Overgrown garden? Here's exactly what a clearance involves

If your garden has got completely out of hand, you are not alone, and it is not as big a problem as it feels. Waist-high grass, brambles, weeds through the patio, a shed you can barely reach. It piles up fast, especially after a wet summer or an empty rental. The good news: a proper clearance brings it all back in a day. Here is exactly what that involves, so you know what you are getting.

Step one: a look and a fixed price

A good clearance always starts with someone actually looking at it. No two overgrown gardens are the same, so a fair gardener comes round, takes a quick look, and gives you one fixed price before touching anything. Be cautious of anyone who quotes a jungle blind over the phone. They are guessing, and the guess usually goes up halfway through. See garden clearance.

Step two: cutting back the overgrowth

The first real job is getting the height down. Long grass, weeds and overgrown growth get strimmed and cut right back so you can actually see the garden again. This is the stage where it stops looking like a jungle and starts looking like a space.

Step three: brambles, nettles and the rough stuff

Next comes the tougher growth. Brambles, nettles and anything woody that has taken over gets cleared out properly, not just topped. This is the bit most people dread doing themselves, and fair enough, it is hard, prickly work. Done right, it does not just grow straight back.

Step four: uncovering what was hidden

Once the growth is gone, the borders, paths and patio reappear, often along with a surprise or two. This is where the garden gets its shape back. Edges get defined, paths get cleared, and the patio you forgot you had comes back into use.

Step five: the clean finish

Finally everything gets raked, swept and tidied to a clean finish, so you are not left with a fresh mess instead of the old one. You should end the day with a garden you can walk into, use, and feel good about.

What about the waste?

This is the question to ask upfront. A big clearance produces a lot of green waste, and getting rid of it legally means a trip to the tip. Some gardeners include it, some price it as an extra. Either is fine, just make sure you know which before you start, so there is no surprise. You can also keep it in your own green bins over a few weeks to save the cost, if you are not in a rush.

What it costs and how long it takes

Most overgrown gardens are a full day's work, starting from around £160 and quoted on site. One day, one fixed price, and you go from embarrassed to enjoying it again. For landlords, sellers and anyone who has just let it slide, it is one of the most satisfying jobs there is.