Arbor Pride provides tree removal in Sydney for homes and strata properties, including large trees right beside houses, pools, fences and driveways. We take trees down safely in controlled sections, using ropes and rigging, a cherry picker or a crane, and leave the site clean.
Your quote is free. One of our senior arborists will visit to look at the tree and the site, explain your options and send you a written quote by email.
Book a free quote, or call 1300 887 417.
What Our Customers Say About Large Tree Removals
“We have engaged ArborPride a number of times over the last 15 years and each time we have been very happy with the service they provide. This time involved the removal of a large tree very close to the house… They completed the work as quoted and as we wished. As always, they left the place very tidy.”
Alex, Google review
“Arbor Pride have worked on various of our trees over 15 years or more. One extremely large very old tree has required complex work to maintain safety and tree health over multiple visits. The team are always very expert and careful. The site is always left completely clear. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for this service!”
Bruce, Google review
“We have been using Arbor Pride for many years now to trim some extremely large trees that surround our property. They are such a professional operation, always reliable and they do an amazing job. We usually have a team that arrive early and work hard all day scaling huge trees… By the end of the day every single piece of branch and twig has been cleaned up and we have magnificent light flooding into our house.”
Jennifer, Google review
“The work was thorough and the final clean up was perfect. Most importantly, it was done safely. When I was talking with [the team leader] before the work started, he discussed the safety without any prompting from me, very impressive. I work in the construction industry and safety is very important to me.”
Antony, Google review
How Do You Remove a Large Tree Close to a House?
We remove a large tree close to a house by taking it down in small, controlled sections rather than felling it in one piece. Our climbers rig each branch and length of trunk and lower it to the ground crew, or a crane lifts it clear, so nothing falls on your roof, pool or garden.
Here is how a large removal runs:
- Assess the tree and the site. At the quote visit, we look at the tree’s condition and everything below it, from roofs, pools and fences to service lines, street power lines and the road. We check access, and whether council or state rules apply.
- Plan the method. We decide whether the tree can be dismantled with ropes and pulleys or needs a crane. Then we book everything the job needs well in advance, which can include a crane, a cherry picker, a log truck, an electrician, covers over the street wires, traffic control and stump grinding.
- Protect what is underneath. Before any cutting begins, we protect roofs, gutters, paving, the pool, lawns, lights, fences, plants and the driveway.
- Dismantle the tree in sections. Our climbers rig the branches and logs in controlled sections down to our skilled ground crew, using a cherry picker or a crane where that is the safer way.
- Chip and remove the waste. Branches go through the chipper, and the larger logs are loaded onto a truck.
- Grind the stump, if you wish. Stump grinding takes the stump below ground level, ready for replanting or landscaping.
- Clean up. We clear away all debris and leave the site clean and tidy. If we grind the stump, we leave the grindings in a neat pile over the old stump, as is standard practice. They break down over time, or you can spread them on the garden. If you need them taken away, just ask.
We use our elevated platform only on a limited number of jobs, because access on most suburban blocks makes it impractical. Climbing, rigging and, where needed, a crane do the rest.
When Is a Crane Needed?
There is always climbing involved, even on a crane job. The crane’s role is to lift larger branches and trunk sections straight to the chipper or truck, which means far less handling, a faster job and less risk to the property. We usually bring one in for large trees over or beside buildings, near power lines, or dead and decaying trees that cannot safely take a climber’s rigging.
We hire cranes in rather than owning them, because every job needs a different size, and hiring the right one keeps the cost down. Recent jobs have needed a 16-tonne crane at Killara Golf Club, a 40-tonne crane for a dead blackbutt in Wahroonga, and a 60-tonne crane for a lightning-struck pine on Bobbin Head Road, where our climber was lifted into the tree on the crane hook.
What About the Street and the Neighbours?
If a job needs the road or footpath, for a crane, a log truck or falling sections, we arrange traffic control and any council road permit. These costs are not in the quote itself. We give you an idea of them at the quote visit, then confirm the figures once you approve the work.
On the day, our crew sets up caution signs wherever the work is near the road or footpath, and keeps people clear of the work area. On bigger jobs, such as the lightning-struck pine on Bobbin Head Road, we close a lane and book traffic control for the day.
We also know neighbours like to be kept in the loop. If you would like to let them know what is happening, we are happy to give you a note about the job to pass on, with the date and what to expect.
“11/10 from beginning to end. From the guy that quoted to the office staff but huge shout out to the boys doing the hard yards with cutting difficult enormous overhanging neighbour’s trees. The boys settled the neighbour down with their calm professional approach leaving all parties very happy with the result.”
