How Much Does a Gardener Cost?

How Much Do Gardeners Charge?

The cost of hiring a gardener can vary depending on the work that needs doing, although for general maintenance and garden clearance are normally priced at around £20. Although this may be higher if the garden requires a lot of work, and can especially take longer if it's overgrown. Gardener costs are also higher in areas such as London and the South East.

Typical gardening tasks include:

• Cutting and feeding the grass
• Leaf blowing and collecting
• Weeding
• Watering
• Hedge trimming
• Plant pruning
• Patio and driveway cleaning

How are the costs calculated?

Larger garden jobs are usually priced as a fixed quote, whereas regular maintenance work is often charged by the hour on a recurring retainer basis.

What can affect the overall costs?

The cost for regular garden maintenance can vary considerably, depending on your location, the size of the garden, the amount of work required and the maintenance company or tradesperson.

There is a big difference in the prices charged by local self-employed gardeners and larger businesses with many employees, plus big differences in costs charged for work in London and the South East, compared to those in the North or West of the UK.

Let's get down to it:

How much does a gardener cost in 2025?

Typically, gardeners cost between £14 to £25 per hour for most types of work. This will vary depending on where you're located in the UK, the complexity of the project, and whether it's a one-off job.

Gardener Cost

How Much Is a Gardener per Hour in the UK?

How can you determine the costs of a gardener?

It can be difficult to determine the cost of garden maintenance as gardeners will charge varying amounts, and it greatly depends on the size and complexity of your garden. On average, a typical gardener will charge around £14 – £25 per hour.

How many gardeners will you need to hire?

For smaller gardens, it may be the case that only one gardener is needed. However, for larger garden maintenance, two or more gardeners may be needed to complete the job efficiently.

This will result in the overall cost of labour being higher.

The more gardeners that are needed for the job, the more you can expect to pay in labour costs per hour.

However, the overall job will take much less time if more than one gardener is used.

Those based in London can expect to pay a lot more per hour for gardeners than those based in the North of the UK.

Gardeners in London may charge around £3 to £10 more per hour for garden maintenance than gardeners in the North.

How Long Will Gardening Take?

Garden maintenance on smaller gardens can usually be completed in a few hours, and larger gardens shouldn’t take more than a few days to complete.

Here are some estimates on how long the average garden maintenance takes. However, this can change with the season and also depends on the size of garden and its contents - such as types of plants and weather conditions:

These estimates are based on a garden of around 100m² to 150m². If your garden is larger than this, the gardener cost will necessarily be higher because the job will take longer.

Bear in mind that, if there is a lot of work to do because the garden hasn't previously been maintained effectively, this will increase the time and costs.

Find Tradespeople, compare up to 3 quotes!

It's FREE and there are no obligations

Get started

Additional Garden Maintenance Costs

There may be some additional costs involved with garden maintenance, particularly on larger or more challenging jobs.

Some additional costs that you may need to consider are listed below:

• Staining fences - £100 – £200
• Patio installation - £800 – £2,000
• Decking installation - £800 – £2,000
• Exterior painting - £700 – £1,000
• Garden Wall - £800 – £1,200
• Garden Levelling - £1,000 – £7,000
• Fence Staining - £100 – £200
• Shed Staining - £200 – £400

Some of these jobs will need to be undertaken by specialists and won't generally be included in a gardening services price list. However, it can be worth asking, since many gardeners have other skills or may be able to recommend a specialist.

Once you've had decking or a garden wall installed, for example, these will need to be maintained along with the rest of the garden. This may add to your gardener cost in the future.

What Impacts Garden Maintenance Prices?

Below is a list of various cost-affecting factors when it comes to hiring a gardener for garden maintenance.

• Complexity of Jobs – The amount of mowing, trimming and clearance required, along with the design and layout of your garden (including the type of plants and any trees or shrubbery) can affect the overall price. This can impact costs due to either the time required, or you may be charged more for specific tasks.
• Size and location – Larger gardens often require more maintenance and can increase labour costs, likewise when it comes to access and where you are in the country. For example tradesmen, including gardeners, tend to charge more in regions such as London and the South East due to the local cost of living. If you live in a remote area there are also travel expenses to consider.
• Frequency and Number of Workmen – Regular upkeep is usually cheaper in the long run than ad-hoc maintenance, as it's easier to keep on top of a garden that's being well looked after. Larger projects such as garden clearance, landscaping or giving a neglected garden some TLC are likely to require more than one gardener, increasing the cost accordingly.
• Time of Year – Spring and summer can be more expensive than out-of season work as there's less that needs doing. For example, during the colder months it's often quicker jobs such as pruning and clearing leaves, whereas peak-season will involve everything from planting seeds and maintaining plants to regular mowing and hedge trimming.
• Waste Disposal – When asking for a quote, check that waste disposal is included within the price. It's also worth asking if there are any additional fees if you have larger jobs that need doing, that create more waste than regular maintenance.
• Equipment Hire - Some tasks may require you to hire a specialist for the job, such as tree-felling, that can work out more expensive than a regular gardener. Alternatively, hiring or purchasing new equipment, for example stump grinders, hedge trimmers and pressure washers can prove expensive alongside regular garden tools.

