Shrubs
Leisure Services manage more than 25 hectares of shrub beds, rose beds, rockeries and young tree planting.
Beds are not dug over as this can damage the roots of shrubs, disturbs dormant weed seeds so producing a fresh habitat for weed growth. Fallen leaves, needles and pinecones are generally left on beds providing a natural mulch. Leaving this natural debris returns nutrients etc, to the soil and provides a valuable habitat for many invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn provide valuable food for birds such as blackbirds and robins that you will see sifting through leaves for food during the winter months.
When pruning and trimming shrubs a considerable amount of pruning debris can result. This can either be chipped directly back onto bed or taken to the contractor’s depot for recycling. By adding the chippings back onto the beds and once incorporated with leaves, etc. this creates a mulch, which reduces water loss. This mulch also controls weeds so reducing the requirements for chemical control and returns nutrients to the soil. N.B. fresh chippings can initially lower the nutrient level of the soil as they decompose, but this is balanced by the long-term benefits including, better water retention, reduced need for weed control, recycling and the ultimate return of nutrients to the soil
Landscape planting is not watered as most plants can survive drought conditions. This may from time to time include dropping leaves. This has little long-term effect of the plants, which will recover, latter in the season or the following spring. Watering would also only provide a temporary solution. Additionally, during periods of serious drought the local Water Authority can place restrictions on water use.
Horticultural Amenity Sites/Horticultural Displays
The main purpose of this category is to provide high quality displays, which are maintained to the highest horticultural standards.
This category includes the following:
- Formal park areas e.g. Poole Park, Hamworthy Park
- Public Buildings e.g. municipal buildings, libraries
- Traffic junctions, islands and roundabouts
- Continental Landscapes horticultural maintenance
The contractor is responsible for:
- Pruning to recognised horticultural standard depending on species
- Keeping reasonably weed free (mainly by cultural means, limited use of herbicides)
- Pruning away from windows, paths, pavements and clear traffic sight lines
- Returning composted material/chippings to beds
- Mulching rose beds annually
- Controlling pests and diseases on roses
- Removing litter when on a routine maintenance visit
The contractor is not responsible for:
- Watering planting
- Pruning landscaping to create or maintain private views
- Cutting back vegetation which overhangs private property except as a result of normal maintenance works
- Remove leaves, pine needles and fir cones from beds
Leisure Services is responsible for:
- Arranging the replacement and replanting of landscaping
- Provision of new schemes
General Landscape Planting
The main purpose of this category is to provide planting, which breaks up the hard landscape, softens hard lines and which promotes a green environment.
This category include the following:
- Planting on informal open spaces
- Verge planting
- Landscaping around residential areas and estates
- Road calming planters
- Continental Landscapes horticultural maintenance
The contractor is responsible for:
- Pruning to control overall size, shape and growth habit
- Keeping reasonably weed free
- Pruning away from windows, paths, pavements and clear traffic sight lines
- Returning composted material/chippings to beds
- Replacing planting as directed by Leisure Services
- Removing litter when on a routine maintenance visit
The contractor is not responsible for:
- Watering planting
- Pruning landscaping to create or maintain private views
- Cutting back vegetation which overhangs private property except as a result of normal maintenance works
- Removing leaves, pine needles and fir cones from beds
- Cutting back shrubs which overhang paths and pavements on private property
Leisure Services is responsible for:
- Arranging the replacement and replanting of landscaping
- Provision of new schemes
Informal Planting/Semi Natural Planting
This category includes large-scale shrub and young tree planting examples include landscaping on the Holes Bay Road, Sherborn Crescent Open Space and Wallisdown Road Open Space.
The contractor is responsible for:
- Formative pruning, thinning out and coppice as directed by Leisure Services
- Replace planting as directed by Leisure Services
- Prune away from paths, pavements and roads
- Chip pruning back onto bed
- Remove litter when on a maintenance visit
The contractor is not responsible for:
- Watering planting
- Pruning landscaping to create or maintain private views
- Cutting back vegetation which overhangs private property except as a result of normal maintenance works
- Removing leaves, pine needles and fir cones from beds
Leisure Services is responsible for:
- Arranging the replacement and replanting of landscaping
- Provision of new schemes
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