Updated for 2026.
Finding a straight answer on gardener prices in London is frustrating. Most online guides give vague national averages that bear no resemblance to what you will actually pay in South East London, where labour rates run 20-25% above the UK average and the mix of Victorian terraces, modern flats and larger family gardens creates a wide range of job sizes.
This guide cuts through that. We have been operating across South East London since 2016, based in Eltham SE9, and these are our actual 2026 prices for every service we offer, from a one-hour lawn mow in Lewisham to a full garden transformation in Bromley.
Want to skip straight to a quote? Contact us here or call 07760800457 (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm) - we reply within 24 hours.
Quick Price Reference: South East London Gardener Prices 2026
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Garden maintenance | £83 first hour, £65 each subsequent hour |
| Garden clearance | £85/hour (2-person team, tools included) |
| Lawn care and mowing | £80 first hour, £60 each subsequent hour |
| Patio and driveway cleaning | £4/m2 (minimum £120) |
| Turfing, natural grass | £15-£28/sqm |
| Turfing, artificial grass | £60-£90/sqm |
| Garden fencing, closeboard | £260 per panel |
| Garden fencing, panel | £230-£280 per panel |
| Decking, softwood | £960-£4,800+ depending on size |
| Decking, hardwood/composite | £1,290-£6,450+ depending on size |
| Garden landscaping | £1,200-£18,000 depending on scope |
| Ivy removal | £80-£85/hour |
| Tree removal (up to 5m) | From £90/hour (labour only) |
| Stump removal (as part of a main job) | From £90/hour (labour only) |
See our full pricing page for the complete breakdown with all size variants and options.
All prices shown are correct as of 2026 and are subject to change. We always confirm the exact cost before any work begins, so there are no surprises on the day.
Why These Prices Are Accurate (And Most Online Guides Are Not)
Most "gardener cost" articles you will find online are written by national directory sites that aggregate data from across the UK and average it out. Those numbers do not reflect what you will actually pay in SE London.
Urban Gardeners has been operating across South East London since 2016, based in Eltham SE9. The prices in this guide are our actual 2026 rates from real jobs across Greenwich, Lewisham, Bromley, Blackheath, Woolwich, Sidcup, and every SE postcode in between.
- 12+ years of hands-on experience across South East London
- 111 verified Google reviews at 4.5+ rating
- Gardening and Landscape Design Business Diploma and Certificate
- Fully insured for all residential and commercial work
- Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
Read more about who we are and how we work, or browse our completed project portfolio to see real SE London gardens we have transformed.
What Affects Gardener Prices in South East London?
Before getting into individual service costs, here is what drives prices up or down across every service we offer in SE London.
Garden size and condition
This is the biggest variable. A small, well-maintained terraced garden in Deptford or Brockley takes a fraction of the time of a large, overgrown plot in Bromley or Sidcup. For hourly services, the final cost is almost entirely determined by how long the job takes.
Access
South East London has a huge variety of property types: Victorian terraces with no side access, modern flats with shared communal gardens, houses where all equipment has to come through the hallway. Restricted access adds time to every job. Our team arrives in a transit van and needs parking nearby. If there are parking charges or congestion zones, these are confirmed with you before the visit.
One-off vs regular visits
One-off visits cost the same hourly rate as regular bookings, but a garden that has been maintained regularly takes significantly less time at each visit. A garden that has not been touched for a year will always take longer to bring back to standard. The first visit is almost always the most expensive one.
Materials
For services like turfing, fencing, decking, and landscaping, materials are a major part of the total cost. The type and quality you choose makes a significant difference to the final price.
South East London labour rates
London gardener rates run 20-25% above the UK national average. A gardener in the Midlands or the North might charge £25-£35 per hour as a solo operator. In SE London, expect £40-£50 per hour for a solo gardener or £80-£90 per hour for a professional 2-person team like ours with all equipment included. The prices in this guide reflect genuine South East London market rates.
Time of year
Spring and summer are peak season. From March through August, our schedule fills up quickly, particularly for turfing, landscaping, and decking projects. Getting in touch in January or February for spring work gives you better flexibility on start dates.
Price: £83 for the first hour, £65 for every subsequent hour. No minimum charge.
Garden maintenance covers everything needed to keep an outdoor space tidy, healthy, and under control. Our team of two arrives fully equipped - no need to provide anything.
What's included:
- Lawn mowing and edging
- Weed removal and control
- Hedge trimming and reshaping
- Bush and shrub pruning
- Ivy trimming and management
- Flower bed maintenance
- Tree pruning up to 3-4 metres
- Garden edging
- Green waste collection and disposal
Garden maintenance project with Urban Gardeners.
