Yard maintenance and gardening
NDIS Core support
Help keeping a yard or garden safe and tidy, such as mowing, weeding and clearing, for people who can’t do this themselves.
The short answer
Yard maintenance and gardening support helps keep a yard or garden safe and tidy, such as mowing, weeding and clearing, for people who cannot do it themselves.
About Yard maintenance and gardening
An overgrown or untidy yard can be a safety hazard and a source of stress. Support with yard work might include mowing lawns, trimming hedges, weeding, clearing leaves and removing hazards such as overhanging branches. Regular attention keeps your yard safe and your home welcoming.
You decide how much you want to be involved. Some people prefer a worker to do the tasks, while others enjoy gardening and want help with the heavy or awkward parts. A worker can also help you set up raised garden beds or easy-care plantings that are simpler to manage.
Before starting, agree what is included, how often visits will happen and who provides equipment. Ask about insurance and how the provider handles safety, especially with machinery and chemicals.
Who is this service for?
People who cannot keep their yard or garden safe and tidy themselves, for example with mowing, weeding or clearing.
What a typical session looks like
A yard maintenance visit covers the outdoor jobs that keep a home safe and tidy, such as mowing, edging, weeding, pruning, clearing paths and removing rubbish. The worker arrives with the right tools, does the agreed tasks and leaves the yard tidy. Some visits are regular, and others happen seasonally or as needed.
For people who love gardening, the support can be more collaborative, with a worker doing the heavy parts while you plan and do the parts you enjoy. Raised beds, easy-grip tools and paths can make gardening more accessible. A good worker respects your garden and your wishes.
Who delivers this support
Yard maintenance is provided by gardening services, handypeople, lawn-mowing businesses and support workers. Choose someone reliable, insured and comfortable working around your home. Ask about the equipment used and who is responsible for rubbish removal and any damage.
How to choose a provider
- Ask what tasks are included and how often visits happen.
- Find out who provides tools and equipment.
- Check insurance and safety practices.
- Ask whether they can work alongside you if you enjoy gardening.
- Check how they handle green waste.
Questions to ask a provider
- What tasks are included in a visit, and what is charged separately?
- Are you insured, and who is responsible for any damage?
- How often will you visit, and can I change the schedule?
- Can you take away green waste and rubbish?
- Can you help me continue gardening as a hobby?
- Can the garden be made easier to look after?
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not agreeing on what is included.
- Not checking insurance.
- Letting the yard become overgrown before asking for help.
- Not asking about waste removal.
- Not thinking about low-maintenance options.
Getting started
- Walk around your yard and list what needs doing.
- Contact providers and ask for a quote or plan.
- Agree tasks, frequency and payment.
- Review after a few visits and adjust.
How it fits with the rest of your plan
Yard work links with household tasks, home maintenance and safety at home. An overgrown yard can create trip hazards and fire risks, so it is worth keeping on top of it. It also helps to think about whether changes such as low-maintenance planting or paving could reduce the work over time.
Eligibility
You can use NDIS funding for Yard maintenance and gardening if it is included in your NDIS plan. The NDIS funds supports that are reasonable and necessary: they relate to your disability, help you pursue your goals and represent value for money. Not sure whether it is in your plan? Check your plan, or ask your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
Funding
Core supports help with everyday activities and are usually the most flexible part of an NDIS plan. If Yard maintenance and gardening is in your plan, it is normally paid from a Core budget. Your plan shows how much you have and how it can be used. Many NDIS supports have price limits, so ask providers for a quote and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Whether your plan is managed by the NDIA, by a plan manager or by you, ask for a written quote and a service agreement before you start. If your plan is plan-managed or self-managed you can use providers who are not registered with the NDIS. If it is NDIA-managed you generally need a registered provider.
What it costs
Supports such as Yard maintenance and gardening that are funded by the NDIS are paid at rates that follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits, which the NDIA reviews regularly. Many items have a maximum price, and some prices are higher in remote areas. Before you start, ask for a written quote that lists each support, the hours and the price, and check it against the current NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits on the NDIS website. A provider may charge less than a limit. If you pay privately, the provider sets its own fees. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use providers who are not registered, and those providers set their own prices.
Domestic assistance providers on the NDIS register
15,318 NDIS providers list domestic assistance supports on the NDIS Commission register of registered providers. A register listing shows what the register says, not who has capacity.
