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1.Trees
a. Remove all dead material from every tree on each site. Pruning shall be with the knowledge and approval of the City's Representative.
b. Removal of low branches which impede pedestrian circulation, and thinning to improve the-health and/or appearance of a tree.
c.      Pruning shall be accomplished only by a certified arborist [qualified personel experienced in proper pruning techniques]. If a tree within the boundaries of the specified parks is injured by insects or disease or constitutes a hazard to the public, the contractor required to inform the City's Representative in writing.
2. Shrubs

a. Pruning shall be accomplished only by a certified arborist. Shrubs shall be pruned once per year in the spring, removing all dead branches. Pruning of shrubs shall be performed to repair injury, remove dead wood, maintain the plants natural shape and, and to produce more or better blooms. Bid shall be prepared on the basis of the Contractor’s inspection.

b. Each shrub shall be pruned in accordance with the American Nurseryman’s Association Standards and according to the National Arborist Association Standard. Pruning shall be done in a manner that does not change the natural character and appearance of the shrub.

c. All cut material shall be properly disposed of-off-the site.

d. In addition to pruning the dead material, all evergreen shrubs shall b e trimmed at least twice a year when directed by the City’s Representative, to maintain natural form and prevent shrubs from becoming excessively large. Privet shall be trimmed weekly to coincide with grass cutting.

[CAMBRIDGE PARK MAINTENANCE  page 28.']

e. Shrubs in hedges or continuous beds may be trimmed by power equipment.

3. Ivy Trimming

a. At City Hall, wall ivy shall be cut back and be removed from all doors, windows, air conditioning units and from all door and window reveals.

B. Fertilizing/Vertical Mulching

1. Vertical mulching for trees - holes shall be drilled with a two (2) inch soil auger removing all the soil -to a depth of eight (8) to twelve (12) inches or a specified by the Arborist.  Holes should be drilled two (2) feet on center beginning five (5) feet out from the and -extending ten (10) feet out from the drip line as specified by the Arborist. Fill holes with equal parts of manure, peat moss and coarse sand plus fertilizer.  Fertilizer is to be placed between the depths of two (2) to four (4) to six (6) inches when in turf areas to prevent burning of the turf.  Once a year, in the early spring, for those trees in heavy use areas of overly compacted soil.

2. Once a year, in the early spring, all shrubs shall be fertilized. Individual specimen shrubs shall be fertilized at the rate of one-half (1/2) to one (1) pound per plant depending on the size of the plant. Groups of shrubs should be fertilized at the rate of one (1) to four (4) pounds per one hundred (I 00) square feet of soil surface area.

3. Where shrubs are planted in a mulch bed, fertilizer applications shall be evenly broadcast on the soil surface beneath the shrubs, then lightly worked into mulch. (Refer to City of Cambridge Pesticide Policy.)

C. Shrub Bed Maintenance

1. In the spring, shrub beds should be edged and cultivated; a soil conditioner such as peat moss or composted leaf material and a layer of mulch should be added.
D. Weed and Edging

1 Mulched planting beds and individual mulched plant pits shall be neat in appearance, weed free and maintained to the lines originally laid out.

2. Edging of grass around mulch shall be done at each mowing.

3. Hand weeding of mulched planting beds and pits shall be performed weekly from April 15 through September 30.

4. Clippings and debris from weeding and edging will- be removed from the site and disposed of properly by the Maintenance Contractor. (Refer to City of Cambridge Pesticide Policy).

E. Mulching

1. Mulch material replaced around trees shall be maintained a depth of 3' in planting saucers and plant beds.  Mulch shall be replaced or added to during the spring, as necessary, in order to maintain mulch levels required.  If found to be supporting at a matrix of second growth roots, mulch shall be removed and replaced. Where removal of mulch will cause damage to fibrous tree roots mulch will not be removed. -Example: Riverside Press Park - all flower and shrub beds shall be raked.

2. Mulch shall be at a pine bark mulch, aged at a minimum of six (6) months.  The mulch shall be dark brown in color, f[r]ee of chunks and pieces of wood thicker than one-quarter inch.  Mulch must be f[r]ee of stringy material and shall not contain in the judgement of the City's Representative.-an excess of fine particles. Submit sample for approval by the City’s Representative.
3. Trees in lawn areas should have turf removed from around the trunk for at a distance of eighteen (18) inches all around. Mulch should not be placed closer than 6” to the tree trunk. Ground should then be cultivated at a two (two) to three (3) inch depth. Trees in Cambridge Common, Longfellow Park and Old Burial Grounds are excluded from mulching.

 
F. Tree Grates
1. Fine material (sand, small stones and miscellaneous debris) shall be removed from the openings in the grates. Material shall be removed down to the deep. Backfill with sand or gravel (sample approved by the City’s Representative). Backfill shall completely file the grate openings.

G. Water
1. Water each treed and shrub not less than once each week during the months of May through October, taking weather conditions into account.
1. At each watering, the root ball area should be completely flooded.
CAMBRIDGE PARK Page 30
 
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