They are a familiar sight on many streets, in urban green spaces, and even in private gardens: trees whose crowns have been radically pruned. Only the main branches have escaped the chainsaw. From these, dense tufts of thin shoots grow in the following years. What at first glance appears to be a pragmatic solution to restrict height growth and improve traffic safety is, from a tree biology perspective… Read more »
Common ivy (Hedera helix) is often perceived by the public as a threat to trees, but scientific studies from England, France, Germany, Italy, and Turkey clearly refute this assumption. The plant is not a parasite and does not deprive healthy trees of nutrients or water. Its aerial roots merely serve to anchor it to the bark without penetrating the vascular system of the host tree… Read more »
Those who love city trees must defend them against their supposed "friends"—that is, against those companies that present themselves as tree specialists while simultaneously doing exactly what modern tree care clearly classifies as harmful: topping and radical crown mutilation. Because what is sold as "rejuvenation" or "preservation" is in reality the beginning of a slow, gradual tree death that takes years, but is technically… Read more »
In Osterode am Harz, Göttingen district, Section 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) has been violated again: An area of approximately 4.100 square meters between Seesener Straße and the Schachtrupp villa was completely cleared of bushes. Section 39 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act prohibits the severe pruning or felling of hedges, living fences, bushes, and other woody plants between March 1st and September 30th. [ Continue reading »]
The "NRW Plants" initiative of the Robin Gut Foundation began in the Wesel district about a week ago. The goal is to plant one million trees in North Rhine-Westphalia. All 396 cities and municipalities are invited to participate to promote climate protection, biodiversity, and social cohesion. The initiative kicked off with a press event in Alpen, where Agriculture Minister Silke Gorißen planted an oak tree in front of… Read more »
In order to grow, trees must meticulously control their water balance. A study from the University of Basel shows how trees react to drought – and revises previous assumptions. Plants have small pores on the underside of their leaves, called stomata. When the sun rises, these pores open and the plants absorb water from the atmosphere… Read more »
Whether as protection against extreme weather or as a recreational area – green spaces play an important role for urban populations. Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) have now demonstrated in two studies precisely how a diverse tree population, in particular, affects the microclimate, rainwater infiltration, and human well-being. Green spaces with trees improve air quality in cities; they are also important… Read more »
Following the German Weather Service's (DWD) announcement that 2024 was the warmest year on record in Germany and worldwide, the German Nursery Association (BdB) is urging the rapid planting of trees in cities to adapt them to climate change. "For years we have been talking about bio-based solutions for adapting to climate change. Despite all the federal government's programs, we see little progress..." Read more »
These days, you encounter them practically everywhere: the stunted trees. Whatever the reason for the mutilation – whether lack of expertise, dendrophobia, boredom, or a lucrative commission – the consequences for the living tree and its inhabitants are catastrophic. A tree consists of a finely tuned system between roots, trunk, and crown. By topping… Read more »
Location: Area between the Imperial Palace, Seesener Straße, and Dörgestraße, near the Schachtrupp villa. Area: approx. 5.100 sq m. The facts: Regeneration to its original ecological status takes decades – until then, the habitat for the established species is lost: Depending on the site conditions, the grass and herbaceous layer can recover within three to six years, provided the seed banks in the soil… Read more »
