Gardening: Costs, Services & How to Find the Right Gardener
A well-maintained garden is a joy, but it also means a lot of work. Between lawn care, hedge trimming, planting, irrigation, tree care or seasonal tasks, it quickly becomes more than you can or want to do yourself. Many homeowners therefore decide to hire a gardener who provides regular or occasional support.
To help you better assess which services make sense and how much gardening costs in Switzerland, here you will find a clearly structured and easy-to-understand complete guide.
What types of gardening services are there?
Gardening includes much more than just mowing the lawn. Typical areas include:
● Garden planning & garden design
● Ongoing garden maintenance (lawn, flower beds, hedges, shrubs, paths)
● Tree care & tree pruning
● Weeding & removing invasive plants
● New plantings & garden renovations
● Care of potted plants & terrace greenery
● Installing and maintaining irrigation systems
● Autumn and winter preparations
● Spring start (cleaning, pruning, fertilizing)
Depending on the type of garden and the effort involved, professional help is very worthwhile – especially if the garden is large, very overgrown or contains demanding plants.
How much does a gardener cost?
The most important question first: What costs should you expect?
To give you an overview right away, the prices are deliberately at the top.
Hourly rates
Prices depend on region, qualification, complexity of the task, machine and tool flat rates and travel costs.
Costs for typical gardening work
Here you will find guidelines for the most common tasks.
Important: These are guide prices. Final costs depend heavily on the effort involved, safety measures, the terrain and accessibility.
Garden planning & landscaping: Cost overview
If you want to redesign or remodel your garden, there are additional costs:
● Consultation / planning: CHF 105 – 125 per hour
● Gardening work: CHF 85 – 105 per hour
● Materials (plants, stones, wood, soil, lawn rolls) – highly variable
● Machines: additional flat rates for excavators, shredders, compactors, etc.
Typical construction work in the garden:
● Creating terraces & seating areas
● Creating new lawns
● Building walls, flower beds, paths
● Installing irrigation systems
● Creating planting concepts
● Creating ponds & biotopes
The more complex the garden, the more important a good plan is to avoid unnecessary additional work.
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Costs for tree care
Tree care is one of the most complex areas in the garden – and one of the most important. An incorrect cut can affect not only the appearance but also the health of the tree.
Many providers offer flat rates that include workplace safety, climbing equipment or aerial platform, shredder, disposal and working time of the tree professional
Typical costs:
● Light maintenance pruning: CHF 300 – 500
● Heavy pruning: CHF 500 – 1,000
● Tree felling: CHF 500 – 1,800
● Stump grinding: CHF 200 – 500
If the tree is close to the house or lines, the costs increase due to additional safety measures.
Do it yourself or hire a gardener?
You can theoretically take over many gardening tasks yourself. But realistically, there is often a lack of time, expertise, the right tools and physical resilience. That’s why many homeowners hire gardeners on demand (e.g. spring + autumn maintenance), monthly garden maintenance and weekly all-round care.
You should definitely leave particularly demanding or dangerous tasks to professionals:
● Tree care
● Tree felling
● Control of invasive plants (e.g. neophytes)
● Slopes
● Working with heavy machinery
Seasonal calendar for gardening: Know what to do month by month
A garden has different needs throughout the year. With this clear seasonal calendar, you know exactly which tasks are due in which month – and when a gardener is particularly helpful.
Spring (March – May)
The garden awakens. Now the most important work phase begins.
● March: Prepare beds, remove winter protection, prune fruit trees (if frost-free), lawn first care: remove leaf debris, control moss, plant early bloomers
● April: Reseed or repair lawn, shape shrubs and hedges, plant vegetable beds, test / maintain irrigation system, mulch against weeds and drying out
● May: Mow lawn regularly (weekly), plant summer flowers, fertilize trees & shrubs, prune hedges after the first shoot, check for pests
Summer (June – August)
Main season for lawn care, irrigation and plant protection.
● June: Trim & fertilize lawn, correct ornamental shrubs, care for roses & remove faded flowers, control weeds, water, water, water (in the morning!)
