"Garden service" means different things to different companies. Before you sign up, know what's normally included and what you might be charged extra for. Then compare quotes like for like.
Usually included in a regular visit
- Mowing the lawn, with clippings removed or mulched.
- Edging along paths, beds and paving.
- Weeding of beds and paving cracks, or spraying them.
- Light pruning and trimming of shrubs and hedges.
- Blowing or sweeping paths, patios and the driveway.
- Removing garden waste from that visit, though some services leave it bagged on site.
Often charged extra
- Tree felling or cutting back large trees. See tree felling in Benoni.
- Garden refuse removal of big piles or a full bakkie load.
- Scarifying, top dressing and fertilising the lawn, usually done once a year in spring.
- Irrigation repairs and new sprinkler systems.
- Planting new beds, compost and mulch. That's closer to landscaping.
- Pest and weed control with chemicals.
How often?
In Benoni's summer growing season, roughly October to March, lawns grow fast and most gardens need a weekly visit. In winter, when kikuyu lawns go dormant, fortnightly or monthly is usually enough. Ask whether the price changes between seasons. See our lawn care calendar.
Questions to ask before you sign up
- How many workers come, and for how long?
- Do you bring your own equipment and fuel?
- What happens to the garden waste?
- Is there a contract or notice period?
- Are your workers' wages and insurance your responsibility? They should be.
For typical rates, see garden service prices in Benoni, or compare weekly garden services.