How Much Does Garden Clearance Cost in the UK?

Whether you’ve inherited an overgrown garden, are preparing for a landscaping project, or simply need to deal with years of accumulated debris, garden clearance is often the necessary first step. Costs range from a few hundred pounds for a tidy-up to several thousand for a seriously neglected large garden.

Average Garden Clearance Costs

Garden State	Small Garden (up to 50m2)	Medium (50-150m2)	Large (150m2+)
Light clearance (trim/tidy)	£200 – £400	£400 – £800	£700 – £1,500
Moderate clearance	£400 – £800	£800 – £2,000	£1,500 – £4,000
Heavy clearance (very overgrown)	£800 – £2,000	£2,000 – £5,000	£4,000 – £10,000+

What Is Typically Included in Garden Clearance?

A standard garden clearance includes:

• Cutting back overgrown hedges, shrubs, and climbers
• Removing dead plants and garden waste
• Cutting down and removing brambles, weeds, and invasive plants
• Cutting long grass
• Removing accumulated garden rubbish (old pots, broken furniture, general debris)
• Loading and removing waste

It does not typically include tree surgery (a separate trade), hard landscaping demolition, or soil removal — these are quoted separately.

What Affects Garden Clearance Costs?

Level of Overgrowth

A garden that has been maintained but needs a significant prune is very different from one left for 5+ years. Very overgrown gardens require more labour, larger equipment, and more skips or van loads of waste.

Size of Garden

Clearance is generally priced by the half or full day, or by the job after a site visit. Most professional garden clearance teams can clear a moderately overgrown medium garden (around 100m2) in a full day with a team of two.

Access for Waste Removal

Good van or skip access significantly reduces cost. Narrow access requiring waste to be barrowed through the house or along a narrow passageway adds time and cost. Skips placed on the road require a permit (£60-£120 from the local authority) if the skip is on a public highway.

Types of Plants to Remove

Standard garden waste — grass, shrubs, soft material — can be chipped or composted. Certain invasive plants (Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed) are controlled under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and cannot be disposed of as standard green waste. Japanese knotweed removal requires specialist treatment and costs £1,500 – £5,000+ depending on the extent of infestation.

Hard Landscaping Demolition

If clearance includes breaking up old concrete paths, removing old sheds, or demolishing structures, costs increase significantly. Skip hire for inert waste (concrete) typically costs £300 – £600 per skip.

Garden Clearance Day Rates

• Gardening/clearance team (two people): £350 – £600 per day
• Skip hire (general green waste): £200 – £350 for a 6-yard skip
• Green waste removal (van and trailer): £150 – £300 per load

A one-day clearance of a medium overgrown garden typically costs £500 – £900 for labour, plus skip or waste removal of £200 – £400.

DIY Garden Clearance

For physical garden clearance, DIY is very achievable for those who are reasonably fit. Equipment:

• Hedge trimmer (hire £30-£50 per day)
• Brushcutter/strimmer (hire £40-£60 per day)
• Chainsaw (if needed for larger shrubs — requires training to use safely; hire or buy)
• Wheelbarrow
• Garden waste bags or hire a skip

The main DIY challenge is waste disposal. Options include:

• Hiring a skip (£200-£400 for a standard size)
• Using your local household waste recycling centre (generally free for residents, but loading and multiple trips take time)
• Hiring a grab lorry for large volumes of loose material (£200-£400)

After Clearance: Keeping Costs Down

Once cleared, maintaining the garden is far cheaper than repeated major clearances. A regular gardening service (£25-£60 per hour) keeps growth under control. Annual or bi-annual pruning prevents the situation from recurring.

Getting a Fair Clearance Quote

For a fair quote:

• Request a site visit — a reputable firm will not quote without seeing the garden
• Ask for a written quote specifying what is included (waste removal, number of loads, specific tasks)
• Check whether the price includes disposal or if skip hire is separate
• Ask what happens with garden debris — chipping on-site, composting, or landfill?