SECTION 329200

TURF AND GRASSES

SECTION 32 92 00 - PERMANENT TURF AND GRASSES

Copyright 2005 by The American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Exclusively published and distributed by Architectural Computer Services, Inc. (ARCOM) for the AIA

Revise this Section by deleting and inserting text to meet Project-specific requirements.

This Section uses the term "Architect." Change this term to match that used to identify the design professional as defined in the General and Supplementary Conditions.

Verify that Section titles referenced in this Section are correct for this Project's Specifications; Section titles may have changed.

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1  RELATED DOCUMENTS

Retain or delete this article in all Sections of Project Manual.

  1. Drawings and general provisions of the Contract, including General and Supplementary Conditions and Division01 Specification Sections, apply to this Section.

1.2  SUMMARY

  1. Section Includes:
  2. Seeding.
  3. Erosion-control material(s).
  4. Related Sections:

Retain Sections in subparagraphs below that contain requirements Contractor might expect to find in this Section but are specified in other Sections.

  1. Division31 Section "Earth Moving" for excavation, filling and backfilling, and rough grading.

1.3  DEFINITIONS

Retain definitions remaining after this Section has been edited.

  1. Finish Grade: Elevation of finished surface of planting soil.
  2. Topsoil: Native or imported topsoil, manufactured topsoil, or surface soil modified to become topsoil; mixed with soil amendments.
  3. Subgrade: Surface or elevation of subsoil remaining after completing excavation, or top surface of a fill or backfill immediately beneath planting soil.
  4. Subsoil: All soil beneath the topsoil layer of the soil profile, and typified by the lack of organic matter and soil organisms.

1.4  SUBMITTALS

  1. Product Data: For each type of product indicated.
  2. Certification of Grass Seed: From seed vendor for each grass-seed monostand or mixture stating the botanical and common name and percentage by weight of each species and variety, and percentage of purity, germination, and weed seed. Include the year of production and date of packaging and telephone number of supplier.

Retain subparagraph below for turfgrass sod.

Coordinate first paragraph below with qualification requirements in Division01 Section "Quality Requirements"and as supplemented in "Quality Assurance" Article.

  1. Qualification Data: For qualified landscape Installer.

Retain first paragraph below for material or product certificates from manufacturers.

  1. Product Certificates: For and telephone number of supplier from manufacturer.

Retain first paragraph below for material test reports that are Contractor's responsibility. Retain if existing soils to be stockpiled will not be sufficient, have not been tested, or might not meet requirements for topsoil.

  1. Material Test Reports: For existing surface soil and imported topsoil.
  2. Planting Schedule: Indicating anticipated planting dates for each type of planting.

Retain paragraph below if Owner's personnel will provide maintenance after lawn or meadow is established and if Contractor's recommendations will be sought.

  1. Maintenance Instructions: Recommended procedures to be established by Owner for maintenance of lawns during a calendar year. Submit before expiration of required initial maintenance periods.

1.5  QUALITY ASSURANCE

  1. Installer Qualifications: A qualified landscape installer whose work has resulted in successful lawn establishment.
  2. Installer's Field Supervision: Require Installer to maintain an experienced full-time supervisor on Project site when planting is in progress. Landscape supervisor on the project must be an “Ohio Certified Nursery Technician” if the project occurs in the State of Ohio.

Retain subparagraph below if retaining "Maintenance Service" Article.

Retain first paragraph below if testing is required that involves Contractor's selecting soil-testing laboratory. Revise to name laboratories or to insert other specific qualifications.

  1. Soil-Testing Laboratory Qualifications: An independent laboratory, recognized by the State Department of Agriculture, with the experience and capability to conduct the testing indicated and that specializes in types of tests to be performed.

Retain first paragraph below for imported topsoil or topsoil to be reused. Insert other characteristics required in analysis. Cation exchange capacity measures the ability of soil particles to hold and release nutrients; the higher the number, the more fertile the soil. Sandy soils have a lower cation exchange capacity than clay soils. Sodium absorption ratio levels below 4 do not interfere with plant growth. Saline soils have a sodium absorption ratio level of 4 to 13; sodic soils, more than 13 and a pH greater than 8.5; saline-sodic soils, more than 13 and a pH less than 8.5.

  1. Topsoil Analysis: Furnish soil analysis by a qualified soil-testing laboratory stating percentages of organic matter; gradation of sand, silt, and clay content; cation exchange capacity; deleterious material; pH; and mineral and plant-nutrient content of topsoil.
  2. Report suitability of topsoil for lawn growth. State-recommended quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash nutrients and soil amendments to be added to produce satisfactory topsoil.

Retain paragraph below if Work of this Section is extensive or complex enough to justify a preinstallation conference.

