Tell us the job

Trees we get asked about

Roots, size, limb drop and protection, one tree at a time.

The kind of tree you have changes almost everything about the job, from how far its roots travel to whether the council protects it by name.

Gloved hands lifting a cut log round onto a stack of rounds
Looking straight up into the twisting crowns of old trees against a blue sky

Why does the species matter?

Roots. Some trees are known for what happens underground. The Australian Native Plants Society says a Moreton Bay fig's roots can damage pavements and house foundations, and running bamboo can send rhizomes (underground stems) several metres under a fence. Gums are the opposite problem: the City of Sydney says many eucalypts don't tolerate having their roots disturbed.

Size. A lilly pilly hedge and a big native fig are different jobs entirely. How tall and wide the tree gets decides whether it's a weekend with secateurs or a crew with ropes and a chipper.

Limb drop. Eucalypts are known to drop limbs after hot weather or in high winds, the ABC reported. Financial Rights Legal Centre adds that if a tree is a species known to drop branches, you may be liable if it causes damage.

Protection. Councils often protect by species. Brisbane's local law lists figs, mangoes, jacarandas and several native pines and gums by trunk size, and Orange City Council protects some box and red gum eucalypts whatever their size. A weed or pest listing doesn't settle it either: Brisbane City Council says protected pest plant trees still need its permission.

Not sure what it is?

Get the name right before anything is cut. Blacktown Council notes it isn't a defence that a qualified person identified a tree's species wrongly, and permit forms such as Banyule's ask for the species. Photos of the leaves, bark, flowers or fruit, plus one of the whole tree, help an arborist name it.

Species isn't always the test, though. In the City of Parramatta, permission may be needed for any tree or palm 5 metres or taller, whatever it is. Our tree removal permits page lists the councils we cover.

Palms have a page of their own: palm tree removal and cleaning. For everything else, find your tree below.

Trees we get asked about

Fig trees: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristMoreton Bay, Port Jackson and edible figs: size, roots, winter pruning and the councils that list big figs.Olive trees: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristYearly olive pruning, African olive versus garden olive, and why a weed listing still means asking the council.Bamboo: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristRunning versus clumping bamboo, how rhizomes travel, barriers, digging it out, and the weed and neighbour rules.Mango trees: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristWhen to prune a mango, keeping it at picking height, storm toughness and Brisbane's rule for big mango trees.Gum trees (eucalypts): pruning, roots and when to call an arboristGum tree size, what's known about limb drop, roots, termites and the council rules that single out eucalypts.Lilly pillies: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristLilly pilly sizes by type, hedge trimming, psyllid bumps, myrtle rust, pipes and the NSW high hedge rules.Bottlebrush: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristWhen and where to cut a bottlebrush, weeping forms, reviving a tired shrub, and when it's a tree job.Pine trees: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristRadiata, slash, maritime and Norfolk Island pines: size, weak forks, weed listings and the councils that protect them.Ficus trees: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristWeeping figs, Hills figs and rubber plants: roots, hedges, cyclone risk and the council rules on cutting roots.Oak trees: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristEnglish, holm and pin oaks: size, termites, the registers that list oaks, and what you can prune yourself.Jacarandas: pruning, roots and when to call an arboristJacaranda size, why lopping backfires, Brisbane's pest listing and size rule, and flowers over the fence.

More on trees we get asked about

Do I need a permit to remove a tree?Do you need a permit to remove a tree? Why the rules differ by state and council, and how to check yours.Tree roots near your house, pipes and pathsWhat roots can do to paths and foundations, why cutting big roots is risky, barriers and a neighbour's roots.Significant, protected and regulated treesRegisters, heritage listings, overlays and size tests, and how to check whether your tree is protected.Palm tree removal and cleaningPalm cleans, seed pods and removals, cocos palms, and which councils protect palms.Tree pruning and trimmingPruning to AS 4373: crown lifting, thinning, reduction, deadwood, branches over the roof and council rules.

Where this information comes from

Tree rules change, so check with your council before anything is cut. How we write and check these pages.