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 passes your request on to a professional gardener in your area — whether you’re in Lausanne, Geneva, Sion or Neuchâtel. They contact you and prepare a free, no-obligation 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. Regular upkeep takes a lot of work 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. A professional gardener can take care of sorting in line with cantonal standards; ask about it when you receive your quote.
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 professional 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: Describe your project
Fill in the form, 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 the quote will be.
Step 2: Your request is passed on
SOS Jardin passes your request on to a professional gardener in your region, who contacts you and can assess your garden. They prepare a detailed, free quote with no obligation.
Step 3: The maintenance is carried out
If you accept the quote, the gardener takes care of your garden according to the schedule you agree together.
What affects the price of garden maintenance
The cost of garden maintenance varies depending on the surface area, how easy the garden is to access, slope and terrain complexity, the type of plantings, the materials needed and the frequency of visits (one-off or annual contract). A free, personalised quote is the best way to find out the exact cost for your situation.
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. An annual contract spreads the visits throughout the year, with more frequent visits in spring and summer.
Is an annual contract better than one-off visits?
In most cases, yes. An annual contract can be more economical than the equivalent one-off visits combined; ask for both options in your quote. 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?
Generally, yes: professional gardeners usually work with their own equipment (mower, hedge trimmer, leaf blower, brush cutter and gardening tools). Green waste transport and disposal can also be arranged; check this with the gardener when you receive your quote.
Can I request maintenance for a shared property or a second home?
Absolutely. Your request can also concern a co-owned property (PPE), a property managed by an agency or a second home in the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Fribourg and Neuchâtel. You can specify any access constraints when submitting your 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 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: check the municipal regulations with your commune. 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.