If you need work carried out on a tree, you may come across several different terms: tree cutting, tree felling and tree removal.
They are often used interchangeably, but they don’t necessarily mean the same thing.
Tree cutting can describe anything from removing individual branches to substantial pruning. Tree felling generally means bringing an entire tree to the ground, while tree removal can involve dismantling and removing a tree where conventional felling isn’t practical.
Understanding the difference can help you identify the type of tree surgery you may need and have a more informed conversation with your tree surgeon.
For homeowners and businesses in Dorking, Reigate and across Surrey, here’s what each service involves and when it might be appropriate.
What Is Tree Cutting?
“Tree cutting” is a broad term rather than a specific arboricultural technique.
People searching for tree cutting in Surrey may actually need anything from relatively minor pruning through to complete tree removal.
Tree cutting can therefore include:
- Removing individual branches
- Cutting back damaged growth
- Deadwood removal
- Tree pruning
- Crown reduction
- Crown lifting
- Crown thinning
- Cutting down an entire tree
The important question isn’t simply whether a tree needs cutting. It is why the work is required and what type of work will achieve the desired result without unnecessarily damaging the tree.
What Is Tree Felling?
Tree felling means cutting down the whole tree.
Where there is sufficient clear space, a tree may sometimes be felled from ground level in a controlled direction.
Before doing this, a tree surgeon needs to consider factors including:
- Tree height and spread
- Direction of lean
- Tree condition
- Nearby buildings
- Roads and footpaths
- Overhead services
- Fences and neighbouring properties
- Available working space
Traditional felling is therefore much easier in an open area than in a confined residential garden.
What Is Tree Removal?
Tree removal is the broader process of safely taking down and removing a tree.
In a garden surrounded by houses, fences or other obstacles, there may not be enough space to fell the tree in one piece.
Instead, tree surgeons can use sectional dismantling.
The tree is carefully dismantled in sections, generally working from the crown downwards. Branches and sections of timber can be lowered using specialist ropes and rigging equipment where necessary.
This allows large trees to be removed safely from locations where conventional felling would not be possible.
Tree Felling vs Tree Removal: What’s the Difference?
The simplest distinction is:
Tree felling brings the entire tree down, whereas tree removal describes the overall process of taking the tree down and removing it from the site.
Felling may form part of a tree removal job, but not every tree can be felled conventionally.
For example, a tree standing in an open field may potentially be felled in one piece.
A similar-sized tree between two houses in Dorking or Reigate might instead need to be dismantled piece by piece.
Does Tree Cutting Mean the Tree Has to Come Down?
No.
This is an important distinction.
If you search for “tree cutting” because a tree has become too large, is blocking light or has branches growing towards your property, complete removal may not be necessary.
Depending on the tree and the problem, alternatives can include:
Crown Reduction
Reducing the height and/or spread of the canopy while maintaining an appropriate structure.
Crown Lifting
Removing selected lower branches to provide greater clearance beneath the canopy.
Crown Thinning
Selectively removing branches throughout the crown without substantially changing its overall dimensions.
Deadwood Removal
Removing dead branches that could potentially fall.
Tree Pruning
Selective pruning to address particular structural, health or clearance issues.
A professional tree surgeon should assess what you are trying to achieve before recommending a particular type of tree cutting.
When Might a Tree Need to Be Felled or Removed?
Tree removal can become necessary for several reasons.
These may include:
- A dead or severely declining tree
- Significant structural instability
- Serious storm damage
- Major root instability
- Extensive decay
- An unacceptable risk to people or property
- An approved development requiring removal
- A tree that cannot reasonably be managed through other tree surgery
However, a large, old or inconvenient tree does not automatically need to be felled.
Where appropriate, professional tree surgery may allow it to be safely retained.
Can a Diseased Tree Be Saved Instead of Felled?
Sometimes.
Disease, fungi, cavities or dead branches do not automatically mean a tree needs removing.
A tree surgeon should consider the type and extent of the problem, the tree’s structural condition and its surroundings.
Possible recommendations could range from monitoring or selective pruning through to tree removal where the tree is seriously compromised.
The key is to assess first and cut second.
How Do Tree Surgeons Remove a Tree in a Small Garden?
Restricted access is common in residential areas of Surrey.
Where a tree cannot safely be felled, a climber can dismantle it progressively.
Depending on the site, this may involve:
- Establishing a safe working area.
- Accessing the crown using climbing equipment or appropriate machinery.
- Removing smaller branches.
- Lowering larger branches where necessary.
- Cutting the trunk into manageable sections.
- Processing and removing the resulting timber and debris.
The exact method depends on the tree and its surroundings.
What Happens to the Stump After Tree Removal?
Cutting down the tree doesn’t automatically remove its stump.
The stump can either be left in place or removed separately.
Stump grinding uses specialist machinery to grind the stump down below ground level.
This can be useful if you want to:
- Replant the area
- Lay a lawn
- Install paving
- Remove a trip hazard
- Make better use of the space
Whether stump grinding is included should be established when obtaining your tree removal quotation.
Do I Need Permission to Fell a Tree in Surrey?
Sometimes.
Before tree cutting or removal takes place, it is important to establish whether the tree is protected.
A tree may be subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or located within a conservation area.
These protections can affect what work is permitted and whether consent or prior notification is required.
Other legal considerations can also apply, including wildlife protections.
If you’re uncertain, seek professional advice before starting work.
How Much Does Tree Felling or Removal Cost?
There is no standard price because every tree and site is different.
The cost or tree felling or removal can be affected by:
- Tree size
- Tree condition
- Accessibility
- Proximity to buildings
- Whether climbing or rigging is required
- Amount of waste generated
- Whether stump grinding is required
- Site-specific safety considerations
A small tree with straightforward access will generally be considerably simpler to remove than a large mature tree surrounded by buildings.
A site assessment allows a tree surgeon to provide a quotation based on the actual work required.
Tree Cutting, Tree Felling and Tree Removal in Dorking, Reigate and Surrey
South East Forestry and Tree Services provides professional tree cutting, tree felling and tree removal across Dorking, Reigate and Surrey.
The right solution depends on the tree and what you need to achieve.
Where a tree can appropriately be retained, pruning or crown work may provide a better solution than removal. Where felling is necessary, the safest removal method can be planned around the tree and its surroundings.
Quick Answer: Tree Cutting vs Felling vs Removal
Tree cutting is a general term covering many types of pruning and tree work.
Tree felling means cutting down an entire tree, usually in a controlled direction where space permits.
Tree removal describes the complete process of taking down a tree and can include sectional dismantling when conventional felling isn’t possible.
If you’re unsure which you need, a tree surgeon can assess the tree and recommend the most appropriate option.
FAQs
Is tree cutting the same as tree felling?
No. Tree cutting is a broad term that can include pruning or removing individual branches. Tree felling specifically refers to cutting down the whole tree.
What is the difference between tree felling and tree removal?
Tree felling usually involves bringing an entire tree to the ground. Tree removal is a broader term and can include dismantling a tree in sections where there isn’t enough space for conventional felling.
Can you remove a tree from a small garden?
Yes. Where space is restricted, professional tree surgeons can often dismantle the tree progressively rather than felling it in one piece.
Does tree removal include stump removal?
Not necessarily. The stump is often left after the tree has been cut down unless stump grinding or removal has also been requested.
Do I need permission to cut down a tree in Surrey?
You may need permission if the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or affected by conservation-area controls. The tree’s status should be checked before work begins.
Can a tree be cut back instead of removed?
Often, yes. Depending on the tree and the reason for the work, pruning, crown reduction, crown lifting or other tree surgery may provide an alternative to complete removal.