Published UK price guides put a gardener at about £14 to £25 an hour, and London and the South East run £3 to £10 an hour above the North and West. Here is what a fair price looks like for Reading and how to get a clear quote.

What gardeners typically charge

These are national figures from a UK price guide updated in September 2026. Reading is in the South East, so expect the upper half of each range.

• General gardener: about £14 to £25 an hour, or £150 to £200 for a full day.
• Landscape gardener: about £180 to £280 a day.
• London: about £25 to £27 an hour. Other big cities run about £18 to £27.

Typical prices by job

• Lawn mowing: about £20 to £30 an hour, and most gardeners set a minimum charge for a visit.
• Hedge trimming: about £25 to £45 an hour.
• Weeding: about £14 to £25 an hour.
• Garden tidy or short call-out: a minimum charge of about £25 to £35.
• Garden clearance: often a fixed price of about £100 to £200, depending on how much there is to clear and carry away.

What a fair price looks like

A very low price can mean the gardener is not being paid properly. The National Living Wage is £12.71 an hour from April 2026. On Pluggerzz, a gardener who sets a price of about £16.50 an hour takes home at least that after our service fee, so a 2-hour tidy works out at around £33. Self-employed gardeners are not covered by the minimum wage rules, and they also pay for fuel, tools and tax, so this is a floor and not a typical price.

If you are quoted far below that, it is worth asking how the price works before you book.

What makes the price go up

• Size and condition. A long-neglected garden takes far longer than one that is kept up.
• Waste. Green waste has to be taken away and disposed of. Ask whether that is included.
• Equipment. Hedge cutters, strimmers and mowers cost the gardener money to run. Ask whether you need to provide anything.
• Season. Spring and early summer are busy, so short-notice jobs can cost more.

How to get a fair deal

1. Describe the job: the size of the garden, what needs doing and how overgrown it is.
2. Ask whether the price covers waste removal, equipment and travel.
3. Agree a time estimate, or a fixed price for a clearance, and what happens if it takes longer.
4. Get the price in writing before the work starts.

Frequently asked questions

How often should a lawn be cut?

Weekly or fortnightly in the growing season is usual, and less often in winter. Regular visits are often cheaper per hour than a one-off.

Do I need to provide a green waste bin?

Not always, but ask. Some gardeners take the waste away and some expect you to dispose of it.

Is a day rate better value than an hourly rate?

For a large job, yes: a day rate of £150 to £200 can beat paying by the hour. For a small tidy, an hourly rate or a fixed minimum charge is usually fairer.

Post what you need on Pluggerzz and get offers from local pros. You pay through Pluggerzz, not in cash.

Source: MyJobQuote gardener cost guide (updated September 2026), and the National Living Wage rate for April 2026 from Workplace Journal. Prices are typical figures checked in October 2026 and your quote will vary.