Lawn mowing and cloche tending

Hiring a professional gardener for these tasks ensures your lawn is cut to the correct height for the season and your cloche-grown plants don't succumb to overheating or damp. This guide breaks down the costs, timeframes, and essential considerations for hiring a gardener in 2025.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Lawn Mowing: Cutting grass to an agreed height, typically higher in summer to resist drought and lower in spring/autumn.
• Edging: Using shears or a half-moon tool to create sharp lines along paths, patios, and flower beds.
• Clipping Management: Either mulching clippings back into the lawn to provide nutrients or collecting and disposing of them.
• Cloche Ventilation: Opening or propping up cloches to prevent heat build-up on sunny days and closing them to protect against frost.
• Plant Care: Watering plants under cover, removing weeds that compete for nutrients, and clearing debris from the glass or plastic.
• Maintenance: Inspecting cloche frames for damage and securing loose covers or glass panes.
• Health Checks: Identifying early signs of lawn pests (like leatherjackets) or fungal issues under cloches (like damping off).

Typical Costs

Gardening rates vary significantly based on your location in the UK, with London and the South East commanding higher prices. Most gardeners charge either an hourly rate or a fixed price for a recurring maintenance contract.

Factors affecting the price include the size of the lawn, the complexity of your flower beds, and the distance the gardener has to travel. If your garden is overgrown, expect a higher "first-visit" fee to bring the space up to a maintainable standard.

How Long Does It Take?

• Small Urban Lawn: 30–45 minutes for mowing and basic edging.
• Medium Garden (up to 200m²): 1–2 hours including cloche checks and watering.
• Large Garden/Orchard: 3+ hours, especially if there are multiple cloche rows or polytunnels.
• Initial "Tidy Up" Visit: Can take a full day if the lawn is long and cloches are neglected.

DIY or Professional?

Mowing is a common DIY task, but achieving a professional "stripe" and maintaining sharp edges requires high-end equipment and regular sharpening. Cloche tending is more technical; a single hot afternoon with closed cloches can kill a season's worth of seedlings.

Professional gardeners bring their own petrol or high-capacity battery mowers, meaning you don't have to worry about machinery maintenance, fuel storage, or electricity cables.

If you choose the DIY route, ensure you are aware of The Control of Pesticides Regulations if applying any weed killers. Hiring a professional is often safer for the plants and your schedule, as they understand the specific moisture and ventilation needs of UK crops.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Qualifications: Look for RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Level 2 or 3, or Lantra awards in horticultural machinery.
• Insurance: Ensure they have Public Liability insurance (minimum £1 million) to cover damage to your property or neighbours.
• Waste Licence: If they take clippings away, they must have a valid Waste Carrier Licence from the Environment Agency.

Questions to ask:

• Do you bring your own mower and strimmer, or use mine?
• How do you handle green waste—compost on-site or remove it?
• What is your policy for mowing in wet weather (which can damage turf)?
• Can you identify common pests like aphids or red spider mites in the cloches?

UK Regulations

• Waste Management: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, gardeners must be registered to transport green waste for profit.
• Noise Ordinances: Most local councils prohibit the use of noisy power tools before 8:00 AM on weekdays and have stricter limits on weekends.
• Water Restrictions: During hosepipe bans, gardeners must follow local utility rules regarding watering plants under cover.

Common Problems

• Scalping the Lawn: Setting the mower too low on uneven ground, which creates brown patches and encourages weeds.
• Damping Off: High humidity and poor ventilation under cloches leading to fungal rot in young plants.
• Blunt Blades: Tearing rather than cutting grass, which leaves the lawn looking grey and susceptible to disease.
• Inconsistent Edging: Allowing grass to creep into beds, which makes subsequent maintenance much more difficult and expensive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I mow the lawn when it is wet?

Generally, no. Mowing wet grass results in an uneven cut, can compact the soil, and often clogs the mower. A professional gardener will usually recommend rescheduling or waiting until the afternoon when the dew has lifted.

How often do cloches need to be checked?

In spring, cloches should be checked daily. Temperatures can rise rapidly in direct sunlight, and plants may need watering even if it has rained, as the covers act as a shield.

What is the best height for a UK lawn?

For a standard family lawn, 2.5cm to 4cm is ideal. During a summer heatwave, it is better to leave it longer (around 5cm) to shade the soil and retain moisture.

Do I need to provide water for the gardener?

Yes, you should ensure they have access to an outside tap. If you use a water butt for your cloches, let the gardener know so they can use the rainwater first.

Can a gardener repair my broken cloche glass?

Many gardeners can replace standard panes or switch them for safer polycarbonate sheets. However, if the frame is severely rusted or rotted, they may recommend a full replacement.