Capstone Project: Install a Complete Residential Landscape Bed with Irrigation and Mulch

A. Finished Project Specification

Deliverable: one complete residential landscape bed, prepared and amended per soil results, graded for positive drainage, bounded by approved edging, planted with the approved shrub, tree, and perennial schedule at correct root-flare and crown depths, served by a tested backflow-protected drip-irrigation zone, covered with mulch and, where justified, fabric to the specified depth, fully restored and cleaned, and closed out with a complete documentation package and a signed, dated readiness decision.

B. Capstone Section Schedule

Section	Required Content	Source Steps
Plans and Readiness	Approved plans, schedules, boundaries, utilities, mature plant sizes, lawful drainage, utility locating, and the Chapter 1 readiness inspection	Steps 1–4
Work Area and Inventory	Chapter 2 work-area setup and a full inventory of plants, soil, amendments, edging, tubing, emitters, backflow components, mulch, and protection materials	Steps 5–6
Soil Preparation	Soil sampling where results are unavailable, approved amendments only, and vegetation, debris, and root removal	Steps 7–9
Grading and Protection	Positive-drainage grading and protection of siding, weeps, vents, thresholds, foundations, and tree root flares	Steps 10–11
Layout and Edging	Bed boundary layout, edging installation, and plant container placement with mature spacing and clearance verification	Steps 12–15
Layout Approval	Confirmed sign-off on plant placement before any digging begins	Step 16
Irrigation and Drainage Rough-In	Below-grade drainage and irrigation mainline, laterals, backflow, filter, regulator, shutoff, and tubing flush installed before planting where specified	Steps 17–19
Planting	Approved-width, root-flare-depth holes; root correction; shrub, tree, and perennial planting at correct depth; staking only where justified; backfill and initial watering	Steps 20–26
Irrigation Finish and Test	Emitter or dripline installation, pressurization, leak inspection, and distribution correction	Steps 27–29
Fabric and Mulch	Fabric installed only where justified; mulch applied to specified depth with protected crowns and clearances; establishment watering schedule programmed	Steps 30–33
Restoration and Cleanup	Disturbed lawn and soil restoration and full site cleanup of hardscape, drains, edging, windows, siding, and work areas	Steps 34–35
Final Inspection	Plant depth, root flare, spacing, stability, mulch, edging, soil, drainage, irrigation, overspray, backflow, and building-clearance inspection, plus a controlled irrigation and drainage observation	Steps 36–37
Deficiency Resolution and Closeout	Final deficiency list, correction, reinspection, compiled records, maintenance instructions, and formal handoff	Steps 38–42

C. Record and Reference Takeoff

• Plans and schedules: approved capstone site plan, planting plan, plant schedule, soil results, grading and drainage details, irrigation design, mulch specification, permit conditions, and inspection sequence.
• Chapter records: completed Landscape Readiness Worksheet from Chapter 1, work-area safety inspection from Chapter 2, and every soil, planting, irrigation, and maintenance record produced in Chapters 3 through 19 for this bed.
• Utility locating: confirmed request submitted to the required utility-location service, with markings verified present before any digging, trenching, or planting.
• Photographic record: photographs of existing conditions, layout approval, root flares at planting, irrigation testing, mulch coverage, and final closeout condition.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Section completeness	All thirteen sections of the Capstone Section Schedule are completed with the required content
Sequence integrity	Utility locating and the Chapter 1 readiness decision precede digging; below-grade irrigation and drainage precede final mulch; layout approval precedes hole-digging
Root flare and crown depth	Every shrub, tree, and perennial is set at the approved root-flare or crown-depth elevation with no buried flare or crown
Irrigation	Backflow-protected, pressure-controlled, leak-free at every fitting and emitter, with verified distribution at representative locations
Mulch and fabric	Mulch at the specified depth with trunks, stems, and crowns clear; fabric present only where justified and documented
Drainage	Positive drainage away from structures with no ponding, reverse slope, or blocked outlet observed during the controlled water observation
Deficiency resolution	Every listed deficiency is corrected, referred to the required qualified professional, or documented as a condition of a conditional decision
Closeout	Complete records compiled and one of approved, conditional, or rejected landscape-closeout status issued, signed, and dated

E. Plans, Readiness, and Work Area

1. Obtain the approved capstone site plan, planting plan, plant schedule, soil results, grading and drainage details, irrigation design, mulch specification, permit conditions, and inspection sequence. Confirm each document is current before relying on it.
2. Confirm property limits, utilities, foundation clearances, mature plant sizes, and lawful drainage. Compare the capstone plans against observed site conditions.
3. Complete utility locating. Do not proceed to digging, trenching, driving stakes, installing edging, or planting until markings are placed and confirmed valid.
4. Perform the Chapter 1 readiness inspection. Issue an approved or conditional decision for the capstone area before continuing; correct and reinspect any deficiency before proceeding.
5. Prepare the Chapter 2 work area, plant protection, equipment routes, chemical controls, hydration, and material staging. Protect existing hardscape, structures, and any retained plants.
6. Inventory plants, soil, amendments, edging, tubing, emitters, backflow components, mulch, and protection materials. Confirm quantities against the approved plant schedule and irrigation design before starting soil work.

