SECTION 920 — LANDSCAPING MATERIALS 748 DELETE: Section 920 — Landscaping Materials, in its entirety.
INSERT: The following:
SECTION 920 — LANDSCAPING MATERIALS
920.01 SOILS. Topsoil, Subsoil, and Bioretention Soil Mix shall conform to requirements of this section. Soils shall be sampled, tested and approved per specifications of MSMT 356 by the Soils and Aggregates Technology Division of the Office of Materials Technology, or by other approved tests or laboratories. Soils shall be amended as specified by the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP).
920.01.01 Existing Topsoil and Salvaged Topsoil.
Existing Topsoil. Existing topsoil is the surface material of existing landscaped areas on SHA property that will be used for seeding or other landscape construction without excavation or significant grading.
Salvaged Topsoil. Salvaged topsoil is the surface material of existing landscaped areas on SHA property that will be used for seeding or other landscape construction after being excavated, stockpiled, and placed in designated areas.
Composition. Existing topsoil and salvaged topsoil shall conform to the following:
Free of live stems or roots of Shattercane, Johnsongrass, Canada Thistle, Bull Thistle, Plumeless Thistle, Musk Thistle, and Common Reed when inspected before transportation.
Debris
—
1.0 % or less by weight of cement, concrete, asphalt, crushed gravel or construction debris when inspected.
pH of 4.8 to 7.6. Apply limestone to topsoil with pH 4.8 to 6.1 per NMP. Apply sulfur to topsoil with pH 7.1 to 7.6 per NMP.
Organic
Matter
MSMT
356
1.0 to 8.0 % OM by weight. Apply compost to topsoil with 1.0 to 1.7% OM per NMP.
Nutrient
Content
MSMT
356
Administration will assess. Apply fertilizer per NMP for nitrogen requirement and optimum fertility index values (FIV) for phosphorus and potassium.
Soluble
Salts
MSMT
356
800 ppm (1.25 mmhos/cm) or less. Apply gypsum to topsoil with 500 to 800 ppm (0.78 to 1.25 mhos/cm) per NMP.
Harmful
Materials
—
Topsoil shall not contain substances in concentrations that are harmful to human health, water quality, or plant growth. Industrial waste such as ash, slag, raw sludge, dredge spoil, or similar materials shall not be soil components.
Note:
1 Materials Standards and Materials Testing 356 (MSMT 356) published by the Administration defines the approved test methods;
other materials shall be approved by visual inspection or methods defined by the Landscape Operations Division.
920.01.02 Furnished Topsoil. A natural, friable, surface soil that is uniform in color and texture, and not derived from the project. Producers shall be included in the Qualified Products List maintained by the Administration for Furnished Topsoil.
Composition. Furnished topsoil shall conform to the following.
Free of live stems and roots of species in 920.01.01 as well as live stems and roots of Bermudagrass, Quackgrass, and Yellow Nutsedge.
Debris
—
920.01.01
Grading
Analysis
MSMT
356
920.01.01
Textural
Analysis
MSMT
356
Particle
% Passing by Weight
Size
mm
Minimum
Maximum
Sand
2.0 – 0.050
20
75
Silt
0.050 – 0.002
Combined
Silt and Clay
25
75
Clay
less than 0.002
20
Soil pH
MSMT
356
pH of 5.2 to 7.6 Apply limestone to topsoil with pH 5.2 to 6.1 per NMP. Apply sulfur to topsoil with pH 7.1 to 7.6 per NMP.
Organic
Matter
MSMT
356
920.01.01
Nutrient
Content
MSMT
356
920.01.01
Soluble
Salts
MSMT
356
500 ppm (1.25 mmhos/cm) or less.
Harmful
Materials
—
920.01.01
Note:
1 Materials Standards and Materials Testing 356 (MSMT) published by the Administration defines the approved test methods;
other materials shall be approved by visual inspection or methods defined by the Landscape Operations Division.
Storage. Furnished topsoil shall be a homogenous mixture stored at a specific, identifiable site in a stockpile constructed as specified in 308.03.28 and 701.03.02(c).
Approval. Tests shall be completed and approval will be granted before furnished topsoil is delivered. Ensure that Form 27B has been completed and that a source of supply letter for the furnished topsoil soil has been submitted and approved.
Delivery. Certification shall be submitted that the furnished topsoil is delivered from an approved stockpile. A bill of lading or other acceptable documentation that identifies the approved source of supply shall be submitted when furnished topsoil is delivered.
920.01.03 Salvaged Subsoil. Salvaged subsoil is the subsurface material of existing areas that will be used for landscape construction after being excavated, stockpiled, and placed in designated areas.
Composition. Salvaged topsoil shall conform to the following:
COMPOSITION - SALVAGED SUBSOIL
TEST
PROPERTY
TEST 1 METHOD
TEST VALUE AND AMENDMENT
Prohibited
Weeds
—
920.01.01
Debris
—
5.0 % or less by weight of any combination of cement, concrete, asphalt, or other construction debris when inspected.
Grading
Analysis
MSMT
356
Sieve Size
Passing by Weight
Minimum %
2 in.
90
No. 4
85
No. 10
60
Textural
Analysis
MSMT
356
Particle
% Passing by Weight
Size
mm
Minimum
Maximum
Sand
2.0 – 0.050
10
85
Silt
0.050 – 0.002
10
85
Clay
less than 0.002
5
40
Soil pH
MSMT
356
pH of 4.5 to 7.8.
Organic
Matter
MSMT
356
0.1 to 5.0 % by weight.
