Tree Removal Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills is one of Melbourne’s most beautifully treed inner-eastern suburbs — from the mature Pin Oaks and Plane trees lining its wide residential streets through to the established gardens surrounding Surrey Gardens and South Surrey Park. With heritage-era homes on well-maintained blocks, significant canopy cover and Boroondara’s tree protection regulations in place, tree management in Surrey Hills requires an arborist who understands both the local environment and the regulatory landscape.

Melbourne Tree Company services the entirety of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, including Surrey Hills. With over 18 years of experience, a crew of qualified arborists and a fleet of modern machinery, our team is well-resourced to handle everything from a single tree removal in a tight backyard to complex jobs on heritage properties with restricted access.

Our work procedures are safe, efficient and comply with Australian Standards and our industry guidelines. We’re fully insured and site-ready with Working with Children and White Card accreditations in check. Our team members are friendly, professional and committed to delivering a top-notch job, every single time.

We focus on providing a positive customer experience from start to finish with customer service that’s friendly, attentive and streamlined.

Searching for tree removal in Surrey Hills? Contact Melbourne Tree Company today on 1300 192 599 for a free onsite consultation and quote.

Why Surrey Hills Properties Need Specialist Tree Care

Surrey Hills is unlike many Melbourne suburbs when it comes to tree management. The combination of established residential blocks, mature canopy trees, heritage overlays and strict council tree protection means that working with trees here requires local knowledge and careful planning.

Established blocks with mature canopy trees — Surrey Hills properties are known for their leafy character, with many blocks featuring large deciduous and evergreen trees that have been growing for decades. These mature trees provide shade, character and privacy but can also present hazards as they age, drop limbs or encroach on structures, power lines and neighbouring properties.

Heritage character and streetscape protection — Much of Surrey Hills falls within heritage overlay areas where the leafy streetscape is a protected feature. This means tree works need to consider the broader visual impact on the neighbourhood, and council may have additional requirements for trees that contribute to the heritage character of the area.

Boroondara Council tree protection regulations — The City of Boroondara has comprehensive tree protection rules that may require a permit before you can remove, lop or significantly prune trees on your property. Properties within Vegetation Protection Overlays (VPO), Significant Landscape Overlays (SLO) or Environmental Significance Overlays (ESO) have additional requirements. Our team can advise you on whether a permit is likely to be needed and help you navigate the process.

Proximity to established parkland — Surrey Hills borders several significant green spaces including Surrey Gardens, South Surrey Park and nearby Wattle Park. Trees near these areas may have additional ecological value and council may take a closer interest in proposed tree works.

Our Surrey Hills Tree Services

Melbourne Tree Company offers a comprehensive range of tree services for Surrey Hills residents and businesses:

Tree Removal

• Tree removal and felling (residential and commercial)
• Hazardous and dead tree removal
• Make Safe tree removal
• Large tree removal in tight residential spaces
• Block clearing for construction and renovations

Tree Pruning and Maintenance

• Tree pruning, shaping and crown thinning
• Deadwooding and weight reduction
• Tree cabling and bracing for compromised structures
• Ongoing tree maintenance programs

Stump Grinding and Additional Services

• Stump grinding and removal
• Fence line tree clearing
• Possum guarding
• Arboricultural consulting and reports

Our tree services can be packaged as a combined one-off service or ongoing maintenance tailored to your property and individual requirements.

Reasons for Tree Removal in Surrey Hills

Tree maintenance and removal are critical components of property upkeep, particularly in Surrey Hills where mature trees are a defining feature of the suburb. We always try to preserve trees where possible; however, sometimes removal is the best course of action. Common reasons include:

• Severe weather damage (fallen limbs or compromised structural integrity)
• Requested by Boroondara City Council, authority or utility provider
• Aesthetics (appearance, smell or leaf fall issues)
• Natural light management (shade or sun blockage affecting your home or garden)
• Risk management (falling branches, deadwood posing a hazard)
• Branch or root interference (to building foundations, driveways, fences or underground utilities)
• Construction or renovations (new fence, home extension, landscaping, pool installation)
• Tree is dead, rotting or diseased
• Trees on a hazardous lean or near power lines
• Powerline vegetation clearance

Need an expert eye? Get our experienced team onsite for a tree assessment to check for potential hazards and so you know the best approach to manage the safety and health of your trees.

All Types of Tree Removal in Surrey Hills

Melbourne Tree Company is resourced and equipped to handle trees of all sizes, whatever your property shape, and we’re masters of confined spaces — which is particularly important in Surrey Hills where rear access can be limited on established residential blocks.

• Large trees (including the towering Pin Oaks and Plane trees common throughout the suburb)
• Old trees in heritage or sensitive locations
• Young and fast-growing invasive trees
• Dead trees and hazardous leaners
• Trees with protruding roots affecting driveways, paths and foundations
• Trees in close proximity to building foundations, pools and retaining walls

Common trees we work with in Surrey Hills include Pin Oak, London Plane, English Elm, Liquidambar, Jacaranda, Silver Birch, Lilly Pilly, Eucalyptus, Desert Ash, Magnolia, Camellia, Crepe Myrtle, Ornamental Pear, Cypress, Cedar, Maple, Ash, Privet, Photinia, fruit trees of all varieties and various native species.

Permits and Regulations for Tree Removal in Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills falls within the City of Boroondara, which has comprehensive tree protection regulations that may require a permit before vegetation can be removed, lopped or destroyed.

Key regulations affecting Surrey Hills properties:

Boroondara Tree Protection Local Law (2024) — Boroondara Council’s local law protects significant trees on both public and private land. Trees that are identified as significant due to their size, age, rarity, ecological value or cultural importance receive a higher level of protection and a permit is required before any works can be carried out.

Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) and Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO) — Some properties in Surrey Hills and surrounding Boroondara suburbs are covered by planning overlays that require a planning permit for tree removal. These overlays are more common near the Yarra River corridor and in areas identified as having significant vegetation.

Clause 52.37 — Canopy Tree Protection — Under Victoria’s planning framework, developments are now required to demonstrate canopy tree retention and protection. This may affect properties undergoing renovations or new builds in Surrey Hills.

What you should do:

• Check the VicPlan interactive planning map to see which overlays apply to your specific property
• Contact the City of Boroondara on (03) 9278 4888 or email trees@boroondara.vic.gov.au for advice on whether a permit is required
• If a permit or arborist report is required, our team can assist with the process

Our knowledgeable team is here to support you and provide advice; however, it is the responsibility of the property owner to obtain any necessary permits for tree removal. We work in accordance with Boroondara Council requirements and can guide you through the process.

Commercial Tree Services in Surrey Hills

Melbourne Tree Company would be pleased to be your preferred contractor for commercial tree services at your business or commercial property in Surrey Hills and surrounding areas. Our team has experience working across a range of commercial settings in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, including:

• Body corporate and strata properties
• Schools (including Surrey Hills Primary, Chatham Primary and nearby colleges)
• Sporting clubs and recreational facilities
• Parks and gardens
• Emergency call-outs
• Insurance jobs
• Civil works and construction site clearing
• Aged care facilities
• Local government projects

We safely and efficiently remove trees from commercial entrances and driveways, car parks, around buildings and utilities, walkways and paths, courtyards, fences and boundaries, and we have the machinery and expertise to work in the tight spaces common across Surrey Hills commercial properties.

We offer fast, obligation-free quotes so that we can deliver on time and within your project budget.

Emergency Tree Removal Surrey Hills

In a curly situation? Surrey Hills’ mature tree canopy means storm damage is always a risk, particularly during Melbourne’s winter storms and the unpredictable weather events that sweep through the eastern suburbs. Forces such as wind and lightning can impact the structural integrity of your trees resulting in fallen limbs and trees down, in unfortunate places.

Melbourne Tree Company can work with your insurance company to make your property safe again.

Call Melbourne Tree Company on 1300 192 599 for emergency tree removal.

What to Expect

Our trained experts take the time to understand your needs and plan the best approach for your tree works based on industry-proven methods, techniques and guidelines including correct preparation, dismantling and removal.

1. Onsite assessment and quote — You will receive a verbal quote on the spot (and we follow it up with a digital quote) for your consideration, including photos and a proposed job date and time.
2. Permit and arborist report guidance — Given Boroondara’s tree protection regulations, our team can provide advice on local laws and help you determine if a permit is needed to proceed. In some cases, an arborist report may also be required before works can commence.
3. Job walkthrough and safety check — On arrival, our crew will introduce themselves and provide an overview of the works to be completed during a site walkthrough. We will also identify, plan and manage nearby obstacles, hazards and risks to keep the work area, the crew and everyone else safe.
4. Safety and rigging lines — Our climber will go up the tree to set up safety and rigging lines where required.
5. Tree dismantling — Our climber will dismantle the tree piece by piece with chainsaws and specialised machinery (our term for this is ‘bombing down limbs’). We will then fell the tree from the ground, utilising safe procedures and techniques to carefully bring it down in the correct direction.
6. Removal and chipping — Our ground crew will remove the green waste and feed vegetation into our chipper (he’s called Bandit). Our team is happy to cut larger pieces of wood into smaller rounds for firewood or other purposes (for you to keep if you wish).
7. Stump grinding and removal — If you have requested stump removal, we will then bring in the grinder (he’s called Red Roo) to dismantle and remove the stump, leaving an area for you to replant, fill or grass over.
8. Clean-up — Our team completes a walkthrough of the job areas to ensure no escaped vegetation remains, sweep/blow and leave it looking neat and tidy. We will do a final check-in with you to ensure you are satisfied with the work completed before we pack up and go.

Our team is well-resourced with all the right safety gear and necessary tools and equipment including small and large chainsaws, chipper, stump grinders, cherry picker, truck and felling equipment to do the job safely, efficiently and fast.

Industry Guidelines and Standards

Arboriculture Australia (Arb Aus) is the industry body for arboriculture in Australia providing industry updates, advice on standards and qualifications, resources, networking and education. The Victorian Tree Industry Organisation (VTIO) is the industry body for arborists in Victoria.

Melbourne Tree Company works in compliance with the Arb Aus Minimum Industry Standards (MIS). The MIS are significant because they are a single, industry-approved national standard and reference for our industry. The skills, techniques and equipment outlined in these standards are agreed by industry as safe, current and correct.

We also work in compliance with WorkSafe Victoria’s Working Safely With Trees and within guidelines of the Victorian Tree Industry Organisation Best Practice Guidelines for Tree Climbing.

Is Your Tree Special to You?

Did someone special plant your tree? Surrey Hills properties often have trees with decades of history — planted when families first established their homes in this leafy neighbourhood. The timber from your tree (usually the trunk) can, in some cases, be repurposed to make furniture or be used for sentimental landscaping in your garden. If you want to keep pieces of it, it can absolutely stay with you.

Get It Done Right with Melbourne Tree Company

Melbourne Tree Company is a local, family-owned, Melbourne-based company. We are based in Carrum Downs and proudly service the entire Melbourne metropolitan area, including the eastern suburbs.

We are a proud partner of the Plant a Tree Program, supporting Carbon Neutral in turning emissions into trees.

For a free, obligation-free quote for tree removal, pruning or stump grinding in Surrey Hills, contact our friendly team today.