SPRINGFIELD NURSERY, INC.

Landscape Management
Performance Specifications

GENERAL CONDITIONS

The Contractor shall provide professionally acceptable landscape management equipment operated by competent, trained employees, all of which are U.S. Citizens or are considered legal aliens by the Immigration and Naturalization Services. Operations shall be performed during regular business hours, unless inclement weather prohibits normal scheduling. The task at hand shall be performed in a timely manner and shall be supervised by responsible job foreman. All materials provided under this Agreement shall conform to standards of the landscape profession shall be acceptable to the Client. Crews shall be transported to and from the job site daily and shall wear identification uniforms for proper recognition.

The following general specifications are applicable to the Landscape Management Agreement and services shall occur only on areas and at frequencies stipulated under the terms of this Agreement as outlined in the Bid Summary. If necessary, a separate listing of special instructions and/or provisions may be attached and incorporated by reference.

TURF MANAGEMENT

MOWING & TRIMMING. Turf areas shall be mowed at a frequency as specified by Bid Summary, as weather conditions permit, during the period of April to November. Areas to be mowed will be policed for trash prior to mowing. Excessive amounts of debris will be removed at extra cost. Lawns will be maintained at 2 2/3" to 3 1/4" height (after mowing), which will vary due to terrain and weather conditions. Mowers will be equipped with sharp blades at the beginning of each work day. Sign posts, light poles, fire hydrants, etc. will be trimmed each mowing. All hard surfaces will be cleared of generated clipping debris at the conclusion of the mowing operation.

EDGING. Edging along sidewalks and curbs shall be performed using steel blade gas powered equipment designed to generate a 1/8" by 1" groove alongside hard surfaces. All generated debris will be removed after completion of edging operations. Edging will be scheduled at frequencies specified as per Bid Summary.

TURF NUTRITION AND WEED CONTROL

Turf nutritional programs shall directly coincide with the guidelines published in the State Extension Service of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Virginia. In brief, these guidelines provide for application of lime at rates as specified by soil analysis and application of a minimum of 3 lbs. Nitrogen per 1000 square feet annually, with 80% applied in the Fall months. Herbicide (weed control) applications will be made as specified and will adhere to manufacturers application procedures printed on container labels. If notification of application is desired by Client, arrangements will be made as negotiated between Contractor and Client. Site warning flags will be installed during herbicide and insect control applications.

SOIL ANALYSIS. Soil samples will be gathered from various areas on the site and the annual soil analysis, emphasizing soil pH, potassium and phosphorus levels will be provided to Client.

SPRING PRE-EMERGENT CRABGRASS CONTROL & FERTILIZATION. Annual turf pre-emergent crabgrass control combined with a fertilizer product will be applied during the Spring to all maintained turf areas.

BROADLEAF WEED CONTROL. Broadleaf herbicides will be applied to actively growing weeds in Spring and/or Fall, depending upon specified frequencies. All maintained turf areas will be included for inspection and/or treatment.

FALL FERTILIZATION: A timed-released balanced fertilizer to provide a minimum of 2 ½ lbs. of Nitrogen per 1000 square feet will be applied in the Fall to all maintained turf areas.

LIME: Lime, to be of the ground agricultural type manufactured in pelletized form, will be applied at a rate as specified to all maintained turf areas. Rates and prices may need to be adjusted based upon actual soil analysis.

OVERSEEDING: Turf overseeding shall occur in the Fall at a rate of 6-8 lbs. per 1000 square feet. Seed used will be a blend of Improved Tall Fescue (90-100%) and improved Kentucky Bluegrass (0-10%). Turf areas will be assessed in August for target areas to be overseeded. This specification is for maintenance-level seeding to compensate for weed control results and to maintain established turf. The addition of soil and/or straw to bare or thinning areas will be at additional cost.

AERATION. Aeration will be accomplished in conjunction with Fall Over-seeding using a drum or piston-type aerator with coring or open-spoon tines of ½ to 3/4 inch diameter. Tines will penetrate the soil to a minimum of 1 - 1 ½ inches depending upon soil consistency. Aeration should provide a minimum of four holes per square foot. Only areas accessible to the aerating equipment will be aerated.

ORNAMENTAL SHRUB & TREE MANAGEMENT

PRUNING & SHEARING. Ornamental pruning shall mean selective removal of unwanted branches and will cover trimming of each season's growth only. Renovational pruning will only be provided at additional cost. Ornamental shearing shall mean shaping of the whole plant using hand or power hedge shears. All branches outside the intended line of shape are clipped off. This type of plant tending will not address the selective removal of unwanted branch growth from the plant interior as selective pruning will. Shearing will cover trimming of each season's growth only. Renovational shearing of mature shrubbery and cutting natural area growth will only be provided at additional cost.

INSECT CONTROL PROGRAM. Ornamental Insect Control shall be provided as conditions require, using the "Integrated Pest Management" (IPM) system developed by professionals in response to environmental concerns. In brief, this system relies upon constant inspection of the site for insect populations and, only when the populations exceed certain levels are pesticides applied. This Insect Control Program offers treatments at specified frequencies. The site will be visited and targeted plant material sprayed directly by a certified applicator during known peak periods of insect infestation. IPM monitoring is provided at no additional cost to the client.

BED PREPARATION/SPRING CLEAN-UP. Bed Preparation/Spring Clean-Up will encompass the mechanical definition of previously mulched shrub beds and ornamental trees by cutting a small trench and shall occur just prior to Spring Mulch Application. General clean-up of the site is included to remove fallen small tree/shrub branches and other minor Winter debris from areas subject to this Agreement. This does not include removal of excessive leaf accumulation or removal of sand from street, curb or sidewalk areas. Ornamental Fertilization (surface application) will occur in the Spring prior to or coinciding with Bed Preparation or Mulch Application at the rate of 3-5 lbs. per 100 sq.ft.

SPRING MULCH APPLICATION. Mulching of areas subject to this Agreement shall occur in the Spring (typically between March 1 and June 30). Shredded hardwood bark will be applied to a depth of approximately 2", and care will be taken to ensure evenness of spread. Tree trunks and plant bases will not be covered as this could lead to insect infestation. Mulch bed weed control will encompass both chemical and mechanical (hand-pulling) means. The objective is to maintain all beds as weed-free as possible.

FALL MULCH APPLICATION. Top-dressing of mulched areas shall occur during the Fall. Shredded hardwood bark will be applied to a depth of approximately 1 to 2", and care will be taken to ensure evenness of spread and avoid build-up of excess mulch.

FALL MULCH CULTIVATION. Fall cultivation of mulched areas to turn and aerate existing mulch in the Fall.

MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES

NON-SELECTIVE HERBICIDE. Non-selective herbicides will be applied periodically to non-planted areas (such as curbs, sidewalk joints, parking lots, etc). to control weeds and grass that grow in expansion joints and sidewalk cracks.

LEAF COLLECTION. Leaf collection shall be provided at specified locations and frequencies and shall occur in late Fall and/or early Winter.

SEASONAL COLOR ENHANCEMENTS. Seasonal color enhancements shall be provided as per the frequencies as specified. Spring installation (annual flowers) is typically scheduled in May/June and Fall installation (pansies) is generally completed in October.

PARKING LOT & STREET CLEANING. Sand and other miscellaneous debris will be removed from all accessible pavement areas. This service will be provided using manual and/or mechanical methods such as a street sweeper or power broom. All debris will be removed from the site and dump fees will be included in the total price. Except where included by Bid Summary provisions, pricing will be provided as an extra service at the end of the Winter.