Ask a Trade

Got a question that only a tradesperson can answer? We have thousands of trades ready to answer any question you may have.

Ask your question

What's Involved in Gardening?

There are many jobs involved in gardening. Below is a list of the most common gardening jobs and a little bit about what is involved in each of these different jobs.

Maintenance

Garden maintenance includes regular care in order to keep your garden looking the best it possibly can at all times.

As everyone’s garden is different, this can mean different things for different people. Some people may just require having their lawn cut every week or so, whereas others may need more jobs to keep on top of their garden such as pruning, patio cleaning, weeding, and so on.

The more plants you have and the more diverse your garden is; the more maintenance you will need in order to keep your garden looking great.

Clearance

Garden clearance involves clearing out the garden of anything that doesn’t need to be there. Whatever needs to be cleared can be taken away. The average garden clearance cost is between £100 and £200 in the UK.

Most gardeners will remove green waste and clear any general debris from your garden, although legally they can't dispose of household rubbish unless licensed and insured to do so.

Some of the items they can clear include garden refuse such as leaves, lawnmower cuttings, unwanted plants, shrubs, twigs, branches and soil. They can also potentially clear wood, such as lumber and firewood. Although if you need more extensive work such as removing fence panels or having an old shed taken to the tip, you may need to ask if this falls under their remit.

If you hire a gardener who also specialises in general waste clearance, then they may also be able to remove anything from left over building materials to furniture and electrical appliances.

Cutting Grass

Cutting grass is one of the most important garden maintenance elements. Getting the mowing frequency and cutting height right is key to keeping your lawn looking constantly healthy.

So, how much do gardeners charge for cutting grass?

The average grass cutting cost is about £25 per hour in the UK.

Mowing is mostly carried out between March and October. Over the summer months, you will probably need to mow your lawn once a week to keep it healthy. During spring and autumn, once a fortnight is usually fine for keeping your lawn healthy. Over winter, mowing is usually not necessary since the cold weather keeps the grass from growing.

Mowing is quite a straightforward task. For the first mowing in spring, it’s best to have your cutter height set to its highest setting and then gradually reduce the cut height until you reach your desired length. It’s best not to mow your lawn excessively low as this can weaken the grass.

Landscaping

Landscaping involves making improvements to your property grounds either in an aesthetic or a practical way. Anything that exists outside of your home and on your property or grounds is a part of your property’s landscaping.

The cost of garden landscaping varies depending on the type of project you have planned.

For instance, building a garden pond costs between £260 and £530 per m², while turf installation costs around £15 per m².

Below are some examples of things that may exist in your home’s landscaping:

• Lawns
• Shrubs
• Planting beds
• Water gardens
• Fountains
• Fences
• Flowering trees
• Foundation plantings
• Walkways
• Driveways

Any improvements or maintenance on these types of outdoor elements is known as landscaping. These improvements can include trimming, cutting, cleaning, painting, varnishing, washing, and more.

Basically, any type of improvement on the outdoor element of your home is a branch of landscaping. You might be wondering how much it is to landscape a garden. There is no specific answer here. Every garden is different, and every garden requires different landscaping jobs.

Hedge Trimming or Removing

Hedge trimming involves trimming tall or overgrown hedges or shrubs. Hedge trimming not only makes your garden look more aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps to keep your garden safe, as protruding branches and hedge parts can be dangerous, particularly to children.

You can also remove hedges if you want to get rid of them entirely.

Hedge trimming can also be made into a work of art. Many hedges can be trimmed into interesting and unique shapes, so you have an opportunity to create a beautiful and unique garden landscape that is completely to your own tastes.

Regular and proper pruning and maintenance can help to keep your hedges and shrubs in good shape and will keep them healthy.

It is important to ensure that safety is in mind when hedge trimming. Most gardeners will use shears to complete the trimming and will use electric or petrol-powered trimmers on larger or more difficult shrubs and hedges. It is always recommended that goggles are worn when hedge trimming and gloves are also recommended to protect your hands in the process.

