By planting trees, companies can actively offset emissions and engage with local communities, as well as improving the local diversity of areas nearby. And, by planting tree varieties, we can increase the native wildlife of Britain and reduce groundwater in areas that are unwooded.

The Benefits of Tree Planting

1. Actively Fights Climate Change

Trees take out carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into oxygen. The Amazon rainforest has been called the “lungs of the earth” before, and it’s true. The oxygen that trees produce helps to create air quality that keeps humans and animals breathing properly.

The Woodland Trust estimates that increasing the woodland cover to at least 19% of the UK will help to meet the carbon net zero targets by 2050, as set by the UK government.

By planting in scientifically mapped areas that don’t encroach on agricultural land or land designated for native planting already, such as DEFRA’s nectar flower mix scheme, we could increase forest density by 33.82% (this figure captures the regional mean taken from Crowther Lab).

These changes would exceed targets, surpassing what the Woodland Trust estimates (set at 19%) the UK would need to meet for effective carbon reduction.

2. Flood Prevention

Floods and groundwater cause issues across the country. By increasing tree planting across the country, we can reduce groundwater and improve soil structure, all of which reduce erosion and property damage related to flooding.

As climate change increases the risk of extreme weather leading to floods, trees counteract two of these major problems.

3. Increase Native Biodiversity

From shrubs and fungi to beetles and animals, native trees help to improve local biodiversity. Native plants and trees have co-developed alongside other native species, and so they have evolved to be the best ‘host’ plant for them.

This isn’t just restricted to one type of tree either, such as oak or ash. Instead, a variety of native species creates a diverse eco-sphere. This in turn allows for species to increase their population and ensures a promising future for the UK’s wildlife.

4. Leans into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something that all companies are involved in. The UK Companies Act of 2006 states that:

“a director of a company must act in the way …and have regard for (sic).. the impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment”

For example, if a company is considering a landscaping and grounds maintenance service, they should partner with professionals who enhance the local landscape, rather than interfere or disrupt the wildlife. The specialists at Grounds Care Group deliver all services efficiently, taking measures to lessen our impact on the environment wherever possible, by taking extra steps, such as using eco-friendly, sustainable materials.

Tree planting is a valuable way to demonstrate your Corporate Social Responsibility. Not only is it an opportunity for community engagement, but it also meets environmental needs. Tree planting can also be a great way to boost relationships with clients and suppliers as well as the company’s profile, through demonstrating environmental care.

Case Study: Rory Butcher Offsets Race Emissions with Grounds Care Group

Rory Butcher, British Touring Car Championship Racer with Toyota, wanted to offset his emissions from travelling around the country to races, as well as the races themselves. He got in contact with Adam Brindle, CEO and Founder of Grounds Care Group, himself an avid racing fan, to discuss a tree planting scheme at racetracks across the country.

Adam and Rory calculated that 72 established native British trees needed to be planted in order to offset the carbon emissions from travelling to and from Rory’s home in Kirkcaldy to circuits. Additionally, Rory committed to planting more trees for each podium place, one for a third place, two for second and three for first place.

The first of these trees were planted at the Toyota racetrack, and more have since been planted with Silverstone being the first major circuit to take part.

Regarding the tree planting scheme, Adam Brindle said:

“Tree planting is one of our key focusses at the Grounds Care Group, so when Rory Butcher mentioned to me that he wanted to find a way to offset his carbon footprint from travelling to race events, it seemed like the natural solution. Race circuits might be best known for the ribbon of Tarmac on which the cars compete, but they also have acres of green space ripe for planting trees, which in turn will help to preserve the land for generations to come.”

He continued:

“Partnering with Rory has been amazing, and this is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long-lasting relationship. He has been so involved in this project and we are all hugely excited about embarking upon it with him. We would also like to thank Toyota GB and all the racetracks that have come on board so far.”

How Companies Can Implement Tree Planting

Tree planting is something that can’t be rushed. For these schemes to be effective, you need to choose local trees that will flourish in the right type of soil, as well as considering any risks in the local area and how a broader tree population will enhance the local landscape.

Partnering with a company like Grounds Care Group, who offer commercial tree planting services, ensures that not only are locally sourced trees from UK growers are used, but that trees are planted properly, and we can also provide ongoing maintenance contracts to ensure the trees are cared for year-round.

Get in touch today to discover how we can help.

The post What Are the Benefits of Planting Trees? appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

We cover the process behind deadwooding, and how it can be used to improve conservation efforts as well as being important for good tree care.

How does deadwooding work?

Deadwooding is the removal of dead wood from a living tree. Dead parts of a tree are often produced naturally, as a tree diverts energy to other parts, or it receives sunlight from only one angle. Much like how humans shed skin particles, trees shed parts of themselves that are dead in order to make way for new growth.

However, in commercial settings and outside of forests, falling deadwood can cause serious damage to humans, property, and even cause disruption to roads. This is where arborists and tree surgeons come in. They are able to detect which branches will need cutting off before they fall, and can identify the best course of action for each tree.

