Garden maintenance covers everything from a fortnightly lawn mow to a full-scale annual programme of pruning, planting, weeding, feeding, and seasonal tidy-ups. In 2026, the cost of professional garden maintenance has risen alongside national living wage increases, the rate for workers aged 21 and over went from £12.21 to £12.71 an hour in April 2026.1 Most sole-trader gardeners now charge £30–£50 per hour, while established landscaping companies charge £45–£75 per hour plus disposal costs.
For a typical three-bedroom suburban garden with a lawn, borders, and hedges, expect to pay £35–£90 per visit for regular maintenance, or £150–£600 for a one-off seasonal tidy.
What Affects the Cost?
Garden size is the biggest driver. A small terraced courtyard may take one person an hour; a large detached property with extensive borders and a productive vegetable patch might require two or three visits per week.
Location has a significant effect. London and the South East command 20–35% higher rates than the Midlands or North of England. Urban gardens with parking restrictions also attract surcharges.
Frequency reduces the per-visit cost. A fortnightly contract gives the gardener predictable income and allows them to manage the garden proactively, an overgrown garden cleared once a month takes more time per visit than one maintained continuously.
Scope of work varies widely. Lawn mowing alone is the lowest-cost task per visit. Adding hedge trimming, border weeding, pruning, and waste disposal increases the time and therefore cost significantly.
Waste disposal. Most gardeners charge separately for removing green waste. Green waste removal typically costs £40–£100 per van load, confirm whether this is included before agreeing a price. Check one more thing while you are asking: as the occupier of the property you have a duty of care under section 34(2A) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to hand household waste only to an authorised person, and the government’s code of practice tells you to check the carrier holds a valid upper tier registration, a number beginning CBDU.2 The Environment Agency’s public register is free to search, and if your waste is later fly-tipped you can be fined or prosecuted for not having checked.3
2026 UK Garden Maintenance Costs by Task
| Task | Typical cost (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn mowing (small garden, up to 50 m²) | £20–£40 per visit | Includes edging |
| Lawn mowing (medium garden, 50–150 m²) | £35–£65 per visit | Includes edging and clipping collection |
| Lawn mowing (large garden, 150 m²+) | £65–£120+ per visit | Depends heavily on obstacles and access |
| Hedge trimming (small hedge, up to 5 m) | £40–£90 | Includes waste bagging |
| Hedge trimming (large hedge or Leylandii) | £100–£400 | Height surcharges apply over 3 m |
| Border weeding (per hour) | £30–£50 | Rarely quoted as a fixed price |
| Pruning (shrubs, per hour) | £35–£55 | Specialist pruning (e.g., wisteria) costs more |
| Leaf clearance (one session) | £60–£200 | Typically autumn; depends on volume |
| One-off garden tidy (half day) | £150–£300 | Two-person team for larger jobs |
| One-off garden tidy (full day) | £280–£600 | |
| Green waste removal (per load) | £40–£100 | Per van/trailer load |
One timing point on hedges. Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built.4 A careful gardener checks a hedge before the trimmer goes near it and will move the job rather than cut through an active nest, so do not read a refusal to trim in spring as a way of stretching the work out.
Regular Maintenance Contracts
An annual contract with a regular gardener typically includes fortnightly or monthly visits throughout the growing season (March–October) and less frequent visits or a single autumn tidy in winter months.
| Contract type | Visits per year | Typical annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Fortnightly, growing season only (16 visits) | 16 | £900–£2,000 |
| Fortnightly, year-round (26 visits) | 26 | £1,300–£3,000 |
| Weekly, April–September + monthly rest of year | ~32 | £1,800–£4,500 |
| Premium full-service contract (planting, treatments) | Variable | £3,000–£8,000+ |
Premium contracts from established garden maintenance companies include seasonal planting, fertiliser treatments, lawn treatments, pest control, and dedicated horticultural advice, these are increasingly common for high-spec properties in London and the home counties.
Gardener Day Rates
Most sole-trader gardeners who quote by the hour rather than the job charge:
- Standard gardener: £30–£50/hour (2026)
- Senior/specialist gardener: £45–£70/hour
- Landscaping company (team rate): £55–£100/hour per operative, minimum call-out often 3 hours
Day rates for a sole-trader gardener run £180–£320 (6–7 productive hours). A two-person landscaping team for a full day costs £450–£800 including tools and travel but excluding materials and disposal.
