Overview
- Germany’s federal nature law (§39 BNatSchG) permits major cuts from 1 October to 28/29 February and restricts radical work from March to September.
- Choose dry, frost-free weather, inspect for nests or roosts before cutting, and use sharp, disinfected tools to limit disease spread.
- Rejuvenate elder by removing older, spent canes at the base to promote productive new shoots next season.
- Thin currants by removing the oldest main stems and favoring young shoots, prune black currants more strongly, cut autumn raspberries to the ground, and begin periodic thinning on established blueberries.
- Tidy roses lightly now and leave major shaping for spring, adjust hydrangea cuts by species, and carry out larger hedge reductions legally with a conical profile after wildlife checks.