Custards · New Forest
How to Start a Gardening Business in Custards
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Custards and the wider New Forest area.
See what's inside the Gardening Business Launch Kit — £22If you're considering a gardening business in Custards, the legal bar to entry is low, but it isn't zero. Here's what genuinely needs sorting before your first round in New Forest.
What the rules say
There's no blanket licence for being a gardener. The real rules sit around specific tasks: carrying away a client's garden waste yourself likely triggers waste carrier registration with your relevant national agency, while chainsaw/tree work and pesticide application each require their own certification. Public liability insurance isn't legally required for a sole trader, but most clients expect it regardless.
Quick answers
How do I find my first gardening clients in Custards?
Many new gardeners in Custards start with a handful of regular maintenance rounds built through local referrals and a simple online presence. The Gardening Business Launch Kit covers how to structure and grow a round from scratch.
Do I need insurance to start a gardening business in Custards?
Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement as a sole trader, but it's widely expected by clients across Custards and New Forest. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement once you take on any staff.
Do I need a chainsaw licence to work in Custards?
There's no single government licence for chainsaw use, but adequate training is a legal duty under PUWER 1998, whether you're working in Custards or anywhere else. A recognised competence certificate (commonly NPTC or Lantra Awards) is the standard way to evidence this.
Can I use pesticides as a gardener in Custards?
Applying certain pesticides commercially requires specific certification, regardless of whether you're working in Custards or elsewhere in the UK. Many gardeners choose to avoid this route entirely and focus on cultural/mechanical methods instead.