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?

[pixie374]

Bucks....

[Georgiesmum]

Different areas different rates I guess.

[pixie374]

I think so x

[TonyV]

All depends on what's required to be done?

[fiction-factory]

£10 an hour seems very cheap to me.
A gardener may be happy to charge only £10 an hour but I can't see how the business can be viable unless there is no more than a few minutes travel between jobs- maybe does all jobs in one street.
At £10an hour he/she may earn £70 in day if there is minimal travelling. When it pours down they usually can't cut grass or do some other jobs so say £300 a week. Over 40 weeks a year that's £12000 pa. Then there's the cost of the van, buying/servicing the machinery, accountant's fees, insurance. Doesn't sound much to me for all that work unless it's also a hobby or undeclared income. There's also the problem of collecting money from people who are out.

I think something nearer £15 is the minimum for a good gardener. I pay £15 a time and it takes 2 of them half an hour each (and they work hard and dispose of the cuttings) so that's £15 an hour.

Yours seems okay Tilly given that the extra checks are being done. You could get someone for a bit less though I think provided it is someone who is already in the area.

[Tilly2]

Thanks for working all that out, FF. I can see, now, why the price I'm being quoted is a reasonable one.

[spathiphyllum]

A gardener should be expected to provide all tools and to take away all cuttings or waste.

I rarely do hourly work.. I ind clients and set up monthly retainers. There will be a monthly fee and for this, I will provide ongoing services as well as anything the client may request that is within the retainers contract. For example.. painting a shed would not be in that retainer, but cutting back and even removing climbing ivy from the house would.

So.. it depends if you want an ongoign gardener, or just a gardener to come in once a week.

Either way, you will need to set up a small contract or arrangement. I can't imagine any gardener doing work by the hour because it's simply not practical.

As a gardener you want to get a customer that wants you regularly for example.. 3 hours a week or 3 hours a month something like that..

Then, depending on what arrangement you get, a price is easier to figure out.

If for example, you wanted me for an hour, I would not accept. I would ask you what job you wanted doing, then give you a set price regardless of how long it takes me.

So the answer is tilly.. Who knows ;)

£15-£40 a hour I'd say as anything lower (for a self employed solo man) is not logistical.

[spathiphyllum]

"20:21 Tue 10th Sep 2019"

Yes, it is. I would go as far to say two hours for £30 would be more suitable.

[Tilly2]

Thank you, Spath. I suppose my 'contract' will be with Age UK rather than the individual who comes to do my garden. I will find out more next week.

[spathiphyllum]

Tilly what jobs do you need doing?

[Tilly2]

Digging over, edging the lawn, pruning shrubs, weeding, splitting perennials...that kind of thing.

[spathiphyllum]

Sure... Sounds fine to me.

[Chipchopper]

Times have moved on, and I would say £15 - £20 would be reasonable today, for an hours work.
Above all, knowledge and experiance must also count for a lot.

[TonyV]

The other thing to bear in mind is that its not just hourly rate that needs to be taken into account as earnings, there is van and machinery to maintain and public liability insurance, accountants fees and numerous other expenses.

[Tilly2]

It's the knowledge and experience that I need Chip, as well as the man/woman power.
I want someone who knows when to move things, how to move things, how to prune etc. I like gardening but the garden is now too much for me to cope with. I'll just help out a bit.

[Tilly2]

Yes, indeed Tony.

[Georgiesmum]

My one just came in his car and pulled a trailer with his small lawnmower on it., bags to take the grass away if needed, otherwise he would put all the mowings in my garden waste bin. no van, just a retired man doing a bit of work for the neighbourhood.

[Chipchopper]

Sounds like you just need an active pensioner who needs no formal agreement, just a friendly casual basis preferably recommended by a friend.
Good luck.

[Tilly2]

Chip, I couldn't find a local friendly pensioner. That's why I went to Age UK.

I put a message on the local website but no one seemed to be available.

[RATTER15]

I know a few gardeners in my area, they mostly charge £15.00 per hour.