Practical, sourced guides on keeping lawns, hedges, trees and shared grounds in good order — written for homeowners, estate managers, schools and offices in Wiltshire and the neighbouring counties. Every figure and rule comes with its source at the foot of the article.
Autumn Planting for Dry Summers: Drought-Tolerant PlantsAutumn is a good time to plant drought-tolerant plants. Learn the right timing, plants that cope with dry summers, mulching and how to water new plants.
- Grounds maintenance contracts: what to include
How to write a grounds maintenance contract specification: define mowing schedules, hedge cutting, waste removal, insurance and performance standards.
Hedge cutting: when to cut, and the law on nesting birdsUK hedge cutting laws: nesting bird protection, high hedge complaints, hedgerow regulations, and timing for different hedge types.
Hosepipe Bans 2026: Rules and Lawn CareHosepipe bans are in force in parts of England this October. See what they cover, the £1,000 maximum fine and how to care for your lawn in dry weather.
How often should you mow a lawn in the UK?A month-by-month guide to lawn mowing frequency in the UK, including cutting heights, seasonal growth patterns, and how to adapt to weather conditions.
How to choose a gardener or landscaper: checks that matterEssential checks before hiring a gardener or landscaper: insurance, waste carrier registration, professional accreditation, and consumer rights.
- Lawn aeration and scarifying: when to do it and how
A guide to lawn scarification and aeration in the UK: when to do it, how to choose between hollow-tine and spike aeration, and why overseeding works best after these treatments.
Lawn feeding, weed and moss control: a year-round calendarA year-round calendar for UK lawn feeding, weed and moss control treatments. Covers NPK nutrients, moss treatment with iron sulphate, selective herbicides, and water restrictions.
- Lawns built for games: croquet, bowls, cricket and garden-game surfaces
A guide to preparing and maintaining lawn surfaces for recreational games: croquet, lawn bowls, garden cricket and other garden sports. Surface requirements, maintenance schedules, and realistic standards for different uses.
- Low-maintenance planting for commercial grounds and shared gardens
Shrub borders, mulch, ground cover, native hedging, and pollinator plants for low-maintenance commercial and communal gardens.
Site clearance: waste licences, bonfires and Japanese knotweedDuty of care for garden waste, waste carrier registration, bonfire rules, and Japanese knotweed removal. Legal requirements in Wiltshire.
Tree pruning: when to prune, and when you need council permissionWhen to prune trees in the UK by species. Tree Preservation Order and conservation area notice requirements in Wiltshire.
- Turf or seed? Starting a new lawn in Wiltshire
Comparing turf and seed for new lawns in Wiltshire. Ground preparation for chalky soils, timing, watering, and cost factors.
- Wildflower areas and No Mow May: less mowing without a mess
How to create wildflower areas and reduce mowing: No Mow May evidence, cut and collect regimes, yellow rattle, and managing resident expectations.
- Winter grounds maintenance: leaf clearance, gritting and dormant pruning
Winter grounds maintenance tasks: managing leaf slip risk, gritting car parks, dormant pruning and protecting plants from frost.
Need someone to do the work? Find a gardener, landscaper or tree surgeon near you.