Tree Removal
Complete removal of dead, diseased or unwanted trees, residential and commercial.
Learn more →Start with a diagnosis, not a quote
Most tree jobs go wrong at the very first step: someone quotes to cut before anyone works out whether cutting is the right call. An arborist-led service reverses that. The qualified arborists and tree surgeons we connect you with begin by reading the tree — and in Canberra, there is a lot to read.
They assess the species and how it behaves locally: the yellow box and Blakely's red gum that shed limbs when drought-stressed, the brittle radiata pines common across older suburbs, the ornamental pears and oaks planted through the Inner South. They look for the warning signs a labourer misses — included bark in a fork, fungal brackets at the base, deadwood in the crown, cracks left over from the January 2020 hailstorm that damaged trees right across the ACT.
What an assessment covers
A proper arborist assessment on your property will typically work through:
- Species and condition — what the tree is, and how healthy it genuinely is.
- Structural risk — decay, cavities, weak unions, lean, root-plate stability.
- Target and consequence — what the tree could hit if part of it failed.
- Legal status — whether it is protected under the Urban Forest Act 2023.
- Recommendation — the least drastic action that resolves the risk.
That last point is what separates an arborist from a chainsaw for hire. Sometimes the answer is removal. Just as often it is a crown reduction or pruning that keeps a valuable, protected tree standing.
Reports and tree activity applications
Under the Urban Forest Act 2023, a tree on private land is protected once it reaches 8m in height, an 8m canopy, or a 1m trunk circumference at 1.4m — or if it is on the ACT Tree Register. Removing or majorly pruning one needs an approved tree activity application through City Services, and getting it wrong risks penalties up to $80,000.
The arborists we refer can:
- prepare a tree health and risk report for City Services, insurers or DA processes,
- advise whether your tree is protected and what evidence is needed, and
- guide or lodge the tree activity application so the work is lawful from the start.
Why an arborist-led referral
This site is a referral service. When you call, we connect you with Trade Guardian verified Canberra crews — independently vetted, appropriately insured, and carrying a 5.0 rating from 17 Google reviews. You get the assessment done properly before any decision, and the same arborist's plan carries through to whichever service the tree needs — from complex felling to tree removal.
Book an assessment
Call (02) 6105 9664 to have a qualified arborist assess your tree. It is the cheapest, smartest first step in any Canberra tree job. Return to home or browse the full services hub.
More services
Explore our other services
Complex Tree Felling
Controlled, sectional felling for large or tight-access trees near structures and power lines.
Learn more →Complete Stump Removal
Full stump and root extraction, plus grinding options, for a clean, usable block.
Learn more →Crown Reduction & Lopping
Size and shape management, including dead-wooding, to keep trees safe and healthy.
Learn more →Clean-Up & Mulching
Full site clean-up with green waste chipped and mulched on-site where possible.
Learn more →Storm & Emergency Response
Fast response for storm-damaged, fallen or hazardous trees threatening property.
Learn more →
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an arborist and a tree lopper?
A lopper cuts. A qualified arborist diagnoses. An arborist is trained to assess tree biology, structural condition and risk, and to prune to Australian Standard AS 4373 in a way that keeps a tree healthy. Indiscriminate lopping can leave a tree weaker, uglier and more dangerous. Every crew we connect you with works to an arborist's assessment first.
When do I need an arborist report in Canberra?
You typically need one when a tree is protected under the Urban Forest Act 2023 and you want to remove or majorly prune it, when a tree is affected by a development application, or when you need to demonstrate to City Services, an insurer or a neighbour that a tree is hazardous. The arborists we refer prepare clear, defensible reports for these situations.
Will an arborist always recommend removal?
No, and that is the point of getting one. A good arborist recommends the least drastic option that resolves the risk. Often a protected, structurally sound tree can be retained with crown reduction or targeted pruning rather than removed, which also keeps you clear of ACT canopy contribution costs. You get an honest recommendation, not an upsell.
Free, no-obligation