We aim to cut all amenity grass areas every 4 weeks between March and October (on average 10 cuts per annum). We are unable to provide an exact date for when the grass in your area will be cut but can provide an approximate guide if you email us on customer.services@stroud.gov.uk or call 01453 766321
Grass cutting
Variable factors such as prolonged periods of rain (with increased growth
rates and soft ground conditions) or machinery breakdown can cause a delay
to the schedule. Cutting frequency may also be reduced during prolonged
periods of hot, dry weather when the grass stops growing.
Variable factors such as prolonged periods of rain (with increased growth rates and soft ground conditions) or machinery breakdown can cause a delay to the schedule. Cutting frequency may also be reduced during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather when the grass stops growing.
The first few grass cuts can sometimes leave a more messy finish as the grass will have been longer than usual and often wetter. We adjust our height of cut to be slightly longer for the first few cuts to reduce this problem and avoid “scalping” the grass
Our mowing machines often work in teams and different areas of grass may be cut with different machinery types. Due to variations in size and speed of these different machines, mowing may be out of sequence but in due course the whole area will be cut.
Bulb planted areas are left uncut for a period of at least 8 weeks after flowering to allow the bulbs to recover before the areas are returned to the normal cutting frequency.
Variable factors such as prolonged periods of rain (with increased growth rates and soft ground conditions) or machinery breakdown can cause a delay to the schedule. Cutting frequency may also be reduced during prolonged periods of hot, dry weather when the grass stops to grow and may also be delayed during, or immediately after, periods of heavy rainfall when ground conditions are unsuitable and are likely to be damaged by our machinery.
The council has never included the removal of grass cuttings as part of this service. Unfortunately it is not feasible to include the removal of grass cuttings as it is not economically viable as a district-wide operation.
Grassed areas under trees are being left uncut as part of Stroud District Councils legal obligation to act on nature recovery. By leaving uncut areas around the base of our tree stock, we aim to improve tree health by lessening soil compaction and unintended abrasion and to improve biodiversity by creating additional habitats for wildlife. Across the district these small areas equate to approximately 18,000sqm of additional grassland habitat.
Parking on grass verges does cause significant damage, particularly in wet weather. It can also damage underground utility services such as gas or water supplies and can also cause safety and visibility problems for pedestrians and other road users, especially in areas where there is heavy traffic. Please do not park vehicles on grass verges as badly damaged areas cannot be cut.
We carry out a mixed programme of strimming and weedkilling of obstacles and street furniture however due to wet weather conditions this is not always effective.
Our drivers are equipped with blowing machines to clear any major accumulation of cuttings from footpaths which represent a safety / slip hazard to pedestrians or are likely to cause blocked drains. Unfortunately it is not economically viable to sweep or remove all cuttings from the footpath.
There are a number of reasons that can impact on the quality of cut but unfortunately we are unable to send our staff back to remedy these situations. Uneven ground levels or slopes may cause scalping. These are not Intentional and the grass will regenerate. You may see tufts or ridges of longer grass left after cutting. This is due to the wheels of the machine pushing the long grass flat as they pass over. Once pushed flat, the grass may be missed by the blades. Unfortunately this cannot be prevented when dealing with long grass caused by the specified frequency of cut i.e. every 4 weeks.
Several times during the mowing season, grass will often produce flower / seed heads which are not easily cut with our cylinder mowers. To address this problem we have a number of rotary mowers which we use across all the rounds over a number of cycles.
No Mow May is an annual campaign that encourages people to leave their lawns uncut for the entire month of May. The aim is to create habitats for bees, butterflies and other pollinators, which are vital for the health of our ecosystems. By letting the grass grow, wildflowers and other plants have a chance to bloom, providing much-needed food for pollinators. Stroud District Council have selected areas that are suitable for No Mow May, and have almost 100000sqm of grassland that is left uncut during this month.