Gorse & blackberry removal
Gorse removal and blackberry clearing, done properly.
Professional gorse removal and blackberry clearing across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers and remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment cut dense hedgerows, overgrown paddocks and thorny thickets down and mulch them in place, without spraying half your property to do it.
On this page
Why it gets away on people
Gorse and blackberry don’t stay contained.
Gorse is one of New Zealand’s most widespread pest plants. Its seed pods burst open and release seeds, allowing it to spread and take over neglected land. Blackberry spreads differently: its canes root wherever the tip touches the ground, so a single plant can crawl metres across a paddock in one growing season.
Left long enough, both form dense, thorny thickets that block access, smother pasture and native regrowth, and become genuinely hard to get machinery into, which is exactly the kind of ground our flail mulchers are built for. We clear other woody pest plants the same way, including woolly nightshade and privet.
Gorse
Gorse spreads through seeds released from its pods, which can remain viable in the ground for years. Left unmanaged, it can quickly turn usable land into dense, thorny overgrowth.
Blackberry
Spreads by cane tips rooting on contact. A single plant can cover ground fast.
The result
Dense, thorny thickets that block access and are hard to get regular machinery into.
How we clear it
Gorse and blackberry clearing in three steps.
01
Assess the ground
We assess the vegetation density, slope, machinery access and ground conditions before selecting the most suitable equipment. Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers and remote-controlled tracked equipment allow us to tackle a wide range of overgrown properties, including steep or difficult terrain.
02
Mulch it flat
Our flail mowing equipment cuts through gorse, blackberry and mixed scrub, shredding the vegetation where it stands. No spraying, no burn piles.
03
Leave it tidy
Mulched material stays down as ground cover, breaking down over time instead of sitting in burn piles or green-waste loads.
Ready to get your land back?
Send us your property’s location, a few photos of the gorse or blackberry and roughly how large the area is. We’ll assess whether the job is suitable for our machinery and explain the next steps.
Mechanical clearing
Gorse removal and blackberry clearing, without the spray.
A lot of gorse removal starts with gorse spraying: knock the gorse back with herbicide, wait for it to die off, then come back to deal with the dead, brittle scrub still standing. We skip straight to the end. A flail mulcher cuts gorse at the base and shreds it where it stands, so the ground is usable again straight away and nothing chemical goes into your soil, waterways or stock paddocks.
Blackberry removal works the same way. The canes are chopped and mulched in place instead of being dragged into tangled heaps to burn or cart away. Timing makes a difference with blackberry, so have a read of the best time to clear blackberry before you book. For gorse, our guide on how to get rid of gorse without spraying covers the follow-up that stops it taking hold again.
What happens after mulching?
Mechanical mulching cuts down and shreds the vegetation above ground, leaving the mulch in place. However, gorse seeds can remain dormant in the soil for years, while blackberry can regrow from established roots and crowns. Clearing the initial overgrowth makes the land much easier to maintain, but some regrowth should be expected. Regular follow-up mowing can help keep new growth under control.
Real jobs
Gorse clearing and blackberry removal, before and after.
Before
After
Overgrown gorse hillside cleared
Before
After
Gorse-covered paddock reclaimed
Before
After
Gorse hedge mown back
Before
After
Gorse belt cleared along fence line
Google reviews
What clients say about Overgrown Mowing
★★★★★
“Cleared 4+ acres of blackberry. Professional, friendly crew. Easy to work with. Reasonable price.”
★★★★★
“Amazing work from the team clearing 2 acres of thick kikuyu and blackberry from my land. They were great operators and were able to keep all my native trees while nailing the invasive stuff. Communication was good and the quote was very fair. Would recommend Overgrown Mowing to anyone with land!”
Where we work
Gorse and blackberry clearing across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty
We take on gorse and blackberry jobs across four regions: steep rural and coastal blocks in Northland, lifestyle blocks and overgrown paddocks around Auckland, paddock margins and hill country in the Waikato, and orchard margins and fast-growing scrub in the Bay of Plenty. Every job is quoted on its own, and here is what affects the price.
Common questions
Gorse & blackberry removal, answered.
Do you spray gorse or blackberry before clearing it?
No. Our process is entirely mechanical. Our commercial 4×4 flail mowers and remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment cut and mulch gorse and blackberry without herbicide spraying.
Will gorse or blackberry grow back after mulching?
Some regrowth is normal. Mulching removes the vegetation above ground, but gorse seeds can remain in the soil and blackberry can regrow from established roots and crowns. Regular follow-up mowing can help manage new growth and keep the area under control. See our guides to clearing gorse without spraying and the best time to clear blackberry.
How much does gorse and blackberry removal cost?
Pricing depends on the size of the area, vegetation density, slope, ground conditions and machinery access. We assess each job individually rather than charging a flat rate. See what affects the price. Send us some photographs and an approximate area, and we’ll help you understand what’s involved.
What size jobs do you take on?
We tackle everything from smaller overgrown areas to full paddocks and large sections covered in gorse or blackberry. Our machinery is suited to a wide range of vegetation-clearing jobs, subject to terrain, ground conditions and access. For whole-property work, see land clearing.
Should I hire a gorse spraying contractor or get it mulched?
It depends on what you want from the land. Spraying can kill gorse, but the dead plants stay standing for months and most spray programmes need follow-up. Mulching removes the standing growth mechanically, allowing the land to become usable again without waiting for sprayed vegetation to die off. Many owners mulch first, then keep the regrowth down with a follow-up mow.
Can you clear gorse on steep slopes?
Often, yes. We operate remote-controlled tracked mowing equipment and commercial 4×4 flail mowers suitable for a range of sloping terrain. We assess each property’s slope, ground conditions and machinery access before deciding whether the job is suitable.
What happens to the cut gorse and blackberry?
The vegetation is mechanically cut and shredded into mulch, which remains on the ground and gradually breaks down. We don’t spray, burn or cart away the cut vegetation as part of our mowing service.
How do I get a quote, and how should I prepare?
Send us your property’s location, a few photographs of the vegetation and an approximate area requiring clearing. Please identify any hidden hazards, including fencing wire, waratahs, holes or other obstacles, and ensure livestock are moved out of the work area before mowing begins. For larger or more complicated jobs, we may arrange a site visit before quoting.
Gorse and blackberry removal, available across all four regions.