Tree Trimming or Tree Removal

The process of tree trimming is most commonly used for aesthetical purposes as tree trimming keeps your trees in their desired shape and appearance. If left alone, trees can become misshapen and uneven, which can affect the aesthetics of your garden.

Overgrowth on trees can also have a negative effect on the health of the tree and any plants or bushes that may surround it. Extra branches can prevent surrounding plants from getting the nutrients and moisture they need in order to stay healthy and thrive.

Tree trimming costs vary depending on the amount of work required. Pruning of fruit trees and common garden trees is a smaller job that costs between £100 and £350, but the cost of crown trimming on large tree is between £650 and £1,400.

Trimming your trees regularly will help them to stay looking their best at all times. Trimming basically involves thinning out any overgrown branches, which, in turn, leads to healthier and more shapely growth.

You can also get trees removed or tree stumps removed if you no longer want them in your garden.

Patio Cleaning

Patio cleaning involves washing and sprucing up your existing patio so that it stays looking the best it possibly can.

For a basic clean, many professional gardeners will use a pressure washer and spend 1 or 2 hours in order to do a good job. However, not everyone has access to a pressure washer. Below is a simple guide on how best to clean your patio without a pressure washer:

• Remove Any Weeds – The first step in cleaning your patio is to remove any weeds that may be protruding around the edges or between cracks. Try to pull up the weeds, taking as much of the root up as possible. In more extreme cases, you may need to use a weed killer to fully eliminate the weeds.
• Make Your Own Patio Cleaner – You can make your own patio cleaner simply by mixing soap with water. You won’t need to invest in any special products; just a simple, gentle soap such as a washing-up liquid mixed with water is great for doing the trick.
• Pour Some of the Mixture – The next step in cleaning your patio involves pouring some of the mixture onto your patio slabs. Once you have poured some of the mixture onto the slabs, scrub away at them to remove any surface dirt. You may want to wear gloves to protect your hands. Once you have scrubbed your patio, use a fresh batch of clean water to rinse away the soap.
• Brush the Patio – Get a hard-bristled brush and start brushing your patio. The hard bristles will eliminate the tougher dirt and grime lying on the surface of the paving stones. Keep on brushing until it looks like all of the dirt from the stones has been dislodged.
• Rinse Away the Dirt – Once you’ve removed all of the surface dirt, simply rinse it away using clean water. Your patio should now look beautifully clean!

Lawn Maintenance

Lawn maintenance involves keeping on top of your lawn chores in order to keep your lawn looking the best it possibly can at all times. Lawn maintenance can include the following:

• Regular lawn mowing
• Regular watering and weeding
• Lawn cleaning and clearing
• Pruning and trimming on surrounding trees and shrubs
• Lawn border edging
• Lawn treatment
• Feeding the lawn with nutrients

Keeping on top of these can ensure that your lawn looks perfect all year round. Lawns often take up a large portion of most gardens, so keeping on top of your lawn maintenance is a very important part of overall garden maintenance.

Can I do the Gardening Myself?

It is entirely possible to garden yourself, providing you have the relevant tools needed and are fit and able to do so. Garden maintenance is not like most other DIY jobs as it needs to be completed on a regular basis. It’s not just a one-off job.

Providing you are willing and able to put the effort into keeping on top of your garden maintenance, it is definitely possible for you to do so.

Mowing the lawn is often one of the most labour-intensive part of gardening, especially if it's been left a while. Investing in a good lawn mower and regularly cutting the grass can certainly prove cost-effective in the long run.

You can also keep on top of the gardening with some basic weeding to prevent your outdoor area becoming overgrown, although you may still wish to hire a professional gardener when dealing with bigger issues such as bindweed.

Checklist: Hiring a Gardener in the UK

There are a number of things that you should consider when hiring a gardener to carry out garden maintenance for you. Below is a list of things that you should be aware of before choosing someone to carry out the work:

• Do you know anyone who can recommend a good gardener for you? If so, it’s always worth getting in touch with them, as a recommended gardener is always the best approach.
• How much experience does the gardener have? Can they provide any examples of their work?
• How long has the gardener been in business? Gardeners with long-standing businesses are likely to have more experience and be good at what they do.
• What services are offered? Do they cover everything that you need for your particular garden?
• Are you getting the best price? Use the likes of MyJobQuote to get at least 3 quotes and ask for a written breakdown of the costs so you can be sure that you’re getting a good price for each different element of the job.
• Are you covered for the work they'll be doing? Does the gardener have public liability insurance and other relevant cover needed to work on your garden?