Peppermints, jacarandas and towering old gums give Como a leafy character its residents are keen to hold on to. From the Swan River foreshore reserves to the quiet streets behind Preston Street, the suburb's trees do genuine work — shade, privacy and value — and keeping them that way calls for a trained hand.
Perth Arbor Services delivers professional tree care throughout Como and the surrounding City of South Perth. Our degree-qualified arborists have supported homeowners, apartment strata groups, businesses and local authorities with removal, pruning, lopping and land clearance since 2011, working seven days a week and backing every job with a free written quote.
Serving Como and Surrounding Suburbs
Operating out of Perth, we cover Como and every neighbouring suburb within the City of South Perth, including South Perth, Kensington, Manning, Salter Point, Waterford and Karawara. Whether you are near the river foreshore, along the Canning Highway corridor or tucked into the streets around Curtin University, we can reach you quickly.
Unsure whether your street falls within our patch? Ring us on (08) 9227 0010 and we will let you know on the spot.
- South Perth
- Kensington
- Manning
- Salter Point
- Waterford
- Karawara
What We Do in Como
Tree Removal Como
Many of Como's older homes sit beneath decades-old trees whose roots can reach under paving, drains and foundations, while riverfront blocks often carry storm-exposed specimens. We remove trees of any size safely, working around tight boundaries and shared apartment grounds, and we always leave the site clean.
Tree Pruning Como
Thoughtful pruning keeps a tree healthy and well shaped while clearing branches away from roofs, powerlines and your neighbour's fence. We work to Australian Standard AS4373, making cuts that serve the tree's long-term structure rather than simply neatening it for the season.
Tree Lopping Como
When a canopy genuinely needs cutting back for clearance or safety, we look at the job honestly first. Crude lopping can leave a tree weakened and prone to regrowth failure, whereas a proper reduction reaches the same outcome without the harm. We will tell you plainly which approach your tree actually needs.
Tree Risk Assessment Como
Mature trees give Como much of its charm, yet an unchecked one near a home, driveway or shared path is a liability. Our written assessments pinpoint structural defects, decay and hazard potential, giving owners, strata committees and property managers a clear, documented record of due diligence.
Land Clearance Como
For infill development, subdivisions and new builds around Como, we carry out efficient lot clearing that meets the City of South Perth's planning and tree-retention requirements.
Palm Trimming Como
Palms line plenty of Como's gardens and riverside developments, but neglected fronds and heavy seed pods soon turn messy and dangerous. We trim palms at any height, stripping out dead fronds and fruit before they drop and leaving each one tidy, healthy and looking its best.
City of South Perth Tree Rules: What to Check Before Any Work Starts
Tree work in Como comes with more red tape than most people expect. Before you touch a tree on or near your block, it helps to know exactly where the City's responsibility sits and where yours begins.
Every street tree on the verge is managed by the City of South Perth, and it is an offence for anyone to prune or remove a street tree without authorisation. If a verge tree needs attention, residents lodge a request and the City schedules the work through its own maintenance and annual pruning program.
On private property, larger trees can also be protected. Under the City's Local Planning Policy 3.2 – Tree Retention, a "Regulated Tree" (broadly one at least 8 metres tall, or with a canopy around 6 metres across, or a trunk circumference of about 1.5 metres) needs development approval before it is removed or pruned beyond genuine maintenance. Removing a protected tree without approval breaches the Planning and Development Act 2005, which carries penalties of up to $200,000 for an individual.
Perth Arbor Services checks what needs approval before we quote, not after. If an application is required, we can walk you through it so your project keeps moving.
Not sure whether your tree work needs City of South Perth approval? Call us first on (08) 9227 0010 and we will give you a straight answer before anything is cut.
Why Como Homeowners Choose Perth Arbor Services
Plenty of arborists advertise around Como, so here is what sets us apart for local homeowners, strata managers and businesses.
Degree-qualified arborists
Founders Tony Head and Michael Dawson are both degree-qualified arborists who studied Arboriculture at Murdoch University. That grounding shapes the way every tree is assessed and every job is carried out.
Here since 2011
More than 14 years of residential and commercial tree work across Perth, from a single leaning gum in a Como backyard to full site clearance for a new build.
ArbWest Professional Members
Certified, insured and held to recognised industry standards that protect you just as much as they reflect on us.
Seven days a week
Including emergency call-outs when a storm-damaged tree by the river cannot safely wait until Monday.
PSHB-aware and equipped
Como lies within Perth's metropolitan Quarantine Area. If you have susceptible species on your block, we can assess and manage them responsibly.
Written quotes, no surprises
Scope and price confirmed in writing before we start, so there are no unexpected costs later.
What Como Clients Say
Como Tree Service Questions, Answered
Can I prune or remove the verge tree outside my Como home?
No. Street trees on Como verges are managed by the City of South Perth, and it is an offence for anyone to prune or remove one without authorisation. If the tree needs work, you lodge a request with the City and it is handled through their maintenance and annual pruning program. Give us a call if you are unsure and we will point you the right way.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree on my own property in Como?
It depends on the tree. Smaller trees are generally yours to manage, but under the City of South Perth's Local Planning Policy 3.2 – Tree Retention, a "Regulated Tree" (roughly 8 metres or taller, around a 6-metre canopy, or a trunk circumference near 1.5 metres) needs development approval before removal or any pruning beyond genuine maintenance. Removing a protected tree without approval breaches the Planning and Development Act 2005, with penalties of up to $200,000 for an individual. We will confirm what applies before we quote.
What is the difference between tree lopping and tree pruning?
Lopping usually means crude, heavy cuts that can weaken a tree and trigger unstable regrowth, whereas pruning is measured work that keeps the tree sound. Our arborists prune to Australian Standard AS4373 so the cuts benefit the tree's structure. When a canopy genuinely needs reducing for clearance or safety, we assess it honestly and tell you which approach your tree really needs.
Is Como affected by the polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB)?
Yes. Como sits within Perth's metropolitan Quarantine Area for PSHB, an invasive beetle that bores into a wide range of tree species. If you have susceptible trees on your property, early assessment is recommended, and our arborists can inspect and manage the risk appropriately.
Get a Free Quote for Tree Services in Como
Whether a tree needs to come down, a canopy needs pruning back from the roofline, or you simply want an expert eye over what your property needs, Perth Arbor Services is ready to help. We cover Como and the wider City of South Perth seven days a week, and every quote is free, written and comes with no obligation.
Call us or send an enquiry online, and one of our qualified arborists will be in touch promptly.
Find Us in Como
Perth Arbor Services works right across Como and the City of South Perth, from the Swan River foreshore through to Manning, Salter Point and Waterford.