Discovering deadwood

In an initial survey, a tree surgeon will be able to identify the deadwood that poses a risk, and at which order it should be chopped down. A tree survey is carried out at this stage to help discover what any problems are, and also how the deadwood has been formed.

Deadwood can be formed, largely, through two processes:

• Decay from the inside out, through fungi or beetles.
• Decay from the outside in, where storms, disease or drought cause decay

Creating a plan

Deadwood can be removed in a number of ways and, depending on the scale, some may need more planning than others. For example, a veteran tree with deadwood in the crown (top branches) and a decaying core, may need a different care plan than a younger tree that has been damaged due to a storm.

Once the plan of how the tree will be deadwooded is in place, a plan of what to do with that deadwood is also needed.

Deciding on use for the deadwood

Deadwood is of great ecological importance across all landscapes. Depending on the type of wood, and the location of the tree, the wood may be used for a variety of purposes.

• Near water deadwood. Deadwood has been shown to be of great importance in bodies of water, from providing key habitats for invertebrates, to providing benefits for fish populations.
• Deadwood for food sources. A number of woodland species depend on deadwood for food, and fungal growth can contribute to this. Often these species are protected as they are rare, in part due to the reduction in deadwood.
• Deadwood habitats. Plants such as bryophytes rely on deadwood for habitats, as do a lot of hibernating plants. Oak jewel beetles and cardinal beetles also rely on deadwood.

Removing the deadwood

While anyone could remove deadwood, it’s best for a specialist arborist to do so, as these experts can identify issues, and have the correct training and insurance to remove deadwood safely. An expert will also understand tree duty of care and how this can affect the work required.

Grounds Care Group provides deadwooding services to safely remove the necessary branches before they dangerously break off.

The Benefit of Managing Deadwood on Commercial Properties

Commercial properties can hugely benefit from deadwooding. Not only does it increase the potential profitability from the sale of the logs that are alive, it also creates a healthy environment for trees.

When managed continuously by a tree surgeon, commercial tree deadwood can provide benefits such as CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) to a company and create an ecologically diverse workspace.

If you think your commercial property has deadwood, or is even at risk from deadwood damage, get in touch with the expert team at Grounds Care Group now.

The post The Importance of Managing Deadwood appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

What is hard landscaping?

Hard landscaping refers to when grounds care professionals work on or renovate an outdoor space, focussing on all hard – generally man-made – materials.

Hard landscape materials

Some examples of common hard landscaping materials are:

• Brick walls
• Patios
• Stone features
• Fences
• Gravel
• Concrete

Benefits of hard landscaping

Hard landscaping is an essential part of landscaping overall because it provides practical solutions to meet the needs of a space. Not only does hard landscaping create boundaries and a platform but it also assists in the drainage, water diversion, erosion prevention and overall foundations for other features. Other features could be anything from soft landscaping elements to further hard landscaping additions such as statues and fountains.

What is soft landscaping?

The term ‘soft landscaping’ relates to the renovation or upkeep of all the soft materials in an outdoor space, that is, plants.

Soft landscape materials

Frequently seen soft landscaping examples include:

• Trees
• Hedges
• Bushes/shrubs
• Grass
• Flower beds
• Climbers

While not flora, ponds are also considered to be a soft landscaping element, although any stone or brick work that’s in place to surround the pond is hard landscaping.

Benefits of soft landscaping

Most would argue that it’s the soft landscaping that truly makes a space. Unless there’s a particularly attractive fountain, or an eye-catching statue, visitors will tend to notice the flowers, trees, or other plants that exist in an outdoor space.

As well as the aesthetic aspect, another benefit of incorporating plenty of soft landscaping elements into an outside space is that it helps to take care of ecological mitigation. The presence of a wide array of trees and other plants is likely to attract a wealth of birds, bees, insects, and other wildlife. By providing such species with a habitat, you help to protect the environment.

There is also plenty of evidence to suggest that being among plants is beneficial for human health. Mental health charity MIND advocates spending time in nature to reduce stress and anger, and enhance feelings of relaxation.

Creating a hard and soft landscaping plan

In general, most environments benefit from a blended hard and soft landscaping plan.

Durable, man-made elements like patios and gravel should be thought of as the bones of the space because it is these that will give a structure that will stand the test of time. Hard landscaping is usually needed to support the presence of soft landscaping, whether that’s through rockeries and flower beds or with brick walls that end up supporting climbers and other plants.

A mixture of well thought-out hard and soft landscaping helps to create an inviting, practical space which can be enjoyed by all those using it. Whether this is a residential garden, hotel grounds, or outside space surrounding offices, it’s important to consider how the area will be used and how it can be beneficial.

Questions to Consider with a Landscape Plan

When putting together a landscaping plan, it’s important to focus on how a space will be used. This will largely depend on the setting – is it residential or commercial? How many people live, work, or visit the space?

