How a Tree Job Works, From First Call to Clean-Up

The short version

1. You tell us about the tree.
2. A local arborist looks at it on site.
3. You get a written quote.
4. Approvals, neighbours and power lines are checked.
5. The job is booked.
6. The crew does the work, usually in sections on suburban blocks.
7. The block is cleaned up and you check it.
8. The stump is ground or left, as agreed.

We are a referral service. Our part is getting the right local arborist or tree contractor to your tree with enough information to quote properly. The contractor inspects, prices, does the work and is responsible for it. The detail of each step is below.

1. Your enquiry

Call us or use the form. We are open 7 days, 8am to 5pm. The more we know at the start, the better the first visit goes. Useful things to include:

• What the problem is. "Dropping limbs on the carport" or "dead since last summer" says more than "needs removing".
• Where the tree is. Front yard, backyard, on the boundary, on the verge.
• What is near it. The house, a fence, a pool, a shed, a retaining wall, the neighbour's roof.
• Any wires. Especially the service wire running from the street pole to the house.
• Access. Side gate width, steps, a steep driveway, or whether the only way in is through the house.
• A photo or two. One of the whole tree and one of the access is plenty.

If you already know the job, such as a removal and stump grind, say so. If you are not sure, describe what is bothering you and the arborist will suggest options.

2. The on-site look

Tree work is priced on the job in front of the arborist, so someone comes out before any price is given. On site they will usually check:

• The species, size and condition of the tree, including dead wood, splits, lean, decay at the base and any signs of pests.
• Where the tree can come down. Open ground means it may be felled or dropped in large pieces. A roof, pool or fence underneath means sectional work.
• How gear gets in and wood gets out. Whether a chipper can reach, whether a stump grinder fits the gate, and whether an elevated work platform or crane is worth using.
• What is above and below. Power lines overhead; pipes, reticulation and cables near a stump.

This is the time to walk around with the arborist and point out anything you want protected: a new lawn, a veggie patch, paving, a favourite shrub.

3. The written quote

You should get the price in writing, with enough detail that you know what you are paying for. A complete quote names the trees, says what is being done to each, explains the method, states what happens to the stump and to the wood and mulch, and lists anything excluded.

If you are getting more than one quote, line them up item by item. Our tree removal cost guide has 2026 planning ranges and a checklist for comparing quotes fairly.

4. Approvals, neighbours and power lines

A few things are worth sorting before a date is locked in. None of them is complicated, but each one can stop a job on the day if it is missed.

Council approval

Each council sets its own rules, and they are changing. The City of Cockburn has required development approval since 28 May 2026 to remove or significantly lop most mature trees over 8 metres on private land. The City of Melville does not currently regulate trees on private land, but a draft policy is out for consultation until 31 October 2026. Rockingham requires approval to remove native trees on some rural and special residential zones. Anywhere in Perth, a heritage-listed place or a tree on a significant tree register can need approval. The responsibility for approvals sits with the property owner, so check with your council if there is any doubt. Our guide to cutting down a tree in Perth explains what to look for.

Verge trees

Street trees on the verge belong to the council. Several Perth councils, including Joondalup, Wanneroo, Cockburn, Cottesloe and Melville, do not allow residents to prune or remove them without the council's authorisation. If the problem tree is on the verge, contact the council rather than booking a contractor.

Neighbours

If the tree is on the boundary, belongs next door, or the work needs access through a neighbour's yard, talk to them first. Unless a tree is protected, you can generally cut overhanging branches back to the boundary, but not beyond it, and the cut wood belongs to the tree's owner. Our guide to neighbour tree disputes in WA covers the usual situations. A friendly conversation before the crew turns up saves a lot of trouble.

The service wire

The service wire runs from the street pole to your house. Western Power issues a safety notice when vegetation is within 30 cm of it, and it does not trim around service wires. It is the occupant's responsibility to arrange someone suitably qualified to clear the tree, within 40 days of the notice. Work near live lines must follow the EnergySafety code for vegetation work near power lines, so tell the arborist about any notice you have received and make sure the quote covers that part of the job. If a tree or branch is on or touching a line, stay at least 8 metres away and call Western Power on 13 13 51.

5. Booking the job

Once you accept the quote, a date is set. Most jobs take a few hours to a day; large sectional removals near buildings can run longer. Weather matters: strong wind stops climbing, and crews may shift a date after a storm when urgent jobs come in.

Before the crew arrives

A little preparation makes the day quicker and cheaper:

• Move cars out of the driveway and away from the drop zone.
• Clear pot plants, outdoor furniture, trampolines and toys from the work area.
• Unlock side gates and make sure the dog is inside or at a friend's.
• Let neighbours know, especially if a truck or chipper will be on the street.
• Mark any irrigation lines, septic tanks or buried cables near the stump.
• Say where you want any mulch or firewood left.

6. The job day

The crew will usually walk the job with you at the start to confirm what is being done. It is a good time to ask to see the public liability certificate. We ask the arborists and contractors we work with to hold the public liability cover the job needs, and you are entitled to see it before work starts.

Sectional removal

On most suburban blocks, trees are taken apart from the top down rather than felled. A climber removes the smaller branches first, then the limbs, then the trunk in short lengths. Heavy pieces are tied off and lowered on ropes, so they come down under control rather than landing on the roof or fence. On some jobs an elevated work platform or a crane lifts sections clear.

Chipping

Branches go through a chipper on site as they come down. Logs are cut into lengths that can be carried out, or into firewood rounds if you have asked to keep them. The work area is kept clear as the job goes so no one trips over cut wood.

Green waste and shot-hole borer

The whole Perth metro is a quarantine area for the polyphagous shot-hole borer. Chipping wood small, carrying green waste in sealed and covered loads, and cleaning machinery before it leaves the Management Zone are part of handling wood under those rules. If the arborist spots signs of borer, they may advise leaving material on site and reporting it to DPIRD before anything is moved.

7. Clean-up

A finished job should leave the block tidy: branches chipped, logs gone or stacked as agreed, the ground raked and paths and gutters blown clear. Walk around with the crew before they leave. Check fences, paving, garden beds and the roof line from the ground. If something is not right, it is far easier to fix while everyone is still there.

8. The stump

A standard removal leaves the stump cut low to the ground. After that you can leave it, have it ground below the surface, or have the stump and main roots dug out if you are building, paving or putting in a pool. Grinding is usually a separate line on the quote, and the depth should be written down. Stump grinders cut below ground, so point out any pipes or cables nearby. See stump grinding for more detail on how it is done.

If you still have questions, the FAQ covers costs, councils, power lines and the job day in more depth.