What to look for
Gardeners cover routine maintenance (mowing, hedge trimming, weeding, planting), seasonal clearance, and small landscaping. The category is distinct from landscape designers and tree surgeons — most gardeners handle the ongoing care work that keeps a domestic garden in shape week to week, fortnight to fortnight, or monthly.
- Royal Horticultural Society qualifications (voluntary)
- Public liability insurance
- Waste-carrier licence for green-waste removal
- Clear scope: what's included per visit, what's extra
- Realistic seasonal plan (cutting back, pruning windows)
- Equipment owned (not borrowed from the customer)
Typical pricing: £25-£45 per hour, £180-£280 day rate, £40-£80 standard lawn cut (UK 2026)
Regulator / certification to look for: Royal Horticultural Society (voluntary), Waste Carrier registration with the Environment Agency (mandatory for green-waste haulage)