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Why August is the Time to Plan Your Winter Gritting Strategy

While August is often about summer holidays and lighter workloads, it’s also the perfect time to prepare for the harsh realities of winter. For commercial property managers, early planning for winter gritting isn’t just a good idea, it’s a vital part of risk management.

Thinking Ahead: The Cost of Waiting

Cold snaps, snow, and ice bring serious safety risks to pathways, car parks, and access roads. Leaving your winter gritting strategy until the first frost often results in scrambling for contractors, paying premium rates, or worse, facing hazardous conditions and potential liability claims.

By securing your gritting contract in August, you get ahead of the rush, locking in reliable service before demand spikes.

  1. Secure Contracts and Service Commitments

Winter maintenance providers, like Flora-Tec, work to pre-agreed service plans. These outline the temperature thresholds that trigger proactive visits, ensuring your site is treated before ice forms. Agreeing these details early guarantees you’ll have a committed partner when the cold sets in.

  1. Optimise De-Icing Logistics

Effective winter safety isn’t just about grit – it’s about readiness. Early planning allows for strategic grit bin placement, stock replenishment, and site mapping so crews can operate efficiently, even in severe weather. This proactive approach minimises disruption and maximises safety.

  1. Reduce Risk and Liability

A well-prepared gritting strategy protects employees, customers, and visitors from slips and falls, helping you meet your duty of care. It also safeguards your business reputation, being known as a site that’s safe and accessible whatever the weather.

Why Partner with Flora-Tec?

Flora-Tec’s winter services combine advanced weather monitoring with responsive on-the-ground teams. From proactive winter gritting and de-icing to snow clearance and salt supply, we deliver reliability backed by years of experience. By working with us early, you can:

  • Reserve priority service slots
  • Customise your winter plan to your site’s needs
  • Ensure your grounds remain compliant and operational all season

The bottom line:

August planning means winter certainty. While others are caught off guard, you’ll have a plan in place, a partner on call, and the peace of mind that your property will stay safe, accessible, and operational; no matter what the forecast says.