Garden Maintenance Cost in Chichester 2026 | Lawn Mowing, Hedge Cutting & Weeding Prices
2026 price guide for professional garden maintenance and lawn mowing services in Chichester, East Sussex. Covering regular lawn care, hedge trimming, weeding, border maintenance, and seasonal tidy-ups for city gardens, period properties, and coastal plots. Includes hourly rates, fixed-price contracts, and how to find reliable local gardeners.
Price Summary
Lawn Mowing (Small/Medium Garden)
£27–£50 per visit
Cut, edge, strim. Grass removed.
Monthly Maintenance Visit
£45–£85 per hour
Labour only. Includes travel/setup.
Hedge Trimming (per hour)
£40–£70 per hour
Labour only. Waste removal extra.
Seasonal Garden Clearance
£160–£380 per day
Team of 2, incl. waste removal.
2026 Garden Maintenance Price Breakdown
| Service in Chichester | Cost | Local Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn Mowing (Small Terrace Garden, under 50m²) | £22–£38 | Basic cut, strim edges, no collection. Often a minimum charge for very small plots in city centre. |
| Lawn Mowing (Medium Garden, 50-150m²) | £27–£50 | Most common domestic job. Includes cutting, edging, strimming, and grass collection/removal. |
| Lawn Mowing (Large Garden, 150-300m²) | £50–£90 | May require ride-on mower. Often priced per job rather than hourly. Common in larger suburban or rural properties. |
| Fortnightly/Weekly Lawn Mowing Contract (Seasonal) | £22–£45 per visit | Reduced rate for regular, scheduled work from March to October. Includes basic edging. |
| Hedge Trimming (Per Hour, Labour) | £40–£70 | Height and accessibility dependent. A long, tall hedge will take many hours. |
| Hedge Cutting (Fixed Price, Small Laurel Hedge, 5m x 2m) | £65–£130 | Trim height and sides, tidy, remove clippings. Common for boundary hedges in Chichester. |
| Weeding & Border Maintenance (Per Hour) | £35–£60 | Hand weeding, light pruning, deadheading. Skilled work, common in planted city gardens. |
| Weeding & Border Maintenance (Fixed Price, Small Border) | £45–£85 per border | For defined areas. Includes weeding, light tidy, and hoeing. |
| Edging & Tidying Lawn/Paths (Per Visit) | £30–£55 | Redefining edges with a half-moon tool, strimming, sweeping paths and patios. |
| Pruning Shrubs & Roses (Per Hour/Small Group) | £45–£80 | Knowledge of plant types required. Often done as part of a seasonal visit. |
| Leaf Clearance (Small/Medium Lawn, Autumn) | £45–£80 per visit | Blowing/raking, collection, and removal. Requires frequent visits in wooded areas like the Chichester Canal path. |
| Patio/Driveway Jet Washing (Per m²) | £4–£9 | Removes algae, moss, and dirt. Often combined with a general garden tidy. Minimum charge applies. |
| Garden Waste Removal (Per Load in Transit/Trailer) | £55–£110 | For green waste from clearance projects. Tip fees and labour included. |
| General Garden Tidy-Up (One-Off, 2-3 hours) | £90–£180 | Ad-hoc weeding, mowing, strimming, light pruning, and sweeping to smarten up. |
| Monthly Maintenance Retainer (2-3 hours per visit) | £90–£165 per visit | Predictable cost for a set list of tasks: mow, edge, weeding, light pruning. |
Common Garden Maintenance Packages
Monthly All-Round Maintenance
£90–£165 per monthly visit
Lawn mow & edge, weeding of 2-3 borders, hedge trim (as needed), path sweep, and general tidy. 3-4 hour visit.
Seasonal Lawn Care Contract (Mar-Oct)
£27–£50 per fortnightly cut
Regular mowing on a fixed schedule. Includes edging, strimming, and grass removal. Price locked in for season.
Spring Awakening Package
£220–£430
Full lawn scarification/aeration, first cut, prune dormant shrubs, clear winter debris, weed borders, and mulch.
Autumn Wind-Down Package
£200–£380
Final cut, leaf clearance, cut back perennials, prune certain shrubs, clear gutters of leaves, winterise taps.
What Affects Garden Maintenance Prices in Chichester?
- Garden Size & Complexity: Small, flat lawn vs. large, sloped garden with multiple levels, borders, and water features.
- Access & Equipment: Narrow side access in city centre terraces, steps, or properties with rear garden-only access requiring manual carrying of equipment.
- Condition & Overgrowth: Well-kept garden vs. neglected plot requiring remedial work.
- Skill Level Required: Basic mowing vs. skilled pruning of roses, fruit trees, or ornamental shrubs.
- Waste Disposal: Volume of green waste generated (clippings, weeds, prunings). Removal costs extra, and Chichester tip (HWRC) requires booking.
