Best Tree Services on the North Shore
We assessed 29 tree services on the North Shore and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 835 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 30 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 on the North Shore
The top 5 tree services on the North Shore are #1 Tree King, #2 Empire Tree Services, #3 Garden Solution Landscapes, #4 Lawn Fleet, and #5 Shore Tree Services, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
Tree King
★ 4.9 308 reviews +5 Top5 Score 1815★ 298 4★ 6 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 1Tree King takes on large-scale removals, stump grinding, palm de-fronding, and careful trimming of established trees, working on everything from tight residential sections to steep driveways with difficult access. Their quoting and scheduling process is well-organised, with confirmation calls on the day and thorough site cleanup including mulching and split firewood left for the homeowner.
location_on 125 Diana Drive, Glenfield, Auckland
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2
Empire Tree Services
★ 5.0 96 reviews Top5 Score 1595★ 95 4★ 1Empire Tree Services handles tree trimming, thinning, full removals, stump grinding, and palm extraction, and Sean has checked council consent requirements before proceeding with removal work. Clients across multiple years have rebooked without prompting, citing site cleanup so thorough that properties were left cleaner than before the crew arrived.
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3
Garden Solution Landscapes
★ 4.9 68 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 65 4★ 1 2★ 2Garden Solution Landscapes covers tree trimming, pruning, stump grinding, and smaller tree removal, typically folding this work into broader garden cleanups that include clearing overgrown areas and green waste removal. Sukh is known for arriving on site quickly after quoting, completing within the agreed timeframe, and suggesting cost-conscious alternatives that clients did not ask for but appreciated.
location_on Birkenhead, Auckland
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4
Lawn Fleet
★ 4.9 58 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 57 1★ 1Lawn Fleet trims tall hedges, shapes trees, and takes on overgrown sections, wrapping tree and hedge work into regular garden visits that keep properties tidy between appointments. Tyler listens carefully to what clients want before starting, removes all green waste on the day, and is easy to reach when short-notice jobs come up.
location_on 3/11 Northboro Road, Hauraki, Auckland
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5
Shore Tree Services
↓ 1★ 5.0 45 reviews +4 Top5 Score 155 +25★ 45Shore Tree Services covers tree removal, pruning, trimming, and hedge cutting, and Mike arrives with a written list of agreed work so clients can leave the crew to it without hovering. They take care of surrounding pots and plants during the job, and sites are left clean enough that multiple clients have noted the crew seemed never to have been there.
location_on Birkdale Road, Birkdale, Auckland
Other suburbs
Before you hire a tree service on the North Shore
Drawn from 274 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 in New Zealand runs from around $500 to $1,500. Large or complex removals can reach $5,000 or more. Stump grinding is usually a separate line item, often $150 to $500 per stump. Access difficulty, proximity to structures, and whether disposal is included all push costs up.
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 you need to check credentials yourself before hiring. The New Zealand Arboricultural Association (NZAA) maintains a public register of members who have demonstrated competency, and the benchmark qualification is the New Zealand Certificate in Arboriculture at Level 3 or Level 4.
Public liability insurance of at least $1 million is standard for reputable operators, and you should ask for written proof before any work starts, because an uninsured crew working near your house or a neighbour's property leaves you financially exposed if something goes wrong. For any work near powerlines, the Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 require that only suitably qualified persons carry out or supervise that work, so confirm this specifically if powerlines are involved.
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 touching any large or established tree, because many are protected and removal without consent can trigger fines under the Resource Management Act 1991. Resource consent fees alone can run from $500 to $3,000 or more, and councils can decline the application or require replanting as a condition of approval. One reviewer noted their arborist proactively checked with the council before proceeding with removal, which is exactly the kind of due diligence worth looking for when you hire.
What are the warning signs of a tree service you shouldn't hire? expand_more
- –A crew that starts work without a written or confirmed quote, then invoices more than discussed, is a clear red flag.
- –Removing trees or branches beyond what was agreed, without checking back with you, shows poor communication and disregard for your property.
- –Leaving cut material, logs, or debris on site without prior agreement shifts cleanup costs onto you unexpectedly.
- –Arriving unannounced without confirming a time, or failing to introduce themselves on arrival, signals poor organisation across the whole job.
- –Aggressive or dismissive behaviour toward you or household members on your own property is grounds to end the engagement immediately.
- –A supervisor who is unapproachable and challenges your input rather than listening is a sign the job will not go the way you want.
