How We Remove Large Trees: The Process Behind Safely Taking Down 20m+ Trees
Removing a large tree over 20 metres tall is a carefully planned operation that involves detailed risk assessment, specialised rigging equipment, and a team of skilled arborists working in coordination. There is no "just cutting it down" -- every branch and every section of the trunk is planned, rigged, and lowered with precision to protect your property, our crew, and the surrounding environment.
I'm Daymian McGovern, and large tree removal is one of the most complex and rewarding parts of my work as a certified arborist on the Central Coast. Over 13 years, I have removed hundreds of trees over 20 metres -- Spotted Gums towering over houses in Terrigal, massive Flooded Gums in Ourimbah, old Angophoras in Killcare with canopies wider than the house beneath them. Here is how we do it.
The Planning Phase
Every large tree removal begins well before anyone picks up a chainsaw. The planning phase is where the real expertise lies.
Site Assessment
I personally assess every large tree job. I am looking at:
- The tree itself: Species, height, canopy spread, lean, structural defects, deadwood, decay, and weight distribution
- The surroundings: Proximity to buildings, fences, pools, power lines, neighbouring properties, and roads
- Access: Can we get a crane in? Is there room for an elevated work platform? How will we get the woodchipper close enough?
- Ground conditions: Sandy soil (common around Woy Woy and Umina) behaves differently from clay (common around Gosford and West Gosford). Wet ground can affect crane stability and our ability to position equipment safely.
- Overhead utilities: Power lines, telecommunications cables, and any underground services that could be affected
Method Selection
Based on the assessment, we choose one of three primary methods:
1. Sectional Dismantling (Most Common)
This is our go-to method for large trees in confined spaces. The climber ascends the tree using ropes and harnesses, then systematically removes the canopy from the top down. Each branch and trunk section is rigged using a lowering system -- ropes run through pulleys anchored to the tree, with ground crew controlling the descent.
This method is slower but offers the highest level of control. We can lower pieces within centimetres of their target, which is essential when working over roofs, fences, and pools.
2. Crane-Assisted Removal
When access allows, a crane dramatically speeds up the process and can be safer for certain configurations. The crane operator lifts cut sections directly off the tree, swinging them to a clear drop zone. This is ideal for:
- Trees adjacent to buildings where we need to lift pieces up and away rather than lowering them down
- Very large trees where individual sections are too heavy for rope-based rigging
- Sites with good road access for the crane setup
Crane hire adds to the cost, but often reduces the overall job time so significantly that the total price is comparable or even lower than sectional dismantling alone.
3. Straight Fell (Rare in Residential Settings)
If we have enough clear space -- generally 1.5 times the height of the tree in the direction of the fell -- we can fell the tree in one piece. This is mostly used for land clearing work on larger properties around Mangrove Mountain, Kulnura, and the rural parts of the Central Coast.
The Equipment
A large tree removal requires serious equipment:
- Chainsaws: We carry multiple saws ranging from lightweight top-handle saws for canopy work to large-bore saws for trunk sections
- Rigging gear: Low-stretch ropes, steel carabiners, rigging blocks and pulleys, friction devices, and slings rated to several tonnes
- Personal protective equipment: Helmets, eye protection, hearing protection, chainsaw chaps, climbing harnesses, and steel-capped boots for the entire crew
- Elevated work platforms (EWPs): Cherry pickers or spider lifts for accessing the canopy when climbing is not the safest option
- Woodchipper: Commercial-grade chipper to process branches and brush on site
- Crane (when required): 20 to 50 tonne mobile cranes depending on the tree size and reach required
Safety Zones and Site Management
Before any cutting begins, we establish exclusion zones around the work area. No one enters these zones except crew members actively involved in the operation. On residential properties, this means:
- Neighbours are notified in advance
- Driveways and footpaths may be temporarily blocked
- If working near a road, we arrange traffic management through council
- All crew communicate via hand signals and radio
We conduct a toolbox talk before every job, walking through the plan step by step. Every crew member knows the sequence, the escape routes, and the emergency procedures.
Case Study: 28-Metre Spotted Gum in Erina
One of our more memorable jobs was a 28-metre Spotted Gum in a backyard in Erina. The tree had developed a significant lean toward the house after years of soil movement on the sloped block. The client's insurance company required removal after an arborist report identified the lean as a structural risk.
The challenges:
- The tree leaned directly over a two-storey house
- Power lines ran along the front boundary
- The only crane access was through a narrow driveway with a 3.2-metre height restriction (carport)
- A swimming pool sat 4 metres from the base of the tree
Our approach:
We used a combination of crane-assisted and sectional dismantling. A 30-tonne crane was positioned on the street, reaching over the house. Our climber ascended the tree and began removing the upper canopy using the crane to lift each piece up and over the roof. The lower trunk sections were rigged using a controlled lowering system to avoid the pool.
The job took a full day with a five-person crew. The tree was removed without a single tile displaced, and we finished with stump grinding the following day.
Cost: Approximately $7,500 including crane hire, full crew, stump grinding, and complete waste removal.
What Happens to the Wood?
We process all green waste through our commercial chipper on site. The mulch is either taken away or left for the client if they want it for garden beds. Larger trunk sections are cut to manageable lengths -- clients often keep these for firewood, particularly the hardwoods like Spotted Gum and Ironbark that are excellent for burning.
Timber that we remove is recycled where possible. Large, straight sections of quality hardwood are sometimes milled for reuse rather than chipped.
Why Experience Matters for Large Trees
I say this not to sell our services but because I have seen the consequences: large tree removal is genuinely dangerous work, and the margin for error is zero. A single miscalculated cut, an incorrectly rated rigging point, or a failure to read the tree's weight distribution can result in catastrophic property damage or serious injury.
When you are getting quotes for a large tree, ask the arborist to walk you through their plan. A qualified professional will be able to explain exactly how they intend to dismantle the tree, what equipment they will use, and what contingencies they have in place. If the answer is vague, look elsewhere.
Book a Free Assessment
If you have a large tree that needs to come down -- or one you are worried about -- I am happy to come out, assess it, and walk you through our recommended approach. There is no charge and no obligation.
Call me on 0432 687 647 or book online. We service the entire Central Coast, Gosford, Terrigal, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, the North Shore, and the Hills District.