● July: Pruning of many flowering plants, cutting thujas / conifers, trimming hedges, fertilizing potted plants weekly, keeping lawn edges sharp
● August: Pruning spring bloomers, checking lawn for dryness & watering selectively, dividing perennials, harvesting vegetables
Autumn (September – November)
Time for pruning, leaf disposal and preparation for winter.
● September: Thin out shrubs, autumn planting, scarify and reseed lawn, tree inspections (safety!)
● October: Remove leaves, last lawn cuts, winterize potted plants, cut hedges for the final time
● November: Plant woody plants (optimal time!), turn off water / empty irrigation, apply winter protection
Winter (December – February)
Little growth – but still some important tasks.
● December – January: Remove snow load from hedges and shrubs, clean & sharpen tools, garden planning for the next year
● February: Pruning for many tree species, preparing first seeds indoors, checking for winter damage
A gardener not only takes over the work. He also knows exactly which cut and which care must be done at the right time. This ensures healthy growth and saves money in the long term.
Legal information for garden owners
Many people do not know that there are clear legal rules in the garden. Anyone who does not comply with them risks disputes with neighbors, fines or even demolition obligations. Here are the most important points
Rest periods & noise protection
In Switzerland, there are clear rules about when work can be carried out in the garden. Lawn mowers, trimmers or shredders are often only allowed at certain times of the day. Many municipalities have a midday rest – usually from 12 to 1 p.m. – and a rest period also usually applies from the early evening. Noisy work is usually completely prohibited on Sundays and public holidays. As the regulations may vary slightly depending on the municipality, it is worth checking the local regulations before the start of the gardening season to avoid trouble or complaints.
Distance regulations to neighboring properties
In Switzerland, trees, shrubs or hedges must be planted with a certain minimum distance to the property boundary. These distances are regulated by the cantons and are often between half a meter and one meter for hedges and between two and four meters for larger trees. If plants are placed too close, the neighbor can demand that they be moved or cut back. Careful planning prevents conflicts and possible demolition obligations.
Overgrowth on the neighboring property
If a hedge or tree grows over the boundary, neighbor law applies. Branches and roots that protrude onto the foreign property or cause damage there must be removed. The neighbor may cut back such overhangs himself under certain conditions – usually only after an announcement. The easiest way to resolve such situations is with a short conversation. If necessary, a gardener can be called in as a neutral expert to find a fair and professional solution.
Garden fires & compost
It is not allowed to simply light a fire in the garden everywhere. Many municipalities prohibit garden fires because of particulate matter and air pollution or only allow them under strict conditions. There are also rules for compost: It must be managed in such a way that it does not cause any nuisance to the neighbors. This means a clean location, a well-maintained compost heap and the avoidance of strong odors. If managed correctly, valuable humus is created from waste – if managed incorrectly, unfortunately, disputes quickly arise.
Water consumption & irrigation
In hot summers, there may be restrictions on water consumption. Some municipalities impose temporary irrigation bans or only allow sparing use. Anyone who owns their own well often has to report or approve it. Garden owners should therefore regularly pay attention to local announcements in order not to risk unauthorized water use.
Structural facilities in the garden
Permits may be required for structural elements in the garden. These include larger retaining walls, permanently installed seating areas, pergolas, fixed raised beds, garden sheds or irrigation pipes in the ground. The respective municipality decides from which size a building permit is required. A short call to the building authority provides clarity and prevents construction work from having to be reversed later.
Conclusion: Is it worth having gardening work done by a professional?
A beautiful garden does not create itself – it thrives on being regularly maintained, thoughtfully designed and professionally cared for. Whether lawn care, shrub pruning, seasonal work or complete garden redesigns: A gardener can take a lot of work off your hands and ensure that your garden looks well-maintained, healthy and inviting at any time of the year.
Professional support is worthwhile, especially if you lack the time, experience or the right tools. The costs remain easy to calculate thanks to clear hourly rates, and you benefit from clean work, professional care and a garden that makes fewer problems in the long term.
From garden planning to ongoing maintenance to tree care – an experienced gardener knows what is important. And you can enjoy your garden as it is meant to be: as your personal green retreat.
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