### **ITEM T‑908  MULCHING**

DESCRIPTION

**908‑1.1**   This item shall consist of furnishing, hauling, placing,
and securing mulch on surfaces indicated on the plans or designated by
the Engineer.

MATERIALS

**908‑2.1  MULCH MATERIAL.**  Acceptable mulch shall be the materials
listed below or any approved locally available material that is similar
to those specified.  Low grade, musty, spoiled, partially rotted hay,
straw, or other materials unfit for animal consumption will be
acceptable.  Mulch materials, which contain matured seed of species that
would volunteer and be detrimental to the proposed overseeding, or to
surrounding farm land, will not be acceptable.  Straw or other mulch
material which is fresh and/or excessively brittle, or which is in such
an advanced stage of decomposition as to smother or retard the planted
grass, will not be acceptable.

**a. Hay.**  Hay shall be native hay, sudan grass hay, broomsedge hay,
legume hay, or similar hay or grass clippings.

**b. Straw.**  Straw shall be the threshed plant residue of oats, wheat,
barley, rye, or rice from which grain has been removed.

**c. Hay Mulch Containing Seed.**  Hay mulch shall be mature hay
containing viable seed of native grasses or other desirable species
stated in the special provisions or as approved by the Engineer.  The
hay shall be cut and handled so as to preserve the maximum quantity of
viable seed.  Hay mulch that cannot be hauled and spread immediately
after cutting shall be placed in weather‑resistant stacks or baled and
stored in a dry location until used.

**d. Manufactured Mulch.**  Cellulose‑fiber or wood‑pulp mulch shall be
products commercially available for use in spray applications.

**e. Asphalt Binder.**  Asphalt binder material shall conform to the
requirements of ASTM D 977, Type SS‑1 or RS‑1.

**908-2.2 INSPECTION.**  Within 5 days after acceptance of the bid, the
Engineer shall be notified of sources and quantities of mulch materials
available and the Contractor shall furnish him with representative
samples of the materials to be used.  These samples may be used as
standards with the approval of the Engineer and any materials brought on
the site that do not meet these standards shall be rejected.

CONSTRUCTION METHODS

**908-3.1 MULCHING.**  Before spreading mulch, all large clods, stumps,
stones, brush, roots, and other foreign material shall be removed from
the area to be mulched.  Mulch shall be applied immediately after
seeding.  The spreading of the mulch may be by hand methods, blower, or
other mechanical methods, provided a uniform covering is obtained.

Mulch material shall be furnished, hauled, and evenly applied on the
area shown on the plans or designated by the Engineer.  Straw or hay
shall be spread over the surface to a uniform thickness at the rate of 2
to 3 tons per acre (1800‑2700 kg per acre) to provide a loose depth of
not less than 1‑1/2 inches (37 cm) nor more than 3 inches (75 mm). 
Other organic material shall be spread at the rate directed by the
Engineer.  Mulch may be blown on the slopes and the use of cutters in
the equipment for this purpose will be permitted to the extent that at
least 95% of the mulch in place on the slope shall be 6 inches (150 mm)
or more in length.  When mulches applied by the blowing method are cut,
the loose depth in place shall be not less than 1 inch (25 mm) nor more
than 2 inches (50 mm).

**908-3.2 SECURING MULCH.**  The mulch shall be held in place by light
discing, a very thin covering of topsoil, small brush, pins, stakes,
wire mesh, asphalt binder, or other adhesive material approved by the
Engineer.  Where mulches have been secured by either of the asphalt
binder methods, it will not be permissible to walk on the slopes after
the binder has been applied.  The Contractor is warned that in the
application of asphalt binder material he must take every precaution to
guard against damaging or disfiguring structures or property on or
adjacent to the areas worked and that he will be held responsible for
any such damage resulting from his/her operations.

If the "peg and string" method is used, the mulch shall be secured by
the use of stakes or wire pins driven into the ground on 5‑foot (150 m)
centers or less.  Binder twine shall be strung between adjacent stakes
in straight lines and crisscrossed diagonally over the mulch, after
which the stakes shall be firmly driven nearly flush to the ground to
draw the twine down tight onto the mulch.

**908-3.3 CARE AND REPAIR.**

**a.**  The Contractor shall care for the mulched areas until final
acceptance of the project.  Such care shall consist of providing
protection against traffic or other use by placing warning signs, as
approved by the Engineer, and erecting any barricades that may be shown
on the plans before or immediately after mulching has been completed on
the designated areas.

**b.**  The Contractor shall be required to repair or replace any
mulching that is defective or becomes damaged until the project is
finally accepted.  When, in the judgment of the Engineer, such defects
or damages are the result of poor workmanship or failure to meet the
requirements of the specifications, the cost of the necessary repairs or
replacement shall be borne by the Contractor.  However, once the
Contractor has completed the mulching of any area in accordance with the
provisions of the specifications and to the satisfaction of the
Engineer, no additional work at his/her expense will be required, but
subsequent repairs and replacements deemed necessary by the Engineer
shall be made by the Contractor and will be paid for as additional or
extra work.

**c.**  If the "asphalt spray" method is used, all mulched surfaces
shall be sprayed with asphalt binder material so that the surface has a
uniform appearance.  The binder shall be uniformly applied to the mulch
at the rate of approximately 8.0 gallons (32 liters) per 1,000 square
feet (100 square meters), or as directed by the Engineer, with a minimum
of 6.0 gallons (24 liters) and a maximum of 10 gallons (40 liters) per
1,000 square feet (100 square meters) depending on the type of mulch and
the effectiveness of the binder securing it.  Bituminous binder material
may be sprayed on the mulched slope areas from either the top or the
bottom of the slope.  An approved spray nozzle shall be used.  The
nozzle shall be operated at a distance of not less than 4 feet (120 cm)
from the surface of the mulch and uniform distribution of the bituminous
material shall be required.  A pump or an air compressor of adequate
capacity shall be used to insure uniform distribution of the bituminous
material.

**d.**  If the "asphalt mix" method is used, the mulch shall be applied
by blowing, and the asphalt binder material shall be sprayed into the
mulch as it leaves the blower.  The binder shall be uniformly applied to
the mulch at the rate of approximately 8.0 gallons (32 liters) per 1,000
square feet (100 square meters) or as directed by the Engineer, with a
minimum of 6.0 gallons (24 liters) and a maximum of 10 gallons (40
liters) per 1,000 square feet (100 square meters) depending on the type
of mulch and the effectiveness of the binder securing it.

METHOD OF MEASUREMENT

**908-4.1**  Mulching shall be measured in square yards (square meters)
on the basis of the actual surface area acceptably mulched.

BASIS OF PAYMENT

**908-5.1**  Payment will be made at the contract unit price per square
yard (square meter) for mulching.  The price shall be full compensation
for furnishing all materials and for placing and anchoring the
materials, and for all labor, equipment, tools, and incidentals
necessary to complete the item.

Payment will be made under:

Item T‑908‑5.1 Mulching---per square yard (square meter)

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS

ASTM D 977 Emulsified Asphalt

**END OF ITEM T-908**

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