- Frequency & Contract: One-off visits cost more per hour than regular weekly/fortnightly contracts.
Common Garden Types & Needs in Chichester, East Sussex
City Centre & Period Properties
- Wall & Courtyard Gardens: Small, often shaded spaces requiring careful plant selection and regular tidying.
- Lawn Care on Old Lawns: Mowing often uneven, historic lawns with care to avoid scalping.
- Formal Hedge & Topiary Maintenance: Precise trimming of box, yew, or privet in Georgian and Victorian gardens.
Coastal & Harbour-Side Properties
- Salt-Tolerant Planting Care: Pruning and maintaining plants that can withstand salt spray (e.g., Griselinia, Olearia).
- Wind Pruning & Damage Repair: Managing plants stressed by coastal winds.
- Patio & Decking Maintenance: Frequent cleaning of salt residue and algae.
Holiday Lets & Suburban Family Homes
- Low-Maintenance Design Upkeep: Maintaining gravel gardens, container plants, and easy-care shrubs.
- Pre-Arrival Tidy: Ensuring garden is immaculate for guest arrival – mowing, weeding, sweeping.
- Keyholder Access: Reliable, scheduled maintenance without owner presence.
Choosing a Gardener in Chichester
Look for Relevant Experience with Local Garden Types
Chichester has distinct styles: walled city gardens, coastal plots, and larger suburban gardens. Ask potential gardeners for examples of similar local work. Do they understand how to manage formal hedging and topiary common in the Cathedral Close area versus just mowing a lawn? For coastal properties, experience with salt-wind damage and appropriate plants is key.
Get a Clear Written Agreement on Scope & Frequency
Avoid misunderstandings with a simple written agreement. It should state: tasks included (e.g., mow, edge, weed front & back borders), frequency (weekly/fortnightly), price per visit or hour, and how waste is handled (left in compost bin/removed). This is especially crucial for holiday let owners who manage from a distance and for city centre properties where waste storage is limited.
Check for Reliability, Insurance, and Knowledge of Plants
A good gardener is punctual and consistent – ask for references, especially from other holiday let owners. They should have public liability insurance in case they damage property. For anything beyond basic mowing, they should demonstrate plant knowledge (pruning times, weed identification, coastal conditions). Do they know not to prune spring-flowering shrubs in autumn, for example?
Local Chichester, East Sussex Insight
Gardening in Chichester is influenced by its coastal location, historic city layout, and high number of second homes/holiday lets. The salt-laden wind can damage unsuitable plants and cause browning, requiring specific horticultural knowledge. The compact nature of city centre gardens means gardeners need to be efficient and have quiet equipment. The prevalence of holiday lets creates demand for "set-and-forget" maintenance where gardens must look good with minimal intervention and tight pre-guest tidies. Many Chichester soils are alkaline chalk, which affects what plants thrive. Due to the tourist season, reliable gardeners are booked up months in advance for summer contracts. A local gardener with a good reputation is a valuable asset, often maintaining several gardens in the same neighbourhood efficiently.
FAQs
How often should my lawn be mowed in Chichester?
During the main growing season (April to September), every 1-2 weeks is typical. In spring and autumn, it may stretch to 2-3 weeks. During hot, dry spells in summer, growth slows. Coastal lawns may grow slower but be prone to moss; regular mowing with sharp blades is key. A regular contract ensures consistency.
Should I expect the gardener to remove all green waste?
This must be agreed upfront. Some gardeners include taking a limited amount of waste to the local Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), others charge extra per load, and some may leave it for you to compost. For large clearance jobs, waste removal is a significant part of the cost. Note that Chichester HWRC requires booking.
What's included in a typical "garden tidy-up"?
Usually: mowing the lawn, strimming edges, weeding obvious patches in borders and paths, sweeping patios and paths, and a light prune of overgrown shrubs. It does not usually include deep weeding, planting, or landscaping. Always confirm the exact tasks before booking.
Can I get a regular maintenance contract for my holiday let?
Absolutely, and it's highly recommended. A reliable gardener on a fortnightly or monthly schedule can keep the garden presentable for guests. Ensure they have keyholder access and understand the need for flexibility around guest changeover days. Many local gardeners specialise in this service.
Conclusion
Garden maintenance in Chichester costs £27–£50 for a standard lawn mowing visit and £45–£85 per hour for skilled maintenance work. Given the city's variety of garden styles and the importance of curb appeal for holiday lets and period homes, choosing a gardener with local experience and reliability is key. Secure services early for the summer season, get a clear written agreement, and prioritise consistency over the very cheapest rate to keep your garden looking its best year-round in Chichester's unique coastal and historic setting.
Tip:
Before your gardener's first visit, walk the garden with them to point out priorities and any delicate plants. Consider investing in drought-tolerant, salt-resistant planting to reduce maintenance needs and costs. For holiday lets, ensure clear communication about locked side gates or storage for equipment.