Tree felling and removal
Large trees taken down in controlled sections, or in one piece where there is room.
Tree Felling Bryanston: Safe Removal of Big, Old Trees
Get My Free Quote arrow_forwardTree felling in Bryanston usually means a big, old tree: many went in when the suburb was established in 1969, and they now stand taller than the houses they shade. Tree Felling Guys climb, cut and lower these trees in sections so nothing lands on your roof, pool or boundary wall, then grind the stump and take every branch away. We have 10 years in the trade, full insurance and a 5.0 Google rating, and you get a written, itemised price before any work starts.
Emergencies get a crew from our Cosmo City base within 60 minutes, and there's no travel fee in Bryanston.
What Tree Services Do We Offer in Bryanston?
Bryanston's trees are big and many of its gardens are mature, so most jobs here need climbing, rigging and a proper clean-up. These are the services Bryanston customers book:
Stump grinding and removal
Big stumps ground below the surface, so you can lay lawn or paving over the spot.
Tree trimming and pruning
Heavy limbs cut back from roofs, pools and cables.
Emergency tree felling
24/7 for fallen and storm-damaged trees.
Arborist checks
We check an old tree's health before you decide to take it down.
Palm tree removal and trimming
Dead fronds stripped, or tall palms removed.
Hedge trimming
Long boundary hedges cut back and shaped.
Land and site clearing
Stands cleared before a subdivision or a new build.
Alien and invasive tree removal
Listed invasive trees removed and the regrowth controlled.
Tree planting and transplanting
A replacement tree planted, or a young tree moved out of a building's way.
Garden refuse and green waste removal
Branches, leaves and garden refuse loaded and hauled away.
Estate and commercial tree maintenance
Scheduled tree care for clusters, complexes and office parks.
How Much Does Tree Felling Cost in Bryanston?
Tree felling in Bryanston costs from about R850 for a small, easy tree to R25,000 or more for a large or dangerous one. Most home jobs cost between R2,500 and R12,000. We charge no travel fee in Bryanston.
| Tree size | Typical height | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Small tree | Up to 5m | R850 to R2,500 |
| Medium tree | 5m to 10m | R2,500 to R6,500 |
| Large tree | 10m to 20m | R6,500 to R15,000 |
| Extra-large tree | 20m and above | R15,000 to R25,000+ |
Stump grinding adds R500 to R4,500 or more. We charge the same rates for emergencies, with no after-hours surcharge.
Bryanston prices tend to sit in the upper rows, because many trees here are large and old. A 20-metre tree over a house, pool or boundary wall has to be climbed and lowered piece by piece, and that takes a full day. See the full breakdown on our tree felling prices page, or send photos on WhatsApp for a written price.
How Do We Fell a Tree in Bryanston?
Every job follows the same six steps:
- 1Assess. We look at the tree's size, lean and health, and at what stands under it.
- 2Quote in writing. You get an itemised price before any work starts.
- 3Make the site safe. We cordon off the drop zone, move cars and cover paving, pool edges and roofs.
- 4Fell or rope it down. Where there is room, the tree comes down in one piece. Where there is not, a climber cuts it in sections and the ground crew lowers each piece on a rope.
- 5Chip and haul. We chip the branches and take all the wood away.
- 6Grind and clean. We grind the stump if you want it gone, then rake and sweep the site.
Big, Old Trees on Bryanston Stands
Bryanston was laid out as a suburb of large stands with big gardens, and it is known for its jacaranda-lined streets. Many of the trees planted then are now 50 years old or more, taller than the house, and close to the end of their safe life.
The trees we deal with most in old Bryanston gardens are jacarandas, big exotic shade trees such as oaks and plane trees, and gum trees along back boundaries. Old trees like these often carry heavy limbs over roofs and pools, dead wood high in the crown, and roots that lift paving and crack walls.
An old tree does not always need to come down. An arborist check tells you whether careful pruning will make it safe, or whether removal is the better choice.
Subdividing or Building? Plan for the Trees First
Many large Bryanston properties have been split into clusters with smaller gardens. If you plan to subdivide, extend or build, decide which trees stay before the builders arrive.
- check_circleTrees that must go: take them out before building starts, while there is still room to drop them. Removing a big tree next to a finished house costs far more. See our land and site clearing service.
- check_circleTrees you want to keep: fence off the ground under the canopy so no trenching, vehicles or stockpiles damage the roots. Root damage from building work can kill a tree years after the builders leave.
- check_circleTrees right next to new foundations: have an arborist check them, because a tree with half its roots cut away can become unstable.
Is Shot Hole Borer in Your Oak, Plane Tree or Liquidambar?
The polyphagous shot hole borer favours certain trees: London plane, English oak, box elder, Japanese and Chinese maples, and liquidambar. These are exactly the kind of big shade trees that grow in old Bryanston gardens.
If you have one of these trees, check it for:
- check_circletiny round holes about 1mm wide in the bark
- check_circlesticky sap or dark, wet staining around the holes
- check_circlefine sawdust coming out of the holes
- check_circlebranches dying back
If you find these signs, book an arborist check. A heavily infested tree should come down before a dead branch falls. Read more in our guide to shot hole borer and tree pests.
What Should You Do With the Stump?
After a big tree comes down, the stump is often the next question. Here are the honest answers.
