Specifications include, but are not limited to: 3.0 Lawn Specifications: There are four (4) basic areas of responsibilities at these facilities. 1. Lawns. 2. Lagoons, fenced storage areas and LP tank enclosures. 3. Trails and outlying areas. 4. Special landscaped areas at new buildings. The acreage totals for each area are provided in the bid solicitation. 3.1. Lawns The lawn includes the area around the buildings, picnic areas and center islands. A. Lawn areas are to be maintained between three inches (3”) and four- and one-half inches (4 1/2“) in height. B. The Iowa DOT may at any time measure the mowing height of equipment being used and may require adjustments. C. Mower blades will be kept sharp for proper cutting. D. All areas will be inspected. E. Mowing will not be done adjacent to picnic tables or sidewalks when they are in use. Grass clippings should not be blown on sidewalks, picnic shelter pads, areas of designated plantings, parking lots or buildings if possible. F. Removal of grass clippings from sidewalks, picnic shelter pads and parking lots is required at the completion of each mowing. Bagging, mulching, raking and proper Disposal of grass clippings will be required if windrows or excess clippings are present after mowing. Grass clippings cannot be mixed with mulch around trees and shrubs. G. Areas that cannot be reached with a mower (rider or push) will be cut using a string trimmer or hand clippers to the same heights as the surrounding turf. Chemicals may not be used for trimming. H. Every effort should be made to mow in alternating directions to avoid rutting or circling of fixed objects. I. Sidewalks will be edged at three-week intervals during the mowing season with the first edging completed by May 15th. This will be done with a mechanical sidewalk edger, between one inch (1”) and two inches (2”) deep making an edge gap of one-half inch (½") minimum and one inch (1") maximum. The soil and grass clippings that result with this process will be removed and Disposed of off the Rest Area grounds. Contractors must dispose of soil and grass clippings as defined in Iowa Code 455B.307A ‘Discarding of waste’ and 321.369 ‘Putting debris on highway’. Contractor will not dispose of clippings by dumping it on any road, highway, or right-of-way. Grass clippings that fill the edges during mowing must be removed. J. Grass that grows through cracks in the sidewalk or parking lot is to be removed. Chemical treatment is allowed. K. Trees and shrubs will be pruned according to good landscaping standards or at the direction of the Iowa DOT. Pruning of larger trees should be limited to pedestrian hazards and dead, broken, or damaged branches. Pruning should be done in the fall or early spring or at the direction of the Iowa DOT. Areas of ornamental plantings may require additional trimming throughout the season. L. All pruned branches, twigs, and leaves, grass clippings etc. will be removed from the site and properly Disposed of on the same day. M. Leaf removal is required throughout the entire contract period. Traditionally most of the activity will occur in the fall and early winter. However, with the variety of trees that are in the rest area, this activity may be necessary at other times. This includes leaves that collect in and around ornamental shrubs or landscape plantings. Leaves must be removed from the site in a timely manner and Disposed of properly. Mulching is acceptable if windrows do not occur. Burning of leaves at the site is not allowed. N. Mulching is required for all trees and shrubs in the picnic areas, median areas, or special landscaped areas. (Note: See Special Landscaped Areas in section four (4)) All trees and shrubs will have a three-foot (3’0”) band of mulch, leaving three-inch (3”) or four-inch (4”) void of mulch around the trunk base. Mulch should be between two inches (2”) and four inches (4”) deep and level with the surrounding turf. All grass, soil etc. that is removed with this process are to be removed from the site and Disposed of properly. Existing mulched areas should be aerated each spring and new mulch added. Areas that have been mulched improperly will need to be corrected by Contractor. Mulched areas are to be kept free of vegetation. Every effort should be made to avoid blowing grass clippings into mulched areas. Mulch will be provided by the Iowa DOT and placed at the site in an area accessible for the Contractor. This activity is required regardless of the conditions left by a previous contractor. The initial mulching should be completed by Memorial Day
