Which job do you actually need?
Most people ring with a problem rather than a service name: "the gum is dropping branches", "the stump is in the way", "the bamboo is under the fence". The table below matches common problems to the work that usually fixes them. The person quoting may still suggest something different once they see the tree.
| Problem | Usually needs | Sometimes instead |
|---|---|---|
| Tree is dead, split or newly leaning | Tree removal | Heavy reduction if only one limb is affected |
| Branches over the roof or gutters | Tree lopping | Removal if the tree is too close to the house |
| Deadwood over the driveway or play area | Tree lopping | — |
| Stump in the lawn | Stump grinding | — |
| Stump where a slab, pool or wall is going | Stump removal | — |
| Tall palm dropping fronds and seed | Palm tree removal or a palm clean | — |
| Bamboo spreading under fences or paving | Bamboo removal | Root barrier on the boundary |
Common mix-ups
Lopping when the tree should come out. Hard lopping on a tree that is dying or structurally unsound buys a year or two at best. If the trunk or base is the problem, removal is the safer and often cheaper long-term answer.
Removal when a prune would do. On the other hand, a tree that is simply too big or over the roof can often be kept with a good reduction. Mature trees give shade that matters in Midland summers, and keeping one is usually cheaper than removing it.
Grinding when building. Grinding leaves roots in the ground. If something structural is going over the spot, ask for stump removal.
Forgetting the stump. A removal quote often does not include the stump. Ask for it on the same quote so one visit covers both.
One visit, several jobs
Set-up is a real part of every tree job: trucks, chippers, grinders and crew all have to get to the property. If you have more than one thing to sort (a removal, a prune, a couple of stumps, a palm clean) ask for them all to be quoted together, with each item as its own line. You can then drop items if the total is more than you planned, without losing the saving on set-up.
Where we arrange work
Midland and the City of Swan suburbs around it: Guildford, Woodbridge, Midvale, Swan View, Stratton, Jane Brook, Viveash, Bellevue, Helena Valley and Ellenbrook. We have area notes for Guildford, Swan View, Ellenbrook and Midvale.
For price ranges, see the tree removal cost guide. For council and heritage questions, start with the Swan Valley and Guildford trees guide.