Providers listing domestic assistance
- 1 Abbira Care Services - VIC; includes Fraser Rise, VIC
- 1 All Care - SA; includes Findon, SA
- 1 Call Rubbish Removal - VIC; includes Greenvale, VIC
- 1 Care Connect - NSW; includes Manly, NSW; Rooty Hill, NSW; Rosehill, NSW
- 1 Circle Of Care - VIC; includes Pakenham, VIC
- 1 Disability Support Services - SA; includes Prospect, SA
- 1 Heart Care Services - NSW; includes Orange, NSW
- 1 In Town Services - SA; includes Mansfield Park, SA
- 1 The Helpers - NSW; includes Parramatta, NSW
- 1-Care - NSW; includes Lalor Park, NSW
- 10 Plus Care - VIC; includes Camberwell, VIC
- 121 Best Care - QLD; includes Calamvale, QLD
See all 15,318 domestic assistance providers
Listings by state and territory
- New South Wales (5,269)
- Victoria (4,571)
- Queensland (2,690)
- South Australia (1,386)
- Western Australia (1,262)
- Australian Capital Territory (331)
- Northern Territory (305)
- Tasmania (280)
Suburbs with the most listings
- Brisbane, QLD (650)
- Melbourne, VIC (534)
- Sydney, NSW (396)
- Central Coast, NSW (314)
- Perth, WA (295)
- Adelaide, SA (258)
- Blacktown, NSW (255)
- Parramatta, NSW (248)
- Liverpool, NSW (214)
- Tarneit, VIC (209)
- Canberra, ACT (199)
- Werribee, VIC (199)
Listings covering the most areas
- Permalink Support Services - 503 areas
- Nurse Next Door Batemans Bay - 413 areas
- Simply You Plan Management - 324 areas
- Hunter Valley Care & Assistance - 249 areas
- Residence Revival - 243 areas
- Nurse Next Door Ballarat - 233 areas
- Nurse Next Door Armidale - 230 areas
- Nurse Next Door Wagga Wagga - 207 areas
Checking credentials
- Check registration Search the NDIS Commission's register of registered providers to see whether a provider is registered and for which types of support. Plan-managed and self-managed participants can also use unregistered providers.
- Ask about worker screening Ask whether workers hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check where their role requires one, and how the provider checks its workers' identity and qualifications.
- Get it in writing Ask for a written quote and a service agreement that describes the support, the prices, how to change or end it and how to make a complaint.
Regulation and safeguards
NDIS providers and their workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and registered providers are regulated by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Regulates NDIS providers and handles complaints about the quality and safety of NDIS supports. Phone: 1800 035 544.
- National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Runs the NDIS. Contact them about your plan, your funding and eligibility. Phone: 1800 800 110.
Related services
- Activity-based transport
- Cultural, religious and civic participation
- Group / shared living support
- Group and centre-based activities
Frequently asked questions
What does yard maintenance cover?
Tasks such as mowing, weeding, trimming and clearing, so the yard is safe and tidy. The exact tasks depend on what you agree with the provider.
Can I garden with support?
Yes. Some people prefer to do gardening with a worker rather than have it done for them. Tell your provider your goals.
What should I check with a yard maintenance provider?
Ask about insurance, equipment, how often visits happen and what is included in the price.
Can a worker help me garden rather than do it for me?
Yes. Many people garden together with a worker.
Who provides equipment?
It varies. Ask before you start.
Can this include removing hazards?
Often yes, such as clearing paths. Ask the provider what they can do safely.
Can a support worker do my gardening?
Sometimes, if the task is part of your support and they are able to do it safely. Otherwise a gardening service may be a better choice.
Can I keep gardening as a hobby with support?
Yes. Adaptations such as raised beds and easy-grip tools, along with help with heavy work, can make it possible.
What should I do about an overgrown yard?
Get it assessed and cleared by a reliable service, then set up a regular maintenance plan so it does not build up again.
Can I use my NDIS plan to pay for Yard maintenance and gardening?
If Yard maintenance and gardening is in your NDIS plan and is reasonable and necessary for you, then yes. Check with your planner, Local Area Coordinator or support coordinator. You can also arrange it privately.
How do I find a Yard maintenance and gardening provider near me?
Browse providers on SolDirectory, or send a free enquiry with your location and what you need and suitable providers will review it. Then ask each one about availability, a quote and a service agreement before you decide. Details come from providers and registers, so confirm them directly.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: how the NDIS works, plans and price limits
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: find a registered provider, make a complaint
Browse the NDIS and aged care provider directory
Helpful reading
- How to choose an NDIS provider: 12 questions to ask before you commit: A practical checklist for comparing providers, from how a service fits your plan to what happens when something goes wrong.
- Registered or unregistered? What it means when you choose an NDIS provider: Registered and unregistered providers can both be legitimate, but the rules, checks and options for your plan are not the same. Here is how to think about the difference.
- How to change NDIS provider without losing support: You are allowed to change providers. A little planning means the new service is ready before the old one ends, and nothing falls through the gap.