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Keeping a garden tidy can take more time than many homeowners expect. Grass keeps growing, hedges become untidy, weeds appear between paving and borders need regular attention throughout the year.

For some homeowners, the solution is a gardener visiting every week or fortnight. Others only need help a few times a year with hedge cutting, pruning, lawn care or an overgrown garden clearance.

The cost depends on the size of the garden, the type of work and how much waste needs removing.

As a broad UK guide, a professional gardener may charge around £15 to £45 per hour, with approximately £30 per hour being a useful average for general maintenance. A full day’s gardening may cost roughly £150 to £300, while larger clearance and specialist jobs can cost considerably more.

This guide looks at typical gardening and garden maintenance quotes and prices, the services gardeners provide and what homeowners should compare when requesting quotes.

How much does garden maintenance cost?

Regular maintenance is usually charged by the hour, by the visit or occasionally by the day.

Typical UK prices include:

Gardening Service	Typical Guide Price
General gardener	£15–£45 per hour
Regular maintenance visit	£30–£100+
Gardener for a full day	£150–£300+
Lawn mowing	£20–£45 per visit
Hedge trimming	£60–£150 for a standard hedge
Shrub pruning	£40–£120+
Weeding	£25–£40 per hour
Garden clearance	£45–£60 per hour
Medium overgrown garden clearance	£300–£600+
Green waste removal	£20–£60+

Prices can be higher in London and parts of the South East.

Large gardens, difficult access and specialist equipment can also increase the quote.

What does regular garden maintenance include?

A regular gardener can take care of many everyday jobs.

These often include:

• lawn mowing
• lawn edging
• weeding
• hedge trimming
• shrub pruning
• deadheading
• leaf clearing
• general tidying
• border maintenance
• sweeping patios
• removing light garden waste

Not every gardener includes every task in a standard visit, so ask what the quotation covers.

For example, lawn mowing and weeding might sit within the hourly rate, while hedge cutting or green waste removal may carry an additional charge.

Weekly, fortnightly or monthly gardening?

The right schedule depends on the garden.

Weekly visits

Weekly maintenance can work well during spring and summer when:

• grass grows quickly
• borders need regular attention
• the garden contains many plants
• presentation matters
• the garden is large

A gardener may spend one or two hours on each visit.

Fortnightly visits

For many households, fortnightly maintenance provides a good balance.

The gardener can usually keep on top of:

• mowing
• edging
• weeds
• pruning
• general tidiness

without the cost of weekly visits.

Monthly visits

Monthly maintenance can suit lower-maintenance gardens.

However, grass and hedges can become difficult to control during periods of fast growth.

Therefore, some homeowners use fortnightly gardening in summer and reduce the frequency in winter.

How much does lawn mowing cost?

Lawn mowing is one of the most common garden maintenance services.

A straightforward domestic lawn may cost around £20 to £45 per visit.

Prices depend on:

• lawn size
• grass length
• slopes
• access
• obstacles
• whether edging is included
• whether grass clippings are removed

Large lawns may be priced by time rather than a fixed visit charge.

Small lawn mowing costs

For a compact front or back garden, mowing may only take 20 to 40 minutes.

However, gardeners usually have a minimum visit charge because they still need to:

• travel to the property
• unload equipment
• complete the work
• clean equipment
• move to the next job

For that reason, combining lawn mowing with weeding or border maintenance often provides better value.

Does lawn edging cost extra?

Sometimes.

Some gardeners include basic edging as part of mowing.

Others may charge more where the lawn edges are badly overgrown or need restoring.

Proper edging can make a significant visual difference because it creates a clear boundary between:

• lawn
• paving
• flower beds
• paths
• gravel

If you want neat edges every visit, mention this when requesting quotes.

Hedge trimming costs

Hedge cutting prices vary considerably.

A small, easily accessible domestic hedge might cost around £60 to £150 per visit.

Large hedges can cost considerably more.

The main cost factors include:

• hedge length
• height
• width
• species
• accessibility
• level of overgrowth
• amount of waste

A very tall or badly overgrown hedge can require ladders, platforms or specialist equipment.

Typical hedge trimming prices

Hedge Job	Typical Cost
Small front hedge	£50–£100
Standard domestic hedge	£60–£150
Large hedge	£150–£300+
Very tall hedge	£200–£500+
Hedge removal	£100–£400+
Green waste removal	£20–£60+

Large Leylandii and similar fast-growing hedges can produce a substantial amount of waste, which increases disposal costs.

When should hedges be cut?

The timing depends on the hedge species and how heavily it needs pruning.

Light maintenance may be required once or several times per year.

However, gardeners should always check for active bird nests before hedge cutting.

Wild birds and their nests receive legal protection. Therefore, hedge trimming should not disturb an active nest, regardless of the time of year.

