Clearing overgrown land with an excavator is far quicker than doing it by hand, but the order you work in makes a big difference. Rush in with a digging bucket and you'll end up with roots, brush and soil mixed into one heap that's expensive to get rid of. Work in stages with the right attachment for each, and you'll keep your topsoil, separate the green waste and finish with ground that's ready to build on or seed.
Before You Start: Checks and Permissions
- Buried services. Check for underground cables and pipes before the machine breaks ground. In the UK you can search utility records for free through LinesearchbeforeUdig, and ask the landowner for plans of any private drains or supplies.
- Protected trees. Trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order need council consent before you fell or damage them, and in a conservation area you have to give the council notice first. If you're not sure, ask the local planning authority.
- Felling licence. In England, felling more than 5 cubic metres of growing trees in a calendar quarter usually needs a felling licence from the Forestry Commission, unless an exception applies, such as trees in a garden.
- Hedgerows. In England and Wales, removing some countryside hedgerows needs council permission under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, so check before you pull one out.
- Nesting birds. It's an offence to damage or destroy an active bird's nest. The main nesting season runs from around March to August, so check vegetation carefully first, or plan big clearance jobs for autumn and winter.
- Waste. Decide in advance where green waste, soil and rubble will go. Anything leaving site should be taken by a registered waste carrier.
The Attachments That Make It Easier
| Stage | Attachment | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting scrub and smaller trees | Tree shear | Cuts stems in one bite and holds them so you can lay them on the pile |
| Cutting grass, brambles and light scrub | Flail mower | Cuts and chops growth down low, with the reach to get at banks and ditch sides |
| Clearing brush and roots | Root rake | Tears out roots, brambles and scrub and gathers them into piles |
| Moving logs, brash and stumps | Grab or grapple | Picks up cut timber, brash and stumps and loads them for removal |
| Exposing stumps | Digging bucket | Digs around stumps and removes buried obstructions |
| Saving the topsoil | Riddle bucket | Sorts stones, brick and root fragments out of soil |
| Final clean-up | Land rake | Combs out the last stones and debris before seeding or turfing |
| Levelling | Grading bucket | Leaves a smooth, even finish |
Step-by-Step: Clearing the Site
1. Walk the Site and Mark Hazards
Look for hidden hazards before the machine goes in: old fencing wire, concrete bases, manholes, soft ground, ditches and steep banks. Mark them clearly and plan a route in and out that keeps the excavator on firm, level ground.
2. Deal with Trees First
Cut saplings and smaller trees before you tackle the undergrowth. An excavator tree shear cuts each stem in one bite and keeps hold of it, so you can lay it on the pile from the cab. Only cut stems within the shear's rated capacity. Our guide on how to use an excavator tree shear covers sizing, felling rules and cutting technique.
Mature trees are a different job. An excavator isn't the right tool for felling them, so have them felled by a qualified tree surgeon and cut into manageable lengths, leaving a length of trunk on each stump to give the machine leverage later.
3. Clear Brush and Undergrowth with a Root Rake
Use a root rake to push brambles, scrub and undergrowth into rows or piles. Because the tines are open, most of the soil falls back through and stays on site, so you're left with green waste rather than a mix of soil and vegetation.
Where the growth is mostly grass, brambles and light scrub, cutting it down first with an excavator flail mower makes the raking quicker.
4. Remove Roots and Stumps
Dig around each stump with a digging bucket to expose the main roots, then work the root rake's tines underneath and lever it out. Rock the stump back and forth rather than forcing it out in one pull, and knock the soil off before you move it to the pile. If a stump won't come, dig more around it instead of straining the machine.
Then go back over the ground with the root rake to pull out the roots left behind. The serrated tines tear through the smaller roots in the soil.
To move stumps, logs and brash to the pile or load them for removal, a grab is quicker than a bucket. A manual grapple needs no hydraulics, while a timber grab or folding grab grips and releases from the cab. Our guide on which excavator grab you need compares them.
5. Sort the Soil
If the ground is full of stones, old brick or root fragments, dig it and run it through a riddle bucket. You keep clean soil for reuse and send far less to the tip. For a finer, screened topsoil, a screening bucket gives a more even result.
6. Rake and Level
Finish with a land rake to comb out the last stones and debris, then level the ground with a grading bucket. Our guide on how to grade ground with an excavator covers that final stage.
Safety Tips
- Set up an exclusion zone and keep people well clear, especially when roots and stumps are under tension and can spring back.
- Keep the machine on firm ground. Soft ground near ditches and banks can give way.
- Watch for overhead lines when lifting stumps or working near the site boundary.
- Stay within your excavator's lift capacity. Pulling harder than the machine is rated for can tip it.
Choosing the Right Size
Match every attachment to your excavator's operating weight. On an 8 tonne machine, the 6–10 tonne root rake and 6–10 tonne land rake make a good pair. If you're not sure which rake you need, read our comparison of land rakes and root rakes, or browse the full excavator sorting buckets range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an excavator remove tree stumps?
Small and medium stumps, yes, by digging around them and levering them out. Large, deep-rooted stumps may need a bigger machine or a stump grinder.
Can a mini digger clear overgrown land?
Yes. A 1–3 tonne mini digger with a root rake handles brambles, scrub and small roots on gardens and small plots. It works more slowly than a bigger machine, and large stumps may be beyond it.
When is the best time of year to clear land?
Autumn and winter, outside the main bird nesting season. Dry spells are best, as wet ground is harder to work and easy to churn up.
Planning a clearance job? Send us your excavator details and we'll put together the right set of attachments.
