Cost for help in garden

ThereWeAreThensmileyface · 06/08/2026 14:24

Given the above, it looks like they are paying the apprentice rate?

Personally I think we should be encouraging our youth to work and paying a decent hourly rate, irrespective of their age.

ThereWeAreThensmileyface · 06/08/2026 14:23

In the UK (from 1 April 2026):
Age
Minimum hourly rate
21 and over (National Living Wage)
£12.71
18–20
£10.85
16–17
£8.00
Apprentices (under 19, or first year)
£8.00

National Living Wage vs Real Living Wage
National Living Wage (£12.71) – the legal minimum employers must pay workers aged 21+ (unless an exemption applies).
GOV.UK

Real Living Wage (£13.45 across the UK / £14.80 in London) – a voluntary rate set by the Living Wage Foundation based on the cost of living. Only employers who choose to become accredited are required to pay it.

ponyprincess · 05/08/2026 09:06

Usually gardeners quote for a job, not per hour. Agree that if they do waste removal ot can add significantly to the price.

BrownHaired · 04/08/2026 22:40

Newmeagain · 03/08/2026 10:01

Paying someone £10 per hour for babysitting is also too low!!

I think it depends on whether the children need any attention.

If they are asleep when the 16 year old babysitter gets there, and stay asleep until the parents return when expected and well before midnight, so the babysitter can get on with their homework/scrolling/TV watching then it's not bad.

Overthebow · 03/08/2026 10:04

VanilleFraise · 03/08/2026 09:47

My comment refers to the pay amount an not the fact they are teenagers.

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But it’s minimum wage for teenagers, it’s not illegal pay and reasonable for young inexperienced people wanting to get work experience.

Newmeagain · 03/08/2026 10:01

Paying someone £10 per hour for babysitting is also too low!!

VanilleFraise · 03/08/2026 09:47

Overthebow · 02/08/2026 20:33

Why does it? If I had an elaborate garden that required a professional gardener I’d go with one, but lots of people just have regular smallish gardens and don’t need or want to pay high prices. Why would it bother you if teenagers want to get some experience and make some money and people are wanting to pay what they ask for some small jobs?

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My comment refers to the pay amount an not the fact they are teenagers.

CombatBarbie · 02/08/2026 22:09

My young person only wants roughly the same plus he has a quad so disposes of the grass cuttings. Its a large garden but he strims and cuts all the main areas. I literally have to force him to take £20/30. He won't use my petrol either 🙄

Overthebow · 02/08/2026 22:09

chirrupybird · 02/08/2026 20:34

Cash in hand I assume.

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Teenagers are unlikely to pay income tax and NI. What is wrong with them trying to earn a bit of money for themselves and get some experience? It sounds like you’re begrudging them doing this, we actually need more jobs like this for teenagers to do.

rubyslipperss · 02/08/2026 21:58

My gardener charges 15/hour . He’s fantastic and does a great job . I’d pay more if he asked ! He’s worth his weight in gold !

Original poster

mummymummymummy123456 · 02/08/2026 21:54

MyDarlingRose · 02/08/2026 21:53

I agree. I get £100 a day doing temping office work that’s answering the phone and an occasional email.

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But that’s with income tax and no pid by employer? Plus holiday etc

OP posts:

MyDarlingRose · 02/08/2026 21:53

mondaytosunday · 02/08/2026 20:42

I think minimum wage for a young teenage lad. £70/day is so cheap for an adult. I’d expect for a labourer with no expertise at least £100/day. I paid my gardener (qualified with certificates) £35/hour.

I agree. I get £100 a day doing temping office work that’s answering the phone and an occasional email.

Original poster

mummymummymummy123456 · 02/08/2026 21:43

Evenstar · 02/08/2026 21:39

My gardener who cuts the lawns charges £40 to cut front and back and strim the edges and use a blower to clean the grass off the patio etc. I pay him an extra £10-20 if he trims shrubs and clears up depending on how long it takes him. I have a teenager who does a couple of hours here and there weeding for £10 per hour, it’s hard work and I think that’s the minimum that’s fair for anyone.

