Tree Pruning & Lopping in Perth
Pruned so it stays healthy, not hacked so it comes back angrier. Crown reductions, thinning, lifting and deadwooding across the Perth metro, all cut to AS 4373.
Lopping and pruning are not the same thing
"Lopping" gets used loosely in Perth to mean any cutting back. In arboriculture it means indiscriminate topping, and it is the single most destructive thing you can do to a mature tree. Cut a limb back to a stub with no lateral to draw on and the tree responds by throwing dozens of fast, weakly attached shoots from the wound. Three years later you have a denser, heavier canopy on rotting attachment points, which is worse than what you started with.
We will not top a tree. What we will do is a proper reduction, where every cut goes back to a suitable lateral branch so the tree keeps a natural shape and can seal the wound. It costs a bit more because it takes skill and time. It also means you are not paying someone again in two years.
The pruning we actually do
Crown reduction
Bringing the overall height and spread in while keeping the tree's natural form. Used where a tree has outgrown its position, is shading the whole yard, or is getting too heavy at the ends of the limbs. Normally 10 to 30 percent, because taking more than that stresses the tree.
Crown thinning
Selectively removing internal branches so wind passes through instead of pushing against a solid sail. This is the single best thing you can do to storm-proof a mature Perth tree before June.
Crown lifting
Removing the lowest limbs to get clearance over a driveway, roof, path or fence line. Quick, cheap, and often the fix for a tree someone else quoted to remove.
Deadwooding
Taking out dead, dying and hanging limbs. Marri and lemon-scented gum in particular hold dead wood for years before dropping it, usually on the hottest still afternoon of the summer.
Clearance pruning
Pulling the canopy back off powerlines, solar panels, gutters, neighbouring properties and street sightlines. Western Power has minimum clearance requirements around service lines and we work to them.
When to prune in Perth
For most species, late winter to early spring is ideal because the tree has energy to seal wounds and pests are less active. WA natives are fussier. Marri and jarrah are best pruned in the cooler months to reduce borer attack risk, and heavy summer pruning on a stressed native invites problems. Deadwooding and safety work happen whenever they are needed, because a hazard does not wait for the right season.
What proper pruning looks like.
Every cut to AS 4373
Australian Standard pruning. Correct collar cuts, no flush cuts, no stubs, nothing over 30 percent in one go.
Species-specific approach
WA natives are pruned differently to exotics. Jarrah, marri and tuart get the timing and technique they need.
Storm-proofing
Crown thinning and end-weight reduction before June, so wind passes through instead of pushing the tree over.
Powerline clearance
Trained and equipped to work near service lines, to Western Power clearance requirements.
Climbed, not just EWP'd
A climber gets to the cuts that matter. An EWP only reaches what it can park next to.
Full clean-up
Every offcut chipped, the site blown down, and mulch left in the garden beds if you want it.
How a tree pruning & lopping job actually runs.
Assessment and plan
We walk the tree, identify the species and any defects, and agree exactly what is coming off. You get a clear scope, not 'we will tidy it up'.
Access and protection
Ropes set, drop zone marked, garden beds and paving covered. On powerline work we confirm clearances before anyone goes up.
Climb and cut
The climber works through the canopy making target cuts to laterals. Groundies clear as they go so nothing sits on the lawn.
Step back and check
Halfway through we come down and look at the shape from the ground with you. Easier to adjust now than after.
Chip, blow and hand back
Everything chipped and loaded, hard surfaces blown clean, and a walk-around before we leave.
Tree Pruning & Lopping, answered honestly.
Can you just cut it right back? I want it much smaller.
We can reduce a crown by up to about 30 percent safely and keep the tree healthy. Beyond that you are into topping, which we do not do. If the tree genuinely needs to be half the size, the honest conversation is about removal and replanting with a species that fits the space.
How often should a tree be pruned?
A healthy established tree in Perth typically needs attention every three to five years. Fast growers near powerlines or roof lines can be annual. Anything more frequent than that usually means the tree is in the wrong spot.
My neighbour's tree overhangs my property. What can I do?
In WA you are generally entitled to prune branches back to the boundary line at your own cost, and the offcuts belong to the tree owner. Doing it badly can damage the tree and expose you to a claim, so it is worth having an arborist do the cuts properly. We always suggest talking to the neighbour first, and we are happy to quote a job that both parties split.
Will pruning kill my tree?
Proper pruning will not. Bad pruning absolutely can, particularly topping, flush cuts to the trunk, and removing too much live canopy at once. That is exactly why the Australian Standard exists and why we work to it.
Do you prune palms?
Yes. Dead frond removal, seed pod removal and full clean-ups on cocos, date, washingtonia and canary palms. Worth noting that for tall cocos palms, ongoing annual trimming often costs more over five years than removal and replacement.
Get a fixed price on your tree pruning & lopping.
Free site visit anywhere in the Perth metro, quote back the same day, and no pressure to book anything.