Garden Maintenance on Mallorca: Hedge and Tree Pruning

If you move to Mallorca from a cooler climate, you will almost certainly underestimate garden maintenance. On the island, a garden that still looks lush and green in April can be scorched by August if pruning and watering are off. Good garden maintenance on Mallorca means understanding the Mediterranean rhythm instead of importing habits from back home. This post explains when to prune hedges and trees, how to water efficiently, what a professional garden service costs and how to recognize a reputable provider.

Why garden maintenance works differently on Mallorca

Garden maintenance on Mallorca is the ongoing care of green spaces under semi-arid conditions: pruning hedges and trees, irrigation, weed and pest control, and disposing of garden waste. Unlike in cooler climates, the priority is not growth but protecting plants from heat, drought and water scarcity.

From May to September, Mallorca sees hardly any rain while temperatures regularly climb above 35 degrees. That shifts the whole maintenance calendar: planting and heavy pruning happen in autumn and winter, not in spring. Ignore this logic and you will spend the whole summer fighting dying plants. Which species survive these conditions in the first place is covered in our guide to the Mediterranean garden.

Hedge and tree pruning: when to cut

Hedge pruning on Mallorca is timed differently than in cooler climates. Mediterranean hedges such as laurel, oleander or pittosporum are ideally cut in late winter (February to March) and again after the summer bloom. A hard cutback in the middle of high summer puts extra stress on the plant and often leaves brown cut edges.

For trees the rule is: fruit trees such as almond, fig, orange and lemon are pruned mostly in the dormant period from November to February. Palms are a special case; they need little pruning but a lot of attention because of the red palm weevil (picudo rojo), which has wiped out whole palm populations on Mallorca. Infested palms must be reported, and felling one on your own initiative can require a permit.

One important point concerns property boundaries: when branches or hedges overhang into the neighbour's plot, Spain has its own rules on distances and cutting back. You will find the details in our guide to neighbour law.

Irrigation: the heart of any garden care

Without well-planned irrigation, every other maintenance measure is pointless. Water on Mallorca is scarce and expensive, and the bill rises progressively with consumption. An automatic drip system with a timer is therefore standard for anyone who takes the garden seriously.

These ground rules save water and keep the garden healthy:

• Water early in the morning or late in the evening, never in the midday heat
• Water rarely but deeply instead of a little every day
• Use drip irrigation instead of lawn sprinklers; it saves up to 60 percent
• Mulch the beds to reduce evaporation
• Choose drought-resistant plants that get by on little in summer

How to plan a drip system and what cisterns cost is explained in detail in our guide to garden irrigation on Mallorca. For planning, the official climate data and the rules on garden waste help:

Garden services: costs and how to spot a reputable gardener

Many residents hand the ongoing care to a professional garden service, especially when the garden is larger or the house is a second home. Prices vary by region, workload and equipment. The following ranges are typical for 2026:

A good provider bills transparently and separates labour, materials and disposal. With an ongoing maintenance contract you usually pay less per hour than for one-off jobs. An overview of vetted providers is in our directory of gardeners and garden services.

The market for garden services on Mallorca is hard to read, and not everyone with a chainsaw works cleanly. When choosing, look for these points:

1. The provider issues a proper invoice with NIF and VAT
2. They are registered as an autonomo or company and insured
3. They give you a comprehensible cost estimate up front
4. They know the local rules on garden waste and the palm weevil
5. References or reviews from your area are available

Frequently asked questions about garden maintenance on Mallorca

When is the best time to prune hedges on Mallorca? Mediterranean hedges are best cut in late winter (February to March) and after the summer bloom. A hard cutback in high summer stresses the plant and leaves brown cut edges.

Can I burn garden waste on my property? From May 1 to October 15, open burning is banned or allowed only with a special permit because of the wildfire risk. During this period, use the Punt Verd or a collection service.

What does a garden service cost per hour? On Mallorca the hourly rate for a garden service in 2026 is usually between 25 and 45 euros. With a fixed maintenance contract you generally pay less per hour than for single jobs.

Conclusion

Garden maintenance on Mallorca runs on the Mediterranean rhythm, not the garden calendar you may know from home. Prune hedges and trees in the winter half of the year, water smartly and respect the rules on garden waste and the palm weevil, and your garden stays healthy with manageable effort. For bigger jobs a reputable garden service is worth it, best found through our service directory.