Gardening and outdoor jobs across Switzerland
Swiss gardens need someone from March to November: lawns every two weeks, hedges twice a year, leaves every autumn, snow every winter. It is honest outdoor work with a clear rhythm — and once a household books you for the lawn, they usually keep you for the season.
0 % fee until 31 Oct, then 9 % · Clients pay you directly · All of Switzerland · Sign up in 3 minutes
Free, takes a few minutes. No credit card.
What the work looks like
These are the jobs clients ask for most often in this category.
Lawn mowing
The bread and butter of this category: a fortnightly round of the same gardens from spring to autumn. Predictable income, short jobs, close to home.
Hedge and shrub cutting
Twice a year, usually spring and late summer. Physically harder and better paid than mowing — a good electric hedge trimmer pays for itself in two jobs.
Planting and beds
Weeding, planting, mulching, raised beds, balcony and terrace plants. Popular with clients who love their garden but ran out of time.
Autumn and winter
Leaves, cutting back, garden clearance, and snow clearing on paths and driveways once the season turns.
What you can earn
You set your own price and agree it directly with the client — Werkara takes no fee until the end of October 2026, then 9 %. The figures below are usual market rates in Switzerland, not a Werkara tariff.
| Job | Usual rate |
|---|---|
| Lawn mowing | CHF 30–40 / hour |
| Hedge cutting | CHF 40–55 / hour |
| Planting and bed work | CHF 35–45 / hour |
| Autumn clean-up / snow | CHF 35–50 / hour |
Guide values. Rates are higher in Zurich, Zug and Geneva than in rural regions, and higher for evening, weekend and short-notice work. Income from tasks is taxable — see our article on tax and AHV.
Who we are looking for
Basic tools help, the client’s tools work too
Many households have a mower and trimmer and simply need someone to use them. Your own equipment lets you charge more and take more jobs.
Seasonal by nature
Peak demand runs March to November, with a snow-clearing tail in winter. Plan it as a seasonal income rather than a flat year-round one.
Green fingers optional
Mowing, weeding and leaf clearance need care and stamina, not a horticulture diploma. Tree work and pesticides are the exceptions — see below.
How it works
From registration to your first paid task in three steps:
- Sign up free — Takes a few minutes on the website. No sign-up fee, no credit card.
- Create your profile — Say what you do, where you work and what you charge. Add photos and any certificates.
- Get tasks — Clients near you post tasks. You choose what fits, send your offer and agree the details directly.
Good to know before your first task
Ordinary garden care needs no permit. Two exceptions: applying plant protection products commercially (weedkillers, insecticides, fungicides) requires the Fachbewilligung Pflanzenschutz, and from 2027 you will also need it to buy the products. Tree felling and work at height in trees require training and, in most municipalities, a felling permit.
More detail: which work needs a permit in Switzerland · tax, AHV and insurance for freelancers. Werkara is a platform, not an authority — the binding answer always comes from the responsible cantonal office.
Frequently asked questions
What does garden work pay in Switzerland?
You set the rate. Mowing and general garden care are typically CHF 30 to 40 an hour, hedge cutting CHF 40 to 55 because it is harder and needs equipment. Regular fortnightly clients are worth more than one-off jobs — they fill your calendar for the whole season.
Do I need my own garden tools?
Not always. Many clients have a mower, trimmer and tools in the shed and just need someone to do the work. Owning a hedge trimmer and a strimmer widens what you can take on and lets you charge a higher rate.
Do I need a licence to use weedkiller?
Yes, if you apply plant protection products as part of paid work. That requires the Fachbewilligung Pflanzenschutz (horticulture category); from 2027 it will also be needed to purchase the products. Mechanical weeding needs nothing.
Can I cut down a tree for a client?
Only with the right training, and usually only with a permit from the municipality — most Swiss communes protect trees above a certain trunk diameter. Pruning small shrubs from the ground is not affected.
Is there work in winter?
Less, but yes: autumn clean-ups run into November and snow clearing on paths and driveways is requested from December. Most gardening taskers combine the category with cleaning or moving work over the winter.
Other areas on Werkara
You can offer more than one — most taskers do.
Ready for your first task?
Sign up free, set up your profile and get tasks from clients near you — in Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Winterthur and Lugano, and everywhere in between.
Sign up freeFree, takes a few minutes. · All tasker information