Grass cutting, verge, hedge and tree maintenance

Grass cutting policy

Our grass cutting policies are focused on safety and visibility for road users. Due to decreased budgets, we can not cut grass verges for aesthetic reasons. Grass cutting decisions are always made from the point of view of road safety.

Our urban highway grass cutting policy applies to grass within the boundaries of roads with a speed limit of 40mph or less. We cut this grass five times per year between April and September.

We cut grass in these locations: 

• at highway junctions for visibility – this applies to all road categories
• around event or hazard warning signs as required to maintain visibility
• where a footway is separated from the carriageway by an area of verge – grass on both sides of the footway will be cut to 0.5m 

More regular grass cutting

Local parish and town councils might want to cut grass more frequently or extensively than we offer. Parish and town councils have the option to carry out urban grass cutting themselves with a financial contribution from North Yorkshire Council. This contribution can only go towards cutting grass in areas that we would have cut if we were responsible for grass cutting. Any grass cutting outside of those areas must be paid for by the parish or town council.

Private verges

We are not responsible for maintaining the verges of private roads leading to or from private properties, or for the vast majority of hedges by the roadside which are usually the responsibility of the adjacent landowner.

Environmental concerns

We have to balance the safety of road users and pedestrians with environmental considerations, recognising that verges are important for wildlife. Some of our grass cutting is done early in the year, and some in July, August or September, to allow flowers to set seed whilst also maintaining safety.

The frequency of the cut depends on where the verge is located. Usually, areas we are responsible for will be cut five times a year.

Weeds

Where weeds are causing a safety hazard, we use one application of a non-residual contact herbicide called 'glyphosate', which conforms to health and safety and Environment Agency requirements. We may use additional treatments where required.

We receive many reports of verge damage every year. To minimise damage you can take the following steps.

• never drive or park on a verge - this kills plants and damages the soil structure
• if you see someone damaging a verge, report it to us
• only cut the grass verge later in the year when wild flowers have had time to seed

If you are prepared to cut the grass in your parish, you should contact your parish council directly to get permission. We have offered parish councils a financial contribution for cutting the visibility and safety areas of urban highway grass.

Never plant bulbs or other cultivated plants on roadside verges without first obtaining a licence from us.

Private landowners and occupiers have responsibility for:

• ensuring growth does not obscure road signs
• maintaining visibility for road users, particularly at junctions and on the inside of bends
• ensuring growth does not prevent the passage or affect the safety of people using a road, footway, cycleway or public right of way, including cyclists and pedestrians
• removing dead or decaying trees and other growth that may fall across the highway
• removing branches that may prevent the passage of high-sided vehicles or obstruct light from a street light
• ensuring the highway is left clear of debris from cutting work
• arranging for hedge and tree maintenance works to be undertaken

If you do not maintain your trees and hedges

If your hedge is causing an obstruction or presenting a danger, we will tell you that work to cut the offending vegetation must be undertaken within 14 days.

If action isn't taken, or if it is an immediate safety issue, we may carry out the work and recover costs from you.

We will only take action where a hedge or tree is overhanging the highway or causing an obstruction or safety issue for road users.

We cannot help you to resolve disputes with neighbours concerning hedges that are on private land.

Some trees are protected by tree preservation orders and/or lie within conservation areas.

This can be checked with your district or borough council. Consent is required before any works, including minor pruning, are carried out on protected trees.

What is a tree preservation order?

A tree preservation order prohibits the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the consent of the local authority.

They can be applied to any tree or woodland which may be of special interest or makes a positive contribution to its surrounding environment and the community. Trees exempt from tree preservation orders are those that are dead, dying, diseased or dangerous and fruit trees grown for the commercial production of fruit.

Learn more about tree preservation orders in our trees and hedges section.

More advice about pruning or felling trees

• trees should be retained and protected wherever possible - pruning or felling can be the subject of significant local concern and should only be done with specialist advice and support
• any works should be carried out by a qualified and insured contractor
• landowners and farmers are recommended to undertake trimming in January and February and not to cut back hedges from 1 April to 31 July - this is to cut the chance of disturbing breeding birds and destroying nests; allow most plants to finish flowering and seeding; allow nuts and berries to be available to wildlife for as long as possible in winter, and to reduce congestion and delays, as there will probably be less traffic on the roads