Question
Sean, I am Director of a new project launching developmentally disabled people into their own businesses. I have a gentleman whose business is "Art's Gardens" and although he is able to do the work (planting, mulching,yard clean up, etc.) we (his "team") do not know how to price his jobs. He is 53 yrs. old and works at his own pace. Does $10/hr seem appropriate for mowing, fall leaf removal, planting flowers, weeding, etc. Art does not do "heavy" or complicated jobs. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Laurie
P.S. We live in Massachusetts so fall clean up is beginning and we'd like to get out with flyers in his neighborhood. The lots are very small maybe 150' deep, 100' wide.

Answer
You need to contact local gardeners, landscapers, nurseries, etc and ask what the going rate is for your area and scope of work and then discount appropriately for any disparity between the level of service provided. Rates for labor and work differ widely for landscaping in different metro areas due to seasonal demands and labor availability. In general in GA $20/hr to $25/hr is going rate unskilled landscape labor with overhead, insurance, profit, etc built in. Those will special skills or licenses in landscaping, or crews chiefs, etc may get $35 to $50 and hour.
Best of Luck, sounds like a good thing to do.
Sean J Murphy, LA,ISA, LEED AP
Please check out my blogs and articles on landscape topics like this on my websites.
http://www.seanjmurphy.com
http://amenityarchitects.com