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A few hours with a gardener can turn an overgrown yard back into one you want to sit in. What you pay depends on how big the garden is, what state it's in and which jobs you want done. This guide covers what gardeners quoted on Service.com.au, how hourly pricing works and what moves the price.
How much does it cost to hire a gardener?
These are the prices gardeners quoted for common jobs through Service.com.au in the 12 months to October 2026:
| Job | Typical quote | Most quotes fell between |
|---|---|---|
| Regular garden maintenance service | $200 | $200 to $250 |
| One-off garden clean-up or tidy-up | $300 | $150 to $500 |
Gardeners quoting hedge, shrub and tree trimming through Service.com.au in the same 12-month period priced it at a typical $300, with most quotes between $200 and $350.
Clean-up quotes spread wider than maintenance quotes because the job varies more. Tidying a couple of garden beds is a short job. Clearing a backyard that hasn't been touched in a year, with a trailer of green waste to take away, is a much bigger one.
How much do gardeners charge per hour?
Most gardeners charge about $50 to $90 an hour. Many price small and ongoing jobs by the hour rather than as a fixed price, often with a minimum charge. Rates differ with the task, the equipment it needs, the gardener's experience and where you live, so the hourly rate alone won't tell you what a job will cost.
As a rough guide, a three-hour tidy-up at $50 to $90 an hour comes to $150 to $270 before green waste removal or materials.
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For hourly work, ask how many hours the gardener expects and what they can get done in that time. Confirm the minimum charge and agree what to tackle first if the job runs over. With those answers you can compare an hourly quote against a fixed-price one.
For a bigger or one-off job, a gardener will often give a fixed price after seeing the property. That's usually the easier quote to compare.
Tip: Ask each gardener to quote the same list of jobs, and to say whether taking away green waste is in the price. Then the quotes compare like for like.
What affects the cost of a gardener?
Size of the garden. More lawn, beds and hedges means more hours.
Its condition. An overgrown yard takes longer the first time than it will on later visits.
Green waste. Clippings, weeds and branches have to go somewhere. Some gardeners include disposal; others charge for tip fees or a skip.
Access. Steep blocks, narrow side paths and gardens with no rear access slow the work down.
Materials. Mulch, soil, fertiliser and new plants are usually charged on top of labour.
How often they come. A garden kept up on a regular schedule needs less work at each visit than one that's left for months.
Regular maintenance or a one-off clean-up?
A one-off clean-up suits a garden that has got away from you, a property going to market or the end of a lease. Regular maintenance suits a garden you want kept at one standard all year, with a schedule agreed with the gardener. Confirm whether the quote is for one visit or a series of visits.
You can also do both: one clean-up to get the garden back in shape, then a regular service to keep it there. If you go regular, ask what each visit covers, how often hedges and pruning are included, and how much notice you need to give to change or stop the service.
Types of gardening services
Gardeners handle the routine work that keeps a garden in shape:
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Lawn mowing and edging (see our lawn mowing cost guide)
Weeding and weed spraying
Trimming and pruning of hedges, shrubs and small trees
Planting shrubs, plants and small trees
Mulching and fertilising
Removing rubbish, dead plants and green waste
Advice on what to plant and how to care for it
Some jobs need a different trade. Removing a large tree is work for an arborist. Retaining walls, paving, new garden design and garden lighting are landscaping jobs, covered in our landscaper cost guide. A garden shed is usually built by a shed specialist.
Questions to ask a gardener before you hire
Give each garden maintenance service the same brief. Break it down by area. You might want the front lawn mown and edged, the back beds weeded and one hedge trimmed. Include photos of the hedge and the route from the garden to the street, especially if there are stairs or a narrow gate.
Ask for green waste removal as a separate line. If the clippings can stay on site or fit in your green bin, say so. If you want everything taken away, ask whether loading, transport and tip fees are included. For regular maintenance, agree which tasks happen every visit and which are priced separately as they come up.
Before booking, confirm the following with your gardener.
Do you charge by the hour or a fixed price for this job?
Is green waste removal included?
Can you give me a written quote?
How long will the job take?
Do you hold insurance, and can I see it?
Do you have references or photos of gardens you look after?
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