Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 12 September 2026
Exeter's mix of Victorian terraces in St Leonard's, newer estates out at Pinhoe and the older stone cottages around Topsham means tree surgeons here deal with a real spread of jobs. You've got mature oaks and sycamores overhanging tight gardens near the quay, leylandii hedges gone rampant on the newer estates, and plenty of trees covered by preservation orders given how many conservation areas sit within the city boundary. A tree surgeon working in Exeter needs to know their way around council TPO applications as much as they need a chainsaw licence, and that's before you factor in the clay soil around Alphington and Marsh Barton, which affects root stability and how close a tree can safely sit to a foundation.
The businesses featured here are pulled from public business listings and ranked using review rating and review count, with a small lift given to those showing a working website and phone number. We read each homepage to check that tree surgery is genuinely their main line of work, which keeps landscapers and general gardeners who occasionally cut back a hedge off this page. Listings flagged as permanently closed get removed automatically. Where you spot a Trust Verified badge, that business has gone through our fuller check, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. Businesses without the badge haven't been through that process with us, so it's down to you to check qualifications and insurance before booking.
Before any work goes ahead, ask to see proof of public liability insurance and a copy of any relevant NPTC or Lantra chainsaw certificates. If the tree has a preservation order or sits in a conservation area, ask who's handling the council application, since working on a protected tree without consent can mean a hefty fine. It's worth getting two or three quotes for anything beyond a small prune, particularly for felling or crown reduction work, as prices can vary a fair bit depending on access, tree height and whether the wood needs hauling away. A written quote that spells out debris removal and stump treatment saves arguments later.
How We Select & Rate The Best Tree Surgeons in Exeter
Ranking is based on review rating and review count taken from public business listings, with a small lift for businesses showing a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm tree surgery is what they primarily do, which keeps unrelated trades off the page. Listings marked as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses displaying a Trust Verified badge have additionally passed our full verification, covering qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses haven't been independently verified by us, so do your own checks before hiring.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
A perfect 5 out of 37 reviews sets TreeCraft Devon apart among tree surgeons working across Exeter. The firm carries out pruning, felling and crown reduction work, with the consistency of feedback suggesting reliable scheduling and tidy site clean-up rather than one-off luck.
Crown reduction and dismantling of tall garden trees in tight, overlooked plots form much of Belmontrees LTD's workload around Exeter. The firm handles felling, pruning and stump removal, working carefully near fences, sheds and neighbouring gardens. It holds a 5-star rating from 34 reviews.
Exeter and the surrounding villages fall within reach of WM Trees, which handles pruning, felling and crown reduction work for domestic and rural properties. The firm has built a solid record locally, holding a five star rating from 30 reviews. Work is arranged directly with clients rather than through call centres, keeping communication straightforward.
Exeter and the surrounding villages fall within reach of Falcon Tree Care, which handles pruning, felling and crown reduction work for domestic gardens. Nineteen reviews on Google have left it with a full five-star rating, a reflection of consistent workmanship across the jobs it takes on.
Pincott Allen Tree Services works as a tree surgery outfit covering Exeter, taking on felling, pruning and crown reduction alongside fencing work. Sixteen Google reviews have left it with a full five-star rating, reflecting a consistent standard across jobs of varying scale. Its base in the EX2 area keeps response times reasonable for local callouts.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
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A straightforward crown lift or light pruning job might run from around £150 to £350, while felling a large mature tree with tricky access, say near a house in Heavitree or St David's, can push past £800 to £1,000 once you add stump grinding and waste removal. Hedge trimming tends to sit somewhere between £80 and £200 depending on length and height. Get two or three quotes for anything significant, since access, disposal method and whether a TPO application is needed all affect the final price.
Do I need permission to fell or prune a tree in Exeter?
If the tree has a Tree Preservation Order or sits within one of Exeter's conservation areas, such as parts of Heavitree or the city centre, you'll need written consent from Exeter City Council before any work starts. A decent tree surgeon should be able to check this for you and handle the application, but it's worth confirming who's responsible before work begins, as unauthorised work on a protected tree can lead to a fine running into thousands of pounds.
How quickly can a tree surgeon come out after a storm?
Most established tree surgeons in Exeter keep some capacity free for emergency callouts, particularly after high winds off the coast bring branches down on roofs or fences. Expect a same-day or next-day response for genuinely dangerous situations, though prices for emergency work are usually higher than a scheduled job, so ask for a rough figure over the phone before they arrive.
What happens to the wood and waste after tree work?
Most quotes include chipping branches on site and removing the arisings, but it's not always automatic, so ask directly. Some tree surgeons will leave logs stacked for firewood if you want to keep them, which can knock a bit off the price since it saves them a tip run. Stump removal or grinding is usually priced separately and isn't always included as standard.
Is stump grinding worth doing, or can I just leave the stump?
It depends on what you're planning for the space. A stump left in the ground can keep sprouting suckers for years and gets in the way if you want to lay a lawn or patio, so grinding it down, usually £60 to £150 depending on diameter, saves hassle later. If it's tucked away in a border with no plans to landscape over it, leaving it to rot down naturally is a reasonable option too.
How should I choose between tree surgeons in Exeter?
Ask to see a current public liability insurance certificate and NPTC or Lantra chainsaw qualifications before agreeing to anything, and don't be shy about requesting proof rather than taking a verbal assurance. Check recent customer reviews for comments about tidiness, punctuality and whether the quoted price held up on the day. Get a written quote that itemises the work, debris removal and any council paperwork needed, and compare at least two or three before deciding, since the range in price for similar jobs can be surprisingly wide.
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