Crown thinning
Removes selected branches to let light and air through the crown, which helps reduce disease.
Tree pruning & trimming
Tree pruning Brisbane
We manage the size and shape of your trees to keep them healthy, safe and looking their best, with extra care for natives, where over-pruning can do damage there's no recovering from.
- 4.9 on Google (38 reviews)
- Family owned & operating since 1993
- Fully insured
- We'll beat most written quotes
Why regular pruning matters
Regular pruning is about more than looks. Removing dead or diseased branches helps stop the spread of disease and pests, and it directs the tree's energy into healthy growth.
Taking out dead, hazardous and crossing limbs also encourages flowers and fruit buds, which matters for fruit trees. It protects your property too, by removing branches that could come down in a storm or high winds.
We prune most species at the start of the season or while the tree is dormant through winter. We train young trees early to prevent weak forks that can split under the weight of fruit.
Special trees, special care
Mango and palm trees need their own approach, and we're well versed in pruning both for health and productivity.
Good pruning keeps a tree healthy for years, which beats losing it. Natives get special attention, because over-pruning can cause irreversible damage. We'll always tell you what your tree actually needs, not the most we could do.
Every tree in our Brisbane tree guide has its own pruning notes, from mango trees to frangipanis and jacarandas.
Need a tree gone rather than trimmed? See tree removal. Palm fronds and old growth? See palm cleaning.
Hedging & bamboo
Hedges and bamboo too
A lot of tree loppers won't touch hedges: it takes a hedger, trestles and planks, and an eye for a level line. We trim, level and maintain hedges, and we remove bamboo.
The only garden jobs we don't do are mowing and whipper-snipping.
- Hedges trimmed and levelled
- Regular hedge maintenance
- Bamboo removal
Pruning techniques we use
Each tree gets the technique it needs.
Crown raising
Removes lower branches to clear space for people, vehicles or views.
Crown reduction
Reduces the size of a tree, often to lower the risk of storm damage.
Deadwooding
Removes dead branches that pose a safety risk or could lead to decay.
Formative pruning
Shapes young trees as they grow, for a strong structure later.
Palm cleaning
Removes old growth to keep palms tidy and safe.
Tree trimming, lopping or pruning?
People use the words interchangeably, and that's fine by us. Trimming usually means cutting for size, shape or clearance. Pruning means cutting for the tree's health and structure, which takes more judgement about which branches to take and where to cut. Lopping is the word most Brisbane people use for all of it.
Whatever you call it, we'll look at the tree and tell you what it actually needs.
Council rules and power lines
In Brisbane City Council's area you generally don't need a permit to prune no more than 20% of a tree's live foliage in 12 months, spread evenly over the crown, but some trees are protected, so check with your council if you're not sure. See council permits in our cost guide.
Trees near power lines are a job for a qualified tree service, never a do-it-yourself one. You're generally responsible for keeping trees clear of the service line from the street to your house; Energex looks after trees around the street power lines.
When to prune
The best time depends on the species and the local climate.
- Winter is most common. Trees are dormant, there's less risk of pests and disease, and you get a strong burst of growth in spring.
- Summer pruning directs growth, slowing the branches you don't want.
- Autumn is generally avoided, because cuts heal more slowly and disease is more likely.
What does tree pruning cost?
Pruning usually costs less than removal, and it may be all the tree needs. See typical Brisbane prices, then ask us for a free quote.
How does lopping and pruning help a tree?
Removing dead or diseased branches takes away hazards and helps the tree stay healthy. We balance how the tree looks with what it needs biologically, so its structure stays sound.
Can you prune mango and palm trees?
Yes. Both need their own kind of care, and we know the specific pruning they need for health and productivity.
Do I need council approval to prune a tree?
Often not. In Brisbane City Council's area, pruning no more than 20% of a tree's live foliage in 12 months is generally exempt, but some trees are protected. Call your local council if you're not sure whether any protection applies.
Do you clean up afterwards?
Yes. Your yard and gardens are left clean and tidy, as if we were never there.
Where we work
Tree pruning across Brisbane and Moreton Bay
We're a North Brisbane business, working right across the city and up through Moreton Bay.
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- 4.9 on Google (38 reviews)
- Family owned & operating since 1993
- Fully insured
- We'll beat most written quotes