Trees make a garden really beautiful and hedges serve as privacy screens. Nevertheless, property owners and residents must comply with their duty of care.
This means that hedges, shrubs and trees must not grow into the traffic area. They must be cut back to the property boundary. Pruning must be carried out in such a way that future growth and lengthening does not impair the public traffic area. Overhanging vegetation leads to restrictions in traffic safety and obstructed views. Now, in the fall, is the right time for pruning. The municipal civil engineering department therefore asks that pruning be carried out now, outside the bird breeding season (March 1 to September 30).
The green waste resulting from pruning can be disposed of free of charge on four Saturdays in October as part of the garden waste campaign at various locations in the city. The containers are available at the drop-off points from 10:00 to 15:00. Further details can be found online at www.erlangen.de/gartenabfalltermine.
Photo: Canva
Tips for correct pruning
The Tree Protection Ordinance protects all trees within its area of validity with a trunk circumference of 80 centimetres or more at a height of one meter above the ground. Fruit trees are exempt from this, with wild fruit, walnuts and sweet chestnuts being among the protected tree species. Pruning measures on protected trees may be subject to application!
Pruning time
The optimum time for pruning generally depends on the tree species. Basically: outside the frost period, ideally in the leafy state (late summer).
- In principle, habitats (e.g. loose pieces of bark, nests, cavities) must be preserved when pruning trees and active broods must not be disturbed. From a species conservation point of view, pruning measures are only possible between October and the end of February with regard to breeding birds. However, cavities and crevice roosts may also be occupied in winter (bats!) and must not be removed without prior inspection by the nature conservation authority!
Scope of permissible pruning
Crown maintenance pruning (removal of dead wood, rubbing, damaged branches up to 10 centimetres in diameter) is permitted without further approval. It is recommended that such pruning is carried out by a qualified specialist tree care company in order to prevent avoidable damage to the tree. Healthy branches must not be shortened! These measures are usually sufficient to ensure traffic safety. More extensive pruning is subject to application in the case of protected trees (crown reduction, pruning of healthy branches, re-treatment of damaged crowns, corrective pruning). Application form at www.erlangen.de/baumschutz.
Prune trees "correctly"
- Do not leave any stumps when removing branches
- Keep the cut surface as small as possible (do not cut close to the bark/parallel to the trunk!
- Make clean cuts, use sharp tools (preferably hand saws)
- Do not use wound sealants (outdated practice, can aggravate rot)
- For more extensive pruning, it is advisable to commission a specialist tree care company in order to achieve a healthy and sustainable growth habit in the long term.
- Less is more for now! Pruning can be repeated - but branches cannot be reattached!
- Various institutions also offer pruning courses for non-professionals.
What does not work at all: - Tree topping/capping of the leading shoot
- Pruning during frost
- Tearing off cut branches - always aim for a clean cut surface!
- "Limbing" trees, i.e. removing the lower branches on the trunk - can lead to stability/fracture insecurity
In principle, pruning should only be carried out on trees if it is necessary for reasons of traffic safety or to ensure clearances to buildings or passage heights. Pruning wounds on trees often represent a later "predetermined breaking point" and entry points for pathogens such as bacteria and fungi. Pruning measures should therefore be avoided wherever possible.
Here: Contact details for queries about the Tree Protection Ordinance
Here: Contact details for questions about species protection regulations