratched, and the pattern will be ruined. Brass nozzles may be carefully cleaned if needed.

The Contractor must be able to repair and maintain all irrigation equipment including but not limited to valves, controllers, pipelines, low voltage electrical lines, etc., in a timely manner. Repair costs for repairs not deemed minor shall be approved by the Representative. All repairs over $250.00 require signed approval before physical work can begin. The Representative must be contacted immediately for actions resulting from an emergency that could result in severe damage.

All irrigation replacement parts shall be of the same manufacturer, material, type, and application rates as existing, unless an upgrade is advantageous and will not cost more.

Substitutions of materials other than original equipment will be approved only when the original equipment has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase at any location. The substituted equipment must be completely compatible with the original and must be approved in advance by the Representative.

All repairs to the system shall be identical to the original installation, unless approved otherwise in advance by the Representative. If a change to the installation will result in lower future maintenance costs, less frequent breakage, or an increase in public safety, request authorization to make the change from the Representative.

Schedule 40 PVC or Class 315 pipe shall be used for making repairs based on manufacturer recommendations on size of pipe and amount of pressure / flow in the pipe.

Proper solvent weld with primer or compression fitting with proper clamps shall be used to hold pipe together.

Main line fittings shall be schedule 80 for all threaded fittings and schedule 40 or schedule 80 as needed for glued fittings per manufacturer's recommendation or instructed by the Representative.

Lateral lines shall be either schedule 40 or 80 fittings per manufacturer's recommendation or as instructed by the Representative.

Valves shall be repaired or replaced within one week after work is approved by the Representative.

Irrigation heads, bubblers or drip lines shall be repaired within one week after work is approved by the Representative.

All open holes not manned physically shall be secured as to prevent accidental injury by passersby. Holes shall be covered with plywood and "coned off" with a-frames, warning cones and/or caution tape as needed. No holes are to be left open and exposed without staff being present at the site.

No holes are to be left open longer than 1 week unless prior written approval is given by the Representative.

Do not over tighten threaded fittings. Hand tighten fittings together until firm and tight then tighten no more than 1/2 more turns with appropriate hand tools so as not to leak.

Irrigation system pressure shall be checked and adjusted at least monthly during season of operation

Once a year, at a minimum, the Contractor shall:

Ensure all flush valve/cap locations are visible

Ensure valve boxes are visible and can be opened

Inspect valves, filters and pressure regulators for damage or leaks; check wire splices

Clean valve boxes of dirt and debris

Flush filters: a hose can be attached to the flush cap to keep water out of the valve box

Inspect and clean filters; replace damaged or torn filters

Flush laterals

Ensure plants have adequate numbers of drip emitters for their size

Test backflow preventers

Where possible and appropriate, recommend to the Representative where sprinklers could be converted to drip or bubblers

Drip irrigation systems need periodic flushing to remove sediment. When flushing is necessary, it shall be performed as part of the contract. Drip systems shall be flushed at least once a year. Open ends of drip lines and run for at least 15 minutes at full flow to flush. It may be necessary to install flush outlets in order to flush the drip system.

The Contractor shall maintain documentation of irrigation checks and provide to Representative if requested.

Drought conditions

As a general guideline if irrigation is restricted at any time by the State, County or other local jurisdiction, the Contractor is responsible for resetting and/or adjusting all irrigation clocks to an appropriate time setting to meet any change in requirements.

If watering with automatic irrigation is banned or restricted in such a manner as to possibly result in permanent damage to existing plantings and watering "by hand" is still permissible, the Contractor shall meet with the Representative to discuss and determine the best course of action and if needed will provide a competitive proposal for hand/pump truck watering the most drought susceptible plantings as needed.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Goals

An integrated pest management program shall be implemented to:

Maintain healthy, attractive plants, maximize resistance to pests and out-compete weeds

Monitor for presence of pests and to evaluate pest impact on plant health and appearance and nuisance to the public

Provide control treatments that have minimal negative effects on all but the pest and that protect air and water quality

Contractor shall assume pesticides are potentially hazardous to human and environmental health. Preference shall be given to reasonably available non-pesticide alternatives when considering the use of pesticides on City property.

Insects and diseases

Target plants and pests

The Contractor shall identify the problematic plant species and cultivars in the landscape (target plants) and the pests that commonly cause significant harm to these plants (target pests).

