How to Clear an Overgrown Garden: Essential Tools for South East London Homes

For long grass, thick weeds, and brambles, a brush cutter or powerful strimmer is usually the first thing you reach for. It clears big areas quickly so you can actually see what you’re dealing with underneath.

Why it matters:

• Cuts through dense growth faster than hand tools

• Helps you “reset” the garden to a workable level

Choosing the right type:

• Petrol: best for heavy overgrowth and big gardens

• Battery: great for medium jobs and less noise

• Electric corded: fine for light work, but annoying in wild growth

Once the ground is under control, overgrown hedges and shrubs are usually next. A hedge trimmer helps you reduce bulk fast and open up space.

Helpful tip: If shrubs are tall or hard to reach, a long-reach hedge trimmer is safer than balancing on a ladder.

Best for:

• Hedges that have expanded into paths

• Shrubs blocking light

• Quick shaping after the heavy cutting

The Royal Horticultural Society provides clear guidance on how and when to prune hedges properly.

After the noisy power tools, you’ll want precision. Loppers and secateurs (pruning shears) are perfect for vines, woody stems, and tidy finishing.

Quick guide:

• Pruning shears: small stems, clean detail work

• Loppers: thicker branches (often up to about 2 inches depending on the model)

Pick the right style:

• Bypass blades: best for live green growth

• Anvil blades: better for dead or tougher wood

If you hit thick branches, logs, or small trees, you need a saw.

• A bow saw gives great control and is ideal if you’re doing a slower, careful cut.

• A chainsaw is much faster for big clearance jobs, but it needs proper safety gear and confident handling.

If you’re not comfortable using a chainsaw, don’t force it. This is one of the tools where “winging it” goes wrong fast. The Health and Safety Executive strongly advises following proper chainsaw safety guidance before use.

Cutting everything down is only half the job. The real battle is often roots, compacted soil, and stubborn weed clumps.

Use them like this:

• Garden fork: loosens soil and lifts roots without slicing through everything

• Spade: digs out root balls, sharp edging, reshaping beds

If you want to replant after clearing, these two tools are non-negotiable.

After cutting, the garden will look worse before it looks better. Rakes and blowers help you gather everything so you can remove it properly.

Best approach:

• Rake first for piles of weeds and cuttings

• Blower for leaves, light debris, and finishing cleanup

Blower-vac models can be handy if you want to collect as you go.

Most of garden clearance is moving stuff. A solid wheelbarrow saves your back, and heavy-duty garden waste bags keep everything contained.

What to look for:

• Strong frame and stable wheel
• Bags that stand up on their own (makes loading way easier)

If you’re clearing a big garden, plan waste removal early. Green waste piles grow very fast. If you want more options, the RHS has a helpful guide on how to deal with garden waste, including composting, green bins, and responsible disposal. You can also check local collection rules and disposal options here.

Some weeds bounce back even after cutting. If regrowth is a problem, you’ve got two common options:

• Weed burner (heat treatment)

• Weed control (ideally a safer, targeted option)

Always follow instructions carefully, especially if pets or kids use the garden.

Overgrown gardens can be genuinely risky. The right safety gear is not “extra”, it’s basic protection.

Essentials:

• Eye protection (debris flicks up quickly)

• Ear defenders (especially with petrol tools)

• Tough boots (ideally with toe protection)

• Long sleeves and thick trousers

If you want the garden cleared quickly without the stress, a professional garden clearance visit can take it from “wild” to “usable” in one go. You can also combine clearance with garden maintenance to keep it under control long term. 

How our gardening services can help

If your garden is heavily overgrown, the right tools are a great start. But if you want a faster, safer reset, our team can clear the growth and remove the waste properly.

• Garden clearance  to remove brambles, long grass, dense weeds, and heavy green waste
• Garden maintenance to keep the garden under control after the clear-out
• Hedge trimming to cut back overgrown hedges and shrubs safely and neatly
• Garden fencing repairs to fix weak spots and improve privacy and boundaries
• Lawn care and mowing to restore a cleaner finish and reduce rapid regrowth
• Garden landscaping and design to rebuild the space into a layout that’s easier to maintain
  

Want help improving your garden in South East London? Get in touch and we’ll recommend the best service for your outdoor space.