Many gardeners carry out major hedge work outside the main nesting season where possible.

How much does pruning cost?

Shrub and small-tree pruning may cost around £40 to £120 or more depending on the number and size of plants.

Pruning can include:

• roses
• shrubs
• fruit bushes
• climbing plants
• ornamental plants
• small trees

Correct pruning can improve:

• flowering
• plant shape
• air circulation
• new growth
• overall plant health

However, different plants need pruning at different times of the year.

An experienced gardener should know whether a plant benefits from winter, spring or summer pruning.

Tree pruning is different

Large trees usually require a tree surgeon rather than a general gardener.

Tree surgery may involve:

• chainsaws
• climbing
• ropes
• specialist insurance
• stump grinding
• large waste removal

Therefore, tree surgery generally costs considerably more than normal garden maintenance.

If a gardener believes a tree needs specialist work, they may recommend a qualified tree surgeon.

Weeding costs

Weeding is usually charged as part of the gardener’s hourly rate.

Typical prices may sit around £20 to £40 per hour.

The total depends on:

• garden size
• number of beds
• type of weeds
• how overgrown the borders are
• whether weeds need removing from paving

Regular maintenance usually costs less than clearing a heavily neglected garden because the gardener prevents weeds from becoming established.

Weeding patios and driveways

Weeds often appear between:

• paving slabs
• block paving
• gravel
• wall edges
• kerbs

A gardener may remove them manually or use another appropriate control method.

However, weed removal from a large block-paved driveway can take several hours.

In some cases, specialist patio or driveway cleaning may provide a more complete solution.

How much does garden clearance cost?

Garden clearance is different from routine maintenance.

It usually involves tackling a garden that has become heavily overgrown.

Current guide prices often sit around £45 to £60 per hour, although many contractors quote for the complete job instead.

A medium garden clearance might cost around £300 to £600, while larger or severely overgrown gardens can cost £800 to £1,500 or more.

What does garden clearance include?

A clearance may involve:

• cutting long grass
• clearing weeds
• cutting back brambles
• pruning bushes
• reducing hedges
• removing dead plants
• collecting fallen branches
• clearing leaves
• cutting back climbers
• removing green waste

More extensive jobs may involve:

• removing shrubs
• removing small trees
• digging out roots
• removing sheds
• clearing old pots
• removing rubble

Ask exactly what the gardener includes.

Garden clearance costs by size

Garden Condition	Typical Guide Cost
Small garden tidy-up	£100–£250
Small overgrown garden	£200–£400
Medium garden clearance	£300–£600
Large overgrown garden	£500–£1,000+
Severe clearance	£800–£1,500+

Waste can make a major difference to these prices.

Does a gardener remove green waste?

Sometimes, but not always.

Some gardeners include a small amount of garden waste in their price.

Others charge separately.

Green waste may include:

• grass clippings
• hedge cuttings
• branches
• weeds
• leaves
• plants

A standard waste-removal supplement may cost around £20 to £60, while a large clearance can produce several van loads.

Always ask whether the quote includes disposal.

Why does garden waste removal cost extra?

The gardener needs to:

• load the waste
• transport it
• pay any commercial disposal fees
• unload it
• spend additional working time away from gardening jobs

Large hedge jobs can sometimes generate more waste volume than homeowners expect.

Therefore, a cheap hedge-cutting quote may become significantly more expensive if waste removal is added afterwards.

Lawn care and lawn treatment

Garden maintenance can go beyond mowing.

Additional lawn services may include:

• scarifying
• aerating
• feeding
• reseeding
• weed control
• moss treatment
• top dressing
• turf repair

These services can improve a lawn that looks:

• patchy
• compacted
• mossy
• thin
• uneven

The price depends on lawn size and the treatment required.

Scarifying

Scarifying removes excess thatch and moss.

This can help:

• air reach the soil
• water penetrate
• grass grow more strongly

However, the lawn can look rough immediately afterwards.

It normally recovers as new grass grows.

Lawn aeration

Aeration creates small holes in compacted soil.

This improves:

• drainage
• root growth
• oxygen movement
• nutrient uptake

Lawns on heavy clay soils can benefit particularly from aeration.

Garden tidy-up quotes

Some homeowners do not need regular gardening.

Instead, they may want a one-off tidy before:

• selling the property
• putting the house on the market
• summer
• a family event
• letting the property
• moving into a new home
• landscaping work

A typical one-off tidy might cost around £100 to £300, depending on how much work needs doing.

For a very overgrown garden, expect a larger clearance quote.

Spring garden maintenance

Spring is one of the busiest times for gardeners.

