Top 7 arborists in Brisbane

North Brisbane Trees works out of Samford on the city's north-west edge and says it has served Brisbane since 2007. Resident arborist Craig Bauer holds an AQF Level 5 consulting qualification and TRAQ risk assessment training, according to the company, so one business can write the arborist report and risk assessment for a council permit and then do the pruning or removal once it is approved.

The crew handles removals, pruning, stump grinding, land clearing and storm work, and the business says it uses a 22 metre crane truck on big jobs. It is listed with the QAA as both an approved consultant and an approved contractor.

Independent Arboricultural Services is a consulting practice based at Eagle Farm, set up by Andrew and Alice Rankine in 2007 and now led by Roger Rankine. The firm says every report is prepared by a consulting arborist with at least an AQF Level 5 qualification.

It writes arborist reports, tree risk assessments using TRAQ and QTRA, and impact assessments and tree protection plans for development. It also offers decay detection, tree valuation and transplanting advice. It does not run a pruning or removal crew, so you get advice that is separate from the quote for the work.

Eden Tree Service works out of a yard at Chambers Flat, on the Logan side of Brisbane's south. Director Phil Hackett, a former Brisbane City Council arborist, has owned it since 2012 and holds a Diploma of Arboriculture plus a tree risk assessment qualification. The company says it has served South East Queensland for more than 30 years.

Crews handle removals, pruning, lopping, palms, stump grinding and land clearing, and the business writes tree reports and inspections. It is a QAA member and approved contractor, offers emergency callouts seven days a week, and sells aged forest mulch.

Arbor Australis Consulting is a reports and advice firm rather than a tree crew. Principal consultant Jeremy Young leads a team of named consultants, and the company says every one of them holds at least an AQF Level 5 diploma. It has been running since 2001, according to the business.

For Brisbane homeowners the useful service is its Natural Assets Local Law assessment, a health and structure report for permit applications on protected trees. It also writes risk assessments, impact assessments and tree protection plans for development, and does expert witness work.

Heritage Tree Care is a larger operator based at Sumner in Brisbane's south-west, with other depots at Burbank, Molendinar and Toowoomba. The company says it was established in 1994 and holds ISO certifications for quality, environment and safety.

Its consulting arborists hold at least AQF Level 5, according to the business, and write arborist reports, risk assessments and impact assessments. Crews handle removal, pruning, stump grinding, cabling, crane work and storm response, and the business also offers tree health work such as soil testing and pest control.

City Tree Services is a family business that Tony Jansen started in 1997. He still works as its consulting arborist and supervisor. The team lists qualifications from a Diploma of Applied Science (Arboriculture) to Certificate III in Arboriculture and civil plant operation.

The QAA register places it at Sherwood in Brisbane's west. It works for homeowners, schools, body corporates, builders and councils, and offers pruning, removals, stump grinding, storm response, and arborist services and reports.

Treesafe Environmental Services is a family-run tree company based at Logan Village, between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and founded in 2006, according to the business. It works across Brisbane's southside suburbs such as Carindale, Sunnybank, Mount Gravatt and Runcorn.

Its AQF Level 3 arborists handle removals, pruning, palms, stump grinding and land clearing, and the company says it can call on AQF Level 5 expertise for complex jobs. It also writes tree inspection reports and says it will explain what council approval a job needs before work starts.