- check_circleGrind it or dig it out? Grinding is cheaper and faster. We grind the stump below ground level and leave the deep roots to rot. Digging out the whole root ball needs heavy machinery and leaves a big hole.
- check_circleWill the tree grow back? Most trees will not regrow once the stump is ground below ground. Some species send up shoots from the roots, and we tell you upfront if yours is one of them.
- check_circleCan you just leave it? You can, but a stump takes years to rot. Meanwhile it is a trip hazard, it can send up new shoots, and rotting wood attracts termites.
- check_circleDo Epsom salt or drilled holes work? Drilling holes and filling them with Epsom salt dries the stump out, but it usually takes six months or longer. Grinding does the job in one visit.
- check_circleCan you pour concrete over a stump? We advise against it. The wood keeps rotting under the slab, leaves a hollow, and the concrete can crack or sink.
- check_circleWhat is the fastest way to get rid of a stump? Grinding. A stump that would take years to rot on its own, or six months with Epsom salt, is gone in one visit.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid After the Stump Is Gone?
- check_circleFilling the hole with the wood chips. The chips break down and the ground sinks. Rake most of them out and fill with topsoil instead.
- check_circlePaving or building straight away. Let the topsoil settle, top it up, and compact it before you pave.
- check_circlePlanting a new tree in the same spot. Old roots stay in the ground. Plant the new tree a short distance away.
- check_circleIgnoring new shoots. If shoots come up from the old roots, cut them off as soon as they appear so the roots run out of energy.
See our stump grinding and removal service for more.
Do You Need Permission to Cut Down a Tree in Bryanston?
Bryanston falls under the City of Johannesburg, and two rules apply beyond any cluster or estate rules.
Street trees belong to the City. A tree on the pavement outside your wall is municipal property, and only Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo may remove or prune it. Fines for damaging one run up to R327,000 per tree. Report a dangerous street tree to City Parks on 011 712 6600 or Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555.
Protected trees need a licence. Section 15 of the National Forests Act, 1998 bans cutting or removing a protected tree, such as the marula, the camel thorn or the shepherd's tree, without a licence from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
A tree in your own garden that is not protected needs no municipal permit. In a cluster or estate, check with the body corporate or HOA first.
For the full rules, see our guides to tree felling permits in Gauteng and protected trees in South Africa.
How Fast Can We Reach You in a Bryanston Emergency?
Within 60 minutes. Our crew is based in Cosmo City in northwest Johannesburg, so a fallen tree in Bryanston is a short drive away, at any hour. If a tree is touching a power line, stay well back and call City Power through Joburg Connect on 0860 562 874 first. See our emergency tree felling page for what to do while you wait.
Which Areas of Bryanston Do We Cover?
We fell trees across Bryanston and the surrounding suburbs, including Petervale, Douglasdale, Magaliessig, Morningside, Rivonia and Paulshof.
We also cover the neighbouring suburbs of Sandton, Fourways, Randburg and Lone Hill. Bryanston is part of our wider tree felling Johannesburg service area. For everything else we do, see our main page on tree felling in Gauteng.
Tree Felling Bryanston: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does tree felling cost in Bryanston?
expand_more
Most home jobs in Bryanston cost between R2,500 and R12,000, from about R850 for a small tree to R25,000 or more for a large or dangerous one. We charge no travel fee. Send us photos on WhatsApp for a written, itemised quote.
How much does it cost to remove a 10ft tree?
expand_more
A 10ft tree is about 3 metres tall, which falls in our small-tree band of R850 to R2,500. The price moves within that range depending on access and what stands under the tree.
Do I need permission to cut down a tree in Bryanston?
expand_more
Not for an ordinary tree in your own garden. You need a licence for a protected tree, and only Johannesburg City Parks may touch a street tree. In a cluster or estate, get approval first.
How can you tell if a tree is going to fall?
expand_more
Watch for a lean that is getting worse, cracks in the trunk, mushrooms or fungus at the base, soil lifting around the roots, and large dead branches. A healthy tree has a full crown, leaves of normal size and colour, and firm bark. If you see warning signs, book an arborist check.
What is the cheapest time of year for tree removal?
expand_more
Our prices do not change with the season. We charge the same rates for emergencies and after-hours work too, so any month costs the same.
What time of year is best to remove a tree?
expand_more
The dry winter months are best for planned work. Leafless trees are lighter and easier to handle, and we can see the branch structure clearly. A dangerous tree should come down straight away, whatever the month.
Who is responsible for trimming trees near power lines?
expand_more
For street trees, City Parks prunes branches away from overhead cables. For a tree in your own garden, you are responsible, but never let anyone cut near a live line. A professional team arranges for the line to be made safe first.
Is it cheaper to grind or remove a stump?
expand_more
Grinding is cheaper. It costs R500 to R4,500 or more and takes one visit, while digging out the whole root ball needs heavy machinery.
Do you do emergency tree felling in Bryanston?
expand_more
Yes, 24/7. We reach Bryanston emergencies within 60 minutes from our Cosmo City base.
Which areas of Bryanston do you cover?
expand_more
All of Bryanston, plus Petervale, Douglasdale, Magaliessig, Morningside, Rivonia and Paulshof.
Get a Free Tree Felling Quote in Bryanston
Call 083 761 7228 or send photos of your tree on WhatsApp. We reply with a written, itemised quote before any work starts.
Prefer a callback? Request a free quote and we phone you straight back.
WhatsApp 083 761 7228