What should you ask before hiring a tree service? expand_more
- –Ask whether they hold current public liability insurance and whether workers are covered under their own policy, then request written proof before work begins.
- –Confirm that cleanup and green waste disposal are included in the quoted price, not added as separate charges after the job.
- –Ask whether they will check for underground services such as pipes and cables before any stump grinding takes place.
- –Find out whether your tree requires council consent before removal, and ask if they are willing to confirm this with your local council prior to starting.
- –Get a written quote that itemises the scope, including which specific trees or branches are included, so there is no dispute about what was agreed.
- –Ask what their process is if the job turns out to be more complex than initially assessed, so you are not hit with surprise costs mid-job.
Also recommended tree services on the North Shore
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Baker Tree Services Limited
↓ 4★ 4.9 38 reviews +4 Top5 Score 1545★ 37 2★ 1Baker Tree Services is well suited to clients who want the same crew back year after year, covering tree removal, stump grinding, palm extraction, and canopy thinning on residential properties. Jon quotes promptly, often on the same day as the site visit, and the team leaves properties clean enough that multiple clients noted no sign of the crew having been there.
location_on 223 Horseshoe Bush Road, Dairy Flat
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7
Next 2 Nature Tree Services-Auckland
↓ 4★ 4.9 52 reviews +1 Top5 Score 154 +15★ 51 1★ 1Next 2 Nature covers tree removal, pruning, and trimming across Auckland, and turns around urgent jobs fast, including storm-damaged branches on powerlines dealt with by early the following morning. Keanen and the crew are known for going beyond the quoted scope, leaving sites cleaner than they found them, and navigating council requirements before work begins.
location_on Potter Road, Albany, Auckland
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8
The Tree Company | Professional Tree Services North Shore Auckland
↓ 3★ 4.7 58 reviews +3 Top5 Score 151 +15★ 54 1★ 4The Tree Company takes on demanding tree work, including large palm removal, stump grinding, tall hedge cutting, and pruning near power lines, often coming in as the most competitive quote among several. Darren and the crew are known for honouring fixed-price quotes, checking in throughout the job, and leaving sites spotlessly clean.
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9
North Harbour Big Tree Co
↓ 3★ 4.7 69 reviews Top5 Score 1505★ 56 4★ 10 3★ 1 2★ 2North Harbour Big Tree Co supplies and plants large established trees, fruit trees, and native species, covering the full process from nursery selection through to in-ground planting and post-planting follow-up. Matt visits the nursery with clients, matches trees to their specific site conditions, and the crew has handled complications on the day, including unexpected concrete removal, without it becoming the customer's problem.
location_on 774 Dairy Flat Highway, Albany, Auckland
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10
Leaf and Limb
↓ 3★ 5.0 43 reviews +1 Top5 Score 1505★ 43Leaf and Limb covers hedge cutting, tree trimming, pruning, and brush clearance, and Hamish is known for scoping additional work on the day when clients spot other jobs around the property. Multiple clients have booked him across several years of regular visits, returning without shopping around each time because the results and site tidiness meet expectations.
location_on 16A Vonnell Place, Birkdale, Auckland
About this ranking
What the 10 tree services listed above hold, at the 30 September 2026 check.
We first assessed tree services on the North Shore in April 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Tree King has held first place at every 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.
What has changed since April 2026? expand_more
- Sep 2026
Scoring method updated. Empire Tree Services entered the top 5 at #2. Garden Solution Landscapes returned to the top 5 at #3. Lawn Fleet entered the top 5 at #4. Baker Tree Services left the top 5, down to #6. Next 2 Nature left the top 5, down to #7. The Tree Company left the top 5, down to #8.
- Aug 2026
Baker Tree Services entered the top 5 at #2. Next 2 Nature entered the top 5, up from #6. Leaf and Limb left the top 5, down to #7. North Harbour Big Tree Co left the top 5, down to #6.
- Jul 2026
Scoring method updated. The Tree Company entered the top 5, up from #9. North Harbour Big Tree Co entered the top 5 at #4. Shore Tree Services entered the top 5 at #5.
- May 2026
Scoring method updated. Garden Solution Landscapes entered the top 5 at #4. Lawn Fleet entered the list at #6.
- Apr 2026
First check. Tree King #1.
How are the top tree services on the North Shore chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for tree services on the North Shore. 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 on the North Shore. 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.