We consider an unbounded homogeneous gradient-elastic space with surface energy. It is shown that along with the SH-waves, anti-plane shear motions take place. These motions are periodic in time and exponentially decay in the direction of propagation of the SH-wave. We consider the process of reflection of disturbances of the both types from the free boundary of a half-space. We obtain disperse equations governing the surface SH-waves and the SH-waves in a layer. To obtain these equations, we consider motions propagating in an unbounded space and analyze the process of generation of the surface SH-waves and the SH-waves in a layer in course of interaction of the motions falling on a free boundary surface and motions reflecting from this surface.