Typical maintenance costs for SE London gardens:
- Small terraced garden in Deptford or Brockley: 2-3 hours, around £148-£213
- Medium garden in Eltham or Lee: 3-5 hours, around £213-£343
- Larger garden in Bromley or Sidcup or one that has not been maintained recently: 5+ hours, £343 upwards
Real example: We had a new client in Lewisham contact us after moving into a property where the previous owners had let the garden slide for about 18 months. Overgrown hedges, weeds through every border, and a lawn that was more moss than grass. The first visit took 6 hours for two people - £380 total including waste disposal. After that initial reset, their regular fortnightly visits now take 2 hours - £140 each time. The first visit is almost always the most expensive one.
First-time visits: We recommend booking at least 2 hours for a first visit so the team has enough time to bring the garden to a proper standard. Ongoing visits after that are bookable from 1 hour.
Book a garden maintenance visit - send us photos and we'll give you an honest time estimate within 24 hours.
Price: £85/hour for a 2-person team. Tools included. Waste removal quoted separately.
Garden clearance is for gardens that need more than maintenance - overgrown plots, neglected spaces, end-of-tenancy clearances, or preparation for landscaping work.
What's included:
- Hedge trimming and reshaping
- Weed removal and overgrowth control
- Tree cutting and stump removal
- Ivy and invasive plant removal
- Full green waste collection and disposal
- Pre-landscaping clearance preparation
Garden clearance project with Urban Gardeners.
For a detailed breakdown of the clearance process, see our complete garden clearance guide for South East London.
Typical clearance costs in SE London:
- Small overgrown garden: 3-4 hours, around £255-£340
- Medium garden with heavy overgrowth, brambles, or ivy: 5-8 hours, around £425-£680
- Large neglected garden requiring multiple visits: £700+, quoted after photos or site visit
Waste disposal is quoted separately depending on volume and confirmed before the visit so there are no surprises on the day.
Real example: We were called out to a terraced house in Catford where the garden hadn't been touched in nearly three years. The previous tenant had left it completely to its own devices - brambles had taken over the back fence, ivy was climbing the rear wall of the house, and a buddleia had self-seeded and grown to about 3 metres against the side boundary. The job took 9 hours across two visits, plus a separate waste collection run. Total cost came to £765 for labour and £180 for waste disposal - £945 in total. Not a small number, but the garden was genuinely unrecognisable by the end. The owner then commissioned us for a turfing project to finish it off. If we'd been maintaining it regularly, none of that would have been necessary.
If you are a landlord dealing with end-of-tenancy garden clearance, see our dedicated end-of-tenancy garden clearance guide for landlord-specific pricing and advice.
After clearance, many clients move straight into a landscaping or turfing project. See our garden landscaping service and turfing service for what's possible once the space is cleared.
Get a clearance quote - send photos and we'll reply within 24 hours.
Price: £80 first hour, £60 every subsequent hour.
Our lawn care and mowing service covers everything from a simple weekly cut to a full lawn health programme.
What's included in standard visits:
- Lawn mowing (residential and commercial)
- Lawn edging and border trimming
- Regular weekly or fortnightly visits
- One-off lawn tidy-ups
- Strimming around borders
- Grass clippings collected
- Lawn health check
Lawn mowing project with Urban Gardeners.
Typical lawn care costs in SE London:
- Small to medium lawn maintained regularly: 1-1.5 hours per visit, £80-£110
- Larger lawn or one needing more work: 2-3 hours, £140-£200
If your lawn has been damaged by waterlogging, compaction, or wear, our guide on dealing with poor drainage in South East London gardens is worth reading first - fixing the underlying problem before treating the lawn makes a significant difference to long-term results.
If your lawn has drainage problems, our guide on dealing with poor drainage in South East London gardens is worth reading first. For the best time of year to lay a new lawn, see our month-by-month turfing guide for SE London.
Get a lawn care quote - we cover all South East London postcodes including Woolwich, Lee, Charlton, and Sidcup.
Want an accurate gardener quote for your garden?
Prices vary based on garden size, access, and the type of work needed. We can give you a clear quote for regular maintenance, a one-off clearance, or a landscaping project in South East London.
Explore our services: Garden Maintenance, Garden Clearance, or Garden Landscaping and Design.
Price: £4/m2. Minimum charge £140 (covering up to 40m2).
Our patio and driveway cleaning service uses commercial-grade pressure washing, no harsh chemicals, safe for pets, plants, and all surface types.
