How to Clear an Overgrown Garden

Have you recently purchased a brand new property with an overgrown garden then needs clearing? Maybe you've left your own garden to run wild for a little too long and now it's time to take care of it. Either way, an overgrown garden can be a real headache to look at, let alone clear! 

So, to make things a little easier for you, the team here at Taylor Total Weed Control have come up with this simple guide on how to clear an overgrown garden for you to follow to make your garden nightmares a thing of the past. 

The tools you'll need 

Before we can get stuck into how you go about clearing your overgrown garden, here's a list of the tools you'll need to get the job done as safely and efficiently as possible:

• A garden shredder 
• Shears 
• Secateurs 
• Gloves 
• A fork and spade 
• Garden sacks 
• A strimmer (optional)
• A rotavator (optional)
• Weed-suppressant (optional) 

Grab a partner 

Having someone with you to help clear your overgrown garden isn't essential but it sure makes the job a whole lot easier. So, if you have a friend, family member or partner that can help with the nitty-gritty work of clearing a garden, we recommend giving them a call!

Wear suitable clothing

The next thing you need to do is to ensure you have the right clothing for the job. Clearing an overgrown garden does come with a few dangers so making sure you're prepared for them will ensure your safety and the completion of the job. 

We advise wearing a pair of strong, sturdy boots to protect your feet whilst using the fork. A pair of long sleeves and thick trousers to protect your arms and legs against the jungle of brambles, nettles and bugs you're likely to encounter and finally a pair of high-strength gardening gloves that protects your hands from anything that may cause harm.

Start cutting back

Before making a start on the greenery, it's best to clear away any rubbish or loose items that you have laying around. Once this has been cleared, it's time to tackle the largest hedges, shrubs and/or trees that have grown over time. This will allow light to beam through into your garden, making your outdoor space feel and look a lot bigger and more spacious and hopefully lift your mood a little!

Using your secateurs, start cutting back any overgrown branches in small sections to make them more manageable. To remove a whole shrub or smaller trees at once, dig around them using your spade and push them out from underneath their roots, ensuring none are left behind. Before cutting down any trees, however, be sure to double-check with your local authority for permission as you could get into some trouble for doing so without it.

Dispose of the debris 

Once you've made the initial cut back of the overgrown branches, shrubs and smaller trees, you'll want to put all the wooden debris that has gathered into a garden shredder. This will help turn any wooden waste into bark chippings and mulch in a quick and easy way, meaning you won't be left with a heap of leftover waste in an area that you've just spent time cleaning up.

To make things a little easier for yourself, why not chip the prunings as soon as you cut them and keep them in a large garden sack for use the next day? The garden shredder is great for cutting back the effort it takes to chop-up. 

Double-shred any wooden waste for compost and retain as much wood chippings as possible as this makes fantastic mulch.

Clearing up

After you have finished cutting back all of the tree branches, shrubs and hedges, it's now time to strim the overgrown grass. Before you do this, however, ensure you have checked for wildlife such as frogs, rats, hedgehogs, garden snakes and wasp nests. You don't want to accidentally kill any of these or even worse, disturb them and provoke an attack. 

Once the grass has been strimmed, it's time to turn your attention to the soil. If your soil feels hard underfoot and compacted, we recommend hiring a rotavator to help dig through it. This will make the following tasks a lot easier. 

After rotavating your soil, make your way around your lawn and pick out any weeds that you find, this will prevent them from growing back easily.

Protect your turf

After the ground has been strimmed and cleared, cover it with a high-quality weed suppressant. Mother Nature doesn't waste any time and it won't be long before the weeds start to grow back. So cover your turf with a weed suppressant and allow it to sit for a few months. If you prefer a more organic and natural method to halt weed growth, however, you could use the bark and chippings from the previous steps. Aim for approximately five inches of bark mulch to prevent the weeds from growing. 

Take your time

Clearing an overgrown garden takes time and effort, so please don't rush. Be sure to take regular breaks whenever necessary and take a look at what you've done so far. Plan tasks accordingly and don't overdo them. 

By following these simple steps you will be well on your way to not only clearing your overgrown garden but creating a new, spacious outdoor space that you can enjoy all year round! 

How we can help

Of course, if all of this sounds like a lot of work and you simply don't have the time to clear your overgrown garden, the professional team here at Taylor Total Weed Control can help!

Our experienced and helpful lawn care specialists can take care of your messy garden and all of this fuss that comes with it. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in and would like to learn more about how we can help you, be sure to visit our garden clearance page below.

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If you would like to learn more about how to clear an overgrown garden or would like to talk to our friendly team, then please submit the simple enquiry form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.