A tree that stands too close to the house, drops deadwood onto the patio or leans at an angle after a storm is a liability risk. At the same time, not every tree in Düsseldorf, Cologne or Wuppertal may simply be cut down: the local tree protection by-laws (Baumschutzsatzung) require a permit above a certain trunk circumference.
Gala Bau Kurt takes on tree felling and tree care for private gardens, property managers (Hausverwaltungen) and commercial clients in Düsseldorf, Wuppertal, Schwelm, Ennepetal, Meerbusch, Cologne and throughout North Rhine-Westphalia – from the assessment on site and the application documents through to the last wood chip, at a fixed price and with one named contact who is happy to talk it all through with you in English.
What we do around your trees
From the ornamental tree in the front garden to the 25-metre spruce on a slope – the technique depends on the tree and on where it stands.
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Tree felling
Free-standing trees are felled in the classic way, with a felling notch, hinge and back cut; where there is no room to drop them, we take them down in sections.
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Sectional felling with rope access
On tight plots, on slopes or directly against the house we climb into the crown and lower every section of trunk under control.
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Crown reduction & crown care
Deadwood removal, thinning and shortening in line with the German tree care standard (ZTV-Baumpflege), for a stable and healthy tree.
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Tree inspection & site safety
A visual check for rot, fungal infection and the risk of limb failure – so that you meet your duty of care (Verkehrssicherungspflicht).
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Storm damage & hazardous trees
Fallen, split or hung-up trees are made safe and removed by us at short notice.
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Stump grinding & root removal
The stump grinder works 20–30 cm below ground level; where you are building, we dig the root plate out with a mini excavator. Chipping and haulage away are always included.
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Fruit tree pruning
Formative, maintenance and rejuvenation pruning for apple, pear, cherry and plum trees.
How we fell a tree: technique, safety, tidiness
Every felling job begins with one question: where can the tree go? If there is enough space, we take it down from the ground – with a cleanly cut felling notch, a proper hinge and back cut, plus wedges or a winch line for the exact direction of fall. If a neighbour's garden, a carport or overhead cables are in the way, we work with rope access (Seilklettertechnik) or a mobile work platform and dismantle the tree from the top down; every piece is rigged and lowered under control.
For crown work the German tree care standard (ZTV-Baumpflege) applies: cuts at the branch collar, no stubs, no topping – a topped tree throws up poorly attached water shoots and becomes a far bigger problem within a few years. We cordon off the working area, protect lawns and paving with boards, and hand the site back swept clean.
Permits: tree protection by-laws in Düsseldorf, Cologne, Wuppertal & Meerbusch
In NRW it is the local council that decides whether a tree may be felled – and the rules differ from town to town. In Düsseldorf, trees are protected from a trunk circumference of 80 cm (measured at a height of 1 m), multi-stemmed trees from 50 cm per stem; fruit trees are exempt, apart from walnut and sweet chestnut. Cologne has protected deciduous trees from 80 cm and conifers from 130 cm since July 2023. Wuppertal sets the threshold at 100 cm and asks for a site plan with photographs to be submitted with the application. Meerbusch has worked with a notification requirement since 2020: you register the felling six weeks beforehand, and a replacement planting or a compensation payment is compulsory.
Schwelm and Ennepetal currently have no tree protection by-law – felling on private land is usually possible there without a council permit. Everywhere, however, § 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (Bundesnaturschutzgesetz) applies: from 1 March to 30 September, hard cutting back of woody plants is prohibited in order to protect nesting birds, so the felling season runs from October to the end of February. We measure the trunk circumference during the site visit, check the by-law that applies in your municipality and help you prepare the application (the fee is usually €25–100, around €76 in Düsseldorf).
Trees in the Bergisches Land and on the Rhine plain
In Wuppertal, Schwelm and Ennepetal, many trees stand on steep slopes, on shallow slate soils and along narrow valley roads. Rope access is almost always the method of choice here, because neither a platform nor a crane can get close enough; the high rainfall also makes rot in spruce and old beech a recurring issue. On a slope we discuss with you whether the stump should stay in place – it holds the soil together.
In Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and Cologne it is more often a matter of old, large trees in villa districts such as Oberkassel, Marienburg or Lindenthal, and of drought-stressed trees on the sandy soils of the lower Rhine terrace. Since the Whitsun storm Ela destroyed around 30,000 trees in Düsseldorf in 2014, a tree inspection before the storm season has become part of the routine in many gardens. From the Ennepe-Ruhr-Kreis we reach Wuppertal within a few minutes, and Düsseldorf and Cologne via the A46, A1 and A3 usually within the hour.
Tax relief for tree work
Tree felling, crown reduction and stump grinding on a property you live in yourself can be set against your income tax under § 35a of the German Income Tax Act (§ 35a EStG): 20 % of the labour, travel and machine costs – either as a household-related service (haushaltsnahe Dienstleistung) up to €4,000 per year, or as a tradesman's service (Handwerkerleistung) up to €1,200 per year, depending on how your tax office classifies the work. We show the labour costs separately on the invoice; please pay by bank transfer rather than in cash.
How a tree felling job runs with us
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Site visit & measuring the trunk
We look at the tree, its position, the space it can fall into and the access, measure the trunk circumference and clarify whether a permit or a notification is needed.
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Fixed-price quote & application
You receive a quote with a clear description of the work; on request we put together the documents for the tree protection authority (Baumschutzbehörde) with you.
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Felling or care pruning
We make the area safe, dismantle the tree or reduce the crown, and protect the lawn, the paving and the neighbouring property.
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Stump, disposal, handover
On request we grind out the stump, chip the brushwood and take everything away with us.
What does tree felling cost?
The decisive factors are height, crown diameter, position and the volume of material to be taken away; as a rule of thumb, allow €50–150 per metre of tree height. Non-binding guide prices incl. VAT:
| Scope of work | Costs & Prices |
|---|---|
| Tree felling up to 5 m high | approx. €150–400 |
| Tree felling 5–10 m high | approx. €400–800 |
| Tree felling 10–15 m high | approx. €800–1,500 |
| Large tree over 15 m / sectional felling | from approx. €1,500 |
| Crown reduction / tree care | approx. €150–2,000 per tree |
| Stump grinding | approx. €100–500 (approx. €2–4 per cm of diameter) |
| Council permit fee | approx. €25–100 (Düsseldorf approx. €76) |
Rope access, tight built-up surroundings and poor access increase the effort involved; several trees in a single visit bring down the price per tree. Fixed price after a free on-site visit.
All figures are non-binding guide prices incl. VAT. The final price depends on area, access, materials and effort. You will receive a binding fixed-price quote after a free on-site visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to fell a tree in NRW?
In many towns, yes: Düsseldorf and Cologne protect trees from a trunk circumference of 80 cm measured at a height of 1 m, Wuppertal from 100 cm, and Meerbusch requires notification six weeks in advance. Schwelm and Ennepetal currently have no tree protection by-law. We measure the trunk during the site visit and help you with the application.
What does it cost to have a tree felled?
As a guide figure, allow €50–150 per metre of tree height: up to 5 m usually €150–400, 10–15 m €800–1,500, and large trees over 15 m from €1,500. Rope access and tight built-up surroundings push the price up, and stump grinding costs roughly €100–500 on top.
When is a tree allowed to be felled?
The felling season runs from October to the end of February. From 1 March to 30 September, § 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (§ 39 BNatSchG) protects nesting birds, so hard cutting back and clearance work are prohibited. There are exceptions for genuinely hazardous trees, for example after a storm.
What happens to the tree stump?
On request we grind it out 20–30 cm below ground level, so that you can sow grass or plant over it. If you want to build or pave there, we remove the whole root plate with a mini excavator. Without a separate agreement, the stump is simply left cut flush with the ground.
My tree was damaged in a storm – how quickly can you come?
Give us a call or send a photo on WhatsApp. We treat hazardous trees as a priority and can usually make them safe or remove them within a few days in our core service area. We also take care of the retrospective report to the tree protection authority – within three days in Meerbusch.
Do you also fell trees on tight plots or right next to the house?
Yes; in terraced housing, inner courtyards and on sloping plots that is the normal case. We dismantle the tree in sections using rope access or a work platform and lower every piece to the ground under control – the roof, the patio and the neighbour's garden stay untouched.