Ohio - Natural Resources Conservation Service June 2002

Critical Area Planting Conservation Practice Job Sheet (Code 342)

For: Farm #: Field(s): Tract #: Designed By: Approved By: Signature: Date: Date:

Definition Planting vegetation such as trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, or legumes on highly erodible or critically eroding areas.

Purposes (check all that apply) To stabilize sheet, rill, and gully erosion. To minimize sedimentation on and offsite. To improve wildlife habitat and visual resources.

Condition where practice applies On highly erodible or critically eroding areas. These areas usually cannot be stabilized by ordinary conservation treatment and management and if left untreated can cause severe erosion or sediment damage. Examples include: dams, dikes, levees, cuts, fills, surface mined areas, and denuded or gullied areas where vegetation is difficult to establish by usual planting methods. This also applies to small Critical Area Planting Conservation Practice Job Sheet (Code 342) concentrated flow areas where the drainage area is five (5) acres or less; and where adequate capacity exists without earthmoving.

Sketch of Area to be Stabilized / Planted

SPECIFICATIONS:

INSTALLATION OF STRAW BALES OR SILT FENCE TEMPORARY BARRIERS (Show areas on the Sketch Map)

The following area(s) ______shall have a temporary straw bale barrier installed. Bales shall be placed on the contour, placed on their sides tight end-to-end. Two wooden stakes (30-36 inches long) shall be driven through each bale and at least 12 inches into the soil.

The following area(s) ______shall have a silt fence installed per the manufacturer’s recommendations on the contour.

Remove the temporary barriers after the area to be vegetated is stabilized.

SEEDBED PREPARATION (Where grasses and/or legumes will be seeded) 1. Prepare a firm seedbed with a disk or similar equipment. Work seedbed to a depth of three (3) inches on all areas accessible to equipment. Other areas not accessible to equipment shall be worked by hand tools to a depth of one (1) inch. Where rocks, clods, stumps, and other debris will interfere with the future use of the area they shall be removed to the degree necessary to meet the goals of the planned use.

2. Prepare the seedbed within 48 hours after applying the needed lime and fertilizer. On areas that are not accessible to seedbed preparation equipment the fertilizer can be broadcast or hydraulically applied; however, the effectiveness is reduced.

LIME AND FERTILIZER (Specify rates in quantities of tons/acre or lbs/1000 ft2)

Area / Field Lime Nitrogen (N) Phosphate (P2O5) Potash (K2O)

Critical Area Planting Conservation Practice Job Sheet (Code 342)

SEEDING (Specify rates in quantities of lbs/acre or lbs/1000 ft2 & Time of Seeding) Note: Inoculate Legumes Area / Field Species #1 @ + Species #2 @ + Species #3 @ Time of Seeding

PLANT THE FOLLOWING TREES AND / OR SHRUBS AT THE SPACINGS SPECIFIED (See Sketch for Layout) – The Planting Period ( from ______to ______) Area / Field Species #1 / Spacing Species #2 / Spacing Species #3 / Spacing ft X ft ft X ft ftX ft ft X ft ft X ft ftX ft ft X ft ft X ft ftX ft ft X ft ft X ft ftX ft

SODDING: Area / Field ______Sodding Period: ______Carefully place (specify species type) ______sod on the prepared seedbed and press into place. Thoroughly soak the sod with water to a depth of 4 inches after placement. Additional anchoring will be required in the following areas ______. Never place sod on frozen soil.

Where additional anchoring is needed, anchor the sod with stakes or netting. Use ½ “ X ¾ “ X 12 “ stakes spaced 4 feet apart in each strip of sod and stake each end; or use netting according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

MULCHING Uniformly mulch all the seeded areas immediately after seeding (or seedbed preparation for a dormant seeding) with ______or ______@ ______tons/acre or ______lbs/1000 ft2.

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: 1. When seeding legumes, ensure the proper inoculant is used at seeding time. It is best to inoculate the legume seed just prior to seeding.

2. Check new seedings and plantings every few days during the first month to assess the progress and apply the needed care (irrigation, reseeding, remulching, etc.).

3. Maintain established grass and legume seedings with appropriate mowing and fertilizer as needed. For sod water as needed for the first 30 days after placement.

4. Repair damaged areas as soon as possible after the damage occurs.

5. Remove temporary diversions, silt fences, etc. after the area is stabilized.

6. Exclude livestock and other traffic while the area is being stabilized and permanently if site conditions dictate.