One of my clients recently created a beautiful 800 m² garden in Uccle — blue stone terrace, structured flower beds, a few well-placed trees. Six months later, he called me back. He hadn't anticipated the maintenance. No time, no tools, not really the budget he had planned. This is a situation I often encounter. People think about the design, much less about the maintenance.
Yet, a garden is alive. Plants grow, some die, the lawn requires attention, the hedges overflow, the flower beds either thrive or decline. Before designing a garden, it is essential to know what its maintenance will cost you — in time, energy, and money. This is even one of the first topics I discuss with my clients in La Hulpe, Uccle, or Rixensart when defining the style and materials. If you are still wondering what the 'design of an urban garden, entails, this guide is the logical continuation of that reflection.
The style of the garden determines your maintenance load
The first thing I tell my clients: the garden you choose today is a long-term commitment. A formal garden with topiaries and trimmed yews requires much more attention than a natural garden with ground covers and grasses. This is not a value judgment — it is simply a reality to incorporate into the choice of style.
Here is a comparative grid that I use to help my clients make an informed choice:
| Garden style | Estimated annual maintenance | DIY time / year | Recommended professional visits | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mineral garden / gravel | Very low | 10 – 20 h | 1 – 2 / year | ⭐ |
| Natural garden / ground covers | Low | 20 – 40 h | 2 – 3 / year | ⭐⭐ |
| Mixed garden (borders + lawn) | Medium | 40 – 80 h | 4 – 6 / year | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Classic garden (lawn + hedges) | Medium to high | 60 – 120 h | 6 – 8 / year | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Vegetable garden + ornamental | High | 80 – 150 h | 6 – 10 / year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Formal garden (topiary, boxwood) | Very high | 100 – 200 h | 8 – 12 / year | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Estimates based on a garden of 300 to 500 m² in the Belgian context. DIY time includes mowing, pruning, weeding, and seasonal cleaning.
What professional maintenance costs in Belgium
Hiring a professional gardener in Belgium costs on average between €35 and €55 per hour, with rates reaching €45 to €60 in urban areas such as Brussels, Uccle, or Watermael-Boitsfort. Here are the indicative rates for the main services:
| Service | Indicative rate (Belgium) | Recommended frequency | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn mowing | €0.25 – €0.50 / m² | Every 10 – 15 days (spring/summer) | Or robotic lawn mower |
| Hedge trimming | 4 – 10 € / linear metre | 1 – 2 times / year | More expensive if hedge > 2 m |
| Weeding | 20 – 40 € / h | As needed | Reduced with ground covers |
| Tree pruning | 200 – 850 € / tree | Every 2 – 3 years | Variable depending on height |
| Maintenance of flower beds (trimming, mulching) | 30 – 60 € / h | 2 – 4 times / year | |
| Complete annual contract | 900 – 2,500 € / year | Planned package | Cost-effective over time |
| Hourly rate for gardener | 35 – 55 € / h | On request | 35 – 60 € in urban areas |
Sources: jardinier-wallonie.be, trustup.be, travaux.com — rates 2024-2025. Data for informational purposes, a personalised quote remains essential.
Regarding trees in particular, be aware that pruning periods are not just a matter of budget — they are also regulated. Our article on thefelling of trees in Walloon Brabant, Flemish Brabant and Brusselswill provide you with all the rules to follow before intervening.
The robotic lawn mower: smart investment or hidden cost?
For a garden with a significant lawn, the question of the robotic lawn mower often arises. It is a tool that I regularly recommend — provided you fully understand its real cost over time.
Initial investment:
- Small garden (< 400 m²): €500 – €1,000 for an entry-level model.
- Medium garden (400 – 1,500 m²): €1,000 – €2,500 for a reliable mid-range model.
- Large garden or complex terrain: €2,500 – €4,000 for wireless perimeter GPS models.
Annual operating costs:
- Blade replacement: €40 – €10 / year (1 to 2 times per season).
- Electricity consumption: €30 – €10 / year — negligible.
- Annual workshop service: €100 – €200 depending on the model (strongly recommended before winter storage).
