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Quick Answer
Regular maintenance for large gardens in the Chilterns includes: weekly or fortnightly visits, lawn mowing, border weeding, hedge trimming in season, path and patio sweeping, debris removal, and reporting of issues. Large gardens (0.5 to 5 acres) typically need 4 to 8 hours per visit . A formal maintenance plan keeps the garden looking good year-round.
Why Large Gardens Need Regular Maintenance
Large gardens need regular maintenance more than small gardens do. The scale means that a missed visit shows. A small garden that is a week late looks untidy. A large garden that is a week late looks abandoned. The sheer volume of growth, the number of plants, the length of hedges and the size of lawns all mean that regular maintenance is essential to keep the garden looking good.
Large gardens also have more complex maintenance needs. There are usually multiple zones (formal garden, vegetable garden, orchard, woodland, paddock), each with different requirements. There are usually more mature trees, longer hedges, bigger lawns, and more infrastructure (fences, paths, outbuildings). A regular maintenance gardener who knows the garden can keep on top of all this. An ad-hoc approach cannot.
This guide explains what regular maintenance for large gardens in the Chilterns includes, what it costs, and how to set up a maintenance plan that works.
What Regular Maintenance Includes
A typical maintenance visit for a large garden in the Chilterns includes:
- Lawn mowing and edging: weekly in the growing season, monthly in winter. Includes ride-on mowing for large lawns.
- Border weeding and tidying: hand weeding to get the roots out, deadheading, light pruning.
- Hedge trimming: in season (August to September for most hedges, January for native hedges).
- Path and patio sweeping: keeps hard surfaces clean and safe.
- Leaf clearance: weekly in autumn.
- Debris removal: all green waste taken away.
- Reporting: we WhatsApp photos of any issues we spot (pests, diseases, broken fences, leaks).
Things usually NOT included in a standard maintenance visit:
- Tree surgery (large tree work needs a specialist contractor)
- Lawn renovation (scarification, aeration, overseeding)
- Hard landscaping (patio, fence, deck work)
- Planting schemes (quoted separately as soft landscaping)
- Major pruning of mature shrubs and trees
- Pest and disease treatment (quoted as needed)
See our CGM Method page for detail on our approach.
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How Often Should We Visit?
The frequency depends on the size and style of the garden.
- Weekly visits: for formal gardens, large lawns, and gardens with high standards. March to October.
- Fortnightly visits: for most large family gardens. March to October.
- Monthly visits: for low-maintenance gardens and all gardens in winter.
See our guide to visit frequency for detail.
Cost of Regular Maintenance for Large Gardens
| Garden size | Visit frequency | Hours per visit | Cost per visit | Annual cost (March-Oct) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 to 1 acre | Fortnightly | 4-6 hours | 160-240 pounds | 1,500-2,500 pounds |
| 1 to 2 acres | Weekly | 4-6 hours | 160-240 pounds | 3,000-5,000 pounds |
| 2 to 5 acres | Weekly | 6-8 hours | 240-320 pounds | 4,500-7,000 pounds |
| 5 acres plus | Weekly | 8+ hours | 320+ pounds | 6,500+ pounds |
Winter maintenance (November to February) is usually monthly, at 30 to 50 percent of the summer cost.
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Setting Up a Maintenance Plan
A formal maintenance plan is essential for a large garden. The plan should include:
- Visit frequency (weekly, fortnightly, monthly)
- What is included in each visit (lawn, borders, hedges, paths, etc.)
- What is NOT included (tree work, lawn renovation, hard landscaping)
- Seasonal jobs (lawn renovation in September, hedge cutting in August, leaf clearance in October)
- Communication (WhatsApp, email, monthly report)
- Access arrangements (side gate, key safe, dog)
- Payment terms (monthly invoice, direct debit)
See our guide to preparing for professional maintenance for detail.
The Maintenance Year for a Large Garden
| Month | Key jobs |
|---|---|
| January | Winter pruning, bare-root planting, hedge cutting (deciduous), planning |
| February | Final winter pruning, mulching, lawn moss treatment |
| March | First lawn cut, border tidy, mulch, feed, prune late-summer shrubs |
| April | Lawn renovation, sow seeds, plant potatoes, weed control |
| May | Plant out tender plants, hedge trimming begins, deadheading |
| June | Weekly mowing, deadheading, watering, pest control |
| July | Weekly mowing, deadheading, watering, harvest soft fruit |
| August | Hedge trimming, prune wisteria, watering, harvest vegetables |
| September | Lawn renovation, plant bulbs, divide perennials, sow winter veg |
| October | Leaf clearance, plant bare-root, clear borders, mulch |
| November | Plant bare-root, final leaf clearance, protect tender plants |
| December | Winter pruning, planning, structural work |
Common Mistakes with Large Garden Maintenance
- Not having a plan. Without a plan, jobs are missed and the garden deteriorates.
- Not visiting often enough. A large garden needs weekly or fortnightly visits. Monthly is not enough in the growing season.
- Not communicating. The gardener needs to know what you want. Vague instructions lead to disappointment.
- Not budgeting for seasonal jobs. Hedge cutting, lawn renovation and leaf clearance are extra costs on top of regular maintenance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does maintenance cost for a 2 acre garden?
Typically 3,000 to 5,000 pounds per year for weekly maintenance from March to October, plus 500 to 1,000 pounds for winter maintenance. See our garden care level assessment for a CGM Care Level assessment.
Do I need a regular gardener or can I do it myself?
A large garden is too much for one person to maintain alone. Most large garden owners do the easy bits themselves and hire a professional for the heavy work. See our weekly vs fortnightly guide.
What is included in a maintenance visit?
Lawn mowing, border weeding, deadheading, light pruning, path sweeping, leaf clearance, and waste removal. See our CGM Method page.
Get Help with Large Garden Maintenance
If you have a large garden in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire or Bedfordshire and want to set up regular maintenance, send us a WhatsApp with photos and we will aim to respond within 12 to 36 hours, Monday to Sunday.
Further Reading
- How much does regular garden maintenance cost?
- How often should a gardener visit?
- How to prepare for professional maintenance
- Weekly vs fortnightly gardening
Mature gardens benefit from a planned approach rather than reactive maintenance. Keep records of what was done and when, so future work builds on previous seasons rather than fighting against them.
Put this advice into practice
Use the relevant CGM tool or follow a related guide, then send us a few photos if you would like a tailored plan.
Sources and citations
This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.
- CGM field records (2024-03. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
- Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
- Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
- British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.