Monitoring

The Contractor shall monitor landscape areas to identify presence of beneficial insects and pests, determine populations, life stage, and degree of damage to plants. Target plants and pests will be monitored closely during normal periods of pest activity. This information will be the basis on which pest control methods are initiated.

Controls

Norcross Landscape Maintenance seeks to control pests without harming non-target organisms, or negatively affecting air and water quality and public health. It relies on IPM which uses a range of cultural, mechanical, physical, and biological control methods before using pesticides. Chemical controls are applied only when monitoring indicates that preventative and non-chemical methods are not keeping pests below acceptable levels. When pesticides are required, the least toxic and the least persistent pesticide that will provide adequate pest control is applied. Pesticides are not to be applied on a prescheduled basis except for turf areas as noted by Representative.

Cultural/mechanical/physical methods

A number of maintenance practices or modifications of them can make the environment unfavorable for pest reproduction, movement, or survival. Often simply modifying an existing maintenance practice, such as timing of pruning or fertilization, can produce positive results. Other mechanical or physical practices may specifically combat plant pests or increase host resistance. Key treatments include:

Fostering healthy soil, judicious fertilization only when needed, and managing irrigation appropriately

Pruning to remove infected or infested branches and shoots; time pruning to avoid periods of insect infestation, for example prune pines in the winter (December-February) when bark beetles and borers are inactive

Removing fallen twigs, leaves, and fruit that contains disease inoculums

Mulching soil surface to reduce weeds and to reduce splashing and the drops of mud that would protect spores deposited on plant surfaces

Trapping insects using sticky surfaces (also used for monitoring); using mechanical traps to control rodents

Bringing to attention of Representative 'target plants' that are disease or insect prone and suggesting resistant plant replacements or those better suited to the site and microclimate

Pesticides

The term pesticide applies to insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, and other substances used to control pests. Antimicrobial agents are not included in this definition of pesticides.

Pesticides shall not be applied within one hour of the start of operating hours for businesses at the site. In the event that it is not possible to complete the application by one hour prior to business hours (ie; 24 hour operations), applications shall be made at times when customer presence is minimal. Areas to be treated shall be blocked off and warning signs posted.

The Contractor shall take precautions to keep persons away from pesticide and herbicide-treated areas until the applied material is fully dry and the treated area is

safe for entry. Follow the recommendations of the pesticide manufacturer and all applicable governmental and industry regulations.

Least toxic pesticides

When cultural, mechanical, physical and biological controls have provided inadequate pest control, the Contractor may select and apply an appropriate least-toxic pesticide as a last resort. Least-toxic pesticides have a high LD-50, low residual and narrow range of toxicity. Application must be timed to the appropriate life stage of the pest.

Restricted chemicals

Organophosphate-containing pesticides have been found to persist in the environment and cause water quality impairment of some creeks, streams, and rivers. They are restricted from use. Examples include:

diazinon (trade names Spectracide(R), Knox-out(R))

chlorpyrifos (trade names Dursban(R), Pageant(R))

malathion and carbaryl (trade name Sevin(R))

Dicamba (trade names Vessell, Dianat, Banvel, Diablo, Oracle, and Vanquish) is strongly discouraged from use and Representative must approve application.

Water quality agencies recommend against using pyrethroids and pyrethrins containing piperonyl butoxide (PBO). These chemicals are restricted from use. Pyrethrins are toxic to birds, fish, and beneficial insects, should be used only as a last resort, and carefully applied to avoid runoff and contact with non-target plants

Contractor shall not apply any Toxicity Category I or II Pesticide Product, any pesticide containing a chemical identified by the State of Georgia as a chemical known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity and any pesticide classified as a human carcinogen, probable human carcinogen or possible human carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.

All chemical applications shall be performed by a licensed, trained technician. The Contractor (or subcontractor) must be a licensed Pest Control Operator as required by the State of Georgia, and strictly adhere to all laws.

Notice of pesticide use

Signs shall be posted at time of application of the pesticide product.

Signs shall be posted (i) at every entry point where the pesticide is applied if the pesticide is applied in an enclosed area, and (ii) in highly visible locations around the perimeter of the area where the pesticide is applied if the pesticide is applied in an open area.

Signs shall be of a standardized design that is easily recognizable to the public and workers.

Signs shall contain the name and active ingredient of the pesticide product, the target pest, the date of pesticide use, the signal word indicating the toxicity category of the pesticide product, the date for re-entry to the area treated, and the name and contact number for the City department responsible for the application.

