Best Tree Services in Christchurch
We assessed 20 tree services in Christchurch and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 1,367 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 23 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Tree removal, felling, trimming and stump grinding are hazardous work, so use a qualified arborist. Always confirm the operator carries public liability insurance and, if the tree is near a boundary or structure, ask whether a council resource consent is needed before any work begins.
Top 5 Tree Services in Christchurch
The top 5 tree services in Christchurch are #1 Garden and Tree Men, #2 The Tree Guys, #3 Tree Medic, #4 Hollands Tree Services, and #5 Arborpro Canterbury, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
Garden and Tree Men
★ 5.0 339 reviews +15 Top5 Score 188 +15★ 331 4★ 8Garden and Tree Men prune fruit trees, shape hedges, and cut and remove trees, completing jobs on schedule and often finishing ahead of time by putting spare time into additional cleanup. Multiple clients have booked them across repeat visits, and the crew will work through rain and cold to stay on schedule, leaving sites with all waste removed.
location_on 14B Castile Place, Christchurch
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2
The Tree Guys Christchurch
★ 5.0 244 reviews +8 Top5 Score 179 +55★ 236 4★ 6 3★ 1 1★ 1The Tree Guys takes on willow pollarding, large elm and oak removals, tree pruning and topping, and stump removal, with teams that arrive on time even in poor weather and keep clients updated when schedules shift. Sites are left tidier than they were before the crew arrived, a detail multiple reviewers called out specifically rather than just noting a clean finish.
location_on 36c Rosewarne Street, Spreydon, Christchurch
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3
Tree Medic Ltd
★ 5.0 141 reviews +4 Top5 Score 171 +15★ 140 1★ 1Tree Medic covers tree removal, pruning, trimming, and bush clearance, with Svend known for working around nearby plants and shaping trees like pohutukawa with genuine care. Multiple clients have brought them back across several years, and the cleanup after large multi-tree jobs is thorough enough that reviewers note the only trace left is the gap where a tree stood.
location_on 34c Harrison Street, Mairehau, Christchurch
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4
Hollands Tree Services Arborist Christchurch
verifiedVerified★ 4.8 87 reviews Top5 Score 1685★ 78 4★ 4 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 2Hollands Tree Services removes large and complex trees, including root-damaging specimens like monkey puzzle trees, grinds stumps, and trims and shapes hedges and shrubs across both residential and multi-property portfolios. Adam and the team are noted for quick quote turnaround and for mulching material on site, leaving properties clean without needing a follow-up visit.
location_on 12 Mathias Street, St Albans, Christchurch schedule Open 24 hours
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5
Arborpro Canterbury Limited
↑ 1★ 4.8 123 reviews +12 Top5 Score 166 +35★ 117 1★ 6Arborpro Canterbury covers stump grinding, tree removal, pruning, topping, and hedge trimming, with Matt known for fitting jobs in well ahead of competitors who quoted waits of weeks or months. Pricing comes in noticeably below other quotes multiple clients received, and sites are left tidy after even large multi-tree removals.
Before you hire a tree service in Christchurch
Drawn from 190 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does tree removal or pruning typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Small tree removal runs from around $500, with large or complex jobs reaching $5,000 or more. Stump grinding is almost always quoted separately, and expect to pay $150 to $500 per stump.
Pruning a single residential tree often falls between $200 and $800, rising to $1,500 or more for multiple large trees. Access difficulty, proximity to structures, fences, or powerlines, and whether waste disposal is included all push the price up.
What qualifications and insurance should a tree service have? expand_more
There is no mandatory government licence to operate as an arborist in New Zealand, so you need to check credentials yourself before signing anything. The benchmark qualification is the New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture (Level 3 or 4), and the New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA) maintains a public register of members you can search to verify a contractor before they set foot on your property.
Public liability insurance of at least $1 million is standard for reputable operators, and you should ask for written proof rather than taking a verbal assurance, because an uninsured worker who damages your property or a neighbour's leaves you exposed to the cost. Work near powerlines carries additional legal requirements under the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003, and only suitably qualified persons are permitted to carry out or supervise that work.
Do I need council consent to remove a tree on my property? expand_more
Check your council's District Plan or GIS mapping tool before touching any large or mature tree, because many are scheduled as notable trees and removing them without resource consent can trigger enforcement action and significant fines under the Resource Management Act 1991. Resource consent applications for protected trees can cost $500 to $3,000 or more in council processing fees alone, and the council can decline the application or attach conditions such as replanting at your expense. Even when consent is granted, the removal must be carried out by a qualified arborist, ideally one holding New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA) membership or a New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture, to meet the conditions of approval.
