What removal work actually covers
"Tree removal" is a single phrase covering jobs that have little in common beyond the saw. This page sets out the main types we handle on the North Shore and what makes each one different.
Any size and type of tree
Dead, diseased or unwanted trees are the core of the work — assessment, dismantle, chipping, cleanup, and dealing with the stump. The method depends entirely on the site. On most North Shore blocks the tree is climbed and lowered in sections rather than felled, because there is a house or a pool underneath. The full detail is on the tree removal page.
Emergency tree removal
Storm damage does not wait. Limbs on roofs, split trunks and trees across driveways are answered around the clock on (02) 9090 4915. The immediate priority is making the site safe; the tidy-up follows in daylight. See emergency tree services for what happens first and what the powerline rule is.
Small tree removal
Small trees are quoted the same way as large ones — by access, hazard and disposal, not by height alone. A three-metre tree in a courtyard with no side access and a tiled roof beneath it is not a cheap job, while a six-metre tree in an open front garden may well be. We do not publish a flat rate for small removals because there is no such thing; the cost guide explains why.
Palm tree removal
Cocos and Bangalow palms behave nothing like eucalypts on the saw, and the wet, heavy crowns make them slow work. Full detail, including which palms are likely to be protected, is on the palm and bamboo removal page.
Bamboo removal
Running bamboo is a rhizome problem, not a cutting problem, and it will not go away by being cut back. Effective removal means excavating the rhizome mat and putting a root barrier in afterwards.
Pine tree removals
Older North Shore gardens are full of radiata, Norfolk Island and Bunya pines planted far too close to houses. Pine limbs are brittle and do not bend, so drop zones are planned conservatively and there is usually a lot of timber to move. All sizes are taken, and green waste leaves with the truck.
Before you book anything
Check the permit position first. Ku-ring-gai, Willoughby, Hornsby, Lane Cove and Ryde each regulate tree work through their own controls, and trees in remnant Blue Gum High Forest or Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest carry additional protection as critically endangered communities. The FAQ covers the common questions, the suburb pages cover the councils, and the lopping information page covers the work where the tree stays.
Ring (02) 9090 4915 for a free quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a size of tree you will not take on?
Size is rarely the limit. What limits a job is access and what sits underneath. A forty-metre blackbutt with a clear drop zone is straightforward; a fifteen-metre camphor laurel wedged between a pool, a glasshouse and a heritage sandstone wall is not. If a crane and a road closure are the only safe method, we will say so and quote it that way.
How quickly can a dead tree be removed?
If it is exempt from permit requirements, usually within a week or two depending on the crew's book. If it needs council consent, the application timeline governs everything and that can run several weeks. A genuinely dangerous tree can sometimes be dealt with under emergency provisions, but that requires evidence, not just an opinion.
Do you quote over the phone?
For simple jobs — a small tree, clear access, a photo or two — often yes, as a range. For anything over about eight metres, on a slope, or near a structure, somebody looks at it in person. Phone quotes on complex trees are how crews end up asking for more money halfway through the day, and we would rather not do that to you.