Cleaning up a neglected garden can be quite a challenge, especially when it has not been maintained for a long time. In this case, the overdue maintenance piles up and it becomes an ever-increasing hurdle to clean up the garden. This feels overwhelming, but with the right approach, any garden can be refurbished. Below, we offer a detailed step-by-step plan for cleaning up a neglected garden.
Renovate feral garden – 4 steps
Step 1 – Provide tools and materials
To get started efficiently with cleaning up your yard, it is helpful to have all the necessary tools and materials on hand. Below is a comprehensive list of what you will need:
- Pruning and gardening tools:
- Pruning shears – for smaller branches and plants.
- Loppers – for larger branches and shrubs.
- Hedge trimmer – for trimming hedges.
- Chainsaw – if larger trees or thick branches need to be removed.
- Weed picker – for thorough removal of weeds including roots.
- Spade or shovel – for digging out plants or turning over soil.
- Rake – for collecting leaves and garden waste.
- Protection and safety:
- Gardening gloves – to protect your hands from thorns, sharp branches and dirt.
- Safety glasses – while removing plants, you want to avoid getting anything in your eyes.
- Sturdy shoes or boots – to protect your feet.
- Afvalverwijdering:
- Garden waste bags – for collecting garden waste.
- Bulky waste container – if there is a lot of large waste that will not fit in bags.
- Other material:
- Weed cloth – for suppressing future weed growth.
- Plant labels – to mark newly planted species.
- Tape measure or rope – for measuring the garden and planning the layout.
Step 2 – Pruning and removing overgrown plants
A significantly neglected garden can be overwhelming and this can leave you wondering where to start. We always recommend starting with pruning and removing the largest plants. Make sure you get the right tools for this as indicated in the list above. This is because with the right tools, the job will go a lot easier and you can work more safely. Proceed with care and caution. This can be a time-consuming and intensive job, so take your time. After pruning, try to dispose of the largest garden waste immediately in, for example, a large container or in garden waste bags.
Step 3 – Weed thoroughly
The next step is to thoroughly weed out all the weeds. Often in a neglected garden there are a lot of weeds. To prevent this from coming back quickly, it is important to weed it thoroughly. Pull the weeds out of the ground by hand or use a weed cutter (recommended). This way the roots are also removed, which is very important to prevent the weeds from growing back quickly.
Step 4 – Clean up
After everything is trimmed and the weeds are weeded, you can clean everything up. This step is often very satisfying because you finally see a clean and tidy garden again. When cleaning up, consider the following items:
- Sort garden waste: Divide waste into different categories, such as green waste (leaves, trimmings) and bulky waste (wood and thick branches). This makes it easier to properly dispose of or reuse the waste.
- Use yard waste bags and possibly containers – You can put small waste in yard waste bags. Larger waste you can put in a bulky waste container.
- Clean surface – Sweep or rake the surface to clean up any dirt left behind.
- Cleaning tools – Clean the tools you used thoroughly and store them neatly again.
Cost of cleaning up a neglected garden
Instead of doing everything yourself, you may choose to hire professional help to clean up your yard. This is understandable since it is often a very intensive job that takes a lot of time and effort. The cost of yard cleanup depends on several factors. Some factors that affect the price are:
- Size of the garden: If you have a large garden, a garden cleanup generally takes a tuk longer than if you have a small garden.
- State of the garden: A substantially feral garden takes more time and resources to clean up than a garden that is still reasonably okay.
- Waste Disposal: Cleaning up large amounts of yard waste can incur additional costs, especially if there is a lot of bulky dirt or pruning debris.
To get a more accurate estimate, please contact us for a free estimate. We always visit you once to see your situation. We will calculate the costs and you will always get a fixed price. This way you will never be surprised.
