Best Tree Services in Nelson
We assessed 16 tree services in Nelson and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 263 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 22 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 Nelson
The top 5 tree services in Nelson are #1 That Tree Guy, #2 Paramount Contracting, #3 Stump Grinding Services, #4 Atom Tree Arborists, and #5 Tasman Treehugger, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
That Tree Guy
★ 5.0 110 reviews Top5 Score 1615★ 106 4★ 4That Tree Guy covers tree removal, stump grinding, pruning, and hedge work across Nelson, turning around quotes within hours and completing jobs on the agreed date even when urgent storm work is in the queue. Cleanup is a consistent part of the job, with crews removing cut material, leaf-blowing the road, and leaving lawns and landscaping undisturbed after stump removal.
location_on Manson Avenue, Stoke, Nelson
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2
Paramount Contracting
★ 5.0 31 reviews Top5 Score 1445★ 31Paramount Contracting gets tree felling, stump grinding, pruning, and hedge trimming done with a can-do approach that accommodates tight schedules, builder timelines, and even same-day emergency callouts after storm damage. Tainui is known for dropping trees precisely where needed on difficult jobs, then leaving sites clean and tidy without being asked.
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3
Stump Grinding Services
★ 5.0 25 reviews Top5 Score 1425★ 25Stump Grinding Services focuses on stump grinding and root removal, including large stumps, exposed surface roots, and high-volume jobs like clearing 40-plus hedge stumps in a single visit. Andrew quotes on the spot and frequently starts the work immediately after, grinding stumps deep enough for replanting and leaving sites clean without needing to be prompted.
location_on 334 River Terrace Road, Brightwater
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4
Atom Tree Arborists Nelson
★ 4.9 23 reviews Top5 Score 1395★ 20 4★ 3Atom Tree Arborists handles large-scale removals, canopy pruning, and tight-access trimming, including felling big ash and pine trees and pruning in confined garden spaces. Nick scopes jobs in person before work begins, and crews chip and process branches on site, leaving material ready for garden use rather than simply hauling it away.
location_on Ranzau Road, Hope, Richmond
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5
Tasman Treehugger
★ 5.0 20 reviews Top5 Score 1395★ 20Tasman Treehugger covers tree removal, fruit tree pruning, conifer felling, hedge work, and new tree planting with shaping and aftercare advice included. Nathan listens closely to how clients want their property to look, including brokering neighbour access when required, and shapes trees to preserve their natural profile rather than just cutting to a brief.
location_on 100 Lud Valley Road, Hira
Before you hire a tree service in Nelson
Drawn from 235 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 removals in New Zealand start around $500, while large or complex jobs can exceed $5,000. Stump grinding is quoted separately, with most jobs falling between $150 and $500 per stump.
Pruning a few residential trees commonly costs between $200 and $1,500, depending on size and number. What drives the price up is access difficulty, proximity to structures, site complexity, and whether green waste disposal is included in the quote.
What qualifications and insurance should a tree service have? expand_more
There is no mandatory government licence to call yourself an arborist in New Zealand, so checking credentials independently is essential. The main professional body is the New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA), which maintains a public register you can search before hiring.
Look for contractors holding the NZ Certificate in Arboriculture at Level 3 or Level 4, as this is the recognised industry qualification. Public liability insurance of at least $1 million is standard for reputable operators, and any work near powerlines must comply with the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003, which restricts who can legally carry out or supervise that work.
Do I need council consent to remove a tree on my property? expand_more
Check your council's GIS maps or District Plan schedules before any removal work begins, as many trees are protected regardless of who owns the land they sit on. Resource consent applications for protected or notable trees can cost between $500 and $3,000 in council processing fees alone, and the council can decline or attach replanting conditions. Removing a protected tree without consent risks enforcement action under the Resource Management Act 1991, and councils can require replacement at your own expense.
What are the warning signs of a tree service you shouldn't hire? expand_more
- –No written quote provided before work starts, leaving scope and price open to dispute afterwards
- –Refusal or failure to show proof of public liability insurance before beginning work near your home or boundary
- –No process for checking underground services such as water mains, gas lines, and fibre cables before stump grinding begins
- –Pressure to start immediately without a site visit or discussion about what is actually being removed
- –Vague cleanup terms in the quote, with no clear agreement on who removes debris, logs, and green waste
- –Use of climbing spikes on trees that are being pruned rather than removed, which causes lasting damage to the tree
What should you ask before hiring a tree service? expand_more
- –Can you provide proof of public liability insurance, and are your workers covered under a workplace injury policy?
- –Is cleanup, green waste removal, and site tidying included in the quoted price, or charged separately?
- –Do you check for underground services such as water, gas, and fibre before stump grinding, and who is responsible if something is struck?
- –Does this tree require resource consent from the council before removal, and will you help confirm that before starting?
- –Is your quote fixed, and what is your process if the job turns out to be more complex than expected once work is underway?
- –Do you hold the NZ Certificate in Arboriculture or membership with the New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA)?
Also recommended tree services in Nelson
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Saunders Tree Services
★ 4.9 17 reviews Top5 Score 1355★ 16 4★ 1Saunders Tree Services takes on palm removal, large pine felling, cabbage tree removal, and multi-month clearance projects across substantial properties, including clearing 300-year-old totara for development. Darren works extended days to keep complex jobs on track and within budget, and leaves sites clean without being asked.
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7
Lawn In Order Landscaping
★ 5.0 14 reviews Top5 Score 1345★ 14Lawn In Order trimmed back a large apple tree to fit its space again and cleared decades of ivy growth, leaving sites visibly tidy after each visit. Mark discusses the job beforehand, works through the site thoroughly, and the cleanup is treated as part of the work rather than an afterthought.
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8
Bodhi Tree Care
★ 5.0 9 reviews Top5 Score 1285★ 9Bodhi Tree Care handles fruit tree pruning, hedge trimming, and general tree and shrub shaping, with Ash tailoring cuts to practical outcomes like improved fruit production rather than simply reducing size. Clients on large residential and lifestyle properties bring him back year after year, which points to results that hold up over time.
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9
Urban Forest Tree Care Ltd
★ 5.0 9 reviews Top5 Score 1285★ 9Urban Forest Tree Care removes trees, prunes hedges, and manages garden trees, with Oliver known for explaining options clearly to clients who are unsure what to do before work begins. Careful placement of cut material, precise removal around nearby plants, and leaving sites clean afterwards are details that come through across jobs of varying complexity.
location_on 30 Grove Street, The Wood, Nelson
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10
Gumboots and Gardens | Property Care & Landscaping
★ 5.0 5 reviews Top5 Score 1215★ 5Gumboots and Gardens takes on the kind of overgrown, tangled outdoor work that would take a homeowner months to do alone, completing it in hours with the right tools and know-how. Tim and the team build long-term relationships with clients, returning across years to handle garden, landscaping, and grounds projects as a single point of contact.
About this ranking
What the 10 tree services listed above hold, at the 22 September 2026 check.
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.
How are the top tree services in Nelson chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for tree services in Nelson. 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 Nelson. 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.