Tree Removal Cost

Looking to find out how much the average tree removal costs in the UK?

The cost of tree removal relies heavily on the size of the tree and can be anywhere between £200 and £2,800, with the average tree felling cost being £700.

Would you like to find out the cost of cutting down a tree, exactly?

Then look no further, as this complete guide will provide you with everything you need to know, such as how much tree surgeons charge in different areas of the UK, what impacts how long tree felling work takes, and more.

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How Much to Cut a Tree Down?

Looking for information on the costs of felling and removing a tree?

This guide will go over everything you need to know about the cost of felling a tree, along with some information about the different types of trees.

Tree removal prices can vary significantly depending on the diameter, height and type of tree, as well as its position in the garden.

The ease of access to the garden tree also plays a big part in the job's overall cost. The more difficult it is to get to, the longer the job will take, which will increase the cost.

You can usually expect tree cutting services to charge around £180 to £250 per day in labour costs. This means the average tree surgeon hourly rate is between £25 to £35.

Tree surgeons will often work with one or two general labourers, as some parts of the job can be difficult to tackle alone. With this in mind, you can expect to pay an average of around £350 to £500 per day for labour.

Tree Cutting Prices

As we've mentioned, tree felling prices can vary greatly depending mostly on the size of the tree and the ease of access to the tree.

The table below highlights the average tree removal cost you can expect to pay for different tree sizes:

Tree Felling Prices by Tree Type

Let's take a closer look at some estimated tree removal costs based on the species of tree:

Additional Costs of Tree Removal

You may need to think about several additional costs when it comes to tree removal:

Tree Stump Removal Costs

Stump grinding is the most common method of tree stump removal.

This involves using a machine to grind the stump down as much as possible. However, this doesn't remove the tree roots, which are left to decay over time. Bear in mind, though, that some tree species can resprout from roots, or continued growth underground could affect drainage systems or foundations if not dealt with.

The cost of tree stump grinding is between £60 and £400.

You might not need to remove the tree stump. Some homeowners opt to save on the additional costs this brings and keep them as garden features.

Garden Waste Removal Cost

Many tree surgeon contractors will include garden waste removal costs in the total price of tree removal you're being charged.

However, this isn't always the case, so it's important to clarify this when getting a quote from a tree surgeon.

You can expect the cost of garden waste removal to be anywhere between £90 and £500. The price you'll need to budget will depend on how much waste you expect to generate.

Gardening Cost

When getting a tree in your garden removed, you may also be interested in getting some other gardening work done simultaneously. Gardening costs vary depending on the scope of the work you're getting done.

This could include lawn mowing, landscaping, hedge trimming, planting and more. The typical hourly rate for a professional gardener is between £18 and £30, but this will be higher in London and the South East.

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Tree Surgeon Cost

The amount you pay for tree felling will depend on a number of factors, including the type of tree, the difficulty of the job, the ease of access, and your location in the UK.

You can usually expect a qualified tree surgeon cost to be between £180 and £250 per day.

However, tree surgeons will often work with one or two general labourers, as some tree work can be difficult to tackle alone. With that in mind, you might pay a total of between £350 and £500 per day for labour.

Tree surgeon costs will likely be higher for those in London and other highly populated areas of the UK. You should expect tree surgeon quotes to be between £50 and £100 per day more in these areas.

One final point: some tree surgeons may have a minimum call-out fee of around £150 to £250 to make a job worth their while. In practice, most tree removal prices will be higher than this anyway.

Tree Removal Timescales

If you're a homeowner looking to remove a single average-sized tree, then you should expect a tree removal job to take between 1 and 2 days.

But this can vary significantly depending on:

• The type of tree
• How large the tree is
• Whether stump removal, stump grinding, or root removal is required
• If the work involves diseased or damaged trees
• Ease of access to the tree that you want to cut down

The table below will give you a better idea of what to expect:

So, while it could take up to a week to remove a tree that's more than 75ft high (around 22m), it would be a lot quicker (and cheaper) if you're just looking for a tree surgeon to cut down a small tree that's 25ft high (around 8m).

What Impacts Tree Removal Prices?

There are several factors that could affect the overall cost of removing a tree.

Below is a list of all the main cost factors that impact the quotes that you'll receive from tree surgeons:

• Size of the Tree - Larger trees will take much longer to work on than smaller trees, so you can expect larger trees to cost more. The longer the job takes, the more you will have to pay for labour.
• Ease of Access - If the tree is difficult to access, this may require extra work, and the job will likely take much longer to complete. With this in mind, trees that are more difficult to access will end up costing more overall to remove.
• Difficulty of the Job - Your tree surgeon may come across some obstacles, such as roots in difficult places or stubborn tree sections that are much harder to remove. The more difficult the job is to complete, the longer it will take and, therefore, the more it will cost overall.
• Location in the UK - Those based in London can expect to pay around £50 to £100 more per day for a tree surgeon's time than those located in other parts of the UK.

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What's Involved in Felling a Tree?

Felling a tree can be extremely dangerous if you don't put in the appropriate planning work. Planning is extremely important for this type of work, as you could risk having the tree fall directly onto you.