Andrew, Google review
“The team took the time to explain exactly what they were going to do… All the team were extremely polite, a pleasure to deal with and the garden was cleaned up beautifully, no debris left behind at all. A very nice (and appreciated) touch was the letter they provided (attached to their email) that you could put in your neighbour’s letter boxes, advising them of the tree work to be carried out, etc., even down to whom to contact from Arbor Pride regarding any concerns or queries. Very professional.”
Vivien, Google review
Tree Work on Strata and Body Corporate Properties
On a strata property, the owners corporation or strata committee approves the work, even when a resident asks for the quote. Our quote comes with our insurance details attached, so the committee has what it needs to decide, and on the day we work around residents, cars and shared driveways. If your strata manager needs anything else before work starts, such as a risk assessment or a safe work method statement, just ask our office team.
Strata clients usually email us for a quote, and a lot of our work is for strata properties. If your building is on the lower North Shore, see our arborist in Chatswood page.
“So professional, safe, friendly and a job well done. The work was for a strata of 18 townhouse[s]. The workers arrived on time, checked in with me, explained what they were going to do and did it without fuss. Also monitoring the public driveway for any cars or people coming in and out.”
Karyn, Google review
“We had a monster 45m gum tree within 10m of our house that required manual removal… Julian understood the complexities of the job immediately, and had the solution and the perfect team to get it done… I’m in awe of the teamwork and smart thinking that went into safely removing the tree, especially while working around a pool area and with difficult access. For us, there were many moving parts involving other trades, so executing the work within the estimated four-day timeframe was important and greatly appreciated.”
Natasha, Google review
“Arbor Pride is one of just a couple of companies in Sydney I found that could advise on how to save trees, and not just fell them… The team arrived on time and were magnificent. They trimmed our trees and cleaned away any mess. They did a great job trimming the very large tree in the back yard, including thinning out and shaping the canopy. They erected caution signage on the road to advise of the woodchipper ahead.”
Tina, Google review
“I was particularly impressed by how well the quotation was prepared… All the relevant documentation, including insurance details, was also provided upfront. This gave me considerable peace of mind… The crew worked efficiently and professionally and left the area clean and tidy when they finished. I also appreciated receiving photos of the completed work.”
Jonathan, Google review
We carry $20 million public liability insurance and hold ISO 14001 certification, and we also look after strata properties on regular maintenance visits. Our strata properties page has more detail.
Do I Need Council Approval to Remove a Large Tree?
It depends on your council and the tree. Each council decides which trees are protected, and the rules differ across Sydney, so we check this at the quote visit. If council needs an application, or an arborist report to support it, we will tell you.
Our council regulations pages explain the rules for the councils we work in most. The NSW Government is also considering tougher tree clearing rules, so please check with your council before any work.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove a Large Tree?
As a guide only, removing a large tree usually costs from $5,100 plus GST, and our minimum charge for any job is $900 plus GST. Access is the biggest factor: the harder it is to reach the tree and lower it safely, the more it costs. Our guide to tree removal costs sets out our price ranges and what is included.
Recent Large Tree Jobs
These three jobs show how we handle large trees close to buildings. More are on our projects page.
- Wahroonga, dead blackbutt (one day, April 2025). A large dead blackbutt beside the garage was dismantled to ground level with a 40-tonne crane, after the crew laid large timbers on the driveway to spread the crane’s weight. See the Wahroonga job.
- Thornleigh, Sydney Blue Gum by a pool (three to four days). A Sydney Blue Gum almost 50 metres tall, between the house and the pool, was climbed and dismantled by hand, after a Hornsby Council tree removal application and a geotechnical engineer’s report. See the Thornleigh job.
- Killara Golf Club, Sydney Blue Gum. A large Sydney Blue Gum on the course was dismantled with a 16-tonne crane, and the smaller sections were chipped on site into mulch. See the Killara Golf Club job.
Getting Ready for the Day
A little preparation helps the day run smoothly:
- Move cars out of the driveway and away from the work area.
- Move garden furniture, pot plants and toys away from the tree.
- Keep children and pets inside or away from the work area.
- Let your neighbours know, especially if the work is near a shared fence or the street.
- If you are on a strata property, check that the committee has approved the quote.
Who Does the Work
One of our senior arborists visits to quote. The work is done by one of our three crews, each led by a team leader with climbers, ground staff and a driver. Our founder, Julian Parry, is an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist, and our team is backed by $20 million public liability insurance.
