Tree felling and removal
We take down whole trees, dropping them in one piece where there is room and in sections where there is not. Every piece of wood and every branch leaves with us.
Tree Felling Pretoria and Tshwane: Safe, Clean Tree Removal
Get My Free Quote arrow_forwardFor tree felling, Pretoria homeowners call Tree Felling Guys: your tree comes down in controlled sections, the wood and branches leave with us, and your garden is clean when we drive away.
If a jacaranda has outgrown your garden, a gum tree hangs over your roof, or a dead tree stands over your driveway, we can help. We work across Pretoria and the rest of Tshwane, from Centurion and Pretoria East to Garsfontein, Moreleta Park, Pretoria North and Pretoria West.
We rig and lower big trees piece by piece, so nothing lands on your house, wall or cables. You get a clear price before we start, the clean-up is part of the job, and Google reviewers rate us 5.0 stars.
What Tree Services Do We Offer in Pretoria?
Stump grinding
We grind the stump below ground level so you can plant, pave or lay lawn over the spot. See our stump grinding and removal service.
Trimming and pruning
We lift crowns off roofs, thin heavy canopies and cut branches back from cables and walls. See our tree trimming and pruning service.
Emergency tree felling
Storm damage does not wait for business hours. We answer 24/7 and reach emergencies across Pretoria the same day. See our emergency tree felling service.
Tree health checks
Not sure whether a tree needs to come down? Our arborist checks it first, so you only pay to remove a tree that really needs to go.
What Does Tree Felling Cost in Pretoria?
Tree felling in Pretoria costs from about R850 for a small, easy tree to R25,000 or more for a large or dangerous one. Most home jobs land between R2,500 and R12,000. We run teams across Gauteng, so we charge no travel fee for Pretoria.
| 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 costs R500 to R4,500 or more, and we charge the same rates for emergencies, with no after-hours surcharge. See the full breakdown on our tree felling prices page.
Five things move the price within those ranges:
- check_circlethe height and spread of the tree
- check_circlewhat stands underneath it: your house, a wall, a pool or cables, and how much rigging that needs
- check_circlehow easy the tree is to reach
- check_circlewhether you want the stump ground out
- check_circlehow much wood and green waste we take away
Send us photos on WhatsApp and we quote fast. You get a written, itemised quote before we start, never a surprise at the end.
Can You Cut Down a Jacaranda Tree in Pretoria?
Yes, if it stands on your property. Pretoria is the Jacaranda City, but the jacaranda is a declared invader. The City of Tshwane lists it as a Category 3 invader: you do not have to remove an existing jacaranda, but you must keep it under control, and nobody may plant new ones or sell them.
The syringa and the tipu tree fall into the same category.
A jacaranda on the pavement outside your wall is a different matter. It belongs to the municipality, so contact the City of Tshwane before anyone prunes or removes it.
Do You Need a Permit to Fell a Tree in Pretoria?
Two rules catch Pretoria homeowners out.
Protected trees. Section 15 of the National Forests Act, 1998 bans anyone from cutting, damaging or removing a protected tree without a licence from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. The protected list includes the marula, the camel thorn and the shepherd's tree. If you are not sure what your tree is, confirm the species before anyone cuts.
Street trees. Municipal bylaws treat a tree in a public road or on the pavement as municipal property. In Johannesburg, only City Parks may prune or remove a street tree. In Pretoria, contact the City of Tshwane before anyone touches a pavement tree, even if it is cracking your wall.
If you live in an estate, check with your managing agent too. Your estate may have its own rules on tree removal.
How Do We Fell a Tree Safely? Our 5 Steps
- 1Assess the tree. We check the lean, dead wood, decay and borer holes, what stands underneath, and any cables nearby.
- 2Plan the drop. We choose the direction of fall, or decide to take the tree down in sections, and clear escape routes for the team.
- 3Cut the face notch. We cut a wedge out of the trunk on the side the tree must fall towards.
- 4Make the back cut. We cut from the other side and leave a strip of wood, the hinge, which steers the tree as it falls.
- 5Clear the site. We cut up the trunk, load the wood and branches, rake the site clean, and grind the stump if you asked for it.
Most Pretoria gardens have no room to drop a whole tree. In those, we rope and lower it in sections from the top down, using the same cuts with more ropes.
How Do You Choose the Best Tree Fellers in Pretoria?
Before you hire anyone, ask four questions:
- check_circleWill they give you a clear price before they start, with clean-up included?
