Tree Felling Kensington

Tree Felling Kensington works on one of the older parts of the city, laid out along a ridge with steep stands, narrow streets and mature trees on both.

Tree Felling Kensington puts together the two most expensive constraints in the trade: a slope and no room to park.

What the Job Involves

Properties frequently sit well above or below the street, which means material has to travel vertically before it travels horizontally. On a stand below the road, every barrow-load of brush comes up a flight of steps, and that carry is often the largest single component of the quote.

The trees themselves are old and heavy, and the streets outside are narrow enough that crane access is rarely available. Expect a climbing-and-rigging method and a full day on anything substantial.

Trees We Get Called To

• Blue gum — Large stems on sloped ground, where the drop zone is rarely where you want it.
• Pine — Tall, heavy and top-weighted, common along the ridge lines.
• Black wattle — Invasive stands that colonise the rocky slopes and firebreaks.
• Jacaranda — Brittle, surface-rooted, and listed — existing trees stay, new ones may not be planted.
• Indigenous bush and scrub — Cleared selectively rather than stripped, especially on conservancy-adjacent stands.

Tree Felling Kensington Price Guide

Job	Indicative range	What moves it
Small tree, up to 5 m	R850 – R2 500	Open access, one drop zone
Medium tree, 5 – 10 m	R2 500 – R6 500	Whether it can be dropped whole
Large tree, 10 – 20 m	R6 500 – R15 000	Rigging, roof and wall clearance
Very large tree, 20 m+	R12 000 – R25 000+	Crane or MEWP hire if needed
Sectional dismantle near a structure	+30% – 60%	Every piece lowered on ropes
Stump ground out afterwards	R600 – R3 000	Diameter and machine access
Green waste removal	R650 – R3 500	Bakkie load through to truck load

What Pushes the Price Up in Kensington

• Level difference between the stand and the street
• Number of steps and the carry route for material
• Narrow ridge streets ruling out crane access
• Rocky ground affecting stump grinding depth

Permits and Protected Trees

Street and verge trees are the property of the City of Johannesburg and are managed by Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo. Under the city's street tree by-laws only JCPZ may remove, prune or maintain a tree on a public road, and residents who cut one down themselves can be fined. JCPZ is also explicit that it will not approve a removal because leaves are dropping into a pool or gutter, because the tree shades a roof or solar panels, or because it is seen as a security risk. If the tree stands on the pavement rather than inside your boundary, that is a call to JCPZ on 011 712 6600, or to Joburg Connect on 011 375 5555 if it has already come down and is blocking something.

Two other rules run alongside that. Species protected under the National Forests Act need a permit from the national department before removal, whoever owns the land and wherever the tree stands. Declared invasive species run the opposite way — there is a legal duty to control them, which is why blue gum, syringa, wattle and poplar removals are rarely refused. Jacaranda sits in between: existing trees in urban areas may stay, but the species is listed and replanting is not permitted. Estates, body corporates and homeowners' associations frequently add their own approval process on top of the municipal one. Check which of these applies before booking, not after.

Other Work in the Area

Nearby areas: Norwood · Houghton · Bedfordview · Germiston · Glenvista · South Rand

Kensington is one area within the wider service coverage. For the full breakdown of methods, species and pricing, start at Tree Felling Johannesburg.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does tree felling in Kensington cost?

Most residential jobs land between R2 500 and R15 000. The band depends far more on what is underneath the tree than on the tree itself — a 12 m tree with a clear drop zone is a fraction of the cost of the same tree overhanging a roof, because the second one has to come down piece by piece on ropes.

Can a tree be felled close to my house?

Yes, but not by dropping it. It gets climbed or reached with a MEWP and taken down in sections, each piece roped and lowered rather than allowed to fall. That is slower and costs more, and it is the correct method when there is a roof, a boundary wall, paving or a pool underneath.

Do you take the wood away?

Ask before you accept a quote — this is the most common reason two quotes differ. Some include full removal of timber and brush, some leave the wood stacked on site, and some charge separately for haulage. Get it in writing either way.

What about the stump?

Felling normally leaves a stump at ground level. Grinding or excavating it out is a separate line item. If you are going to pave, plant or build over the spot, deal with the stump in the same visit — bringing a machine back later costs more than doing it while the crew is on site.

How do I describe my property so the quote is accurate?

Say whether the house sits above or below the street and roughly by how much, how many steps there are on the route from the tree to the road, whether a vehicle can get into the property at all, and what is directly underneath the tree. Add one photo from a few metres back showing the whole tree. Those details are what turn a wide range into a firm number.

How do I get quotes for Tree Felling Kensington?

Describe the tree once — rough height, what is underneath it, and how close a vehicle can get — and add a photo taken from a few metres back so the whole tree is in frame. Companies covering the area receive it and quote you directly. It is free and there is no obligation to appoint anyone.