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Quick Answer
Cheap garden clearance quotes (under 200 for a full garden) are usually cheap for a reason. The most common problems are: waste fly-tipped and traced back to you (fine up to 5,000 pounds), incomplete work requiring a second clearance, hidden charges added on the day, and damage to your property. A proper clearance from an insured gardener costs more upfront but is better value.
Warning signs of a cheap clearance
No insurance
No waste disposal records
Cash only
No business address
Pressure to decide on the day
Quote significantly cheaper than others
The Hidden Costs of Cheap Garden Clearance
1. Fly-tipping risk (the big one)
If a gardener offers to take your waste away for 50, ask yourself: how are they disposing of it legally? Licensed disposal costs 120 to 200 per tonne. If they are charging 50 for a job that produces 2 tonnes of waste, the maths does not work. The waste is being fly-tipped.
If fly-tipped waste is traced back to you (and it often is, through letters and receipts in the bags), you can be fined up to 5,000 pounds under the Environmental Protection Act. You are legally responsible for ensuring your waste is disposed of legally, even if you paid someone else to do it.
2. Incomplete work
A cheap quote often means the gardener plans to do less work. They cut the top growth but leave the roots. They take the easy waste but leave the heavy stuff. They sweep the visible areas but leave the corners. You end up needing a second clearance to finish the job, which costs more than a proper clearance would have.
3. Hidden charges
The quote is 150. But on the day, there is a 50 charge for waste removal, a 30 charge for heavy bramble, a 40 charge for access, and a 20 charge for sweeping. The final bill is 290. This is a common tactic with cheap clearance companies.
4. Damage to your property
Cheap clearers often work fast and carelessly. They drag brambles through the house, scratch doors, damage lawns with heavy wheelbarrows, and break fence panels. If they have no insurance, you have no recourse.
5. No aftercare or guarantee
A cheap clearer takes the money and disappears. If the brambles grow back in 3 months because the roots were not dug out, there is no one to call. A proper gardener will come back and sort out any issues.
What to Check Before Accepting Any Clearance Quote
1. Public liability insurance
Ask for proof of public liability insurance. This covers damage to your property. Any reputable gardener will have it and will be happy to show you.
2. Waste disposal
Ask how they dispose of the waste. The answer should be a licensed disposal facility. Ask for the disposal record after the job. If they cannot or will not provide this, do not use them.
3. What is included
Get the quote in writing and check what is included. Does it include waste removal? Root digging? Sweeping? A fixed price quote means no surprises on the day.
4. Reviews and references
Ask for references from previous clients. Check online reviews. A gardener with no reviews and no references is a risk.
5. Business address and landline
A gardener with only a mobile number and no business address is hard to track down if something goes wrong. A proper business has a traceable presence.
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The Real Cost of a Proper Clearance
A proper garden clearance from an insured gardener costs more than a cheap quote, but it is better value. For a family garden, expect 400 to 900. This includes:
- All cutting, digging and clearance work
- All waste removed and disposed of legally
- Disposal records provided
- Public liability insurance
- A fixed price with no hidden charges
- Someone to call if there are issues
See our garden clearance cost guide for detail on what a proper clearance should cost.
How to Spot a Reputable Gardener
- They have insurance and can prove it
- They dispose of waste legally and provide records
- They give fixed price quotes in writing
- They have reviews and references
- They have a business address and landline
- They are happy to answer questions
- They do not pressure you to decide on the day
- Their price is in line with other reputable gardeners
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Get a Proper Clearance Quote
We are fully insured, dispose of all waste legally, and give fixed price quotes in writing. Contact us on WhatsApp and we will aim to respond within 12 to 36 hours, Monday to Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some clearance quotes so cheap?
Usually because they are cutting corners: fly-tipping the waste, doing less work, or adding hidden charges on the day. A proper clearance costs what it costs.
Can I be fined if my gardener fly-tips my waste?
Yes. Under the Environmental Protection Act, you are responsible for ensuring your waste is disposed of legally, even if you paid someone else to do it. Fines can be up to 5,000 pounds.
What should a proper clearance cost?
For a family garden, 400 to 900 including waste removal. See our clearance cost guide for detail.
Further Reading
- How much does garden clearance cost?
- DIY vs professional garden clearance
- Garden waste removal costs
Before clearing mature gardens, inspect for nesting birds and protected species. Old hedge bases and bramble clumps often shelter hedgehogs and other wildlife.
Put this advice into practice
Use the relevant CGM tool or follow a related guide, then send us a few photos if you would like a tailored plan.
Sources and citations
This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.
- CGM field records (2024-05. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
- Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
- Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
- British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.