So while it could take up to a week to remove a tree that's more than 75ft high (around 22m), it would be a lot quicker (and cheaper) if you're just looking for a tree surgeon to cut down a small tree that's 25ft high (around 8m).

What Impacts Tree Removal Prices?

There are several factors that could affect the overall cost of removing a tree.

Below is a list of all the main cost factors that impact the quotes that you'll receive from tree surgeons:

Size of the Tree

The size of the tree can play a big part in the amount that you can expect to pay for tree felling.

Larger trees will take much longer to work on than smaller trees, so you can expect larger trees to cost more. The longer the job takes, the more you will have to pay for labour.

Tree Stump Removal Costs

Stump grinding is the most common method of tree stump removal.

This involves using a machine to grind the stump down as much as possible. However, this doesn't remove the tree roots - which are left to decay over time. The cost of tree stump grinding is between £40-£350.

However, you might not need to remove the tree stump. Some homeowners opt to save on the additional costs this brings and keep them as garden features.

Ease of Access

The ease of access to the tree will also impact the price you're charged to have a tree removed.

If the tree is difficult to access, this may require extra work, and the job will likely take much longer to complete. With this in mind, trees that are more difficult to access will end up costing more overall to remove.

Difficulty of the Job

Every tree felling job is different, and some jobs are more difficult than others.

In some cases, you may also come across some obstacles - such as roots in difficult places or stubborn tree sections that are much harder to remove.

The more difficult the job is to complete, the longer it will take and, therefore, the more it will cost overall.

Location in the UK

Your property's location can often cause you to pay more or less for the cost of labour.

For instance, those based in London can expect to pay around £30-£80 more per day for a tree surgeon's time than those located in other parts of the UK.

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What's Involved in Felling a Tree?

Felling a tree can be extremely dangerous if you don't put in the appropriate planning work. Planning is extremely important for this type of work as you could risk having the tree fall directly onto you.

You should start by clearing the surrounding area so that you can easily run in any direction to avoid falling trees.

You don't want to leave any potential obstacles lying around near the bottom of the tree. You will also then need to identify the best way for the tree to fall.

Once you know which direction you want your tree to fall, you need to plan your escape routes. You should have more than one option available if the tree doesn't fall in the direction you wanted it to.

Before you begin felling the tree, you should thoroughly inspect the tree to ensure no loose branches may fall on you during the removal process.

Can I Fell a Tree Myself?

We would always recommend hiring professionals to complete tree removal work on your behalf.

You should only ever attempt to remove a tree yourself (as a DIY project) when you feel confident enough to do so - with the correct equipment and adequate safety gear.

If you are at all in doubt about your ability to do it safely, then it's best to leave it to the professional tree surgeon.

A professional tree surgeon will have all the tools, materials and skills needed to get rid of a tree quickly and safely. They'll also have the experience to know the kind of things that can go wrong - like branches falling off or the tree falling in the wrong way.

Building Regulations & Planning Permission for Tree Felling

Many trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPO).

This means that you will need to get approval from your local council before making any alterations to the tree, such as pruning or felling.

If you are unsure whether the tree you're looking to get removed is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or you're in a conservation area, then you should check with your local council (or other resources) for advice on tree-felling laws.

When getting quotes from tree surgeons, they will also be able to provide you with more information about whether a particular tree is protected.

Types of Trees

There are many different types of trees that are commonly found in UK gardens. Below is a list of the most common trees found in gardens in the UK with some information on how to identify them:

English Oak Tree Removal Cost

Oak trees are very common and can grow in a wide range of soil conditions, but they tend to prefer well-drained soils located in sunny locations. These trees tend to grow up to around 40m.

Their leaves are large and lobed with smooth edges, and the leaves will fall during the winter time. Oak trees feature acorns that can be easily identified.

The average cost of felling an English oak tree is between £2,500-£4,200.

Common Beech Tree Removal Cost

Beech trees can live up to 300 years and tend to be most common in southern and central parts of England.

These trees prefer dry, chalky soils for optimum growth. Similar to an oak tree, common beech trees tend to grow up to around 40m.

The leaves on this tree are oval in shape with wavy edges. This type of tree produces beech seeds which are encased within green, prickly cases, and the bark of this tree is thin and grey.

The average cost to remove a beech tree is around £3,000.

Ash Tree Removal Cost

Ash trees are a very common type of tree in the UK. These are usually found in very deep, well-drained soils located in sunny areas.

They usually grow up to around 35m and feature leaves that are made up of 3-6 pairs of serrated little leaves with one leaf at the end.

Ash trees lose their leaves during winter but can be identified in these months by their large, black buds.

The average price to remove an ash tree is around £2,000.

Horse Chestnut Tree Removal Cost

Horse chestnut trees can tolerate a huge range of soils but prefer rich, moist soils located in sunny areas.

They tend to grow up to around 40m and feature large, palmate leaves that have 5-7 serrated leaflets.

During the warmer months, horse chestnut trees feature clusters of white flowers, which later become conkers that are encased in green, spiky cases.

The average removal cost for horse chestnut tree is around £2000.

Sycamore Tree Removal Cost

Sycamore trees are fast-spreading trees that can grow in most types of soil and areas. These trees tend to grow up to around 35m, and feature palmate leaves on red stalks with five-toothed lobes.

The seeds on these trees can easily be identified as they are winged seeds, often known as 'helicopter' seeds. The bark on sycamore trees tends to be scaly in appearance.

Trees in gardens can cause a range of problems, especially large trees. They can prevent sunlight from entering the garden, which can prevent your other garden plants from growing adequately.

Trees can also become a problem when the roots get too large. Large roots can sometimes affect your home's foundations, which can end up being very dangerous.

The average cost to remove a sycamore tree is between £700-£3,000.

Hiring Contractors to Fell a Tree Checklist

You will need to consider a few things before hiring someone to fell a tree for you.

Below is a list of some of the main things that you should consider when looking for the right contractor for the job:

• What type of tree felling services does the contractor offer?

• How many years' worth of experience does the contractor have in tree removal?

• Is the contractor experienced in the type of tree removal work that you require?

• Will the contractor take care of any relevant waste removal?

• How much is the work to complete? Get a breakdown of tree removal costs so you can ensure you are paying a good price for each element of the job.

• Does the tree surgeon offer any guarantees with their work?

• How many contractors will carry out the job?

• Will the contractor fix any issues that may arise?

• Does the contractor provide any insurance if any parts of the job go wrong?

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