Gardening Rules

Did you know your garden and the local green spaces are living habitats for wildlife and insects?
If you cut back or trim your plants too soon, you are removing necessary pollen sources for insects, such as bees and butterflies. It can also reduce or eliminate habitat for birds and small mammals that are dependent on these for food and shelter

According to Article 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation act (BNatSchG), excessive cutting and grafting of trees, hedges, shrubs, and woody plants are prohibited between 1 March to 30 September. This is referred to as Pflanzen-Schonzeit.

You are allowed to gently trim vegetation for general care and maintenance. If birds are nesting a tree or bush, you are not allow to trim it.

Regional laws

Rules for gardening are also regulated by the federal states and sometimes also by the municipality. These can include the distance between trees, building a greenhouse, removal of lawn and bushes, stone gardens ( Schottergärten ) etc. Your rental agreement and home association rules can also dictate what you can and can not do. A common issue is plants or plant boxes on the balcony.

Some examples:

Nachbarrecht Baden-Württemberg
Gerätehütten und Gartenhäuser Baden-Württemberg

Legal

Gesetz über Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz – BNatSchG) legistlation in German
Fines
Überhang Trees or bushes hanging over the property, also fruit. See sections 910 and 912.
For more info about trees, see this website (in German)
German Civil Code in English

Schrebergarten (Allotment/urban gardens)

These are small inner-city gardens. Finding one to rent is extremely difficult. They are also known as Kleingartenanlae or Gartenkolonie. Wohnglück has an article on how to get a Kleingarten

What else do you need to consider

You are only allowed to mow your lawn from Monday to Saturday, from 7:00 in the morning to 20:00. You are not allowed to mow your lawn on a Sunday or public holiday. If your tools do not have the correct EU Environment labels, you can only use them from Monday to Friday between 9:00 and 13:00 and 15:00 to 17:00. The fines are quite hefty.

When there are flowers like anemones, tulips, crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths, snowdrops, lily of the valley and other bulb varieties on your lawn, you need to wait until the flowers and the leaves have completely died before you mow the lawn.

Weed Killers:
The use of weed killers is only permitted on agricultural, horticultural and forestry areas. Weed killers may not be used on paved surfaces. These include paths and squares such as sidewalks, park and cemetery paths, garage entrances, courtyard areas, sports facilities, communal and commercial areas of all kinds. It is irrelevant whether the herbicides are approved or are home remedies such as vinegar or road salt. Violators face fines of up to €50 000. See the plant protection act for more

Vocabulary

English Term	German Term	Information
Seeds	das Saadgut Die Samen
Seedlings	die Jungpflanzen die Keimpflanzen das Sämling
Cuttings	Die Stecklingen
Lawn	Der Rasen Die Liegewiese Die Grasflächen	a lawnmower is der Rasenmäher
Gravel garden	Der Schottergärten
Overhang (tree branches)	Der Überhang
Greenhouse	Das Gewächshaus
Tree	Das Baum
Shrub	Der Strauch
Bushes	Die Büsche
Trimming	Zurückschneiden Trimmen	Hedge trimmers are Heckenscheren
Leaves	Das Laub	Leaf blower is der Laubbläser
Shovel Gardenfork	die Schaufel or Gärtnerspaten Die Grabegabel or Spatengabel
Ground cover plants	Die Bodendecker
Indoor plants	Die Zimmerpflanzen
Creepers	Die Kletterpflanzen
Weeds	Die Unkraut	Weedkiller is das Herbizid
Pests	Die Schädlinge	Pest control is die Schädlingsbekämpfung
Plant pots	Die Pflanzentöpfe	Indoors – Innen Outdoors – Außen