Common spring jobs include:

• first lawn cuts
• edging
• weeding
• pruning
• removing winter debris
• preparing beds
• mulching
• planting
• lawn feeding

Booking early can help because gardener availability often becomes tighter as the weather improves.

Summer garden maintenance

During summer, the main jobs often shift towards:

• mowing
• hedge trimming
• watering
• deadheading
• weeding
• pruning
• keeping borders tidy

Fast-growing lawns may need attention every one or two weeks.

Autumn garden maintenance

Autumn brings another set of jobs.

These can include:

• leaf clearing
• lawn care
• pruning
• cutting back perennials
• hedge maintenance
• clearing gutters around garden buildings
• planting bulbs

It can also be a good time to prepare lawns and borders for winter.

Winter gardening work

Gardening does not stop completely in winter.

Depending on weather conditions, a gardener may still carry out:

• pruning
• leaf clearing
• hedge work
• garden clearance
• border preparation
• planting
• maintenance of paths

However, lawn growth slows considerably.

Some homeowners therefore reduce regular gardening visits during winter.

How much does a regular gardener cost per month?

The monthly cost depends on visit frequency.

For example:

Gardening Schedule	Example Monthly Cost
1 hour every fortnight	£30–£90
2 hours every fortnight	£60–£180
2 hours weekly	£120–£360
Half-day every fortnight	£120–£300+
Full day monthly	£150–£300+

These are rough examples.

A gardener may offer a lower effective hourly rate for regular ongoing work than for occasional visits.

What affects garden maintenance quotes?

Garden size

A larger garden takes longer to maintain.

Garden condition

A well-maintained garden costs less to keep tidy than one that has been neglected for several years.

Number of features

Maintenance takes longer if the garden contains:

• several flower beds
• numerous shrubs
• long hedges
• large lawns
• ponds
• gravel areas
• complicated borders

Access

Gardeners need somewhere to bring equipment through.

A terraced house with no side access can make waste removal more difficult.

Waste

Removing large quantities of clippings and branches increases costs.

Frequency

Regular maintenance may cost less per visit than occasional emergency tidy-ups.

Location

Gardening rates vary around the country, with London and parts of the South East often costing more.

Specialist equipment

Tall hedges, large lawns and difficult slopes may require additional machinery.

Small garden maintenance quotes

Small gardens do not always cost very little because most gardeners have a minimum call-out period.

For example, a gardener might charge for at least one or two hours even when mowing takes only 30 minutes.

Therefore, use the remaining time for additional jobs such as:

• weeding
• pruning
• edging
• patio sweeping
• deadheading

This often gives better value than booking someone purely to mow a tiny lawn.

Large garden maintenance

Large gardens can benefit significantly from a regular schedule.

Leaving several months between visits can result in much more expensive work because:

• hedges become overgrown
• weeds spread
• grass becomes difficult to cut
• pruning takes longer
• more waste needs removing

Regular maintenance helps spread the cost throughout the year.

Garden maintenance for rental properties

Landlords sometimes use gardening services to maintain:

• front gardens
• communal gardens
• hedges
• lawns
• pathways

A regular gardening arrangement can help prevent gardens becoming severely overgrown between tenancies.

The tenancy agreement should make clear which garden responsibilities belong to the tenant and which remain with the landlord.

Garden maintenance for elderly homeowners

A gardener can also help homeowners who enjoy their garden but can no longer manage heavier work.

Services can be tailored towards:

• mowing
• hedge cutting
• lifting heavy waste
• pruning
• digging
• seasonal tidy-ups

The homeowner can continue looking after smaller plants and pots while the gardener handles physically demanding jobs.

Gardener or landscape gardener?

These roles overlap but are not identical.

General gardener

Best for:

• lawn mowing
• weeding
• hedge trimming
• pruning
• seasonal maintenance

Landscape gardener

Better suited to:

• patios
• fencing
• turfing
• drainage
• garden redesign
• raised beds
• new paths
• larger garden transformations

If you want to maintain the garden, hire a gardener.

If you want to substantially change its layout, a landscape gardener may be more appropriate.

Gardener or tree surgeon?

A general gardener can normally prune smaller trees and shrubs from ground level.

However, use a tree surgeon for work involving:

• large trees
• climbing
• chainsaws at height
• major branch removal
• tree felling
• stump grinding

Tree work carries different risks and requires specialist skills and equipment.

Can you maintain the garden yourself?

Many maintenance jobs are DIY-friendly.

Homeowners can often handle:

• mowing
• weeding
• deadheading
• light pruning
• leaf clearing

However, professional help may make sense when:

• the garden is very large
• hedges are tall
• physical work is difficult
• specialist machinery is needed
• there is too much waste
• you do not have enough time

A gardener can also tackle neglected areas and then leave you with a more manageable garden.

Ways to reduce gardening costs

Book regular maintenance

Regular visits stop small jobs turning into large ones.

