Grass cutting, leaf clearing and weeding

Weeding and herbicides

Since 2019 the council has been reducing its use of herbicide, specifically Glyphosate, which is used to manage weed growth across the borough. This follows growing concerns about the health impact which long term exposure to Glyphosate can have, and its impact on biodiversity.

You can read more about the steps we're taking, below.

Parks, green spaces and housing land

The council has stopped using chemical weed control on hard-standing areas in parks and playgrounds. Instead, its contractor, Glendale, uses manual weeding, electric tools, mulch and hoeing to remove and suppress weeds.

These techniques are also used in shrub beds and on hard surfaces on Kingston’s housing land, which is also managed by Glendale.

On the public highway

Between 2020 and 2021, we reduced herbicide use on pavements from three to two sprays a year. We also undertook small trials of alternative weed removal methods, including hot foaming and weeding by hand to see what the impact on weed growth would be.

In 2022 a further one year trial began, which saw herbicide use on streets reduced from two sprays to one spray a year. We also sought your views about weed growth in your area and the results can be found on the Kingston First Website

For 2023, it has been agreed that one spray a year approach will continue.  

Visit the Royal Horticultural Society's website for a range of information about managing weeds at home without using chemicals.

Leaves on the street

During the autumn we have additional crews out, working to clear areas that have high levels of leaf fall.

We aim to keep the roads and pavements clear of slippery wet leaves. We have a leafing programme that covers roads with known high leaf fall as well as responding quickly to reports of other areas that require attention. Where we receive report of hazardous leaves we will visit to assess and arrange clearing as necessary. We do not cover clearance of leaves from private land.

You can help by

• reporting areas that may require special leaf clearance so that we can arrange an inspection
• not sweeping leaves onto the public highway from your property
• collecting leaves from your property and either:
  • put them into your garden waste bin (subscription required)
  • take them to the Household Reuse and Recycling Centre on Villiers Road
  • use them for home composting or leaf mulch

Report a street cleaning issue

Grass cutting

We are responsible for grass cutting:

• Parks and open spaces
• Roadside grass verges, roundabouts and central reservations.
• Council housing land

For further information on grass-cutting services in the borough and to find out when the grass will be next cut in your area, please visit the Glendale website.

Grounds Maintenance Service - Kingston Council Housing Estates

Glendale provides a grounds maintenance service to Kingston housing estates. This includes tasks such as leaf clearance from grass areas, shrub maintenance and grass cutting. The service varies by season throughout the year.

For further information on the services provided on your estate and to find out when works are scheduled in your estate area please visit the Glendale website