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Grass cutting
Urban grass cutting
Our gangs will soon be starting their fourth cut of the season. You'll have noticed a spurt in grass growth recently due to a mix of wet and warm weather – we're working hard to stay on top of the grass cutting programme and we ask you to be considerate of the task in hand and the conditions we're up against.
Please bear in mind that the grass is cut every 4 weeks and it grows at varying rates in between visits –10 mowers, strimmers and numerous tractors are operating around the county to keep the verges safe.
You can search our grass cutting map by postcode or place name to find upcoming cut dates, then click on it to see when it will be cut or any reported issues. We aim to cut on, or within, 3 working days of the programmed cut date.
Frequently asked questions
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Why has my grass verge been missed?
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Why have the grass cuttings been left?
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I noticed the street nearby has been cut but not mine?
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I don't think the quality of cut is very good
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Villages & Towns maintained by a Parish Council on our behalf
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Motorways and Trunk Roads are cut by Highways England
The A5 / A46 / A42 / A453 / A52 / A50 (J24 towards Stoke) / A14 / M1 / M69 / M42 and M6 are the responsibility of Highways England. You can report a grass issue to them by calling 0300 123 5000.
Rural grass cutting
Grass on the verges either side of 60mph roads linking towns and villages is classed as rural grass. Tractors will be back out around the county on Monday 14 June to undertake the second cut of the season.
Please see the running order to find out when your area wil be cut:
Rural grass cutting II programme 2021 Opens new window
As with the first cut we are only cutting junctions and bends in the road for visibility and allowing straight sections the opportunity to flourish and wildlife to benefit.
Junctions and bends in the road are cut right back for safety purposes – we have a duty to ensure visibility is maintained for road users. Junctions and bends will be cut three times.
The rural network is 3.9 million linear metres and our contractors’ tractors travel the equivalent of the length of the UK three times over on each cut!
Where there is a private access it is the responsibility of the property owners along the rural roads to keep their entrance clear and safe to access in and out of the property grounds.
Daffodils and planted bulbs
Daffodil cutting will take place during the third cut in June.
Even though they look dead, the plant leaves absorb energy from sunlight (through photosynthesis). That energy is converted into sugar producing chemicals – food that keeps bulbs blooming year after year. If we mow them too early, bulbs are stunted, resulting in smaller and fewer blooms the following year.
Urban wildflower verge scheme
41 Parish Councils are displaying Blue Hearts on 54 verges across Leicestershire, indicating that the verge has been left as part of the rewilding Britain’s roadside verges campaign.
If you are keen to join the campaign and see verges left uncut in your town or village please speak to your Parish or District Council who can speak to us about taking part in the 2022 urban verge scheme.
Weed spraying
Our routine weed spraying operation has recently been on hold due to requests for us to stop using Glyphosate. At present, glyphosate is the most feasible option and we need to address the ever-increasing number of overgrown weed related concerns.
The weed spraying operation began on 5 July 2021 and will take around 6 weeks to complete the whole county. However, it is weather dependant, and in the event of rain or high winds spraying can't take place.
We appreciate your patience, during this demanding work by our contractor, to visit each area.
- Week 1 - Charnwood - area has been treated
- Week 2 - Melton - area has been treated
- Week 3 - Harborough - treatment started w/c 26 July
- Week 4 - Oadby, Wigston and Blaby - treatment starts w/c 2 August
- Week 5 - Hinckley and Bosworth - treatment starts w/c 9 August
- Week 6 - North West Leicestershire - treatment starts w/c 9 August
Hedge cutting
The majority of hedges are privately owned by adjacent landowners.
Routine cutting of our highway owned hedges is restricted to between October and February, to avoid bird nesting season and fit around the grass cutting programme.
Hedges are only cut for safety reasons to ensure branches do not overhang the carriageway or footway/cycleways.
Edging back requests
Edging back mean ‘pushing back’ overgrown verge which has spread and narrowed the existing footway and is usually done between October and March when the ground is softer.
Resources are directed at priority sites. For example, where concern is raised that the footway width is reduced so much that it is making it difficult for parents with pushchairs or wheelchair users to pass.