PCA ARBORISTS & CONSULTANTS, INC. DBA PACIFIC COAST HORTICULTIST

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SECTION VIII TREES It is essential for the City to continue to develop and maintain an urban forest within its parks and backup areas. The contractor shall prune trees to comply with ISA standards and maintain their characteristic shape, density, and texture. The center of gravity, or location of the mass, per tree, is close to the center and close to the ground, enabling the trees to withstand strong winds. Thus, the Contractor shall not thin or "lace out' dense foliage, except for outside branches. The Contract will include a large number of newly-planted trees and reforested areas. Tree pruning specifications for all trees over 15 feet are covered under a separate tree maintenance contract, except for the requirements to raise trees for clearance. A. General Specifications 1. The contractor shall raise all trees, as required, to allow twelve-foot (12') clearance within park boundaries and fifteen-foot (15') clearance above road surfaces for vehicular traffic. 2. All trees shall be pruned as required to remove broken, crowned, dead, hazardous, and infested portions for safety reasons. 3. The CR shall be informed immediately of any hazardous trees. 4. All pruning shall be done by the use of proper tools, per ISA Standards, and disinfected after each tree is pruned to prevent the spread of disease and pathogens from one tree to another. 5. Topping trees shall not be permitted. Any pruning shall be done by those experienced and skilled in pruning techniques. 6. All cuts shall be done using proper horticultural practices. Dressing wounds is not allowed. 7. Tree stakes, ties, and guys shall be checked and corrected or replaced as needed and removed when no longer needed. 8. Ties shall be adjusted to prevent girdling. 9. Under no circumstances shall stripping of lower branches (raising up) of young trees be permitted. Lower branches shall be retained in a "tipped back" or pinched condition with as much foliage as possible to promote caliper-retained growth (tapered trunk). The contractor shall contact the CR with any questions or concerns. 10. Downed tree debris, of all sizes, shall be cut up and removed within 48 hours of discovery. The contractor shall be responsible for chipping and green waste disposal. 11. Newly planted trees, either by the Contractor or the City, shall become the responsibility of the Contractor if they fall within the height specification. B. Trees Under 15 Feet 1. The contractor shall prune out branches extending beyond a tree's shape (foliage perimeter). 2. The contractor shall prune to control size and shape. 3. Cuts shall be inside the perimeter of foliage, almost flush with a parent branch, but not harming the collar area. No butts or stubs shall be permitted. Old stubs with an outgrowth of multiple shoots shall be removed. RFP 23-151 Landscape Maintenance Services Page 47 of 135