Category: Garden Prices & Costs Read time: 7 min read

On this page

7 min read Intermediate Read Best read in Winter
ShadeBerkshire

Need help with this?

Contact us on WhatsApp, get a quote, or browse our Chiltern Guides for premium PDF instructions.

Written by

CGM Editorial Team

Unlike most sites, we do not delegate our written articles to a web developer with no garden experience. Each and every article is hand written by our in team gardeners, who have direct hands on experience. We write each article when a client asks a question and we feel the answer should be shared with you. About the team →

Published

21 May 2026 · 7 min read

Last reviewed

19 July 2026

Reviewed by a senior CGM team member.

The short answer

Quick Answer

Clearing brambles, ivy and overgrowth in the UK in 2026 costs between 8 and 25 pounds per square metre depending on the density and how established the roots are. A small patch of 10 square metres costs 80 to 250. A full garden of 100 square metres of heavy bramble costs 800 to 2,500.

Bramble and ivy clearance price ranges

Light bramble (10 sqm): 80 to 150
Medium bramble (50 sqm): 400 to 900
Heavy bramble (100 sqm): 800 to 2,500
Ivy on walls and fences (per 10m run): 100 to 300
Ivy in trees (per tree): 80 to 250

Popular articles

Why Brambles and Ivy Cost What They Cost

Brambles and ivy are the most time-consuming plants to clear. Brambles have thorny stems that tangle into dense thickets, and the roots have to be dug out or they regrow. Ivy clings to walls, fences and trees with tiny aerial roots, and pulling it off can damage the surface underneath.

The cost is driven by:

  1. Density (how thick the growth is)
  2. Root establishment (how deep the roots go)
  3. Access (can we get to the base of the plants?)
  4. Waste volume (brambles produce a lot of bulk)

Bramble Clearance Costs

Light bramble (1 to 2 years growth)

Stems up to 1.5 metres, roots not yet well established. Cut with a brush cutter, then rake up. Roots can be left to rot or dug out. Cost: 8 to 12 per square metre.

Medium bramble (3 to 5 years growth)

Stems 1.5 to 2.5 metres, thickets forming, roots well established. Cut with a brush cutter, then dig out root crowns with a mattock. Cost: 12 to 18 per square metre.

Heavy bramble (5+ years growth)

Dense thickets over 2.5 metres, deep woody root systems. Cut with a brush cutter or chainsaw, then dig out every root crown. Cost: 18 to 25 per square metre.

Popular articles

Ivy Clearance Costs

Ivy on walls and fences

Ivy clings to surfaces with aerial roots that damage mortar and render. Cut the stems at the base, let the top growth die for 2 to 3 weeks, then pull it off. Cost: 100 to 300 per 10 metre run of wall or fence.

Ivy in trees

Ivy climbing into trees shades the canopy and adds weight. Cut the stems at the base of the tree, let the top growth die, then pull it out of the lower branches. Cost: 80 to 250 per tree depending on size.

Ivy as ground cover

Ivy spreading across the ground smothers other plants. Cut with a strimmer, then dig out the roots. Cost: 8 to 15 per square metre.

What Is Included in Our Bramble and Ivy Clearance

  • Cutting all top growth to ground level
  • Digging out root crowns (brambles) or main stems (ivy)
  • Removal of all cut material from site
  • Disposal of waste
  • Basic tidy of the cleared area

Popular articles

What Is Not Included

  • Chemical treatment of regrowth (quoted separately if needed)
  • Soil improvement or replanting (see our soft landscaping service)
  • Wall or fence repair if ivy has damaged the surface

How to Keep the Cost Down

Book in winter

Brambles die back in winter, making them easier to cut and lighter to carry. The lack of leaves also means we can see the root crowns more clearly.

Do the easy bits yourself

If you are able to cut the top growth yourself with secateurs or loppers, we can focus on the root digging. This is the hardest part and the part most people want help with.

Have a waste plan

Bramble cuttings are bulky. If you have a bonfire area or a compost heap, you can save on waste removal. See our waste removal cost guide.

Use Our Clearance Level Assessment

For a quick estimate of for your bramble or ivy clearance, use our clearance level assessment.. It accounts for bramble density and gives you a clearance level.

Get a Quote

Contact us on WhatsApp with a photo of the overgrowth and we will aim to respond within 12 to 36 hours, Monday to Sunday.

WhatsAppGet a Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Will brambles grow back if I just cut them down?

Yes. Brambles regrow from root crowns. To stop regrowth, the root crowns have to be dug out. Cutting alone is a temporary fix.

Will ivy damage my wall?

Ivy aerial roots damage mortar and render over time. If the wall is sound, ivy is fine. If the mortar is already weak, ivy will make it worse.

Can I burn bramble cuttings?

Yes, once they have dried out for a few weeks. Check local rules on bonfires before burning.

Further Reading

Estate Note

When budgeting for garden work on mature properties, allow a contingency for unexpected issues such as buried rubble, old foundations or drainage problems that only become visible during the work.

Useful next steps

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.

Open the garden clearance toolOpen guide How to restore an overgrown gardenOpen guide How to clear brambles without regrowthOpen guide
Get a tailored quote

Sources and citations

This article draws on the following sources. Specific claims are cited inline where relevant.

  1. CGM field records (2025-07. Site observations from gardens across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Bedfordshire.
  2. Royal Horticultural Society (2024). RHS Gardening Advice and Plant Finder. Available at rhs.org.uk.
  3. Met Office (2024). Regional climate averages, South East England. Available at metoffice.gov.uk.
  4. British Geological Survey (2024). Soil parent material data for the Chilterns and Thames Valley. Available at bgs.ac.uk.