Other questions to ask include:

• Should there be an area for outdoor seating, and if so, how many people need to be accommodated? Does it need to be covered?
• Are there likely to be any domesticated animals visiting the space? If so, consider areas for them to relieve themselves and for them to eat. Dogs may also need a leash point.
• Will children be using it? There should be different areas to consider here, such as stimuli development and places for them to play.
• Does there need to be wide access to certain areas for those with mobility issues? If people are visiting with wheelchairs, can they safely navigate?
• Will the area be used for activities, such as sports, games, or meditation? Here, think about creating flat surfaces or separate areas for those doing sport.
• Do you want a low or high-maintenance outdoor space? How much time do you have to invest in it after creation?

When aspects like these have been duly considered, then it will be possible to determine what soft and hard landscaping elements should be included.

Popular hard and soft landscaping plans

Depending on the environment, popular landscaping plans will include:

• Bordering. This could be in the form of a wooden fence, brick wall, or even tree barriers
• A path or two
• A patio area for outdoor furniture
• Grass works well for most spaces because it is easy to maintain and soft underfoot, making it suitable for a range of activities

Other popular features include colourful flowers, attractive trees, shrubs and bushes.

How Grounds Care Group Can Help Your Landscaping

At the Grounds Care Group, our talented staff have experience in a wide range of landscaping. This includes specialist soft landscaping in both residential and commercial environments. We know what it means to create the best of both worlds, and how important it is to have both hardscaping and soft-scaping elements that work together harmoniously.

From turfing and tree planting, to erecting bespoke fencing, our teams are equipped with the experience and know-how to create the ideal outside space in a wide range of private and commercial sectors.

The post What Is the Difference Between Hard and Soft Landscaping? appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

In short, the meaning of tree surgery is ‘the pruning and treating of old or damaged trees in order to preserve them’.

Tree surgery is often thought of as a one-off remedy when a tree is at risk of damaging humans or property, or when it already has.

Tree surgery involves a variety of techniques to care for and keep your trees healthy, such as pollarding, pruning, and stump removal to prevent the spread of disease. These tree surgery techniques all form part of a tree maintenance plan and help the landowner to maintain their tree duty of care.

What Is a Tree Surgeon?

A tree surgeon, also sometimes known as a tree climber or an arborist, is a professional who specialises in the care and maintenance of trees.

Tree surgeons often work at height and use specialised equipment, so their job requires significant training, knowledge of tree biology, and a strong emphasis on safety.

What Does a Tree Surgeon Do?

A tree surgeon will provide an expert opinion on the way to deal with trees. A good tree surgeon will also be able to advise you on ways to make your trees more aesthetically pleasing and allow growth on the floor below them.

Part of tree surgery is also about preventing future accidents. Thanks to expert training, tree surgeons can identify dead, infected or at-risk parts of a tree, and remove them before they become a hazard. This is part of the the tree duty of care that property owners are required to fulfil.

When Should a Tree Surgeon Visit?

In reality, a tree surgeon should regularly visit your site as they can not only advise on prevention but can ensure your trees are protected, safe, and benefit your environment.

Making tree surgery a regular part of your grounds maintenance plan will not only benefit you but also generations to come.

When Is It Time To Prune a Tree?

There are many times when pruning a tree may be apt. It can help to create long-lasting cover, ensure the safety of a building or person and improve its appearance.

Density

If a tree is getting very dense, it will be time to prune a tree. As well as increasing light let through, removing density increases the safety of a tree by ensuring no branch is too heavily laden.

Dead Sections

“Hanging like dead wood” is a famous idiom, but in tree surgery, it’s a literal problem!

Dead parts of a tree are liable to fall at any point. They could have also died due to infection or invasive animals like caterpillars, which could mean long-term problems. Therefore, removing dead parts of a tree is important to keep it alive.

Dangerously Placed Branches

If a tree is growing too near a telephone wire or building, then it’s time to prune it back to guarantee safety.

Why Is Using a Tree Surgeon Important?

Tree surgeons don’t just remove dead tree parts, they are paramount to ensuring a tree grows and also benefits the biological landscape you’re trying to cultivate.

Careful and strategically planned decisions about how a tree is cared for can also improve the quality of the stems and cultivate an attractive appearance of a tree. Choosing which stems are staying and which are going will also improve the light below the tree, all of which can be used to create a biodiverse environment.

Tree Surgery Techniques

Tree surgeons have a number of expert techniques at their disposal to help keep trees healthy and under control. Below we have listed the most common and effective methods used:

Tree Pollarding and Pruning

Pollarding is a traditional term in tree management, but in recent years, pruning has evolved to mean the same thing.

Pollarding is an important and historical part of tree care, having been around since the Roman times, pollarding involves trimming the crown of the tree.

Pollarding is only suitable for certain types of trees, mainly deciduous broad-leaved trees, although some conifers can be suitable. The key aspect to pollarding is that the tree must be able to produce epicormic growth, or water shoots (fast-growing tree shoots).

How Can Pollarding a Tree Help?

