Are the Risks of Choosing Cheap Tree Care Worth It?

In the Overberg, tree care quotes can vary wildly. One person offers to “sort it out” for R1 500 cash, while another sends through a detailed quote with safety notes, waste removal, and insurance details, at three times the price.

It’s tempting to go with the cheaper option. After all, it’s “just trimming a few branches,” right? But here’s the truth: when it comes to trees, cheap work almost always costs more in the long run.

1. The “Bakkie Brigade” Problem

Across South Africa, and especially here in the Western Cape, there’s no shortage of people with a chainsaw and a ladder calling themselves “tree fellers.”

But tree felling and professional arboriculture are two very different things.

A professional arborist studies tree biology, risk assessment, and safe climbing systems.

They understand how to prune for long-term health, not just short-term appearance.

A cheap tree crew, on the other hand, often focuses on speed and profit, not science or safety.

That difference is what separates a healthy tree that thrives for another decade from one that starts dying back within a season.

2. The Hidden Cost of Inexperience

Trees are living organisms, not just “green structures” to cut back. Every cut changes the way that tree grows, how it resists wind, and how it fights infection.

Untrained workers often:

• Cut too close to the trunk, damaging the branch collar where the tree heals itself.

• Top trees: chopping the crown flat to make it “smaller.” It’s one of the worst things you can do to a tree. It creates weak regrowth that snaps easily and leaves open wounds for rot and disease.

• Use blunt saws or dirty tools, spreading pathogens from one property to the next.

The result? Within months, that “cheaper” job turns into:

• A tree that looks butchered and never recovers.

• Weak, unsafe branches needing removal later.

• A full tree death, meaning you’ll now pay for felling, stump grinding, and replacement.

That R1 500 “bargain” quickly turns into a R15 000 headache.

3. Safety Isn’t Optional, It’s Everything

Tree work is one of the most dangerous professions in the world.

Every year, people are seriously injured or killed by falls, chainsaws, or dropped branches.

Professional crews, like ours, are trained to mitigate that risk:

• We use safe climbing systems, rigging gear, and helmets that meet ISA and South African standards.

  
  

• Every climber is trained in aerial rescue and emergency response.

• Every job is covered by liability insurance, protecting both our team and your property.

  
  

A cheap operator usually can’t tick any of those boxes. If something goes wrong, and it often does, you could be held liable for damage or injury on your property. That’s not a risk any homeowner wants.

4. Poor Work Leaves a Mess Behind

You can tell a professional arborist job the same way you can tell a professional painter’s one: by the cleanup.

When the crew packs up, there shouldn’t be branches left on the lawn, sawdust covering your flowerbeds, or deep ruts from wheelbarrows. The site should look calm, clean, and cared for.

Cheap jobs tend to end differently:

• Half the debris left for you to “deal with later.”

• Scars on paving and garden beds.

• Broken irrigation pipes or walls from careless branch drops.

At Overberg Arborists, we take cleanup as seriously as the climb. It’s part of finishing properly, no trace of chaos, just calm order.

5. Hidden Costs Don’t Stay Hidden for Long

The “cheap” quote often looks appealing because key elements are missing:

• No waste removal (that’s another R1 000).

• No traffic management or rope systems (so expect damaged fences).

• No insurance (which can mean massive liability if there’s damage).

Even if the trees look “fine” right after a job, improper pruning can create long-term instability; weak regrowth, internal rot, and structural imbalance.

When that tree fails in a storm, it’s not the cheap contractor who pays for roof repairs or powerline damage. It’s you.

6. Environmental Damage Adds Up

Tree care done badly doesn’t just affect one property. It can disrupt the entire local ecosystem.

Incorrect chemical use, harsh fertilizers, or topping large canopies can:

• Stress or kill nesting habitats for local birds.

• Encourage invasive insect populations.

• Increase wind exposure for nearby trees, causing chain failures in future storms.

Professional arborists consider the whole ecosystem. We prune to reduce risk while keeping the tree healthy and the local environment intact. Cheap operators tend to treat trees like obstacles, not organisms.

7. The False Economy of “Quick Fixes”

We hear this often:

“We just needed it out the way quickly. We’ll get a proper arborist next time.”

But the “quick fix” usually creates the next problem. Trees pruned incorrectly once can’t always be corrected later, especially if main limbs were removed or decay has set in.

It’s a bit like dentistry: ignoring structure for price leads to pain, loss, and more expensive treatment later. Professional care isn’t about being fancy; it’s about doing it right the first time.

8. How to Tell You’re Dealing with a Professional

Here’s a quick checklist for homeowners in the Overberg (or anywhere in South Africa) when hiring a tree care company:

• They provide a written quote with clear scope, cleanup, and disposal included.

• They can show proof of insurance.

• They use ropes and harnesses, not ladders for big trees.

• They understand pruning objectives, not just “cutting back.”

• They don’t use topping as a “solution.”

• They’re willing to advise before cutting, even if that means saying the work isn’t needed.

Those signs separate real professionals from short-term operators.

9. Why Professional Tree Care Is Worth It

Hiring professional arborists isn’t about luxury, it’s about protecting what matters:

• Your family’s safety.

• Your property’s value.

• The health and beauty of the trees you’ve invested years in growing.

Done properly, pruning extends a tree’s lifespan by decades, improves shade and aesthetics, and reduces risk of storm damage. It’s not an expense; it’s an investment in long-term peace of mind.

At Overberg Arborists, we’ve built our reputation on doing things properly, no shortcuts, no drama, and no surprises. We show up when we say we will, we leave every property spotless, and we treat every tree with the respect it deserves.

Final Thought

In the Overberg, weather can turn quickly; wind, salt, and soil all test the strength of your trees. They deserve care that matches that environment.

So, before you say yes to the cheapest quote, ask yourself one thing: If something goes wrong, who do I trust to make it right?

Real tree care costs what it does for a reason, because safety, skill, and respect aren’t cheap. And they shouldn’t be.

Need honest advice about your trees?

Book a free 10-minute Video Consultation with André, our Head Arborist.

He’ll help you understand what your trees really need, no pressure, just care.