### **ITEM T‑904  SODDING**

DESCRIPTION

**904‑1.1**   This item shall consist of furnishing, hauling, and
placing approved live sod on prepared areas in accordance with this
specification at the locations shown on the plans or as directed by the
Engineer.

MATERIALS

**904-2.1 SOD.**  Sod furnished by the Contractor shall have a good
cover of living or growing grass.  This shall be interpreted to include
grass that is seasonally dormant during the cold or dry seasons and
capable of renewing growth after the dormant period.  All sod shall be
obtained from areas where the soil is reasonably fertile and contains a
high percentage of loamy topsoil.  Sod shall be cut or stripped from
living, thickly matted turf relatively free of weeds or other
undesirable foreign plants, large stones, roots, or other materials that
might be detrimental to the development of the sod or to future
maintenance.  At least 70% of the plants in the cut sod shall be
composed of the species stated in the special provisions, and any
vegetation more than 6 inches (150 mm) in height shall be mowed to a
height of 3 inches (75 mm) or less before sod is lifted.  Sod, including
the soil containing the roots and the plant growth showing above, shall
be cut uniformly to a thickness not less than that stated in the special
provisions.

**904-2.2 LIME.**  Lime shall conform to the requirements of 901‑2.2.

**904-2.3 FERTILIZER.**  Fertilizer shall conform to the requirements of
901‑2.3.

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> **Delete paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3 if not applicable.**

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**904-2.4 WATER.**  The water shall be sufficiently free from oil, acid,
alkali, salt, or other harmful materials that would inhibit the growth
of grass.  It shall be subject to the approval of the Engineer prior to
use.

**904-2.5 SOIL FOR REPAIRS.**  The soil for fill and topsoiling of areas
to be repaired shall conform to the requirements of 901‑2.4.

CONSTRUCTION METHODS

**904-3.1 GENERAL.**  Areas to be solid, strip, or spot sodded shall be
shown on the plans.  Areas requiring special ground surface preparation
such as tilling and those areas in a satisfactory condition that are to
remain undisturbed shall also be shown on the plans.

Suitable equipment necessary for proper preparation of the ground
surface and for the handling and placing of all required materials shall
be on hand, in good condition, and shall be approved by the Engineer
before the various operations are started.  The Contractor shall
demonstrate to the Engineer before starting the various operations that
the application of required materials will be made at the specified
rates.

**904-3.2 PREPARING THE GROUND SURFACE.**  After grading of areas has
been completed and before applying fertilizer and limestone, areas to be
sodded shall be raked or otherwise cleared of stones larger than 2
inches (50 mm) in any diameter, sticks, stumps, and other debris which
might interfere with sodding, growth of grasses, or subsequent
maintenance of grass‑covered areas.  If any damage by erosion or other
causes occurs after grading of areas and before beginning the
application of fertilizer and ground limestone, the Contractor shall
repair such damage.  This may include filling gullies, smoothing
irregularities, and repairing other incidental damage.

**904-3.3 APPLYING FERTILIZER AND GROUND LIMESTONE.**  Following ground
surface preparation, fertilizer shall be uniformly spread at a rate
which will provide not less than the minimum quantity of each fertilizer
ingredient, as stated in the special provisions.  If use of ground
limestone is required, it shall then be spread at a rate that will
provide not less than the minimum quantity stated in the special
provisions.  These materials shall be incorporated into the soil to a
depth of not less than 2 inches (50 mm) by discing, raking, or other
methods acceptable to the Engineer.  Any stones larger than 2 inches (50
mm) in any diameter, large clods, roots, and other litter brought to the
surface by this operation shall be removed.

**904-3.4 OBTAINING AND DELIVERING SOD.**  After inspection and approval
of the source of sod by the Engineer, the sod shall be cut with approved
sod cutters to such a thickness that after it has been transported and
placed on the prepared bed, but before it has been compacted, it shall
have a uniform thickness of not less than 2 inches (50 mm).  Sod
sections or strips shall be cut in uniform widths, not less than 10
inches (250 mm), and in lengths of not less than 18 inches (45 cm), but
of such length as may be readily lifted without breaking, tearing, or
loss of soil.  Where strips are required, the sod must be rolled without
damage with the grass folded inside.  The Contractor may be required to
mow high grass before cutting sod.

