Vine Clearing

Scope: The Plant Sciences Program at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Subtropical Horticulture Research Station (SHRS) in Miami, Florida is tasked with efficiently and effectively maintaining the safety, genetic integrity, health, and viability of subtropical and tropical ornamental genetic resources. The accessions at SHRS include several thousand plants that have been collected for over the past ninety years. Many of these accessions consist of ornamental, timber, medicinal, fruit trees, and Ficus species which produce multiple trunks or form large stands which are difficult to keep free of weedy vines. Due to limited staff for the past several years, some of these areas have been severely neglected and the plots have become contaminated with vines including possum grape (Cissus sicyoides) and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). Specifications: The SHRS Ornamentals and Plant Sciences Programs have identified approximately 500 trees (see attached jpeg “SOW Clean Out Sectioned”) that would have vines removed. Most of the vines would be required to be eradicated by hand pulling and cutting at a high and low point. The high point being where most easily accessible by hand approximately 5ft high on the tree, as to not cut into the trunks of vine-infested trees. The low point being where the vine can no longer readily be hand pulled out of the ground. And then removing the segment that is cut by hand pulling it off and away from the tree for disposal. Critical for this project is leaving a clearing of a 3 ft radius on the ground around each tree from the tree trunk (see attached picture “SOW Vines Cut”). The soil in this perimeter will be completely left devoid of vegetation (i.e., bare soil; see attached picture for example). SHRS personnel will be available to identify the material to be removed. All debris can be dumped onsite in the pit by the back gate. SHRS staff would be on hand to answer any specific questions concerning details once cleanup operations have begun.

Division 32 -

Exterior Improvements, Operation and Maintenance of Exterior Improvements, Irrigation, Planting Irrigation, Planting, Planting Preparation, Soil Preparation, Landscape Grading.