Hey everyone! I'm launching my own garden maintenance service, nothing too fancy—just some garden waste cleanup, mowing, strimming, and general tidying up. I've spent days looking into different tool brands, and honestly, my brain is fried! I'm not working on the estates of billionaires; my clients are mostly in local terraced homes and bungalows.
I want to stick to battery-powered equipment, no petrol, and I'd prefer something at a reasonable price point. Ideally, I'm looking for:
- A lawnmower
- Strimmer
- Brush cutter
- A small pole cutter
- A wide-toothed hedge cutter to manage overgrown hedges
- A multi-tool might be beneficial too.
The largest lawns I'll handle will be about 15-20m squared. I've checked out nearly every brand except Hyundai, but I'm open to buying extra batteries as needed. I'll probably handle one or two gardens a day, including hedge trimming during colder months if customers have neglected them. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
I follow a gardener on Instagram who uses EGO tools; they're pretty popular and seem to perform well. Just curious, what are you charging for your services? I'm considering entering the landscape maintenance field myself in a few years.
If you're going to be working daily, investing in higher-quality tools will save you in the long run. Brands like Makita, DeWalt, and Stihl are solid choices. Mid-range brands like Hyundai, Einhell, and Ryobi might also work, but they may not hold up as well with frequent use.
My advice? Pick a brand, stock up on extra batteries and chargers—maybe even grab a portable charger for your van. There's no need to buy everything at once; start with the tools you need most, like a lawnmower and strimmer, and add more as you take on different jobs. No rush on getting a chainsaw just yet!
Great insights, thanks! I don't plan to do the same task every day—one day it might be hedge trimming, the next could be cleaning up a cluttered garden.
I've been using Stihl's AP series and find that two 300 batteries last for several jobs per day. I have the KMA 135R Kombi for strimming and other attachments, plus an HSA 86 hedge cutter and an MSA 220 chainsaw. I did get a handheld blower too, but it drains batteries quickly—switched to a petrol-branded one. The upfront costs were high, but they’ve paid for themselves over time! I went petrol for my mower too, which saves me time with larger jobs.
I'm using an estimate method for pricing—having a waste license really helps with garden clearances. Right now, I'm seeing a ton of requests for garden maintenance, especially for overgrown hedges. Pricing varies based on the job; for example, cleaning an overgrown privet hedge is around £150, while a quick trim might be about £60. For smaller lawns, I charge £25, and for a front and back tidy-up, it's around £40. The amount I take depends on size and work done, but having a transit tipper makes transport easy!