Overgrown land is generally full of trees and bushes and is very difficult to clear and grub. The clearing process will take weeks if you do not have the correct tools and remove stumps and especially thorny bushes like roses and Japanese Barberry, Chinese Quince and one of the worst: Thorny Fire-thorn Shrub. These are difficult plants to remove unless you have industrial-grade tools like a bulldozer which could clear that lot in one day, even grub it and grade to a perfect flat grade ready for digging. An excavator can also handle large plots as they can also push down trees, with a bulldozer it is safer, with an excavator the tree could fall in any direction so be prepared and keep out of the way. Getting a professional team of excavators with all the necessary equipment to take down a large tree or to dig out dangerous plants like thorn bushes will make the job faster, easier and less dangerous than doing it yourself. Renting these tools and vehicles at a one-time price will be more expensive than the price professionals can rent them at, as they rent them more often.
Once the lot has been cleared of large organic matter like trees bushes and vines the grass itself will need to be dug away along with any plants like flowers and weeds. This process is called grubbing and would also be faster and easier with a bulldozer or excavator. This requires digging quite deep to ensure all of the root systems are gone. While grass and even strong weeds are unlikely to penetrate a properly build foundation it is a good idea to be as safe as possible. Make sure are no living plants left on the property. If too many plants are left there is a chance they could penetrate the foundation and cause serious drainage problems. A foundation is best done right the first time around, fixing it after the house is built can be time-consuming and expensive. The final process is grading. The best way to start this process is with a bulldozer because it can level out the ground easily and quickly push a large amount of dirt evenly over holes and dips. Once this is complete the foundation must be dug out, the best option is an excavator but shovels can do the job if there are many hands to spread the work. Once the foundation has been excavated the area around it must be graded for drainage. This means heaping soil against the side of the house and graduating down at a steady rate and slope. One inch per foot. Five feet of gradation is good but if there is room, ten feet is better.