Stephen Charles Landscapes and Contract Gardeners is proud to be able to offer commercial Grounds Maintenance, Landscape Maintenance & Estate Maintenance. We have become one of the leading commercial horticultural services contractors in the south east providing service to all, weather you own small premises or large ones weather you want a small amount of work done or a complete refurbishment of an estate.

Our standard maintenance specification is as follows

Whole Site
 Clear and remove from site all litter from grassed areas, shrub beds, borders, pathways and roadways within the site area.

Sweep all hard-standing areas, pathways and roadways within the site area.

Apply chemical weed killers to all hard-standings, pathways, and roadways to control growth in late Spring. This will be done using manufacturer’s guidelines.

Spot treat and pray with systemic weed killer perennial and annual weeds as they appear. Persistent weeds removed by hand.

Box-cut with rotary/cylinder mower all grassed areas and remove arisings to compost heap

Or

Tractor cut using specialist mulching rotary cutting deck.

Trim edges to all grass areas around beds, trees, hard-standing areas, and building edges etc

Scarify, Aerate and Roll ALL grassed areas

Apply selective weed killers to all grassed areas, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions

Apply fertilizer granules to all grassed areas, in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions

Apply selective weed killer to all beds, using manufacturer’s instructions

Control weed growth in beds by the most appropriate method in each case. This may be either remove weeds by hand or by chemical means throughout the growing season, remove arisings to compost heap

Fork over panned down areas

Apply slow release Fertilizers to all beds.

Where appropriate Maintain a mulch of shredded bark to a minimum depth of 75 mm, topping up as necessary and sweep up mulch from pavings etc (initial spreading and supply of mulch at extra costs).

Check each stake, tie and guard where fitted, and adjust, refit or renew as necessary to ensure that no damage occurs to any tree and check that each stake is supporting its tree in the intended manor.

Check that each tree is growing healthily and report any badly damaged, diseased or dead trees to the estate manager

Prune to maintain good bushy shape, remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches etc All pruning to be carried out in accordance with best horticultural practice. Remove prunings from site if lignified or to compost heap if not. Pruning carried out using sharp clean instruments to give a crisp sloping cut with one flat surface. Where appropriate pruning cuts are to be slightly above and sloping away from an outward facing bud. Branch removal is to be carried out by cutting flush with the adjourning stem in order that no part of the stem is damaged. Winter flowing shrubs to be pruned during March/April prior to the new growth. Spring flowering shrubs pruned when flowering has ceased. Autumn flowering shrubs to be pruned when flowering has ceased. Throughout the year pruning will be undertaken and all dead and broken growth removed. Out of season pruning to be carried out as required, to eliminate encroachment to pathways, roadways and parking areas

Trim Hedges to keep good shape and healthy plants

Check each stake and tie, and adjust, refit or renew as necessary to ensure that no damage occurs to any plant and check that each stake is supporting its shrub or climber in the intended manner. Wire climbers to supporters where provided.

Refirm plants that have been loosened by wind or frost

Clear all dead leaves from beds, grassed areas, hard-standings and pathways etc.

In periods of low rainfall during the growing season, water the rooting area of the trees, shrubs perennial annuals and grass sufficiently to allow water to fully penetrate the rooting zone.