Tree removal is more than cutting a tree down. It runs from deciding whether the tree really has to go, through permission, the felling itself and the wood, to the stump and a clean site. Each step changes the price and the work involved. This page walks through the whole job so you know what to ask for and what a fair quote should cover. Describe your tree and the tree removal services near you will send free quotes, and there is no obligation to accept any of them.
Does the tree really have to go?
Some trees must come out: dead trees, trees with a split trunk or a heavy lean that has grown worse, trees lifting foundations or roots in drains, and listed invaders. Many others can stay with good work instead. Heavy branches over a roof can be cut back, a dense crown thinned to let wind through, or deadwood taken out. If you are unsure, ask for an opinion from an arborist before paying for removal. A healthy mature tree gives shade and value that take decades to replace.
Permission before you book
Check a few things before any team arrives:
- whether the tree is a protected indigenous species, which needs a licence from the national forestry department first
- whether it stands on the pavement, where it usually belongs to the municipality
- whether your estate, complex or heritage area has its own rules on trees
- whether the tree is near power lines, in which case the municipality or power utility must make the line safe
If the tree belongs to a neighbour, talk to them first. Alien species may also carry a duty to control them, so check the listing for your tree and area. See alien tree removal.
The wood, the stump and the clean-up
After felling, decide what you want left. Branches can be chipped on site, which is quick and leaves mulch, or loaded and carted away. Logs can stay for firewood or go. The stump can be left low, ground out below the surface, or dug out with its roots. Ask each quote to list these items one by one, along with raking up sawdust and leaves. A quote that says only "remove tree" leaves too much open.
What sets the tree removal cost
The tree removal cost depends on the height and trunk width, the species and wood weight, what is underneath, access for a truck or chipper, whether the wood and branches are removed, whether the stump is ground, and travel. Trees that must come down in sections over buildings cost the most. Removing two or three trees in one visit often costs less per tree than separate bookings.
What to include in your request
- Why the tree needs to come out
- Height, trunk width and species if known
- What must be removed and what can stay
- Whether the stump is ground or dug out
- Photos showing access and nearby buildings
Tree Removal for different clients
- Homeowners: a tree lifting paving or overhanging the roof removed with the stump and wood cleared
- Estates, complexes and body corporates: trees in shared gardens removed with body corporate approval and a clean site afterwards
- Farms, smallholdings and plantations: dead or unwanted trees near homesteads and sheds removed and the logs kept for firewood
- Businesses and commercial property: trees damaging parking areas or buildings removed with minimal disruption to trading hours
- Schools, churches and municipalities: trees at schools, churches and cemeteries removed after the right approvals are in place
- Developers and building sites: trees on a building footprint removed with stumps and roots cleared for foundations
- Servitudes and fire breaks: trees threatening servitudes removed once the line owner has made the area safe
- Tree fellers, landscapers and garden services: landscapers arranging removals before replanting or redesigning a garden
Frequently asked questions
What is the tree removal price in South Africa?
Is stump removal included in tree removal?
Who pays to remove a tree on the boundary?
How do I get tree removal quotes near me?
Tree Removal 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