MERCHANTS LANDSCAPE SERVICES, INC. 2D

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ATTACHMENT 3 ANNUAL COLOR PLANTING AND MAINTENANCE SPECIFICATION Annual Color Planting and Care Before each annual planting the area should be tilled 8 to 16 inches deep. Organic matter in the form of nitrified redwood must be incorporated to a dept of 8" of the topsoil. The contract administrator may adjust this if adequate organic matter is already present in the soil but the successful bidder must be prepared to incorporate this organic matter at every color rotation. Organic matter must comprise 25% of the soil volume where the roots will be. This requires 2" of nitrified redwood tilled to an 8° depth. Apply 1.5 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. as a complete low nitrogen material with a ratio of 1:2:1, 1:1:1,1:2:2 or similar. Do not use a higher rate of nitrogen as this may result in excessive vegetative growth and a suppression of flowering. After establishment, fertilize as necessary to maintain a robust appearance and maximum flowering. After incorporating organic material and other supplements, the beds must be raked smooth and slightly mounded. Sticks clods and other material must be removed from the bed. During planting gently crush the root mass with the fingers to stimulate root growth in the surrounding soil. Begin planting in the center of the bed and keep traffic in the worked soil to a minimum. Make the hole slightly larger than the root ball and set the plant at the same depth or slightly higher than it was growing in the container. Smooth out the soil around the plants after planting, including footprints. Water plants to a depth of 5 inches immediately after planting for 4" plant material (deeper for larger pots). Plants are to be rotated four times a year and are to be kept disease free and healthy on a consistent basis. There must be no dead or missing plants at any time and the beds must be kept in a weed free condition. Plants will be in 4' pots and will be planted in an 8° triangular spacing pattern. Rows must be in a straight alignment at the time of planting. Plant species that may be planted at different times of the year may include but not be limited to the following annual bedding plants: • Spring/Summer — April through October 1 Alyssum, Lobelia, Salvia, Marigold, Gloriosa daisy, Penstemon, Cosmos, Dahlia, Impatiens, Begonias, Double Impatiens, Petunia, Verbena, Vinca rosea (periwinkle) Zinnias, Marigolds Fall/Winter Iceland poppies, Pansies, Viola, Stock, Snapdragons, Primroses, Renunculus Vandalism Contractor shall check annual color beds daily (Monday through Friday). If plants are missing or vandalized, the Contractor shall provide the City's representative with a proposal to replace missing/damaged plants. After the City's Representative signs the proposal, the Contractor shall then replanUreplace missingidamaged plants within 48 hours. The City's contract administrator shall be the sole judge of whether the above specifications are met. The contract administrator shall also approve the types and combinations of color bedding plants prior to installation.