Reading a tree quote: what should be in it

How will the tree come down?

This line tells you a lot. A tree with open ground around it can sometimes come down in one piece. One over the house is usually taken apart in sections, with each piece lowered on ropes, or worked from an elevating work platform. A big tree in a tight spot may need a crane, which our large and crane removals page explains.

The method decides what needs protecting and how much space has to be kept clear. Safe Work Australia says an exclusion zone should be set up below or near a tree being worked on, so ask where cars, kids and pets need to be on the day.

The stump, the wood and the mulch

Gardening Australia describes two usual ways to deal with a stump: cut it to ground level and poison it, or grind it out for an even surface. If you want to plant, lay turf or pave over the spot, the quote should say grinding, and give a depth.

Depths vary by job. As one example, Mitchell Shire Council's standard for its own trees grinds each stump at least 30 cm below natural ground level and grubs out the surface roots. Safe Work Australia's guide says services should be checked before grinding goes deeper than 200mm, so the quote should also say who lodges the Before You Dig enquiry.

Some trees don't give up easily. Some eucalypts reshoot after being cut low, and Weeds Australia says tree-of-heaven has been reported suckering from its roots for at least 4 years after the tree is cut down, sometimes many metres away. A good quote mentions regrowth when it's likely.

For the wood and branches, look for whether they're chipped and left as mulch, cut into firewood, or taken away. Our stump grinding page and stump removal guide go further.

Access and protection

Ask how the crew will get in and what they'll put down first. Heavy logs and machines can mark lawn, crack paving, flatten garden beds and compact the soil over the roots of trees you're keeping.

If the work needs a neighbour's yard, the quote should say so. In NSW you need your neighbour's permission to go onto their land to prune, and in Victoria you need their consent before going onto their land for tree maintenance.

The permit, and who applies

A quote to remove or heavily prune a tree should deal with the council. Does the tree look protected? Who's lodging the application? Is an arborist report part of it? Some councils insist on one: the City of Onkaparinga in South Australia wants an arborist report before deciding on removing a tree in danger of falling, and Victoria's canopy tree clause needs an assessment by a suitably qualified person when health or stability is the reason.

Nobody should start until the approval is in writing. In NSW, even the imminent risk exemption only applies once the council confirms it in writing. Our tree permit pages cover each state.

Insurance, in writing

The quote should show the business name and ABN, and the arborist should happily send a certificate of currency for public liability. That cover matters more than people think, because a home policy may exclude damage to other people's property while someone you've hired is cutting trees, a common exclusion according to Financial Rights Legal Centre. Our guide to checking an arborist shows how to read the certificate.