Tree work is quoted per tree, not per hour, and six things move the number more than anything else.
Tree surgery is priced job by job, because no two trees present the same problem. The main factors are the size of the tree, the species, what work is needed, how accessible it is, what happens to the waste, and whether any consents are required.
We do not publish fixed prices for this work, because the honest answer is that it varies more than a price list would suggest. What we can do is explain exactly what moves the number, so that when you call for a free quotation you already know what we will be asking about.
Height is the single biggest factor. A tree that can be worked from the ground or a small platform is a different job from one requiring a climber with ropes and harness, and different again from one needing a mobile elevated work platform. Cost does not rise in a straight line with height, it rises in steps as the access method changes.
Some species are simply harder work. Dense, heavy hardwoods take longer to cut and produce far more waste by weight than a fast-grown softwood of the same size. Condition matters just as much — a dead, diseased or storm-damaged tree cannot be climbed with the same confidence as a sound one, so it may need a platform or a crane where a healthy tree would not.
| Type of work | Relative effort |
|---|---|
| Deadwooding | Usually the lightest job — removing what is already dead |
| Crown lifting | Straightforward on most trees; lower branches only |
| Crown thinning | More selective and slower — every cut is a decision |
| Crown reduction | Substantial work across the whole canopy |
| Sectional dismantling | The most involved — rigging each section down safely |
| Full removal with stump | Dismantling plus grinding or treating the stump |
A mature tree produces a surprising volume of material. Removing all of it off site costs more than chipping it and leaving the chip for you to use as mulch, and more again than leaving cordwood stacked for a log burner. It is worth deciding what you want before you ask for prices — it is one of the few variables entirely within your control.
Tell us what you need and we will arrange a free quotation.
If you are getting more than one price — and for larger work you should — make sure everyone is quoting for the same thing. Otherwise you are comparing numbers that do not describe the same job.
When we quote, we will tell you what we think the tree needs rather than only what you asked for — including when we think it needs less than you expected, or when a tree you were considering removing would be better reduced and kept.
It is priced job by job. The main factors are the size and height of the tree, the species and its condition, the type of work required, access, what happens to the waste, and whether consents are needed. We provide free quotations.
Because no two trees present the same job. A price list would either be so hedged as to be useless or would mislead people whose tree does not fit the assumptions behind it.
Usually, yes. Full removal involves dismantling the whole tree and dealing with the entire volume of waste, and often the stump as well.
Yes, often more than people expect. If arisings have to be carried through a house rather than fed into a chipper at the kerb, the clear-up can take longer than the tree work itself.
Often yes, and it can reduce the price. Leaving cordwood stacked or woodchip on site removes the disposal cost. Say so when asking for a quotation.
If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order or is in a conservation area, then yes — consent or formal notice is required first. Your council's tree officer can confirm the position free of charge.
Not without checking what it includes. Large differences usually mean the waste, the stump or the insurance has been left out of one of them.
No. Quotations are free.
Need tree surgery, hedge maintenance, fencing, garden clearance, turfing or power washing? Complete the form and tell us what work you require.