The Contractor shall not be required to post signs in right-of-way locations that the general public does not use for recreational purposes. However, the Contractor shall notify the Representative in writing (7) seven days prior to pesticide applications in the right-of-way areas.

The Contractor may obtain authorization from the Representative to apply pesticide without providing a (7) seven-day advance notification in the event of a public health emergency or to comply with worker safety requirements.

Recordkeeping and reporting

The Contractor shall maintain records of all pest management activities. Each record shall include the following information:

Target pest

Type and quantity of pesticide used

Site of the pesticide application

Date the pesticide was used

Name of the pesticide applicator

Application equipment used

The Contractor shall submit the pest management record to the Representative if requested.

Weed management

Landscapes shall be maintained in a healthy and attractive manner using Norcross Landscape Maintenance methods. Weeds in planted areas, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, or pavement shall be removed or killed weekly as the weeds emerge. Weeds shall be removed by hand (not just sprayed) if they are larger than 2 inches (5 cm) in height or diameter. Dispose of weeds off-site.

Identify key weeds.

The Contractor shall identify target weeds (pests) present and plan a weed management program to target those species.

Invasive and poisonous plants.

Invasive and poisonous plant species may have been included in the plantings inadvertently. Seedlings and/or suckers from those plants shall be removed by the Contractor. Refer to for a list of invasive species. Remove all invasive and poisonous plants not planted intentionally. When invasive and poisonous plants are an intended part of the landscape the Contractor shall notify the Representative and propose a replacement option.

Controls

Cultural/mechanical/physical methods shall be used as the first choice in weed management.

Monitor planting areas frequently to identify and eradicate weeds early in the growth stage prior to their setting seed.

Cut or pull weeds using hand operated equipment where possible.

Mow large areas to reduce weed growth, and eliminate species that are not tolerant of mowing. Mowing is especially effective when done prior to seed set. Mowing also reduces fire hazard in open space.

Mulches shall be maintained at all times over soil surface that is not covered by vegetation.

Least toxic herbicides may be employed by the Contractor when necessary. Examples are:

Low-toxic, low-residual herbicide, e.g. glyphosate (Round-up(R)), glufosinate-ammonium (Finale(R)), or pelargoic acid (Scythe(R))

Restricted herbicides that may not be used because they have been identified as ground water contaminants are:

Atrazine (Aatrex)

Simazine (Princep)

Bromacil (Hyvar, Krovar)

Prometon (Basagran)

Bentazon (Basagran)

Norflurazon (Soliacam, Predict, Zorial)

Restricted herbicides that may not be used because they have been identified as a compost contaminant are.

Picloram

Clopyralid

Pre-emergent herbicides shall be first approved by Representative before application.

Vertebrate pests

Identify key pests that significantly affect plant health and appearance. Accurate identification is critical to appropriate control. Common vertebrate pests are:

Rodents including rats, mice, voles, moles, gophers, rabbits

Controls

Mechanical/physical/cultural methods shall be implemented as a first course of action. Preferred treatments include:

Exclusion - Protect plants from damage by grazing animals with fences or cages

Habitat modification - Reduce cover at the periphery of the project as needed to solve problem

Application of repellents that are suitable for use in public areas

Traps may be used where mechanical/physical/cultural methods have been insufficient to control moles, voles, gophers, rats and mice

Encouragement of predators e.g. installing owl boxes

Least toxic rodenticides.

Plant Growth Control

Goals

The goals of plant growth control are to maintain healthy, attractive plants within the planting space allotted with minimal removal and disposal of vegetative growth.

Pruning

The cutting blades on pruning shears, clippers, blades, saws, etc. shall be sterilized between groups or species of trees/shrubs to minimize the possibility of spreading disease. When pruning trees/shrubs known or suspected to be diseased, the cutting blades shall be sterilized after each cut.

Selective pruning

Plants shall be pruned selectively to remove individual stems or branches that extend beyond the natural conformation of the plant to a lateral branch or at the point of attachment.

Woody groundcovers shall be selectively pruned to control growth towards pavements rather than edged.

Wound dressing or paint shall NOT be used on pruning cuts or injuries.

Where plant size must be controlled because of inadequate space for the plant, prune to reduce size by cutting individual branches or stems to interior lateral branches at appropriate locations.

Shaping of plants

Plants shall not be shaped except when hedges were intended. It was never the designers' intent nor is it beneficial for any plant to be regularly sheared to rectilinear or ball shape.

