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To many it can be quite surprising just how fast nature can take over an outside space. With our busy lives and hectic schedules it is easy for gardens to get out of control. Even the tamest of gardens with no maintenance can turn into a dense thicket within a few years. Hence it is very common for new homeowners or landlords to be faced with an impenetrable jungle! Whilst this may be heaven for local wildlife it can be a nightmare for residence. 
Overgrown gardens can cause damage to boundaries, brickwork and lower a property’s value. Therefore it is vital that overgrown gardens are cleared as soon as possible!
If you are undertaking the work yourself you will need the correct tools to stand a fighting chance. In this article we list the best tools for garden clearances and their specific uses. This will allow you to gauge which are most suitable for your garden clearence project. 19 Tools for garden clearances1. Bow saws
Bow saws are large hand saws with a bow handle and a replaceable, serrated blade. These are the go to saw for thick green wood, typical of overgrown trees and shrubs. Bow saws can be used to methodically cut branches into manageable lengths for logs for seasoning. They can also be used to fell small trees and prune larger, shrub specimens.
2. Garden shears
Garden shears are a go to staple when it comes to chopping out wild vegetation. These are perfect for carefully chopping gangways through thick and dense thickets. Very often it is stems and twigs of under a centimetre in thickness which causes the densest vegetation. Shears also have a stronger lopping blade nearer the base suitable for cutting larger twigs.
3. Garden loppers
Garden loppers have a scissor like appearance like shears but with a more ridged and robust design. The cutting blades are very much like secateurs which can slice through sticks and small branches easily. Loppers have extra long handles to take advantage of the extra force generated through mechanical leverage. Some also have extendable handles for extra reach and chopping strength.
4. Brushing hooks
Brushing hooks come in a few variations and designs but are ultimately long hand tools used for swiping and chopping brush. Very much like small swords or machetes these are perfect for cutting out nets of foliage. These are very effective at tackling dense vegetation growing at multiple angles and directions. The sharp hook snags stems cutting them effortlessly leading to faster clearing.
5. Hedge trimmers
Hedge trimmers are traditionally used for keeping neat hedges and shrubs in perfect form. However more robust models can be used to cut through dense layers of overgrown vegetation. These are very effective at clearing passages into overgrown shrubs and perennial weeds. Hedge trimmers can also be used to chop down cleared foliage into small sections to be bagged and shifted.
6. Chainsaws
When it comes to heavy cutting chainsaws are the best tool for the job. These are most effective for gardens which have gotten very out of control. Perfect for cutting out large trees and overgrown shrubs they can speed up your progress dramatically. However it is always advised to hire a professional for heavy chainsaw cutting for health and safety reasons.
7. Stump grinder
Stump grinders are heavy duty machines designed to grind out stubborn stumps and buried roots. These consist of an armoured metal body with steering handles and a spinning blade at the end. In most cases these are the only option for ensuring a tree or large shrub does not re-grow from the base. Very much like chainsaws it is recommended to hire a professional for stump grinding operations.
8. Excavator
Most of the time garden excavators are the ultimate machine for garden clearances. Excavators and mini diggers can scrape up soil and dig out stubborn roots with ease! However you will have to make sure there is access for such a machine to your garden. Typically it is possible to get mini diggers through standard sized garden gates however small diggers can lack the power of larger machines.
Excavator 9. Mattock
Mattocks are one of the most effective groundwork tools for garden clearances. These more compact, pick axe like tools are perfect for chopping through roots and sections of compacted soil. Mattocks are perfect for levering up old paving and dislodging stubborn ground obstructions.
10. Pitch fork
Commonly associated with medieval agriculture and angry peasants, pitch forks are the go to tool for garden clearances. These long handled tools are perfect for gathering up loose and twiggy material. Pitch forks can be used as large rakes dragging up large quantities of organic material. They are especially useful for shifting fallen, thorny material such as brambles or hawthorn.
11. Brush cutter
Brush cutters are effectively the same tool as strimmers but with a metal cutting blade. These serrated blades spin with great speed and power smashing through thicket stems. Brush cutters are one of the very best tools for clearing thick bramble patches with ease. These come in a wide variety of models but it is always more efficient to buy a powerful strimmer with an attachable brush cutter blade.
12. Strimmer
Stimmers are very effective for garden clearances but not as effective as brush cutters. Normally strimmers can be used to clear up and fine tune felled areas when brushcutting is complete. However strimmers are perfect for clearing large areas of overgrown grasslands. This can enable a landscaper excess to trees and shrubs which require further cutting. Try to use the most robust and powerful strimmers for garden clearances.
13. Wheelbarrow
Wheelbarrows are pretty much a staple commodity for all landscaping projects including garden clearances. These can be used to shift heavy materials such as concrete, medium tree stumps and soil. Wheelbarrows allow you to collect finely graded waste materials and skip them with ease.
14. Garden sacks
Garden sacks are a great way to collect green waste as you work. These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes for any scale of project. These collection sacks can help you to work methodically collecting waste as you go. Their compact habit can encourage you to process green waste into smaller grades for composting.
15. Incinerators
Incinerators are metal bins adapted specifically for burning dry, garden waste. These can be effective to incinerate waste slowly and methodically without fires getting out of control.
16. Eye protection
When it comes to garden clearances safety equipment is the most important. Not only are clearance projects full of sharp blades and power tools, overgrown gardens are full of fire hazards. Falling branches as well as sharp thorns and leaves can easily cause injury. Dense vegetation can also hide other sharp and protruding obstructions. Hence it is always advised to wear suitable eye protection at all times.
17. Chain mail gloves
Old rusty nails, wire fences, broken glass and sharp thorns are just some of the threats in overgrown gardens. Therefore it is always advised to wear an extremely robust form of hand and forearm protection. Some of the best of these include chainmail gloves which can prevent penetration from sharp objects.
18. Safety boots
Safety boots with a thick sole and a metal toe cap are essential for garden clearance work. These will guard against potential contact with tools, heavy falling objects and sharp ground dwelling obstructions. Good quality work boots with ankle support and protection will help prevent ankle sprains.
19. Landscaping rake
Landscaping rakes are much more robust than traditional, garden rakes and perfect for garden clearances. These are especially effective at raking up more bulky green waste and woody materials. Landscaping rakes are also very effective at levelling loosened ground from excavators and general ground works.
Thank you for reading our article on the best tools for garden clearances. If you found it useful why not share it with someone who will find it useful?
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Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening.
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