How much does a gardener cost?

Author: Daniel W.
Millions of people ask HomeGuide for cost estimates every year. We track the estimates they get from local companies, then we share those prices with you.

No matter the time of year, it always seems like there's a demand for good gardeners and groundskeepers. Fortunately, thanks to the internet, it's not difficult to find a good gardener in any major city or suburban area.

For new homeowners who are just beginning to get accustomed to having their own plot of land, the idea of having a private gardener might seem rather grand; but gardeners are available at a surprisingly wide variety of price points.

The Cost of a Good Gardener

The average gardener cost is going to depend upon a lot of factors. First and foremost is, what kind of services will be required? For many homeowners, there's no need for more than a regular regimen of lawn mowing, hedge-trimming and yard cleaning during the spring, summer and fall seasons.

For those who own larger homes or estates, however, a gardener might become virtually a full-time employee during the spring and summer months, creating luxurious gardens, designing topiary sculptures and maintaining water installations. Even if a homeowner has a few of these luxury features, they'll require regular maintenance, especially during the summer months.

As with other independent contractor services, gardener costs will vary depending on geographic location. In areas where good gardeners can be busy year-round, such as Florida and Southern California, a top-notch gardener will be in demand -- and as such, can price their services accordingly. Likewise, a prominent landscaping designer with an impressive portfolio of designer projects will be more expensive than someone just starting out in the business.

Seasonal Maintenance Costs

For many people, the most gardening they'll ever need will merely amount to a bit of seasonal maintenance, either weekly or biweekly. For these types of jobs, which typically include mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, and cleaning path and walkway areas, gardeners will usually charge an hourly rate that starts at around $25.

Likewise, some gardeners prefer to charge a flat rate that would cover the costs of mowing and fertilizing a small-sized yard of a half-acre or less.

Even for the most basic type of seasonal maintenance, rates can change according to location, individual lawn types and the amount of work needed, so it's a good idea to take advantage of the fact that most gardeners are happy to provide a free quote on their web pages.

Landscaping Costs

In gardening terminology, landscaping is an umbrella term that covers a wide variety of skills, from planning and designing to planting and constructing. For a new home, a landscaping job might involve creating an entirely new lawn with an original design scheme that includes fresh plantings of new grass, hardscape features such as patios and walkways, water features such as fountains and ponds, and architectural elements such as statuary, pergolas and gazebos.

In landscaping projects, costs will typically be itemized so that customers can see exactly what they're paying for. In addition to the manual labor involved, customers will also be paying for materials, decorative features, plants, flowers and trees, and any other elements that will be incorporated into the landscape.

Whether one wants an entire landscaping project for a new home or a regular schedule of spring and summer lawn maintenance, the best way to find out about gardener costs is to go online (or pick up the phone) and get quotes from local gardeners and landscapers. By doing a bit of research, it shouldn't be difficult to find a good gardener who can provide the services you need at a price you can afford.