No matter how annoying the large tree is, once the trunk has reached a certain size and age, you shouldn't just chop down a deciduous or coniferous tree in your own garden. In urban, densely built-up areas in particular, old trees are under special protection, which is why you need good reasons and official approval to use the axe.
The size of the trunk determines whether or not a permit is required for felling
Legal regulations - when you can fell trees and when not
In principle, trees may not be severely cut back or even felled between March 1st and September 30th. This regulation is intended to protect breeding birds. In addition, in many municipalities, deciduous trees with a trunk circumference of around 60 centimeters and conifers with a circumference of around 80 cm may only be felled if a reason is given and official approval is obtained. Only fruit trees are exempt from this rule. Reasons are, for example, a wood-destroying disease of the tree or because it threatens to fall anyway. However, the specific regulations differ in the individual federal states, often even from municipality to municipality. For this reason, you should always make inquiries with the responsible authorities before planning any felling work. As a rule, these are affiliated with the municipal administration.
Be careful with border trees: first obtain permission from the co-owners
The felling of so-called border trees can be problematic, because here all owners must also give their consent. Boundary trees are trees that are located directly on the border between two (or more) properties or on a common lawn and therefore have not just one, but several owners. You must not act on your own authority here. Instead, the neighbors concerned must be consulted or a majority decision must be obtained at an owners' meeting. This also applies if a specific user has previously been granted a special right of use over the tree-covered part of the garden.
Observe the statutes of small and allotment gardens
Even if fruit trees are generally exempt from the permit requirement, pears, apples and the like may not be felled without further ado, at least in an allotment garden. Here, the association's statutes often regulate the relevant procedure, which is why garden tenants should first take a look at the regulations. Incidentally, walnut trees do not count among the fruit trees in this context, but among the deciduous trees and are therefore also specially protected.
The right season for tree felling
Once all the necessary permits have been obtained, the tree is best felled between November and late January/early February. At this time, the trunk carries less water, which is why the wood dries faster - anyone who wants to make firewood or process the wood in other ways benefits from this. In addition, deciduous trees are not in leaf at this time and the work can therefore be carried out more easily - not to mention that there are definitely no more bird eggs to be found in the nest.
tips
Secretly cutting down the disturbing tree can have serious consequences: If someone tells you off or the regulatory office gets wind of it in any other way, you can face severe fines of up to EUR 100,000. The specific amount varies from municipality to municipality and can be checked in the relevant statute.