Tree Felling & Removal
Safe, controlled felling of any tree — from a 5-metre garden specimen to a 25-metre blue gum overhanging your house.
About our tree felling & removal service
Tree felling in Gauteng is rarely just 'cut and drop'. Walls, pools, overhead Eskom lines, neighbours' roofs and tight side passages mean almost every job is a rigging job. Columbus Tree Felling uses sectional dismantling — a climber takes the tree down in calculated pieces, lowered on ropes — so nothing damages property.
We've felled everything from rotten plane trees in Parktown to wind-loaded blue gums on Kempton Park boundary walls. Every job gets a written, fixed-price quote after a free site visit — no sight-unseen pricing.
When you need this service
- Tree leaning toward house, wall or driveway
- Dead crown, hollow trunk or visible fungal brackets
- Roots lifting paving, pool decks or foundations
- Storm-damaged trees with hanging limbs
- Invasive species (blue gum, syringa, black wattle) on your boundary
- Subdivisions or new builds requiring site clearance
How we approach every job
- 1
Risk assessment
We check lean, dead wood, decay pockets, target zones and Eskom clearances before any climb.
- 2
Top down or whole-stem drop
Open ground: notch-and-back-cut into a chosen drop zone. Tight ground: climbed and rigged in sections.
- 3
Chipper and load-out
Branches into the chipper, logs into the truck, site swept clean.
- 4
Optional stump grind
Grind 200–400 mm below grade and back-fill chips, or leave to rot naturally.
Tree Felling prices in Gauteng (2025/2026)
Indicative ranges across Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Pretoria and the wider Gauteng service area. Every quote is written, free and given after an on-site visit.
| Service | Size / scope | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Tree felling — small | Up to 5 m, clear access | R1,600 – R2,500 |
| Tree felling — medium | 5–8 m, near fencing or paving | R2,500 – R4,000 |
| Tree felling — medium-large | 8–12 m, near walls or structures | R4,000 – R7,000 |
| Tree felling — large | 12–18 m, specialist rigging | R7,000 – R12,000 |
| Tree felling — hazardous/very large | 18 m+, near power lines or buildings | R12,000 – R15,000+ |
7 factors that determine tree felling cost
Tree height & size
The single biggest cost driver. Taller, wider trees need more time, labour and specialist rigging gear.
Proximity to structures
Trees over roofs, pools, walls and boundary fencing must be lowered in sections — no straight drop possible.
Power lines (Eskom / City Power)
Live-line proximity requires temporary disconnect coordination and trained crew. We handle the call to Eskom.
Tree species
Bluegum and pine cut fast. Date palms with thorns, ironwood and oak slow the crew down — priced accordingly.
Site access
Will the chipper truck and boom truck fit? Tight side passages, narrow estate gates and long carry-out distances all add time.
Wood & debris removal
Hardwood logs left for firewood vs full removal. Most quotes include chipping and disposal — never landfilled.
Stump treatment
Grind out (separate machine) or leave to rot. Lawn-level grind is cheaper than below-paving grind.
Tree Felling & Removal across Gauteng
We cover the East Rand, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Hartbeespoort. Pick your suburb for local pricing context and a faster callout.
Tree Felling & Removal — common questions
Can you fell a tree near my pool?
Yes — we rig from the trunk and lower every piece. We've done dozens of poolside removals with no tile damage.
Will Eskom need to be involved?
If the tree is touching live lines, yes — we coordinate the temporary disconnect at no extra admin charge.
How long does it take?
A standard garden tree: 2–4 hours. A large gum near power lines and walls: a full day. We confirm timing in the quote.