Western Tree Surgeon has been providing professional tree removal services to Perth residents, councils and businesses for decades. With a team of arborists boasting over 60 years of combined experience in tree removal, tree care and stump removal, they specialise in removing hazardous trees from confined spaces, managing stump grinding, and maintaining trees through pruning and lopping. Their owner‑operator, Kieron Fiford, is passionate about arboriculture and is committed to delivering safe, efficient and environmentally responsible tree services across Western Australia.
Whether you’re preparing a site for development, protecting your home from a diseased gum tree, or simply need routine maintenance for palms and hedges, this guide explains everything you need to know about tree removal in Perth. It covers council permits, typical costs, the removal process, choosing qualified arborists and environmentally friendly disposal. By following these guidelines and partnering with experienced professionals like Western Tree Surgeon, you can protect your property, comply with local laws and ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Tree removal is not a job for amateurs. A mature eucalyptus can weigh several tonnes, and poor technique may cause damage or injury. Working with Western Tree Surgeon offers the following benefits:
Their arborists are trained to dismantle trees using cranes and ropes, ensuring branches and trunks are lowered safely even in tight spaces.
Western Tree Surgeon operates under public liability insurance and adheres to Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) standards. They are fully licenced and insured to perform tree work.
From tree lopping and tree risk assessments to root management, mulching, stump grinding and hedge trimming, Western Tree Surgeon is a one‑stop shop for tree care.
Their team can advise whether a tree requires removal or if pruning and cabling will resolve the issue. Proper pruning is often cheaper and more beneficial than removal.
They chip branches, grind stumps and leave your garden tidy; you can even keep woodchips for mulch.
Attempting a DIY removal may seem economical, but without the right equipment and training, you risk personal injury, property damage and fines for illegal removal. Let the experts handle the job.
Check whether your property falls under the City of Perth, City of Vincent, City of Fremantle, or another local authority.
Look up your council’s tree management guidelines or speak to the parks department.
Provide reasons for removal, photographs and, if required, an arborist’s report.
An officer may assess the tree’s health and risk to determine whether removal is justified or if pruning is sufficient.
Permits often specify conditions such as replacement planting or stump removal.
Use a licenced arborist and follow permit conditions.
For hazardous or storm‑damaged trees that pose an immediate threat, councils may allow emergency removal.
However, documentation should still be completed after the fact.
Tree removal costs vary widely based on size, species and complexity. The average cost to remove a tree in Perth is around AU $1,400, with prices ranging from $800 to $4,000. Western Tree Surgeon provides free quotes and will inspect your tree before giving an estimate.
| Tree type | Height | Estimated cost (AU$) | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small ornamental | ≤ 5 m | $800–$1,200 | Minimal equipment, includes stump grinding |
| Medium (e.g., jacaranda) | 5–10 m | $1,200–$4,000 | Requires climbing and sectional dismantling |
| Large gum | 10–20 m | $2,000–$25,500 | May need cranes and traffic control |
| Very large/difficult | >20 m or near hazards | $3,500–$25,000+ | High risk, complex rigging |
| Palm tree | Varied | $450–$10,500 | Easier to cut but disposal fees may apply |
To save on costs, consider removing multiple trees at once, ensuring good access for equipment and discussing whether pruning or cabling is a viable alternative.
Western Tree Surgeon follows a structured process to ensure safe and efficient tree removal:
A certified arborist inspects the tree, discusses your needs and identifies whether council approval is required.
If necessary, they help you apply for council permits.
On the day, the crew arrives with climbers, chippers and cranes if needed. They cordon off the area and lay down protective mats.
Starting at the canopy, branches are removed in sections and lowered using ropes to avoid damage.
The trunk is cut into manageable pieces; cranes or helicopters may be used for extremely large or confined trees—an area where Western Tree Surgeon excels.
A stump grinder removes the stump and surface roots to prevent regrowth.
All branches and wood are chipped or hauled away. Your garden is raked and left tidy. Woodchips may be left on request.