The sod shall be transplanted within 24 hours from the time it is
stripped, unless circumstances beyond the Contractor\'s control make
storing necessary.  In such cases, sod shall be stacked, kept moist, and
protected from exposure to the air and sun and shall be kept from
freezing.  Sod shall be cut and moved only when the soil moisture
conditions are such that favorable results can be expected.  Where the
soil is too dry, permission to cut sod may be granted only after it has
been watered sufficiently to moisten the soil to the depth the sod is to
be cut.

**904-3.5 LAYING SOD.**  Sodding shall be performed only during the
seasons when satisfactory results can be expected.  Frozen sod shall not
be used and sod shall not be placed upon frozen soil.  Sod may be
transplanted during periods of drought with the approval of the
Engineer, provided the sod bed is watered to moisten the soil to a depth
of at least 4 inches (100 mm) immediately prior to laying the sod.

The sod shall be moist and shall be placed on a moist earth bed. Pitch
forks shall not be used to handle sod, and dumping from vehicles shall
not be permitted.  The sod shall be carefully placed by hand, edge to
edge and with staggered joints, in rows at right angles to the slopes,
commencing at the base of the area to be sodded and working upward.  The
sod shall immediately be pressed firmly into contact with the sod bed by
tamping or rolling with approved equipment to provide a true and even
surface, and insure knitting without displacement of the sod or
deformation of the surfaces of sodded areas.  Where the sod may be
displaced during sodding operations, the workmen when replacing it shall
work from ladders or treaded planks to prevent further displacement. 
Screened soil of good quality shall be used to fill all cracks between
sods.  The quantity of the fill soil shall not cause smothering of the
grass.  Where the grades are such that the flow of water will be from
paved surfaces across sodded areas, the surface of the soil in the sod
after compaction shall be set approximately 1 inch (25 mm) below the
pavement edge.  Where the flow will be over the sodded areas and onto
the paved surfaces around manholes and inlets, the surface of the soil
in the sod after compaction shall be placed flush with pavement edges.

On slopes steeper than 1 vertical to 2‑1/2 horizontal and in v‑shaped or
flat‑bottom ditches or gutters, the sod shall be pegged with wooden pegs
not less than 12 inches (300 mm) in length and have a cross‑sectional
area of not less than 3/4 square inch (18 square millimeter).  The pegs
shall be driven flush with the surface of the sod.

**904-3.6 WATERING.**  Adequate water and watering equipment must be on
hand before sodding begins, and sod shall be kept moist until it has
become established and its continued growth assured.  In all cases,
watering shall be done in a manner that will avoid erosion from the
application of excessive quantities and will avoid damage to the
finished surface.

**904-3.7 ESTABLISHING TURF.**

**a. General.**  The Contractor shall provide general care for the
sodded areas as soon as the sod has been laid and shall continue until
final inspection and acceptance of the work.

**b. Protection.**  All sodded areas shall be protected against traffic
or other use by warning signs or barricades approved by the Engineer.

**c. Mowing.**  The Contractor shall mow the sodded areas with approved
mowing equipment, depending upon climatic and growth conditions and the
needs for mowing specific areas.  In the event that weeds or other
undesirable vegetation are permitted to grow to such an extent that,
either cut or uncut, they threaten to smother the sodded species, they
shall be mowed and the clippings raked and removed from the area.

**904-3.8 REPAIRING.**  When the surface has become bullied or otherwise
damaged during the period covered by this contract, the affected areas
shall be repaired to re‑establish the grade and the condition of the
soil, as directed by the Engineer, and shall then be sodded as specified
in 904‑3.5.

METHOD OF MEASUREMENT

**904-4.1**  This item shall be measured on the basis of the area in
square yards (square meters) of the surface covered with sod and
accepted.

BASIS OF PAYMENT

**904-5.1**  This item will be paid for on the basis of the contract
unit price per square yard (square meter) for sodding, which price shall
be full compensation for all labor, equipment, material, staking, and
incidentals necessary to satisfactorily complete the items as specified.

Payment will be made under:

Item T‑904‑5.1 Sodding---per square yard (square meter)

**END OF ITEM T-904**

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