Having a thuja hedge trimmed by a professional represents a variable expense, which depends as much on the chosen billing method as on the access conditions to the site. Published ranges vary from a few euros per linear meter to over 60 euros per hour for heavy interventions. To clarify, it is necessary to compare the two pricing methods and identify the items that really increase the bill.
Hourly rate or price per linear meter: comparison of billing methods
Two logics coexist among gardeners and landscapers. The hourly rate is suitable for atypical or hard-to-access hedges, while the price per linear meter applies to regular and well-cleared lines.
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| Billing method | Observed range | Preferred usage case |
|---|---|---|
| Linear meter | 3.50 to 16 € / ml | Accessible hedge, moderate height, maintenance trimming |
| Hourly rate (regular maintenance) | 20 to 45 € / h | Irregular hedge, narrow passage, sloped terrain |
| Hourly rate (heavy trimming, landscaper) | 55 to 65 € / h | Tall and thick hedge, recovery after several years without trimming |
| Green waste disposal | 25 to 35 € / m³ | Supplement if the professional handles the removal |
When a quote displays a price per linear meter, it is important to check if it includes the disposal of the plants. This item, billed separately in most cases, can represent a significant additional cost on a large linear stretch of thuja.
To estimate the cost of trimming a thuja hedge before requesting a quote, multiply the number of linear meters by the high end of the range if your hedge exceeds two meters or if it has not been trimmed for more than a year.
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Pressure on landscaping labor: a factor in rising quotes
Online price guides often reflect averages that are several years old. The reality on the ground has changed. Since 2024, the green space sector has been facing a lasting shortage of qualified landscaping workers, which drives prices up.
Difficult sites (tall thuja hedges, difficult access, thick growth) are the first to be affected. Quotes for this type of intervention are now at the high end of the hourly ranges, around 55 to 65 € per hour with a landscaper, excluding travel and disposal.
This pressure also explains the price gap sometimes observed between an independent gardener (often billed in CESU) and a structured landscaping company. The former remains cheaper per hour, but does not always handle heavy jobs or hedges exceeding three meters.
Factors affecting the thuja trimming quote beyond the linear meter
The number of linear meters alone does not explain the difference between two quotes. Several technical parameters weigh as much, if not more, on the final price.
- The number of faces to trim: a party wall hedge trimmed on one side costs significantly less than a property line hedge accessible from both sides, which requires two distinct passes.
- The height of the hedge: beyond two meters, the landscaper must use a ladder, a lift, or a pole hedge trimmer. The intervention time increases, as does the equipment used.
- The condition of the hedge: a thuja hedge maintained every year can be trimmed quickly. A hedge that has not been trimmed for several seasons requires recovery work, sometimes with more powerful cutting tools, which lengthens the job.
- The accessibility of the site: a sloped garden, a narrow passage between two buildings, or the absence of parking for the professional’s vehicle generates additional time billed.
When requesting a quote, specify the approximate height, the number of faces, and the date of the last trimming. These three pieces of information allow the gardener to estimate without overpricing.
Tax reduction and CESU: what you can recover on the bill
Hedge trimming is part of the gardening work eligible for the personal services scheme. Two mechanisms coexist.
The first is the 50% tax reduction on the expense incurred, available to taxable households that hire a declared service provider or an approved organization. The second, the tax credit, is aimed at non-taxable households and works in the same way, with an effective reimbursement.
Payment in CESU (universal service employment check) simplifies the declaration and entitles you to this tax advantage. Specifically, a hedge trimming bill paid through this system costs half of its actual amount after tax deduction.
This lever changes the calculation: a quote that seems high in gross can become competitive once the tax advantage is factored in. Always compare the net cost after deduction, not the face value of the quote.
Thuja hedges and PLU: an emerging constraint to check
Some municipalities are currently revising their urban planning documents to limit or regulate monotypic thuja hedges, deemed unfavorable to biodiversity. The written regulation of the intercommunal PLU “Sister Cities,” approved in 2026, illustrates this trend by imposing restrictions on this type of planting.
Before investing in the regular trimming of a long thuja hedge, check the provisions of your municipality’s local urban planning plan. A hedge not compliant with the PLU may need to be replaced, rendering any recurring maintenance expenses moot.
This regulatory evolution is also prompting some homeowners to consider mixed hedges or persistent alternatives (laurel, hornbeam, photinia), whose annual maintenance cost may prove lower than that of a fast-growing thuja hedge.
The cost of trimming a thuja hedge depends less on the rate displayed by the gardener than on the combination of height, thickness, accessibility, and maintenance frequency. A detailed quote mentioning the number of faces, height, and disposal remains the only reliable way to compare offers. The 50% tax advantage significantly alters the real cost, and checking the local PLU can prevent maintaining a hedge destined to disappear.