Plashet · Greater London
How to Start a Gardening Business in Plashet
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to Plashet and the wider Greater London area.
See what's inside the Gardening Business Launch Kit — £22A gardening business is one of the more open trades to start in the UK -- no general licence required -- though Plashet, like everywhere else, has a handful of activity-specific rules worth knowing before you pick up the first client.
What the rules say
No general licence is required for general garden maintenance work. Specific activities carry their own requirements though: removing a client's garden waste yourself will likely require waste carrier registration with the Environment Agency (or SEPA in Scotland, Natural Resources Wales in Wales), and chainsaw/tree work or pesticide application have their own certification requirements. Public liability insurance isn't a legal requirement for a sole trader, but it's widely expected in practice.
Quick answers
Can I use pesticides as a gardener in Plashet?
Applying certain pesticides commercially requires specific certification, regardless of whether you're working in Plashet or elsewhere in the UK. Many gardeners choose to avoid this route entirely and focus on cultural/mechanical methods instead.
Do I need equipment of my own to start in Plashet?
Most new gardeners in Plashet start with core equipment -- mower, strimmer, hedge trimmer and hand tools -- building up as the client round grows rather than buying everything up front.
Can I offer one-off tidy-ups as well as regular rounds in Plashet?
Yes -- many gardeners in Plashet mix one-off clearance jobs with regular maintenance rounds, which helps smooth out seasonal demand across the year.
Do I need a licence to be a self-employed gardener in Plashet?
No general licence is required for general garden maintenance in Plashet. Specific activities -- waste removal, chainsaw/tree work, pesticide application -- have their own registration or certification requirements.