Garden maintenance scheme
The Garden Maintenance Scheme (GMS) is a grass cutting and hedge cutting service for elderly and disabled council tenants who have no one to help with the garden, between the months of March and September.
Eligibility
To join the scheme, you must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be of pensionable age or
- In receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - Mobility Components only (Daily Living Standard/Enhanced Rate Component is not accepted) or
- In receipt of Employment and Support Allowance for physical/mobility health issues (ESA) or
- In receipt of Universal Credit and have a limited capability for work element within your award for physical/mobility health issues.
You must provide original proofs of:
- state pension claim or
- any documents for DLA/PIP/ADP/ESA/Universal Credit (limited capability for work element)
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WITHOUT THESE PROOFS, WE CANNOT PROCESS YOUR APPLICATION.
We will write to you shortly afterwards to tell you if you can join the scheme.
How do I apply?
Garden maintenance scheme application form
If you are unable to apply online, a paper copy of the Garden Maintenance Form can be downloaded below, please complete and send to the postal address at the end of the application form.
Garden Maintenance Scheme 2026 Application Form (Word doc, 43 KB)
How much does the service cost?
There is no cost for qualifying South Ayrshire Council Housing tenants for the service. Non-Council tenants are no longer able to apply for the scheme.
What work will be done in my garden?
The gardener will cut the grass with a petrol lawnmower and tidy the edges of the lawn with a petrol strimmer. The gardener will not do any other work on the lawn or flower beds.
Where a first cut and tidy is required by the gardeners, this will incur an additional charge.
All tenants have the responsibility to bring the garden up to an acceptable standard before the scheme commences.
The gardeners will not carry out work on the garden if there is animal excrement present. Please note that if problems in relation to animal excrement persist then your place on the scheme may be reconsidered.
Hedges are cut twice each year, once in May/June and again in September. Due to health and safety of our gardeners, hedges above 5 feet in height require to be reduced to this height by the tenant. If you are not able to do so, this can be arranged but you will be charged for this work.
How often will my garden be done?
The gardeners will come and cut your grass every 3 to 4 weeks. The service starts at the end of March and runs until the end of September so you will get 7 visits.
Please note that this is an approximate timescale and can change depending on weather, equipment and squad sizes for the year.
Twice a year the gardeners will cut your hedge; this is usually done in June/July and September. The gardeners will only cut this year's growth but will collect all the clippings and take them away.
Cycle Dates
| Cycle | From | To | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cycle 1 | 23rd March | 17th April | 4 weeks |
| Cycle 2 | 20th April | 8th May | 3 weeks |
| Cycle 3 | 11th May | 5th June | 4 weeks |
| Cycle 4 | 8th June | 3rd July | 4 weeks |
| Cycle 5 | 6th July | 31st July | 4 weeks |
| Cycle 6 | 3rd August | 21st August | 3 weeks |
| Cycle 7 | 24th August | 18th September | 4 weeks |
What happens if I have missed the start of the scheme?
We will pass your name and address to the gardeners who will usually put your name on the list for the next round of visits. In some areas, if you apply late, the gardeners may not be able to accommodate this.
If you have missed the start of the scheme your grass may be that bit longer when it gets its first cut. It is difficult to get a perfect cut when the grass is longer, but if you have problems after the second cut, please contact us.
The gardeners cover all of South Ayrshire. Each team has numerous gardens on its list. When you join the scheme, your address is added to the list, and the gardener does your garden when next in the street or local area. So, depending on when you join, you could wait up to three weeks for your first visit
Who do I contact if I have a problem?
If you have any problems with the gardeners or any questions about the service, you can contact us by the following methods:
By post
South Ayrshire Council
Garden Maintenance Scheme
FAO: Central Housing Services Team
Riverside House
21 River Terrace
Ayr
KA8 0AU
By telephone
0300 123 0900 (Customer Services)
By email
Central Housing Services Team: [email protected]
