To find a gardener for regular garden maintenance in Ireland, decide which tasks you want done and how often, describe your garden and its access clearly, and ask two or three gardeners how they would price regular visits. Before the first visit, agree who brings the tools, what happens to green waste and how rained-off visits are handled.
Step 1: Decide what regular maintenance should cover
Regular maintenance usually means keeping the garden in shape, not redesigning it. Write down the tasks you want done on every visit and the ones you want only occasionally.
| Task | What to ask the gardener |
|---|---|
| Lawn mowing and edging | How often in the growing season, and whether edges are included |
| Hedge and shrub trimming | Which hedges and shrubs, and how often |
| Weeding beds and borders | Which areas, and whether they use weedkiller or weed by hand |
| Leaf and debris clearance | Which months, and where the leaves go |
| Green waste | Taken away, left in your bin, or composted, and whether that costs extra |
| Paths and patios | Sweeping only, or weeding between slabs as well |
Step 2: Choose how often
Grass grows fastest from spring to early autumn, so most households want more frequent visits in that season and fewer in winter. Decide whether you want a fixed schedule, such as every week or every two weeks in the growing season, or visits on request.
Step 3: Describe your garden and access
Give the approximate size of the lawn and beds, the number and length of hedges, and how the gardener gets in: a side gate, through the house, or only by key. Photos help a gardener judge the time each visit takes. Common mistake: forgetting to mention a locked side gate or steps, which changes how equipment gets in.
Step 4: Ask two or three gardeners how they would price it
Send the same description to each gardener and ask how they price regular work, per visit or per hour, and what is included. Compare what each one covers, not only the total.
Step 5: Agree tools, green waste and weather
Confirm who brings the mower, trimmer and other tools, and what happens to grass cuttings and clippings. Agree how a visit is rescheduled when the weather is too wet, and whether a missed visit is charged.
Step 6: Review after the first few visits
After two or three visits, walk the garden with the gardener and adjust the list: add tasks that need doing, drop ones that do not, and agree any change to the schedule.
Checklist before the first visit
- Task list for every visit and for occasional visits.
- Frequency agreed for the growing season and for winter.
- Garden size, hedges and access described, with photos.
- Tools, green waste and weather arrangements agreed.
- Price basis, payment and cancellation agreed in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Who takes away the grass cuttings and hedge clippings?
Agree it before the first visit. Some gardeners take green waste away, others leave it in your garden bin or compost. If it is taken away, ask whether that is included in the price.
Does the gardener bring their own tools?
Most bring their own mower, trimmer and hand tools, but ask. If you want them to use your equipment, say so and check it works before the first visit.
What happens when it rains?
Lawns are usually not cut when they are very wet, so visits can move. Agree how a rained-off visit is rescheduled and whether it is charged.
Do I need a gardener in winter?
Less often. Growth slows in winter, so many households reduce visits to occasional tidy-ups, leaf clearance and hedge or shrub work. Agree a winter schedule in advance.