Tree Surgeons in the UK
A tree too close to the house, a crown that needs lifting, a stump in the way or a storm-damaged branch: find a qualified local tree surgeon, then get a quote directly.
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Finding a tree surgeon in the UK
Tree work is dangerous, skilled and regulated in ways most people do not expect, which is why it is one trade where the cheapest quote is a genuine risk. A tree surgeon, or arborist, climbs or uses a platform to prune, reduce or dismantle trees safely, understands how a tree will respond to cutting, and knows which trees can be touched at all: many are protected by a Tree Preservation Order or by being in a conservation area, and cutting one without the council's consent is a criminal offence with a fine that can run to £20,000.
Most domestic jobs are pruning rather than felling: lifting a crown so you can walk under it, reducing a tree that has grown too big for the garden, thinning to let light through, removing dead or dangerous limbs, and cutting back from the house, the roof and the phone line. Felling is for trees that are dead, dangerous or in the wrong place, and it is usually done by dismantling in sections rather than dropping the whole thing. Stump grinding afterwards is a separate job with its own machine.
Look for a tree surgeon with NPTC or Lantra certificates in chainsaw and climbing work, public liability insurance of at least £5 million, and, ideally, Arboricultural Association approved contractor status, which means the business has been inspected. A good tree surgeon will check for protection orders before quoting and will not fell a healthy tree because it is easier than pruning it. The listings here show each tree surgeon's reviews, opening hours and contact details, so you can compare who covers your area and who local people trust with their trees.
What tree surgeons do
Pruning: crown lifting, crown reduction, crown thinning, pollarding, deadwooding, formative pruning of young trees, and cutting back from buildings, roads and wires.
Felling and dismantling: removing dead, diseased, dangerous or unwanted trees, usually in sections with rigging in a confined garden, and clearing the timber and brash.
Stumps: stump grinding below ground level so the area can be turfed or planted, and treatment of stumps that would otherwise regrow.
Hedges: reducing and reshaping overgrown hedges, laurel and leylandii height reduction, and removing hedges entirely.
Advice and surveys: tree condition and safety inspections, applications to the council for work on protected trees, planting advice, and emergency call-outs for storm damage.
Before you book a tree surgeon
- Ask to see their NPTC or Lantra qualifications and their public liability insurance certificate; £5 million cover is standard.
- Ask whether the tree is protected by a TPO or in a conservation area; a good tree surgeon checks with the council before quoting.
- Get a written quote that describes the work in arboricultural terms (crown reduce by 30 per cent, lift to 3 metres) and says whether timber and brash removal is included.
- Check for Arboricultural Association approved contractor status or membership, and read recent reviews with photos.
- Ask how they will protect the garden, the lawn and neighbouring property, and whether they use a platform or climb.
- For neighbours' trees overhanging your garden, you may cut back to the boundary yourself, but ask the tree surgeon about protection orders first and offer the cuttings back.
What tree surgeons charge in the UK
As a rough guide, a tree surgeon's day rate for a team of two or three runs from about £500 to £900 including equipment and waste removal. Pruning or reducing a medium garden tree typically costs somewhere between £300 and £800; felling and removing a medium tree £500 to £1,500, and a large tree close to buildings considerably more because of the rigging and time. Stump grinding is usually £80 to £250 depending on the size. Hedge reductions are priced by length and height.
Access, the size and condition of the tree, how close it is to buildings and whether the waste is removed all move the price, so get two or three written quotes for the same described work. A quote well below the others usually means uninsured or unqualified.
How much does a tree surgeon cost?+
Pruning or reducing a medium garden tree typically costs £300 to £800; felling and removing one £500 to £1,500, with large trees near buildings more; stump grinding £80 to £250. A team's day rate is roughly £500 to £900. Get written quotes that describe the work precisely and say whether the waste is removed.
Do I need permission to cut down a tree in my garden?+
Often, yes. If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order, or your house is in a conservation area, you must apply to the council before pruning or felling, and unauthorised work is a criminal offence. Some trees also need a felling licence from the Forestry Commission above a certain volume. Your council's planning department or website can tell you whether a tree is protected; a good tree surgeon will check for you.
How do I check a tree surgeon is qualified?+
Ask to see NPTC or Lantra certificates for chainsaw use, climbing and aerial rescue, and a public liability insurance certificate for at least £5 million. Arboricultural Association approved contractors have been independently inspected and are listed on the association's website. Anyone who cannot show these should not be up a tree in your garden.
Can I ask a tree surgeon to just cut the top off a tree?+
You can ask, but a good one will explain why topping is bad practice: it leaves large wounds, encourages weak regrowth and can kill the tree. A crown reduction, which shortens branches back to suitable growth points while keeping the tree's shape, achieves a smaller tree properly. If a tree is genuinely too big for the space, removal and replanting something suitable is often the honest answer.
When is the best time to prune trees?+
It depends on the species. Most deciduous trees are best pruned in late winter while dormant; cherries, plums and other prunus in summer to avoid silver leaf disease; birch and walnut in late summer to avoid bleeding sap. Nesting birds are protected, so major work between March and August needs a check for active nests first. A tree surgeon will advise on timing for your tree.
Can a tree surgeon remove a stump?+
Yes, with a stump grinder that chews the stump into chips well below ground level, so you can turf, plant or pave over the area; it takes an hour or two for a medium stump and costs £80 to £250. Chemical stump killers are slower and less reliable. Tell the tree surgeon if there are services nearby, as the grinder goes deep.
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