- check_circleDo they rope and lower trees near buildings, or just drop them and hope?
- check_circleDo they check for protected species before they cut?
- check_circleDo they have real Google reviews you can read?
We rope and lower every tree near a building, give you the price up front and take everything away. That is why we call ourselves the best tree fellers in Pretoria.
Is Shot Hole Borer Killing Trees in Pretoria?
Yes. The Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria has confirmed the polyphagous shot hole borer in Tshwane, including Daspoort and Rietondale Park. The beetle carries a fungus that blocks the tree's sap flow, which leads to branch dieback and can kill the tree.
FABI advises removing heavily infested trees, chipping the wood, and never moving firewood out of the infested area.
If branches on your tree are dying back, book an arborist check before a dead branch comes down.
How Much Can You Prune a Tree Without Killing It?
The ANSI A300 pruning standard allows up to 25% of a mature tree's live foliage to come off at one time. University of Florida tree guidance is stricter: remove more than 10% only for a good reason, such as a branch likely to break.
Take off more and you put the tree under stress. See our tree trimming and pruning service.
Can You Cut Your Neighbour's Branches That Hang Over Your Wall?
Yes. Under South African common law, you may trim branches that cross the boundary back to the boundary line, as long as you do it reasonably and do not harm the tree's health. Do not cut into the part of the tree on their side of the wall.
Talk to your neighbour first. It keeps the peace, and they may agree to pay for the work. This is general information, not legal advice.
If your neighbour's tree has already fallen onto your property, see emergency tree felling.
Which Trees Have Non-Invasive Roots in South Africa?
If you are replacing a felled tree near the house, choose one that stays small and will not lift your paving. The tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus) suits Pretoria gardens: SANBI notes that it grows naturally in Gauteng, has a non-invasive root system and never grows too big.
Plant any new tree well away from walls, pipes and paving. Do not plant a new jacaranda, because the law no longer allows it.
Which Areas of Pretoria Do We Cover?
We fell trees across Tshwane, including Pretoria East, Centurion, Garsfontein, Moreleta Park, Pretoria North and Pretoria West.
For everything else we do, see our main page on tree felling in Gauteng.
Tree Felling in Pretoria: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does tree felling cost in Pretoria?
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Most home jobs in Pretoria 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 for Pretoria. Send us photos on WhatsApp for a written quote.
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in Pretoria?
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You need a licence from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to cut a protected tree. Street and pavement trees belong to the municipality, so contact the City of Tshwane before anyone cuts one. Estates may have their own rules too.
What trees are you not allowed to cut down in South Africa?
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Trees on the national protected list, such as the marula, the camel thorn and the shepherd's tree, need a licence under the National Forests Act before anyone cuts them. Street trees belong to the municipality, so contact your council before anyone touches one.
Can I remove a jacaranda tree in Pretoria?
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Yes, if it stands on your property. The jacaranda is a Category 3 invader, so you may keep or remove an existing one, but nobody may plant new ones. A jacaranda on the pavement belongs to the City.
What are the 5 steps of tree felling?
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Assess the tree, plan the direction of fall and escape routes, cut the face notch, make the back cut while leaving a hinge, then clear the site. In tight gardens, we lower the tree in sections instead.
How many branches can you cut off a tree without killing it?
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The ANSI A300 standard allows up to 25% of a mature tree's live foliage at one time. A safer rule is to stay under 10% unless a branch is dangerous.
Can I cut my neighbour's branches that hang over my wall?
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Yes, back to the boundary line, as long as you do it reasonably and do not harm the tree's health. Talk to your neighbour first. This is general information, not legal advice.
Which trees have non-invasive roots in South Africa?
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The tree wisteria (Bolusanthus speciosus) is a good choice for Pretoria. It grows naturally in Gauteng, has a non-invasive root system and stays a manageable size.
Do you do emergency tree felling in Pretoria?
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Yes. We answer emergency calls 24/7 and reach fallen and dangerous trees across Pretoria the same day.
Which areas of Pretoria do you cover?
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All of Tshwane, including Pretoria East, Centurion, Garsfontein, Moreleta Park, Pretoria North and Pretoria West.
Get a Free Tree Felling Quote in Pretoria
Call 083 761 7228 or send photos of your tree on WhatsApp. We reply with a clear price before any work starts.
Prefer a callback? Request a free quote and we phone you straight back.
WhatsApp 083 761 7228