Tree removal is quoted on size, access, what surrounds the tree and how the material has to come down. That last point is the big one, and it's where most of the price difference between two similar trees comes from.
We don't publish a fixed price list, because two trees that look similar from the pavement can be very different jobs once you factor in access, what's underneath and how the material has to come down. What we can do is explain exactly what moves the number, so you know what to look at before you ring round.
Felling and dismantling are different jobs
| What's around the tree | How it comes down |
|---|---|
| Open ground, room to fall | Straightforward felling |
| Near a fence or shed | Careful felling, or partial dismantling |
| Over a conservatory or greenhouse | Full sectional dismantling with rigging |
| Over a neighbour's garden | Dismantling, plus arranging access with them |
| Near overhead cables | May need the network operator involved |
| Tight rear garden, no vehicle access | Dismantled, everything carried out |
What else moves the price
- Height and trunk diameter. The obvious one, and the easiest to describe over the phone.
- Species and timber density. Oak and beech are heavier work than lighter timber.
- Condition. A dead or decayed tree is less predictable and is worked far more cautiously.
- Waste volume. A mature tree produces a great deal of material, and it all has to leave.
- Access for the chipper. If it can't get near, everything is carried.
- Whether the stump stays. Grinding is usually quoted separately.
The stump is a separate decision
Removing the tree doesn't remove the stump, and a stump left in place occupies garden and gets in the way of anything you want to do afterwards — a lawn, a fence line, a patio, a shed base. Grinding can be included in the same visit, which is cheaper than bringing the machine back later, but it's genuinely optional if the stump isn't in your way.
Check whether the tree is protected first
This matters more for removal than for anything else, because removal can't be undone. Trees can carry a Tree Preservation Order, and properties in conservation areas require notice to the council before work. Checking is free and takes a phone call. Removing a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence carrying substantial fines.
Is removal definitely the right answer?
Sometimes it plainly is — the tree is dead, unsafe, or genuinely in the wrong place. But a fair proportion of removal enquiries turn out to be solvable another way, and it's worth asking before something permanent happens.
- Too dark? A crown thin or lift often does more, for less.
- Branches on the roof? Targeted removal rather than the whole tree.
- Can't use the ground beneath? A crown lift, which lasts for years.
- Too big for the garden? A reduction may manage it — though on the wrong species in a small plot, removal and replanting is sometimes the honest answer.
- Worried it's unsafe? Get it assessed first. Concern isn't the same as a defect.
What happens on the day
- The site is checked and the drop zone or lowering area agreed.
- Access routes are protected where material comes through the property.
- The tree is felled or dismantled section by section.
- Material is chipped or cut and loaded out.
- The stump is ground, if that's part of the job.
- The area is cleared and swept before we leave.
Getting an accurate quote
- Rough height, against the house for scale.
- Trunk diameter at chest height, roughly.
- Species if you know it, or a photograph.
- What's underneath and immediately around it.
- Access, described honestly.
- Whether you want the stump gone.
- Whether you know if it's protected.
Thinking of having a tree removed?
Send us a photo and rough height and we'll arrange a free quotation.