A regular visit should make the garden easier to enjoy and the work easier to manage. The useful question is what your garden needs within the time agreed. A small lawn with simple borders needs a different routine from a garden with extensive hedges and seasonal planting.
Agree the priorities first
Start with a walk-around. Point out the areas that matter most, the plants you want to keep and any problems that need attention. Discuss access, parking and how tools and materials will reach the garden. If it is overgrown, an initial tidy-up may need a separate scope before a regular routine begins.
What can a visit include?
- Lawn care: mowing and edging when conditions are suitable.
- Borders: weeding, tidying and attention to the agreed planting areas.
- Hedges and shrubs: cutting or suitable pruning at an appropriate time.
- Seasonal work: planting and other tasks agreed for the garden and time of year.
This is a list of possible tasks, not a promise that all of them are included at every visit. Confirm the priorities and time allowed so you know what to expect. Ask whether the removal of green waste and any materials are included in the estimate.
Weekly or fortnightly?
Choose a routine around growth, the amount of work and the finish you want. A weekly visit may suit a garden needing frequent attention; a fortnightly visit may be appropriate where the agreed tasks can be managed between visits. An assessment of the actual garden is more useful than choosing frequency from size alone.
The RHS advises adjusting lawn mowing to growth, weather and the type of lawn. Wet, frozen or very soft ground can make mowing unsuitable. A regular schedule still needs practical judgement about what can be done on the day.
The tasks change through the year
In the growing season, mowing and keeping borders tidy may take more time. At other points, attention may move to leaves, planting or suitable pruning. The timing for a particular plant depends on the plant and the work required, so a blanket pruning date is rarely useful.
Tell the gardener about any specific plants or features that need particular care. Our lawn care guide has more background on planning a lawn routine.
What should be discussed separately?
Large reductions, repairs, new beds, turfing, replacement planting and construction can need additional time, materials or a different visit. Ask about these before assuming they are part of routine care. A maintenance visit is not automatically a landscaping project.
What affects the estimate?
For CLEO M Gardening, the garden's size, difficulty, access and the work required affect the quote. Explain the current condition and the result you want. Agree the visit frequency, scope, waste arrangements and how additional work will be priced before booking.
We provide garden maintenance in Barnet, Finchley and surrounding North London areas, including weekly and fortnightly care. Include your postcode and a short description of the garden when you enquire. If your first priority is a bigger change, explore our landscaping service and the Finchley garden refresh.
Further reading
See the RHS lawn mowing guide for advice on adapting a mowing routine to conditions. The tasks for your own garden should be agreed after assessment.