Tree Planting Services

Questions or concerns may be addressed by contacting Joseph Carleno, Senior Buyer by e-mail at joseph.carleno@roanokeva.gov. Construction: 1. Specific planting locations will be agreed upon by the Urban Forester and the Contractor, and all planting will occur according to the timeline agreed upon with the Urban Forester. 2. Digging The Planting Hole - It is the responsibility of the contractor to have underground utilities marked prior to digging. The planting hole shall be dug at least twice the diameter of the root ball or container, with the sides of the hole sloped outward. Holes dug using tree spades, augers, or any technique that causes glazing, must be modified to eliminate glazed surfaces that would prevent root penetration into existing soil. The soil at the bottom of the hole must remain undisturbed to provide a firm base of support to minimize any settling. The tree's root collar should be identified and the tree shall be planted at a depth where the root collar is even with the surrounding terrain. An exception may be necessary in a very wet site, where the tree should be planted elevated above the ground as much as one-third the height of the root ball. The Urban Forester must approve this exception. 3. DO NOT handle the plant by the branches, leaves, trunk or stem. 4. Container Stock - Prior to planting, completely remove plastic containers (at least one-half of fiber pots are to be peeled away), and cut through any circling roots. 5. Balled & Burlapped Stock - Upon placement in the hole, remove the wire basket and drop the burlap to the bottom of the hole. Note: In cases of very sandy/loose balls, modify to protect integrity of root ball. 6. Filling The Planting Hole - Backfill using native soil, avoid amending soil unless native soil is poor. Fertilizer used should be "slow release" type. Backfill 1/2 to 2/3, then settle with water. Tamping of backfill material should be avoided. Make sure that plant remains straight during backfilling. 7. Watering - Water thoroughly at time of planting and regularly (every 5 to 10 days) during first growing season, and during dry periods of second and third growing seasons. 8. Pruning - Prune only dead and damaged limbs at time of planting. 9. Staking - Deciduous and evergreen trees should be staked at the time of planting. Avoid driving stakes through the root ball, and remove stakes after one growing season unless continued support is determined to be necessary. 10. Tree Wrap - Do not apply trunk wrap on trees, and remove any trunk wrap that may have been placed on the tree by the supplier. Trunk guards, 8 inches in height minimum, must be provided and installed at base of trunk to protect tree from string trimmer/mower injury. 11. Mulching - Organic mulch should be used and allow no mulch to touch the tree's trunk or be piled higher than 3 inches. Mulch ring should cover entire root system and extend to drip-line. 12. The contractor shall leave no open planting pits at the close of each day

Division 01 -	General Requirements.
Division 10 -	Specialties.
Division 11 -	Equipment.