Trees shall not be pruned except where needed for pedestrian and vehicular clearances. The general guideline is 8' above walks and 15' above drives, parking, and streets (as needed). Side clearances should be appropriate to task. Walks only need 12" to 24". Drives, parking, and streets (where applicable) should provide enough clearance for site lines and vehicle turns.

***Historic Elm at Betty Mauldin- DO NOT PRUNE for any reason. The Landscape Manager or City Arborist will manage these issues.

Waste Management

Goals

Norcross landscapes are maintained to minimize producing waste and to use as much of the plant debris generated on-site as is possible and to recycle plant debris and discarded materials to the maximum extent feasible at appropriate recycling centers to avoid adding it to landfill.

Retain natural leaf litter

Where practical, to conserve nutrients on-site and protect the soil surface, the Contractor shall retain natural leaf litter and other organic materials in shrub beds. Select sites where leaves will not enter the storm drain. Where leaf litter detracts from landscape appearance due to large leaf size, it is preferable that leaves be chopped and returned to landscape beds. Remove diseased leaves that would provide inoculums for plant infection.

Grasscycle

The Contractor shall leave grass clippings on the lawns after mowing, from at least April through October. Sports turf may be excluded 'in season' when clippings will interfere with play.

Debris removal and clean-up

The Contractor shall keep all landscaped areas, walkways, building entries and exits free from trash and debris. Debris clean up with brooms and rakes is preferred to blowers.

Producing mulch from site-generated, untreated and unpainted wood and plant debris.

The Contractor is encouraged to chip all vegetative materials and wood and use on site as mulch (see Sections 2.9. and 3.9).

Producing compost from site-generated plant debris

Where appropriate, the Contractor is encouraged to compost site-generated green waste and reuse on site.

Landscape Repair and Refurbishment

When landscapes are repaired and/or refurbished, the Contractor shall employ Norcross Landscape Maintenance principles to enhance the sustainability of the landscape, reduce waste and protect watersheds.

Replace high input plants with species better suited to location and use. Species that should be selected are:

Appropriate size at maturity for planting site

Native to region and/or drought tolerant

Resistant to significant pests

Non-invasive

Increase diversity and seasonal interest of the plant palette

Reduce amount of area occupied by high water use plantings where possible (e.g. replace turf with drought-tolerant ground cover). Suggest alternative plantings to Representative for decorative turf, especially turf areas less than 8 feet wide.

Reuse materials removed from the landscape that are in good condition.

When buying new materials, select local and recycled content materials where possible.

When irrigation systems are replaced or upgraded, install high efficiency systems.

Compost

When used, compost shall be a well decomposed, stable, weed free organic matter source. The product shall be certified through the US Composting Council's (USCC) Seal of Testing Assurance Program (STA) Program (a compost testing and information disclosure program). It shall be derived from agricultural and/or food waste and/or yard trimmings. The product shall contain no substances toxic to plants, will possess no objectionable odors and shall not resemble the feedstock (the original materials from which it was derived.

Compost exhibiting a sour or putrid smell, containing recognizable grass or leaves, heat (120F) upon delivery or rewetting will not be accepted.

Section 3: LANDSCAPE SPECIFICATIONS FOR PLANT TYPES AND LANDSCAPE ZONES

Protect Environmental Resources

For all plant types, the Contractor shall use materials and methods that protect environmental quality and human health, conserve water and energy, minimize waste, and reuse and recycle materials to the extent possible.

Turf

Standards for health and appearance

Turf shall be maintained to sustain a healthy vigorous condition with deep roots, uniform green color, uniform density, no bare or brown spots, and free of disease and significant pests, except as noted below.

Mowing and edging

Turf shall be mowed and edged at regular intervals to maintain a neat appearance and healthy growth. All turf areas shall be mowed weekly during growing seasons.

The Contractor, prior to mowing, shall remove and properly dispose of paper, rubbish, and debris.

Grasscycling shall be employed if appropriate for all turf areas, except sports fields. Grasscycling requires an integrated management system of irrigation, mowing height, and mowing frequency. Key components are:

Mow often, at least once a week during the growing season.

Mow when the turf is dry. Turf areas shall not be mowed when soil is so wet as to promote compaction and destruction of soil structure.

Maintain equipment to keep blades sharp and balanced.

Leave clippings on the turf. A second pass over clumps or windrows may be necessary if clippings are long. Clippings may not be left on turf in clumps or windrows.