Tree Felling Olympus

Tree Felling Olympus is newer development on the eastern ridge, where the planted trees are younger than in the older suburbs but the terrain and the indigenous stock are more of a factor.

Tree Felling Olympus splits between garden trees that have grown faster than expected on the newer stands, and indigenous ridge vegetation that raises the protected-species question.

What the Job Involves

Because much of Olympus was developed relatively recently, access is generally better than in the older east, with wider driveways and more room to position equipment. Where the stand steps up the ridge, that advantage shrinks quickly and the usual slope constraints apply.

A number of Olympus properties fall within security estates and gated developments, which adds an approval and access-booking step. Where that applies, the estate's process comes first and the contractor works to whatever scope has been approved. Mention it in your request so the scheduling accounts for it.

Trees We Get Called To

• Blue gum — Fast screening planted at development, now the largest tree on many stands.
• Indigenous ridge species — Retained from the original vegetation, sometimes protected.
• Pine — Exposed on the higher stands and shallow-rooted.
• Syringa — A declared invasive that suckers hard from cut stumps.
• Jacaranda — Garden specimens, brittle in summer storms.

Tree Felling Olympus 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 Olympus

• Estate approval and gate access where the property is in a gated development
• Gradient on stands stepping up the ridge
• Whether the species is protected and needs a permit
• Rocky ground affecting stump grinding depth

Permits and Protected Trees

Three separate rules decide whether a tree can legally come down in Olympus. Species protected under the National Forests Act need a permit from the national department before removal, whoever owns the land. Trees on verges, pavements and other municipal ground belong to the City of Tshwane rather than to the adjoining owner, so those are a call to the municipality and not to a contractor. Declared invasive species run the opposite way — there is a legal duty to control them, which is why bluegum, syringa and wattle removals are rarely refused.

Jacaranda sits in between: existing trees in the urban areas are allowed to 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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does tree felling in Olympus 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.

The tree was planted when the house was built and is now too big. What are the options?

More often than you would expect, reduction rather than removal. A fast-growing screening tree that has overshot its position can frequently be brought back and kept at a manageable size on a maintenance cycle, which costs less than removal and keeps the screening. Where the species is genuinely wrong for the position, or where roots are already at a foundation or a drain, removal is the honest answer. Ask for both to be quoted so you can compare them properly.

How do I get quotes for Tree Felling Olympus?

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.