General gardening services

Whether you need a one-off seasonal clearance or regular fortnightly maintenance, hiring a professional gardener saves significant time and physical effort. It also ensures that plants are pruned at the correct time of year and that lawn health is managed with professional-grade equipment.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Site Assessment: Identifying plant species, checking soil health, and performing a risk assessment for access and safety.
• Lawn Care: Mowing, edging, and seasonal treatments such as scarifying or aerating to improve drainage.
• Hedge & Shrub Maintenance: Precision trimming and shaping to maintain boundaries and encourage healthy new growth.
• Pruning: Removing deadwood and thinning out branches on small trees (typically up to 3 metres) and ornamental shrubs.
• Weed Management: Manual weeding of beds and the application of professional-grade herbicides where necessary.
• Planting & Mulching: Bed preparation, seasonal planting, and applying bark or compost to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Green Waste Removal: Collecting all cuttings and debris for on-site composting or professional off-site disposal.

Typical Costs

Gardening costs vary based on your location in the UK, the size of the plot, and whether the gardener works solo or in a team. Most professionals charge an hourly rate, though some prefer a fixed price for specific projects like hedge reductions or major clearances.

Prices usually include the use of professional petrol or battery-powered machinery. Be aware that specialized tasks, such as stump grinding or pesticide spraying, may incur additional equipment or certification surcharges.

How Long Does It Take?

• Routine Maintenance: 1–3 hours per visit for a standard semi-detached garden (mowing, weeding, and light tidying).
• Hedge Trimming: 2–5 hours depending on the height, length, and when it was last maintained.
• Seasonal Tidy-up: 1 full day for a comprehensive "spring clean" or autumn leaf clearance.
• Jungle Clearance: 1–3 days for heavily overgrown gardens requiring brush cutters and significant waste removal.

DIY or Professional?

Many homeowners handle basic weeding and mowing, but professional gardeners bring expertise in plant health and high-end machinery. Tasks involving ladders, chainsaws, or chemical applications carry significant risks and are best left to those with the correct training and insurance.

Professional gardeners often spot pests or diseases early, saving you money on replacement plants in the long run.

If your garden has protected trees or requires chemical weed killers, UK regulations often mandate professional oversight. Professionals also have access to commercial green waste disposal, sparing you dozens of trips to the local tip.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Insurance: Ensure they hold Public Liability Insurance (minimum £1 million) to cover accidental damage to your property.
• Waste Licence: Ask to see their Environment Agency Waste Carrier Licence if they are removing green waste from your site.
• Chemical Certification: If they are applying weed killer, they should hold PA1 and PA6 certificates.
• Red Flags: Be wary of anyone offering "topping" for large trees (which can kill the tree) or those who cannot provide a written quote.

Questions to ask:

• Do you bring your own petrol/battery tools, or do you need access to my power?
• Are disposal fees for green waste included in your hourly rate?
• How do you handle bird nesting season when trimming hedges?
• Can you provide references from other local gardens you maintain?

UK Regulations

• Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): It is a criminal offence to prune or fell a tree protected by a TPO without council permission.
• Conservation Areas: If you live in a Conservation Area, even minor works to trees may require six weeks' notice to the local planning authority.
• Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981: It is illegal to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. This usually limits heavy hedge cutting between March and August.
• Waste Regulations: Gardeners must have a licence to transport "commercial" waste (your garden clippings) on the road.

Common Problems

• Poor Access: Narrow side gates or stairs can prevent the use of large mowers or shredders, increasing labour time.
• Hidden Hazards: Rocks, metal wire, or dog waste hidden in long grass can damage expensive machinery and lead to extra charges.
• Incorrect Pruning: Pruning flowering shrubs at the wrong time of year can prevent them from blooming for an entire season.
• Underestimating Waste: A "small" hedge trim can produce a surprising volume of clippings that may not fit in a standard brown bin.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should a gardener visit?

For a well-kept garden, fortnightly visits are standard between March and October. During the winter, monthly visits are usually sufficient for leaf clearance and structural pruning.

Do gardeners work in the rain?

Most will work through light drizzle, but heavy rain often stops work. Mowing wet grass can smear the lawn and clog machinery, so these tasks are usually rescheduled for a dry day.

Can a gardener remove a large tree?

General gardeners usually handle trees up to about 3-4 metres. For anything taller or near power lines and buildings, you should hire a qualified Arborist (tree surgeon) who has specialist climbing gear.

Is green waste removal always included?

Not necessarily. Some gardeners assume you will use your council green bin. Always clarify if they are taking the waste away and if there is an extra "tipping fee" involved.

Do I need to be home when the gardener visits?

As long as the gardener has clear access to the garden and an outdoor tap (if needed), you do not usually need to be home. Most regular clients provide a gate code or key.

Can they help with garden design as well?

Many maintenance gardeners have excellent plant knowledge and can suggest layouts. However, for complex hard landscaping or structural changes, you may need a dedicated Garden Designer.