- Battery replacement (every 3 – 6 years): €150 – €350 to budget for.
In total, the annual maintenance cost of a robotic mower is between €100 and €250, excluding servicing. Over 5 years, you should expect to spend between €2,000 and €3,500 all-inclusive (purchase + maintenance + battery). This is significant, but should be weighed against the time saved and the impeccable results of continuous mowing.
An important point often overlooked: the robotic mower does not replace all maintenance. It handles mowing, but not trimming beds, weeding, pruning, or autumn cleaning. These tasks remain on the agenda.
How to reduce maintenance load from the design stage
This is probably the most useful advice I can give: the best way to reduce maintenance costs is to make the right choices at the planning stage. A well-designed garden is much easier to maintain than an improvised garden. This is precisely what we detail in our guide oncity garden design: structure, textures, and design.
- Choosing evergreen and structural plantswhich require only one or two annual prunings (osmanthus, pittosporum, Ilex crenata) rather than fast-growing plants that overflow in a few months.
- Completely cover the ground with dense ground cover.— the goal is to leave no bare soil. Carex, epimedium, perennial geraniums: the soil is no longer visible, weeding becomes anecdotal. Our article on thegardens of perennials and grassesprovides good guidance in this regard.
- Consider the adult height of each plant— a common mistake is to plant shrubs that will become invasive in 3 years, necessitating severe and repeated pruning.
- Reduce the lawn areain favour of hard surfaces or beds in shaded areas — a lawn under trees is a source of ongoing maintenance. If your garden lacks light, our articleUrban garden in Brussels: how to tame the shadewill provide you with very low-maintenance plant alternatives.
- Install an automatic irrigation systemif the garden is substantial — it reduces the water stress on the plants and can quickly pay for itself by limiting plant replacements.
Regulations, a cost not to be forgotten
Garden maintenance is not limited to horticultural tasks. Certain works — pruning large trees, felling, modifying boundary hedges — are governed by strict rules that vary according to your municipality. Acting without checking can lead to unexpected costs, or even obligations to restore.
If you are in the municipalities of southern Brussels or in Walloon Brabant, consult our article on theplanning regulations for gardens in Walloon Brabant: height of hedges, distances to neighbours, and neighbourhood rules are detailed there. For the municipalities of Flemish Brabant such as Overijse, Tervuren or Sint-Genesius-Rode, theHORIZON+ regulation changes some rules— it is better to know them before undertaking any work.
What it changes to plan ahead
A poorly maintained garden ends up costing more than a well-designed garden from the start. Overgrown plants, depleted flower beds, moss-covered lawns: in the long run, these are restoration costs that add to regular maintenance.
When I assist my clients in designing a garden, I systematically incorporate this question: how much time are you willing to dedicate to it each week, and what annual maintenance budget do you have in mind? The answer directly influences the choice of style, plants, and areas. It is not a constraint — it is what allows for the creation of a garden that you will continue to love in ten years.
Do you want to assess your garden or design a space intended to last?Contact usfor an on-site consultation visit.
FAQ — Garden maintenance in Belgium
What budget should I plan for the annual maintenance of my garden in Belgium?
It all depends on the style and size. For a garden of 300 to 500 m² with lawn and flower beds, expect to pay between €900 and €1,500 per year for a complete professional maintenance contract. By doing some of the tasks yourself (mowing with a robot, weeding), this budget can drop to €200 – €500 per year excluding equipment depreciation.
Is a robotic lawn mower really worth the investment?
For a garden with a lawn of more than 200 m², yes. The robot frees up a considerable amount of time — mowing can account for 40 to 60% of the maintenance time of a traditional garden — and maintains a more even lawn than weekly mowing. Expect to pay between €1,000 and €2,500 for purchase, and €100 – €250 per year for ongoing maintenance.
What type of garden requires the least maintenance?
The natural garden or mineral garden are the least demanding. A garden made up of grasses, robust perennials, dense ground covers, and little or no lawn may only require 10 to 20 hours per year — and a few visits from a gardener in autumn and spring. This is often the solution I propose for clients who want a beautiful garden without strong constraints.