Kew Tree Removal & Pruning
Tree and palm removal and expert pruning in Kew by a qualified, insured arborist — free quotes, 7 days a week.
- Free quotes
- Fully qualified & insured
- 16+ years
Tree removal and pruning in Kew, done properly
In Kew (3101) a quote is easy to fit in, and the crew arrives with everything on the truck. Tree and palm removal, hazard pruning, canopy lifting and crown thinning are the bulk of what we do here, all under a qualified arborist and fully insured.
The nearest suburbs we also cover are Hawthorn (2 km), Abbotsford (3 km), Burnley (3 km), so a job in Kew is often paired with one next door. 1 of the reviews on this site are from customers in Hawthorn, Abbotsford and Burnley, next door to Kew.
Where a tree is over a house, a shed or a neighbour’s yard, nothing free-falls. A climber sets rigging points, each limb is tied off, cut and lowered under control, and the trunk comes down in short blocks. It is slower than felling and it is the only safe way to do most Kew backyards.
Pruning is about the right cut, not the most cuts. We remove deadwood and hazard limbs, lift the canopy off roofs, sheds and driveways, thin a dense crown so wind moves through it instead of pushing on it, and clear power-line and neighbour boundaries. Trees pruned properly stay healthy and need less attention; trees hacked back sprout weak regrowth and become a bigger problem in Kew gardens within a couple of seasons.
Tree Removal & Pruning in Kew — what we do
Hazardous tree removal
Dead, leaning, split or storm-damaged trees taken down in sections.
Palm removal
Cocos, cotton and date palms removed trunk and all.
Hazard & clearance pruning
Deadwood out, canopy lifted off roofs, lines and boundaries.
Crown thinning & shaping
Wind through the canopy, light into the garden, the tree kept.
A tip from Api
Before you book any tree work in Kew, check whether the tree needs a permit — the council rule for Boroondara is set out below. Api checks it as part of the quote and will tell you straight if a permit is needed before anything is cut.
The full service pages: Tree & Palm Removal and Tree Pruning — every one available in Kew.
Guides from Api: Emergency tree removal in Melbourne: what to do first and how fast help comes · Tree removal contractors: the checks to make before you sign in Melbourne
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Kew?
The rule that applies to a tree in a Kew garden is the Tree Protection Local Law — here is what it says.
Boroondara’s Tree Protection Local Law is one of the strictest in Melbourne. A canopy tree is any tree with a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m above the ground, or 150 cm or more at ground level, with multi-stemmed trees measured by adding the stems. You need a permit to remove a canopy tree even when it is dead or a recognised weed species; pruning is allowed without one provided it follows Australian Standard AS 4373-2007.
Significant trees need a permit for pruning as well as removal, and works near any protected tree need a permit of their own. The council’s free Tree Protection Local Law and planning enquiry tool gives a guide answer for an address before an application is lodged.
The state canopy-tree clause applies in the residential zones on top of the local law.
Source: City of Boroondara — trees on private property. Read 13 September 2026; councils change their local laws, so Api checks the current rule when he quotes.
Across Victoria since 15 September 2025
Clause 52.37 Canopy Trees
A canopy tree is a tree more than 5 m tall, with a trunk circumference over 0.5 m at 1.4 m above the ground and a canopy at least 4 m across. In a residential zone a planning permit is needed to remove, destroy or lop one in a residential zone if the lot is vacant, or, where there is an existing house, if any part of the trunk is within 6 m of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 m of the rear boundary.
Dead trees, emergency and safety works, maintenance pruning and listed weed species are exempt; councils usually condition a permit on planting a replacement canopy tree, and most decide these through VicSmart in about ten business days.
What this means for you: tell Api where the tree sits on the block and he will tell you whether a permit is needed before anything is cut — and where one is, we can prepare the arborist assessment the application needs.
Tree removal jobs by Api and the crew
Real jobs, real photos — Api, the crew and the truck, across Melbourne’s inner east. Nothing staged, nothing stock.
