Weed control

We treat weeds on over 3038 miles of roads, pavements, footpaths, parks, and cemeteries.

We aim to spray weeds twice a year, between April and October. The aim is to maintain safe use of our publicly adopted highways and pavements. We aren't trying to eradicate all weeds as many of them play an important role in biodiversity.

Weeds are sprayed with a low toxicity herbicide Glyphosate which can be used safely without harming people or animals, however weeds may return between treatments.

Our weed spraying programme may experience delays at times as we aren’t able to spray when the weather is wet or windy. Our teams also start early in the morning so you may not always see them.

To check your area, please visit our weed control programme.

What happens next?

It can take up to two weeks for weeds to start dying back once they have been sprayed. Wherever possible, weeds are then removed when areas are swept using our mechanical sweepers. In some areas, we may need to dig out weeds by hand.

All our operations are programmed in advance, and wherever possible, we aim to stick to the schedules. This ensures that we work as efficiently as possible and to provide the best service.

If you feel that the treatment has not been effective and that weeds are still present 15 days after spraying, you can let us know.

Weed control programme 2025