Install Perennials and Seasonal Color Beds

A. Finished Project Specification

Deliverable: one mixed perennial and seasonal-color planting bed installed at the approved spacing and crown or stem depth, with corrected root systems, initial watering completed, mulch applied without burying crowns, verified irrigation coverage where specified, and a documented planting and maintenance schedule.

B. Plant Group Schedule

Group	Required Content	Source Steps
Schedule Review	Mature spread, height layers, bloom sequence, sun, soil, water, and color pattern for every plant in the bed	Step 1
Plant Inspection	Vigor, roots, pests, disease, labeling, and moisture confirmed for every container and flat	Step 2
Layout Confirmation	Plants placed in containers, viewed from primary directions, and spacing adjusted before digging	Steps 3–6
Hole Preparation	Holes sized to each root ball; roots loosened or corrected before setting	Steps 7–10
Perennial Placement	Crowns set at the approved depth without burial	Steps 11, 13
Annual Color Placement	Stem bases set at the specified depth without burial	Steps 12–13
Backfill and Water	Firm backfill and thorough watering for each plant during installation	Steps 14–15
Irrigation Verification	Drip emitters installed or coverage verified against the approved design	Step 16
Mulch and Documentation	Mulch applied without covering crowns; species, locations, and schedule documented	Steps 17–18
Uniformity Inspection	Spacing, pattern, depth, crown exposure, and moisture confirmed; weak plants replaced	Steps 19–21

C. Record and Reference Takeoff

• Plans and records: approved plant schedule, mature spread reference, bloom sequence, color pattern, irrigation design where drip coverage is specified, and any local invasive-plant restriction list.
• Nursery tags: retained with each plant, or in the labeled bucket, until species and location are documented.
• Watering record: quantity and timing of installation watering for each plant group.
• Photographic record: photographs of the confirmed layout before digging and the completed bed after mulching.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Spacing	Every plant matches the spacing specified in the approved plant schedule, verified before digging and again after installation
Crown and stem depth	Every perennial crown and annual stem base sits at or above the approved finished grade; none buried
Root condition	Compacted or circling roots loosened or corrected using the approved method before backfilling
Watering	Every plant watered thoroughly during installation; no dry root balls at the time of backfill completion
Mulch clearance	Mulch applied to the specified depth and kept clear of every crown and stem
Irrigation coverage	Where drip coverage is specified, every plant group receives coverage confirmed against the approved design
Visual uniformity	Pattern, color grouping, and height layering match the approved schedule when viewed from primary directions

E. Preparation — Schedule Review and Plant Inspection

1. Review plant schedule, mature spread, height layers, bloom sequence, sun, soil, water, color pattern, and maintenance. Confirm the schedule matches the bed prepared through Chapters 3 through 7.
2. Inspect plants for vigor, roots, pests, disease, labeling, and moisture. Set aside any plant showing wilting, breakage, severe root-binding, disease symptoms, or missing labeling for review before installation.

F. Layout Confirmation

3. Place all plants in containers according to the plan. Position each container at its planned location without removing the plant from its pot.
4. View the layout from primary directions. Check the arrangement from the main viewing points identified in the plant schedule or site plan.
5. Adjust spacing to maintain mature coverage and access. Correct any placement that would crowd mature spread or block required access once plants reach full size.
6. Keep plants clear of paths, drains, structures, and irrigation hardware. Reposition any container placed over a fixed feature or irrigation component.

G. Hole Preparation and Root Correction

7. Mark each location. Use a flag, stake, or marking paint at each confirmed container position before removing any plant from its pot.
8. Dig holes suited to the root ball. Size each hole to the width and depth of the individual root ball rather than a uniform hole size for all plants.
9. Remove containers carefully. Support the base of the root ball and avoid pulling on stems or foliage during removal.
10. Loosen or correct compacted roots using the approved method. Score, tease, or trim circling and compacted roots as appropriate to the species and root condition observed.

H. Setting Depth, Backfill, and Watering

11. Set perennials at the approved crown depth. Position the crown at or slightly above the finished grade specified by the plant schedule or nursery tag.
12. Set annual color plants at the specified depth. Match the container's original soil line to the surrounding finished grade unless the schedule specifies otherwise.
13. Do not bury crowns or stems. Recheck depth immediately before backfilling each plant.
14. Backfill and firm lightly. Fill around the root ball with prepared bed soil and firm gently without compacting the surrounding soil structure.
15. Water each plant during installation. Apply water slowly at the base of each plant until the root zone is thoroughly moistened.

I. Irrigation, Mulch, and Documentation

16. Install drip emitters or verify irrigation coverage where specified. Use the approved irrigation design; do not size or design a new zone as part of this chapter.
17. Apply mulch without covering crowns. Spread mulch to the specified depth while keeping it clear of every crown and stem base.
18. Remove tags only after documenting species and locations. Record each plant's species and location on the planting record before discarding or storing the tag.

J. Inspection and Closeout

19. Inspect spacing, pattern, depth, crown exposure, moisture, and visual uniformity. Compare the completed bed against the approved plant schedule and the layout confirmed in Step 4.
20. Replace weak or damaged plants. Remove and replace any plant showing wilting, breakage, or failure to establish, and repeat the applicable installation steps for the replacement.
21. Document planting and maintenance schedule. Record species, quantity, locations, installation date, watering performed, and the follow-up maintenance schedule.