Pruning and pollarding involves removing all excess branches aside from the main limbs and the trunk of the tree itself. Then, as the tree grows back, it looks maintained and orderly. There is also the added benefit of the tree only growing from live branches, with all dead wood removed.

Tree Crown Reduction 

The crown is the top part of the tree, starting from when the trunk beings sprouting.

Tree crown reduction involves pruning individual branches or removing dead wood. Tree surgeons may also remove overlapping branches in order to give every branch an equal opportunity to be exposed to light, and therefore promote healthy growth.

Tree Crown Lifting

Similarly to crown reduction, crown lifting involves removing excess branches. However, lifting removes only the lower branches to allow the tree to gain height, and increase the amount of light that leaks through onto the floor.

Stump Grinding and Removal

Where a tree has been felled, the stump and roots can sometimes be left awkwardly or messily. Stump grinding will remove the top of the stump before the roots are removed separately.

Both of these techniques can be especially important if the tree was diseased or carrying pests, as this will prevent trees in other areas from being infected.

Felling Trees

There are some circumstances, such as a diseased tree or trees too close together, where felling is the only solution. Felling involves chopping down the tree in stages in the safest way possible.

Factors such as space to fell, existing habitats in or around the trees, and proximity to properties and roads, must all be considered to ensure a fell is successful.

Dead Wooding and Branch Removal 

Parts of trees will naturally die, but if not carefully maintained, these limbs and branches become dangerous as they are likely to fall. Regular maintenance is key here to ensure the safety of your trees and site. Removing dead wood and branches will keep your trees growing well and your grounds safe.

Why Choose Grounds Care Group to Carry Out Tree Surgery and Regular Maintenance?

Not only does our live reporting system allow you to see the progress of jobs, but our expert tree surgeons come with the same guarantee that the rest of our work does.

Get in touch today for help getting your trees under control.

The post A Guide to Tree Surgery appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

With one pothole filled every 19 seconds, it’s a regular sight on our roads to see a corner marked off and being repaired. But who is arranging this, and who should you contact if you find a pothole? Particularly surrounding commercial properties, there is often a question regarding who this  responsibility lies with.

Who Is Responsible for Fixing Potholes?

Usually, it is a public body such as Highways England or a local council, that is responsible for fixing potholes. However, this does depend on the road in question, as the answer will vary, especially around London.

If you see a pothole and you’re unsure of who is responsible, you can contact Highways England who will be able to inform you. The below can be used for a rough guide on who is responsible for fixing potholes.

You can also easily report any potholes on FixMyStreet.com, a site that alerts the local, relevant authority on the issue immediately.

Who Is Responsible for The Upkeep of A Private Road?

When a road isn’t owned by a local authority or traffic board, who is responsible for fixing the potholes? According to the Occupiers Liability Act of 1984, the occupier of any premises is required to abide by “the common duty of care” which applies in England and Wales, and similar acts apply in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

The common duty of care essentially reads that the person occupying the land must endeavour to ‘not allow injury to come to any visitors’ of said land. This is commonly taken to mean that this includes potholes, and therefore it is often the landlord or tenant, depending on agreement in a contract, who must fix the potholes.

For example, a business park owner may ask the company who has the most vehicles accessing the site to take primary responsibility for the road condition leading to their lot. However, they may also ask each user of a lot to maintain their car parks, and any roads that only they use.

What methods can be used to fix potholes?

Within pothole repair, there are five key methods for  fixing a pothole, some of which are more permanent than others. These are:

• Throw and roll
• Semi-permanent
• Spray-injection
• Edge seal
• Full depth replacement

Throw and Roll Pothole Repair

The most common form of pothole repair, throw and roll is as basic as it sounds. Simply throw the asphalt mix into the pothole, and roll over it with a heavy vehicle to pack it in. This could be a bulldozer or a roller – any heavy vehicle can be used. This is a temporary solution, and one that never works permanently.

Semi-permanent Repair

This method is preferred for potholes that can have more time dedicated to them. To begin with, the pothole is cleared of water and debris, before being cut around the edges and finally filled with patch material before being compacted. It lasts a long time and is second on the list of successful methods, below completely replacing the road.

Spray-injection Method

Spray injection requires specialist equipment but, as such, it can be done much quicker and to greater effect than other methods. A specialist machine is used to remove water and debris, before a binder is sprayed inside the pothole. Then the asphalt/aggregate mix is injected in, before covering it with a layer of fresh tarmac. This method is popular with commercial clients who need a quick and professional service.

Edge Seal Pothole Repair

This method begins with the ‘throw and roll’ method, before placing a ring of tack (a sticky asphalt-based material) along the edge to seal in the pothole, and then coating the ring to stop tyres tracking it. This makes it more durable than the ‘throw and roll’ method.

Full Depth Replacement

This is the most effective, yet longest and most disruptive method. The old road is stripped back to a flat layer, before being re-tarmacked.

