Tree Removal in Limhamn, Ash Dieback, Elm Disease and Malmö Marklov

Tree Removal in Limhamn

Limhamn is one of Malmö's oldest villa areas. From the turn-of-the-century houses by Limhamn harbour to the row houses of Sibbarp and the mature gardens in Djupadal, large trees grow everywhere. And right now, more than ever, many of them must come down. Not because homeowners want to, but because two fungal diseases have hit Skåne's deciduous trees hard: ash dieback and Dutch elm disease.

We remove trees in Limhamn year-round, and the majority of our jobs involve precisely these diseased trees that are no longer safe. Here is what you need to know before taking the step.

Ash dieback, the most common removal reason in Limhamn right now

Ash dieback is caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (formerly Chalara fraxinea) and arrived in Sweden from Eastern Europe in the early 2000s. In Skåne the disease has spread since ~2010, and today over 80% of all forest ashes are affected.

Common symptoms on an ash in Limhamn:

• Dead top branches with wilted leaves already in July, instead of normal autumn colouring
• Dark cankers on bark and at branch attachments
• Vigorous water-shoot formation on trunk and main branches, a desperate attempt to compensate for the dead crown
• Brown discolouration under bark at cuts
• Gradually shrinking crown volume over 3-5 years

A heavily affected ash cannot be saved. We recommend removal for two reasons:

1. Safety. Diseased branches break spontaneously and can fall over a house, road or person
2. Disease hygiene. Diseased wood should be removed from the property and not left as a source of further spread

Dutch elm disease, still a factor

Dutch elm disease is caused by the fungus Ophiostoma novo-ulmi and spreads via the elm bark beetle. The disease arrived in Sweden in the 1980s and has since killed most of Skåne's elms.

Symptoms on diseased elm:

• Yellowing leaves in July, often on one side of the crown first
• Withered branches with brown leaves still attached
• Brown discolouration in sapwood at cuts
• Breeding galleries of the elm bark beetle under bark

We still see occasional healthy elms in Limhamn, but they are rare. Once symptoms appear, it goes fast, an affected tree usually dies within 1-3 years.

Important for elm felling: Wood should be chipped or burned on site. Leaving it as firewood spreads the disease further via the beetle. We always handle elm wood correctly.

Other common removals in Limhamn

Besides ashes and elms we regularly remove in Limhamn:

• Mature lime that has grown too close to the facade or gutters
• Rowan and bird cherry planted as young and grown larger than expected
• Birch with butt rot, common on birches over 25 years old in Skåne
• Pine in the western parts closer to the sea
• Willow with internal rot

Marklov in Malmö stad

Malmö stad has detaljplan over most of Limhamn. In detaljplan areas, marklov can be required for tree felling depending on:

• Trunk circumference above a certain limit (usually 80-100 cm at breast height)
• Protected species marked on the plan map
• Area provisions for special quarters (applies to parts of the turn-of-the-century harbour)

Shore protection (Miljöbalken ch. 7) applies along Limhamnsfältet and the harbour and requires dispensation from länsstyrelsen even for felling on your own lot.

Emergency safety felling of a diseased tree can often be done without marklov if documented as a risk to person or property, we help with the documentation.

We always check against the city's rules before quoting.

Limestone soil, both up- and downside

Limhamn sits on a thin soil layer over limestone bedrock, a legacy of the large quarry that gave the place its name. For tree removal it means:

Upsides:

• Ground bears all year. No ruts, free access for heavy machines
• Frost releases quickly. Spring work possible earlier than on clay in Bjärred

Downsides:

• Stump grinding can be difficult. When bedrock lies 20-40 cm below surface the grinder cannot go further
• Root systems are shallow. Storm-sensitive trees are common in Limhamn, particularly on the western side

Sectional felling, standard in dense Limhamn

On most Limhamn lots trees stand too close to the house or neighbour for ground felling. We then do sectional felling from climbing or platform:

1. Climber goes up in harness and rope technique (SS-EN 1891)
2. Rigging is set up over buildings to be protected
3. Section by section, the tree is felled from above, each piece is lowered under control
4. Ground crew bucks, chips and stacks
5. The stump is ground or fully removed

For work next to power and telecom lines we always notify the grid operator (free service via E.ON in Malmö).

What removal costs in Limhamn

All sample prices are before RUT. With RUT, the labor cost is halved directly on the invoice, whether it is ground felling, sectional felling or stump grinding. Contact us for a fixed price tailored to your tree and your lot.

RUT deduction, what is included

On your Limhamn lot the entire work is covered by RUT:

• Felling, climbing, sectioning
• Haul-away and chipping from the lot
• Stump grinding
• Safety hygiene during elm disease (proper destruction of wood)

All RUT-eligible, 50% directly on the invoice, max 75,000 SEK per person per year. Details in RUT on tree removal 2026.

Safety and insurance

• Fully liability-insured, damage to house, property and third parties covered
• F-tax registered, you are not in an employer role
• SS-EN 1891 climbing rope and dual anchor points
• Notification to grid operator when working within 4 m of a power line
• Two on site always

For complex cases above 20 m we partner with ETW-certified arborists.

Want to fell trees in Limhamn?

Call +46 73 949 06 24 or write via the contact page. We come out, assess the tree (is it ash dieback? elm disease? advice for pruning instead of removal?), check marklov, and provide a fixed-price quote promptly. Read more about Limhamn as a service area, ash dieback and elm disease in Skåne and our full tree removal service.