Good tree fellers are trained, insured and properly equipped, and they explain how they will bring your tree down before they start. Poor ones can damage a roof, a wall or a neighbour's car, and you may be left with the bill. Anyone can buy a chainsaw, so it pays to check before you book. This page covers what to ask tree fellers, how to compare quotes fairly, the warning signs, and what tree fellers charge in South Africa. Send one request and tree fellers near you will quote for free, with no obligation.
What to ask before you book
A good team answers these questions without fuss:
- Insurance. Ask for proof of public liability insurance, and who pays if a roof, wall, car or pool is damaged.
- Training. Ask what chainsaw and climbing training the team has. Climbing and rigging need trained climbers.
- Gear. Each saw operator should wear a helmet with a face screen and ear muffs, cut-resistant trousers or chaps (EN 381 / ISO 11393), cut-resistant boots and gloves.
- Method. Ask whether they will fell whole or in sections, and why.
- Equipment. Ropes, pulleys, a chipper and a truck, or will they hire in?
See chainsaw safety gear for what proper protection looks like.
Comparing quotes fairly
Tree fellers price the same job very differently because they quote different work. Before comparing the totals, line up what each one includes: felling method, chipping, log cutting, removal of all wood, the stump, and cleaning up. Ask for the scope in writing. A cheap quote that leaves branches piled on your lawn is not cheap once you pay to have them carted away. If one quote is far lower than the rest, ask what has been left out.
Red flags
Be careful with a team that:
- knocks on your door after a storm offering to cut immediately for cash
- wants full payment before starting
- has no proof of insurance or cannot say who covers damage
- climbs without a harness or works in shorts and takkies
- offers to "top" a healthy tree, which weakens it and leads to weak regrowth
- is happy to cut near overhead power lines
A fair deposit for big jobs is normal; paying the balance once the site is clean is common practice.
Affordable tree fellers without cutting corners
You can lower the cost without lowering the standard. Keep the logs for firewood, let the team chip and leave the mulch, book several trees in one visit, and be flexible on the day. Good photos let tree fellers quote accurately without a second trip. For the felling method itself, see tree felling.
What to include in your request
- Ask for proof of public liability insurance
- Ask about chainsaw and climbing training
- Get the full scope in writing
- Ask who pays if something is damaged
- Send clear photos so quotes are accurate
Tree Fellers for different clients
- Homeowners: an insured team with climbers to take a big tree off the roofline safely
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: vetted tree fellers who meet the estate's insurance and access rules
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: a team with saws and a truck to fell gum rows and cut the logs
- Businesses and commercial property: insured tree fellers working after hours around parking areas and buildings
- Schools, churches and municipalities: trained teams for school, park and church trees with proof of cover
- Developers and building sites: a felling crew to clear trees from a stand ahead of building work
- Servitudes and fire breaks: authorised teams that work near servitudes once lines are made safe
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: garden services subcontracting tall or risky trees to a trained felling team
Frequently asked questions
How much do tree fellers charge in South Africa?
How do I find tree fellers near me?
Should tree fellers have insurance?
Can tree fellers cut trees near power lines?
Tree Fellers 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