Grounds Care Group Qualified Pothole Repair Contractors

Grounds Care Group has a variety of qualified pothole repair contractors who are able to assist with patch repairs across a range of sectors, without affecting your day. We can do both one-off repairs and regular maintenance to keep your private roads up to scratch.

Get in touch with us to find out more.

The post Who is Responsible for Fixing Potholes? appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

Planting native trees is one of the most effective ways to support biodiversity, combat climate change and protect the UK’s natural heritage. Native trees are uniquely adapted to local conditions, require less maintenance and support more wildlife than non-native species.

In this guide, we explore the benefits of native trees, the environmental role they play and why planting them is more urgent than ever.

What Are Native Trees?

Native trees are species that have evolved naturally in a region over thousands of years. In the UK, this means trees that have been growing here since the last Ice Age, without human introduction.

Examples include oak, silver birch, rowan, hawthorn and Scots pine. These species form the backbone of Britain’s woodland ecosystems, supporting everything from insects and birds to fungi and mammals.

Why Are Native Trees Important?

1. They support wildlife

Native trees provide food, shelter and breeding habitats for hundreds of species. From nesting birds to pollinators like bees and butterflies, native woodland creates a complete ecological network.

2. They improve air quality

Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis. This helps reduce air pollution and slow the effects of climate change.

3. They prevent flooding and erosion

Tree roots help anchor soil and absorb rainwater, reducing surface runoff. This is vital for flood-prone areas and protecting waterways.

4. They require less maintenance

Because they are suited to local soil, climate and pests, native trees need fewer pesticides, less watering and less intervention overall.

How Trees Help Fight Climate Change

Trees act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and locking it into their roots, trunks and leaves. A single mature tree can absorb up to 22kg of CO2 per year.

Globally, scientists have identified 1.7 billion hectares of land suitable for reforestation. This space could support up to 1.2 trillion new native trees, with the potential to remove over 200 billion tonnes of carbon.

Planting trees isn’t just symbolic: it’s a practical, scalable solution to climate breakdown. But only if we plant the right species in the right places.

The Risks of Non-Native Species

Non-native or exotic trees may look appealing, but they can disrupt local ecosystems. These trees:

• May not support local insects, birds or fungi
• Can outcompete native species for light, space or nutrient
• May introduce pests or diseases from abroad

Planting non-native trees can unintentionally harm biodiversity. That’s why choosing native species is essential for long-term environmental resilience.

Benefits of Choosing Native Trees and Plants

Common UK Native Trees

There are native tree species for every soil type and setting, from woodlands and wetlands to parks and gardens. Some of the most common include:

• Oak – A keystone species that supports over 2,000 organisms
• Rowan – Popular in urban planting for its colour and berries
• Silver birch – Fast-growing and loved by insects
• Hazel – Produces nuts and is ideal for coppicing
• Hawthorn – Great for hedgerows and nesting birds
• Scots pine – The UK’s only native conifer
• Crab apple – Supports pollinators and birds
• Elder – Fast-growing and perfect for small gardens

These trees form the foundation of woodland ecosystems and are key to nature recovery across the UK.

Why Tree Planting Must Be Local and Monitored

Tree planting needs to be done with care. Recent years have seen a rise in pests and diseases entering the UK through imported saplings and untreated timber. These threats include:

• Ash dieback
• Oak processionary moth
• Sudden oak death
• Elm disease

To protect UK tree populations, always source trees grown and certified in the UK. Work with professional landscapers or tree specialists who understand planting conditions, local ecology and tree health.

When Is the Best Time to Plant Trees?

The best time to plant trees in the UK is between November and March, when trees are dormant. This allows roots to settle before the growing season starts in spring.

Bare root and root-ball trees are also cheaper during this period, making it ideal for large-scale planting projects.

How to Choose and Plant Trees

Consider:

• Soil type (clay, loam, sandy, acidic or alkaline)
• Available space (small garden, field margin, public green space)
• Local wildlife
• Visual impact throughout the year

Tips:

• Don’t plant too deep – tree roots need access to air and moisture
• Water newly planted trees for the first two summers
• Mulch around the base to suppress weeds and retain moisture
• Use tree guards if needed to protect from deer or rabbits

Grounds Care Group can assess your site and recommend the best tree mix for long-term success.

Threats to Native Trees in the UK

The UK has lost over 90% of its wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands in the past century. Native trees now face multiple pressures:

• Deforestation for agriculture and development
• Climate change and extreme weather
• Invasive species and imported diseases
• Habitat fragmentation

Estimates suggest that over the next 10 years, the UK could lose 150 million mature trees and 2 billion saplings to disease alone.

Planting and protecting native trees has never been more urgent.

Government and Charity Tree Planting Schemes

Several national projects are helping to increase tree cover in the UK:

• The England Tree Strategy – targets 11 million new trees
• Plant Britain (BBC Countryfile) – encouraging community planting
• Woodland Trust – offers free trees for schools and communities
• The Tree Council – funds tree planting and care initiatives
• Trees for Cities – focuses on urban tree planting projects

Grounds Care Group supports these initiatives and works with clients to turn outdoor space into climate-positive, wildlife-friendly landscapes.