By adhering to this method, Western Tree Surgeon protects your property and ensures an efficient,
safe removal every time.
Understanding the difference between removal, lopping and pruning helps you choose the most suitable service:
Often, trimming is cheaper than complete removal. Discuss your options with Western Tree Surgeon to determine the best approach.
You might need to remove a tree if:
The best time to remove trees in Perth is late summer or early autumn, when the ground is dry and access is easier. However, hazardous trees should be addressed immediately. If you’re unsure whether your tree is dying or diseased, check out our article on signs your tree needs professional care, which explains how to spot dead wood, unusual leaf colour and other warning signs.
Costs vary. On average, removal is around AU $1,400, with a range from $800 to $4,000 depending on size, species, access and hazards. Western Tree Surgeon offers free quotes after inspecting your tree.
Yes. Always check with your local council before cutting down a significant tree. Permits are commonly required for verge trees, large natives or trees in heritage areas.
Often, pruning is cheaper and preserves the tree. A certified arborist can advise whether pruning, lopping or removal is appropriate.
Pruning is selective removal of branches to improve health and safety. Lopping reduces size and must be done carefully to avoid damaging the tree.
Small trees can be removed within a few hours. Larger, complex removals may take a full day or longer, especially when cranes or helicopters are required.
Stump grinding is offered as part of Western Tree Surgeon’s service. Grinding removes the stump and surface roots so you can replant or landscape over the area.
Late summer and autumn are preferred, but hazardous trees should be addressed immediately. Discuss timing with your arborist.
Look for qualifications, insurance, experience and customer reviews. Ask for a detailed quote and safety plan. Western Tree Surgeon’s longstanding reputation and client list attest to their professionalism.
Yes. You may request that logs be cut into firewood and woodchips left for mulch. Discuss this during quoting to ensure it’s included.
Need tree removal? You need Western Tree Surgeon. We’re Perth’s first choice arborist team in tree removal and tree lopping services. Make the most of our 60+ years of experience in tree removal when you call up our professional arborists. Specialising in tree removal, we’re also fully equipped to handle stump grinding, stump removal, pruning, hedging, mulching, root management, risk assessment and more.
Give us a call to grab a quick, no-obligation and free quote, and lock in your tree removal with the team at Western Tree Surgeon today.
For any questions about our tree removal services, or any of other services, including Stump Grinding and Tree Lopping, please feel free to get in touch with our arborists. We offer our arbor services to many suburbs including Peppermint Grove, Cottesloe, Scarborough and Wanneroo.
I would like to thank you and your staff for the excellent service you provided Jenny and me today at our home in Wembley Downs. We were delighted with the friendliness shown by you and the boys and the technical skills they displayed in cutting, mulching and removal of trees at our home.
We at Tsokos Property have been using Western Tree Surgeon for approximately 18 months or more. In this time we have been tremendously impressed. Kieron and his boys are always prompt with attending to work orders. We have found them to be efficient with their workmanship and always clean up after themselves.
Western Tree Surgeon have provided exceptional service with respect to delivery of quotes in timely fashion, options for additional work whilst on site, undertaking work in a manner which assists coordinating with our clients/tenants and leaving the job clean and orderly.
AAA + 5 Star Rating” by a very Happy Customer. I have been using the services of the above for some years now. Mr Kieron Fiford the owner operates is very professional helpful and has a friendly all round great attitude. The whole team are very professional efficient, trustworthy and have great attitudes.
The Shire of Peppermint Grove has been using Western Tree Surgeon’s service for approximately the last 9 months. We are extremely happy with their professionalism, the service provided, punctuality and of cause the price that they offer.
“Western Tree Surgeon” provide an excellent service and consistently deliver top quality work for a fair price, and have always been very pleased with their services. it is not only punctuality (quoting and when working) and reliability, but good advice for managing trees in the longer term. The team is respectful of properties on which they are working and extremely pleasant.