These are the locations in the UK with the most expensive gardener rates – and the cheapest

While the cold of winter currently keeps us wrapped up indoors, many Brits stay warm with thoughts of summer barbecues, parties in the sunshine, and eating al fresco. 

Yet, come springtime, we typically find that our gardens are in no shape to host any sort of fun in the sun. In these cases, should we turn to a professional for help or roll our sleeves up and get stuck in ourselves? 

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Reflecting on this question, Simply Paving analysed hundreds of gardeners’ rates across the country to see where both the most expensive and cheapest professional garden services are available. 

The research found that Scarborough has the highest gardener rates in the UK. 

Generally, those living in the Yorkshire seaside town spend £400 on average for a professional gardener’s daily rate. This is more than double (104%)  the national average for gardener day rates (£196). 

Sourced from hamuch.com, the data analysed of gardeners’ daily rates in locations all across the UK. An average price was then generated for each location, which was then used to calculate the cheapest and most expensive regions for gardeners. 

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Simply Paving also found that Redcar & Cleveland in the North East has the lowest professional gardener prices in the country, averaging at £77 per day. 

Garden services across the UK have different cost averages

The regional analysis tells a different story, however. Greater London, not Scarborough’s Yorkshire, stands apart as the most expensive region to hire a gardener, costing on average £249 per day.  

At the opposite end of the spectrumNorthern Ireland residents enjoy the cheapest average gardener rates in the UK, only paying £152 per day - 22% cheaper than the average national daily rate. 

Simply Paving also compared the average prices of individual garden jobs across the UK, including general garden maintenance, high-pressure jet washes, and installing paving for a patio or garden path. 

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The research found that gardening services based in the East Midlands charge the most for these popular jobs.  

Notably, gardeners in this region charge 21% more than the national average for installing paving (£306). Even general garden maintenance (£62 on average) is relatively expensive in the East Midlands, priced up at £11 more than the national average (£51). 

The data also shows that Yorkshire & Humber is the cheapest region for garden maintenance, jet washing, and paving installation, priced up at an average of £40, £87 and £238, respectively.  

In fact, Yorkshire & Humber is the only region in the UK to offer jet washing services for less than £100 per session.  

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Simply Paving spokesperson commented: “Spring is a time to get our gardens ready for the warm weather of the summer months; for the parties and barbecues in the glorious sunshine.

“When spring comes, most people have a choice to either hire a professional, do the work themselves or even a combination of the two. A little bit of DIY can save you a pretty penny and allow you to shape your garden to your specific tastes, while hiring a professional gardener can help you save time and make use of their impressive landscaping expertise.

“Whatever you choose, it’s always so satisfying when you turn your ragged winter garden into a stunning summer paradise.”

Top tips to help you maintain your own garden

Ensure you have the correct equipment for your garden: Trimming, digging and pruning becomes all the more difficult without the right gear for each job.

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Plant low-maintenance flowers: If the thought of constant garden care is too exhausting, fill your garden with flora that requires minimal effort to flourish, such as lavender, geraniums, and daffodils.

Use soapy water to clean your patio: While jet washing can offer a satisfyingly deep clean, this cleaning method is not suitable for all types of paving slabs. Thankfully, simple soapy water is sometimes enough to tackle tough stains that accumulated over winter.

Lay paving slabs by yourself: Even some of the bigger garden jobs are achievable via DIY. There are many helpful online resources to guide you step-by-step through the process. Thanks to these, you can easily save hundreds of pounds.

Top 10 most expensive average gardener daily rates in the UK

Scarborough - £400 

Scottish Borders - £382

Chester - £273

Salisbury - £266

Gloucester - £256

South Kesteven - £253

Cheltenham - £252

Warrington - £251

Gateshead - £249

London - £249

Top 10 cheapest average gardener daily rates in the UK

Redcar & Cleveland - £77

Middlesbrough - £102

North East Lincolnshire - £102

Stockton-on-Tees - £102

Harrogate - £115

Rochester-upon-Medway - £120

Carmarthenshire - £125

East Lindsey - £125

East Ayrshire - £129 

South Ayrshire - £129

Most expensive to cheapest regions in the UK

Greater London - £249

North West - £216

South West - £213

South East - £211

Scotland - £203

East of England - £193

North East - £189

East Midlands - £179

West Midlands - £173

Wales - £168

Yorkshire - £168

Northern Ireland - £152

For further insights into garden DIY, visit the Simply Paving Advice Centre.