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A messy or overgrown garden can feel like one of those jobs that keeps getting pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. And once the waste starts piling up, it can quickly become too much for a normal bin collection.

Garden clearance services can help with everything from bagging up green waste to clearing heavier items after a garden tidy-up or landscaping project.

This guide explains typical garden clearance costs in the UK, what affects the price, and when it might be worth hiring a local garden clearance service to help get the job done.

How much does garden clearance cost?

Garden clearance usually costs around £52.50 per hour, or around £210 per load, depending on how the job is priced.

Some jobs are charged by the hour, especially where labour is the main task. Others are priced by load, particularly when there is a lot of waste to remove.

For a straightforward garden tidy, the hourly rate may be the most useful figure to help guide your budget.

For bigger jobs, such as clearing an overgrown garden or removing heavy waste, a per-load price is usually more realistic.

Get a quote for garden clearance near you

For an accurate idea of garden clearance costs in your area, it’s worth getting quotes from checked local services.

A written quote should explain whether the job is charged by the hour or by load, what waste can be removed, and whether loading and disposal are included. That way, you know exactly what the scope of the work involves and what you're paying for.

Garden clearance costs at a glance

• Garden clearance: around £52.50 per hour

• Garden clearance: around £210 per load

• Overgrown garden clearance: around £185

• Soil removal via skip hire: around £250

• Green waste removal via local council: around £55 per year

Overgrown garden clearance cost

Overgrown garden clearance usually costs in the region of £185.

Once a garden has become badly overgrown, the work often takes longer because waste needs to be cut back, gathered, bagged, carried and removed.

It may also involve heavier or awkward waste, such as branches, brambles, old furniture or broken fencing.

Types of garden clearance

Garden clearance can cover several different jobs, from a seasonal tidy-up to clearing waste after landscaping work, or getting to grips with a previously neglected outdoor space.

Common types include:

• Green waste clearance: Grass cuttings, hedge clippings, weeds, leaves and plant material

• Overgrown garden clearance: Cutting back and removing larger amounts of garden waste

• Leaf clearance: Gathering and removing fallen leaves or blossom

• Rubbish removal: Taking away old garden furniture, broken pots, timber or other unwanted items

• Gutter waste clearance: Clearing leaves, moss and organic waste from gutters or drainage areas

What affects garden clearance costs?

The total cost of garden clearance is usually shaped by how long the job takes and how much waste needs to be removed.

The main factors that affect cost include:

• Amount of waste: More waste means more labour, loading time and disposal

• Type of waste: Grass cuttings are usually easier to clear than soil, rubble, furniture or timber

• Weight: Heavy waste, such as soil or bricks, can cost more to remove

• Access: Long carries, steps or limited parking can make the job slower

• Preparation: Bagged waste is usually quicker to remove than loose waste

• Location: Labour rates for garden clearance can vary across the UK

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Additional costs to budget for

The headline garden clearance price may not include every part of the job.

Some of the additional costs to be aware of include:

• Soil removal

• Heavy waste removal

• Bulky item disposal

• Multiple trips or extra loads

• Difficult access or parking

• Council green waste subscription fees

Not every project will involve these extras, but it helps to ask upfront so you know exactly what the quote includes.

What should be included in a garden clearance quote?

A garden clearance quote should explain what the company will do and what waste they can legally remove.

When you receive your quote, check that it includes:

• Labour

• Loading

• Waste removal

• Disposal method

• Whether waste needs to be bagged first

• Whether the price is hourly or per load

• Any access or parking assumptions

• Confirmation of what is excluded

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How long does garden clearance take?

The time needed for garden clearance depends on the size and condition of your garden.

As a general guide:

• Small tidy-ups may only need a few hours

• Overgrown gardens can take longer

• Heavy or awkward waste may need extra labour

• Poor access can slow the job down

Given the number of variables, it's a good idea to ask for a realistic timescale when requesting quotes from local garden clearance services.

Garden clearance cost calculator

For a rough idea of cost before you reach out to garden clearance companies for quotes, use our cost calculator.

You'll need to think about the amount of waste to be cleared and its approximate weight, whether it's loose or bagged, and whether any access issues could make the job more time consuming.

Job Estimate Calculator

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This calculator provides a guide price only, not a quote. For an accurate figure, ask a local garden clearance service to assess the job (either in person or via photos you've provided) and confirm what’s included in a written quote.

Can you clear a garden yourself?

You can clear garden waste yourself if the job is small, the waste is easy to handle, and you have access to a suitable vehicle or local recycling centre.

But bear in mind, larger garden clearance jobs can be tiring, messy and time-consuming. Wet soil, branches, brambles and bulky items can be awkward to move, and repeated trips to the tip can quickly eat into your day.

If your garden is overgrown, the waste is heavy, or you simply want the job done quickly, hiring a garden clearance service is a wise move.

Garden clearance cost checklist

• Work out roughly how much waste needs clearing

• Confirm whether the waste is green waste, soil, rubble or mixed rubbish

• Take photos to help with quoting

• Ask whether the price is hourly or per load

• Check whether bagging and loading are included

• Ask how the waste will be disposed of

• Compare quotes from checked local services

When should you speak to a garden clearance service?

It’s worth speaking to a garden clearance service if your garden has become overgrown and unmanageable, you have more waste than your council bin can handle, or you need bulky items removed after garden work.

A local service can help you understand whether the job is likely to be priced by the hour, by load or by the type of waste being removed.

Find garden clearance services near you

Comparing a selection of local garden clearance services is the best way to understand what a fair price looks like in your area.

A good clearance service should be able to explain what they can remove, how long it should take, and what's included in the quote.

FAQs

How much should it cost to clear a garden?

Garden clearance typically costs around £52.50 per hour or around £210 per load. The final price will depend on the amount of waste, the type of waste, access and labour time.

How much should garden clearance cost?

As a guide, garden clearance costs around £45–£60 per hour, with an average of £52.50 per hour. Per-load prices usually range from £60–£360.

How much does overgrown garden clearance cost?

Overgrown garden clearance costs around £185 on average. The price can vary depending on how much needs cutting back, the weight of waste and how easy your garden is to access.

How do you clear a badly overgrown garden?

A badly overgrown garden is usually cleared in stages: cutting back growth, separating waste, bagging or loading it, and then arranging disposal. For large or heavy jobs, it’s often easier to hire an experienced garden clearance service. A garden clearance team can usually complete the work much more quickly than you doing it alone.

How much does ground clearance cost?

Ground clearance costs depend on the type and amount of waste. Garden clearance averages £52.50 per hour, while overgrown garden clearance jobs average around £185.

How much does a garden makeover cost in the UK?

Garden makeover costs vary widely depending on the work involved. If the project starts with clearing waste, garden clearance costs around £52.50 per hour or £210 per load. Our guide to garden makeover costs has more information.

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