Perth Tree Work Questions, Answered

Costs and quotes

What does the price of tree work depend on?

Access and what sits under the tree usually matter more than height. A tree in an open lawn can often be felled or dropped in big pieces. The same tree over a roof or pool has to be climbed and lowered in sections on ropes. Trunk size, timber density, power lines, whether the stump is ground, and whether all the wood leaves the block also move the number. The tree removal cost guide has our 2026 planning ranges for removals, pruning, stumps and palms, but every job is priced after an on-site look.

Is there an hourly rate?

Most tree work in Perth is quoted as a fixed price for the job rather than by the hour, because an hourly rate tells you little until you know how long it will take. Some contractors price multiple stumps or long clean-ups by time. Either way, get the total in writing before work starts.

Why is a quote so much lower than the others?

Usually because something is missing. The most common gaps are clean-up, stump grinding, and a method that will not work on your block, such as felling a tree that should be sectioned. Compare quotes line by line, not just by the total.

Do I need an arborist report?

For ordinary pruning or removal, usually not. A written report from a consulting arborist is more often needed for a development application, a tree that needs council approval, or a dispute with a neighbour. It is a separate service with its own fee.

Council rules and neighbours

Which councils require approval to remove a tree?

It varies, and several councils are reviewing their rules. The City of Cockburn has required development approval since 28 May 2026 to remove or significantly lop most mature trees over 8 metres on private land, with exemptions for routine pruning and hazardous trees. The City of Melville does not currently regulate trees on private land, but a draft policy on regulated trees is out for consultation, with submissions closing 31 October 2026. Rockingham requires approval to remove native trees on some rural and special residential zones. Heritage places and trees on a significant tree register can need approval in any council. Read can I cut down a tree in Perth and check with your council.

Can I prune the street tree outside my house?

Generally, no. Verge trees belong to the council. Joondalup, Wanneroo, Cockburn, Cottesloe and Melville do not allow residents to prune or remove them without authorisation, and Kalamunda only allows residents to cut limbs overhanging their own boundary. Contact the council if a verge tree is causing a problem.

What about clearing native bush on a bigger block?

Under WA's Environmental Protection Act 1986, you need a permit to clear native vegetation unless an exemption applies, and some exemptions do not apply in environmentally sensitive areas. This matters most on rural and semi-rural blocks. Check before any clearing starts.

My neighbour's tree hangs over my yard. What can I do?

Unless the tree is protected, you can usually cut overhanging branches back to the boundary, but not beyond it, and you must not poison the tree or go onto their land without agreement. The cut material belongs to the tree's owner. WA has no dedicated trees-dispute tribunal or Act, so disputes are civil matters, and mediation is the usual first step. Our guide to neighbour tree disputes in WA covers roots, fences and costs.

Does the Dividing Fences Act cover trees?

Not generally. It does not cover leaves, roots, overhanging branches or trees pushing on a fence. The exception is a fence damaged or destroyed by a falling tree through the neighbour's neglect, where the neighbour may be liable for the repair.

Power lines

Who is responsible for trees near the power line to my house?

The resident. Western Power says keeping trees on private property clear of lines is the resident's job, even for tenants. Planted verge trees are the council's responsibility.

What is a Western Power vegetation notice?

Western Power inspects its network and sends a notice when trees are too close to lines. For the service wire from the pole to your house, a notice is issued when vegetation is within 30 cm. Western Power does not cut around service wires, and the occupant has 40 days to have someone suitably qualified clear it.

Can any tree lopper cut near power lines?

No. Anyone paid to do vegetation work that may come within the danger zone around live lines must follow the EnergySafety code of practice for that work, which requires specific training and experience. Tell the arborist about any wires when you ask for a quote. If a tree or branch is on a line, stay at least 8 metres away and call Western Power on 13 13 51.

Shot-hole borer

Is my suburb affected?

The whole Perth metropolitan area is a quarantine area for the polyphagous shot-hole borer. It is split into a Management Zone, the inner area of known infestation, and a Containment Zone on the outer edge. Check your address on DPIRD's zone map rather than relying on a suburb list.

What are the signs?

Tiny round entry holes in the bark, often with gumming, staining or sawdust-like frass, followed by wilting and dieback of branches. If you suspect it, report it through the MyPestGuide Reporter app, call DPIRD's Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080, or email padis@dpird.wa.gov.au. DPIRD asks for photos with a pen or ruler in shot to show the hole size.

Who pays to remove an infested tree?

Landowners are now responsible for managing borer-affected trees on their own land. Since 1 July 2025 the state response has moved from eradication to a transition-to-management phase. Our shot-hole borer guide explains what that means for pruning, removal and green waste.

Can green waste leave my block?

