How Much Do Gardeners Cost? [2024]

If you're not a green thumb or don't get the opportunity to get into your garden as often as you'd like, consider hiring a gardener to take some of the work off your hands.

Gardeners cost from $30 to $120 per hour, with the type of task, the experience of the service and location playing a factor in what you are quoted. Expect any quote in the $30 range to be for basic jobs like weeding, while $120 per hour would be for more involved or complex tasks

You can hire gardeners to come on a regular basis or once-off, to tidy up your garden or take care of some jobs you can't do. This article will help you work out:

• What services does a gardener or garden service offer?
• How much do gardeners cost?
• Hiring a gardener - what to look for
• Getting quotes from gardeners or garden services

What services does a gardener or garden service offer?

A professional gardener or garden service will have offer a variety of services, including:
Specialist gardeners can do even more. Some gardeners specialise in garden design, for instance, and will do everything from planning your garden to planting and even some hardscaping (laying pavers, installing low retaining walls, etc.).

Read more: How much does landscaping cost?

How much do gardeners cost?

Advertised rates for gardeners start at under $30 per hour, but this is usually for basic less skilled work such as clearing garden refuse or weeding.

Expect a skilled garden service to charge in the region of:

• $60 to $80 per hour, depending on the job and service. You are more likely to be quoted a flat rate for your job after they have visited your property.

Others, like lawn mowing, may be based on the area to be mowed. Small jobs may cost more per hour than larger jobs because the gardener will have to factor travel and setup time into their costs. If you're looking for a gardener to mow your lawn, you may get a better rate if you hire them to come on a scheduled basis.

Lawn mowing may cost you:

• $60 to have your lawn mown once, but as little as $40 or $50 if they do your mowing regularly, such as a fortnightly or monthly service
• $120 per hour more for a ride-on lawn mowing service

For other garden services expect to pay from:

• $30 for fertilising
• $35 for weed spraying
• $55 for rubbish removal
• $65 for hedging
• $80 for slashing

If you need more involved gardening work, such as landscaping you will need to call in a specialist. Other jobs, such as cutting down a tree will requires the services of a tree feller, or if you need to have a large tree removed, you will probably have to hire an arborist to produce a report and get council approval. Large jobs like these must be handled by licensed professionals with the necessary skills and equipment.

Read more: How much does an arborist cost?

Hiring a gardener - what to look for

When it comes time to hiring a gardener or garden service make sure they are right for your job. Some questions to ask them include:

• What range of services do you provide?
• Do you hold valid insurance?
• Can you provide a written quote?
• How long will my job take?
• Do you have references I can follow up?

Once you are satisfied they have the necessary qualifications and experience you can ask them to quote on your job.

Tip: Get at least three quotes before you commit to hiring anyone, so you can compare prices and levels of service

Getting quotes from gardeners or garden services

Unlike many trades, "gardener" is loosely defined and anyone with a few tools can claim to be a gardener. If all you need is a little light gardening, you can probably get a better rate from someone who is just trying to earn a few dollars doing lawn mowing or weeding. If more skill is required, compare your quotes carefully. How many years of experience does the gardener have? Are they insured? Do they have a company name and own all their own equipment? Can they provide you with references?

Hiring the cheapest gardener can be more expensive in the long run than hiring a professional. A professional lawn mowing service, for example, will monitor your lawn as they work. If they see signs of disease or infestation, they can alert you to the issue and take care of it before it becomes a major problem. If you care about your garden, hire a professional gardener and keep your garden healthy and beautiful.

*Cost and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.