What are the warning signs of a tree service you shouldn't hire? expand_more
- –No written quote provided before work begins, leaving scope and price open to dispute once the job is underway.
- –Reluctance or refusal to show proof of public liability insurance when asked directly.
- –Ignoring instructions and removing more than agreed, as seen in one case where a contractor caused significant property damage and then stopped responding to the owner and insurer.
- –Slow or absent communication at the inquiry stage, particularly failing to respond to emails or calls, which tends to predict the same behaviour during and after the job.
- –No clear plan for debris, logs, and green waste, leaving you to sort disposal yourself unless it was agreed upfront.
- –Contractors who cannot explain their process for working near structures, fences, or neighbouring properties, which signals limited experience with complex removals.
What should you ask before hiring a tree service? expand_more
- –Can you provide written proof of public liability insurance, and are your workers covered under a workplace accident policy?
- –Is cleanup and full debris removal included in the quoted price, or will logs and green waste be left on site?
- –Will you check for underground services, including pipes and cables, before any stump grinding begins?
- –Does this tree require council consent under the District Plan before removal, and can you help identify that?
- –What happens to the quoted price if the job turns out to be more complex than expected, and how will you communicate that before proceeding?
- –Can you confirm your qualifications, such as the New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture, or your membership with the New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA)?
Also recommended tree services in Christchurch
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Jim's Trees
↓ 2★ 4.9 166 reviews Top5 Score 1655★ 158 4★ 5 3★ 1 1★ 2Jim's Trees turns around tree removals, stump removal, and canopy trimming quickly, with Tony and the team frequently noted for same-week scheduling after first contact. Coordinating a job from overseas or a rental property is straightforward, with fast quote responses and crews who rake and tidy the site before leaving.
location_on 56 Conway Street, Somerfield, Christchurch
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7
Canterbury Tree Experts
verifiedVerified ↓ 2★ 5.0 75 reviews +3 Top5 Score 164 +15★ 75Canterbury Tree Experts handles tree removal, pruning, shaping, and hedge trimming, with Ben known for listening closely to what clients want and checking the outcome meets their brief before leaving. Firewood from removed trees can stay on site or be taken away at no extra cost, a practical option multiple clients appreciated.
location_on Greenfield Place, Mairehau, Christchurch schedule Open 24 hours
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8
Alex The Arborist Ltd
★ 5.0 46 reviews +7 Top5 Score 157 +35★ 46Alex the Arborist covers stump grinding, oak and gum tree trimming, hedge work, and full tree removals, with Alex noted for quoting the same day after viewing the job and accommodating short-notice requests without dropping the standard of work. Clients managing rental properties appreciate photo updates sent with the quote and after completion, keeping them across the job without needing to be on site.
location_on 31 Howard Street, Spreydon, Christchurch
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9
Garden City Tree Service
↓ 2★ 5.0 68 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 68Garden City Tree Service, led by Dan, takes on large tree pruning and shaping, hedge trimming, and full tree removals across residential properties. Clients frequently point to the cleanup as a standout detail, with yards left tidier than before the work started, and Dan's willingness to give honest advice on which trees to keep or remove adding clear value beyond the physical work.
location_on 126 Pine Avenue, South New Brighton, Christchurch
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10
Beaver Tree Service
↓ 1★ 4.8 78 reviews +1 Top5 Score 154 +15★ 73 4★ 1 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 1Beaver Tree Service takes on large tree felling, hedge removal, pruning, and reshaping in genuinely constrained conditions, including trees wedged between garages and fences or overhanging neighbouring properties, and brings them down without damage to surrounding structures or plantings. Crews cut felled timber into rings for firewood on site, chase down stray branches on neighbouring properties, and rake up remaining scraps before leaving.
location_on 1/373 Wigram Road, Halswell, Christchurch
About this ranking
What the 10 tree services listed above hold, at the 23 September 2026 check.
We first assessed tree services in Christchurch in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Garden and Tree Men has held first place at every check, and Tree Medic has been in the top 5 alongside it throughout. Across the 14 locations we assess tree services in, the 138 businesses listed have a median rating of 5.0, and one-star reviews are 0.9% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Hollands Tree Services entered the top 5 at #4. Arborpro Canterbury entered the top 5, up from #6. Jim's Trees left the top 5, down to #6. Canterbury Tree Experts left the top 5, down to #7.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. The Tree Guys entered the top 5 at #3. Garden City Tree Service left the top 5, down to #8. Alex the Arborist entered the list at #9.
- May 2026
- Mar 2026
First check. Garden and Tree Men #1.
Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top tree services in Christchurch chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for tree services in Christchurch. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for tree services in Christchurch. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.