Ten bushes is a very common job for the average suburban garden. A mix of foundation planting along the front of the house, a few specimen shrubs in borders, maybe a couple of overgrown ones at the back that haven’t been touched in a while. It’s the kind of garden task that feels like it should take an afternoon but somehow always takes longer than expected.
Here’s what it actually costs to have a professional trim 10 bushes, and what affects the final number.
Average Cost to Trim 10 Bushes
United States: $150 to $400 for 10 average-sized bushes in reasonable condition.
United Kingdom: £100 to £280.
Australia: A$175 to A$450.
New Zealand: NZ$190 to NZ$500.
That’s the range for 10 bushes that are regularly maintained, accessible, and not dramatically overgrown. The variables that push costs up or down are the size of each bush, how long it’s been since the last trim, the species, and what you’re doing with the clippings.
Why 10 Bushes Costs What It Does
Most professionals price shrub trimming in one of three ways: per bush (for simple, similar-sized plants), by the hour, or as a flat job rate after seeing the garden.
The hourly approach is most common for mixed gardens where the bushes vary in size and complexity. Standard rates in the US run $45 to $90 per hour for an experienced gardener, with the lower end reflecting less populated areas and the higher end reflecting urban markets or highly skilled topiary work.
For 10 average residential bushes, a professional typically spends 2.5 to 4 hours including trimming, cleanup, and bagging clippings. That translates directly to the cost range above.
What “Average” Actually Means
The word “average” is doing a lot of work in cost guides like this one, so let’s be specific. An average bush for pricing purposes is roughly:
- Height: 3 to 5 feet (90 to 150 cm)
- Spread: 3 to 4 feet across
- Condition: Maintained annually or every couple of years
- Access: Open, not pressed up against a wall or fence on both sides
If your 10 bushes are this size and condition, you’re in the standard range. If they’re a mix of small compact plants and large overgrown specimens pressed into tight corners, the job takes longer and costs more.
How Species Affects the Price
Not all shrubs take the same effort to trim. Here’s a quick breakdown of how common species affect cost:
| Shrub Type | Relative Effort | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boxwood (compact) | Low | Slow-growing, quick to tidy |
| Spirea | Low to moderate | Light, easy to shape |
| Forsythia | Moderate | Can get large and floppy quickly |
| Roses | Moderate to high | Thorny, more careful handling |
| Rhododendron | Moderate | Large leaves, size varies enormously |
| Mugo pine | High | Dense, slow work, needs care |
| Holly | High | Thorny, hard leaves, debris unpleasant |
A garden with 10 compact boxwood shrubs will cost less than a garden with 10 large, thorny hollies. If your mix includes a few challenging species, flag that when getting quotes.
Debris Removal: The Add-On That Catches People Out
On 10 bushes, the clippings add up to more than most people expect. Budget $20 to $50 for debris disposal in the US, £15 to £40 in the UK, on top of the trimming cost if it’s not included in the quote.
Some gardeners include it automatically. Others quote for the trim only and charge separately for hauling. Get this confirmed before work starts.
Getting Good Value for a 10-Bush Job
A few practical things that consistently save money on this size of job:
Bundle it with other work. If your lawn also needs mowing, or borders need a tidy, combining jobs with the same contractor usually reduces the minimum call-out fee that smaller single-task jobs often attract.
Clear access first. Moving garden furniture, children’s toys, and anything else blocking access to the bushes before the gardener arrives saves time you’re otherwise paying for.
Book off-peak. Late summer and autumn are typically quieter periods for landscapers. You may get better scheduling and occasionally a lower rate compared to peak spring demand.
Set up a recurring schedule. A gardener who comes twice a year has a relationship with your garden. They often offer a better rate for regular clients than for one-off jobs.
The Shrub Trimming Cost Calculator can generate a tailored estimate for your specific bushes, including their size, species type, and location.