Here's what your tree surgeon will consider before beginning the felling process:

• Your tree surgeon will start by clearing the surrounding area so that they can easily run in any direction to avoid falling trees.
• They will clear any potential obstacles lying around near the bottom of the tree.
• The tree surgeon will then identify the best way for the tree to fall.
• Once the direction has been planned, the surgeon will plan escape routes in case anything goes wrong during the process. They will have more than one option available if the tree doesn't fall in the direction they wanted it to.
• Before the surgeon begins felling the tree, they'll thoroughly inspect it to ensure no loose branches will fall during the removal process.

Can I Fell a Tree Myself?

There are many risks associated with tree removal, so it's always recommended that you hire a professional for this kind of job.

A professional tree surgeon will have all the tools, materials and skills needed to get rid of a tree quickly and safely. They'll also have the experience to know the kind of things that can go wrong, such as branches falling off or the tree falling in the wrong way.

If you weigh up tree surgeon prices against the risks of damage to your property and danger to yourself, it's best to trust a professional.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Tree Felling

You may need to seek permission before you carry out any tree removal on your property.

There are two major reasons why this might be necessary:

• If your tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).
• If your home is in a conservation area.

In addition, if the tree is on, or partially on, public land or a public highway, other permissions will need to be sought.

If you're uncertain whether any of these apply to cutting trees down on your property, you should check with your local authority.

When getting quotes from tree surgeons, they will also be able to provide you with more information about whether a particular tree is protected.

Wildlife Protections

Tree felling and pruning cannot take place during nesting season when there is a risk of harming nesting birds or other species such as dormice or bats.

Generally, this covers the period between February and August in the UK, with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 specifying that:

• You cannot take, injure or kill any wild bird from a nest.
• You cannot take, damage or destroy a wild bird nest, either while it is being built or while it is in use.
• You cannot take or destroy a wild bird egg.

These offences are backed up with unlimited fines and even the risk of a jail sentence, so it's not worth trying to get around them.

There are some circumstances where tree felling may be permitted during nesting season. For example, if the tree is dangerous or diseased, you may be permitted to work on it if there is no other option. However, you have to minimise the disruption to wildlife and document the hazards first - in practical terms, take photographs and consult an expert.

Types of Trees

Many different types of trees are commonly found in UK gardens. Below is a list of the most common trees found in gardens in the UK, with some information on how to identify them:

English Oak Tree Removal Cost

Oak trees are very common and can grow in various soil conditions, but they tend to prefer well-drained soils in sunny locations. These trees tend to grow up to around 40m in forest locations, though urban growth may be different.

Their leaves are large and lobed with smooth edges, and the leaves will fall during the wintertime. Oak trees feature acorns that can be easily identified.

The average cost of felling an English oak tree is between £2,800 and £4,800.

Common Beech Tree Removal Cost

Beech trees can live up to 300 years in certain conditions, and are most common in England's southern and central parts.

These trees prefer dry, chalky soils for optimum growth. Similar to an oak tree, common beech trees tend to grow up to around 40m.

The leaves on this tree are oval in shape with wavy edges. This type of tree produces beech seeds encased within green, prickly cases, and the bark of this tree is thin and grey.

The average cost to remove a beech tree is around £1,200 to £2,500.

Ash Tree Removal Cost

Ash trees are a very common type of tree in the UK. These are usually found in very deep, well-drained soils located in sunny areas.

They can grow up to around 35m and feature leaves that are made up of 3 to 6 pairs of serrated little leaves with one leaf at the end.

Ash trees lose their leaves during winter, but can be identified in these months by their large, black buds.

The average price to remove an ash tree is around £600 to £1,500.

Horse Chestnut Tree Removal Cost

Horse chestnut trees can tolerate a huge range of soils but prefer rich, moist soils in sunny areas.

In ideal conditions, they can grow to around 40m and feature large, palmate leaves with 5 to 7 serrated leaflets.

During the warmer months, horse chestnut trees feature clusters of white flowers, which later become conkers encased in green, spiky cases.

The average removal cost for a horse chestnut tree is around £800 to £2,000.

Sycamore Tree Removal Cost

Sycamore trees are fast-spreading trees that can grow in most soil types and areas. These trees may grow to around 35m, and feature palmate leaves on red stalks with five-toothed lobes.

The seeds on these trees can easily be identified as they are winged seeds, often known as 'helicopter' seeds. The bark on sycamore trees tends to be scaly in appearance.

Trees in gardens can cause a range of problems, especially large trees. They can prevent sunlight from entering the garden, which can prevent your other garden plants from growing adequately.

Trees can also become a problem when the roots get too large. Large roots can sometimes affect your home's foundations, which can end up being very dangerous.

The average cost to remove a sycamore tree is between £900 and £3,400.

Hiring Contractors to Fell a Tree Checklist

You will need to consider a few things before hiring someone to fell a tree for you. Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

• What type of tree-felling services does the contractor offer?
• How many years of experience does the contractor have in tree removal?
• Is the contractor experienced in the type of tree removal work you require?
• Will the contractor take care of any relevant waste removal?
• How much is the work to complete? Get a breakdown of tree removal costs to ensure you pay a good price for each element of the job.
• Does the tree surgeon offer any guarantees with their work?
• How many contractors will carry out the job?
• Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?
• Does the contractor provide any insurance if any parts of the job go wrong?

FAQs

Sources

https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/trees/planning-permission
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1171225/FC_Tree_Felling_4_July_23_WEB.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/apply-work-on-protected-tree
https://bentontreesurgery.co.uk/faqs
https://www.reevesarbservices.com/services/tree-surgeon/tree-removal-considerations-faqs