A beautifully maintained garden all year round — without the effort
Looking for a reliable gardener to take care of your outdoor space in Western Switzerland? SOS Jardin is a team of qualified gardeners working across the region — whether you’re in Lausanne, Geneva, Sion or Neuchâtel. Contact us for a free quote.
What does garden maintenance involve?
Garden maintenance covers all the regular tasks needed to keep an outdoor space healthy and visually appealing. This includes lawn mowing, weeding flower beds, collecting fallen leaves, trimming hedges and shrubs, cleaning paths and patios, as well as seasonal care such as fertilising and winter preparation.
In Western Switzerland, the climate varies considerably between the shores of Lake Geneva and the valleys of Valais. A local professional understands your soil type, the plant species suited to your altitude and the constraints imposed by municipal regulations. They also know when to step in: March for the first spring clean-up, June for preventive treatments, and October for winterising.
Why hire a professional?
A significant time saver. A 500 m² garden easily requires 4 to 6 hours of work per week during peak season. A professional gardener works efficiently thanks to specialised equipment and experience, freeing up your weekends.
Long-lasting results. Poor maintenance — mowing too short, pruning at the wrong time, superficial weeding — can cause lasting damage to your plants. Professionals apply best practices tailored to each species and season.
Seasonal care on schedule. Gardeners in Western Switzerland know the local calendar: scarification in April, anti-moss treatment in spring, final mowing before the first frosts in November. An annual maintenance contract ensures nothing gets overlooked.
Green waste disposal included. In Switzerland, garden waste disposal is regulated. Professionals hold the necessary permits and ensure sorting complies with cantonal standards.
Tailored advice for your property. Every garden is unique: aspect, altitude, soil type, existing species. A professional gardener can advise on improvements — installing automatic irrigation, choosing drought-resistant planting, building a terrace — to enhance your outdoor space for years to come.
A single point of contact for all your needs. Rather than juggling a landscaper for garden creation, a tree surgeon for pruning and a specialist for fencing, a comprehensive maintenance contract simplifies management and ensures consistency across all work.
Seasonal calendar in Western Switzerland
The climate of Western Switzerland — shaped by Lake Geneva’s influence, the coolness of the Jura and the dryness of the Valais — dictates a precise maintenance rhythm. Here is the typical calendar our gardeners follow:
Spring (March – May)
- March: first garden clean-up (collecting the last leaves, branches broken by snow). Pruning roses and summer-flowering shrubs. Beginning bed preparation.
- April: scarification and first lawn mowing. Weeding paths and beds. Applying organic fertiliser to the lawn and plantings. Cutting back ornamental grasses.
- May: planting annuals and perennials after the Ice Saints (11–13 May). Starting up irrigation systems. First trimming of fast-growing hedges (thuja, cherry laurel).
Summer (June – August)
- June: regular mowing (every 7 to 10 days). Trimming flowering hedges after blooming. Weeding and mulching beds to reduce evaporation.
- July: increased watering during heatwaves, preferably in the evening. Raising the mowing height to 5–6 cm to protect roots. Second trim of evergreen hedges.
- August: pruning lavender and summer-flowering shrubs. Summer lawn fertilisation. Monitoring pests (aphids, scale insects, box tree moth).
Autumn (September – November)
- September: overseeding bare patches in the lawn. Planting spring-flowering bulbs. Final lawn fertilisation (potassium-rich feed to prepare for winter).
- October: intensive leaf collection. Tidying up spent perennials. Protecting frost-sensitive plants (palms, oleander, olive trees).
- November: final mowing before winter. Winterising the garden: fleece protection, thick mulch, draining the irrigation system. Pruning deciduous trees.
Winter (December – February)
- December – January: dormant period. Equipment maintenance and sharpening. Planning spring landscaping projects.
- February: pruning fruit trees (before sap rises). Trimming deciduous hedges (hornbeam, beech). First sowings under cover in the mildest areas along Lake Geneva.
How it works
Step 1: Contact us
Fill in our form or call us, specifying the size of your property, the type of services you need (one-off maintenance or annual contract) and your location in Western Switzerland. The more detail you provide, the more accurate our quote will be.
Step 2: We visit and provide a free quote
A gardener from our team visits your property to assess your garden. We provide a detailed quote including a breakdown of services, frequency of visits and pricing, with no obligation.