Surfaces covered:
- Patios and paved areas
- Block paving and concrete driveways
- Timber and composite decking
- Garden pathways and steps
- Brick walls and exterior masonry
- Garden furniture and balconies
Typical costs in SE London:
- Small patio up to 30m2: minimum £120
- Medium patio 30-70m2: £120-£280
- Large patio or driveway 70-100m2: £280-£400
Patio cleaning project with Urban Gardeners.
Real example: We cleaned a large natural stone patio and block paving driveway for a client in Greenwich - total area around 85m2. The patio hadn't been cleaned in four years and had heavy black spot and moss between the joints. Total cost came to £340. The client said it looked better than when it was first laid. Natural stone in particular responds dramatically to a proper pressure wash - it's one of those jobs where the before and after is genuinely striking.
Book a patio clean - we can often give a price from photos without a site visit.
Natural turf: £15-£28/sqm. Artificial grass: £60-£90/sqm. Free on-site survey required before final quote.
Our turfing service includes everything - old lawn removal if needed, ground preparation, levelling, topsoil, and laying. For a full cost breakdown with size examples, read our dedicated South East London turfing cost guide.
Natural turf price ranges:
- Small lawn up to 30m2: £450-£840
- Medium lawn 30-60m2: £675-£1,680
- Large lawn 60m2+: £900-£2,240+
Artificial grass price ranges (includes excavation, sub-base, membrane, grass, and labour):
- Small up to 30m2: £1,800-£2,700
- Medium 30-60m2: £2,000-£5,400
- Large 60m2+: £3,600-£5,400+
Turfing project with Urban Gardeners.
Not sure which is right for your garden? Read our honest comparison: natural vs artificial grass for South East London gardens. For the best time of year to lay turf, see our month-by-month turfing guide. For a full cost breakdown by size, read our dedicated SE London turfing cost guide.
Get a free turfing survey - written quote provided within 3 business days after visit.
Free on-site survey required. All prices include materials, labour, post installation, and concrete setting.
Our garden fencing service covers new installations, replacements, and storm damage repairs across all South East London postcodes.
Pricing by fence type:
- Closeboard / feather edge fencing: £260 per panel
- Panel fencing: £230-£280 per panel
- Fence post replacement: £250 per post
- Storm damage / panel repair: £150-£300 per section
- Custom fencing solutions: quoted after survey
Waste disposal for old fence removal is quoted separately - typically £30-£220 depending on volume.
Fencing project with Urban Gardeners.
If a storm has taken out panels and you need advice on what to do first, read our guide on replacing a blown-down fence in South East London. If a storm has taken out panels, read our guide on replacing a blown-down fence in South East London.
Get a free fencing survey - written quote within 3 business days.
Free on-site survey required. Prices include materials, labour, subframe, and basic groundwork.
Our decking installation service covers ground-level, raised, and terraced decking.
Softwood decking (most popular, lasts 5-15 years with maintenance):
- Small up to 12m2: £960-£1,920
- Medium 15-25m2: £2,000-£4,000
- Large 30m2+: from £4,800
Hardwood or composite decking (lasts up to 20 years, near-zero maintenance):
- Small up to 12m2: £1,290-£2,580
- Medium 15-25m2: £2,690-£5,375
- Large 30m2+: from £6,450
Decking project with Urban Gardeners.
For a full breakdown of materials and what affects the final price, read our South East London decking cost guide 2026.
Book a free decking survey - written quote within 3 business days.
Free on-site survey required. Written quote within 3 business days.
Our garden landscaping and design service covers everything from a simple garden refresh to a complete outdoor transformation.
What we design and build:
- Patio laying (choice of slabs, colours, layout)
- Lawn laying and turfing
- Decking (ground level and raised)
- Garden fencing (standard or custom)
- Paving (driveways and paths)
- Garden levelling and regrading
- Raised beds and planting borders
- Small garden refresh (replanting, gravel, border restructure): £1,200-£3,500
- Mid-size redesign with new patio and planted borders: £3,500-£8,000
- Full garden transformation (patio, turf, fencing, planting): £4,000-£18,000
All prices include labour and materials. Final pricing depends on garden size, ground conditions, material choices, access, and design complexity.
Landscaping project with Urban Gardeners.
Real example: A client in Woolwich had a garden that was essentially a blank concrete slab at the back with overgrown borders. We cleared the borders, removed the concrete, installed a porcelain slab patio, laid fresh turf, and put up new closeboard fencing on two sides. Total: £8,400 including materials and labour, completed in six working days. Browse our project portfolio to see more before-and-after results.
Book a free landscaping survey - no obligation.
