Weed control

We are responsible for weed control on roads, footways and paved areas on all adopted roads in Cheshire East.

Routine weed control

We have an annual weed spraying programme where we treat key areas of our adopted highway network. These areas include channels, the top of kerbs, the back of footways and alleyways (where it borders a wall or fence), footpaths and link paths.

The 2023/24 programme was completed in October 2023. Treatments are only effective in dry weather, rain and wet conditions may cause delays to the spraying programmes and change the location we treat.

Our treatments usually only work on established plants and won’t stop new weeds from growing in the location we treat.

We use Glyphosate to treat most weeds and we strim around street furniture. Glyphosate is safe if used under manufacturer’s instructions and by trained personnel.

Problem weeds

We have a legal duty to control certain harmful and invasive weeds on the highway.

We treat invasive weeds where there is a risk to highway users, adjacent landowners, or livestock. This may be by a combination of repeated applications of weedkiller and removal by hand.

Where landowners or occupiers have invasive weeds on their property, they have a legal duty to control the weeds and stop them spreading. If they refuse, DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) can take appropriate action and charge the costs to the landowner or the occupier of the property.

You can report any sightings of invasive weeds on the highway, which include:

Japanese knotweed