What does the section need?
“Lawn mowing & garden” is really three different jobs with three different price logics. Mowing is priced per visit. Hedge work is priced per hour at skilled rates. Garden maintenance is priced per hour at gardener rates. Pick the stream that matches the section: each has its own providers, its own prices, and its own Wellington rules.
Lawn mowing
A regular run on a set day, or a one-off when the section has got away on you. Priced per visit by lawn size, with a first-visit surcharge on long grass.
Hedge trimming & pruning
Hedges, boundary trims and fruit-tree pruning at skilled hourly rates. Height, access and green-waste removal drive the real total, not the clock alone.
Garden maintenance & clearing
Weeding, garden beds, pruning and section clearing, by the hour or quoted as a job. Book it when the real problem is not grass.
Not sure which stream?
If the lawn is most of the section, book mowing and ask whether edging and clipping removal are included. If hedges or overgrown beds dominate the view, scope garden maintenance by the hour instead, and keep the two quotes separate so you can compare like with like.
A section gone wild is a one-off mow or section clear, often bundled with hourly clearing work. Send photos either way: long-grass surcharges and minimum-hours commitments should be priced in before the crew arrives, not sprung on site.
How the streams compare
| Stream | Pricing model | Price range | Best when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn mowing | Per visit, by lawn size | $40–$60+ (one-off from ~$30) | Regular upkeep, or a one-off rescue |
| Hedge trimming | Skilled hourly rate | $75–$110/hr | Hedges, boundary trims, fruit-tree pruning |
| Garden maintenance | Hourly, or quoted as a job | $50–$90/hr | Weeding, beds, pruning, section clearing |
Wellington rules that change the job
The grass grows year-round. Wellington's mild climate keeps grass growing through winter: slower, but it does not stop. Over late autumn and winter you can often stretch mowing to every three to four weeks, yet going silent entirely is how a maintained lawn turns into a first-visit surcharge in spring.
Hill sections cost more in time. Steep Wellington sections, steps and narrow paths take longer to work and should be in the quote upfront. Favour providers already working hill suburbs like yours: the travel and the slope are priced into their round, not added to yours.
Green waste is weight-based. Southern Landfill charges green waste at a separate, lower rate than general waste, so a load of clippings and prunings should never cost general-waste prices. Wellington City Council rubbish bags can contain no more than 10% green waste, and mulch-mowing clippings back into the lawn cuts disposal cost entirely. Confirm whether your provider's quote includes disposal or leaves tip fees to you.