Schwelm is the seat of the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis and lies right on our doorstep: only about four to five kilometres separate the centres of Schwelm and Ennepetal – roughly ten minutes from our own yard. We work in every part of the town, from the town centre and the old town through Möllenkotten, Oehde, Oberloh, Kornborn and Brunnen to Linderhausen, Winterberg, Martfeld, Loh, Ehrenberg and Nordstadt.
In Schwelm, Gala Bau Kurt takes care of everything around your property from a single source – from garden maintenance and hedge trimming through paving, patios, retaining walls and drainage to fencing, tree felling and the winter service. After the free on-site visit you receive a fixed-price quote, with waste disposal included.
Our services in Schwelm
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Garden maintenance in Schwelm
Lawns, hedges and beds in terraced-house and sloping gardens – on a maintenance contract or as a one-off visit, with green waste removal included.
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Retaining walls and gabions in Schwelm
Holding back the changes in level in Oehde, Möllenkotten or Winterberg safely – natural stone, L-shaped concrete units or gabions, properly founded and drained.
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Paving and pathways in Schwelm
Driveways, paths and yards with a frost-resistant sub-base and the right fall – with 1,200 mm of rain a year, gladly in a permeable build-up.
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Patio construction in Schwelm
Natural stone, concrete slabs or timber – on sloping plots planned as a level terrace with a retaining wall and steps.
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Drainage in Schwelm
Soakaways, drainage runs and channels against waterlogged lawns and water at the house wall – a permanent issue on clayey loam soils.
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Hedge trimming in Schwelm
Shaping and hard cutbacks at the right time of year – in Schwelm's damp climate hedges put on growth particularly strongly.
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Tree felling and tree care in Schwelm
With no tree protection by-law in place, felling on private land is usually permit-free – carried out safely even in tight spots, with the closed season observed.
Gardens in Schwelm: soil, climate and local characteristics
At 20.5 km² Schwelm is the smallest municipality by area in North Rhine-Westphalia, and the town sits between 181 and 352 m above sea level. In the north the ground is massive limestone with karst features (sinkholes and dry valleys); in the south the Bergisch uplands climb towards the Schwelmer Höhen. The soils are mostly shallow, stony and in places clayey loam over slate and greywacke; only in the south are there luvisols (Parabraunerden) formed from loess – the best soils anywhere in the town.
On top of that come around 1,200 mm of rainfall a year in a mild, oceanic climate – which in practice means waterlogging, moss in the lawn and water running down the slope towards the house. In Oehde, Möllenkotten, Winterberg, Linderhausen and Kornborn the detached and terraced-house areas lie predominantly on sloping ground, with embankments and older retaining walls. The old town has listed Bergisch half-timbered houses (Fachwerkhäuser), while the town centre is made up of Gründerzeit and post-war buildings with front gardens and inner courtyards.
- Sloping plots: terracing, retaining walls, steps and erosion-proof embankments
- 1,200 mm of rain: drainage, soakaways and permeable paving
- Shallow, stony soils: an adapted build-up for lawns and beds
Tree protection and local rules in Schwelm
Schwelm currently has no tree protection by-law (Baumschutzsatzung) – it was abolished years ago, and although bringing it back has been discussed, nothing is in force. That places Schwelm alongside Ennepetal and Breckerfeld among the towns in the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis without a municipal tree protection by-law: felling on private land is as a rule possible without a permit from the town.
Even so, it is not entirely without rules. Under § 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz, BNatSchG), hedges and woody plants may not be cleared or cut back to the stump between 1 March and 30 September – gentle maintenance cuts remain permitted. Additional requirements apply to trees in protected areas or on municipal land; the authority responsible is the district's lower nature conservation authority (Untere Naturschutzbehörde), based in Schwelm itself. We check every individual case before any felling.
Typical projects in Schwelm
On the slopes of Oehde, Möllenkotten and Winterberg the job is usually to turn a sloping plot into usable levels: a patio on the hillside, behind it a retaining wall in natural stone, L-shaped concrete units or gabions with drainage, and in front of it a piece of lawn that is not washed away by every summer downpour – all connected by a flight of steps and prepared with the mini excavator.
At the terraced and detached houses in Linderhausen, Kornborn or Oberloh it is more often driveways and paths: the sunken paving comes out, a frost-resistant crushed-stone sub-base goes in, and concrete blocks or natural stone go back down with the correct fall – permeable if you would like it. Around the old town and the town centre we look after front gardens, courtyards and blocks of flats on maintenance contracts that include the winter service.
Getting to you and appointments in Schwelm
Schwelm is our home patch: from our base in the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis we are in the district town in about ten minutes, and via the Wuppertal-Nord motorway interchange (A1/A43/A46) we reach Gevelsberg, Sprockhövel or Wuppertal just as quickly. There is no separate call-out charge for Schwelm.
We normally reply to your enquiry within 24 hours and can usually offer an appointment for the site visit within a few days. Construction projects are planned a few weeks ahead depending on the season, while maintenance and cutting work can often start at short notice. Consultation in German, Turkish and English – English-speaking advice is standard with us.
Some of the districts we serve
PLZ: 58332
Frequently Asked Questions – Schwelm
Do I need permission to have a tree felled in Schwelm?
In most cases, no: Schwelm currently has no tree protection by-law (Baumschutzsatzung), so felling on private land is as a rule permit-free. Exceptions apply in protected areas and on public land; in addition, the clearance ban from 1 March to 30 September applies (§ 39 BNatSchG). We check this for you in advance.
Is there a call-out charge for Schwelm?
No. Schwelm lies in our home region in the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis, so the journey is included in the fixed-price quote. The on-site visit is free of charge and without obligation as well.
My plot in Schwelm is on a slope – what can be done with it?
A great deal: terracing, retaining walls in natural stone, L-shaped concrete units or gabions, steps and drainage create level areas for a patio, lawn and beds. What matters is a proper foundation and backfill, so that the walls stand up to the water pressure from the heavy rainfall for the long term.
Why is my lawn in Schwelm so mossy and wet?
Usually because of the combination of around 1,200 mm of rain a year, heavy clayey loam or shallow soils, and shade. We establish the cause on site and help with scarifying, top-dressing with sand, drainage or a completely new lawn build-up with a suitable load-bearing layer.
How quickly can I get an appointment in Schwelm?
We normally reply within 24 hours and can usually offer an appointment for the site visit within a few days. Maintenance work often starts at short notice, while construction projects are planned a few weeks ahead depending on the season.