Yes, your NDIS plan can cover garden maintenance, but only when it qualifies as reasonable and necessary under your individual circumstances. NDIS garden maintenance is funded under Core Supports as House and/or Yard Maintenance. The key question is not whether garden maintenance exists in the NDIS framework. It is whether your specific disability need, your living situation, and your plan goals make it eligible for your plan. This guide covers the eligibility test, what tasks qualify and what does not, and the 2026-27 pricing. It also explains what to do if garden maintenance is not yet in your plan. It also forms part of Must Have Maintenance's broader community gardening services in Melbourne for NDIS participants and community organisations.
Key Takeaways
- The NDIS funds garden maintenance under Core Supports when it qualifies as reasonable and necessary for your disability-related needs.
- The key eligibility test is whether your disability prevents you from maintaining your garden safely and whether anyone else in your household can reasonably do it.
- Covered tasks include lawn mowing, weeding, edging, green waste removal, and path clearance. Plants, mulch, and landscaping are not covered.
- The 2026-27 NDIS price limit for garden maintenance is $59.01 per hour on weekdays, higher on weekends.
- NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants must use a registered NDIS provider. Self-managed participants can use any provider with an ABN.
- If garden maintenance is not in your current plan, you can request it at your next review with supporting evidence from your occupational therapist or GP.
- Must Have Maintenance's NDIS gardening services in Melbourne are delivered by a registered provider who works directly with plan managers and support coordinators to confirm funding before any work begins.
Does Your NDIS Plan Cover Garden Maintenance?
Your NDIS plan covers garden maintenance when three conditions are met, and all three must apply. The support must be reasonable and necessary for your disability. You must be unable to do the tasks safely yourself. And no one else in your household must be reasonably able to do it for you. When all three apply, garden maintenance is an approved support under Core Supports.
The reasonable and necessary test for garden maintenance
Specifically, the NDIS applies a reasonable and necessary test to every funded support. For garden maintenance, the need must relate directly to your disability. A preference for a tidy garden does not qualify. An overgrown yard creating safety risks for a participant who uses a mobility aid, for example, meets this test. A preference to have a professionally maintained garden for aesthetic reasons does not.
The household capacity test
In addition, the NDIS considers whether anyone else in your household can reasonably do the task. If you live with someone physically able to maintain the garden, the NDIS may not fund it for the shared areas of the property. However, it may still fund the areas you use independently, such as your access paths or personal courtyard.
What if you are in a shared living arrangement?
Participants in supported independent living, group homes, or shared accommodation have different eligibility rules. In a shared arrangement, garden maintenance typically comes through the overall property management, not through an individual participant's Core Supports budget. For shared arrangements, speak with your support coordinator to confirm how this applies.
What NDIS Garden Maintenance Covers and What It Does Not
Understanding the exact scope of NDIS garden maintenance prevents unexpected gaps and avoids disputes with your plan manager. The table below covers the most common tasks participants ask about.
| Task | Covered by NDIS? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lawn mowing and edging | Yes | Core Supports, reasonable and necessary |
| Garden bed weeding | Yes | Keeps outdoor areas safe and accessible |
| Mulching (labour only) | Yes | Materials such as mulch are not covered |
| Green waste removal | Yes | Part of the yard maintenance service |
| Path and driveway clearance | Yes | Removes trip hazards for disability access |
| Pruning and hedge trimming | Yes | Where safety or access is the reason |
| New plants or turf | No | Capital improvement, not maintenance |
| Landscaping and redesign | No | Considered improvement, not necessity |
| Irrigation installation | No | Specialist service, not disability-specific |
| Tree removal | No | Requires separate specialist engagement |
| Fertiliser and soil | No | Materials not covered, only labour |
Fundamentally, the NDIS funds labour for essential safety and access maintenance. It does not fund materials, improvements, or specialist services unrelated to disability.
For full detail on what qualifies, refer to the NDIS Pricing Arrangements 2026-27, which defines the scope of House and/or Yard Maintenance under Support Category 01.
NOT SURE IF YOUR PLAN COVERS GARDEN MAINTENANCE?
- Must Have Maintenance is a registered NDIS provider serving Melbourne's eastern and south-eastern suburbs. We confirm your funding and arrange NDIS garden maintenance under your Core Supports budget. Call 1300 687 846 and we will help you check your plan.
How to Access NDIS Garden Maintenance Based on Your Plan Type
How you access NDIS garden maintenance depends on how your plan is managed. The table below gives a clear answer for each plan type.
| Plan Type | Can You Use Garden Maintenance? | Provider Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| NDIA-managed | Yes, if included as reasonable and necessary | Must use a registered NDIS provider |
| Plan-managed | Yes, if included as reasonable and necessary | Must use a registered NDIS provider |
| Self-managed | Yes, if reasonable and necessary under your goals | Can use any provider with an ABN |
NDIA-managed participants
If the NDIA manages your funding, your garden maintenance provider must hold current registration with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. Your provider claims payment directly from the NDIS portal. You do not pay out of pocket. Must Have Maintenance is a registered provider and can bill the NDIA directly on your behalf.
Plan-managed participants
Plan-managed participants also need a registered provider. Your plan manager coordinates invoicing and payment between your provider and the NDIA. Before booking, contact your plan manager to confirm your Core Supports balance and whether garden maintenance is in your plan. If it is not, your plan manager can assist you in requesting an amendment at your next review.