Within the Management Zone, wood can move around, but it cannot leave the zone unless chipped to 2.5 cm or less, and plant material over 2 cm in diameter cannot leave it either. Green waste going to an exempt facility has to travel in a fully sealed and covered skip, trailer or truck.

The job day

How long will the crew be here?

A small tree in an open yard can be done in an hour or two. A large gum near the house, taken down in sections, is often a full day. The arborist will give you an idea of timing with the quote.

What happens to the branches?

They are chipped on site as they come down. Logs are cut and removed, or left as firewood if you ask. You can keep the mulch for garden beds.

Should I ask to see a certificate?

Yes. We ask the arborists and contractors we work with to hold the public liability cover the job needs. Ask to see the certificate before work starts. If an elevated work platform with a boom of 11 metres or more is being used, the operator needs a high risk work licence, and it is reasonable to ask about that too.

Stumps

What is the difference between grinding and removal?

Grinding chews the stump down below ground level, typically around 200 to 300 mm, so you can turf, mulch or plant over it. Full removal digs out the stump and main roots, which is needed for a slab, a pool or paving. Grinding is quicker and cheaper for most backyards.

Will the stump grow back?

Some species reshoot from the stump or roots after removal. Grinding usually stops it, though a few vigorous species can still send up suckers that need to be cut off as they appear.

What about the hole?

The grindings can be raked back into the hole or taken away. If you plan to replant in the same spot, ask for the grindings to be removed and replaced with soil.

Palms

Can a palm be cleaned instead of removed?

Yes. Removing dead fronds and seed stalks tidies the palm, cuts down on mess and removes a heavy load before it drops. It is a common job on Washingtonia and date palms.

Are Washingtonia palms native?

No. Washingtonia filifera is recorded on the Swan Coastal Plain as a naturalised garden escape. It spreads by seed, including through contaminated mulch, so seed stalks are worth removing before they fall.

Do palm stumps need grinding?

A palm stump is fibrous rather than woody and is ground or dug out the same way as a tree stump. It is usually priced as a stump on the same quote.

The referral model

Who does the tree work?

Independent local arborists and tree contractors. We are a referral service: we take your enquiry and connect you with a local operator, who inspects, quotes, does the job and is responsible for it.

Is there a licence for arborists in WA?

There is no specific arborist licence in WA. Operators need the right tickets for particular tasks, such as a high risk work licence for larger boom lifts and compliance with the EnergySafety code near power lines. Training such as a Certificate III in Arboriculture is common, so ask about experience with the kind of job you have.

Do I pay you or the contractor?

You pay the contractor who does the work, according to their written quote. The how it works page covers each step from enquiry to clean-up.

Tree care

Why do gum trees drop limbs?

Eucalypts are known for shedding limbs, including on hot, still days with no wind at all, and the branch that falls often looked healthy. That is why large gums over roofs, driveways and play areas are worth regular deadwooding and an occasional check by an arborist. Removal is usually a last resort for a sound tree; a reduction or careful thinning can often manage the risk.

Are tuart trees protected?

The tuart woodlands and forests of the Swan Coastal Plain are listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the federal EPBC Act. Individual tuarts on private land may also fall under council rules, a significant tree register or native vegetation clearing laws. Check with your council before removing one, and consider whether pruning will solve the problem first.

What native tree problems should I watch for?

Phytophthora dieback affects more than 40 per cent of south-west native plant species, including many eucalypts, and jarrah is moderately susceptible. It spreads mainly in soil moved on shoes, vehicles and equipment, so clean gear matters. Marri can suffer marri canker, caused by a native fungus, which forms target-like cankers that may ring-bark the tree. Sudden dieback, gumming or bark lesions are worth getting looked at.

How should I water trees in a Perth summer?

Deeply and less often. A long, slow soak out towards the edge of the canopy, where the feeder roots are, does far more than a light daily sprinkle that only wets the surface of our sandy soils. Newly planted trees need water every few days until they establish; established trees need much less. Water early in the morning, and check the Water Corporation's current watering days and restrictions.

Does mulch help?

Yes. A layer of coarse mulch over the root zone, kept clear of the trunk, cuts evaporation, keeps roots cooler and slowly improves poor sandy soil. It is one of the best uses for the chip from your own tree job.

Which trees suit Perth gardens?

Local natives adapted to sandy soils and dry summers, such as smaller eucalypts, banksias and WA peppermint, handle our conditions well once established. Coastal peppermint is also an important food and shelter tree for the threatened western ringtail possum. Whatever you plant, think about the tree's full-grown size against the house, the service wire and the neighbours.

Is it worth keeping a big tree?

Often, yes. A healthy mature tree shades the house through summer, cools the garden, holds sandy soil together and gives birds somewhere to feed and nest. Pruning and regular checks keep most trees safe. Removal is best kept for trees that are dead, dangerous or genuinely in the wrong place.