Lawn Treatments: Separate Cost Category
Beyond mowing, a healthy lawn benefits from seasonal treatments. Specialist lawn care companies offer programmes rather than one-off jobs:
| Treatment | Frequency | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Spring feed (fertiliser application) | Once in March–April | £40–£80 per treatment |
| Summer feed | Once in June–July | £40–£80 |
| Scarification (removing thatch) | Annual, autumn | £80–£200 depending on area |
| Hollow-tine aeration | Annual or biennial | £80–£200 |
| Overseeding (bare patches) | As needed | £60–£150 |
| Moss treatment | Autumn/winter | £40–£100 |
| Full lawn care programme (4–6 visits/year) | Annual | £250–£500 |
Specialist lawn companies (including franchise operators) often offer annual programmes at a package price that undercuts individual visits bought separately.
Finding a Gardener
Sole-trader gardeners are found through recommendations, local community groups, and directories such as Checkatrade or Bark. Established garden maintenance companies offer more consistency and are less affected by illness or holiday, but typically charge 20–40% more than a sole trader for equivalent work.
Always request:
- Proof of public liability insurance (minimum £1 million, ideally £5 million)
- A written quote itemising scope, frequency, waste disposal, and what is excluded
- References from at least two regular clients
Avoid gardeners who quote very low rates but charge separately for almost everything, including waste disposal, without disclosing this upfront, the total cost can end up higher than a transparent quote from a more established operator.
References (4)
Figures in this note were checked against the sources below on 10 September 2026. Superscript numbers in the text point to them. Every source the site cites, by topic.
- 1technicalvery strongGOV.UK, a government page.RN-L03609The current National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates by age and for apprentices, with previous years. The statutory floor under any labour cost, and the figure that sets the bottom of a labourer or apprentice rate. Statutory, so it is the rate rather than an estimate of it.
- 2technicalvery strongDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs / Environment Agency (GOV.UK), a government page.RN-2WADR9The statutory code issued under section 34 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, which is what makes a householder or builder legally responsible for waste after it leaves site. Anyone taking waste away commercially must hold a valid upper tier carrier registration with a number beginning CBDU, checkable on the Environment Agency public register (03708 506 506) or, in Wales, Natural Resources Wales (0300 065 3000). A waste transfer note for non-hazardous waste must record the List of Wastes/EWC classification code, the quantity and nature of the waste, the time and place of transfer, the SIC code of the current holder, the names, addresses and signatures of transferor and transferee, the capacity in which each acts with permit or registration number, and a declaration that the waste hierarchy has been applied; hazardous waste needs a consignment note instead. Retention periods: 2 years for non-hazardous transfer notes and season tickets, 3 years for hazardous consignment notes, 6 years for landfill operators on non-hazardous waste and the lifetime of the permit for hazardous. Breach of the duty is an offence with no upper limit on the court's power to fine.
- 3technicalvery strongEnvironment Agency, a government page.RN-XPWZCPThe Environment Agency's public register of registered waste carriers, brokers and dealers, searchable by name or registration number. This is how a householder checks that whoever is taking a skip or a van load of rubbish away is actually licensed to, which matters because the duty of care for that waste stays with the householder if it is fly-tipped.
- 4technicalvery strongThe National Archives (legislation.gov.uk), UK Public General Act 1981 c.69, legislation.RN-U95SABThe law behind the advice not to cut hedges or strip ivy and soffits in the nesting season. Section 1(1) makes it an offence to intentionally (a) kill, injure or take any wild bird, (b) take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built, or (c) take or destroy an egg of any wild bird. Section 1(2) creates a possession offence for a live or dead wild bird, any part of or thing derived from one, or an egg or part of an egg. Section 1(5) adds a higher tier of protection for Schedule 1 species, making it an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb such a bird while it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young, or to disturb its dependent young. The prohibition is tied to the nest being in use, not to a fixed calendar window, which is why guidance points at the main March to August season but does not treat it as a safe harbour.
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National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates, GOV.UK, accessed 10 September 2026. gov.uk
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Waste duty of care: code of practice, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, accessed 10 September 2026. gov.uk
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Public register of waste carriers, brokers and dealers, Environment Agency, accessed 10 September 2026. environment.data.gov.uk
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Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, section 1: protection of wild birds, their nests and eggs, legislation.gov.uk, accessed 10 September 2026. legislation.gov.uk
