Brisbane
tree Lopping
When Trees Need Major Work
Not every tree needs lopping. But when they do, it needs doing right.
Book an appointmentShane’s Trees are a Qualified & Insured Arborist Service
Trees getting too big for your Brisbane property? Branches scraping the roof? Can’t see the sky from your back deck anymore?
Tree lopping cuts trees back hard when they’ve gotten out of control. It’s different from regular pruning – we’re talking about serious size reduction, removing large sections, or cutting back to the main trunk when a tree has become a problem.
What Actually Is Tree Lopping?
People use “lopping” for different things. Some mean any tree cutting. We’re talking about heavy reduction work – taking 30-50% off a tree’s size, removing major limbs, or cutting back trees that are causing real problems.
Regular pruning takes 10-20% and keeps trees healthy. Lopping is the big stuff. The work you do when a tree is threatening your house, blocking all the light, or just way too big for the space.
When Brisbane Trees Need Lopping
Overgrown Trees Near Houses
That poinciana looked great when planted 30 years ago. Now it’s hitting your Queenslander’s roof every time wind blows. We see this constantly in Annerley, Yeronga, and Moorooka – older suburbs where trees have had decades to grow.
Storm Damage Prevention
Big eucalypts with heavy limbs over your house are disasters waiting to happen. We lop them back hard before storm season. Properties in Pullenvale, Brookfield, and Chapel Hill with large gums need this work regularly.
Light and View Issues
Your neighbor’s tree blocking all afternoon sun? Huge camphor laurels and figs create dense shade across Brisbane yards. Sometimes the only fix is major reduction. Common complaint in tight suburbs like Stones Corner and Greenslopes.
Regrowth After Stormsts
Trees that got damaged in storms often shoot up crazy regrowth. This new growth is weak and needs cutting back to strong wood. We did hundreds of these after the 2022 floods.
Trees Too Big for the Block
Whoever planted that tallowwood didn’t think about what happens in 40 years. Now it dominates the whole yard. New developments in North Lakes and Springfield have this problem with established trees that were there first.
When Brisbane Trees Need Lopping
Eucalypts (AKA. Gum trees)
Grow massive in Brisbane’s climate. We lop spotted gums, grey ironbarks, and tallowwoods constantly. They handle hard cutting better than most trees but still need proper technique.
Camphor Laurels
Invasive and huge. Council wants them gone but if you’re keeping one it needs regular hard lopping. They reshoot aggressively so expect ongoing work.
Figs
Moreton Bay Figs, Port Jackson Figs – they all get enormous. We lop them back but they grow back fast. Popular in older suburbs around Hamilton and Ascot.
Cottonwoods and Poplars
Fast growing, weak wood, constant problems. Regular hard lopping keeps them under control. Common along creeks in Chelmer and Graceville.
Brush Box
Street trees across Brisbane. Get too big for nature strips. Council sometimes allows lopping to keep them manageable.
The Right Way to Lop Trees
Hard cutting stresses trees. Do it wrong and you kill them or create dangerous regrowth.
- We make cuts at proper points – branch collars, not random spots halfway along limbs.
Some trees handle lopping better than others. Eucalypts reshoot from dormant buds. Figs regrow aggressively. Palms you can’t lop at all – they just die.
After heavy lopping, trees need follow-up work in 2-3 years. That aggressive regrowth needs thinning or you’re back where you started.
Tree Lopping Costs Brisbane
As with all tree maintenance operations, pricing is determined by tree size, species, location, and work required.
Ballpark Brisbane tree lopping prices as of 2025
| Tree Size | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Small tree lopping | $400-$900 |
| Medium tree lopping | $800-$2,000 |
| Large tree lopping | $1,500-$4,500 |
| Massive trees | $3,000-$8,000+ |
Price depends on tree size, how much we’re taking off, access, and what’s under the tree. Trees over houses cost more. Trees near power lines need Energex clearance first.
Multiple trees usually get better rates. If you’re lopping the whole yard we can package pricing.
We’ve Got Hundreds of Real Google Reviews
“Their blokes Theo, Nick and Isaac, were punctual, efficient and thorough. Our towering, invasive tree was removed with a great understanding of tree anatomy and excellent safety practices. Clear, reasonable pricing was provided, as was a very good tidy up at the end. All done with a smile. Top job.”
Tree Lopping vs Tree Removal
Sometimes removal makes more sense than lopping.
If the tree is:
- Dying or diseased
- Wrong species for the location
- Causing constant ongoing problems
- Costing more to maintain than replace
We’ll tell you straight if removal is the better option. No point spending $3,000 lopping a tree that’ll need it again in 3 years when removal costs $2,500.
Did you know Shane’s Trees company dates back almost 4 decades and provide our tree lopping services and tree removal brisbane wide? Contact us fast using the details below
Council Rules About Tree Lopping
Brisbane City Council has regulations. Some trees have protection orders. You can’t just lop anything you want. Significant trees need permits. Trees on boundaries need neighbor agreement.
We know what needs permits and what doesn’t. We can assist with applications when required. Most routine lopping work doesn’t need council approval but the big jobs often do.
Need tree lopping in Brisbane? We’ll assess your trees, explain your options, and give you honest advice about what needs doing. Free quotes across all Brisbane suburbs.
Brisbane Tree Lopping FAQ’s
It all depends on the scale of work required but on average cost of tree lopping jobs in Brisbane is between $800-$3200
Tree Lopping is so expensive because of specialized equipment & machinery running costs, highly trained staff performing high risk work, extra ground staff are required, costs of removing green waste from site, physically demanding work. When you take all this into consideration your tree lopping quote might actually seem cheaper than it first appeared
Yes in many cases, depending on size, zoning, species and location under Brisbane City Councils Natural Assets Local Law, the tree you want lopped may be protected. You risk penalties for removing protected trees without a permit
Brisbane Tree lopping Quotes
One of our friendly team members will get back to you before you can say ‘timber’!
Some factors that might affect your quote…
The size of your tree. Generally, the bigger it is, the longer it takes to remove – and the more space vegetation takes up in our trucks!
Ease of access. Trees around properties with steep embankments are often difficult to load onto vehicles.
Equipment needed. Certain projects require the use of barges, cranes and even helicopters which may be reflected in your quote.
