How to find a Tree Surgeon
How to Find a Tree Surgeon
Tree surgery, arboriculture or professional tree work can seem daunting. Whether you need pruning, removal, stump grinding, or remedial work for damaged trees, choosing the right tree surgeon is crucial. Poor work can be dangerous, illegal (if the tree has protection) and poor quality work can potentially cost more in the long run. This article will help you understand:
How to find a reputable and qualified tree surgeon
What questions to ask before agreeing to the work
Typical cost ranges for tree work in the UK
How to avoid surprises or hidden fees
Finding a good Tree Surgeon
When looking for a tree surgeon, or as they are professionally called, an arborist, consider doing the following:
Check qualifications and membership of any professional bodies
Ask if they hold relevant qualifications in the UK; for example, workers should hold NPTC, Lantra certificates of competence.Insurance
Companies should have public liability insurance, and if they have employees, employers’ liability insurance. As a guide, at least £5 million public liability is often recommended.Experience, references & examples of past work
Ask for photos or examples of similar jobs. Ask them to explain the work they plan on your tree. Genuine arborists will be quite apparent from their knowledge and experience. Speak to previous customers if possible.Membership in trade or professional associations
Bodies like the (UK) Arboricultural Association can provide directories of contractors. This helps to verify that a business is legitimate and adheres to good practice.Local and legal compliance
Check if there are any Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or if your tree is in a conservation area. Work on protected trees may require council permission. If you proceed without checking, you could face a significant fine.
What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Tree Surgeon?
When you contact tree surgeons, here are key questions to ensure you're getting good value, safe work, and no nasty surprises:
| Question | What you should expect / why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is the quote written & itemised? | A good quote should detail exactly what work will be done (tree removal, pruning, crown reduction, dead wood removal, etc.), whether waste removal is included, and whether VAT is included. |
| What qualifications & training do you / your staff have? | Chainsaw use, climbing, safety procedures – these matter for both quality & insurance. Ask to see copies of staff qualifications before work commences. |
| Are you insured (public & employers’ liability)? How much? | Ensures that if something goes wrong (damage, injury), you're not liable. Ask to see a copy; you are totally entitled to do so as the landowner commissioning the work; it is your legal responsibility. |
| Do you adhere to British Standards (e.g. BS 3998)? | Ensures any work is carried out safely and properly to avoid unnecessary tree damage. |
| Can you provide references or show past work? | To judge the kind of quality you can expect. Many arborist contractors will now have information like this on their website, along with Google reviews. |
| Will you do a site visit before quoting? | Many tree surgeons need to see the tree, access, and any site constraints like power lines, roads, footpaths and greenhouses to give an accurate quote. Without a visit, the quoted cost may change, so don't get caught out accepting an online quote without a visit. |
| Do you include waste removal/chipping/stump removal? | These are often additional fees; being clear on what is included in the cost helps avoid hidden charges. In the UK, companies are also required to carry a waste handling licence. |
| What is the timeline & schedule? | When can they start? How long will it take? If it’s urgent (dangerous tree), what are the additional costs? Be aware that a good arboricultural company will normally be booked up several weeks in advance. |
| Are there legal permits required? If yes, who will handle them? | If your tree is protected, or work is in a conservation area, you will probably need permission. Some tree surgery companies can help process the paperwork correctly. |
What should you pay for tree surgery work?
Costs for tree surgery vary quite a lot, depending on tree size, type of work, complexity of the location, access, urgency, and whether extras like waste removal, T.P.O. permissions or specialist equipment or traffic management are needed.
Hourly/daily rates: Smaller jobs may be quoted by the hour; day rates for full teams will also differ depending on the size of the team and geographical location. London and the South East are usually higher.
Regional variation: Costs in major cities like London, Manchester, Edinburgh, etc or areas where labour/transport/insurance are more expensive, will tend to push rates higher.
Extra costs: Waste removal, chipping, permits / legal fees, difficult site access, traffic management, working near power lines and emergency call‑outs can change the price significantly.
How to Avoid Hidden Costs & Ensure Good Value
To make sure you aren’t caught out by unexpected charges or poor work:
Always ask for written, itemised quotes that include everything (labour, insurance, waste removal, site clearance, etc.).
