Tree Pruning & Trimming Sydney
Crown reduction, thinning, deadwooding and shaping that keeps your trees healthy and safe — proper pruning to Australian Standards, not damaging lopping.
Tree pruning and trimming that protects your trees and your property.
Good pruning improves a tree’s health, structure and safety — bad “lopping” does the opposite, causing decay, weak regrowth and ugly results. True Roots are AQF Level 5 arborists who prune to Australian Standard AS 4373, so your trees stay healthy, safe and looking right.
People often search for tree lopping when what they really need is careful pruning — clearance from roofs and powerlines, reducing a heavy or unbalanced canopy, removing deadwood, or shaping for light and views. We make the right cuts in the right places for the long-term health of the tree.
Whether it’s one overgrown tree, a row of hedges or a full property of canopy work, we assess what’s needed, explain the options, and leave the site clean with the green waste removed.
Crown reduction, deadwooding and shaping.
Crown reduction & thinning
Reducing the size and density of a canopy to cut wind load, let in light and balance the tree — without topping it.
Deadwooding & clearance
Removing dead, diseased or hazardous limbs and creating clearance from roofs, gutters, paths and powerlines.
Formative & structural pruning
Shaping young and established trees for strong structure, reducing future risk and the need for corrective pruning.
Hedges & shaping
Hedge trimming and shaping to keep boundaries, screens and feature plants sharp and healthy.
Assessed, planned and pruned to standard.
1. Assess
We look at the tree’s health, structure and what you want — clearance, reduction, views or safety.
2. Plan the cuts
We decide how much can come off responsibly and where, to protect the tree’s health.
3. Prune to AS 4373
The crew prunes safely and correctly, rigging limbs down where needed.
4. Clean up
Branches chipped or removed and the site left tidy.
Qualified pruning that lasts.
AS 4373 standard
We prune to the Australian Standard for pruning amenity trees — the right cuts for long-term tree health.
Healthier trees
Proper pruning means better structure, less decay and less risk — saving you money over the life of the tree.
One team, clean finish
Qualified arborists, fully insured, with all green waste removed and the site left tidy.
Do you need council approval to prune a tree in Sydney?
Often, yes. Most Sydney councils protect trees over a certain size and ask for approval before significant pruning — but there are exemptions, and the rules differ from council to council.
Across the areas we work most — Georges River, Sutherland Shire, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown — local tree-preservation controls (set out in each council’s DCP) generally mean you need permission to prune or remove a protected tree. Common exemptions include dead or dangerous trees, minor pruning within set limits, bushfire clearing (the 10/50 scheme) in declared areas, and certain listed species. Because the thresholds and exempt species vary by council, the safe move is to check before the work starts.
Before we climb, we check your council’s pruning limits, tell you honestly whether the trimming is exempt or needs a permit, and lodge the permit for you if it does. For trees on building or development sites we also work to AS 4970 (protection of trees on development sites) alongside AS 4373 for the pruning itself.
Pruning jobs across Sydney
Photos from our own jobs. Client addresses are never published.
How much can be trimmed without a permit?
Each council sets its own limits. A summary for the areas we trim most often:
| Council | Usually allowed without a permit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Georges River | Deadwood pruning only, to AS 4373; exempt species; small and fruit trees. No canopy-percentage allowance: pruning live branches on a protected tree needs a permit, which we lodge for you. | Tree Management Policy 2024 |
| Sutherland Shire | Minor pruning that does not reduce the canopy by more than 10% in any 12 months; branches directly over the roof cut back to the nearest junction or collar; storm-damaged limbs — all to AS 4373 (DCP 2015 Chapter 39, cl 4.4). Anything more needs an application. | DCP Chapter 39 · our Sutherland guide |
| Bayside | Trees no higher than 3 m and under 300 mm wide at 1.4 m, fruit trees and listed exempt species. No percentage allowance for other pruning. | Council page |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | Trees under 5 m; trees whose trunk centre is within 3 m of a wall of the primary dwelling (not a verandah, garage or granny flat). Where a permit is granted, the work must be done by an AQF3 arborist or above. No percentage allowance. | Council page |
| Inner West | Canopy lifting to 2.5 m; branches under 100 mm up to 10% of the canopy a year; deadwood without hollows or habitat. | Council FAQ |
| Ku-ring-gai | Minor pruning of branches 50 mm or less; branches directly over the roof line, cut back to the nearest junction or collar; completely dead branches; trees within 3 m of the house (trunk centre to external wall; verandahs, carports and garages excluded). Pruning application fee $44. | DCP Part 13 |
| Hornsby | Up to 10% of the leaf canopy where branches are a nuisance (touching the roof, for example), not more than once a year; deadwood; all to AS 4373. Not on biodiversity-mapped or heritage land. | Council FAQ · private trees page |
Every council in this table approves pruning to AS 4373-2007 and none approves lopping — the standard’s own foreword calls lopping and topping unacceptable. If what you have in mind is a hard cut-back, read what we do instead of tree lopping. In a 10/50 bushfire entitlement area the RFS allows pruning of any vegetation within 10 m of the building, to AS 4373 (RFS 10/50 rule).
