An overgrown garden is more than long grass. After a couple of years without attention, shrubs spread into paths, ivy climbs fences, saplings self-seed in borders and brambles take the corners. Clearing it means cutting everything back, digging out what shouldn't be there and taking it all away, so you can see what you actually have.
We connect you with one local clearance specialist in your area. You get an instant price range here, and they confirm a fixed price from your photos, usually the same day.
What it costs
Overgrown gardens usually fall in the moderate or heavy band. Prices include taking the waste away.
| How long it has been left | Typical band | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| One or two seasons: long grass, shrubs spreading, some brambles | Moderate | £380–£600 |
| Several years: waist-high growth, saplings, paths lost | Heavy | £650–£1,000 |
| Untouched for many years, can't walk into it | Abandoned | Free survey |
A garden that was only lightly neglected may come in at £220–£320. These figures are indicative; the specialist confirms a fixed price before any work starts. The garden clearance cost guide has more worked examples.
What affects the price
- Garden size. The bands above assume an average suburban back garden. A small yard usually drops one band; a long garden moves up one band, and a very large plot two.
- Saplings and woody growth. Self-seeded sycamore, ash or buddleia a few years old have real root systems. Digging these out takes far longer than cutting grass. Anything that has grown into a proper tree may need a tree surgeon instead.
- Hidden rubbish. Overgrown gardens often hide old paving slabs, bikes, fencing and bags of household waste. Mixed waste adds about 20% to the price.
- Access. Carrying waste through a terraced house, or more than 20 metres to the van, adds about 15%.
- What you want left. Taking a garden to bare soil costs more than cutting back and keeping established shrubs and trees.
Example: a two-year-old overgrowth in a typical semi-detached garden in South Birmingham, with an old rotten fence panel pile under the brambles, would be around the moderate band plus 20% for the mixed waste: roughly £456–£720.
What the job involves
A crew typically works through the garden in this order:
- Walk round first to spot hazards: hidden glass, old wiring, wasps' nests, active birds' nests and anything that looks like knotweed or asbestos sheeting.
- Cut down the bulk with strimmers, brush cutters and hand tools, working from the house outwards so there is a clear route for waste.
- Grub out roots of brambles, saplings and unwanted shrubs where you have asked for this.
- Bag and load the waste and take it to a licensed site.
- Rake over so the ground is ready for you to turf, seed, plant or lay a patio.
A moderate clearance usually takes a day. A heavy one can take two or three.
What to photograph for a quote
Good photos usually mean a fixed price without a visit. More photo tips.
- The whole thing, with your house or fence in shot for scale
- The base or ground level and what’s around it: walls, sheds, beds
- The route in from the road: side gate, steps, the path through
Questions about overgrown garden clearance
How do I know which band my garden is in?
The form asks how long the garden has been left and what the growth is like, then combines that with the garden size. Photos let the specialist check. If you are unsure, pick the band that looks closest and let the photos do the rest.
Will the garden be ready for new turf afterwards?
It will be cleared and raked, but new turf usually needs the ground levelled, dug over and sometimes topsoil added. Some clearance specialists offer this as an extra; ask when they confirm the price.
We're selling the house. Is a clearance worth it?
An overgrown garden makes it hard for buyers to judge the size and condition of the plot. Clearing it lets them see what they are buying. Many sellers find a moderate clearance a small cost against the price of the house, but it is your call.
Can I do some of it myself to bring the price down?
Yes. If you cut and pile the growth yourself, green waste removal is priced by van load and is usually cheaper. Our guide on how to clear an overgrown garden walks through doing it yourself.
Someone offered to do it for cash for half the price. What's the risk?
If they dump your waste illegally, you can be fined as well as them, because householders have a legal duty of care over their own waste. Check any carrier is on the Environment Agency's public register. See fly-tipping and cheap garden clearance.
Do you cover my area?
We cover Birmingham and the West Midlands, including Sutton Coldfield, North Birmingham and Solihull. Enter your postcode on the quote form to check.