Tree pruning
Tips for perfect pruning - when should you prune trees?
If you own a garden or cultivate a fruit garden, sooner or later you will be faced with the question of whether you should prune your trees, shrubs and hedges - and if so, when would be the best time to do so. We explain why tree pruning is not permitted at all times, what you need to prune and which pruning is best and when.
When is pruning allowed?
First of all, it is important to know that according to the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), tree pruning is restricted or even prohibited at certain times. Light pruning, which is only used for shaping or maintenance, may be carried out all year round. During the bird breeding season from March 1 to September 30, however, radical pruning of trees and hedges is prohibited nationwide - violations lead to fines in most federal states. In principle, this applies to trees on private property, but not to private gardens, green and lawn sports areas, cemeteries and forests. However, it should be noted that only trees that do not serve as a habitat for animals may be pruned.
In some federal states, a permit must also be obtained for major pruning or felling during the period from October to February. There may be more precise tree protection statutes or nature conservation regulations. Exceptions to the ban on tree pruning generally only apply to measures that are intended to restore public safety or road safety.
In short: When can trees be pruned?
In principle, small, non-invasive pruning may be carried out all year round. However, you should obtain information for your specific federal state and area and must not endanger any animals by pruning.
Why is pruning limited in time?
The federal and state governments restrict when tree pruning is permitted in order to protect animals and trees. The bird protection period is between March and September: native birds breed during this time. In order not to disturb the rearing of the young birds, the nests of the bird families should be protected from disturbance by tree pruning. This is exactly in §39 des Bundesnaturschutzgesetzes described. This law also regulates the protection of other animal species: for example, it stipulates that no bat caves should be visited between October and February so as not to wake the bats from hibernation.
However, the Federal Nature Conservation Act does not regulate when tree pruning is permitted to protect “wild animals”, but also the “general protection of plants”. If you prune trees and hedges at an inappropriate time, you run the risk of irritating the plants and causing disease. We explain to you what the right time is for which tree pruning.
What is the best time to prune my tree?
According to farming wisdom, trees should be pruned in winter. However, this is not based on when the best time for pruning actually is - the tradition comes from the fact that farming usually stops during the cold months. This meant that winter was the best time for pruning.
Unfortunately, the generally best period for pruning trees conflicts with bird protection: March to September is also the growing season for most trees and shrubs. Plants regenerate particularly quickly during this time, so cuts heal better and infections are less common. However, it should be noted when pruning can still pose risks:
- When a tree is just sprouting, it produces a large amount of sap that emerges from the cut - pruning should be avoided at this stage.
- When trees shed their leaves, this means that they need a lot of nutrients and are taking them from their leaves - trees are also particularly vulnerable at this time and should not be pruned.
You can find out below which trees are best suited to summer or winter pruning.
Summer pruning
Summer pruning can specifically slow down the growth of the tree for the following months until winter. In the case of fruit trees, for example, it is advisable to “thin out” them in early summer: Superfluous branches that do not bear fruit are removed. This gives the fruit more air and sunlight until harvest. In the dry warmth of summer, harmful fungi are less active so that cuts heal better and the risk of infection is lower.
Nevertheless, care must also be taken in summer: the month of July is often too hot for pruning. If parts of the bark are suddenly exposed to strong sunlight during thinning, the tree can suffer burns similar to sunburn. There is also the threat of stronger winds and worse weather in the fall - when pruning in summer, care should be taken not to expose weak branches in such a way that they break in windy conditions.
Winter pruning
Deciduous trees do not store their nutrients for the winter in leaves, but in the tree itself. When the branches are full of leaves, it is particularly easy to see which areas should be pruned. By cutting back superfluous or damaged branches in winter, the tree can make targeted use of its stored nutrients the following spring. Although there will be fewer buds, they will sprout more vigorously. Winter pruning also increases wood growth.
When pruning trees in winter, it is important to note when temperatures fall below 0°C. Plants can be severely damaged if frost penetrates open cuts. No winter pruning should take place at particularly low temperatures.
What types of pruning are there?
In agriculture and forestry, as well as in gardens where space is often limited, it is important to guarantee the healthy and controlled growth of trees. Depending on the type and aim of pruning, it can vary as to when and which pruning is appropriate:
- If the spatial extent of a tree is to be restricted - for reasons of space, for aesthetic reasons, or to provide enough space and light for nearby trees - this is known as topiary.
- In the case of particularly tall or old trees, the aim is to prevent damaged branches from breaking off or trees from falling over. Relief pruning ensures safety.
- Fruit trees are regularly pruned to remove superfluous branches that do not bear flowers and buds. As this is intended to make the flower-bearing branches particularly productive, this is referred to as yield pruning.
If most or all of the branches of a tree are cut back, this is radical pruning. This is prohibited during the bird protection season and carries a high risk of infection for the tree. In addition, trees need a balance between roots and crown, so excessive pruning can cause major damage to the entire tree.
How can I dispose of prunings?
After you have successfully trimmed your trees and hedges, the question arises as to when and where you can dispose of cut branches and leaves. Smaller quantities can be put to good use in your own garden - shredded branches can be used in compost and raised beds, for example, or as bark mulch.
You can usually dispose of a few bags of tree cuttings free of charge at the recycling center. Tree cuttings are garden waste with a high proportion of natural, untreated wood. Waste that contains more leaves and fewer branches is called green waste. Under no circumstances should green and tree cuttings be mixed with other waste, as recycling centers and landfills will not accept them.
You should rent containers for very large quantities: Green waste containers for branches up to 2 m long, tree pruning containers for larger branches and whole trunks. If a gardening company is responsible for the pruning work, it can usually also dispose of the prunings.
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