Autumn might not be as hectic as spring in the gardening calendar, but it’s no time to put your feet up with a cuppa. There’s still plenty to tackle – harvesting, clearing, planting bulbs and adding a layer of winter protection. And all that activity produces one thing in abundance: garden waste.
That’s where skip hire swoops in – your very own caped crusader of clean-ups. Forget endless tip runs, cramming bags of soggy leaves into the boot, and coaxing the green bin to swallow a small tree. Park a skip on the drive, load it up and we’ll whisk it away. Job done.
What counts as garden waste?
Garden waste is simply the natural by-products from all your outdoor graft:
- Grass cuttings and hedge trimmings
- Leaves, branches and twigs
- Weeds, soil and turf
- Dead plants (no judgement on your plant-parenting skills)
Basically, if it grows – and you chop, mow or dig it up – it’s garden waste.
Our skip sizes – and how much they hold
When it comes to skips, size really does matter. Here’s how our skips measure up for garden waste removal:
- 2 & 3 yard minis (about 30–35 bin bags)
Perfect for pruning sessions, hedge trims, or taming an over-enthusiastic rose bush - 5 & 6 yard midis (50–60 bin bags)
Ideal for bigger tidy-ups, small amounts of soil/turf, or that fence you’ve finally admitted is past saving - 8 yard (80 bin bags)
Brilliant for full-on garden clear-outs, chunky soil/turf removal and mixed waste with a few bulky bits thrown in - 12 yard (120 bin bags)
The go-to for major landscaping jobs, full-sized trees or waving goodbye to a shed that’s held on since 1983
Other considerations regarding size
Choosing a skip by job type isn’t always enough, there are a few other factors that can make a big difference:
- Type of waste
Loose branches stack differently than compact soil or hefty root balls. - Density/moisture
Wet turf and soil are heavy, while dry leaves are light but take up space. - Access space
No point hiring a 12-yard skip if your gate only fits a wheelbarrow. - Permits & placement
Need it on the road? Some councils restrict skip sizes. - Actual amounts
Garden projects always create more waste than you think. (Fact. Or at least, it feels like one.)
Should you go bigger, just in case?
Tempting, isn’t it? But bigger isn’t always better. Skips have both volume and weight limits. Fill an 8-yard skip with soggy turf and you could exceed the legal weight limit — which means we can’t collect it. And no, you can’t just pile it into a pyramid; skips must be loaded level. Overfilling or adding banned items could mean extra charges or a very unimpressed collection team.
How to plan your skip size
Choosing the right skip for garden waste removal is part science, part best guess. Here’s how to stack the odds in your favour:
- Take a walk around your garden and eyeball what needs shifting.
- Think in wheelbarrow loads or bin bags. We’ve done the maths above, so you don’t have to.
- Split your waste into categories: organic (leaves, branches), soil and heavy bits like turf or old fencing.
- Check your access space. A skip is no good if it can’t fit on your drive or get through the gate.
- Allow a time buffer — garden jobs have a sneaky way of expanding.
Still unsure? Give us a shout. Our team can talk you through what size will work best for your garden project, and explain the weight rules so there are no surprises.
Get your garden sorted!
Save yourself the back-and-forth to the tip and make your life easier. Book your skip today and turn garden waste removal into the simplest part of your autumn tidy-up.