North Star provides a grounds maintenance service in the communal areas we are responsible for, when they take place, and who delivers them.
We have listened to customer feedback and made improvements so that our services are clearer, more transparent, and easier to report if something goes wrong.
We manage and monitor the performance of our contractor, Tivoli, to make sure services are delivered to the expected standard.
Grounds maintenance typically includes:
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Grass cutting and edging
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Maintenance of shrubs, borders and bedding areas
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Hedge cutting and shaping
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Tree inspections and basic maintenance
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Weed control and herbicide treatments
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Litter picking and removal of debris
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Leaf clearance (seasonal)
These services are carried out using planned schedules based on the needs of each location and good horticultural practice.
Please note that not all services listed will apply to every customer's home.
When services take place
Grounds maintenance is delivered throughout the year, with most activity taking place between March and October.
|
Service |
When |
|
Cutting grass |
March – Two cuts in March. All grass cuttings to be removed on both occasions. |
|
April to October – One cut every 13 to 16 days, with a maximum of 14 visits during April to October. |
|
|
Edging Grass |
One visit in October |
|
Pruning / Cutting Back Shrubs |
One visit in June and November |
|
Manual Weeding |
Two visits in May, one visit in July, August, September and October. |
|
Herbicide Application |
One visit in April One visit in July One visit in September. |
|
Hedges Clipping and Shaping |
One visit in May One visit in November |
|
Tree Inspection and Maintenance Report |
One inspection in November
|
|
Lifting of Canopies and General Maintenance |
One visit in November |
|
Hard Surfaces, Fences and Street Furniture Herbicide Application |
As instructed by North Star
|
|
Clearance of hard standing areas
|
One visit on each grass cutting visit and one further visit in November and one further visit in December
|
|
Repairing / Repainting of Fences and Street Furniture
|
One inspection and report in November
|
|
Litter and Wind-Blown Debris removal
|
One visit on each grass cutting visit and one further visit in November and one further visit in December
|
|
Leaf Clearing |
One visit in November One visit in December One visit in January |
The exact schedule will vary depending on your location and the areas we maintain.
Birds and nesting season
Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Between March and August, we may need to delay hedge cutting, shrub work and some tree maintenance if nesting birds are present.
This means you may notice some areas left uncut or less maintained. Where nests are found, work will pause until it is safe and lawful to continue.
If you have any concerns, please contact us.
Weather and service delivery
Grounds maintenance is weather dependent. During periods of heavy rain or prolonged wet conditions, some work may be delayed to avoid damage to grassed areas and ensure the safety of our contractors.
Where this happens, Tivoli will return as soon as conditions allow. However, during extended periods of poor weather, it may take longer for services to return to the normal schedule.