Lawn mowing and pruning

Regular mowing and seasonal pruning do more than just keep things tidy; they prevent disease, encourage thicker growth, and ensure your garden remains a safe space for family and pets throughout the year.

What Does the Work Involve?

• Lawn Preparation: Clearing debris, checking for hazards like stones or dog fouling, and moving garden furniture.
• Mowing: Cutting grass to a consistent, healthy height using professional-grade rotary or cylinder mowers.
• Edging: Precision trimming along paths, patios, and flower borders to create clean, sharp lines.
• Shrub & Hedge Pruning: Shaping ornamental trees and shrubs to maintain size and promote healthy flowering.
• Deadheading: Removing spent blooms from plants to encourage further growth and prevent a "leggy" appearance.
• Waste Management: Collecting cuttings, mulching where appropriate, or bagging green waste for disposal.
• Site Clearance: Blowing or sweeping hard surfaces like patios and driveways for a professional finish.

Typical Costs

Prices are primarily influenced by the size of your garden and the volume of green waste produced. Overgrown "jungle" clearances will always attract a premium compared to regular, scheduled maintenance due to the additional wear on machinery and disposal costs.

How Long Does It Take?

• Small Urban Garden: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for a standard mow and light tidy.
• Medium Suburban Garden: 1.5 to 3 hours, including edging and shrub pruning.
• Large Rural Property: 4 to 8 hours (or a full day) depending on the number of hedges and borders.
• Initial "Rescue" Visit: Usually takes 2–3 times longer than a standard maintenance visit.

DIY or Professional?

While mowing is a common DIY task, professional gardeners bring high-end machinery that provides a superior finish, such as "striping" and cleaner cuts that prevent grass disease. Pruning requires horticultural knowledge; cutting the wrong branch at the wrong time of year can kill a prized specimen or prevent it from flowering for several seasons.

Professional gardeners carry Public Liability insurance and have the equipment to handle large volumes of waste that would otherwise clog up your domestic bins for weeks.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

• Check Credentials: Look for membership in the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI) or The Association of Professional Landscapers (APL).
• Waste Carrier Licence: Ensure they are registered with the Environment Agency to legally transport green waste.
• Insurance: Verify they have Public Liability insurance (minimum £1 million) to cover accidental damage to your property.

Questions to ask:

• Do you bring your own petrol/cordless equipment, or do you need access to my electricity?
• Is green waste disposal included in the quote, or do you use my brown bin?
• What is your policy if it rains heavily on the scheduled day?
• Are you comfortable working around pets?

UK Regulations

• Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981: It is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. Heavy pruning is often restricted between March and August.
• Waste Duty of Care: If a gardener takes waste away, they must be a registered waste carrier. You can be fined if your waste is fly-tipped by an unlicensed contractor.
• Noise Ordinances: Most local councils have bylaws regarding the use of noisy power tools; professionals typically operate between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm on weekdays.

Common Problems

• Scalping the Lawn: Cutting grass too short in dry weather, which leads to brown patches and weed invasion.
• Incorrect Pruning Season: Pruning spring-flowering shrubs in winter, which removes all the flower buds for the coming year.
• Blunt Blades: Using dull mower blades that "tear" the grass rather than cutting it, leaving the lawn susceptible to silver-thread fungus.
• Access Issues: Not checking gate widths for large ride-on mowers, leading to delays or the need for different equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my lawn be mown?

During the peak growing season (April to September), once a week or once every fortnight is standard. In early spring and late autumn, this can be reduced to once every three weeks.

Do gardeners work in the rain?

Light drizzle is usually fine for pruning, but most gardeners avoid mowing wet grass. It can clog machinery, smear the soil, and result in an uneven, messy finish.

Can a gardener take away my green waste?

Yes, provided they have a Waste Carrier Licence. Many homeowners prefer to use their own council-provided green bins to save on disposal fees, but professionals can haul away larger volumes for a fee.

What is the 'one-third rule' in mowing?

You should never remove more than one-third of the grass blade height in a single cut. Removing more stresses the plant and can lead to thinning and moss growth.

Do I need to be home when the gardener visits?

Generally no, as long as they have clear access to the garden and any pets are secured inside. Most gardeners are happy to be paid via bank transfer after the job is complete.