Combine several tasks

Using a two-hour visit for mowing, weeding and pruning can provide better value than separate visits.

Keep green waste

If you compost clippings and suitable garden waste yourself, you may reduce disposal charges.

Choose lower-maintenance planting

Shrubs and perennial planting usually require less regular work than complicated seasonal bedding.

Reduce lawn area

Large lawns need frequent mowing.

Replacing part of the lawn with planting or paving may reduce long-term maintenance.

Keep hedges manageable

Regular trimming is usually cheaper than reducing a hedge that has grown several metres too tall.

What should a gardening quote include?

Ask whether the quotation covers:

Quote Item	What to Check
Labour	Hourly, daily or fixed price?
Number of gardeners	One person or a team?
Lawn mowing	Included?
Lawn edging	Included?
Hedge trimming	Included or separate?
Weeding	Included?
Pruning	Included?
Equipment	Included in rate?
Green waste	Removed or left on site?
Disposal fees	Included?
Travel	Included?
VAT	Included or additional?

A clear quote makes it easier to compare local gardeners fairly.

Hourly rate or fixed-price gardening quote?

Both can work.

Hourly pricing

An hourly rate works well for:

• ongoing maintenance
• mowing
• weeding
• mixed gardening jobs

You simply agree how many hours the gardener will spend.

Fixed-price quote

A fixed price often works better for:

• hedge reductions
• garden clearance
• one-off tidy-ups
• turfing
• defined pruning jobs

You know the total cost before the work starts.

For larger jobs, fixed pricing can prevent uncertainty about how long the work may take.

Questions to ask a gardener

Before booking, ask:

• What is your hourly or daily rate?
• Is there a minimum visit charge?
• What jobs does the price include?
• Do you bring your own equipment?
• Is green waste removal included?
• Do you charge separately for hedge cutting?
• Can you provide regular visits?
• How often would you recommend coming?
• Are you insured?
• Do you handle large hedges?
• Can you provide a fixed quote for clearance work?

A short conversation can prevent misunderstandings later.

Regular gardening or one-off maintenance?

Regular gardening generally works best when you want the garden to stay consistently tidy.

A one-off service works better when you need:

• a seasonal tidy
• hedge cutting
• garden clearance
• preparation for selling
• help after returning from holiday
• a neglected area brought back under control

Some homeowners start with a large clearance and then switch to regular maintenance.

This can be a good approach because the gardener first gets the garden under control and then keeps it that way.

Get gardening and garden maintenance quotes

Gardening prices depend on the size and condition of the garden, the amount of work involved and how often you need help.

A small lawn and a few borders may only need an hour or two every fortnight. In contrast, a large garden with mature hedges, trees and extensive planting can require several hours every week during the growing season.

Comparing quotes gives you a clearer idea of local gardening prices and what each gardener includes.

Use the quotation form on this page to compare gardening and garden maintenance quotes from local gardeners and garden maintenance specialists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a gardener cost per hour in the UK?

A general gardener typically charges around £15 to £45 per hour, with approximately £30 per hour being a useful average.

How much does regular garden maintenance cost?

A regular garden maintenance visit may cost around £30 to £100 or more depending on the length of the visit, garden size and work involved.

How much does lawn mowing cost?

A typical domestic lawn mowing visit may cost around £20 to £45. Larger lawns, long grass and difficult access can increase the price.

How much does hedge trimming cost?

A standard domestic hedge trim may cost around £60 to £150. Large, tall or badly overgrown hedges can cost £200 to £500 or more.

How much does garden clearance cost?

Professional garden clearance may cost around £45 to £60 per hour. A medium overgrown garden could cost approximately £300 to £600 to clear.

Does a gardener take garden waste away?

Some do, but waste disposal is not always included. A gardener may charge an additional £20 to £60 or more depending on the volume of green waste.

How often should a gardener visit?

Many gardens benefit from weekly or fortnightly visits during spring and summer. Lower-maintenance gardens may only need monthly or seasonal visits.

Is it cheaper to employ a gardener regularly?

It often can be. Regular maintenance prevents lawns, hedges and weeds becoming badly overgrown, reducing the amount of work needed during each visit.

Can a gardener trim tall hedges?

Some gardeners handle larger hedges, but very tall hedges may require specialist equipment or a tree surgeon.

Can gardeners work during winter?

Yes. Winter work can include pruning, garden clearance, leaf removal, hedge maintenance and preparation of borders, although lawn mowing becomes less frequent.

Is green waste removal included in a garden clearance quote?

Not always. Check whether the price includes loading, transport and disposal of all garden waste.

Should I get several gardening quotes?

Yes. Comparing several quotations helps you understand local rates, visit lengths and exactly what each gardener includes.