How Grounds Care Group Supports Tree Planting

We help businesses, schools, local authorities and property managers to:

• Choose native trees that suit their space and soil
• Plant trees safely and professionally
• Maintain healthy trees through pruning, protection and monitoring
• Improve biodiversity on site
• Meet sustainability goals and support the environment

From soft landscaping to full-scale rewilding, our team is ready to make your grounds greener and more resilient.

Ready to Plant?

Native trees offer one of the simplest, most effective ways to fight climate change and support local wildlife. Whether you’re working on a large project or just want to add shade to a small space, we can help.

Contact us today to discuss your planting plans and bring more native trees into your landscape.

The post The Importance of Planting Native Trees in the UK appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

If you’re the facility manager or property manager of any business or borough council, you already understand why it’s so important to be prepared and ready for the winter. Grounds maintenance services need to be in order so that private commercial sites are kept safe all year round, but winter brings additional hazards.

The biggest threat to safety on private commercial sites (or any!) during winter is ice and wet. Icy, slippery surfaces can be combated with gritting. There are plenty of dangers of not gritting your site properly too. Wherever there are people on site, whether staff, clients, patients, students or in vehicles, you need to know they will be safe.

Knowing you have provided a space that has reduced the risk of accident or injury as much as possible, not only gives peace of mind and confidence for you and your colleagues but also avoids potential financial repercussions. After all, no property manager wants a liability claim on their hands or a damaged company reputation to deal with.

Grounds Maintenance Services

Year-round maintenance of your property is an ongoing requirement, and winter maintenance is no different. As soon as grass cutting season is over, autumn brings its own cautions with messy, wet and slippery leaves everywhere. Although it’s really important to have your grounds looking professional, the health and safety element is a legal obligation. You might already have a small on-site team in place, but winter is particularly stressful if the weather throws a curveball. Full annual grounds control helps you stay on top of the sometimes overwhelming number of services in grounds maintenance.

‘A good maintenance contractor will be able to provide you with a year-round cyclic strategy that will ensure your site is prepared for all seasons. Specifically trained staff will have access to a wide range of specialised equipment, designed to cope with grounds maintenance needs every month, and especially in winter when things can get riskier.

Services you should expect your grounds maintenance winter contract to include are:

– Winter risk management

– Weather forecasting and monitoring

– 24 hour reaction times

– Salt supplies and grit bins

– Single or multi-site gritting options

– Snow clearance

How Does Salt Actually Work in Winter Gritting?

Salt has a unique ability to reduce the danger of ice because it’s able to dissolve the very top layer. Once this slippery surface layer of liquid water disintegrates, the salt merges down into the next layer and continues like that until the ice has turned into non-slippery mush. This clever chemical reaction works for every temperature of ice right down to minus 9 degrees. Luckily, here in the UK we don’t experience such low temperatures, which means our tried and tested gritting service always works. We take the added precaution of laying salt out overnight, because salt is known to be a better preventative than cure and applying it before the ice forms, stops it freezing altogether.

UK Gritting, the sister company of Grounds Care Group will always opt for the most environmentally friendly options and in the case of gritting, we supply white salt, rather than brown. We find white salt is not only cleaner and more efficient to apply, it is more aesthetically pleasing!

What are the Benefits of a Complete Grounds Maintenance Contract?

– Having a bespoke company tend to your land, means you completely remove the ‘to-do’ list of seasonal requirements in property management

– With a year-round contract, you’re likely to make significant savings, since regular clients receive discounts on bulk service buying

– You get the peace of mind that every day of the year is catered for

– You don’t need to invest in equipment you’re only likely to use for a small portion of the year, or find mass storage for things like gritting salt!

A nationwide company like Grounds Care Group offers a complete, wrap-around grounds service for the whole year that is designed to cater to your exact needs. You get a dedicated agent to speak with, who will deal with every query or issue you have. That saves hours in admin and research and lets you get back to tending to the more important aspects of your job.

Why Should I Choose UK Gritting from GCGRP for my Winter Site Maintenance?

Here at Grounds Care Group, we pride ourselves on delivering the optimum service every time. We have a wealth of experience in an impressive array of different industries including:

· Retail

· Utilities

· Property managers

· Leisure & Hospitality

· Office & Industrial

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Grounds Care Group services grounds of all kinds, all year round. From landscaping and environmental support to winter gritting from UK Gritting, we have you covered.

Our professional nationwide team has extensive winter maintenance training, that covers all elements of gritting and pedestrian protection. We aim to leave no stone unturned with years of experience and will nurture your landscape as if it was our own. Your grounds will not only look immaculate all year round, but will be completely safe for you, your staff and your visitors to go about your business.

