Autumn garden tidy in Exeter
Professional autumn garden tidy 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
Autumn garden tidied quickly and thoroughly. Leaves cleared, paths swept, dead stuff removed. All the seasonal tidying you've been meaning to do, sorted in one visit.
Autumn's Here and the Garden's a Mess
One minute you're sitting in the garden with a cold drink. Next minute it's knee-deep in leaves and you can barely see the path. Autumn hits fast in Devon, and if you've got trees nearby (or your neighbours do), it's a losing battle keeping on top of it.
💡 Pro tip: Don't wait for every single leaf to fall before tidying. It's easier to do it twice lightly than once when they're six inches deep and soggy. But if you've already left it too late, don't worry - I've seen worse.
Tidy vs Untidy
| ✅ Properly Tidied | ❌ Left to Get Worse |
|---|---|
| Lawn clear and breathing | Grass dying under wet leaf mulch |
| Paths safe and non-slip | Slippery leaf carpet (trip hazard) |
| Borders neat and accessible | Can't even see what's in there |
| Ready for winter | Fighting a losing battle all season |
What Gets Done
🔧 Standard Autumn Tidy
| Area | What I Do |
|---|---|
| Lawns | Rake or blow leaves clear, check grass can breathe |
| Borders | Pull out dead annuals, cut back obvious dead stuff |
| Paths | Sweep clean (wet leaves are lethal underfoot) |
| Drains | Quick check nothing's blocking them |
| Waste | Bag up and remove, or bin if you prefer |
📦 End Result
- Garden looking tidy and cared-for
- Paths safe to walk on
- Lawn not suffocating under leaves
- All mess cleared away
Pricing Guide
| Garden Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small front garden | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Average back garden | 2-3 hrs | £110-£160 |
| Large garden or heavy leaves | 3-4 hrs | £160-£210 |
| Full property (front, back, side) | 4+ hrs | £210-£260 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Waste disposal included.
Perfect For...
✅ You work full-time - no time to keep on top of it yourself
✅ Older residents - too much bending and lifting
✅ Tree-heavy gardens - it's just relentless in autumn
✅ Before guests arrive - make the garden presentable fast
Why Choose Us for Autumn garden tidy in Exeter?
Leaves cleared from lawns and borders
Dead growth removed and composted
Pathways swept clean and safe
All waste removed or binned for you
What to Expect
Step 1: Size It Up
I'll have a quick look at the garden, see how much leaf coverage there is, check what else needs doing. Give you an honest time and cost estimate.
Step 2: Clear & Sweep
I'll work through methodically - usually lawn first, then borders, then paths. If there's anything you want me to leave (like piles for hedgehogs), just point it out.
Step 3: Clean Finish
All waste bagged and removed or binned. Garden left tidy and neat. I'll sweep the paths last so they're spotless when I leave.
🔧 DIY Tips
Doing it yourself? Here's how to make it less of a slog:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Spring-tine rake (light and flexible for leaves)
- Stiff yard brush for paths
- Garden bags or a tarpaulin to drag leaves
- Leaf blower (optional but speeds things up massively)
- Secateurs for cutting back dead plants
- Wheelbarrow for shifting piles
🍂 Working efficiently
- Pick a dry day - wet leaves are three times heavier and stick to everything
- Work with the wind if you're using a blower
- Rake into big piles first, collect second (faster than bagging as you go)
- Don't try to pick up every single leaf - you'll drive yourself mad
🧹 Path safety
- Wet leaves on paving are incredibly slippery
- Sweep them off regularly, especially near steps
- Check drains aren't blocked or water will pool
- A stiff brush works better than a rake on hard surfaces
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Waiting until every leaf has fallen (you'll be waiting until December)
- Raking wet leaves (exhausting and slow)
- Forgetting to check gutters while you're at it
- Leaving piles against fences or walls (holds moisture, encourages rot)
💡 Pro trick: If you've got a mower with a collection box, run it over the lawn. It mulches the leaves and collects them in one pass. Way faster than raking if the coverage isn't too thick.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Got a repeat leaf problem? If you've got big trees or neighbours' trees dumping leaves all over your garden, you might want me to come back in a few weeks. I'll do the second visit cheaper since I already know the garden.
Composting leaves? They make brilliant leaf mould if you pile them somewhere and forget about them for a year. I can make you a neat pile in a corner if you want to try it.
In a rush? Autumn garden tidies are often same-day or next-day jobs if you catch me at the right time. Give me a ring and I'll see what I can do.
Exeter properties with those big old trees often get absolutely hammered with leaves. Some gardens I do three times in autumn because the trees keep dropping. It's worth it though - keeps the grass alive and the paths safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between garden prep and garden tidy?
Honestly, not much - they're basically the same job. Garden tidy is usually more about clearing leaves and making it look neat. Garden prep includes that plus a bit more like checking gutters and covering furniture. But I'll do whatever needs doing when I'm there.
How long does an autumn garden tidy take?
Depends on the size and how bad it's got. Average back garden with a decent covering of leaves takes me 2-3 hours. Big garden with trees overhanging from neighbours might be 3-4 hours. I'll give you a better estimate when I see it.
Can you come back if more leaves fall after you've done it?
Yes, absolutely. Autumn's annoying like that - I can tidy your garden one week and it's covered again the next if you've got trees nearby. Some people book me twice - once in October, once in November. I'll give you a discount for repeat visits.
Do I need to be home while you do it?
Not necessarily. As long as I can access the garden and you're happy with me working while you're out, I can crack on. Just leave a note if there's anything you specifically want left alone.
What do you do with the leaves?
I can bag them up and take them away, put them in your green bin, or pile them somewhere out of sight if you want to use them for leaf mould. Your call - just let me know what works for you.
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Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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