Tree Felling Modderfontein

Tree Felling Modderfontein deals with an unusual tree stock for Johannesburg: large stands of old planted timber alongside conservation land and newer residential development.

Tree Felling Modderfontein ranges from single garden removals to substantial clearing on land that has been left alone for a long time.

What the Job Involves

The older planted stands are tall, close-grown and heavy, and they behave differently to garden trees. Close-grown timber has less taper and less crown, which changes how it is felled and how much brush it produces relative to its volume.

Conservation-adjacent properties need care about what is cut. Indigenous vegetation and any protected species on or near a reserve boundary are not the same proposition as a gum in a garden, and the boundary should be established before anything comes down.

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 Modderfontein 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 Modderfontein

• Whether the property borders conservation land
• Close-grown plantation stock, which fells differently to garden trees
• Volume of material on larger clearing jobs
• Which municipality the verge falls under on this boundary

Permits and Protected Trees

This area sits close to a municipal boundary, and which authority owns the verge trees depends on which side of the line the property falls. Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo handles street trees on the City of Johannesburg side; the City of Ekurhuleni handles its own. Confirm which one applies before touching anything on the pavement, because both fine for unauthorised removal of a street tree. Trees inside your boundary are yours to deal with, subject to the species rules below.

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: Edenvale · Kempton Park · Woodmead · Bedfordview · Birchleigh · Kensington

Modderfontein 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 Modderfontein 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 know if a tree on my property is protected?

Two things to check. First, whether the species is protected under the National Forests Act — that list applies nationally and removal needs a permit from the national department regardless of who owns the land. Second, whether the tree sits on or near conservation land, where different rules apply again. Describe the tree and its position when you request quotes, and ask the companies that respond. It costs nothing to check and a great deal to get wrong.

How do I get quotes for Tree Felling Modderfontein?

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.