Gardener and landscaper — lawns, hedges, pruning and tree work
The garden is one of the few places where a little help a few times a year shows immediately — and where the wrong help shows just as clearly. A badly cut hedge grows uneven for years, and pruning at the wrong time can hurt a fruit tree more than leaving it alone.
The trade spans everything from routine maintenance to garden design and tree surgery. A good firm is clear about what they actually specialise in, walks the garden before quoting, and carries proper insurance — which matters most for large trees near buildings, where things can go wrong expensively. Expect £25–£50/hr for maintenance labour; tree work is quoted per tree.
On Marketit you'll find gardening and landscaping firms that work this way. Tell us in the chat whether it's a one-off job or ongoing maintenance and we'll match you with firms in your area.
Price level
SEK 700–1,200/hr before RUT, which equals SEK 350–600/hr after RUT. Hedge trimming 20 m SEK 1,500–3,000. Felling a single medium tree SEK 3,000–8,000 (RUT applies).
What does a gardener cost in 2026?When should you hire a gardener?
Hedge cutting once or twice a season (outside nesting season), fruit tree pruning in winter while dormant, mowing from March to October, tree work preferably in winter, and a garden tidy at the start of the season.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Hiring an uninsured crew for tree work near a house — if a limb goes through the roof, the loss lands on you
- Trimming hedges between March and August without checking for active nests — nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act
- Felling a tree under a Tree Preservation Order without consent — fines run to thousands of pounds
- Letting green waste leave in an unlicensed van — fly-tipping traced back to you is your fine
- Pruning plums and cherries in winter, which invites silver leaf
Regional differences
Rates run highest in London and the South East and lowest in the North East and Wales. Crews book out two to four weeks from March through June; tree work is usually cheaper and quicker to schedule in winter, when firms are less busy and the trees are dormant.
Checklist before you hire
- Confirm the business is registered and carries public liability insurance (£2m or more for tree work)
- Ask for photos of comparable work
- Clarify whether materials (topsoil, bark, plants) are included or billed separately
- For tree work, require an Arboricultural Association approved contractor or a qualified tree surgeon with NPTC certificates
- Check with the council for a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area status before any tree work
- Ask how green waste is removed — the firm should hold a waste carrier licence
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove any tree in my garden?
No. Trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order, or any tree over 75 mm in diameter in a conservation area, need written consent from the council — six weeks' notice for conservation areas. Your tree surgeon should check before quoting, but the legal responsibility sits with you as the owner.
When should fruit trees be pruned?
Apples and pears in winter while dormant, between November and early March. Plums and cherries in early summer after flowering, to avoid silver leaf. Avoid heavy pruning in autumn, when the tree is moving nutrients back into the trunk.
How often should the lawn be cut?
Weekly through peak growth in late spring, every two weeks in midsummer, and every three weeks as growth slows into autumn. Never take off more than a third of the blade height in one pass — scalping weakens the turf and invites moss.
Companies in gardener
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