How to Start a Gardening or Landscaping Business in the UK (2026)
Gardening is one of the lowest-barrier businesses to start — no qualification needed, and you can begin with a van and hand tools. But two specifics catch people out: you can't legally spray weedkiller commercially without a certificate, and removing green waste needs a waste carrier registration. This guide covers every step in order.
Step 1 — Get the right tickets for what you offer
No qualification is legally required to garden, but specific work needs certificates:
- Spraying weedkiller/pesticides commercially → you must hold PA1 + PA6 pesticide certificates (a legal requirement under the Plant Protection Products (Sustainable Use) Regulations 2012) — even for amateur products applied off your own land.
- Tree/chainsaw work → NPTC/Lantra chainsaw tickets.
- RHS Level 2 is the respected credential that builds trust and justifies higher rates.
Step 2 — Choose your structure and register with HMRC
Sole trader or limited company, registered within 3 months of trading.
Step 3 — Register as a waste carrier
If you remove garden/green waste (clippings, soil, turf), you legally need to register as a waste carrier with the Environment Agency — it's quick and cheap, and skipping it carries fines.
Step 4 — CIS for hard landscaping
Patios, walls, decking and other construction-type work falls under CIS. If you do hard landscaping for contractors you may need to register as a subcontractor (deduction drops 30% → 20%).
Step 5 — Get insured & set up
Public liability (essential — you're working on clients' property), employers' liability (legal once you hire), tools/van cover, a business bank account, and VAT over £90,000. If you sell plants commercially, check APHA plant-passport rules.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Needed? |
|---|---|
| Gardener's licence | ❌ No licence exists |
| PA1 + PA6 pesticide certificates | ✅ Legal if you spray pesticides commercially |
| Chainsaw tickets (NPTC/Lantra) | ⚪ If you do tree/chainsaw work |
| HMRC registration | ✅ Sole trader or company |
| Waste carrier registration | ✅ If you remove green waste |
| CIS registration | ⚪ If you do hard landscaping for contractors |
| Public liability insurance | ⚠️ Effectively essential |
| Employers' liability insurance | ✅ Legal if you employ anyone |
| VAT registration | ✅ Once turnover > £90,000 |
Start your gardening business the easy way
Spark builds your exact setup checklist — the pesticide and waste-carrier rules, CIS for hard landscaping, insurance and tax — tailored to what you offer. Free.
Build my free checklist →FAQ
Do I need a licence to start a gardening business? No general licence — but you legally need PA1/PA6 certificates to spray pesticides commercially, and a waste carrier registration to remove green waste. Does CIS apply to gardeners? To hard landscaping (construction-type work) yes; to pure soft gardening, generally no.
Last reviewed 2026. Confirm current rules on GOV.UK, HSE and the Environment Agency before acting.