The price for a gardener

[PumpkinP]

I have a hedge round my garden that needs trimming, looking around for a gardener and have just been quoted £500! I didn’t know gardeners charged so much! It’s literally just trimming the hedge. Aibu to be shocked by the price or is this normal?!

How big is the area and in which part of the country do you live?

It depends on how big it is. Hourly rate should be about £20-£25 (for the south east)

I’m in London and it’s a council house so not exactly massive! Shocked anyone can afford a gardener with those prices.

That sounds a lot. Don't know why you can't make the effort to state length and height though. Would be a more useful conversation.

It's either a very large hedge or he's pricing himself out because he doesn't want the job.

I gather that also includes the removal of said hedge cuttings

I would have to go out and measure 😂 I don’t think any hedge should cost that much surely? I sent him pics so I didn’t send measurements to him.

Anyway just been quoted £70 by someone so seems he was definitely over pricing maybe he didn’t want the job but then surely he should just not respond.

Yes, areas vary enourmously. Also, it is a high hedge, or could it be done from ground level? That makes a difference.

I do one side of a 100' (30m) x 6' (2m) hedge in about an hour. That's one that isn't overgrown and also involves collecting the cut leaves.

I'm 65 and though I'm quite fit for my age, I really am nowhere near as fit as a gardener should be. I do each side on separate days because I can't manage them on the same day.

Even £70 is pricey unless it is out of control or he has to take the cuttings away and pay for their disposal.

Well I’ve just been quite £40! It’s amazing how different the prices are! Can’t believe it would cost an extra £460 to take it away and dispose of it?!

Disposing of waste will be an additional expense to the gardener, but not over £400!