Step 3: We carry out the maintenance
Our team takes care of your garden according to the agreed schedule, with a dedicated contact and regular follow-up.
Prices and rates in Switzerland
Garden maintenance rates in Western Switzerland vary depending on the area, terrain complexity and frequency of visits. Here are typical price ranges for 2026:
- One-off maintenance (single visit): CHF 50.– to 80.– per hour, depending on the canton and type of work.
- Annual maintenance contract (regular visits): CHF 2,000.– to 5,000.– per year for a garden of 300 to 800 m², with 15 to 25 visits depending on the season.
- Full spring clean-up: CHF 300.– to 700.– for a standard garden (weeding, light pruning, cleaning flower beds, first mowing).
- Autumn winterisation: CHF 250.– to 550.– (leaf collection, pruning, protecting sensitive plants, final mowing).
Rates are generally higher in the cantons of Geneva and Vaud than in Jura or Valais. A personalised quote remains the best way to find out the exact cost for your situation.
Indicative pricing
| Service | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Gardener hourly rate | CHF 50.– to 80.– / hour |
| Half-day package (4h) | CHF 200.– to 300.– |
| Annual contract (garden < 500 m²) | CHF 2,000.– to 4,000.– / year |
| Annual contract (garden 500–1000 m²) | CHF 4,000.– to 7,000.– / year |
| Green waste disposal | CHF 60.– to 120.– / trip |
Indicative prices incl. VAT for Western Switzerland. Free final quote after on-site visit.
Frequently asked questions
How often should a garden be maintained in Western Switzerland?
During peak season (April to October), a visit every two weeks is the minimum for most gardens. In the off-season, a monthly visit is usually sufficient. A typical annual contract includes 18 to 25 visits spread throughout the year, with more frequent visits in spring and summer.
Is an annual contract better value than one-off visits?
Yes, in most cases. An annual contract works out 15 to 25% cheaper than the equivalent one-off visits combined. It also ensures regular follow-up and allows the gardener to schedule seasonal care (fertilising, treatments, pruning) at the right time.
What does standard garden maintenance include?
Standard maintenance generally includes lawn mowing, weeding flower beds and paths, trimming shrubs and small hedges, blowing or collecting leaves, and disposing of green waste. Additional services such as tree pruning, irrigation system maintenance or lawn fertilisation can be added according to your needs.
Does the gardener bring their own equipment?
Yes. Our gardeners have their own professional equipment: mower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, brush cutter and gardening tools. They also handle the transport and disposal of green waste in accordance with cantonal regulations.
Can I request maintenance for a shared property or a second home?
Absolutely. Our team also works with co-owned properties (PPE), property management companies and owners of second homes in the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Fribourg and Neuchâtel. You can specify any access constraints when submitting your quote request.
How can I prepare my garden for summer drought in Western Switzerland?
Summers in Western Switzerland are becoming increasingly hot and dry, particularly in the central Valais and along Lake Geneva’s shores. Several measures help limit the impact of drought: mulch beds with 5 to 8 cm of organic mulch to retain moisture, install an automatic irrigation system with a timer to water early in the morning, raise the mowing height to 5–6 cm, and favour drought-resistant Mediterranean plants (lavender, rosemary, ornamental grasses). A professional gardener can carry out an audit of your garden and propose a landscaping design suited to changing climate conditions.
What are the legal obligations for garden maintenance in Switzerland?
In Switzerland, several rules govern the maintenance of private green spaces. Branches and roots extending onto a neighbour’s property may be cut by the neighbour after formal notice (Art. 687 of the Swiss Civil Code). Hedge height along property boundaries is often regulated by municipalities. Open-air burning of green waste is prohibited in most French-speaking cantons. The Federal Act on the Protection of Nature and Cultural Heritage (NCHA) prohibits the clear-cutting of hedges and thickets between 1 March and 30 September to protect nesting birds. A professional gardener knows these rules and ensures your work is compliant.
Can garden maintenance and landscaping projects be combined?
Yes, and it is even recommended. A regular maintenance contract allows your gardener to spot potential improvements throughout the seasons: replacing an ageing hedge with a fence, creating a terrace in an underused area, installing a pergola for a shaded zone, or fitting a gate. Bundling these projects with your maintenance provider ensures a coherent overall vision and simplifies coordination.