Clarify whether VAT is included or extra.
Ask about access (how easy is it to get equipment in, is it tight, is there room for vehicles).
Confirm who does what: for example, do they remove wood chips, bark, debris, stumps, and clean up once they’re done?
Check for permits or permissions needed and who arranges them.
Agree on payment terms: deposit, final payment, and what constitutes a ‘done’ job.
Get more than one quote (3 is often good), so you can compare not just price but what's included, turnaround times and professionalism.
Read reviews or ask neighbours if they’ve used someone locally.
Example of Tree Surgery Cost Scenarios in the U.K
To help you estimate what you might pay based on different sizes/complexity. Arborists are not glorified gardeners; they require expensive and complex training to safely and knowledgeably carry out the work they do. The equipment and protective equipment they use can run to tens of thousands of pounds. This is what you consider when reviewing their rates.
Here are a few hypothetical scenarios:
| Scenario | What Work is Needed | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Small back garden: 1 small tree (≤ 25 ft), straightforward access, pruning and removal of dead limbs, no stump removal. | Pruning + tidy up + take away debris. | ≈ £200–£500 |
| Medium tree (≈ 30‑50 ft), moderate pruning/crown reduction, some branches near buildings, moderate access difficulties. | Pruning, partial removal, and debris removal, where a TPO permit is needed. | ≈ £700–£1,500 |
| Large/high-risk tree (50+ ft), hard access, near utility lines or buildings, full removal + stump grinding + disposing of large volume of debris. | Full felling, cutting sections, safety harnesses, possibly crane/cherry picker, stump grinding. | £3,000–£6,000+, depending on size, height, and logistics. |
When is the best time for tree work?
This will vary depending on what tree work you require. Here is a guide to common tree surgery work:
Tree Surgery or Pruning, unless necessary due to an emergency, Tree Surgery is generally better carried out when the tree is dormant. Some variations on this theme do exist for certain trees. Search the internet for advice on your specific tree.
Felling of a tree can be carried out at any time of year, and to get the best price, get this done in the summer or spring when arborists are not busy carrying out autumn pruning work. However, if necessary for safety reasons, this may not always be possible.
- Regular Tree Inspections, especially with larger trees, are often a requirement of home insurance companies. Summer and Autumn can be a good time to commission this work. Canopy stress or dieback will be easier to see when the tree is in leaf, and fungal fruiting bodies will often be more evident in the autumn. However, if you have any concerns about your tree's health, photograph the issue and contact an arboricultural consultant for advice.
- Hedges also fall under tree surgery work, and most will benefit from trimming, with some species like leylandii benefitting from several trims a year to keep them under control. Unlike farm hedges, domestic hedges can be cut at any time of the year; however, care has to be taken to inspect the hedge for nesting birds with eggs or young. It is a legal requirement to avoid the nest area until the young have fledged.
- Stump Removal can generally be carried out at any time of the year. Some tree roots will need treating to prevent regrowth before stump grinding is carried out. Be aware that stump grinding machines are heavy and can damage lawns in wet or winter conditions. So to avoid this, maybe book this work for dryer periods or discuss any potential repair work or access tracking as part of the price.
- Wildlife can be an issue, especially in summer, when arborists have a legal duty to avoid nesting birds. So this may need to be considered before commissioning work.
- Tree planting is recommended when the trees are dormant; however, if a sustained establishment care and watering package can be agreed upon, then this opens up the options to plant at any time of the year.
Can I do the Tree Surgery Myself?
Commissioning tree work often leaves you with less in your garden than you had before; however, the safe and professional execution of this work shouldn't be underestimated. Every year, property is damaged and owners are seriously injured or killed attempting to do this work themselves. UK Health and Safety Law states that we all have a duty of care to ourselves, so we wouldn't recommend attempting your own tree work just to try and save a little money; it could cost you your life.
Conclusion
When trying to find a good tree surgeon, you shouldn't be looking at the lowest price. Make sure they are qualified, insured, and offer you a clear, written itemised quote before you commission any work.
Use our guide to ask the right questions up front so you know what to expect. Understanding typical U.K. cost ranges helps you judge whether a quote is fair or overpriced. And always check legal / permit issues, especially with protected trees or conservation areas.