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Grass cutting
Grass cutting operations
Our grass cutting operation will resume on Monday 12 September 2022 – both urban and rural. This will be the final maintenance cut for the year, to leave verges safe and tidy over winter.
Our mowers will not be in use again until spring 2023.
During the season you can search our grass cutting map by postcode or place name to find the grass you’re interested in, then click on it to see when it will be cut.
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 National Highways
The A5 / A46 / A42 / A453 / A52 / A50 (J24 towards Stoke) / A14 / M1 / M69 / M42 and M6 are the responsibility of National Highways. You can report a grass issue to them by calling 0300 123 5000.
Rural grass cutting
Where as an urban area is classified anything within a 30 mph zone (or less) in towns and villages, a rural area would be anything that falls outside of this definition – these are the roads that link towns and villages.
On the first cut we only cut junctions and bends in the road – our subsequent cuts will include a nominal 1 metre swathe along the cut kerbside.
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.
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 wildlife verge scheme
Numerous Parish Councils have set up wild flower verges across Leicestershire.
Wildlife verges Opens new window
If you're 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 2023 urban verge scheme – or email environmentteam@leics.gov.uk
Weed spraying
Our policy is to spray perennial weeds in the road channels and footways twice per year.
Our contractor is undertaking the second treatment of the County. Past and future dates are available in this schedule.
Weed spraying schedule Opens new window
It can take up to 2 weeks for the weeds to die back after spraying. It is not possible to spray during periods of wet or windy weather so inclement weather can add further delays to the programme.
If you are concerned about general detritus in the channel please contact your District Council as a road / footpath sweeping concern.
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.