Garden Maintenance Cost in Petersfield 2026 | Lawn Mowing, Hedge Cutting & Weeding Prices

2026 price guide for professional garden maintenance and lawn mowing services in Petersfield, East Sussex. Covering regular lawn care, hedge trimming, weeding, border maintenance, and seasonal tidy-ups for cottage gardens, rural properties, and modern estates. Includes hourly rates, fixed-price contracts, and how to find reliable local gardeners.

Lawn Mowing (Small/Medium Garden)

£25–£45 per visit

Cut, edge, strim. Grass removed.

Monthly Maintenance Visit

£40–£80 per hour

Labour only. Includes travel/setup.

Hedge Trimming (per hour)

£35–£65 per hour

Labour only. Waste removal extra.

Seasonal Garden Clearance

£150–£350 per day

Team of 2, incl. waste removal.

2026 Garden Maintenance Price Breakdown

Service in Petersfield	Cost	Local Notes
Lawn Mowing (Small Terrace Garden, under 50m²)	£20–£35	Basic cut, strim edges, no collection. Often a minimum charge for very small plots in town.
Lawn Mowing (Medium Garden, 50-150m²)	£25–£45	Most common domestic job. Includes cutting, edging, strimming, and grass collection/removal.
Lawn Mowing (Large Garden, 150-300m²)	£45–£80	May require ride-on mower. Often priced per job rather than hourly. Common in rural properties.
Fortnightly/Weekly Lawn Mowing Contract (Seasonal)	£20–£40 per visit	Reduced rate for regular, scheduled work from March to October. Includes basic edging.
Hedge Trimming (Per Hour, Labour)	£35–£65	Height and accessibility dependent. A long, tall hedge will take many hours.
Hedge Cutting (Fixed Price, Small Laurel Hedge, 5m x 2m)	£60–£120	Trim height and sides, tidy, remove clippings. Common for boundary hedges.
Weeding & Border Maintenance (Per Hour)	£30–£55	Hand weeding, light pruning, deadheading. Skilled work, common in planted cottage gardens.
Weeding & Border Maintenance (Fixed Price, Small Border)	£40–£80 per border	For defined areas. Includes weeding, light tidy, and hoeing.
Edging & Tidying Lawn/Paths (Per Visit)	£25–£50	Redefining edges with a half-moon tool, strimming, sweeping paths and patios.
Pruning Shrubs & Roses (Per Hour/Small Group)	£40–£75	Knowledge of plant types required. Often done as part of a seasonal visit.
Leaf Clearance (Small/Medium Lawn, Autumn)	£40–£75 per visit	Blowing/raking, collection, and removal. Requires frequent visits in wooded areas.
Patio/Driveway Jet Washing (Per m²)	£3–£8	Removes algae, moss, and dirt. Often combined with a general garden tidy. Minimum charge applies.
Garden Waste Removal (Per Load in Transit/Trailer)	£50–£100	For green waste from clearance projects. Tip fees and labour included.
General Garden Tidy-Up (One-Off, 2-3 hours)	£80–£160	Ad-hoc weeding, mowing, strimming, light pruning, and sweeping to smarten up.
Monthly Maintenance Retainer (2-3 hours per visit)	£80–£150 per visit	Predictable cost for a set list of tasks: mow, edge, weeding, light pruning.

Common Garden Maintenance Packages

Monthly All-Round Maintenance

£80–£150 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)

£25–£45 per fortnightly cut

Regular mowing on a fixed schedule. Includes edging, strimming, and grass removal. Price locked in for season.

Spring Awakening Package

£200–£400

Full lawn scarification/aeration, first cut, prune dormant shrubs, clear winter debris, weed borders, and mulch.

Autumn Wind-Down Package

£180–£350

Final cut, leaf clearance, cut back perennials, prune certain shrubs, clear gutters of leaves, winterise taps.

What Affects Garden Maintenance Prices in Petersfield?

Garden Size & Complexity: Small, flat lawn vs. large, sloped garden with multiple levels, borders, and water features.
Access & Equipment: Narrow side access, steps, or remote location 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.
Frequency & Contract: One-off visits cost more per hour than regular weekly/fortnightly contracts.

Common Garden Types & Needs in Petersfield, East Sussex

Cottage Gardens & Period Properties

Border Maintenance: Skilled weeding and pruning in densely planted, traditional herbaceous borders.
Lawn Care on Old Lawns: Mowing often uneven, historic lawns with care to avoid scalping.
Hedge Laying & Maintenance: Managing traditional hedgerows and boundary hedges in a sympathetic style.

Rural Properties & Larger Plots

Ride-On Mowing: Maintaining large lawns, paddocks, or orchards.
Leaf Management: Significant autumn leaf clearance from mature trees and woodland edges.
Wildlife Area Management: Controlled cutting of wildflower meadows or maintaining ponds.

Holiday Lets & Second 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 Petersfield

Look for Relevant Experience with Local Garden Types

Petersfield has distinct styles: walled cottage gardens, sloped rural plots, and low-maintenance holiday let gardens. Ask potential gardeners for examples of similar local work. Do they understand how to manage traditional herbaceous borders versus just mowing a lawn? For rural properties, experience with ride-on mowers and managing large-scale leaves 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.

Check for Reliability, Insurance, and Knowledge of Plants

A good gardener is punctual and consistent – ask for references. 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). Do they know not to prune spring-flowering shrubs in autumn, for example?

Local Petersfield, East Sussex Insight

Petersfield's gardening calendar is influenced by its coastal microclimate – milder winters but salt-laden winds can damage plants. Gardeners need to know which species thrive. The high number of holiday lets creates demand for "set-and-forget" maintenance where gardens must look good with minimal intervention. Many older properties have heavy, often waterlogged clay soil which affects lawn care and planting. The prevalence of listed buildings and conservation areas can mean restrictions on tree or hedge work. 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 on the same street or lane efficiently.

FAQs

How often should my lawn be mowed in Petersfield?

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. A regular contract ensures it's done consistently, which is healthier for the lawn than sporadic, harsh cuts.

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 tip (like Petersfield Household Waste Recycling Centre), 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.

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 Petersfield costs £25–£45 for a standard lawn mowing visit and £40–£80 per hour for skilled maintenance work. Given the town's variety of garden styles and the importance of curb appeal for holiday lets, 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.

Tip:

Before your gardener's first visit, walk the garden with them to point out priorities and any delicate plants. Consider investing in a water butt to help with summer watering if you have a maintenance contract. For holiday lets, choose low-maintenance, drought-tolerant planting to reduce the frequency and cost of needed care.