The Borough · Greater London
How to Start a Gardening Business in The Borough
What you need to know about licensing, insurance and getting started -- specific to The Borough and the wider Greater London area.
Explore the full Gardening Business Launch Kit — £22If you're considering a gardening business in The Borough, the legal bar to entry is low, but it isn't zero. Here's what genuinely needs sorting before your first round in Greater London.
What the rules say
Gardening itself needs no general licence in the UK. What does need sorting: waste carrier registration if you remove clients' garden waste yourself, and separate certification for chainsaw/tree work or pesticide application. None of this is a barrier to getting started, but it's worth knowing before you take on jobs involving these specific tasks. Public liability insurance stays optional in law for a sole trader but expected by most clients.
Quick answers
Do I need a chainsaw licence to work in The Borough?
There's no single government licence for chainsaw use, but adequate training is a legal duty under PUWER 1998, whether you're working in The Borough 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 The Borough?
Applying certain pesticides commercially requires specific certification, regardless of whether you're working in The Borough 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 The Borough?
Most new gardeners in The Borough 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 The Borough?
Yes -- many gardeners in The Borough mix one-off clearance jobs with regular maintenance rounds, which helps smooth out seasonal demand across the year.