What Does Garden Maintenance Include?

What does garden maintenance include?

Garden maintenance includes all the regular, ongoing jobs that keep a garden looking cared for: mowing, edging, weeding, hedge and shrub trimming, mulching, and a general tidy-up of clippings and green waste. Think of it as the steady upkeep that stops a garden slowly getting away from you, as opposed to a one-off blitz or a big landscaping project. When people ask what garden maintenance involves, that regular round of small jobs is the heart of it.

The exact mix depends on the garden and the season, but below is what's usually on the list, so you know what you're getting when someone quotes you for "garden maintenance."

The core jobs in a regular visit

Most maintenance visits around the Hills cover some combination of these:

• Mowing the lawn to a healthy height, on a roster so it never gets out of hand.
• Edging and line-trimming along paths, beds and fences for that clean, finished look.
• Weeding garden beds and paths before weeds set seed and spread.
• Hedge and shrub trimming to keep shape and stop things crowding (more on the timing in when to trim hedges in Australia).
• Blowing down and cleaning up paths, driveways and entertaining areas so it's tidy when we leave.
• Green waste removal: clippings into the green bin as part of the job, with extra material carted away by arrangement.

That's the everyday core. It's the difference between a garden that quietly stays nice and one that needs rescuing twice a year.

What Does Garden Maintenance Include?

Seasonal jobs that come and go

On top of the regular round, some jobs are seasonal. Mulching garden beds goes a long way heading into the warmer months. It locks in moisture and keeps weeds down through a hot Sydney summer. Heavier pruning tends to suit the cooler part of the year for many plants. There's usually a leaf and storm clean-up after a big blow, and a bit more weed pressure through the wetter, warmer stretches. A good maintenance plan flexes with the seasons rather than doing the exact same thing every visit.

What garden maintenance is not

It's worth being clear on the line. Garden maintenance is the regular upkeep of an existing garden. It's not a full landscaping job. New garden design, paving, turf laying, retaining walls or planting out a bare yard are separate pieces of work. Plenty of gardens need a tidy-up reset first and then slot onto a maintenance round to stay that way. If you're not sure which you need, that's an easy thing to sort once we've had a look.

How often should it be done?

It depends on the garden and how lush you like it kept. A busy family garden often suits a regular fortnightly or monthly round through the growing season, easing off as growth slows in the cooler months. The principle is the same one behind mowing frequency: keeping on top of it little and often is far less work, and better value, than letting it run wild and paying for a big rescue. There's no lock-in either; you're on the round because it's easy.

What Does Garden Maintenance Include?

What it costs and how we quote

Because every garden is different, "garden maintenance" doesn't have one flat price. The cost comes down to the size of the garden, how much is involved each visit, and how often it's done. Rather than guess sight-unseen, we have a look at the actual garden and give you an honest number that holds unless the job itself changes. No surprises is the whole point.

Let us keep your garden looking after itself

A well-kept garden is mostly about turning up regularly and doing the small jobs before they become big ones. That's exactly what we do for Hills families: mowing, edging, weeding, hedges, mulching and clean-ups, on a reliable round, turning up when we say we will. Have a look at the suburbs we cover, our full range of services, or request a free quote by phone, text or web, whatever's easiest.

Quick answers

What is included in garden maintenance?

The regular upkeep jobs: mowing, edging, weeding, hedge and shrub trimming, mulching, blowing down, and green-waste clean-up, plus seasonal jobs as they come.

What is the difference between garden maintenance and landscaping?

Maintenance is the ongoing upkeep of an existing garden. Landscaping is bigger one-off work like design, paving, turf laying or new planting.

How often should garden maintenance be done?

Often fortnightly or monthly through the growing season, easing off as growth slows. Little and often beats letting it run wild and paying for a rescue.

Does garden maintenance include rubbish removal?

Yes. Clippings go in the green bin as part of the job, and extra green waste can be carted away by arrangement, quoted up front.

Related reading: When to trim hedges in Australia · How often should you mow your lawn in the Hills District?

Useful background: seasonal garden jobs from Gardening Australia and mulching tips from Sustainable Gardening Australia are a handy reference.