Our gardeners are a dedicated team, looking after all grass areas and flower/shrub beds. They cut over 380,000 square metres of lawns and maintain over 60,000 square metres of flower beds.
Gardening Team work with our Caretakers to clear all grass areas and flower/shrub beds of litter and other debris before maintenance. They are also responsible for maintaining shrubs, planting bulbs and wildflowers, removing weeds and much more. Our gardening team works on a scheduled programme visiting every area several times per year performing maintenance tasks according to the season and specific requirements of each site.
What do our teams do?
Grass Maintenance
We cut the grass on our estates between March and October. During long periods of dry weather or heavy rainfall we will stop grass cutting. Our teams cut grass areas to an even height throughout while they leave clippings on site to reduce waste and for the nutrition to return to the soil. We also clean grass verges on completion of works. The operatives cut around areas planted with flower bulbs until the bulb foliage has died down. They also cut and remove all bulb foliage after bulb leaves turn yellow.
The gardening team also clear leaves from all grass areas, reform grass edges, and fill and reseed depressions.
Shrub/Rose Maintenance
Our operatives prune and shape all shrub and rose beds during summer and winter to ensure public safety and to avoid obstruction, taking into account good horticultural practice.
Winter Tasks:
- pruning shrubs and roses,
- cultivating beds,
- removal of weeds,
- reforming bed edges,
- removing dead, dying and diseased plants,
- removing epicormic growth from trees
Summer Tasks:
- dead heading of roses,
- cutting hedges,
- light cultivation to remove weeds,
- spot weed killing,
- removing dead, damaged and diseased plants.
Bulb planting
Environmental Services have planted thousands of coloured spring flowering bulbs like Daffodils and Crocuses on our estates. Spring flowering bulbs increase the biodiversity of the grassland and provide early sources of nectar for insects.
Wildflower Meadows
Environmental Services have created over 60 wildflower areas since 2014. All areas have been sown with a wildflower mixture designed for urban areas, to increase colour and biodiversity. The mixture contains a range of flowering plants including Cornflowers, Meadow Marigold, Field Poppy, Ox Eye Daisy, Corn Cockle and Field Chamomile. Perennial meadow flowers will gradually dominate the area and provide a long term benefit to wildlife. This type of meadow offers opportunities for wildlife especially Bees, Butterflies, Day Moths, and other insects.
Japanese knotweed
Japanese Knotweed is without doubt the most invasive and aggressive weed present in the British Isles. The nature of its growth allows it to take over whole tracts of land and compete with other plants. Japanese knotweed damages man-made surfaces and buildings and in severe infestations it adversely affects the balance of wildlife.
We treat Japanese knotweed using the most appropriate method throughout the growing season (March - October) on yearly basis.
What can I do to help to keep the communal green areas clean andsafe?
Please have respect for others who use the garden areas.
If you have a pet please ensure that you clean up after them.
Dispose of your litter in the litter bins provided, or take your rubbish home with you.