That’s very cheap

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Evenstar · 02/08/2026 21:39

My gardener who cuts the lawns charges £40 to cut front and back and strim the edges and use a blower to clean the grass off the patio etc. I pay him an extra £10-20 if he trims shrubs and clears up depending on how long it takes him. I have a teenager who does a couple of hours here and there weeding for £10 per hour, it’s hard work and I think that’s the minimum that’s fair for anyone.

mondaytosunday · 02/08/2026 20:42

I think minimum wage for a young teenage lad. £70/day is so cheap for an adult. I’d expect for a labourer with no expertise at least £100/day. I paid my gardener (qualified with certificates) £35/hour.

SurreySenMum26 · 02/08/2026 20:39

chirrupybird · 02/08/2026 20:32

It rather depends if this is on the black market or if all tax is being declared.

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If it's for a teen in education they won't tax or NI threshold. I pay my uni son to.be ds PA. It's all through payroll at £15 ph but he never gets near the 11k for either tax or NI.

I'd never pay a babysitter via payroll or expect them to do a tax return either

chirrupybird · 02/08/2026 20:34

Overthebow · 02/08/2026 20:33

Why does it? If I had an elaborate garden that required a professional gardener I’d go with one, but lots of people just have regular smallish gardens and don’t need or want to pay high prices. Why would it bother you if teenagers want to get some experience and make some money and people are wanting to pay what they ask for some small jobs?

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Cash in hand I assume.

Overthebow · 02/08/2026 20:33

VanilleFraise · 02/08/2026 18:53

Ridiculously low.

As a self employed gardener this stuff boils my piss annoys me

Why does it? If I had an elaborate garden that required a professional gardener I’d go with one, but lots of people just have regular smallish gardens and don’t need or want to pay high prices. Why would it bother you if teenagers want to get some experience and make some money and people are wanting to pay what they ask for some small jobs?

chirrupybird · 02/08/2026 20:32

mummymummymummy123456 · 02/08/2026 18:02

I’ve seen on my local FB group someone paying £8ph for a young person to help tidy their garden.

i think that’s far too little but someone was recommended and he’s £70 full day. He’s a labourer on site, no transport.

is that not a bit too little?

It rather depends if this is on the black market or if all tax is being declared.

allwillbe · 02/08/2026 20:29

VanilleFraise · 02/08/2026 18:53

Ridiculously low.

As a self employed gardener this stuff boils my piss annoys me

same here. Ridiculous wage.

ilovesooty · 02/08/2026 20:29

nomas · 02/08/2026 18:06

Definitely too little.

It’a the same on my Nextdoor. People asking the vulnerable to work for very low wages and framing it as ‘pocket money’.

Same on my local Next Door site. They take the piss with cleaners as well.

Overthebow · 02/08/2026 20:27

It depends on the age I think. We need more jobs for teens. I don’t need a gardener, and I don’t want to pay the prices suggested here I’d rather do it myself. But if some local teenagers were advertising their services and it was say £10 an hour I’d pay them to do it. It’s give them experience and some money, we need more of this.

hahabahbag · 02/08/2026 20:19

For an untrained teen eg a 15 year old trying to make money for a big school trip who needs to use all of your equipment and garden waste bin it’s an acceptable price and legal. For over 19 it’s not even legal to pay so low.

I’ve got a lad from round the corner who comes and cleans my car (using my water, my cleaning chemicals, my electric, my hoover) and I’m doing him a favour really because I’d do it myself otherwise but he’s doing an expedition and needs to raise money.

LadyBeatriceBeaHiggins · 02/08/2026 20:18

Allseeingallknowing · 02/08/2026 19:28

No, but I wouldn’t pay that!

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thats the problem with society everyone wants a proper wage but no one wants to pay the proper prices for the person to have the proper wage,

Original poster

mummymummymummy123456 · 02/08/2026 20:16

Proteinpudding · 02/08/2026 20:15

It's really low, but also not good value - assuming an under 18 doesn't have professional equipment or training. Our gardener can achieve more in a 2hr visit than I can do in a weekend with hand tools.

He’s got his cards and he’s not a gardener

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