Cherry picker hire puts a trained person safely at the height of a tree crown without climbing. Tree fellers use cherry pickers to take down trees over roofs in sections, estates use them for crown lifting along roads, and businesses hire them for trees near buildings. Boom lifts for tree trimming come truck-mounted, trailer-mounted and self-propelled, and the right one depends on working height, outreach and ground. This page explains what to ask and plan for. Send one request and hire companies near you send free quotes, with no obligation.
Truck-mounted, trailer or self-propelled
- Truck-mounted cherry pickers drive to site, reach high and set up quickly on streets and driveways; most come with a driver-operator
- Trailer platforms are towed, light and narrow, fit through some gates and suit lower crowns
- Self-propelled boom lifts move on site under their own power and suit estates, parks and large grounds
Working height and outreach
Working height is roughly how high a person in the bucket can work, not the height of the platform floor. Outreach is how far the boom reaches sideways. For tree work, outreach often matters more: the truck may have to stand on the road or driveway while the crown is over a roof or wall. Measure the distance from where the machine can stand to the furthest branch, and the tree's height, and give both to the hire company.
Ground, space and permissions
A cherry picker sets down outriggers or stabilisers on firm, level ground. Soft lawns, septic tanks, pool surrounds, paving over sand and slopes need checking first, and pads or boards may be needed. Working from a public road or pavement may need permission from the municipality and traffic control; ask the hire company. Never work near overhead power lines: the utility or municipality must make the line safe first. Plan where the cut branches and logs will land, keep cars and people out of that zone and allow space for a chipper or truck to load the wood as the work goes on.
Operators and who does the cutting
Most hire companies send a trained operator, and only trained people should work in the bucket. For felling or sectional cutting near buildings, it is usually simplest to let the tree fellers book the cherry picker as part of their quote. If you are a garden service doing tree trimming yourself, check that your team has the training and that the platform is suited to chainsaw work.
What to include in your request
- Tree height and crown spread
- Distance from where it can stand
- Ground type: road, paving or lawn
- With or without an operator
- Date and number of days
Cherry Picker Hire for different clients
- Homeowners: taking a big tree over the roof down in sections from a platform
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: crown lifting street trees along estate roads over a few days
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: trimming tall windbreaks and old gums next to sheds and houses
- Businesses and commercial property: pruning trees beside office blocks, signage and parking lot lights
- Schools, churches and municipalities: municipal teams pruning street and park trees above roads and paths
- Developers and building sites: removing tall trees close to neighbouring buildings before construction
- Servitudes and fire breaks: authorised teams clearing trees from lines once they are made safe
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: tree fellers hiring a platform for jobs too risky to climb
Frequently asked questions
How much does cherry picker hire cost per day?
What height cherry picker do I need for a tree?
Can I drive a hired cherry picker myself?
Do you hire out cherry pickers?
Cherry Picker Hire by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg