Gardener, Per Hour

[Tilly2]

How much would you expect to pay a gardener, per hour?

I know that rates may vary around the country but just wondered what the average price per hour might be.

Do any of you actually have a regular gardener?

[Baldric]

Spath will tell you.

[Barmaid]

I had one until early 2018 so a bit out of date, but he was £11.00 per hour and supplied everything. That was North Cambs. He was amazing!!!!!

[TonyV]

Probably around £15 per hour minimum depending on what you need doing in your garden.

[Tilly2]

Thank you for the replies so far. :-)

I am asking because I have contacted Age UK about their gardening services and their charge is £17.50 per hour, once a fortnight in summer, once a month in winter. The gardener will be police checked, vetted, insured, reliable and local. I just wanted to gauge whether this was a fair price.

[Buenchico]

How long is a piece of string?

The Gardeners' Guild (which obviously wants to tell you how much you should value a good gardener's services) says "Most traders aim to earn a minimum of £150 a day - that's £20 - £40 per hour":
https://www.thegardenersguild.co.uk/how_much_should_you_expect_to_pay_a_gardener.html

Bidvine gives £14 per hour as a minimum and £25 ph as the maximum, with an average of £20 ph:
https://www.bidvine.com/gardening-services/price-guide

MyJobQuote says "Garden maintenance prices can often be difficult to determine, but most gardeners work off an hourly rate which can vary from as little as £15 per hour up to £50 per hour":
https://www.myjobquote.co.uk/costs/hiring-a-gardener

I've lost touch with my mate who did gardening work (and he's retired anyway) but around a decade ago he wouldn't touch a job for less than £12 per hour.

There are a couple of guys with a chainsaw who cut back my hedge (so that it'se not blocking the public footpath) from time to time and who then take all the cuttings away. It's usually only about 15 minutes work for them in total, for which I typically pay about £60. (I reckon it's worth it, as it saves me several trips to the tip to get rid of all the cuttings, plus the hassle of getting them all into my car). So I'm effectively paying them each £120 per hour for the time that they're at my house (although, of course, they'll spend additional time getting rid of the cuttings).

[bookbinder]

I have a relative, who pays her gardener £12 per hour.

[Tilly2]

Buen, I know it's a 'How long is a piece of string' question. I was just hoping to find a happy median point.

[TonyV]

Tilly2 do you have any specific things you want doing? Just pay as much as you can afford each week or month and priotise jobs that you want doing.

[NellieMay]

I paid £12.00 ten years ago which was quite cheap then. I would think £17.50 is about right, but it does depend on the area and what the expections are. Some gardeners only do lawn and flower bed/shrub maintenance. Some will do heavy duties too, but I would expect to pay more.

[Cloverjo]

I pay my gardener £30 an hour, which I think is a bit much tbh, for mowing the lawn and trimming hedges. It is quite hard work though as we’re on a steep slope.

[Mamyalynne]

I'd say the AgeUK price reflects the added peace of mind which will be very important to some, you must decide if it's as important to you Tilly.

[Georgiesmum]

Ive had two different gardeners, my last one had to give it up because of ill health just two or three weeks ago and they both charged me £10 an hour for mowing my lawn, trimming the edges and weeding my flower beds.They both took all the rubbish away with them too.

[Tilly2]

Mamya, I do like the fact that all the assurances are in effect. I don't want some 'fly by night' person who will come along and then disappear when they are most needed.

[Mamyalynne]

I think you have your answer then, I don't have a private garden and maintenance is done by committee- ie. badly. :-)

[Tilly2]

From the answers so far, I think £17.50 per hour seems pretty reasonable. We have an 'assessment' next week from an Age UK person and will go from there.

Thank you all for your responses.

[Baldric]

Clover, £30 an hour is a rip-off even if the garden is vertical, drop it by 12 £'s a hour at least.

[vulcan42]

I have a friend who has a regular gardener, every Friday, who is paid £12 an hour but he's there for the day and is given breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. I don't know if this is high or low payment but he's delighted with the arrangement.

[Georgiesmum]

I dont know anyone round where I live that pays more than £10 an hour.They usually come for two hours at a time once a fortnight , usually from March to October.

[pixie374]

This isn't a cheap area, but I have met quite a few different gardeners through work, all for elderly or disabled people. Average here seems to be £15-£20 an hour.

[Georgiesmum]

Sounds a lot to me!