Mortdale based. Sydney wide. 15 years on the tools.
Tree Root Removal Sydney
AQF Level 5 arborists, $20M public liability and council paperwork handled. Tell us about the job and we call you back the same day.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
Roots lifting paving, cracking walls or heading for the pipes — we remove them properly.
Tree roots do slow, expensive damage: heaving paths and driveways, pushing against retaining and house walls, lifting pool coping, and finding their way into sewer and stormwater lines. True Roots — the name is not an accident — removes the roots that are causing the problem, and where the tree is staying, does it in a way the tree survives. Hand dig in tight terraces, loader or excavator where there is room.
Three different jobs, and we tell you which one you have
Roots from a tree that is gone. The tree was cut down but the roots were left. They keep heaving paving and can keep shooting for years. We dig them out and clear the bed or the base — see our Newtown root removal.
Roots from a tree you are keeping. Roots on a living tree should be cut following the guidance in AS 4970-2009 (Protection of Trees on Development Sites): outside the structural root zone, cleanly, and not all on one side, or the tree can become unstable. We expose the roots by hand, cut cleanly, and fit a root barrier so the problem does not come back. On a protected tree your council may treat root cutting as work needing approval — we check that first.
Roots from a neighbour’s tree. You can generally remove roots that cross onto your land, but cutting them can harm the neighbour’s tree and the Land and Environment Court can hear disputes about damage. We handle it so the roots stop and the relationship does not break.
Before and after
Photos from our own jobs. Client addresses are never published.
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.
What tree root removal costs
Root work is quoted per job. The price depends on how far the roots run, whether they are under paving or a slab that has to come up and go back, whether the tree is staying (hand exposure and AS 4970 cuts take longer than a dig-out), and the access for machinery. If the roots belong to a stump we are grinding, grinding is $300–$900 per stump and root treatment is quoted with it. You get one fixed price after we have seen the job — often from your photos. No call-out fee.
How a root removal job runs
Find out what the root belongs to
A dead stump, a tree you are keeping, or a neighbour’s tree. That decides method, approvals and price.
Services and structures
Check for pipes and cables, lift paving or coping where needed, and photograph everything before we cut.
Expose, cut, remove
By hand where the tree is staying or the space is tight; loader or excavator where there is room. Clean cuts, roots carried out. If the roots have got into a cracked sewer, a licensed plumber repairs or relines the pipe — we deal with the roots and the source.
Stop it happening again
Root barrier fitted where a living tree is the source, paving reinstated, soil backfilled and compacted, site left clean.
Tree root questions
Can I remove tree roots without killing the tree?
Often, yes — if the cuts stay outside the structural root zone and follow AS 4970 guidance. Roots cut outside the structural root zone, cleanly and not all on one side, are usually tolerated. Cut too close to the trunk or remove too much and the tree can become unstable. That is the judgement an AQF Level 5 arborist is for.
Do I need council approval to cut tree roots?
For a protected tree that is staying, some councils treat root cutting as work on the tree that needs approval — Georges River Council says works to any part of a tree, including cutting roots, need prior approval unless the work is exempt under its Tree Management Policy. For roots of a tree that has already been lawfully removed, no. We confirm your council’s position before we start.
Can I cut my neighbour’s tree roots on my side?
Generally you can remove roots that encroach onto your property, but if the cutting harms the tree the neighbour may have a claim, and the Land and Environment Court hears disputes over tree damage under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006. Talk to the neighbour first, and get the cutting done properly.
Will removing the roots fix my lifted paving?
It stops it getting worse. The paving usually has to be lifted and relaid level, which we can do as part of the job. If the tree is staying, a root barrier along the paving edge keeps new roots out.
Roots are in my sewer pipe — can you help?
We remove the roots and the source tree or fit a barrier, but a cracked pipe needs a plumber to repair or reline it. Roots get into pipes through existing cracks; stopping the roots alone will not fix the pipe.
What is a root barrier and do I need one?
A physical sheet installed vertically in the ground between the tree and what you are protecting, so roots are turned down and away. It is the right fix when the tree is staying. See our root barrier installation page for how it is done.
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 StandardsTree pruning and trimming 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.
Roots doing damage?
Send a photo of the damage and one of the tree. We tell you whether it is a root removal, a barrier, or the tree itself.