Grounds Maintenance - problems that can occur
Last updated | 20/05/2011
- Who carries out your
grounds maintenance?
- How often is grass
cut?
- Why are there
large amounts of grass cuttings visible after cutting?
- Why have you stopped grass
cutting?
- Why has the grass not been
cut?
- Do you take account
of wildflowers when carrying out grass cutting?
- When are wildflower areas
cut?
- Why are bulb
areas in grass not cut, while the remainder of the grass is
cut?
- The grass on
the pitch is so long you cannot see the lines. What can be
done?
- What chemicals do you
use to kill the weeds?
- How often is
weed spraying carried out on pavements?
- What precautions should be
taken when spraying?
- How do you control
Japanese Knotweed?
- There are weeds within the
highway grass verge, can you remove them?
- How often are the shrubs
pruned?
- Is it OK to
cut back shrubs on Council land so that I can carry out work to my
boundary?
- When are the bins going
to be emptied?
- I wish to complain
about the height of a neighbour's hedge.
- How often are the hedges
trimmed?
- What are the park opening
times?
- I am reporting fly tipping on the
grass. What can be done?
- How often are the play
areas inspected?
- Kids are playing
football on the grass verge. What can be done?
- Who manufactured
and installed the play areas?
- How often are road verges
cut?
Who
carries out your grounds maintenance?
The Environment Service provides the grounds maintenance service
though selected other tasks are provided by contractors as follows:
fine turf, tree work, play equipment, garden maintenance scheme
(Perth and surrounding towns and villages). All enquiries to the
Customer Service Centre.
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How often is grass cut?
We try to cut grass areas in parks, open spaces, housing estates
and burial grounds every 2 weeks. A small selected number of
‘high amenity’ areas are cut weekly, typically in
community high profile locations such as bedding areas. Grass
cuttings are left to disperse naturally to reduce
our carbon footprint.
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Why are there large
amounts of grass cuttings visible after cutting?
This occurs particularly after cutting grass in wet conditions.
We have a large area of grass to cut and a relatively wet climate
so is not always possible to cut grass in dry conditions which
results in grass cuttings not always being thrown up by cutting
blades and desiccating or blowing away without dead brown grass
being obviously visible.
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Why
have you stopped grass cutting?
Grass cutting can sometimes be suspended in persistent wet
weather conditions when there is a likelihood of causing damage,
and/or creating concerns over operator safety particularly on
slopes.
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Why has the grass not been
cut?
Firstly we must identify if the area in question is to be
maintained by the Council, because it could be in the ownership of
others, and therefore not our responsibility.
Secondly, if it is an area that the Council should be
maintaining, and is on the schedule then we may have fallen
behind with the cut programme due to wet weather or machinery
failure. There are however a large number of sites where grass is
left to grow long either because it is a bulb area or because it is
a designated long grass area for either biodiversity or because
there is steeply sloping ground which can only be cut economically
and safely with tractor mounted equipment or in some cases not at
all.
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Do you take account of
wildflowers when carrying out grass cutting?
In certain areas grass cutting is carried out at a reduced
level, promoting a contrast between highly maintained areas and the
development biodiverse areas e.g. South Inch, Millennium Park,
Viewlands Reservoir, with the objective of promoting protection of
flora and fauna.
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When are wildflower areas
cut?
The meadow grass is usually cut once or twice a year, and when
the wild flowers have set seed. They are cut in accordance with
good ecological practice. Some areas are not cut at all so please
contact us so we can advise.
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Why are bulb areas in
grass not cut, while the remainder of the grass is cut?
Certain areas of highway grass are planted with drifts of bulbs
and will not be cut until the bulb foliage has died down,
approximately six weeks after flowering to allow nutrients from the
bulb foliage to transfer back to the bulb. Any perceived
unsightliness of these areas is justified by the fantastic colour
of daffodils and crocuses during flowering.
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The grass on the pitch is
so long you cannot see the lines. What can be done?
