Tree Removal in Perth
Whole tree or piece by piece, rigged down rather than dropped. We remove trees in blocks where there is no drop zone, no side access and a pool exactly where the limb wants to land.
Removal is the last option, not the first
Plenty of trees we get called out to look at do not need to come down. A lean is not automatically a hazard, a few dead limbs are not a death sentence, and lifting a canopy off a roof is usually cheaper than removing the whole tree. Our arborist will tell you when that is the case, even though it is the smaller invoice.
When removal genuinely is the answer, the reasons are normally one of these: the tree is structurally failing, the roots are into the sewer or the slab, it is the wrong species for a block this size, it is dead or dying from borers or dieback, or it is going to make room for a build.
Sectional dismantling, because Perth blocks are tight
Very few Perth backyards have room to fell a mature tree in one piece. So we climb it and take it apart from the top down, rigging each section on ropes and lowering it under control to a drop zone we have set up. Slower than a straight fell, and the only way to work over a pool, a pergola, a neighbour's colorbond or a set of powerlines.
Where the tree is too compromised to climb safely, or the sections are too heavy to rig, we bring in an elevated work platform or a crane and lift the limbs out over the roofline to the street. That decision gets made at the quote, not on the day, so the price does not change.
Species we remove most in Perth
- Marri and jarrah - heavy, dense timber that punishes bad rigging. Marri especially is prone to limb drop in summer.
- Tuart - beautiful, protected in many areas, and often needs a council application before anything happens.
- Lemon-scented gum - fast, tall, and planted far too close to houses across the western suburbs in the 70s and 80s.
- Queensland box and Chinese tallow - street tree favourites with roots that find pipes.
- Cocos and date palms - dead fronds, seed pods and a rat problem. Removal is often cheaper than annual trimming.
What it costs
Most residential removals in Perth land between $450 and $3,500. Four things move that number: height, access, what sits underneath the tree, and whether you want the stump gone as well. A 5m ornamental in an open yard is a couple of hours. A 20m marri over a pool with a 900mm side gate is a full day with extra gear.
Every quote is fixed and in writing. We never quote hourly, because hourly rates only ever protect the contractor.
Council approval
Perth councils are inconsistent about tree protection. Some have height or trunk diameter triggers, some protect a species list, some only regulate street trees on the verge. We check your local government area before quoting and tell you straight whether an application is required. Where the council wants a formal report from a consulting arborist, we will say so and point you to someone who writes them.
What a removal includes, without asking.
Full rigging setup
Ropes, blocks, friction devices and a groundie on the lowering line. Nothing falls unless we mean it to.
Crane and EWP access
No drop zone? We lift limbs out over the roof to the street instead of forcing a bad rig.
Stump handled too
Grind it in the same visit and save a second mobilisation fee. Ground 300mm below grade.
Everything chipped and gone
Green waste recycled off site, millable logs to a local sawyer, mulch left for you if you want it.
Council paperwork
Application forms, site photos and neighbour notifications sorted where your council requires them.
Site left spotless
Raked, blown down and walked through with you. Driveways boarded, lawns protected, gates shut.
How a tree removal job actually runs.
Free site assessment
An arborist walks the property, checks species, structure, access, overhead services and what is underneath. You get a fixed written price, usually the same day.
Set-up and protection
Drop zone marked out, driveway and lawn protected, neighbours given a heads up, and the crew runs a toolbox talk before a saw starts.
Climb and rig
The climber works top down, rigging each section and lowering it under control. Groundies clear the drop zone continuously so nothing stacks up.
Chip and load
Limbs go straight through the chipper into the truck. Trunk sections are cut to a size we can move and loaded out.
Stump and clean-up
Stump ground below grade if booked, then the site is raked, blown and handed back with a walk-around.
Tree Removal, answered honestly.
How long does a tree removal take?
A small to mid-sized tree with reasonable access is usually a half day. A large mature tree over a pool or roof, with rigging and a crane, is a full day and sometimes two. We give you an honest window at the quote so you can plan parking and pets.
Do you remove the stump as well?
Only if you book it, because some people want to keep it. Grinding it in the same visit is significantly cheaper than bringing the machine back separately, so we quote both and let you choose.
Will my neighbour's property be affected?
We let neighbours know before the day if we need access, airspace or a drop zone near a boundary. Where rigging happens over a fence we protect it, and if we need to enter their property we ask them, not you.
Can you remove a tree that is on a boundary or a shared fence?
Yes, but who pays and who decides depends on whose land the trunk sits on. If the trunk is entirely on one property, that owner owns the tree. We will not touch a neighbour's tree without their written agreement, and where a dispute needs a formal report we will point you to a consulting arborist.
What if the tree is already dead?
Dead trees are more dangerous to remove, not less, because the timber is brittle and unpredictable under load. They often need an EWP or crane rather than a climber. Worth doing sooner rather than later, since they get worse every season.
Get a fixed price on your tree removal.
Free site visit anywhere in the Perth metro, quote back the same day, and no pressure to book anything.