If your garden has become overgrown, cluttered, or simply unmanageable, you’re not alone. Garden clearance in South East London is one of the most requested gardening services, especially after winter or when moving into a new property.
But here’s the truth.
Most articles online don’t explain real costs, what affects pricing, or why some garden clearance jobs go wrong.
This guide is written by a local urban gardening company in South East London, and it covers exactly what homeowners need to know before booking garden clearance, which is often the first step before a garden maintenance or garden landscaping and design project.
What Is Garden Clearance and When Do You Need It?
Garden clearance is the process of removing unwanted garden waste and overgrowth, including:
- Overgrown grass, weeds, brambles, ivy
- Fallen branches and hedge cuttings
- Old garden furniture, sheds, decking debris
- Green waste after landscaping or renovation
You usually need garden clearance if:
- The garden has been neglected for months or years
- You’re preparing a property for sale or rent
- You’re starting a new garden design
- Foxes and pests are attracted to overgrowth
- DIY maintenance is no longer realistic
Many homeowners in South East London look into garden clearance when they recognise one or more of these signs.
Garden Clearance Process
The garden clearance process simple, efficient, and transparent from start to finish.
- Quick photo check
You can send us a few photos of your garden so we can assess the work properly. - Agree what stays and what goes
Before starting, we confirm exactly what you want cleared and what should be kept or cut back. - Clearance and cut-back
We remove overgrowth, weeds, brambles, and unwanted plants while shaping back anything you’d like to keep. - Bagging and loading
All green waste is bagged, loaded, and cleared from your property during the visit. - Responsible disposal
Waste is disposed of responsibly, recycling wherever possible in line with local regulations. - Optional aftercare
If you want to keep the garden under control, we can set up a regular garden maintenance plan.
Garden Clearance vs Garden Maintenance: What’s the Difference?
This is where many homeowners get confused.
Garden clearance is a one-off or occasional service:
- Removing overgrowth
- Resetting the garden
- Preparing for landscaping
Garden maintenance is ongoing:
- Lawn care
- Pruning
- Weeding
- Seasonal upkeep
If your garden is already out of control, maintenance alone won’t fix it. Clearance comes first.
Get a Garden Clearance Quote in South East London
If your garden in South East London has become overgrown or unmanageable, professional garden clearance can reset it quickly and safely.
Explore our services: Garden Maintenance, Garden Clearance, or Garden Fencing.
Garden Clearance in South East London: DIY or Professional?
DIY makes sense if:
- The garden is lightly overgrown
- You have time and transport
- Waste volume is small
Hire professionals if:
- The garden is heavily overgrown
- You need waste removed legally
- You want the garden usable immediately
- You plan landscaping or fencing next
Most of our clients tried DIY first. Almost all say they wish they hadn’t.
Tools Needed to Clear an Overgrown Garden
People often search for tools for clearing overgrown gardens before attempting DIY.
Here’s what professionals actually use:
- Heavy-duty strimmers and brush cutters
- Hedge trimmers and pruning saws
- Spades, forks, mattocks for roots
- Protective equipment
- Large waste bags or skips
DIY is fine for light jobs. For serious overgrowth, professional garden clearance is safer and faster.
Why Hiring a Local South East London Gardener Matters
Local experience matters more than people think.
A South East London garden clearance specialist understands:
- Typical garden sizes in areas like Eltham, Greenwich, Lewisham, Streatham, Peckham, Deptford
- Council waste rules
- Access challenges in terraced housing
- Seasonal growth patterns in London gardens
Hiring local means:
- Faster response
- Realistic pricing
- Better aftercare advice
What Most Gardeners Won’t Tell You (Important)
Here are things rarely mentioned online:
- DIY clearance takes 2–4x longer
- Overgrown gardens often attract foxes and other pests, especially when there are dense corners, debris, or undisturbed areas.
- Poor garden clearance can damage soil structure, making it harder to grow healthy plants afterwards.
- Clearing at the wrong time of year, or cutting too aggressively, can kill plants you may want to keep.
- Cheap garden clearance often cuts corners on waste disposal, which can lead to problems later if waste is not disposed of legally.
- A one-off clearance without any follow-up care usually means the overgrowth returns quickly.
