Cultivating MASTERSPEC's Landscape Sections
The most extensive changes to the landscape sections are in plant materials, terminology for soils and planting soils, and additional proprietary products.

Two updated landscape sections are included in the February 2006 MASTERSPEC Landscape Architecture Library update. The changes to Section 329200—Turf and Grasses (Section 02920—Lawns and Grasses) and Section 329300—Plants (Section 02930—Interior Plants) are the product of cooperation between Architectural Computer Services, Inc. (ARCOM) and the American Society of Landscape Architects. An ASLA subcommittee reviewed Section 329300 (02930) in detail and furnished comments based on current landscape practices. Relevant comments were carried over to Section 329200 (02920).

The most extensive changes are in plant materials, terminology for soils and planting soils, and additional proprietary products. Important changes, in the order of their occurrence in the section text, are as follows:

New text for allowances and unit prices was added to accommodate projects where these would be useful.

Submittals, quality assurance, and product-handling requirements were increased. Installer qualifications were enhanced with new text covering an installer’s professional membership, experience (measured in years), and personnel certification through a program administered by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) to demonstrate professional commitment and ability.

Plant materials were extensively revised. Several articles relating to plant types, forms, and root-ball enclosures were deleted in favor of the predominant practice of using a plant list, legend, or schedule on the drawings to describe plant features, based on ANSI Z60.1, American Standard for Nursery Stock. Most landscaping plants are included in ANSI Z60.1 except for annuals and biennials, which currently have no national industry standards. A suggested quality standard for these is included in Section 329300 (02930), but size and other growth characteristics are usually in a plant list, legend, or schedule on the drawings.

Specification language for the soil-amending process was reorganized and its terminologies revised. The new organization includes a simplified two-step process of first identifying one or more of four types or sources of soil and then amending this soil to become a “planting soil,” having known composition and properties suitable for each variety of plant or planting. The four types of base soil are 1) ASTM D 5268 standard topsoil; 2) existing, native surface topsoil with its duff layer retained; 3) existing surface soil of unknown quality; and 4) imported or manufactured topsoil from off-site sources. An additional “lightweight on-structure planting soil” can be made by amending one of the other prepared planting soils.

Other helpful additions in the updated sections include fertilizer in tablet form (planting tablets), mycorrhizal fungi, proprietary products for tree stabilization, root barriers, and tree-spade planting. Pesticide materials and application were added because of the frequent need for them at the time of planting and during maintenance periods.

ARCOM looks forward to continued cooperation with ASLA in updating other landscape sections and in developing new ones.

Published with permission from ARCOM SpecPress, vol.11 no.1 First Quarter 2006, p. 2.

For more information, contact ARCOM architectural specification writer, Tim Werbstein, AIA, CSI, CCS, at twerbstein@arcomnet.com.