The tree maintenance team of Aachen's municipal services begins felling trees in the city. All of the trees affected are in a poor condition and no longer safe for traffic. As a result, they pose a danger to citizens. "The affected trees are partially or completely dead and their stability and breaking strength is endangered by fungal infestation or previous damage in the form of rot or cracks," explains Nino Polaczek-Keilhauer, tree maintenance team leader at Aachener Stadtbetrieb.

Spreading tree diseases

Most of the trees to be felled this season are on the Lousberg. The majority of the affected trees are less than ten meters tall and are covered by the crowns of large and old trees. Due to the resulting lack of light, they cannot develop well and are gradually dying. The situation is similar at the Alte Bahndamm in Laurensberg, where sycamores, ash trees and black locust trees, among others, are being removed. Dozens of diseased and dying trees also have to be removed from the Moltkebahnhof youth park and the large green area next to Roemonder Straße.

Another measure will be carried out on Ludwigsallee at the beginning of October: The roots of an approximately 120-year-old copper beech tree were found to be infested with giant spores and the tree is no longer safe for traffic. As the possibility of the tree falling over can no longer be ruled out and there is therefore a high safety risk, it will be felled at short notice.

Vital-looking, yet diseased trees

Not all tree diseases are recognizable at first glance. Even a tree that still appears to have good foliage and vitality can pose a traffic hazard. "There are wood-destroying fungi that attack and damage statically relevant roots, but the tree continues to be optimally supplied with water and nutrients," explains Nino Polaczek-Keilhauer. "The result can then be a suddenly fallen green tree. External damage caused by storms, such as cracks, or collision damage with bark flaking can also make the tree look vital, but impair its stability and therefore pose a traffic hazard."

All felling work has been coordinated and approved by the tree protection division of the city's Climate and Environment Department.

More than 500 new plantings

The trees are deliberately felled in the fall and winter, outside of the breeding and nesting protection period, which runs from March to September. Replanting at the respective locations is planned. As a matter of principle, the tree maintenance team of the municipal department aims to replace the loss of diseased trees quickly. However, the individual tree locations must be checked in advance. If no structural changes to the tree environment are necessary, replanting is planned for the 2025/2026 season. If a site has to be elaborately prepared, for example by building new edging and thus increasing the space through which roots can grow, the replanting will be delayed.