Tree felling in Pretoria

When a tree actually has to come down

Plenty of trees can be kept with pruning, and a good contractor will say so rather than quote a removal. Felling is the right answer when the tree cannot be made safe where it stands. That is usually a trunk that has cracked or split, a root plate that has lifted after heavy rain, a tree that has died and is dropping limbs, a species with weak wood that keeps failing, or a tree whose roots are lifting paving and cracking a wall.

Sometimes the ground decides it. A tree planted decades ago next to a boundary wall, a driveway or a pool enclosure can grow into a problem long before it looks dangerous from the street. If it is leaning towards a building or a power line, it is not a tree to cut down yourself.

What the work involves

A tree standing close to a house, a fence or a power line is normally taken down in sections rather than dropped. The contractor climbs the tree or works from a platform, ties each section off with rigging, and lowers it under control to a clear area below. The branches come off first, then the trunk in lengths, and finally the stump is cut low.

• Clearing around the tree so there is a working space and a landing area.
• Removing lower branches first so the rigging lines have a clear run.
• Sectioning the trunk and lowering each piece with a controlled rope system.
• Cutting the remaining stump low to the ground, or preparing it for grinding.
• Cutting the wood into usable lengths and clearing the green waste, if you ask for it.

Trees that are common in Pretoria gardens

Pretoria's older suburbs carry a lot of mature stock: jacarandas along the older streets, oaks and planes in the established gardens, and fast-growing trees such as eucalyptus and pine planted for quick shade. Palms are common in newer complexes, and several indigenous species are planted as feature trees. Species matters for felling, because the wood, the weight of the crown and the way the tree forks all change how it is safely taken apart.

The Highveld storm season, roughly October to March, is when most emergency felling happens. Lightning, hail winds and saturated ground all bring trees down or leave them unsafe, and a tree that survived the storm can still fail weeks later if the root plate was disturbed.

Access, neighbours and boundaries

Most of the work is decided before the chainsaw starts, by where the tree stands and what is around it. A tree against a boundary wall often means working partly from the neighbour's side or lowering everything into your own garden instead. A tree over a driveway means the vehicle has to move. In a complex or estate the perimeter and common areas usually belong to the body corporate, so the trustees decide and the contractor works to their rules.

Tell the contractor about anything overhead and anything buried. Power lines, telephone lines, a borehole, an irrigation line, a pool pump and paving are all things that change the plan and, if damaged, cost more than the felling itself. Do not work under a line; leave that to the contractor, who will judge whether the utility needs to be involved.

Safety and who is responsible

Felling is the most dangerous work in this trade. A tree carries a lot of weight, a cut section can swing, and a chainsaw near a rope or a ladder is unforgiving. That is why the contractor you use should be insured and should work to a method he can explain to you before he starts.

This website does not fell trees. It connects you with an independent contractor who does the work, quotes you directly and is responsible for safety on site, for the crew, and for any damage caused by the work. Ask for proof of public liability cover before work starts, and ask who is responsible if something goes wrong.

What moves the quote

We do not publish prices. The contractor quotes after seeing the tree, because the same height can be a very different job. These are the things that usually change the number:

• The height and the spread of the tree, and how much of the crown has to be lowered by rigging.
• How close it stands to a house, a wall, a pool, a driveway or a power line.
• Where a felled piece can safely land, and how far it has to be carried out.
• The species and the wood: some timber is far heavier and harder to handle.
• Whether the stump is cut low only, or ground out as well.
• Whether the branches and trunk are removed from site or left for you.
• How easy it is to reach the tree with equipment, including gate and driveway access.

Getting a tree felling quote in Pretoria

Send your suburb, a photo of the tree and a short description of what worries you about it. Say whether it leans, whether anything is under it, and whether you are the owner or the body corporate. We pass the enquiry to a contractor who covers your area, and the contractor contacts you to arrange a look before quoting.

If the tree is genuinely dangerous now - split, leaning over a building or sitting on a line - say so in your message, because that changes how the job is approached.

What moves the quote

We do not publish prices. The contractor quotes you directly once they understand the job. These are the factors that usually make the difference:

• Tree height, crown spread and the rigging needed to lower it safely.
• Proximity to buildings, walls, pools and overhead lines.
• Vehicle access and how far cut wood has to be moved.
• The species and the weight of the timber.
• Whether the stump is left cut low or ground out.
• Whether green waste and logs are taken away.

Our guide to what drives the cost of tree removal in Pretoria explains how to compare quotes fairly.

Tree felling by suburb

• Tree felling in Moreleta Park
• Tree felling in Faerie Glen
• Tree felling in Waterkloof
• Tree felling in Sinoville
• Tree felling in Montana
• Tree felling in Centurion

Frequently asked questions

Other tree services

• Tree removal
• Stump grinding
• Emergency tree removal
• Tree pruning and palm trimming