Soluble
Salts
MSMT
356
1000 ppm (1.56 mmhos/cm) or less.
Harmful
Materials
—
920.01.01
Note: 1 Materials Standards and Materials Testing 356 (MSMT) published by the Administration defines the approved test methods; other materials shall be approved by visual inspection or methods defined by the Landscape Operations Division.
920.01.04 Furnished Subsoil. A natural subsurface soil that is uniform in texture and not derived from the project. Furnished subsoil shall conform to the following:
Composition. Furnished subsoil shall conform to the following:
COMPOSITION - FURNISHED SUBSOIL
TEST
PROPERTY
TEST 1 METHOD
TEST VALUE AND AMENDMENT
Prohibited
Weeds
—
920.01.01
Debris
—
920.01.03
Grading
Analysis
MSMT
356
920.01.03
Textural
Analysis
MSMT
356
920.01.03
Soil pH
MSMT
356
920.01.03
Organic
Matter
MSMT
356
920.01.03
Soluble
Salts
MSMT
356
700 ppm (1.09 mmhos/cm) or less
Harmful
Materials
—
920.01.01
Note:
1 Materials Standards and Materials Testing 356 (MSMT) published by the Administration defines the approved test methods;
other materials shall be approved by visual inspection or methods defined by the Landscape Operations Division.
Storage. Refer to 920.01.02(b).
Approval. 9Refer to 20.01.02(c).
Certification and Delivery. Refer to 920.01.02(d).
920.01.05 Bioretention Soil Mix (BSM). BSM shall be a homogenous mixture as follows:
Components. BSM shall be composed of Sand, Furnished Topsoil, and Hardwood Mulch. BSM may include approved soil amendments. No other components shall be used.
Sand. Sand shall be washed silica sand that conforms to ASTM C-33 or ASTM M-6 with less than 1 percent by weight of any combination of diabase, greystone, calcareous, or dolomitic sand.
Furnished Topsoil. Refer to 920.01.02.
Hardwood Mulch. Hardwood Mulch shall be the bark and wood of hardwood trees that is milled and screened to a uniform particle size of 2 in. or less. Hardwood Mulch shall be composted and aged for 6 months or longer, with negligible quantity of sawdust and no foreign materials.
Amendments. Refer to 920.02. Limestone, Sulfur, and Iron Sulfate may be used to adjust pH of BSM. No other amendments shall be used.
Composition. BSM shall conform to the following:
COMPOSITION- BIORETENTION SOIL MIX (BSM)
TEST
PROPERTY
TEST VALUE
Weeds
Free of seed and viable plant parts of species in 920.06.02(a)(b)(c) when inspected.
Debris
No observable content of cement, concrete, asphalt, crushed gravel or construction debris.
Hardwood Mulch
20% of the loose volume of BSM when inspected.
Textural Analysis
Particle
% Passing by Weight
Size
mm
Minimum
Maximum
Sand
2.0 – 0.050
55
85
Silt
0.050 – 0.002
1
20
Clay
less than 0.002
1
8
Soil pH
pH of 5.7 to 7.4.
Organic Matter
Minimum 1.5 % by weight.
Soluble Salts
500 ppm (1.25 mmhos/cm) or less.
Harmful Materials
920.01.01(a).
Storage. Refer to 920.01.02(b).
Approval. Refer to 920.01.02(c).
Certification and Delivery. Refer to 920.01.02(d).
920.02 SOIL AMENDMENTS. 920.02.01 Limestone. Limestone shall be an agricultural product manufactured and labeled for sale in Maryland for increasing soil pH. Limestone shall contain at least 85 percent calcium and magnesium carbonates. Dolomitic limestone shall contain at least 10 percent magnesium as magnesium oxide and 85 percent calcium and magnesium carbonates.
Limestone shall be supplied as a fine powder, or as pellets produced from fine powder, that conforms to the following:
LIMESTONE GRADING ANALYSIS
SIEVE
Size Number
PASSING BY WEIGHT
Minimum %
10
100
20
98
100
50
920.02.02 Sulfur. Sulfur shall be an agricultural product manufactured and labeled for sale in Maryland for reducing soil pH. Sulfur labeled as a fertilizer may also be used to supply sulfur as a plant nutrient. Sulfur shall be supplied as a fine powder or pelletized powder with a minimum purity of 90 percent elemental sulfur.
920.02.03 Iron Sulfate. Iron sulfate shall be an agricultural product manufactured and labeled for sale in Maryland for reducing soil pH. Iron sulfate labeled as a fertilizer may also be used to supply sulfur or iron as a plant nutrient. Iron sulfate shall be supplied as a fine powder or pelletized powder with a minimum purity of 15 percent water soluble iron derived from ferrous sulfate.
920.02.04 Gypsum. Gypsum shall be an agricultural product manufactured and labeled for sale in Maryland as an aid for improving soil structure and removing soil soluble salts, or as a fertilizer to supply calcium and sulfate. Gypsum shall be supplied as a fine powder or pelletized powder with a minimum purity of 68 percent calcium sulfate dihydrate.
920.02.05 Compost.
Compost Types. Compost shall be an agricultural product of biosolids or source- separated materials manufactured and labeled for sale in Maryland.
Stability. Compost shall be biologically mature and no longer able to reheat to thermophilic temperatures.
pH. Compost shall have a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
Soluble Salts. Compost shall have a soluble salt concentration less than 10.0 mmhos/cm.
Moisture. Compost shall have a moisture content of 30 to 55 percent. When delivered, compost shall have a weight of 1,400 lb per cubic yard or less.