About DK Horticulture
DK Horticulture is a family-run grounds maintenance, gardening and landscaping business based in County Durham, providing professional services to commercial organisations and homeowners across the region.
Established in 2019 by Andrew Donnelly, the business has grown from a small part-time venture into a trusted local contractor providing everything from regular garden maintenance and landscaping to year-round commercial grounds maintenance and multi-site contracts.
Our Story
DK Horticulture was established in 2019 by Andrew Donnelly, building on a lifelong interest in horticulture and years of practical experience within the industry.
Andrew began his career through a horticultural apprenticeship at Houghall College, gaining a Level 2 qualification in Horticulture. Following his apprenticeship, he continued at Houghall as a Student Support Worker, helping students develop their practical skills and supporting them throughout their studies, while also running the Houghall Plant Centre for approximately three years. This provided further experience in horticulture, plant care and the day-to-day management of a busy working environment.
He later joined Durham County Council, progressing to the role of Charge Hand within the Clean & Green team. This included responsibility for maintaining public open spaces and high-profile sites, as well as working within environments recognised through schemes including Green Flag and Northumbria in Bloom.
DK Horticulture initially operated alongside Andrew's full-time employment, gradually building a loyal customer base and reputation for reliable, professional work. As the business continued to grow, Andrew left Durham County Council in 2025 to concentrate on DK Horticulture full-time.
Today, the business works with homeowners, schools, parish councils, businesses, landlords, community organisations and other commercial clients across County Durham, providing both one-off projects and planned year-round maintenance.
Although DK Horticulture has grown considerably since 2019, the approach remains the same: provide a reliable service, take pride in the work and treat every garden or site as if it were our own.
Qualified & Experienced
Professional grounds maintenance requires more than simply having the right equipment. DK Horticulture combines practical experience with recognised industry qualifications and professional working practices.
Our qualifications and certifications include horticulture, City & Guilds NPTC chainsaw certification, land-based machinery qualifications and PA1 & PA6 pesticide application certification.
We are fully insured with £5 million Public Liability Insurance and £10 million Employers' Liability Insurance, registered as a licensed waste carrier and able to provide risk assessments and method statements for commercial works where required.
This experience allows us to work confidently across a wide range of environments, from private gardens to schools, public spaces and larger commercial sites.
Built on Reputation
Much of DK Horticulture's growth has come through recommendations, returning customers and long-term working relationships.
Since establishing the business in 2019, we have built a strong local reputation and received more than 70 five-star customer reviews.
We are proud to work with customers who return year after year, alongside commercial organisations that trust us to maintain their grounds on a regular basis.