An overgrown garden can feel overwhelming. Brambles, ivy, self-seeded saplings, old sheds and piles of rubble build up quickly, and it can be hard to know where to start or what it will cost to sort out. This guide explains what affects the price of garden clearance in Guildford and the surrounding area, so you know what to expect and how to compare quotes.
What does garden clearance include?
Garden clearance covers anything from a one-day tidy-up to clearing a completely neglected plot. Typical work includes:
- Cutting back brambles, nettles, ivy and overgrown shrubs
- Clearing long grass and weeds
- Removing self-seeded saplings and small trees
- Taking down old sheds, fences, greenhouses and structures
- Removing rubble, old paving, soil and general rubbish
- Stump grinding or root removal
- Loading and taking away all waste for responsible disposal
What affects the cost of garden clearance?
How much waste there is
Volume is the biggest single factor. The more material that has to be cut, loaded and taken away, the more time, vehicle space and disposal fees are involved. Overgrown vegetation is bulky. A modest-looking area of brambles can fill a surprising number of loads once it's cut down.
What type of waste it is
Not all waste costs the same to dispose of. Clean green waste is usually the most straightforward. Soil, rubble and concrete are heavy and are charged differently. Mixed waste, such as green waste with bits of plastic, timber and metal, generally costs more to process than separated loads.
Some waste needs specialist handling:
- Asbestos, which can be found in old shed roofs, garage panels and some outbuildings, must be dealt with by licensed specialists.
- Japanese knotweed is classed as controlled waste and needs specialist treatment or disposal. It must not be put in green waste bins or taken away as general garden waste.
- Chemicals, paints and oils left in sheds need separate disposal.
If you suspect any of these, mention it when you ask for a quote.
Access
Good access makes a big difference. If there's a wide side gate and a driveway for a vehicle, waste can be barrowed or machine-loaded quickly. If everything has to be carried through the house, down steps or along a narrow alleyway, the job takes longer. Parking restrictions, which are common in central Guildford and Woking, can also add time.
Size and condition of the garden
Larger gardens take longer, and gardens left untouched for years are harder to clear than ones that are just a season or two behind. Steep slopes, which are common around Godalming and parts of Guildford, slow the work down.
Machinery
For bigger clearances, a mini digger, dumper or chipper can speed things up considerably and reduce the overall cost compared with clearing by hand. Our digger hire with driver is often used for clearing rubble, roots and old paving.
Stumps and roots
Cutting a shrub to ground level is quick. Removing the stump and roots so the ground can be replanted, turfed or paved is more work. Stump grinding or digging out roots adds to the cost, but it's essential if you're planning landscaping afterwards.
Skip, grab lorry or clearance team?
There are several ways to deal with the waste:
- Skip hire: good for steady loads of mixed waste, but you still need to cut and load it. A skip on the road needs a permit, usually arranged by the skip company with the highway authority.
- Grab lorry: useful for large volumes of soil or rubble where a lorry can park close to the pile.
- Clearance team with vehicles: the team cuts, loads and removes everything in one go, so you don't have a skip sitting on your drive.
Which works best depends on the volume, type of waste and access.
Check the waste is disposed of legally
Householders have a legal duty of care to make sure their waste is handled by someone authorised to carry it. If waste you've paid to have removed is fly-tipped, you could be held responsible. Before you hire anyone, ask for their waste carrier registration, which you can check on the Environment Agency's public register, and ask where the waste will go.
How to keep clearance costs down
- Separate waste where possible. Keeping green waste apart from rubble and rubbish can reduce disposal costs.
- Compost what you can. Soft green material can go on a compost heap if you have space.
- Don't leave it too long. Overgrowth spreads quickly. Clearing sooner is cheaper than clearing later.
- Plan what comes next. If you're going to landscape the garden or set up regular garden maintenance, the clearance can be planned to suit, so nothing is done twice.
Evergreen Gardeners work across Guildford, Godalming, Woking and Cranleigh, plus the villages in between.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a garden clearance take?
Small tidy-ups can be done in a day. Large, very overgrown gardens or jobs involving rubble, sheds and stumps can take several days. We'll give you a timescale with your quote.
Do you take all the waste away?
Yes. We load and remove the waste and dispose of it responsibly through licensed facilities.
Can you remove an old shed or greenhouse?
Yes, we dismantle and remove old sheds, greenhouses and fences. If a structure may contain asbestos, it will need to be checked and handled by a licensed specialist.
Can you give a price without visiting?
Clear photos help, but volumes and access are hard to judge from pictures, so we prefer a quick visit to give an accurate written quote.
For a free, no-obligation quote, call Evergreen Gardeners on 07383 778366 or send us a message. We'll visit, talk through what you need and give you a clear written price.