A good garden clearance should reset the garden, not just make it look tidy for a week.
How Much Does Garden Clearance Cost in South East London?
Garden clearance costs may vary depending on the company. In South East London, pricing depends on the time required and the amount of waste generated.
What Can Affect the Final Cost?
Total cost can depend on:
1. Garden size
Small courtyard gardens take less time than long terraced gardens or large family plots.
2. Level of overgrowth
Light clearance is quicker than heavily overgrown gardens with brambles, self-seeded trees, or invasive plants.
3. Waste removal
Garden clearance can generate large volumes of green waste.
Quotes for collection, disposal, and recycling are provided on site only, once the volume of waste is known.
Responsible, licensed disposal matters. Cheap quotes that ignore this often lead to fly-tipping issues.
You can read more about legal waste disposal on the UK government website.
Our Garden Clearance Pricing
We charge £85 per hour with a minimum of 2 hours. The exact time depends on the size of the garden and how overgrown it is. To give you a clearer idea, here are some common scenarios we see across South East London.
Garden type | Typical clearance time |
|---|---|
Small courtyard garden with light overgrowth | Usually around 2–3 hours |
Medium terraced garden with moderate overgrowth | Usually around 4–6 hours |
Large or heavily overgrown garden with brambles and heavy waste | Often 1 full day or more |
Waste removal is quoted on site once we see the volume, as this can vary a lot between gardens.
If you’d like a faster estimate, you can send us a few photos of your garden and we’ll give you an honest indication before booking.
What Our South East London Clients Say
We’re proud to work with homeowners, landlords, and tenants across South East London. Here’s what a few of them had to say after their garden clearance:
Garden Clearance Testimonial in Peckham SE15
'' I am so happy with the work and service given by Urban Gardeners. My tenants had let the garden become so overgrown it was like a jungle. Urban Gardeners came around and totally transformed the place in just a day. I completely recommend their professional and friendly service. Thanks again. ''
- the schralindos
Garden Clearance Testimonial in Peckham SE15
'' The two gentlemen that came to the house were polite, considerate to our home, and amongst the hardest working people I’ve ever encountered. The weather was really hot on the day they came, but they still grafted despite the heat. They did an excellent job of clearing our garden, and were done within an hour (initially we thought it would take 3hrs). So even with us also paying for removal of the garden waste, it was still cheaper than we expected. I cannot recommend this company highly enough. I’ve already recommended them to several of my colleagues and clients. ''
- caroline FINDLAY
This varies a lot. Some jobs produce a few bags of green waste, while overgrown gardens can generate several cubic metres of material. A professional quote should always factor in safe and legal disposal.
Yes, full garden clearance normally includes removal of green waste such as branches, weeds, hedge cuttings, and unwanted plants. Always confirm this, as some quotes exclude disposal.
Yes. Many garden clearance jobs in South East London involve gardens that haven’t been touched in years. These projects often require heavy-duty tools and careful planning to avoid damaging structures or soil.
Garden clearance and garden maintenance serve different purposes. Clearance is ideal for resetting an overgrown garden, while maintenance keeps an already tidy garden under control. Clearance is usually the first step before starting regular upkeep.
Yes. Garden clearance can be done year-round, though late winter and early spring are especially popular in South East London. Seasonal growth and weather conditions may affect timing slightly.
Yes, in many cases. Overgrown gardens provide shelter and food sources for foxes. Clearing dense vegetation, debris, and hiding spots often reduces fox activity, especially when combined with ongoing maintenance. For more interesting information about foxes, you can read our article about 7 effective strategies to keep foxes away from your garden in South East London.
Not always. As long as access to the garden is arranged and expectations are clearly discussed in advance, many homeowners choose not to be present during the work.
Absolutely. Garden clearance is commonly requested before moving in, selling, or renting out a property. It helps present the garden in a clean, usable state.
Most gardens only need full clearance once, followed by regular maintenance. Gardens left unattended for long periods may need occasional repeat clearance if growth becomes unmanaged again.
You can book a garden clearance by contacting us for a quote. It’s best to share photos so pricing is accurate. Visit our Garden Clearance page for more informations.
Reasons To Choose Urban Gardeners South East London
Want help improving your garden in South East London? Get in touch and we’ll send you our garden clearance quote.
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