Specialist Services in South East London (Price on Request)
Some jobs fall outside standard pricing and need individual assessment:
- Ivy removal: £80-£85/hour. See our ivy removal cost guide for SE London for a full breakdown by location (walls, fences, trees)
- Tree removal (up to 5m): from £90/hour, labour only, quoted after photos or survey. For larger trees, see our guide on when to call a gardener vs a tree surgeon
- Stump removal: from £90/hour, labour only. We typically handle stump removal as part of a larger job (clearance, landscaping, or tree removal) rather than as a standalone service
- Bamboo removal: one of the most labour-intensive garden jobs, always needs a site visit
Contact us with photos for any of these. We will advise honestly on whether we can quote remotely or need to see it first.
DIY vs Hiring a Gardener: When Does It Make Financial Sense?
DIY makes sense for:
- Weekly lawn mowing on a small, accessible lawn
- Basic weeding of manageable borders
- Sweeping leaves and general tidying
- Watering and seasonal planting
Hiring a professional makes sense for:
- Anything involving hedges over head height
- Overgrown gardens that need proper clearance equipment
- Ivy or invasive plant removal
- Anything requiring machinery (scarifiers, aerators, stump grinders)
- Turfing, landscaping, and any structural work
- Time-sensitive jobs before a tenancy inspection or property sale
If you want to try clearing an overgrown garden yourself first, our step-by-step DIY garden clearance guide walks you through the right order, the tools you need, and the point where it stops being worth doing yourself.
How to Get an Accurate Quote From Urban Gardeners
For hourly services (maintenance, clearance, lawn care, patio cleaning, ivy removal): Send photos via our contact form with a brief description. We typically reply within 24 hours with an honest time estimate and total cost range. No site visit needed for most standard jobs.
For project-based services (turfing, landscaping, fencing, decking): These require a free on-site survey so we can measure accurately and discuss your vision. The survey is always free. Written quote follows within 3 business days.
What to include in your enquiry:
- Your postcode
- Photos of the garden or area
- Brief description of what you need
- Any access considerations (tight gate, no side access, parking restrictions)
Areas We Cover Across South East London
We cover all SE London postcodes plus Bromley, Bexley, and Dartford. Here are some of the areas we work in every week:
Abbey Wood SE2 | Blackheath SE3 | Brockley SE4 | Camberwell SE5 | Catford SE6 | Charlton SE7 | Deptford SE8 | Eltham SE9 | Greenwich SE10 | Lee SE12 | Lewisham SE13 | Peckham SE15 | Woolwich SE18 | Sidcup DA14/DA15 | Bromley
See our full areas page for the complete list.
Call 07760800457 (Mon-Sat 9am-6pm) or send your enquiry here. We reply within 24 hours.
Gardening Services Cost in South East London FAQ
Labour costs, fuel, vehicle costs, insurance, and equipment maintenance all run higher in London. SE London specifically sits 20-25% above the national average for most trade services. A gardener charging £25/hour elsewhere in the UK would charge £40-£50/hour here. Our prices reflect genuine local market rates for fully insured, professional work.
A one-off tidy-up for a small to medium SE London garden typically costs £148-£343 depending on how much work is needed (2-4 hours at our maintenance rate). A garden that has been neglected for a year or more will cost more because the first visit takes longer to bring it back to standard.
Not necessarily. As long as we have access to the garden and clear instructions, the team can complete most jobs while you are away. We confirm all details before the visit and send a summary after.
For hourly services, we can often schedule within a few days depending on demand. For project-based work requiring a survey, allow a week to two weeks from initial contact to project start. Spring and summer book up faster, so the earlier you enquire, the better. Contact us to check current availability.
Never. Photo-based quotes for hourly services are free and provided within 24 hours. On-site surveys for landscaping, turfing, fencing, and decking are always free with no obligation.
Yes, fully insured for all residential and commercial gardening and landscaping work across South East London.
A gardener handles ongoing maintenance: mowing, weeding, pruning, tidying. A landscape gardener (which we also are) designs and builds garden features: patios, decking, turfing, fencing, raised beds, and full garden redesigns. We offer both. For more on when you need a specialist instead, see our guide on gardener vs tree surgeon.
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I have a garden that's overgrown with I want cleared completely of all the grass and some thin planted trees. I also have 2 sheds to vreak down amd get rid of. I would like it replaced with fake grass and some paving. Would it be possible to get a quote in happy for a visit if u need to see it.
Hey, Mimi. Of course, we can help you with the garden clearance, artificial grass installation and paving. Please email us your details at office@urbangardeners.com, and our schedule manager, Plami will organise a survey to quote.