  1. Preinstallation Conference: Conduct conference at Project site.

1.6  DELIVERY, STORAGE, AND HANDLING

  1. Seed: Deliver seed in original sealed, labeled, and undamaged containers.

1.7  PROJECT CONDITIONS

Retain first paragraph below for limited planting times.

  1. Weather Limitations: Proceed with planting only when existing and forecasted weather conditions permit.

1.8  MAINTENANCE SERVICE

Consider deleting this article for small-scale residential projects; usually retain for other projects.

  1. Initial Lawn Maintenance Service: Provide full maintenance by skilled employees of landscape Installer. Maintain as required in Part3. Begin maintenance immediately after each area is planted and continue until acceptable lawn is established, but for not less than the following periods:

Retain subparagraphs below as applicable. Revise minimum maintenance periods to suit local customs and growing conditions.

  1. Seeded Lawns: 60 days from date of Substantial Completion.
  2. When initial maintenance period has not elapsed before end of planting season, or if lawn is not fully established, continue maintenance during next planting season.

Retain first paragraph below for meadows. Revise minimum maintenance period to suit local customs and growing conditions.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1  SEED

Retain this article if planting with seed. Selection of turfgrass species depends on climate, exposure, durability, and soil conditions.

  1. Grass Seed: Fresh, clean, dry, new-crop seed complying with AOSA's "Journal of Seed Technology; Rules for Testing Seeds" for purity and germination tolerances.

Retain one of first two paragraphs below if specifying grass seed and mixes by species. Delete both if specifying proprietary grass seed mixes.

  1. Seed Species: State-certified seed of grass species, as follows:

Retain paragraph above or first paragraph below. Retain above if grass seed is certified by the State Department of Agriculture. Most states have seed-certification agencies. Retain below if the State Department of Agriculture does not regulate seed germination, purity, and weed seed or if there is no state seed certification.

  1. Seed Species: Seed of grass species as follows, with not less than 95 percent germination, not less than 85 percent pure seed, and not more than 0.5 percent weed seed:

Subparagraphs below are examples only. Retain with one of last two paragraphs above. Determine if a single grass species or mixture of two or more grass species is required. Insert specific cultivars to each grass species if required. Consult university cooperative extension service or county extension agency for current recommendations. Revise descriptions if preferred. Indicate areas of full sun, sun and partial shade, and shade here or on Drawings.

Retain first subparagraph below for grass in sun and partial shade. Revise species and mixture proportions if required.

  1. Sun and Partial Shade: Proportioned by weight as follows:
  2. 50 percent Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis).
  3. 30 percent chewings red fescue (Festuca rubra variety).
  4. 10 percent perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne).
  5. 10 percent annual Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)

Retain first subparagraph below for shaded grass. Revise species and mixture proportions if required.

Retain paragraph below if specifying proprietary grass seed mixes.

See Editing Instruction No. 1 in the Evaluations for cautions about naming manufacturers and products. See Division01 Section "Product Requirements."

Retain this article if planting with turfgrass sod. Selection of turfgrass species for sod depends on climate, exposure, durability, and soil conditions. To obtain either "Certified" or "Approved" designation, turfgrass sod must be inspected by official state certification agencies. At this writing, states with sod-certification programs are Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Virginia.

2.1  TOPSOIL

Revise topsoil characteristics in this article to suit Project. Unamended or raw topsoil, even agricultural topsoil, seldom contains more than 1 or 2 percent organic matter. To comply with ASTMD5268, topsoil must have an organic material content range of 2 to 20 percent. Planting soil is produced by mixing topsoil or surface soil with organic matter or other soil amendments and perhaps fertilizers.

Revise topsoil characteristics in this article to suit Project. Unamended or raw topsoil, even agricultural topsoil, seldom contains more than 1 or 2 percent organic matter. To comply with ASTMD5268, topsoil must have an organic material content range of 2 to 20 percent. Planting soil is produced by mixing topsoil or surface soil with organic matter or other soil amendments and perhaps fertilizers.

Revise topsoil characteristics in this article to suit Project. Unamended or raw topsoil, even agricultural topsoil, seldom contains more than 1 or 2 percent organic matter. To comply with ASTMD5268, topsoil must have an organic material content range of 2 to 20 percent. Planting soil is produced by mixing topsoil or surface soil with organic matter or other soil amendments and perhaps fertilizers.

  1. Topsoil: All placed topsoil, whether from off-site or on-site, shall be modified to meet the following requirements:
  1. Loose, friable, natural, fertile soil, free of stones, clay lumps, roots, and foreign or toxic matter.
  2. Topsoil shall be classified in the “Sandy Loam” portion of the U.S.D.A. Soil Textural Triangle, and that fraction passing the #10 sieve shall meet the following mechanical analysis:
  3. 10 to 20% clay (less than 0.002 mm particle size).
  4. 50 to 60% sand (2.0 to 0.05 mm particle size).
  5. 20 to 30% silt (0.05 mm to .002 mm particle size).
  6. Contain neither less than 6%, nor more than 15%, organic matter as determined by loss on ignition of samples oven-dried to constant weight at 212° F.
  7. Have a pH level of between 6.2 and 6.8.
  8. All topsoil shall be screened through a 1-1/4" screen.