F. Soil, Vegetation Removal, and Grading

1. Collect and interpret soil samples where current results are not available. Follow the Chapter 3 sampling and interpretation sequence.
2. Apply only approved amendments. Calculate and spread amendments strictly from the soil test and capstone design; do not amend by assumption.
3. Remove weeds, sod, roots, debris, and unwanted vegetation. Protect any retained plants and utilities during removal.
4. Shape the bed for positive drainage. Establish the approved fall away from structures and eliminate low spots that would hold water.
5. Protect siding, weeps, vents, thresholds, foundations, and tree root flares. Mark no-fill zones before placing any additional soil.

G. Layout, Edging, and Approval

1. Lay out the bed boundary. Mark the perimeter and verify curves and clearances from multiple viewing points.
2. Cut and install edging. Follow the Chapter 6 edge-depth, fastening, and clearance requirements.
3. Lay out trees, shrubs, perennials, and seasonal plants in containers. Place every plant at its plan location before any digging begins.
4. Verify mature spacing, utilities, structure clearance, sun, and irrigation zones. Confirm every plant against its mature size and the irrigation design.
5. Obtain layout approval before digging. Do not dig any planting hole until layout approval is confirmed and recorded.

H. Irrigation and Drainage Rough-In

1. Install drainage components before planting where specified. Follow the Chapter 16 trench, slope, and outlet requirements for any drainage work the design includes.
2. Install irrigation mainline, laterals, backflow, filter, regulator, and shutoff as assigned. Install components in the sequence specified by the Chapter 14 procedure.
3. Flush tubing before final emitter installation. Confirm the line is clear before installing dripline or individual emitters.

I. Planting

1. Dig planting holes to approved width and root-flare depth. Keep excavated soil separate from mulch and debris.
2. Inspect and correct root systems. Remove circling, kinked, girdling, dead, or compacted roots using the approved method for each plant type.
3. Plant shrubs at the approved root-flare elevation. Follow the Chapter 8 backfill and watering-basin sequence.
4. Plant the approved small tree where included. Follow the Chapter 9 root-flare, orientation, and backfill sequence.
5. Stake only if justified and record removal timing. Use flexible ties and prevent bark damage where staking is used.
6. Plant perennials and seasonal color at correct crown depth. Follow the Chapter 10 spacing and crown-depth sequence.
7. Backfill, firm lightly, and water each plant. Eliminate large air pockets without overcompaction.

J. Irrigation Finish, Fabric, Mulch, and Establishment

1. Install emitters or dripline according to plant water needs. Keep emitters clear of trunks and crowns.
2. Pressurize and inspect the irrigation system. Check every fitting and emitter for leakage.
3. Correct leaks and uneven distribution. Adjust emitter placement or zoning and retest as needed.
4. Install landscape fabric only in areas where the approved design justifies it. Follow the Chapter 7 seam, fastening, and clearance requirements.
5. Apply mulch to the specified depth. Calculate quantity from area and specified depth before spreading.
6. Keep mulch away from trunks, stems, crowns, siding, vents, and weeps. Avoid mulch volcanoes.
7. Program the establishment watering schedule. Base the schedule on soil, plant, season, and local restrictions.

K. Restoration, Final Inspection, and Closeout

1. Restore disturbed lawn and soil. Follow the Chapter 11 or 12 method matching the disturbed area.
2. Clean hardscape, drains, edging, windows, siding, and work areas. Follow the Chapter 19 restoration and cleanup standard.
3. Inspect plant depth, root flare, spacing, stability, mulch, edging, soil, drainage, irrigation, overspray, backflow, and building clearances. Use the full inspection checklist in Section K below.
4. Conduct a controlled irrigation and drainage observation. Run the system and observe distribution, ponding, and outlet performance.
5. Prepare a final deficiency list. List every condition that must be corrected or referred before closeout.
6. Correct and reinspect every item. Do not carry an unresolved deficiency into the closeout decision.
7. Compile soil tests, amendments, plant tags, nursery records, layout, irrigation components, backflow information, watering schedule, photographs, inspections, and corrections. Assemble the complete closeout package.
8. Provide establishment, watering, pruning, fertilizer, mulch, weed, irrigation, and seasonal-maintenance instructions. Write instructions specific to the species and irrigation zone installed.
9. Hand off the completed landscape bed for ongoing maintenance and Book 20 outdoor-structure coordination. Record the handoff date and recipient.