How much does a gardener cost?
Updated 19 Oct 2026
Typical cost per hour
£20 – £40
A gardener in the UK typically charges £20–£40 an hour. Regular customers usually pay less per visit than one-off jobs, because a maintained garden is quicker each time and the gardener can plan a round. Most gardeners charge extra for taking waste away, since carrying it requires a waste carrier licence and tip fees have to be paid.
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | £20 – £40 |
| Half day | £70 – £140 |
| Full day | £140 – £280 |
| Regular fortnightly visit | £30 – £60 |
| One-off tidy-up | £100 – £300 |
| Green waste removal | £30 – £80 |
Typical UK guide prices — see the note at the foot of this page.
Regular visits versus one-off jobs
A garden kept on a fortnightly round is quick work: mow, edge, a light weed, done. A garden left for six months is a different job entirely, and gardeners price it that way.
If you are starting from an overgrown garden, expect a one-off tidy first — commonly £100–£300 depending on size and how much comes out — and then a much lower recurring rate once it is under control.
Regular customers get better rates for a practical reason: the gardener can build an efficient round, knows the garden, and brings the right kit. Ad-hoc visits mean travel and setup for a single job.
Agree what a regular visit includes. Mowing, edging and weeding is standard. Pruning, hedge work, planting and border maintenance are often quoted separately.
Green waste is the hidden cost
This is the line that surprises people. Taking garden waste away is not free, and any gardener doing it legally needs a waste carrier registration with the Environment Agency and has to pay to dispose of it.
Expect £30–£80 for a load, more after a big clearance. Some gardeners include a small amount in their rate and charge beyond that; others never take waste at all.
The cheapest option is dealing with it yourself — your council green bin, a garden waste subscription, or a trip to the tip. If you have space, a compost heap absorbs most routine clippings.
One thing worth checking: ask whether they are registered to carry waste. Fly-tipped garden waste can be traced back to the property it came from, and the householder can be liable for having handed it to someone unlicensed.
What affects the price?
Garden size, obviously, but access matters nearly as much. A gardener who has to carry everything through the house, or park two streets away, is spending paid time on logistics.
How overgrown it is. Long wet grass, brambles and self-seeded saplings are slow and hard on equipment.
What equipment the job needs. A push mower job and a job needing a ride-on, chipper or pole saw are different propositions.
Whether it is skilled work. Mowing is mowing. Pruning fruit trees, shaping topiary or renovating a border properly is horticultural knowledge, and people who have it charge for it — reasonably so.
And the season. Spring and early summer are the busy period; winter is much quieter and often cheaper.
How to keep the cost down
Go regular rather than occasional. A fortnightly visit through the growing season costs less overall than letting it go and paying for a rescue.
Handle your own waste if you can. It is frequently the largest single add-on.
Bundle the seasonal jobs. Hedge cutting, pruning and a border tidy done in one visit costs less than three separate call-outs.
Be clear about scope. "Tidy the garden" invites a padded quote; a specific list gets a real one.
Book winter work in winter. Structural jobs — hedges, pruning, clearance — are cheaper when gardeners are not turning work away.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a gardener cost per hour?+
£20–£40 an hour is typical in the UK, with higher rates in London and the South East. Skilled horticultural work sits at the upper end.
Is it cheaper to book a gardener regularly?+
Yes. A maintained garden is faster each visit and fits an efficient round, so regular customers typically pay £30–£60 a fortnightly visit rather than one-off rates.
Do gardeners take the waste away?+
Often, for £30–£80 a load, but not always. They need a waste carrier registration to do it legally and have to pay tip fees, so it is charged separately by most.
How much is a one-off garden tidy?+
Usually £100–£300 depending on size and how overgrown it is. After that, regular visits cost considerably less.
What does a standard visit include?+
Typically mowing, edging and light weeding. Pruning, hedge cutting, planting and border work are usually quoted separately — agree the list up front.
When is the cheapest time to book a gardener?+
Winter. Spring and early summer are the busy season; structural work like hedges, pruning and clearance is easier to book and often cheaper in the quiet months.
Related price guides
Ready to get it done?
Post your gardening & landscaping job free on BidMyJob and local people will bid. No fees, no commission — you pick who you like.