Step 1: Grant Acceptance and Contract Execution
Selected Applicants shall complete and submit the grant agreement and W9 form.
The County will execute the grant agreement contract and return a copy to the grantee.
Grantees are responsible for:
- arranging sea oats purchase,
- installation
- and fertilization
through independent contractors.
Step 2 – Plant Installation & Planting Guidelines
Grantees shall arrange for the purchase, installation and fertilization of the required Sea Oats plants. The required number of Sea Oats plants (plants or sprigs) shall be indicated on the executed contract. Plants shall be installed by Friday, September 15, 2023.
- Sea oats should be planted on the crest of the dune, where air circulation is the greatest, to prevent mildew. On a dune where there is no existing vegetation, plants should be spaced 2 feet apart. On lots with existing vegetation, sea oats should be planted 4 feet apart in staggered rows.
- Seedlings should be placed at least 8 inches deep in moist sand. Don’t worry about planting the seedlings too deep. Planting too shallow often results in poor survival.
- The best time to plant sea oats is after a rain when the sand is moist.
- When planted in the early summer months, seedlings will grow vigorously if properly fertilized and, if necessary, watered at planting.
- Including one level teaspoon of time-release (18-6-12 Osmocote or similar type) fertilizer in the planting hole will boost growth and expansion of the new plant (use only time-release fertilizers in the planting hole because ordinary soluble fertilizers may damage the seedlings’ root).
- Keep plants moist and shaded until planted and install plants within 5 days of pick-up.
Step 3 – Notice to County and Accounting Report
Upon completion of plant installation, grantee shall provide notice to the County along with an itemized receipt for the purchase, installation and fertilization of sea oats. The receipt shall include the address of the property and the number of sea oats plants purchased.
Plants shall be installed by Friday, September 15, 2023 and an inspection must be requested by Saturday, September 30, 2023 to be eligible for reimbursement.
Step 4 – County Inspection & Reimbursement of Funds
County staff will perform a site inspection within 2 weeks of notification. Upon satisfactory inspection of the Grantee’s property, the County Finance Department will reimburse the grant funds.
Grantees that do not complete plant installation or request a site inspection will not be reimbursed.
Dune Vegetation Resources
Thank you for your interest and participation in the Dune Vegetation Cost Share Program. The following publications may be of interest:
- American Beach grass USDA Plant Fact Sheet
- The Dune Book by Spencer Rogers and David Nash
- Mid-Atlantic Region Dune Restoration and Maintenance by USDA Soil Conservation Service