Most trees in South African gardens cannot be felled in one piece: there is a house, a wall, a pool or the neighbour's roof in the way. Tree cutting services handle these jobs by taking the tree down from the top in controlled sections, lowering heavy pieces on ropes or lifting them out with a crane. It is slower, skilled work. Describe the tree and what is around it, and local teams can quote. One free, no-obligation request is all it takes.
Why trees are cut in sections
To fell a tree whole, you need a clear drop zone at least as long as the tree is tall, and more is better. A 16 m tree needs 16 m or more of open ground on the side it falls. Few suburban stands have that. Sectional felling, also called dismantling, removes the tree piece by piece from the top so nothing falls further than it is meant to. For trees with room around them, see tree felling.
Ropes, rigging, cherry pickers and cranes
The method depends on the tree, the access and what is underneath:
- Climbing and rigging: a trained climber cuts limbs and the team lowers them on ropes through a block, controlling each piece.
- Cherry picker: a platform lifts the cutter where the tree is unsafe to climb and there is firm ground for the machine.
- Crane: large sections are lifted over the house and set down on the street, where nothing can be dropped.
Each step adds cost, but it is what protects your roof and paving.
The work method on the day
A good team walks the site first, agrees where the wood will land, and protects paving, lawns and pool covers with boards or old tyres. They keep a no-go zone below the cutting, use radios or clear calls, and work in a set order: small branches, then limbs, then the trunk in rounds. Expect the job to take longer than a straight fell. Ask whether the stump is left at ground height or ground out, and see stump grinding for that step.
Checks before you book
Sectional work is where untrained teams cause the most damage. Ask for proof of public liability insurance and of the climbers' training, and ask who pays if a limb lands on the roof. Check that everyone using a chainsaw wears a helmet with a face screen, ear muffs, cut-resistant trousers or chaps, boots and gloves. Near overhead lines, the municipality or power utility must make the line safe first.
What to include in your request
- Photos of the tree and everything around it
- Rough height and trunk width
- Access for a truck, chipper, picker or crane
- Any power lines or roof close to the tree
- Whether the wood and stump are removed
Tree Cutting Services for different clients
- Homeowners: taking down a big tree next to the house, pool or wall without damage
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: removing trees between units and over walkways where nothing can be dropped
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: dismantling old gums and pines leaning over sheds, dams and farmhouses
- Businesses and commercial property: sectional removal over car parks, roofs and shopfronts, often out of hours
- Schools, churches and municipalities: dismantling trees beside school buildings, churches and busy roads
- Developers and building sites: taking down trees close to existing buildings on a site before construction
- Servitudes and fire breaks: removing trees near infrastructure once the line or service is made safe
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: tree fellers hiring cranes and cherry pickers for difficult sectional jobs
Frequently asked questions
How much do tree cutting services cost?
Can a tree be cut down next to my house without damage?
When is a crane needed for tree cutting?
Do you send the tree cutting team?
Tree Cutting Services 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