Tree Felling Kommetjie

Tree Felling Kommetjie is fully exposed coastal work. Dense rooikrans and Port Jackson stands are cleared by area, and the pines that remain are wind-shaped and often unstable.

Tree Felling Kommetjie runs into two recurring jobs — clearing invasive rooikrans and Port Jackson off sandy ground, and dealing with pines that have been progressively wind-thrown. Milkwoods are the exception to watch, because they carry national protection.

What the Job Involves

Sandy soil means shallow root plates and trees that lean or lift long before they look unhealthy. It also means a stump grinder works quickly here, which keeps that part of the bill down.

Access is the variable. Older cottage plots and steep erven above the road often take a wheelbarrow rather than a bakkie, and hand-carrying timber to the street is what separates two quotes on the same tree.

Trees We Get Called To

• Milkwood — Protected under national law. A permit is required before removal or heavy pruning.
• Rooikrans and Port Jackson — Declared invasives, usually cleared as bush clearing rather than tree by tree.
• Pine — Wind-thrown and leaning on sandy ground. The most common removal here.
• Bluegum — Invasive, brittle and heavy. Sectional work near any structure.
• Palms — Common in older gardens. Handled as palm tree removal.

Tree Felling Kommetjie 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 Kommetjie

• Milkwood permits, which have to be in hand before work can start
• Steep erven above or below road level
• Volume of invasive material, priced by area rather than per tree
• Whether a vehicle can reach the tree, or timber is barrowed to the street

Permits and Protected Trees

Three separate rules decide whether a tree can legally come down in Kommetjie. 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 Cape Town 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, Port Jackson and rooikrans removals are rarely refused.

Estates, body corporates and homeowners' associations frequently add their own approval process on top of the municipal one. Check which of the three applies before booking, not after.

Other Work in the Area

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does tree felling in Kommetjie 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.

Can I remove a milkwood on my own property?

Not without a permit. White milkwood is protected under the National Forests Act, and that applies on private land as much as anywhere else. Removing one without authorisation carries a serious penalty. Pruning may also require permission depending on how much you take off. Identify the tree first and apply before you plan anything around it.

How do I get quotes for Tree Felling Kommetjie?

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.