What affects the cost of tree pruning?
Every tree is different, so we price each job on what it actually needs — then give you a clear fixed quote up front, with no call-out fee.
See real numbers from our own jobs in the tree pruning cost guide.
Size & species
A small ornamental is quick; a large gum or fig with heavy limbs takes more time, gear and care.
Access
Easy front-yard access costs less than a tight backyard that needs rigging or an elevated work platform.
How much work
A light deadwood and clearance is less than a full crown reduction across the whole canopy.
Powerlines & structures
Pruning close to lines, roofs or fences needs extra planning and sometimes authorised arrangements.
Green waste
Chipping and removing the branches and logs is included — more material means more to cart away.
Council approval
If a permit or arborist report is needed, we factor that in and can handle the application.
Want a number? Send a couple of photos and your suburb and we’ll give you a clear fixed price — free, often the same day.
Across Sydney — St George to the Shire.
Mortdale-based and local — we prune and trim trees across the St George area, the Sutherland Shire, Canterbury-Bankstown and the North Shore.
A qualified consulting arborist plans every cut.
Every pruning and trimming job is assessed and specified by our AQF Level 5 consulting arborist before the crew climbs. Cuts follow AS 4373-2007 Pruning of amenity trees, made at the right growth points so the tree seals properly and stays safe.
- Diploma of Arboriculture (AHC50524), TAFE NSW, awarded 2024
- About 15 years of hands-on arboriculture
- Registered Consulting and Practising Member of Arboriculture Australia (2026) and member of the International Society of Arboriculture
- $20M public and products liability plus icare workers compensation, with certificates of currency sent with every quote
- ISO 9001 certified, Indigenous-owned, and a registered NSW Government supplier on buy.nsw
- 5.0 on Google from 71 reviews
Good to know.
What’s the difference between tree pruning and tree lopping?
Pruning is selective, skilled cutting that improves a tree’s health, structure and safety. Lopping (or topping) is indiscriminate cutting that removes large amounts of canopy, causing decay, weak regrowth and long-term damage. We prune to AS 4373 — we don’t lop.
Do I need council approval to prune a tree in Sydney?
Often yes. Most Sydney councils — including Georges River, Sutherland Shire, Bayside and Canterbury-Bankstown — protect trees over a certain size, with exemptions for dead or dangerous trees and minor pruning. The rules vary, so we check before we start, and if a permit is needed we lodge the application for you.
How much does tree pruning cost in Sydney?
It depends on the tree’s size, access and how much work is needed. We give you a clear fixed price up front after a quick look or a few photos.
How much of a tree can you safely prune?
As a rule we follow AS 4373 and avoid removing more than is healthy in one go — taking too much (or topping) stresses the tree and triggers weak regrowth. We take what the tree can handle and stage larger work where needed.
When is the best time to prune?
Most trees can be pruned year-round, but the ideal timing depends on the species and the goal (health, flowering, clearance). We’ll advise the best approach for your trees.
Can pruning save a sick or unbalanced tree?
Often, yes. Removing deadwood and reducing a heavy or one-sided canopy can improve a tree’s health, structure and safety. If a tree is too far gone we’ll tell you honestly and talk through removal and replacement.
Do you prune near powerlines?
We create clearance from structures and can plan around services. Trees touching live powerlines may need authorised utility involvement (such as Ausgrid), which we’ll advise on.
Do you remove the green waste?
Yes — chipping and removal of branches and logs is included, and we leave the site clean and tidy.
More from True Roots.
More pruning work
Pruning to AS 4373, not lopping
Height and spread brought back to the right growth points so the tree stays sound and regrows evenly. $800–$4,000 ex GST depending on size.
Light let through, weight taken off long limbs, dead and crossing wood removed. The usual answer for a big gum the council will not let go.
Roof, gutter, pool-fence and powerline clearance. Near live powerlines the network operator’s clearance rules apply, and we tell you on site if an authorised line-clearance crew is needed.
