Germans and their beloved gardens

It doesn't always have to be a "Schrebergarten," an allotment garden. Many families without access to a balcony or terrace choose to rent a modest plot of land from a farmer - a cherished spot, even if it's just a few square meters. The purpose of the plot is to teach kids about nature. And planting vegetables and flowers can be fun, too.

Richly decorated and flourishing balconies receive the same loving care as gardens - from the first rays of sun in the spring until the last few days of Indian summer. As the sunny time of year tends to be rather short in Germany, people make sure to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

Allotment gardens are typical of Germany. City dwellers without their own outdoor space are fond of these plots, where they plant their own organic veggies or just enjoy the nice weather. Looking at the wooden huts in these gardens, some foreigners wonder whether they've ended up in a slum. According to law, people are not allowed to actually live in these huts - but that doesn't stop some people.

The roar of the lawnmower tends to get on peoples' nerves, with some more sensitive about it than others. To avoid unnecessary quarrels while gardening in Germany, stick to the rules that spell out when it's OK to do noisy yard work: from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. No noise on Sundays and public holidays! Your best bet would be to buy a robot to do the mowing - silently.

If you're planning to have a barbecue party in your garden, be sure to invite the neighbors. That's the only way to prevent them from complaining about the smoke, or even calling the police because of the noise. To be firmly on the safe side, it's best to study your rental contract, which may spell out that partying is not allowed after 10 p.m.

Before planting a tree, check to see how much distance must be kept between the plant and the neighbor's property. Such laws are meant to prevent future arguments, as any eventual branches could cast a permanent shadow over your neighbor's terrace or lawn. Angry neighbors already dealing with your rogue trees, however, may not cut any offending branches without express permission.

Nearly everything that a German gardener could ever want can be found in special garden stores: domestic and exotic plants, the proper soils, fertilizers and manure, climbing aids for roses, garden tools for all purposes, a large selection of garden furniture - and, despite protests from environmentalists, insecticides of all kinds.

The goal of many German gardeners is to be as environmentally friendly as possible. Many collect rainwater in barrels to water their plants, and sort their organic trash into compost piles. Green waste - grass clippings, leaves, branches and weeds - can also be separated into dedicated trash bins, to be composted by the city.

Gardening magazines and stores hand out plenty of useful advice to the proud owners of gardens and balconies. But there are also numerous garden shows and contests at the regional or even national level. Those still thirsting for green inspiration can travel to the neighboring Netherlands, where flower production - especially tulips - abounds.

Some find them cute, while others just think they're cheesy suburban kitsch. But the German garden gnome has long since offered something to please everyone. Next to the classic gnome pushing a wheelbarrow, today there's also the football fan, the exhibitionist or, as seen here, the gnome with a taste for heavy metal.