Garden Clearance Cost UK: What to Expect to Pay
Typical UK garden clearance prices by garden size and condition, what is included, how waste is charged, and how to get a quote you can compare.
Garden clearance is the most variable job in gardening. A tidy-up before a viewing is a different task from stripping out a plot that has been abandoned for years. The quote depends mainly on labour hours and waste volume, so the best way to understand the price is to understand those two things.
Typical prices
Clearance is usually quoted per job after a photo or visit. Rough UK guide ranges, which vary by region, access and condition, are:
| Garden | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small, lightly overgrown | around £150 to £350 |
| Medium, heavily overgrown | around £350 to £800 |
| Large or very overgrown | around £800 to £2,000 or more |
| Hourly rate for clearance labour | around £18 to £35 per person |
If the job involves a skip or lorry, or the removal of old structures such as sheds or concrete, the cost rises sharply. London and the South East are generally higher.
What is being priced
Labour
Cutting back brambles, cutting out overgrown shrubs, strimming tall grass and lifting weeds all take hours. Weather, ground conditions and access influence speed.
Waste
Waste is often the biggest variable. Green waste is bulky but light; soil, rubble and turf are very heavy. Mixed waste with plastic, treated wood and old furniture may attract extra charges because it cannot go to normal green waste sites. See our guide to garden waste disposal for how it works.
Equipment
Hedge cutters, chainsaws for woody growth, strimmers and sometimes a mini excavator or stump grinder. Small tasks suit hand tools; bigger ones may need machinery.
What should be in a clearance quote
- A description of the area to be cleared, with photos if possible.
- Whether waste removal and disposal charges are included.
- Whether plants you want to keep will be protected.
- Whether roots or stumps are being removed or left.
- Whether the ground will be left bare or raked level.
- Timing, including how many people and how many days.
Common sources of extra cost
- Hidden items under vegetation: bricks, tyres, buried furniture.
- Unexpected volume of soil or rubble.
- Restricted access that stops a van or skip getting close.
- Hazardous materials such as asbestos sheeting, which a gardener should not touch and must be handled by a licensed specialist.
- Japanese knotweed, which requires specialist treatment and must not be cut or dumped; get specialist advice before disturbing it.
Ask the gardener how they would handle unexpected items so you know whether a stop-and-discuss approach applies.
Where to start
If your garden has got away from you, our guide on where to start with an overgrown garden gives a sensible sequence. Clearing in stages can also spread the cost.
How to keep the price sensible
- Mark what you want to keep before the quote is made.
- Be clear about what the finished garden should look like: just cut back, or stripped to bare soil.
- Compost or burn-free options may be cheaper than carting everything away, if you have space and local rules allow.
- Choose a day with a clear route for access.
- Ask for any extra costs to be agreed before further work is done.
Using Compito
Search by postcode, compare ID-verified local gardeners, and send a request with photos and a list of what you want. Providers reply with offers, and you can accept and pay online. You can message them to confirm details before the day. Learn more on how it works.
Worked example: a neglected terrace garden
A 12m by 5m back garden has not been touched for three years. It has waist-high brambles, a collapsed shed panel and a heap of old pots. A two-person team spends a day and a half cutting back, digging out bramble crowns, bagging green waste and taking out the shed debris. Waste volume is roughly a van load of green material plus a smaller mixed load. A quote in the region of £500 to £900 would not be out of line in many areas, higher in London and the South East. If the team also strims, rakes and levels the ground ready for turf, the finishing time and cost increase.
Condition grading: how to describe your garden
| Description | What it usually means for the quote |
|---|---|
| Lawn long but cuttable | Mowing and strimming, minimal waste |
| Weeds and shrubs overgrown | Cutting back, medium waste |
| Brambles, ivy and saplings | Heavy labour, tools and tipping |
| Fly-tipped or building waste | Specialist removal, extra tipping charges |
| Unknown plants or invasive species | Needs identification before pricing |
Tips for a cleaner quote
- Photograph the garden before anyone visits, and include the worst corner.
- Walk the garden with the person quoting and point at what is staying.
- Ask for the price to be split into labour, waste and any machinery.
- Agree what happens if something unexpected is found, such as a buried slab.
Special cases
- Rented properties. Check who is responsible before ordering clearance, and keep receipts; see garden help for landlords and rentals.
- Properties for sale. A single tidy and cut is often enough to improve the first impression.
- Gardens near water, hedges or trees. Nesting birds and wildlife may restrict the time of year for cutting. See when can you trim hedges.
- Protected trees. Check before cutting; see tree preservation orders and conservation areas.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to hire a skip myself?
Sometimes, but you still need to do all the labour and loading, and skip permits are needed if it is placed on a public road. For heavy clearance, a contractor who takes everything away can be better value in time.
Will the gardener keep my plants?
Only if you tell them which ones. Mark plants with canes or tape and mention them in writing before the quote is agreed.
How long does a clearance take?
A small garden can be done in a day, while a heavily overgrown one may take two to four days with a team. Ask for an estimate when you request the quote.