Landscaping and Garden Maintenance in Düsseldorf

Gardens in Düsseldorf: soil, climate and local characteristics

Düsseldorf lies on the Rhine in the Lower Rhine Bay (Niederrheinische Bucht) and is largely flat – only on the eastern edge of the city around Hubbelrath (Sandberg, 165 m) does the land rise towards the Bergisches Land. Along the river, for instance in the Urdenbacher Kämpe or on the floodplain at Wittlaer and Kaiserswerth, we find alluvial soils with a high water table. On the lower terrace, loamy sands through to loam dominate – well drained, but quick to dry out in summer. In the east, in Gerresheim and Hubbelrath, the ground is hilly and influenced by loess.

The climate is mild and oceanic: around 11.2 °C annual average, some 758 mm of rainfall, winters with little snow and warm, humid summers. The urban heat island effect and longer dry spells make irrigation, mulching and drought-tolerant planting a permanent theme – particularly in enclosed back courtyards and on roof terraces in the Medienhafen or in Golzheim.

• Close to the Rhine (Wittlaer, Kaiserswerth, Urdenbach): high water table and flood-prone plots – foundations and planting need to be planned accordingly
• Lower terrace: sandy loam that dries out in summer – irrigation and soil improvement are well worth the investment
• The east (Gerresheim, Hubbelrath): loamy, loess-influenced slopes – retaining walls, steps and drainage

Tree protection and local rules in Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf has a tree protection by-law (Baumschutzsatzung). Trees are protected from a trunk circumference of 80 cm, measured at a height of 1 m; with multi-stemmed trees a single stem of 50 cm is enough. Fruit trees are exempt – with the exception of walnut and sweet chestnut. Felling a protected tree requires an exemption permit (Ausnahmegenehmigung), for which the fee is around €76. We check in advance whether your tree falls under the by-law and, if you wish, submit the application for you.

In addition, a nationwide ban on cutting woody plants applies from 1 March to 30 September under the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, § 39 BNatSchG): we schedule hard cutbacks and clearance work for October to February. Ever since storm Ela in June 2014 destroyed around 30,000 trees in Düsseldorf, tree inspections, crown care and replacement planting have been a recurring subject in a great many gardens.

Typical projects in Düsseldorf

In villa districts such as Oberkassel, Golzheim or Kaiserswerth the brief is often a garden with presence: large areas of lawn with automatic irrigation, formally trimmed hedges, natural stone patios and paved driveways. In the Gründerzeit quarters of Pempelfort, Flingern or Düsseltal it tends to be small courtyards and front gardens instead, which gain enormously from raised beds, low-maintenance planting and a clean, properly laid path surface.

In the terraced-house areas of Benrath, Urdenbach, Unterbach or Angermund, patio construction, privacy screens, turf and regular garden maintenance are the priorities. For blocks of flats – in Eller, Wersten or Garath, for example – we take on the upkeep of the grounds, the hedge trimming and, on request, the winter service, all from a single source.

Getting to you and appointments in Düsseldorf

From Schwelm and Ennepetal we drive to Düsseldorf on the A46 or the A1 – around 45 to 55 km, usually 45 to 60 minutes. After the free on-site visit you receive a fixed-price quote in which travel, materials and waste disposal are set out transparently. For larger schemes we bundle the working days together, and for regular upkeep we plan fixed rounds through Düsseldorf. We normally reply to enquiries within 24 hours – ideally send us a few photos on WhatsApp.