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Gardening

Gardeners ‘Going Rates’

(34 Posts)
Marriedalongtime Sat 21-Jun-25 09:40:18

Can I ask what the ‘going rate’ is for gardeners please? We just want general weeding, tidying up and lawn mowing.

What do you all pay? We’re in South Manchester by the way….

Thanks

Oreo Sat 21-Jun-25 09:42:16

I don’t have a garden, just a yard with pots and troughs but have seen local ads by gardeners who charge £45 per hour here in the South East.

David49 Sat 21-Jun-25 10:46:23

We did go to our local pub yesterday they were advertising for a gardener at £12.50 an hour - fat chance, I’m not sure how many hours a week that was. £20 is a more realistic offering for anyone who is good and reliable, £45 and more is believable for a good professional providing all his own equipment and charges VAT

YorkLady Sat 21-Jun-25 10:52:26

£60 per hour here 😳. Garden company. Supply all their own equipment.

Georgesgran Sat 21-Jun-25 11:16:11

I have a professional company doing my garden (not as posh as it sounds, but above board and I pay by bank transfer). There are 2 of them and they have every sort of tool known to man. I pay £60 a visit - sometimes money for old rope, but sometimes they more than earn it.

I think if you are looking for a one off visit - I’d estimate £150 upwards, then a fixed charge for weekly/fortnightly maintenance.

kittylester Sat 21-Jun-25 12:08:30

We pay ours £22 ph. We have a small garden (no grass) and she usually does 3 to 4 hours permonth. At the start and end of the year it is usually twice the number of hours.

Elegran Sat 21-Jun-25 12:16:19

£25 the first hour, then £20 per hour thereafter (the extra £5 then covers travelling expenses) Usually does 3 hours once a fortnight except in winter, so in fact it is £32.50 a week.

Allira Sat 21-Jun-25 12:48:26

It depends what you want doing.

Lawn cutting - about £20 ph or slightly more? I've never timed him, we just pay for the job.
General weeding about the same (a different person).

I'd expect to pay more for a qualified horticulturist.

Allira Sat 21-Jun-25 12:49:12

Supply all their own equipment.

Yes, make sure of that.

dragonfly46 Sat 21-Jun-25 12:54:34

I pay £20 an hour and she brings all her own equipment.

Norah Sat 21-Jun-25 12:57:36

Sufffolk £25 per hour mowing.

We weed and tidy, I expect weeding is more expensive.

Charleygirl5 Sat 21-Jun-25 13:19:55

Tomorrow I am paying £10 an hour for around 2-3 hours of weeding. I will pay him the minimum wage, which he should be asking for, especially as this is London.

The last fellow did not bother to turn up.

I pay a different fellow who has been cutting my grass for a few years now, and he is paid £20. If bushes need to be trimmed, that would be an additional cost.

keepingquiet Sat 21-Jun-25 13:25:14

My son charges £25 per hour now up north. He prefers large gardens that need at least 2 hours work though, to cut down on travel costs.

This just about cover his travels costs, insurance and tool costs and maintenance not to say taking waste away...

Charleygirl5 Sat 21-Jun-25 13:37:06

I pay my local council about £75 a year to remove my waste, but they have "forgotten" the last fortnight x2. I would be charged extra if the gardener had to remove it.

Elowen33 Sat 21-Jun-25 13:45:34

Charleygirl5

Tomorrow I am paying £10 an hour for around 2-3 hours of weeding. I will pay him the minimum wage, which he should be asking for, especially as this is London.

The last fellow did not bother to turn up.

I pay a different fellow who has been cutting my grass for a few years now, and he is paid £20. If bushes need to be trimmed, that would be an additional cost.

Minimum wage is £12.21 per hour and London living wage is £13.85 per hour. I am surprised anyone would work for £10 per hour.

Iam64 Sat 21-Jun-25 14:14:05

My gardeners mow the front and back lawns. They weed the front borders. £28 per fortnight
They do specific requests like pruning shrubs at about £65 2 hours or more
Yes I’m lucky
And in the north west

Usedtobeblonde Sat 21-Jun-25 14:28:06

My friend here in NW England has just started a gardener at £40 an hour.
Apparently the going rate.
Last time I enquired it was £20.
Fortunately I have a very willing S who does mine for me.

Astitchintime Sat 21-Jun-25 14:40:03

It is importantly to remember that anybody who is self employed has to pay their NI contributions and income tax as well as having public liability insurance. Tools and equipment has to be purchased and maintained along with a method of transport to get from A to B.
The days of bunging a broke a tenner for doing an odd job are over.

I speak from experience…….I am a tailoring dressmaker and was approached recently by a potential new customer who had just discovered my very small and exclusive business (I sew for family a very few select friends only). The ‘new customer’ asked me……and I quote “knock summat up for granddaughter’s graduation because it’ll be cheaper than buying from a shop” !

My skills were achieved over years of practice, my machines are very expensive and I certainly do not “knock stuff up”.

If you want a few weeds pulling and the lawn mowed but only want to pay odd job rates , don’t expect quality workmanship.

Buy cheap, buy twice!

Patsy70 Sat 21-Jun-25 14:45:16

We’re on the London/Kent border and pay £25/hour. He weeds, digs holes (when needed), clears leaves from lawn, tidies border edges, prunes (if required) and has jet washed the patio, I like to do most of the gardening, mowing, planting, pruning. but I appreciate the extra help. He usually comes every other week for two hours.

M0nica Sat 21-Jun-25 14:51:32

It is as long as apiece of string. I had a couple of 16-18 year olds help me during the school hols and I paid them the minimum wage. next door have professionals in one day a week and I would imagine they pay considerably more.

Scribbles Sat 21-Jun-25 16:24:36

My gardener charges £18 per hour for weeding, trimming shrubs and hedges, planting out bedding plants, dead-heading and general tidying. No lawns or grass to cut and she uses a mix of her equipment and mine. I'm in Lincolnshire.

Greyduster Sat 21-Jun-25 16:56:17

I pay a gardener here in South Yorkshire £25 per hour for two hours minimum - hedging, mowing, tidying flower beds, etc. anything out of the ordinary he will quote for on a take it or leave it basis. He brings his own equipment and has a waste disposal license.

M0nica Sat 21-Jun-25 20:08:46

We have taken the easy way out. With our large garden getting too big to manage we have decided to upsticks to a house closer to our children and with a small garden.

Harris27 Sat 21-Jun-25 20:29:06

My handyman charges £35 to cut the grass and tidying.

Harris27 Sat 21-Jun-25 20:33:10

Charley girl 5 I can’t believe anyone would work for £10 an hr that’s under the minimum wage.