Our winter service grounds contract includes daily monitoring of weather forecasts, extensive seasonal equipment and a large fleet of well-maintained grounds maintenance vehicles, such as our gritting lorries. Choosing maintenance contractors can be a headache, but we aim to take the hassle out of the whole process. Our dedicated support staff are always on hand to shed light on any queries you may have and offer practical and immediate solutions.

Contact us today by calling 0800 031 8447 or by emailing us for all your grounds care enquiries and let us offer competitive maintenance services for your local site and beyond.

The post Best 2020 Winter Grounds Maintenance Contracts for My Business appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

Even in the depths of autumn and winter, you still need to ensure you are on top of your grounds maintenance to ensure it stays tidy and professional all year round.

Spring tasks

Spring is perhaps the busiest season in terms of commercial grounds maintenance jobs.

Now is the time to get your premises into shape in preparation for the summer. Lawn care is particularly important; we recommend using the services of a professional for lawn edging and fertilising to ensure it looks brilliantly green all year round.

Keeping on top of pests and insects is also a critical spring task. Pressure washing driveways and paved areas will also keep the exterior of your premises looking their best.

Bedding plants can be planted in prepared beds. Manure and compost may need to be dug in to enrich the soil. Weeding needs to be done throughout spring to ensure bedding plants are kept in top condition. 

Summer Tasks

Flowers and shrubs need to be regularly watered, fertilised and deadheaded to encourage further blooms. Roses, in particular, can continue to flower well into the autumn if deadheaded regularly. Weeding is an ongoing task in the summer, as is mowing grassed areas; something which can be done quickly and easily with a professional grounds maintenance worker who will have the correct tools and machinery to get the jobs done. Hedges can be trimmed from early August, once the final nesting season has passed.

Autumn tasks

Autumn grounds maintenance often involves a considerable amount of leaf clearance, and if there are several trees on your premises, this is a task best left to professionals. At Grounds Care Group, our dedicated team is on hand to keep your commercial and corporate site looking pristine, particularly during autumn when the leaves begin to fall. 

Not only do leaves on lawns look messy and unsightly, but they can also be dangerous as wet leaves on pathways can become slippery and cause falls. We pride ourselves on sticking to our word, and what we say we will do, we will do on time. When it comes to autumn grounds maintenance, you can save yourself a great deal of time and energy and enlist the help of our commercial leaf removal services.

In late autumn, you may want to plant bulbs for the spring; again, this can be a challenging task for a business owner with large premises.

In many ways, autumn is a time for preparation for the challenging winter months. Commercial premises often have car parks and driveways that can become very slippery and hazardous for pedestrians during icy or snowy weather. Plan ahead in autumn for the winter season and find out about our gritting plans. Grounds Care Group gritting plans come with different payment options so you can choose one that best suits your requirements. When the temperature drops below a certain point in your area, our contractors are automatically deployed to grit your premises, ensuring safety for your staff and clients, and peace of mind for you.

Winter tasks

Winter is the ideal time to keep on top of pruning to ensure your trees, bushes and shrubs stay healthy and looking their best. Thinning and trimming bushes promotes a strong structure and allows new growth. Winter is also the best time to apply weedkiller to pathways and driveways and to remove patches of moss from lawns. Flower beds can be mulched to protect plants from the frost. Young trees may need to have their trunks covered if there is a cold snap. If you wish to have any overgrown areas cleared, then autumn and winter is a great time to do this as naturally the shrubbery and weeds die back, so they are a lot easier to remove during the winter months. Equally important is ensuring gritting and snow clearance is carried out during these colder months, helping to keep your site, staff and visitors safe and operational throughout the year. 

Autumn and winter is also a great time to carry out tree maintenance and surgery. Tree surgery may be required to avoid loose branches from falling in strong winds and winter storms. It can also help improve the health of the tree by removing any dead branches.

It cannot be emphasised that planning ahead is vital to keep your commercial premises looking smart and well-maintained. All of this takes time, skill and a considerable amount of physical work, which is why we recommend utilising the skills of our team here at the Grounds Care Group to handle your grounds maintenance, keeping it looking pristine and professional all year round regardless of the season.

The post The Importance Of Keeping Your Premises Looking Professional All Year Round appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

People are extremely visual and the importance of the surrounding landscape to a business should not be underestimated. However, the type of landscape is not restricted in any way. It could include parkland with mature trees and mown grass, formal flower beds, courtyards with water features and ferns, patios filled with flowering container plants, pathways interspersed with interesting sculptures – the list is endless and you can be as creative as you want.

Over the last few years, designers have tried to bring the outside to the inside, with office plants, green walls and atriums. But now due to the Covid-19 crisis, there has been a real change with wanting to bring the inside to the outside. Flexible outdoor spaces that offer multifunctional outside meeting rooms, courtyards and gardens. Landlords, property owners and property managers will see it more competitive to rent out office space, so the ones that adapt and invest in outdoor spaces will reap the rewards.  

