According to Section 39 (5) sentence 1 no. 2 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG), it is prohibited to cut, uproot or remove trees outside of forests, short rotation plantations or horticultural land between March 1 and September 30.

This prohibition does not apply to gentle shaping and maintenance pruning to keep trees healthy (e.g. removal of dead wood, damaged branches, so-called summer pruning of fruit trees). In principle, pruning is also permitted on land used for horticultural purposes within the scope of horticultural use, e.g. in a typical home garden or an allotment garden. There are also other exceptional reasons, e.g. measures to ensure road safety are permitted if they cannot be carried out in the public interest by other means or at other times.

If a tree is currently being used by animals as a nesting site, for example, further restrictions may be possible.

In accordance with Art. 16 Para. 1 Sentence 1 No. 5 of the Bavarian Nature Conservation Act, it is prohibited to remove, damage or otherwise significantly impair avenues in the open countryside along public or private traffic areas and farm roads. Exceptions are possible in individual cases.

The contact for questions in this context is the district administrative authority (lower nature conservation authority).