2.2  INORGANIC SOIL AMENDMENTS

Limestone is used to raise pH and neutralize acidic soils. In first paragraph below, insert percentages of carbonates, calcium, and magnesium if required. Revise to a pelleted form of limestone with a water-soluble binder that speeds breakdown if required.

  1. Lime: ASTMC602, agricultural limestone containing a minimum of 80 percent calcium carbonate equivalent and as follows:

Retain one of first two subparagraphs below. ClassT is more finely ground and quicker acting but dustier than ClassO.

  1. Class: T, with a minimum of 99 percent passing through No.8 sieve and a minimum of 75 percent passing through No.60 sieve.

Retain appropriate sulfate compounds in first three paragraphs below. Sulfur is used to lower pH and neutralize alkaline soils. Revise descriptions and insert proprietary products if required.

  1. Sulfur: Granular, biodegradable, containing a minimum of 90 percent sulfur, with a minimum of 99 percent passing through No.6 sieve and a maximum of 10 percent passing through No.40 sieve.

Compost is a widely used bulk organic soil amendment and a recycled product. Because it is applied at much greater rates than fertilizer, compost has a significant cumulative effect on nutrient availability and may reduce or eliminate initial fertilization. Consider each plant's pH and soluble salt requirements and how they relate to the compost being used and the resulting soil-compost mix.

2.3  PLANTING ACCESSORIES

Revise description in this article and name proprietary products if required.

  1. Selective Herbicides: EPA registered and approved, of type recommended by manufacturer for application.

2.4  FERTILIZER

Organic fertilizers are derived from several sources. Bonemeal example in first paragraph below is organic and primarily phosphorous, has an alkaline reaction, and is nonburning. Other organic fertilizers include blood meal, cottonseed meal, seaweed meal, soybean meal, alfalfa meal, and blends of these materials. Revise descriptions and name proprietary products if required.

  1. Commercial Fertilizer: Commercial-grade complete fertilizer of neutral character, consisting of fast- and slow-release nitrogen, 50 percent derived from natural organic sources of urea formaldehyde, phosphorous, and potassium in the following composition:

Fertilizer compositions in subparagraphs below are examples only. Revise to suit Project. If used as a soil amendment, revise fertilizer mix to remedy deficiencies found in soil tests.

  1. Type A: Starter fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 26% phosphoric acid, and 6% potash by weight(20-26-6), or similar approved composition.
  1. Type B: Top dressing fertilizer containing 31% nitrogen, 3% phosphoric acid, and 10% potash by weight (31-3-10), or similar approved composition.

2.5  MULCHES

Retain required types of mulches in first five paragraphs below.

Straw mulch may be required in areas where seeded lawns are subject to wind or water erosion.

  1. Straw Mulch: Provide air-dry, clean, mildew- and seed-free, salt hay or threshed straw of wheat, rye, oats, or barley.

Peat mulch may be required if seeded lawns are subject to hot, dry weather or drying winds within 30 days of planting.

  1. Fiber Mulch: Biodegradable, dyed-wood, cellulose-fiber mulch; nontoxic; free of plant-growth or germination inhibitors; with a maximum moisture content of 15 percent and a pH range of 4.5 to 6.5.

Fiber mulch in paragraph above and nonasphaltic tackifier in first paragraph below are primarily used to protect hydroseeded areas from wind and water erosion during establishment.

  1. Nonasphaltic Tackifier: Colloidal tackifier recommended by fiber-mulch manufacturer for slurry application; nontoxic and free of plant-growth or germination inhibitors.

Asphalt emulsion in paragraph below may be used as a tackifier in a hydroseeded slurry or to temporarily bond straw mulch in place.

2.6  EROSION-CONTROL MATERIALS

Revise or insert other erosion-control materials in paragraphs below if desired.

  1. Erosion-Control Blankets: Biodegradable wood excelsior, straw, or coconut-fiber mat enclosed in a photodegradable plastic mesh. Include manufacturer's recommended steel wire staples, 6 inches long.
  2. Erosion-Control Fiber Mesh: Biodegradable burlap or spun-coir mesh, a minimum of 0.92 lb/sq. yd., with 50 to 65 percent open area. Include manufacturer's recommended steel wire staples, 6 inches long.

Unamended topsoil rarely meets the definition of "planting soil." Consult soil experts on how to modify and fertilize topsoil to obtain an acceptable planting soil mix for site conditions and particular grass species.