Questions & answers
How much does a tree burial in your own garden cost?

With BaumFrieden you receive an all-inclusive price from €3,945. This covers all funeral director services, all formalities and the tree of your choice – from collecting the deceased through to handing over the tree for planting at your chosen location in Germany. There are no hidden extra costs, and we are happy to advise you free of charge by phone.
Is BaumFrieden legal and permitted in Germany?

Yes. Germany does have a cemetery requirement (Friedhofszwang) that normally allows ashes to be interred only in cemeteries. With BaumFrieden, however, the ashes are mixed with the tree's soil in the Netherlands, where this is legally permitted. You may then plant the fully grown tree completely legally at a location of your choice in Germany, for example in your own garden.
How does BaumFrieden work?

After cremation, the ashes are transferred to Kerkrade in the Netherlands and mixed there with the soil of a young tree of your choice. The tree then grows for four to nine months under expert care until it has formed strong roots. We then hand the tree over to you for planting at your chosen location – turning the ashes into a living place of remembrance.
May I plant the memorial tree in my own garden?

Yes. Because the ashes are already incorporated into the tree in the Netherlands, the finished tree is no longer subject to Germany's cemetery requirement. You may therefore legally plant it in your private garden or at another location of your choice in Germany.
Why are the ashes transferred to Kerkrade in the Netherlands?

Mixing ashes with a tree's soil is not permitted in Germany due to the cemetery requirement, but it is legally allowed in the Netherlands. That is why the ashes are transferred to Kerkrade after cremation and incorporated into the tree there. If you wish, you are welcome to attend the placing of the ashes in person.
Which tree species can I choose from?

BaumFrieden offers a carefully selected variety of twelve tree species. These include Japanese flowering cherry, magnolia, rowan, sessile and red oak, beech, copper beech, ginkgo, birch, crabapple, common hawthorn and blackcurrant. All species are adapted to the climatic conditions in Germany.
How big is the tree at handover and how long does the process take?

The growing phase at the tree nursery takes four to nine months; during this time the ashes permeate the root system until the tree is stable enough to transport. At handover your tree is usually already 2 to 3 metres tall – smaller shrubs such as the blackcurrant around 1 to 1.5 metres.