What does it cost to have a tree felled or removed?

One of the first questions I get is: what does it cost to have a tree removed? The honest answer is “it depends”, but that obviously doesn’t get you very far. So for each job I lay out what sets the price: felling or removing a tree, getting the stump out and pruning trees.

What determines the price

• The height and thickness of the tree. A young tree is gone in half an hour. A fully grown ten-metre tree is half a day’s work.
• The spot. Is the tree standing free in the open, or wedged in between a fence, a shed and the neighbours? The tighter the space, the more care and time it takes.
• Access for machinery. Can I get to the tree with equipment, or does everything have to be done by hand and carried out through the house?
• Stump grinding or not. Having the stump ground out is often the smart move, but it is extra work.
• Removal. Carting off or chipping the trunk and branches is standard with me, but the amount of wood counts too.

What does felling or removing a tree cost?

When a tree is felled, it comes down and the stump stays. When it is removed completely, the stump comes out as well. People use the words interchangeably, so when you get a price, always ask whether the stump is included. For the price that is the biggest difference: taking the stump out is extra work on top of the felling.

What else counts:

• In one go or in sections. A tree standing on its own can sometimes come down in one go. If it stands tight against a fence, wall or shed, I take it down in sections: the branches first, then the trunk in pieces. That takes more time.
• The wood. I haul away the trunk and branches or chip them on the spot. A big tree means more wood and so more work.
• The number of trees. If more trees have to go, I do them in one job, with the stumps as well if you like.

What does removing a tree stump cost?

I grind a stump out to below ground level. What sets the price:

• The thickness of the stump. The thicker the stump and roots, the longer the grinding takes.
• The number of stumps. If there are more stumps in the garden, I grind them out in the same job.
• The spot. I also grind out a stump in a back garden that is hard to reach, but the harder the spot, the more time it takes.
• The grindings. I clear them away or leave them as fill, whatever you prefer.

If the stump is part of the same job as the tree, everything is sorted in one go. Digging it out is possible too, but it is more work than grinding. In stump grinding or digging out I set out the differences side by side.

Karima had three tree stumps removed through Werkspot and wrote afterwards (in Dutch):

“Top werk geleverd! Snelle reactie op mijn vraag en snel de klus uitgevoerd. Eerlijke prijs en duidelijke communicatie. Denys is een absolute aanrader!”

Translated from Dutch: Great work! Quick response to my question and the job was done quickly. Fair price and clear communication. Denys comes highly recommended!

What does pruning trees cost?

Not every tree has to go. With pruning, mostly the same things set the price: how tall the tree is, how easy it is to reach and how much wood comes off and has to be hauled away. Not sure whether a tree has to go or pruning is enough? Send a photo and I will take a look. Note: with a protected tree, heavy pruning counts as felling for the municipality.

Geoffrey Coenen from Vlijmen had two trees pruned and wrote on Werkspot (in Dutch):

“Snel en alles netjes achtergelaten. Prijs was ook scherp. Top”

Translated from Dutch: Quick and everything left tidy. The price was sharp too. Top.

First check: do you need a permit?

If your tree is on the Bomenkaart (tree map) of the municipality of ’s-Hertogenbosch, or in a green structure or character area above a certain trunk girth, you need an environmental permit to fell it. Felling without a permit when one was required can land you a hefty fine. How it works exactly is in do you need a felling permit in Den Bosch. I’m happy to think it through with you beforehand.

A ballpark price in a minute

The fastest way to a ballpark price: send me a photo of the tree on WhatsApp. Add roughly how tall it is, whether the stump has to go too and whether I can get to the tree with equipment. Then I’ll give you a quick estimate. For a bigger job I first come and look for free, and then give you the exact price.