Melbourne pruning ranges by tree size, all performed to AS 4373-2007. Prices include climbing or EWP work, controlled lowering, chipping and clean-up. $20M Insured & AQF Qualified.
Pruning is priced by the size of the tree and the amount of work in the canopy — a light thin on a 6m ornamental is a very different job to a full crown reduction on a 15m eucalypt. Every quote includes climbing or elevated work platform (EWP) time, controlled lowering of larger limbs, chipping on-site, and leaving the site clean. Work is performed to AS 4373-2007, the Australian Standard for pruning of amenity trees.
Below are the four bands we quote most often across Melbourne, Greater Melbourne and surrounds. Anything above 15m or requiring specialist EWP hire sits at the top of the very-large band or above.
Four bands cover almost every residential pruning job. Take the height of your tree at its tallest point, and read across.
| Job Size | Typical Range | What's Included / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Small Under 5m tall |
$250 – $500 | Small ornamentals, fruit trees, feature shrubs. Usually a half-day for a 2-person crew, chipper included, no EWP needed. |
| Medium 5m – 10m tall |
$500 – $1,000 | Backyard trees needing crown thin, crown lift, or moderate reduction. Full-day or long half-day, climbing rig plus chipper. |
| Large 10m – 15m tall |
$1,000 – $1,800 | Mature backyard canopy trees. May require EWP if branch structure isn't suitable for climbing. Full-day work with a 2–3 person crew. |
| Very Large / EWP 15m+ tall or EWP required |
$1,800 – $2,500+ | Very large trees or jobs over structures where an EWP is the safest option. EWP hire is included in the quote. |
Beyond height, four factors move a pruning quote within (or above) the bands.
A light crown thin (10–15% of foliage removed) is much quicker than a full crown reduction (20–25% removed). AS 4373 caps single-visit removal at about 25% of the live canopy for tree health reasons — larger reductions are usually staged across two visits, each priced separately.
Front-yard trees with truck-and-chipper access on the driveway are cheapest. Rear-yard trees requiring branches to be walked through the side gate to the chipper add crew time. Some blocks need the chipper set up on the street with hoses across the footpath — that's a small extra.
Climbing is cheaper than EWP hire when the tree's branch structure supports it. EWP is safer and quicker on brittle or over-structure trees but adds a base hire cost. We flag on the quote whether the job is climb-only, EWP-only, or either.
Small-tree pruning chip fits in a green bin. Large-tree pruning generates cubic metres of chip and often log rounds — hauling those away adds a disposal line. Keeping the chip on-site as mulch under the tree is a common way to reduce the total.
Every TLC pruning quote covers these items as standard — no line items sneaking in on the invoice.
Whether the tree is climbed or accessed by EWP, the labour time is included in the band price. If EWP is required, hire cost is quoted up front.
Larger limbs are lowered on ropes, not dropped — protects lawn, retaining walls, garden beds and neighbour property. Rigging gear is included.
Branches and small material are chipped on-site while the crew works. Chipper hire and fuel are included in the quote.
Site is left tidy — mulched chip either into your green bin, spread under the tree as mulch, or hauled away (haul-away is the only paid extra, only if you want it).
All cuts made to the Australian Standard for pruning of amenity trees — correct cut placement at the branch collar, correct pruning cut on lateral branches, no stubs, no flush cuts. Recorded on the quote as reference.
Fill in the form and the TLC Team will get back to you the same business day with an obligation-free quote — sized to your actual tree, yard and access, not an off-the-rack rate.
The questions Melbourne homeowners ask most often when getting a pruning quote.
For 2026, ranges are: small trees under 5m $250–$500, medium 5–10m $500–$1,000, large 10–15m $1,000–$1,800, very large 15m+ or EWP-required $1,800–$2,500+. Ranges include climbing or EWP time, controlled lowering, on-site chipping and site clean-up. Every job is confirmed by a free site quote.
Pruning is what a qualified arborist actually does under AS 4373-2007 — crown thinning, crown reduction, crown lifting, deadwooding, formative pruning. 'Lopping' is the older trade term for stub-cutting to a set height, which modern arboriculture doesn't recommend because it damages the tree long-term. When Melbourne homeowners say 'lopping', they usually want crown reduction — which is priced in the ranges above. Proper pruning takes slightly longer than stub-cutting the same tree, but the tree survives and doesn't need re-work in three years — much cheaper on any real timeframe.
Depends on species and objective. Formative pruning on young trees: annually for the first 3–5 years. Mature backyard trees: light thin every 2–3 years, or when there's specific concern (deadwood, canopy over roof, damage from a storm). Fast-growing species like eucalypts or willows can need more frequent attention. Fruit trees have their own pruning calendar tied to fruiting cycles. A pruning cycle keeps individual visits smaller and cheaper than letting a tree go 10 years then paying for a full reduction.
Yes. Every TLC pruning quote includes climbing or EWP time, controlled lowering of larger limbs, on-site chipping of branches, and leaving the site clean. The only optional line item is haul-away disposal — if you want the chip and log rounds taken off-site rather than left as mulch or in your green bin, that's a separate cost quoted based on volume.
In most Melbourne councils, minor pruning (removing dead or damaged branches, or light shape work) does not need a permit. Larger pruning — anything that could be classified as 'lopping', 'topping' or removing more than 10% of the canopy of a protected tree — often does. Councils like Bayside, Whitehorse and Boroondara have specific rules around canopy trees and Significant Landscape Overlays. We check council rules as part of every quote and flag if a permit application is needed before we start.
Yes — send us a photo of the tree, the address (or nearest cross-street), and describe what you want done. The TLC Team will give you a same-business-day range based on the size band. Firm quotes still need a site visit — access and branch structure change enough between properties that a photo-only quote could miss something material.