Backyards can quickly get out of hand, with tall grass, unruly bushes, and untrimmed trees. If the time has come to tackle that eyesore, don’t despair. You can clean it up in a weekend with the right action plan.
An action plan is crucial to your success. Go about it wrong, and you won’t get very far before you give up.
Follow these tips for the best results and swiftly clean up an overgrown yard!
How To Reclaim Your Overgrown Yard
1. Plan the Project
Before diving headlong, take a long, hard look at the challenge and plan how to tackle it.
An essential part of this process is scoping the project. Figure out what’s there, set out the different stages of the work, and identify what you’ll need. You may need lawn-clearing tools (rakes, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, etc.), protective gear (gloves, clothes that you can dirty), and containers or trash bags for overgrowth. A detailed action plan will let you set everything up.
Also, make a plan to dispose of the waste. Call local providers offering yard waste removal or locate waste processing facilities accepting drop-offs.
2. Source the Tools and Protective Equipment
Before starting each stage, ensure you have everything you need and that it works. If your shed is in the same state as your backyard, then it’s likely that any trimmers and lawnmowers haven’t worked for months, if not years.
Borrow or rent what you need if you don’t own the tools. In some situations, you may need to hire a professional.
If you rent equipment you’ve never used, take time with the supplier to understand how it works. If necessary, request a demonstration. Check out whether you’ll need any specific safety gear.
In some situations, if you have to use a chainsaw or stump grinder, it may be better to hire a professional to handle these tasks. They’ll be quicker, safe, and have all the proper protective equipment.
Don’t forget to dress appropriately—a backyard clearout is not the time for shorts and sandals. Overalls protect your clothing and yourself from minor cuts, grazes, scrapes, and insect bites.
Buy some decent gloves to protect your hands—depending on the task, you’ll need various types. Also, invest in goggles to protect your eyes if you’re trimming weeds.
3. Work Safely and in Stages
Planning how and when to do the work is essential for success and safety. You might want to dispose of the yard waste first to see what’s left for landscaping.
Set up each stage carefully with enough time and labor. You may need to ask friends and family for help.
Did you know that, on average, nearly 10,000 children under 18 receive hospital treatment for lawn mower-related injuries in the US every year? If you’re using power equipment, then it can be hard to hear or see kids and animals.
The risk of injury is why you want to plan the stages of the cleanup. Make sure the kids are out of the way of danger, and the pets are safely indoors when you tackle the backyard jungle.
Safety also requires taking some time to research the correct techniques for lifting and manual handling. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lifting heavy items is one of the leading causes of back injury in the workplace. Be careful to lift from the legs and avoid twisting while lifting.
4. Remove the Junk and Debris
You’ll want to remove the debris as you trim bushes, clear weeds, and rake dead leaves. Cleaning up as you go will allow you to see the progress.
Make sure you have everything ready to dispose of the waste, so you don’t just pile it up elsewhere. Buy junk sacks for loose garden waste and hire a junk removal company to pick up large items like old garden furniture.
If you’re going to compost, allocate an area of a compost pile where you can dump organic matter like grass clippings.
5. Keep or Dispose?
Decide on what you want to keep and what’s garbage. If you find it hard to part with certain things and don’t want to classify them as junk, why not recycle them or upcycle that item and sell it?
If you can’t identify all the plants, ask a friend for help. If there are plants and shrubs you don’t want (other than weeds), then donate them or have a plant sale.
If yard maintenance isn’t your thing, only keep plants requiring minimal tending.
Disposing of weeds is quite a task. Just spraying them won’t cut it. You’ll need to remove the plant from the roots to ensure it doesn’t return.
If you spray herbicides to get rid of weeds, take care with their application. Some of these products are toxic and require professional help.
6. Mow, Trim, and Landscape
Mow areas of long grass and use a cord strimmer or brush cutter to clear weeds and saplings.
By this point in the process, you should have a reasonably definable area ready to re-plant, re-organize, or just concrete over!
There are many green options for low-maintenance yards, including plants that take care of themselves and reduce water usage. With a clear yard, you can dream of the backyard you’ve always wanted.
Need Help Disposing of Yard Waste? We Can Help
Nixxit Junk Removal removes the hassle of removing overgrowth. Call today to schedule a pickup, and we’ll dispose of your yard waste quickly and safely.
With Nixxit waste removal and property cleanouts, there’s just one less task you have to tackle.
Need Help with a Property Cleanout in the Bay Area, CA?
Nixxit Junk Removal can help with your property cleanout needs in the Bay Area.
- Full-Service Removal and Sorting
- Locally Owned and Operated
- Donation and Recycling
- Same Day Appointments Available
