Grass cuttings
Find out more about:
- when grass cutting starts
- how often we cut grass
- grass cutting in cemeteries
- dual carriageways and rural roads
- herbicide use on highway and open spaces
- grass collections.
When grass cutting starts
Our grass teams start in the first week in March. The first grass cutting cycle is usually completed by mid March.
Each cycle normally takes 2 to 3 weeks.
Depending on the weather, grass cutting will continue until the season ends, typically in October.
How often we cut grass
The schedule involves teams focussed on areas during the growing season. These teams do occasional urgent works on top of the scheduled works.
It's difficult to predict grass growth, particularly at the beginning of the year and when peak growing ('flushes') will occur.
When there is a flush of growth, staff from other areas are moved over to grass cutting.
All areas are planned to get equal attention and number of cuts throughout the growing season.
There are a few areas cut more often, like formal open spaces and some main routes.
If you feel an area of grass has not been cut when similar areas in your neighbourhood have, let us know by:
- phone: 01634 333 333
- reporting grass cutting, hedge trimming and shrub problems online.
Grass cutting in cemeteries
Cemeteries are cut following a planned route.
Due to the limited space, grass cuttings (also known as arisings) can be blown onto memorials. We try to keep this to a minimum
There are some areas which are used for conservation, so may look lonnger than other regularly cut areas.
Dual carriageways and rural roads
Where roads are high speed (normally dual carriageways with a speed limit of 50mph or more) we arrange for lane closures so we can carry out grass cutting safely.
We also arrange for these to be cut during the night to minimise disruption to road users.
Generally, grass on high speed roads are cut up to 6 times per year. However, this can be affected by poor weather, accidents or other scheduled works. In these cases, grass works will be rescheduled to the next available date.
Rural roads and grass verges are generally cut 3 times a year using a tractor-mounted mower.
Herbicide use on highway and open spaces
We use herbicides around lampposts on highway verges and other assets.
This reduces the amount of strimming needed and the damage it could cause, allowing more time for mowing the verge.
We're only able to use products which comply with government legislation and all staff that do this are licenced to do so.
Grass collections
We have never collected grass on:
- verges
- communal areas
- open spaces.
When grass is growing slowly, it might look like we have collected cuttings. When the grass is long, the arisings are more apparent.
These arisings do not kill the grass underneath and new grass soon grows through whilst the arisings break down.
Allowing grass to grow longer and embracing natural landscaping practices helps the enviornment.
It reduces CO2 emissions from grass cutting and improves:
- biodiversity
- soil health
- water quality
- resource efficiency.