Garden Maintenance Frequency: How often to schedule garden services

Maintaining a residential landscape can be a daunting undertaking; from plant pruning to tree care to deadheading to cleanup, it seems like the work never ends. Hiring an outside team to maintain residential landscapes is a common practice for most homeowners. 

A well-maintained garden not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your home but also adds value to your property. However, achieving and maintaining such beauty requires consistent attention, care, and expertise. For many homeowners, the question arises: how often should you hire a gardener to keep your residential landscape in prime condition? The answer varies based on a number of factors, including the size of the property, the types of plants in the landscape, your local climate, and personal preferences. In this post, we’ll explore the various considerations that impact the frequency of hiring a gardener, along with the benefits of professional garden care.

​Understanding the Specific Needs of the Landscape

Each garden is unique, and how often a maintenance crew should visit is largely dependent on the specific requirements of various elements of the garden. For instance, a simple lawn with a few flower beds will have different needs than one with a backyard orchard. Landscape elements include:

Lawns
If the landscape primarily consists of a lawn, regular mowing, edging and fertilizing will be required. Lawns need to be mowed weekly during the growing season in spring and summertime, which prevents the grass from growing too long and looking unkempt. In this case, hiring a gardener once a week or once every two weeks is sufficient.

Flower Beds and Borders
If a garden consists mainly of flower beds and borders, more frequent care may be necessary to keep the garden in tip-top shape. Pruning, deadheading and weeding are all tasks that should be completed regularly (about once a week) to keep the display looking fresh and healthy.

Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
These larger landscape plants, despite their size, actually require less frequent care than lawns or flower beds, but they will need occasional pruning and pest control. Maintenance for trees and shrubs can be completed between one and three times a year. This, of course, depends on the species grown and how shrubs are kept.

Vegetable Gardens
These beds require almost daily care, especially during planting and harvesting seasons. If a gardener is caring for a vegetable bed, they may need to visit once or twice every week during peak growth periods to ensure that vegetable plants are not becoming overcrowded, to manage pest and disease issues, and to harvest.

Growing Conditions

The unique climate of a landscape as well as seasonal changes in weather can affect how often garden maintenance is required. Different plants have varying growth cycles, and the care they require changes with the seasons.

Spring
This season is the busiest for garden maintenance as plants continue to put on growth rapidly. Lawns require regular mowing, and this time is also best for planting flowers, applying compost to soil, controlling weeds, and making sure plants are irrigated correctly. During this time, a gardener may need to come weekly or bi-weekly.

Summer
​During the warmer months of the year, frequency of garden maintenance will depend on how hot and dry it gets. Lawns will need increased water and mowing, and plants in veggie and flower beds will need consistent monitoring and care. Pest infestations move and grow quickly in the summer months. Frequent maintenance (once or twice a week) during this time can mean the difference between a healthy harvest and a full-blown pest outbreak.

Fall
Many plants will begin entering dormancy during this season, and many will shed leaves. Much of the maintenance in this season involves cleaning and preparing the garden for the cooler months. Maintenance may only need to occur every few weeks during this period.

Winter
Depending on the local climate, winter may be a relatively quiet time for the garden in terms of maintenance. Some plants will continue to put on growth, but most plants will go dormant, and cleanup may only be needed after major storms. Gardeners may only need to visit once a month or even less frequently.

Personal Preferences and Availability

In addition to having a maintenance crew visit the landscape, many home gardeners will complete some garden tasks on their own. This can save money in the long run, and can actually be a very enjoyable way to pass free time. How much time homeowners have to dedicate to garden care is an important consideration when deciding how often to hire a garden crew. If you are a busy professional or simply just do not have the time to care for your garden, hiring a gardener of a weekly or bi-weekly basis can ensure that your landscape remains in good condition throughout the year. If you enjoy gardening as a hobby and have a lot of free time, you may only need professional care four times a year.

Budget Considerations

Arguably the most important factor in how often a professional garden crew is hired for maintenance is budget. Professional gardening services can vary greatly in cost depending on the location, the size of a property, and the specific services required. Many gardening sercices offer package deals for regular maintenance, which can be more cost-effective than hiring a gardener on an as-needed basis. Newer garden maintenance companies have subscription plans with options to add services on an as-needed basis.

A day of garden maintenance is about 8 hours, and a half-day is considered 4. Basic gardeners in the Bay Area, California get paid an average of $25 an hour, which works out to $200 for a full day and $100 for a half day of maintenance. Labor price per hour varies depending on location, and the level of garden care provided. Materials like mulch, topsoil, compost, and plants are extra costs incurred by homeowners, as well, though some subscription gardening companies are changing this, building anticipated regular maintenance materials into their pricing structure.

benefits of hiring a professional gardener

Hiring a professional gardening service has many benefits beyond simply the convenience factor. Here are some of the key advantages:

Expertise
Professional gardeners typically have the knowledge and experience needed to properly care for a wide variety of plant life. They understand the specific needs of each and are able to provide the correct care to ensure that a garden thrives. These individuals are also frequently able to diagnose and treat problems with pests, disease, irrigation, and soil management.

Time Savings
Maintaining a gorgeous landscape is a lot of work, and is not always what most people feel like doing after getting home from a long day at the office. Especially for large landscapes, having a garden maintenance crew is critical, taking the hard work out of gardening and allowing you to enjoy your yard without the time commitment.

Consistent Care
As all home gardeners are aware, regularly occurring maintenance is key to ensuring the health of plants. Frequent visits can prevent problems like overgrown lawns, weeds, plant diseases, and pest populations from getting out of hand. This consistency is particularly important during the growing season when plants need the most attention.

Increased Property Value
A well-maintained garden has the ability to significantly increase the curb appeal, and therefore value, of your home. If you're considering selling your property in the future, regular garden maintenance is a worthwhile investment.

Conclusion

The frequency with which you should hire a gardener to maintain your residential landscape depends on a variety of factors, including the type of garden you have, the climate, your personal preferences, and your budget. For a simple lawn, bi-weekly or monthly visits may be sufficient, while more complex landscapes with a variety of plants and trees may require weekly or seasonal care. Ultimately, the goal is to find a balance that keeps your garden healthy, attractive, and well-maintained without overextending your budget or time.
By hiring a professional gardener, you can ensure that your landscape receives the expert care it needs to thrive, giving you more time to enjoy your outdoor space and increasing the value of your home. Whether you choose to hire a gardener weekly, bi-weekly, or seasonally, consistent care is the key to maintaining a beautiful and functional garden year-round.

Until next time.