Sports pitch lines should always be plainly visible. If you are
due to play on a pitch and have any concerns about the visibility
of the lines or the length of the grass please call a couple
of days before a fixture to allow action to be taken.
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What chemicals do you use
to kill the weeds?
Perth and Kinross Council mainly uses a Systemic
Biodegradable herbicide which will only attack green leaves and
degrades on contact with the soil, the herbicide will be applied
through a knapsack or Controlled Droplet Applicator sprayer.
Glyphosphate is the active ingredient.
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How often is weed
spraying carried out on pavements?
We carry out one complete spray per year on adopted roads and
footways, if you see an area with a particular problem, please
report it to the Customer Service Centre and we will respond.
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What precautions should be taken
when spraying?
The operators are certificated to apply the weedkiller and
spraying takes place in dry, low wind conditions.
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How do you control Japanese
Knotweed?
By using an appropriate approved herbicide only on Council
ground. This weed cannot be dug up because the smallest piece left
in the ground will regrow. Knotweed stems and roots must be taken
to an approved commercial tip for handling. Unfortunately the
Council does not provide disposal facilities for Knotweed.
Guidance is available from
Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) on control
of Japanese Knotweed.
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There are weeds within the
highway grass verge, can you remove them?
We do not remove weeds within grass verges. Our service is
purely to cut the vegetation within the verge. Guidance on
reportable weeds is available from the Scottish
Government
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How often are the shrubs
pruned?
Shrub beds are pruned during autumn and winter for both
good horticultural practice and due to limited resources.
We prioritise those beds next to footpaths and on
sightlines. Only in exceptional circumstances such as blocked
footways or traffic visibility reasons will we prune during the
growing season.
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Is it OK to cut
back shrubs on Council land so that I can carry out work to my
boundary?
Usually but you need permission from The Environment Service,
please contact the Customer Service Centre.
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When are the bins going to
be emptied?
Bins in parks and open spaces are emptied at varying frequencies
dictated by normal site use with the objective of always providing
space to deposit litter. If there is a problem please contact
Customer Service Centre and we will respond as quickly as
possible.
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I wish to complain
about the height of a neighbour's hedge.
There is no current legislation on the height of
hedges. You are entitled to cut back the hedge on your
property as long as you do not cause permanent
damage.
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How often are the hedges
trimmed?
Some hedges are owned by Perth & Kinross Council, so please
contact us to see who is responsible. If the hedge is the Perth
& Kinross Council’s responsibility it should be cut
during October or November to avoid disturbing nesting birds.
The frequency is determined by the amount of growth the hedge
makes, and it is usually cut mechanically. An exception is made for
some privet hedges which might block pathways.
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What are the park opening
times?
There are no park opening and closing times, however some burial
grounds such as Greyfriars, Jeanfield and Kinnoull are subject to
opening and closing times which are displayed on gates.
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I am
reporting fly tipping on the grass. What can be done?
Fly tipping is illegal and the offender may be prosecuted. Note
the location, nature of the offence, and as many other details as
possible (ie offender details etc.) and contact Customer Service
Centre.
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How often are the play
areas inspected?
Some play areas are not maintained by Perth & Kinross
Council, but those which we do maintain are inspected on a
regular basis by our Contractors to check the workings and
safety of the equipment. An annual inspection is carried out by an
independent inspector.
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Kids are playing
football on the grass verge. What can be done?
There is nothing to prevent children playing ball games on grass
areas, providing they are not causing a disturbance or likely to
cause damage or injury to themselves or others. If there is a
disturbance please contact the police.
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Who manufactured and
installed the play areas?
Various suppliers manufactured and installed the play equipment
within the Council area. All playground equipment manufacturers
have websites, with useful product details and general play
information. If you wish to know about a specific site please
contact us, and we will advise you.
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How often are road verges cut?
Road verges are now only cut once per annum as opposed to twice
per annum in previous years. Cutting will start late June/ early
July.
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