Gardeners charge in three main ways: by the hour, by the visit or through a regular contract. The figure that matters is the total for the work, which depends on the size of the garden, what needs doing, access and how much waste has to go.
6 minute readUpdated October 2026Last updated:
An hourly rate only tells you part of the story; ask what the whole job will cost.
Per-visit pricing suits regular, predictable work like grass and hedges.
Waste removal, travel and equipment can be included or charged separately, so check.
A clear written list of what each visit covers prevents surprises.
Three ways gardeners price their work
Ask three gardeners for a price and you may get three different kinds of answer. One quotes an hourly rate, one gives a fixed price per visit and one suggests a monthly arrangement. None is automatically better value. They suit different kinds of work, and the useful comparison is always the total you will pay for the job you want doing.
Hourly: you pay for time on site, useful for varied or unpredictable jobs
Per visit: an agreed price for an agreed list, good for regular upkeep
Contract: a schedule of visits over a season or year, common for larger and commercial grounds
When an hourly rate makes sense
Hourly pricing works well when nobody can be sure how long something will take: a mixed day of jobs, an overgrown border with unknown roots, or help with whatever the garden needs that week. The risk is that a slow or poorly equipped worker costs more, so it helps to agree roughly how many hours the work should take before starting.
When comparing hourly rates, ask whether the gardener brings their own tools and machinery, whether there is a minimum visit length and whether travel time is charged.
Per-visit prices for regular work
For routine upkeep, such as cutting the lawn, trimming edges and keeping beds weeded, many people prefer a fixed price per visit. You know what you will pay and what will be done, and the gardener carries the risk if it takes longer. This is how most regular garden maintenance is set up, with weekly, fortnightly or monthly visits agreed at the start.
Contracts for bigger gardens and commercial sites
Larger properties, landlords and businesses often agree a schedule for the whole season or year. The work changes with the months, from mowing in summer to leaf clearance in autumn, but the arrangement stays the same. It gives the owner one predictable cost and the gardener a planned workload, which tends to mean more reliable visits.
What makes the cost go up or down
Whichever way the work is priced, the same things drive the total.
Garden size and how much lawn, hedge and border there is
How overgrown it is: the first visit to a neglected garden takes longest
Waste: whether clippings are taken away, and how much there is
Access: narrow side paths, steps or no parking slow everything down
Machinery: a ride-on mower or hedge cutter can save hours on large areas
Skill: pruning and plant care need more knowledge than mowing alone
Getting a price you can trust
The simplest route is to send photos and a short description of what you want done, then ask for a price with a written list of what it includes. A good gardener will tell you what they would do first, what can wait and what each visit will cover. Foundation does not publish an hourly rate on this site; Craig prices each garden on what it needs.
Questions worth asking before you agree
A few simple questions make prices easier to compare. How long do you expect the first visit to take? Is waste removal included? Do you bring your own equipment? What happens if a visit is cancelled because of rain? Is there a minimum charge? Clear answers to these are a good sign that the gardener prices fairly and will be easy to deal with.
Common questions
Frequently asked
Is it cheaper to pay a gardener by the hour or by the job?
It depends on the work. Varied or unpredictable jobs suit hourly pricing, while regular upkeep is usually clearer as a fixed price per visit.
Do gardeners charge for taking waste away?
Some include it and some charge separately. Always ask whether clippings and green waste removal are in the price.
Why does the first visit cost more?
A garden that has been left takes longer to bring back. Once it is under control, regular visits are quicker.
What should a gardener's quote include?
A list of what will be done, how often, whether waste removal is included and anything that would be charged as extra.
Do you publish an hourly rate?
No. Craig prices each garden on its size, condition and what you want done, after seeing photos or visiting.
Straightforward advice
Want a price for your own job?
Call Craig or send photos, your location and a short description for an initial estimate.
