WINTER MAINTENANCE
SITE LOGIC: STEPPING FROM SUMMER HEATWAVES TO WINTER RESILIENCE
Sam Pearce, National Account Manager at OUTCO, discusses prioritising safety, risk management and aesthetics after extreme heat stress.
After the frenetic activity of the summer, grounds maintenance tends to shift gears. While the endless mowing abates, outdoor FM generally shifts from high frequency, reactive summer routines towards a more proactive and risk-focused winter campaign.
Many facilities managers share a common misconception: once the intense grass-cutting schedules of summer begin to wind down around late October, the grounds maintenance season is effectively over. In reality, autumn and early winter can be some of the most demanding months of the year. And, following months of heatwaves and drought, this year is presenting a different set of challenges: Following a record-breaking summer, the focus needs to shift from keeping on top of growth to managing additional risks left behind by extreme weather. All this has to be balanced with client budget constraints and with the reduced daylight hours.
At OUTCO, we see grounds maintenance as being as much as an art as a science: When every site is different and when an increasingly erratic climate changes the weather patterns from year to year, our team leaders really show their value. Especially when time and budget is limited, their experience and knowledge of each site - an awareness we call “site logic” – lets us focus on the activities that will get the right balance of risk and reward. Let’s look at some of the main areas that will matter most as we approach this particular winter.
Managing leaf-fall risk: Early defoliation, slip hazards and drainage blockages One legacy of this summer's extreme heat is early leaf fall. Heat and drought stress can cause trees to shed their leaves earlier than normal. This year we saw leaf shedding beginning as early as late July or August. Leaf clearance, traditionally a late-autumn task, has therefore started much earlier and has coincided with late-season mowing and hedge cutting. Even though this hot, dry summer has
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seen mowing reduced in many parts of the country, the return of cooler weather alongside early leaf fall is placing an additional burden on grounds maintenance teams.
This is where experience matters, as fallen leaves on pathways can create a similar level of risk and potential liability as uncleared snow or ice. A leaf's waxy cuticle prevents moisture from passing through so any rainfall produces a banana-skin slipperiness on both sides of the leaf. With footfall and vehicle traffic, they become a slippery paste that becomes more time-consuming to remove. Hence, it’s vital to plan leaf collections carefully, not just with the right frequency but also starting at the right time (after a long, hot drought it’s really important not to delay until later in the autumn). At OUTCO, we recommend viewing leaf clearance as being a similar responsibility to snow and ice clearance and handle it with a similar focus on liability and risks (our teams photograph cleared sites to ensure clients have reliable reporting and evidence on hand).
Ahead of the winter months, a further issue for grounds teams to address is ensuring clear drains. Earlier leaf fall can also amplify any drainage problems, clogging gullies and drainage grates that will result in standing water in car parks and roadways that can freeze into patches of black ice in the winter. With limited time on site, teams should consider prioritising pathways, emergency exits and busy car parks and seek to clear leaves before they can cause drainage issues.
Tree inspections and canopy management: Combating branch cracking Another potential consequence of extreme summer heat is branch cracking or sudden limb drop as the stress from drought weakens trees. Before the stormier autumn and winter months, it’s always advisable to address any trees or branches that can pose serious risk to pedestrians, vehicles and buildings but this year the drought conditions have accentuated that risk.
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