If you would like to reap the benefits of commercial landscaping, the first step is to contact a professional company who can help you create a master plan which will make the most of your available outdoor space. Take the time to make an appointment with a professional company, such as Grounds Care Group, who can evaluate the site, assess the type of soil, the direction of the sunlight (whether your land is north or south-facing) and help you decide on the design choices of colour, style, texture and other characteristics to optimally utilise commercial space.

Commercial landscaping improves safety and security

One of the lesser-considered benefits of commercial landscaping is that it can be used to direct and control traffic flow to your business in an attractive and non-intrusive way. Shrubs and bushes, for example, can be planted along paths to guide clients from the car park to the correct entrance.

A property with well-maintained grounds also offers improved levels of safety to employees and members of the public if there are no hazards such as potholes, overhanging branches and overgrown thorny shrubs. Thoughtfully designed lighting reduces the chance of accidents at night which is particularly important if you are responsible for employees returning to their cars after a night shift. And apart from the health and safety aspects, working somewhere that is well-maintained and has an attractive environment is proven to improve the overall well-being of employees and even boost productivity.

Commercial landscaping also generates economic advantage

As well as increasing footfall to your business, well-maintained premises can boost the value of your property by as much as 15 percent. The impression that a business is thriving is more likely to lead to successful deals with new and existing clients. The saying that you have to spend money to make money is true in these circumstances! Put yourself in the position of a client – would you invest time and money in a business with peeling paint, overgrown lawns filled with weeds and rubbish? One of the main benefits of commercial landscaping is the fact that it helps to attract and retain both clients and employees and generates a sense of loyalty.

A better client experience

In addition to having a respectable and professional image, landscaped areas can be used to promote more meeting and living spaces. Clean, tidy and well-designed spaces allow employees and clients to feel relaxed and at ease which inevitably leads to a positive experience for both parties – and consequently the well-being of your business.

You may also be interested to learn that Grounds Care Group can design, create and also maintain with regular grounds maintenance contracts to take the stress away and keep your property looking great all year round. This could save you time and money, as well as eliminating the needs to own and maintain your own expensive landscaping equipment. Have a look at our website where you will be able to find out more about the services that we offer. Get in touch with a member of our team today to discuss your needs.

The post How commercial landscaping can help you to utilise your outside space effectively appeared first on Grounds Care Group.

Ecological stability

Clearing vegetation of invasive species, such as Himalayan Balsam can help native species to recover and provide a more balanced ecological habitat for the animals and plants that live there. Removing weeds, dead wood, and overgrown shrubs allows other plants to gain access to more water, soil and sunlight. Mulch can be used to cover the topsoil which improves the nutrient level in the soil and prevents the regrowth of weeds.

Improved safety

Clearing vegetation also promotes safety. In dry weather, overgrown areas of scrub are recognised fire hazards. Patches of land filled with dead plant matter can quickly burst into flames over a prolonged drought. These fires occur every summer. If you use the services of a company, such as Grounds Care Group to clear vegetation, the likelihood of fire will be instantly reduced.

Overgrown land poses other hazards as well as fire. Plants and trees in close vicinity to each other can quickly spread disease and airborne viruses. Dead trees can have dangling branches that pose an obvious risk to anyone passing by, especially after storms or windy weather. Large amounts of plants and trees, while pleasant from an ecological perspective, can also release copious amounts of pollen, which is problematic to those suffering from hayfever.

The control of pests

Apart from the need to stop weeds growing, using a company to clear vegetation is also advisable to control unwanted pests. In wet weather, pools of water may form which may pose a health hazard to humans. Mosquitos and gnats may swarm around the area and lay larvae. Rats love untended growth and may form a colony, risking Weil’s disease to any humans that come into contact with the water.

Less threatening animals such as birds and squirrels may choose to make felled logs and rotting trees their home. Clearing the land professionally will ensure that nesting creatures are less likely to come to harm.

A more attractive appearance

Professionally cleared land can be redeveloped, returfed or planted with aesthetically pleasing plants and shrubs. Neglected land looks awful and can even affect the value of adjacent properties. Opportunist passers-by may start to use the area for fly-tipping, and, before you know it, the area has become an unofficial local rubbish dump with mattresses and old tyres sitting next to buddleia, rosebay willowherb, dandelions and other weeds.

Use a professional grounds maintenance company

If you need an area of land to be cleared, it is important to use the services of a professional company, such as Grounds Care Group. We have the necessary machinery and tools to take care of difficult tasks, such as removing tree stumps, safely and effectively. Some areas of land may well have hidden pipes and cable so it is vital to use experts who know how to clear land without causing costly and dangerous damage to underground sewage, water or electrical systems. We will also remove any debris and dispose of it correctly, saving you the time, expense and worry of hiring a skip.

Grounds Care Group can quickly and safely clear your land without harming the environment. Contact Grounds Care Group today to find out more about how clearing vegetation can promote safer, healthier land that can be used for farming, development or landscaped into more aesthetically pleasing grounds.

For more information, please get in touch with a member of our team today.

The post The Importance Of Clearing Vegetation Correctly appeared first on Grounds Care Group.