Clear rubbish, cut back growth safely, check for nesting birds, then tidy edges and beds over a weekend or two.
GD-01Walk round and plan the workWalk the whole garden and note what needs doing: rubbish, brambles, overgrown shrubs and hedges, weeds, and untidy edges or paths. Check any large tree for a Tree Preservation Order or conservation area status with the council before you plan to prune it — see HomeGraft's "Can I cut down or prune a tree with a tree preservation order?" guide. If a neighbour's hedge is causing the problem, read HomeGraft's "What can I do about a neighbour's high hedge?" guide rather than cutting it yourself. If you spot a plant you don't recognise with bamboo-like stems and heart-shaped leaves, treat it as possible Japanese knotweed and don't touch it yet.
RULES1 each · Notepad or phone camera (for planning) KNOW THE RULES
Trees with a Tree Preservation Order, or any tree in a conservation area, are protected by law — check with the council before cutting. A neighbour's hedge on their land isn't yours to cut back beyond the boundary.
GD-02Clear rubbish firstPick up and bag any litter, broken pots, old fence panels or dumped rubbish before you start cutting anything. This gives you clear access to the ground and stops you strimming over hidden glass or metal. If you think you've spotted Japanese knotweed, leave it exactly where it is — don't cut it, move it or bag it with the rest. It needs a specialist, not the green bin.
RULES5 each · Heavy-duty rubble sacks KNOW THE RULES
Japanese knotweed is controlled waste. Don't cut, strim, compost or bin it — get a specialist contractor to deal with it.
GD-03Check hedges, shrubs and brambles for nesting birdsBefore cutting any hedge, shrub or bramble patch, look and listen for active birds' nests. The main nesting season runs roughly March to August, but check at any time of year. If you find a nest in use, leave that section alone completely and work round it — come back once the birds have fledged.
RULESKNOW THE RULES
It's an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to damage or destroy a wild bird's nest while it's in use. Leave any section with an active nest and cut it later.
GD-04Cut back brambles and long grassBefore strimming, check long grass for hedgehogs and other wildlife, and for hidden stones, glass or wire. Wear eye protection, gloves and sturdy boots. Use an electric strimmer or hedge trimmer plugged into an RCD-protected socket, and work in short, controlled passes rather than hacking at thick growth.
1 each · Electric strimmer 1 each · RCD plug adaptor GD-05Cut back shrubs and hedgesUse hand shears or an electric hedge trimmer, always on an RCD. Only cut what you can reach safely from the ground — never stand on a ladder to cut a hedge. Anything thicker than about a forearm, out of reach from the ground, or near power lines, a building or a road isn't a DIY job: call a tree surgeon. You can cut a neighbour's branches back to the boundary line from your own side without going onto their land or killing the plant, and it's good manners to offer the cuttings back.
RULES1 each · Electric hedge trimmer KNOW THE RULES
You may cut overhanging branches back to the boundary from your own side, but you must not enter a neighbour's garden without permission, and the branches still belong to them unless they say otherwise.
GD-06Clear weedsPull or hoe weeds from beds, paving cracks and borders by hand where you can. Leave anything that still looks like possible Japanese knotweed untouched and get it identified properly rather than guessing.
GD-07Edge lawns, tidy beds and pathsUse a half-moon edging tool or long-handled edging shears to square off lawn edges against beds and paths. Sweep or brush paths clear of cuttings and soil as you go, so the garden looks finished rather than half-done.
1 each · Half-moon edging tool 1 each · Stiff garden brush GD-08Dispose of waste and finish upBag or pile green waste for council collection or a green bin subscription, or take it to the household waste recycling centre yourself. For larger clear-outs, a weekend skip hire is often cheaper than several HWRC trips. If you use a waste carrier instead, check they hold a current waste carrier licence before they take anything away. Don't burn garden waste if the smoke or smell would bother neighbours.
RULES1 each · Green waste bin subscription (annual) 1 each · Mini skip hire (weekend) KNOW THE RULES
Anyone removing your waste commercially must hold a valid waste carrier licence — ask to see it. Burning waste that causes a smoke nuisance to neighbours can breach local environmental rules.
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