Abstract: By taking three types of substrates in abandoned mining areas near Osnabrueck, Germany, stratified sampling of a fly ash field, coal gangue dumps and sludge fields from coal washing and analysis of physicochemical properties were carried out. Comparative research on the natural repair ability of different substrates from abandoned mining areas and the physicochemical properties during revegetation was conducted. The results show the natural repair ability of fly ash substrate is better than that of coal gangue and sludge substrates. At Helmstedt fly ash field reeds grows, at Ibbenbueren and Piesberg fields consisting of coal gangue natural growth of some shrubs was possible and at the sludge from coal washing, no plant growth was visible, since the coal washery was still in production.