Topping a tree produces weak regrowth that fails in the next storm, and most councils treat it as an offence. We do not do it, and we will tell you why on site.
When to prune, by season
Most Sydney natives handle pruning year-round, but timing still buys you results: winter pruning shows the branch structure clearly and beats the spring growth flush, summer suits light shaping and deadwooding after storms, and flowering species like jacarandas hold their show longer when they are trimmed just after bloom rather than before. Fruit trees follow their own calendar — prune stone fruit after harvest, citrus in early spring. If in doubt, send photos; matching the cut to the species and season is the difference between a tree that thrives and one that spends a year recovering.
One more timing note for strata and commercial sites: booking programmed pruning in the quieter winter window usually secures better rates and guaranteed slots before storm season — and pruned trees shed far less debris when the summer southerlies arrive, which means fewer emergency callouts, fewer blocked gutters and a safer site all round for residents and visitors alike.
Pruning mistakes we get called to fix
Many of our pruning enquiries start with someone else’s bad cut: topped gums throwing dozens of weak shoots two seasons later, hedges cut past the green into bare wood that never recovers, limbs stubbed off mid-branch where decay walks straight into the trunk, and palms stripped so hard they starve.
Bad pruning is not just ugly — it creates the hazards it was meant to prevent, and fixing it costs more than doing it right the first time.
If your tree has been lopped before, do not panic: with proper pruning, a staged restoration over two or three visits can usually rebuild safe structure. Send photos and we will map out what is recoverable, what needs monitoring and what it will cost — honestly, before you commit to anything.
What our clients say
Real reviews from Sydney clients, quoted from our Google profile. Long reviews are shortened; tap Read more for the full review on Google.
Reviews …Really great service, professional, safe and accommodating. Difficulties of access easily overcome, good people to deal withRead more
David G.October 2026Jimmy and the guys were excellent at their job—very fast and very tidy. I highly recommend them, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future. "True Roots" are the best.
Nomikos R.October 2026Removed 4 bunches of palm nuts and tidied everything up. Great job.
Matthew K.October 2026Jimmy and his crew were fast, efficient and professional! He was so helpful in removing a tree in our yard that was a safety hazard. I highly recommend True Roots and would not hesitate to use them again if needed.
Liz B.June 2026Jimmy and his team were excellent. Fast, reliable, well-priced and impressive work. Great to see such a good, local tree removal business and arborist in Mortdale and operating in the St George area. You will not be disappointed using these guys.
Jamie D.April 2026Great service! I liked how they cleaned up after they chopped down our tree. Efficient and very competitive pricing. I would happily book them again in the future.
Celia L.April 2026Jimmy and the two men working with him were professional, hard working and efficient with their time. They removed a large bougainvillea adjacent to the pool. I was very impressed with how well they did this, especially given how thorny it…Read more
Jan B.March 2026I recently hired True Roots to remove a large gum tree from my property, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their service. From the initial consultation to the final clean-up, the team of arborists were professional, efficient, and…Read more
Joseph2025Jimmy was amazing; right from the beginning, he was informative, professional and willing to work within our budget. We could not be happier with what he has delivered for us. We removed all our side trees and replaced them with hedges and…Read more
JJ2025Highly recommend the Team from True Roots, the boys came in and removed a Black Butt that was overhanging our house. Very competitive pricing and managed to squeeze us in. The stump was ground back and all waste was removed. Very professional and skilled workers. Will definitely use them again in the future.
Ben G.2024Highly recommend! James and the boys did an amazing job cutting down a large tree in my yard. Super professional, efficient, and left everything clean and tidy. Great service, and I’m really happy with the results. Will definitely call again for any future tree work! Thanks Andrew
Andrew M.2024Qualified, insured and accountable
- AQF Level 5 arboristDiploma of Arboriculture (AHC50524), TAFE NSW, 2024. About 15 years in arboriculture.
- ISO 9001 certifiedQuality management system certified to ISO 9001.
- $20M public liabilityPlus icare workers compensation. Certificates of currency sent with every quote.
- Australian StandardsPruning to AS 4373, tree protection on building sites to AS 4970.
- Indigenous-ownedOwned and operated by an Indigenous director. Registered NSW Government supplier on buy.nsw.
- 5.0 on Google71 reviews, every one from a real job. Read them.
Trees need pruning?
Send a photo and your suburb and we’ll tell you what your trees need — proper pruning, at a clear fixed price.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you need done and we will call you back to arrange a look. Every job is assessed individually - no two trees are the same.
Urgent or unsafe tree? Call 0422 023 242 - we answer 24 hours.