What customers near Kew say
Kate
Hawthorn · June 2021
Very professional and got the job done quickly.
Tree removal around Kew
The same crew, the same day rates, in the suburbs next door:
Other services in Kew
Tree services made easy
At Aps Tree Removal, we simplify the tree and hedge removal experience with a clear, step-by-step approach.
Contact us
Want to learn more? Call 0422 856 090 or send the form and speak with Api.
Get a quote
Getting a quote is quick, easy, and free.
On-site inspection
A quick, thorough site assessment — species, access and risks.
Professional removal
Clean and safe work, chipped and cleaned up — no mess, no hassle.
What clients across Melbourne’s inner east say
V J
29 Aug 2024
Fantastic service! What a great company! Thank you Api and his amazing team. I have a large gum tree out front that had become a menace to my neighbou…
Joseph Faltas
17 Aug 2024
APi is a great guy , honest and knowledgeable
Scott Cooper
16 Aug 2024
I called to have my tree trimmed. API and team done an excellent job they came on time and cleaned up afterwards. They were very polite and friendly I…
utkarsh singh
14 Aug 2024
Api's been amazing in helping us remove hedges off our property. He is quite honest, friendly & reasonable,always wiling to share the best advise for…
Nik Westbury
8 Aug 2024
The job Api performed was top notch. His professional advice on how the job should be done was much appreciated and the clean up after left no sign of…
Taiwo Adebayo
3 Aug 2024
Excellent job on the Yucca removal and the price was good
Trisha Jenkins
26 July 2024
Api and his team were great. Friendly and responsive. Arrived on time and completed the task well. Would highly recommend.
Benjamin Phiri
24 July 2024
Had Api come around yesterday to trim some trees in the backyard that were getting too high. Api's service was well quoted and went above and beyond o…
Stewart Vong
12 July 2024
Api did an amazing job with our trees. He was very friendly and the work was done to a very high standard. I would highly recommend his services to an…
Thi Tran
11 July 2024
Api did a great job, excellent and very friendly. High recomment.
Alex Tsilemanis
12 June 2024
Api and team removed a couple of trees for us from a tricky narrow space. Great job and customer service, highly recommend.
jojo jojo
29 May 2024
Api did a great job removing and stump grinding big yuccas on the narrow side of my house. Turned up to quote and did the job by himself. Reasonable p…
Kew Tree Removal & Pruning — common questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Kew?
Yes, for a canopy tree — 110 cm or more around the trunk at 1.4 m (stems combined), or 150 cm at ground level — Boroondara requires a permit to remove it, even if it is dead or a recognised weed. Canopy trees can be pruned without a permit to AS 4373; significant trees need a permit to prune or remove; and the state canopy-tree clause applies as well. Across Victoria, Clause 52.37 Canopy Trees also applies since 15 September 2025: a planning permit is needed to remove, destroy or lop one in a residential zone if the lot is vacant, or, where there is an existing house, if any part of the trunk is within 6 m of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 m of the rear boundary. Api checks both at the quote.
How much does tree removal cost in Kew?
Removal is priced on the work involved — climbing versus felling, how much has to be roped down, chipper access and stump grinding — not on the suburb. The quote is free, written, and covers the clean-up.
How long does it take?
Most single trees are a morning; large ones a day. The quote gives you a start date and a finish time and we keep both.
Can you get in if the access is tight?
Yes — we do it every week in Kew. Rigging, hand-carrying and a compact chipper on the street cover almost every side path in the area.
What happens to the waste?
Chipped on the day and removed. If you would like the mulch or some firewood, say so when Api quotes and we will leave it stacked where you want it.
Can you save the tree instead of removing it?
Usually the answer is yes, and it is the first thing Api considers. Deadwooding, a reduction or a lift fixes most problems and costs less than removal. He will tell you if the tree is beyond that.