Autumn garden prep in Exeter
Professional autumn garden prep services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£110-£210
Typical Duration
2-4 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Garden prepped properly for autumn and winter. Leaves cleared, beds cut back, gutters checked, furniture sorted. Your garden put to bed properly so it comes back strong in spring.
Don't Let Autumn Catch You Out
You know how it goes. One minute it's September and the garden's still looking alright. Next minute it's November, the leaves are six inches deep, the beds are a jungle, and you're staring out the window thinking "I really should sort that."
💡 Pro tip: Get your autumn garden prep done before the leaves go soggy. Dry leaves are lighter and easier to shift than the wet, compacted mess you get after the first few heavy rains.
What Proper Autumn Prep Looks Like
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Left Too Late |
|---|---|
| Leaves cleared before they mat down | Soggy leaf mulch killing your grass |
| Dead growth cut back to healthy wood | Disease spreading over winter |
| Gutters flowing freely | Overflow and wall damage when it rains |
| Furniture clean and covered | Frost damage and mould by spring |
What Gets Done
🔧 The Full Autumn Sort-Out
| Task | What I Do |
|---|---|
| Leaf clearing | Rake, blow, or collect - whatever works best for your garden |
| Border tidy | Cut back dead perennials, leave evergreens alone |
| Gutter check | Clear any leaves blocking gutters and downpipes |
| Furniture | Move under cover or apply proper weatherproof covers |
| Waste removal | Bag up and remove, or separate for composting |
📦 You're Left With
- Clean, tidy garden ready for winter
- Gutters flowing properly
- Furniture protected from frost damage
- All waste removed or composted
Pricing Guide
| Garden Size | Time Needed | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small front garden only | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Average back garden | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
| Front and back, full prep | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
| Large garden or heavy leaf fall | 4-5 hrs | £210-£260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Waste removal included.
Perfect Timing For...
✅ Before the rains - dry leaves are so much easier to shift
✅ Before frost - protect your furniture and tender plants
✅ Before you go away - come back to a tidy garden, not a swamp
✅ Before Christmas - one less thing to worry about in December
Why Choose Us for Autumn garden prep in Exeter?
Leaves and debris cleared completely
Beds cut back and tidied for winter
Gutters and drains checked and cleared
Garden furniture stored or covered properly
What to Expect
Step 1: Quick Assessment
I'll have a look at what needs doing - check the leaf coverage, see what's dead and what's just dormant, spot any gutter issues. Give you a realistic time estimate.
Step 2: Clear & Tidy
I'll work through methodically - leaves first, then borders, then gutters, then furniture. If you've got specific plants you want left alone, just point them out.
Step 3: Waste Sorted & Garden Clean
All the waste bagged up for removal or composting. Garden left tidy and winter-ready. Quick walk-through to check I haven't missed anything.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tackle it yourself? Here's how to do it properly:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Garden rake (spring tine rake is best for leaves)
- Secateurs for cutting back plants
- Garden bags or a wheelbarrow
- Leaf blower (optional but speeds things up)
- Step ladder for gutter access
- Waterproof covers for furniture
🍂 Clearing leaves efficiently
- Do it on a dry day if possible - wet leaves are heavy and stick to everything
- Rake into piles first, then collect
- Don't bag up oak or walnut leaves for composting - they take ages to break down
- Leave some leaf piles in quiet corners for hedgehogs
✂️ What to cut back
- Yes: Dead or diseased growth on perennials
- Yes: Anything that's gone brown and mushy
- No: Evergreen plants or structural stems with seed heads (birds love them)
- No: Spring bulb foliage (even if it looks tatty)
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Cutting everything back to the ground (some plants need their dead growth for protection)
- Piling leaves against house walls (holds moisture, encourages rot)
- Forgetting to check gutters until they overflow
- Leaving furniture uncovered on wet grass (it'll sink in and rot)
💡 Pro trick: Use your mower with the collection box on to mulch and collect leaves from the lawn in one go. Much faster than raking, and you get part-composted leaves straight into the bag.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Got a garden clearance job too? If there's old junk to shift as well as autumn prep, we can do it all in one visit. Saves you a second callout charge.
Compost or tip? I can separate soft green waste (good for composting) from woody stuff and weeds (better off at the tip). Your choice how you want it handled.
Regular autumn client? If I do it for you this year and it works well, we can make it a regular booking for next autumn. Saves you remembering to sort it.
Exeter's older gardens often have heavy clay soil that holds water in autumn. If your lawn's getting waterlogged, mention it - I can advise whether you need aeration or drainage help (separate job, but good to flag early).
Frequently Asked Questions
What's actually involved in autumn garden prep?
It's getting your garden ready for winter before the worst weather hits. That means clearing leaves, cutting back dead growth, tidying borders, checking gutters aren't blocked, and storing or covering garden furniture. Basically, all the jobs you know you should do but keep putting off.
When's the best time to do it?
Late October through November is ideal - after most leaves have fallen but before the ground gets waterlogged and miserable to work in. I get busy in November, so book early if you can.
Do you take the garden waste away?
Yes, I can bag it all up and take it to the tip, or if you've got your own green bin I'll fill that. If you've got a compost heap, I can separate out what's compostable and what needs disposing of.
My garden's a complete mess - will you judge me?
Not even slightly. I've seen it all. Autumn gardens get out of hand quickly, especially if you work full-time or you've been away. I'm here to sort it, not judge it.
Can you just do the front garden?
Absolutely. Front gardens are usually quicker anyway - you'll probably be looking at the lower end of the pricing. Some people just want the front done so it looks tidy from the street.
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Got multiple jobs?
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