Plant Shrubs and Foundation Plants

A. Finished Project Specification

Deliverable: one planted group of shrubs or foundation plants installed at the mature spacing and building clearance stated in the approved plant schedule, with each plant's root flare exposed at approved finished grade, root systems corrected, backfill placed in controlled lifts, initial watering completed, and mulch kept clear of stems, concluding with a documented planting record.

B. Planting Record Section Schedule

Section	Required Content	Source Steps
Plant Review	Schedule review, tag inspection, and reject/accept decision for each plant	Steps 1–3
Layout	Container placement, spacing review, mature-clearance verification, and hole marking	Steps 4–7
Excavation	Utility clearance confirmation and hole dimensions for each plant	Steps 8–9
Root Inspection and Correction	Root-flare location, root-system inspection, and corrections performed	Steps 10–14
Setting and Backfill	Root-flare elevation, orientation, backfill lifts, and air-pocket elimination	Steps 15–19
Watering and Mulch	Watering basin where specified, initial watering, and mulch clearance	Steps 20–22
Final Inspection and Record	Depth, spacing, alignment, root flare, watering, and clearance inspection; species, quantity, location, and maintenance documentation	Steps 23–24

C. Record and Reference Takeoff

• Plans and records: approved plant schedule, mature-size data, Chapter 1 Landscape Readiness Worksheet, and confirmed utility-locating markings for the bed area.
• Materials: shrubs per the plant schedule, approved backfill soil, mulch per the Chapter 7 depth specification, and watering-basin material only where specified.
• Photographic record: photographs of the pre-planting layout, exposed root flares before backfilling, and the completed, watered, and mulched planting.
• Planting record: one completed Shrub Planting Record listing species, quantity, location, planting date, and initial maintenance instructions.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Spacing and clearance	Every plant location matches the mature spacing and clearance stated in the plant schedule
Root-flare depth	Every root flare is exposed and set at the approved finished grade; no root flare is buried
Root correction	Every circling, kinked, or girdling root identified during inspection has been corrected using the approved method
Backfill condition	Backfill placed in controlled lifts with large air pockets eliminated and no overcompaction
Watering	Every plant has been watered slowly and thoroughly at installation
Mulch clearance	Mulch applied at the approved depth and kept clear of stems and crowns
Documentation	Species, quantity, location, and initial maintenance recorded on the Shrub Planting Record

E. Plant Review and Layout

1. Review plant schedule, mature size, sun, soil, water, foundation clearance, utility clearance, and maintenance access. Confirm the schedule is the approved, current version.
2. Inspect plant tags, root balls, stems, leaves, pests, damage, and moisture. Record condition of each plant on the Shrub Planting Record.
3. Reject diseased, severely root-bound, broken, dried, or mislabeled plants. Set rejected plants aside and note the reason and replacement plan.
4. Place plants in containers at planned locations. Do not dig any hole before this step is complete.
5. Review spacing from multiple viewing points. Walk the primary viewing directions, including the street, entrance, and windows.
6. Verify mature clearance from buildings, windows, paths, utilities, and other plants. Compare measured distances against the plant schedule's mature-size figures.
7. Mark each planting hole. Use a flag or paint mark at the center of each planned hole.

F. Excavation and Root Correction

1. Confirm utility clearance before digging. Verify locating markings remain valid for the marked hole locations.
2. Dig holes to the approved width and no deeper than required for root-flare placement. Keep excavated soil separate from mulch and debris.
3. Keep excavated soil separate from mulch and debris. Stage excavated soil on a tarp or in a wheelbarrow beside the hole.
4. Remove the plant from its container without pulling the stem. Support the root ball from underneath while removing the container.
5. Inspect root flare and root system. Remove excess container soil from the top of the root ball if it obscures the true root flare.
6. Remove circling, kinked, girdling, dead, or compacted outer roots using the approved method. Cut or tease roots according to the nursery tag or plant-specific guidance supplied with the plant schedule.
7. Remove wire, twine, tags, and container material. Confirm no wire basket, string, or plastic remains against the trunk or roots.

G. Setting, Backfilling, Watering, and Documentation

1. Set the plant so the root flare is at the approved finished grade. Check the flare elevation against the surrounding prepared bed soil, not against the hole's excavated depth.
2. Rotate the best face toward the viewing direction. Confirm the orientation before backfilling begins.
3. Backfill with approved soil in controlled lifts. Add soil in layers, lightly firming each layer before adding the next.
4. Eliminate large air pockets without overcompaction. Work backfill soil gently around the root ball rather than tamping heavily.
5. Do not bury the root flare or stem. Recheck flare elevation after each backfill lift.
6. Build only the specified watering basin. Construct a basin only where the plant schedule calls for one.
7. Water slowly and thoroughly. Allow water to soak in before adding more, and confirm water reaches the root ball rather than running off.
8. Add mulch while keeping it clear of stems. Apply mulch to the Chapter 7 specified depth, leaving a clear ring at the stem.
9. Inspect plant depth, spacing, vertical alignment, root flare, watering, and building clearance. Confirm every acceptance standard in Section D is met for each plant.
10. Document species, quantity, location, and initial maintenance. Complete the Shrub Planting Record with planting date and any follow-up watering or inspection schedule.