By Esme Clark
Do you find yourself unable to care for your garden? Your time could be fully occupied by work and family or you may not be physically able to work on the garden. Some people adore plants but can’t seem to cultivate the green thumb needed to help the garden thrive.
Here I outline the factors to consider for maintenance. Each has an approx cost and this serves as a guide rather than a comprehensive budget.
Why Pay for a Professional Gardener?
If you love your garden but can’t decide what it needs then the quickest solution is to ring an experienced gardener for a consultation. Essentially you are paying for gardening expertise. Trained gardeners can spot diseases and pests whilst they root around for the more tenacious weeds, they can reach those higher branches causing you trouble, and they know what a garden needs to get to its very best. They may also be able to point out where long-term damage is happening slowly, or if a plant is in need of some specific nutrients or care.
What is Included in Garden Maintenance?
Garden maintenance mainly consists of mowing the lawn, cleaning leaves (Autumn), tidying borders and edging, weeding, trimming, and pruning small trees.
How Much Should I Expect to Pay a Gardener in the UK?
This can depend on the size of your garden. Larger gardens may require a team, reducing the hours but doubling the labour cost. A maintenance team will also be able to tackle some of the more structural elements of a garden faster and more efficiently than a single gardener.
Weekly visits are ideal. A higher on-off spend can be great for simple gardens with only a few structural plants. However, consistent visits allow for better control of pests and diseases, as well as keeping your outdoor space somewhere to enjoy and inhabit throughout the year. Expect to pay a qualified gardener around £200 to £400 per day.
The Hourly Cost of a Gardeners' Time
No maintenance contract should ever be exactly the same as each garden is so unique to its owners and always requires a tailored service. Maintenance companies can offer annual contracts, or more targeted and less frequent ‘maintenance hits’ where they come in and clear through in a day. These tend to be priced a little higher to cover additional costs such as rubbish, tools, and extra labour.
If your gardener is alone then a minimum of at least two hours is needed (even in smaller gardens) to do a thorough job and leave the space ready for you to enjoy. Expect to pay a qualified gardener around £30 per hour in the UK.
Clark’s Gardens - Our Advice
- Consider a regular maintenance contract. These can be ideal for all the reasons above and more! The gardener may offer a slight discount for a fixed period of work.
- Look for qualified gardeners. People who know what they are doing! and make good use of their time.
- Build a working relationship with someone you can trust. If you know what you want from your garden, and you know your budget, then a good maintenance gardener is someone who will work with you to ensure your needs are met.
It is completely normal to adore your garden and yet feel entirely overwhelmed by all the work that needs to be done. The ideal is that you have an extension of your house to enjoy - another room that you can enter into and breathe in deeply. Your space should be filled with colour and life and variety - it is your home after all.
Take the pressure off, ask around and find someone to help you keep your garden blooming great!
