What is gardening & landscaping?

UK homeowners spend over £5bn annually on their gardens. Regular lawn mowing and maintenance clients provide reliable income throughout the main growing season. Garden makeovers command £500–£3,000 per project. Winter months can be filled with tidying, planting, and indoor consultancy work, making this a more year-round business than most people realise.

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How to start gardening & landscaping in 4 steps

  1. 1
    Start with lawn mowing
    Lawn mowing is simple, recurring, and in massive demand. A petrol mower (£150–£300) is your primary investment and pays for itself quickly.
  2. 2
    List everywhere locally
    Bark.com, Checkatrade, Nextdoor, and local Facebook groups all work well. Post before and after photos with every job — they convert brilliantly.
  3. 3
    Offer seasonal specials
    A spring garden tidy (£100–£200) is an easy upsell to every lawn client at the start of the season. Autumn clearances are also high-value.
  4. 4
    Build annual contracts
    Offer annual maintenance contracts covering lawn mowing, hedge trimming, and seasonal tidying. Clients love the predictability and you love the guaranteed income.
Ready to start? Bark.com is the best place to begin Top platform for gardeners. Join thousands of UK earners already using it.
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Pros and cons

✓ Pros

  • Local work
  • Earn £300–£2,500 per month
  • Start within 1–3 weeks
  • Startup cost: £100–£500
  • Medium effort required

× Cons

  • Requires consistent effort to build
  • Income may be variable initially
  • Competition exists in this space
  • Takes time to reach full earnings
  • Requires self-motivation

Frequently asked questions

A petrol lawnmower (£150–£300), strimmer (£60–£150), and basic hand tools are enough to start. Add equipment as your client base and service range grows.
Mowing is March–October, but hedge trimming, planting, clearances, and tidying extend the season considerably. Many gardeners work year-round.
None required for general gardening. An RHS qualification can help you charge premium rates for garden design and consultancy work.