How does tree felling work, from the first visit to a tidy garden?
By Service Plus Stockholm AB5 min read
Short answer
How does tree felling work, from the first visit to a tidy garden?
A tree felling job always starts with a free visit where Service Plus assesses the tree's size, lean, proximity to the house and cables, and which method is required. You then receive a quote with the price before any work begins. The felling itself is carried out with a chainsaw and, if needed, climbing or sectional felling so the tree falls in a controlled way, after which the trunk and branches are cut up, chipped or removed and the garden is raked and left tidy. The stump can be ground away as an add-on service, and as a private individual you get the RUT deduction on the labour cost, but not on removal or materials.
What happens during the first visit?
Before the saw is started, a specialist comes to your home to see the tree on site. This assessment determines the whole plan for the job and the price you'll receive in the quote.
During the visit we look at the tree's height, trunk diameter, lean and which direction it naturally wants to fall. We also assess the distance to the house, fences, power lines and the neighbour's garden, since this determines whether the tree can be felled in one piece or must be taken down in sections.
- The tree's species, size and health
- Lean and centre of gravity in the crown
- Distance to buildings, cables and the adjoining garden
- Access for equipment and any waste removal
- Whether a building or site permit may be required under municipal rules
How does the specialist choose the right felling method?
The method is chosen based on what the space allows, not according to a fixed template. If the tree stands freely with plenty of room, it can often be felled straight down with a directional notch and back cut in a controlled direction.
If the tree stands close to a house, garage, hedge or power line, sectional felling is required instead. The specialist then climbs the trunk, or works from a cherry picker if needed, and cuts the crown into smaller pieces from the top down, lowering them safely to the ground. This takes longer but is the only safe method when the margins are small.
- Directional felling with a notch and back cut in open positions
- Sectional felling with climbing in tighter spaces
- Lowering of branches and trunk sections with ropes and blocks
- Closing off the work area for the entire duration of the felling
How is the site secured while work is underway?
Safety governs every decision during a felling job, from where the saw cut is placed to how a branch is lowered. The work area is cordoned off so that children, pets or passers-by do not come into the path of falling branches or trunk sections.
If the tree is close to a footpath, car park or the neighbour's garden, the specialist assesses whether extra barriers or temporary warnings are needed before work starts.
What happens to timber, branches and brushwood afterwards?
Once the tree is down, the trunk and branches are cut into manageable lengths. What happens to the material next is something you decide together with Service Plus during the visit.
Branches and brushwood can be chipped on site, which gives a less bulky material, or removed whole. Trunk timber can be cut into shorter logs if you want to keep it as firewood, otherwise everything is taken away from the garden. Removal and chipping count as material and transport costs and do not qualify for the RUT deduction, unlike the felling work itself.
- Chipping of brushwood and thin branches on site
- Cutting the trunk into logs if you want to keep the wood
- Removal of all timber if you don't want to keep anything
- Separate handling of the stump, see below
Is the stump left behind, and what does the garden look like at the end?
The stump remains after felling unless otherwise agreed, since removing it requires a separate machine for grinding. If you want to get rid of it completely, you book stump grinding as an add-on service, either the same day or at a later visit.
Before the specialist leaves the garden, the lawn is raked free of sawdust and smaller branch debris, and any damage to the lawn or flower beds from the work is put right as far as possible. The garden should look tidy, not like a work site, when the job is finished.
This is how Service Plus carries out tree felling
At Service Plus Stockholm AB, it's Eken who leads tree felling jobs, with his own chainsaw, climbing gear and protective equipment for safe work at height and close to buildings. Examples of what can be included are assessment, felling, cutting, chipping of brushwood and removal of timber, but exactly what scope suits your garden is something we agree on during the visit and write into the quote.
If you also want to get rid of the stump, we arrange stump grinding at the same time. As a private individual, you get the RUT deduction of up to 50 percent of the labour cost, deducted directly on the invoice, while removal and materials are invoiced separately. Get in touch and we'll come to your home, assess the tree and provide a free quote within 24 hours.
Common follow-up questions
Can trees be felled all year round in Stockholm?
Yes, tree felling can be carried out throughout the year, but winter is often the most convenient time since the ground is frozen and the lawn suffers less damage. Service Plus assesses on site what suits your particular tree best regardless of the season.
Does Service Plus remove all the timber and brushwood?
Yes, branches, brushwood and trunk timber can be chipped or taken away entirely if you don't want to keep the wood. If you want to save trunk timber as firewood, we cut it into shorter logs before leaving the garden.
Is stump grinding included in a tree felling job?
No, the stump normally remains after felling and stump grinding is booked as a separate add-on job. We can carry it out the same day or at a later visit, depending on what you choose.
Do you get the RUT deduction on the whole tree felling job?
You get the RUT deduction of up to 50 percent on the labour cost itself for felling and cutting, but not on removal or materials. Service Plus specifies this clearly in the quote so you know exactly what qualifies for the deduction.