Self-managed participants
Self-managed participants can engage any gardener who holds a valid Australian Business Number, regardless of NDIS registration. You pay the provider directly and claim reimbursement through the myplace participant portal. NDIS price limits do not strictly apply to self-managed participants. However, the support must still meet the reasonable and necessary test and align with your plan goals.
NDIS Garden Maintenance Pricing in 2026
The 2026-27 NDIS Pricing Schedule sets the recommended maximum hourly rate for garden maintenance under House and/or Yard Maintenance. As of 1 July 2026, the weekday rate is $59.01 per hour. Saturday rates are $82.61 per hour, and Sunday and public holiday rates are $88.52 per hour.
Importantly, these are maximum rates, not fixed prices. Providers may charge less. Must Have Maintenance's garden maintenance in Melbourne pricing is fixed and transparent within NDIS limits, confirmed by your plan manager before any service is delivered. The NDIS caps travel at 30 minutes each way in metropolitan Melbourne. manager before any service is delivered.
What the hourly rate includes
The NDIS hourly rate for garden maintenance covers the labour of the gardener, all equipment and tools required, and green waste removal at the end of the session. The NDIS does not cover plants, mulch, soil, or fertiliser. Providers cannot invoice these as part of the hourly rate.
Travel costs
Providers can charge for travel to your property. In metropolitan Melbourne, the NDIS caps travel at 30 minutes each way. Confirm travel charges before your first booking and check your service agreement documents them.
How invoicing works
Additionally, providers must invoice by the hour. The NDIS does not accept flat-fee or per-visit quotes. Any additional charges for special equipment or extended travel require separate itemisation and written agreement beforehand. Your plan manager reviews all invoices against the NDIS Pricing Arrangements before processing payment.
How to Get Garden Maintenance Added to Your NDIS Plan
If garden maintenance is not currently in your NDIS plan, you can request it at your next plan review. The process is straightforward, particularly when you prepare the right evidence.
Evidence that supports your request
The most effective evidence for adding garden maintenance to your plan is a letter from your occupational therapist confirming that your disability prevents you from safely maintaining your garden and describing the safety risk an overgrown yard creates for you. Furthermore, supporting letters from your GP, support coordinator, or specialist strengthen the case.
What to say at your plan review
At your plan review, explain how your disability directly affects your ability to manage your outdoor space. Be specific: describe the tasks you cannot do safely and the safety risks an unmaintained garden creates. In general, the more specific and functional your description, the stronger your case.
Requesting an unscheduled plan amendment
If your needs have changed since your last plan review, you can request an unscheduled amendment without waiting for the next review cycle. Contact your support coordinator or Local Area Coordinator and explain the change in your circumstances. A change in condition, a move to a new property, or a change in household support all provide grounds for an amendment.
For further guidance on Core Supports budgets and requesting changes, refer to the NDIS guide to support budgets. Must Have Maintenance's team can also help you prepare for a plan review conversation. Call 1300 687 846 to speak with our community services team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does NDIS pay for gardening?
Yes. The NDIS pays for garden maintenance under Core Supports as House and/or Yard Maintenance. The support must be reasonable and necessary. This means your disability prevents you from safely managing your garden and no one else in your household can reasonably do it. Covered tasks include lawn mowing, weeding, edging, green waste removal, and path clearance. The NDIS does not fund plants, mulch, soil, or landscaping projects, as these represent improvements rather than essential maintenance.
What things will the NDIS pay for in the garden?
The NDIS pays for the labour involved in essential garden maintenance tasks that keep your outdoor space safe and accessible. This includes lawn mowing, weeding, pruning, green waste removal, path clearance, and hedge trimming for safety or access reasons. The NDIS does not pay for plants, mulch, soil, fertiliser, landscaping, major tree removal, or irrigation installation. The NDIS only funds labour that connects directly to a disability-related need.
Who qualifies for free senior yard services?
NDIS garden maintenance is not free, but your NDIS plan covers it when you qualify. For older Australians not on the NDIS, My Aged Care provides funded garden maintenance through Home Care Packages. For Commonwealth Home Support Programme recipients, basic garden maintenance may also be available. Participants who entered the NDIS before turning 65 may access NDIS-funded garden maintenance alongside aged care gardening services in Melbourne where both programs apply.
What are some examples of garden services covered by NDIS?
Covered examples include lawn mowing in Melbourne for a participant who uses a power wheelchair and cannot access the yard when grass is overgrown; weeding of garden beds that create trip hazards for a participant with mobility concerns; green waste removal for a participant who cannot safely lift or dispose of debris; and clearance of paths that a participant uses daily with a walker. In each case, the task connects directly to a disability-related safety or access need.
What is no longer covered by NDIS?
The December 2024 reforms removed caps on gardening and house cleaning, giving participants more flexibility in their Core Supports spending. However, the reforms also confirmed the NDIS does not fund supports unrelated to disability, home improvements, or tasks household members can reasonably perform. For garden maintenance, the disability-related need must be clearly documented in your plan to remain funded. For a current list of funded and excluded supports, refer to the NDIS supports that are funded.
The Bottom Line on NDIS Garden Maintenance
Your NDIS plan covers garden maintenance when it is reasonable and necessary for your disability, you cannot safely do it yourself, and no one in your household can do it for you. The 2026-27 weekday rate is $59.01 per hour. NDIA-managed and plan-managed participants need a registered provider. Must Have Maintenance delivers professional NDIS gardening services in Melbourne as a registered provider with direct billing to plan managers. Call 1300 687 846 or submit an enquiry to confirm your funding and arrange your first service.
