How much does a gardener cost?

angeltreats

Has anyone employed a gardener to do the work for them?

I'm not lazy by any means, but I do have a recurrent back problem that means I just can't do a lot of digging. I currently have a very small garden that's overrun by mint that a previous occupant planted (I've dug out as much as I can but there's tons and tons of it) and I also need to get some heavy clay soil prepared for laying some turf. If I do it myself I'm going to end up in a lot of pain and would like to pay someone to do the hard graft for me, but I've no idea even roughly how much gardeners charge for their services and would like to be aware in case I get ripped off!

Do they charge per hour, or per job, or what?

antw23uk

We use a local company and they charge £15 an hour. As we are keen gardeners we dont use them often but they trim and shape the Ceanothus once a year and we need to put some rizome (sp) barrier in for some bamboo which we dont want to do ourselves .... (that is because we are lazy) so will get them in to do it for us

rhosynbach

my oh is a gardener and charges £10 hour i think it varies depending on where you live
we have found a lot of his regulars have had problems with other gardeners that charge per hour then take twice as long as expected to do the job so you are paying more than you thought so it is a good idea to get either a job price or ask them how many hours it will take then you now how much you should be paying..

tonymorley1504

I'm also a gardener and likewise charge £10 per hour. That's in a northern town (Middlesbrough), of course there could be a difference - as in premium - if you lived in London or prosperous parts of the South. I have a friend who charges twice my rate in the Brighton & Hove area.

I work at a steady enough rate but if I go slightly over a round hour I don't tend to bother asking for the small extra sum. I prefer to have the goodwill. Likewise I stop the clock if the householder gives me a cuppa or a neighbour strikes up a conversation. I don't want to appear rude but at the same time I don't expect the householder to pay me for chatting.

It seems to be yet another occupation that has it's share of get-rich-quick merchants. I don't need to make a fortune thankfully and I think £10 an hour for a job you like, heavy though it can be at times, is reasonable. Of course people with expensive machinery / tools doing more skilled work can justify charging more.

Hope the original poster finds someone reliable, capable and friendly.

Good luck.

lardlikesdogs

I Charge £15 per hour (Leeds) I provide all my own tools and own petrol, I also pay tax and NI and I am not a fireman doing a second job for cash in hand. believe me the amount of fireman doing this as there second job would blow your mind.

bownyboy

I've just paid £15 per hour and this is in Surrey. Guy did a great job too.

tonymorley1504

It's gratifying to read comments like that from bownyboy who have paid the gardener's requested rate and been happy with his work. I've read on many forums of gardeners who seem to have experienced resistance from householders reluctant to pay anything onther then the National Minimum Wage. I've been lucky enough to have my work and remuneration accepted, which at £10 an hour I wouldn't want any other way.

It's a two way street. I'm happy to have a steady income, at least in the warmer months, and appreciate the nice comments and wage from my customers. They in turn like being able to trust me with a key and know I wont skip off five minutes early or be texting friends for half of the allotted time.

Call me picky, but I simply wouldn't work for someone who was over critical or begrudged me my payscale, demeaning the work as menial and unskilled. I'd reluctantly drop them out and hope to replace them. I didn't go into the business for that side of things. But as I say, thankfully I've only had homeowners like bownyboy use my services. No doubt his gardener will have also enjoyed his stint, with a welcome cuppa being part of the package .

All as we hope it'll be,

Funky_Bold_Ribena

angeltreats wrote: »

Has anyone employed a gardener to do the work for them?

I'm not lazy by any means, but I do have a recurrent back problem that means I just can't do a lot of digging. I currently have a very small garden that's overrun by mint that a previous occupant planted (I've dug out as much as I can but there's tons and tons of it) and I also need to get some heavy clay soil prepared for laying some turf. If I do it myself I'm going to end up in a lot of pain and would like to pay someone to do the hard graft for me, but I've no idea even roughly how much gardeners charge for their services and would like to be aware in case I get ripped off!

Do they charge per hour, or per job, or what?

Get three to quote for you for the full job. Then you will know.

whitesatin

I've got to get a gardener at the end of the summer to sort the wood from the trees. We have inherited a (sizeable) garden which has been over planted and don't really know where to start. Up until now it has just been OH and I cutting back where we feel confident and planting up pots and things but I would like it to be better next year. This thread has inspired me, thanks. I don't mind paying for someone knows what they are doing.

zaax

Do you want someone who is trained or not trained? I've also seen the blood of someone who was not trained to use a chainsaw.

A trained horticulturist will cost a lot but will make a wonderful garden.
Whilst bloke down the road won't be insured and can dig up your £5000 ornamental bush.

In other words you pay your money and takes your choice.

Wywth

angeltreats wrote: »

Has anyone employed a gardener to do the work for them?

I'm not lazy by any means, but I do have a recurrent back problem that means I just can't do a lot of digging. I currently have a very small garden that's overrun by mint that a previous occupant planted (I've dug out as much as I can but there's tons and tons of it) and I also need to get some heavy clay soil prepared for laying some turf. If I do it myself I'm going to end up in a lot of pain and would like to pay someone to do the hard graft for me, but I've no idea even roughly how much gardeners charge for their services and would like to be aware in case I get ripped off!

Do they charge per hour, or per job, or what?

When we had a lawn laid, the cost included weeding (a weed is anything growing where you don't want it) and soil preparation.

No good lawn supplier would attempt to lay a lawn on unprepared soil.

The cost was quoted as a fixed price after they surveyed the area to be lawned. The survey/quote was free.