Our grounds maintenance team work extremely hard every day to keep our developments in tip top shape.
This includes grass cutting & hedge trimming mainly. The busiest periods for the team are in Spring / Summer when they are cutting and trimming and Autumn / Winter when they are removing leaves and doing a general tidy up to areas as best as possible.
If you would like to like to talk to us about grounds maintenance in your area, please contact us on 01482 223783.
When does the grass cutting start / end?
Grass cutting begins in March and ceases in November of each year.
Will the gardeners remove the weeds in my grass?
No, weeds are removed from hard surfaces, and are treated in beds; however, they will not be removed from the grassed area.
Will you grass an area of soil?
If we have carried out works to the grounds i.e. lifting pavers, etc then we would attend to soil and seed the area. However, should you require turfing to the area, then you would need to carry this out yourself as we do not turf gardens.
Will you remove a plant / bush?
Shrubs are pruned as part of the Grounds Maintenance Contract, however if you wish for a specific shrub to be removed then we can add this to the additional requests list – these requests will be looked at each year and are subject to budget availability.
My hedge is too big; when will you cut it?
Hedges are trimmed three times per year – if certain parts of the hedge are home to nesting birds, then this area will not be trimmed.
Will you chop down a tree near my house?
Trees will be inspected and maintained in accordance with our tree survey and contractual requirements. If you require a particular tree to be felled, then please ring the office with the reason / location and we will add this to the additional request list. Our surveyors will come out and inspect the tree and discuss any issues with you.
Can I maintain a communal area of grass / bed?
Communal areas are maintained by our Grounds Maintenance contractors only.
Do the gardeners pick up leaves and litter?
As part of the ground’s maintenance service, the gardeners will pick up leaves and litter and will make sure the site is kept free of these. At times where there are excessive leaves falling – i.e. in high winds – then additional site visits will be carried out to clear them.
Am I on the gardening list?
We can check to see if you are scheduled to have your garden maintained by us and whether payments are being taken.
Can I cancel the private gardener service?
If you’re already receiving the service, you can opt out of the service in February/March before the new cutting year starts. We will write to you to advise you of the new charges and give you the opportunity to opt out. If we don’t hear back from you, we will assume you wish to stay on the service for another year. Please be aware that if you do opt out, you cannot opt back in. Instead, you will be referred to our recommended contractor service if you need assistance in the future. If there are exceptional circumstances as to why you can’t use our recommended contractor service, please let us know and we’ll consider other ways of offering assistance.
Can I join the private garden service?
Residents not already on our private garden service cannot join. Instead, we refer you to our recommended contractor service. If there are exceptional circumstances as to why you can’t use our recommended contractor service, please let us know and we’ll consider other ways of offering assistance.
Can charges be claimed through benefits?
Communal charges can be claimed through housing benefit or universal credit subject to resident eligibility (contact us for more information). Private gardens cannot be claimed through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit – contact us if you are struggling to make payments etc.