A May garden project is one of the best spring jobs to plan. The ground is workable, the evenings are light and the urge to sort the garden finally wins. New borders, reshaped lawns, patio relays, shed clearances and fence replacements all come up. What catches most people out, though, is how much waste builds up once they start. So book garden waste skip hire before the work begins, not as an afterthought.
How quickly waste from a May garden project builds up
Garden projects tend to grow once you start. A single mature shrub, lifted with its root ball, takes up far more space than you expect. Then comes the soil from levelling and the cracked slabs from an old patio. Rotten timber from raised beds and fencing adds to the pile, along with packaging from new materials.
Before long, a weekend tidy-up has created a pile no wheelie bin can handle.
The alternative is loading the car for repeated tip runs. That is tiring and impractical for anything beyond a small clear-out. By contrast, a skip on your drive gives you one place to load waste as you go. As a result, the project keeps moving instead of stalling every time the pile grows.
Choosing the right skip size
Skip size matters more than most people realise, and mistakes cost money both ways. If the skip is too small, you face overflow or a second booking. If it is too large, you pay for space you never use.
For a seasonal clear-out, our 4 tonne midi skip usually covers it. That includes cutting back shrubs, lifting dead plants, removing old furniture and bagging weeds. It handles light, bulky green waste well and fits most driveways.
Structural work changes things. Relaying a patio, demolishing a shed, replacing fence posts or major landscaping all create dense waste. Broken paving, concrete, soil and heavy timber add up fast. For jobs like these, the 8 tonne builders skip is the better choice. Still unsure? Our guide to choosing the right skip size covers the key points.
What can go in and what to set aside
Most garden waste can go straight in the skip. Soil, turf, green waste, old decking and fencing timber are all fine. Bricks, broken slabs, concrete and worn-out garden furniture can go in too, along with packaging from new materials.
Soil deserves a special mention, because it is heavier than people expect. A skip that looks less than half full can already be near its weight limit. If your project involves lots of digging, tell us when you book. That way, we can help you avoid overloading.
It also pays to sort through things before you start. Herbicides, pesticides, paint and batteries count as hazardous waste. They cannot go in a standard skip. The GOV.UK hazardous waste guidance explains how to dispose of them.
The practical case for skip hire
A skip can look like an extra cost when you could drive to the tip yourself. However, add up the fuel, the wear on your car and the hours lost on repeat trips. Once you do, skip hire often works out cheaper.
There is a safety benefit too. A skip keeps all the waste in one place. Prunings, broken paving and loose timber are not scattered across paths and lawn. That matters when people are moving around all day with tools and wheelbarrows.
How we handle what your skip collects
We take every skip back to our own recycling site. There, our team sorts the materials and keeps as much as possible out of landfill. Timber is recycled or reused, and green waste can become mulch or compost. Other materials go to the right recovery streams. You can read more on our environmental and recycling services page.
Things to think about before you book
Think honestly about the full scope of the job before you call. Projects often expand once you start. So it is better to allow for that when choosing a size than to run out of room halfway.
If your project runs in phases, time the skip for the heavier phases. That way, it does not sit half empty during the early days. A quick chat with our team about your timeline helps us suggest the best plan.
Serving gardens across Ormskirk, Southport and beyond
We cover West Lancashire and Merseyside, including Southport, Burscough, Formby and everywhere in between. Whatever the size of your May garden project, we have the right skip and the local knowledge to make it easy.
Ready to book, or want to talk through sizes? Get in touch with Martlands today or call us on 01704 779345 for a no-obligation quote.
