Almaty has proposed supplementing its urban green space maintenance rules with international tree pruning standards. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Experts believe existing requirements are insufficient for proper crown formation. The rules for the maintenance and protection of green spaces adopted in Almaty in 2023 provide for the need to care for trees, but do not contain detailed instructions on pruning techniques and crown formation.

Example in Nauryzbai District

As an example, specialists cite trees on Ashimov Street in Nauryzbai District. Mature elms here were first pruned to a height of 3–4 m, and then their crowns were formed into spheres.

According to urbanist Rinat Sabirov, after such pruning, trees perform their ecological function — creating shade, reducing street heating and protecting from noise — significantly worse.

Radical removal of the crown also creates stress for the tree. At the same time, numerous young shoots may appear inside heavily pruned crowns, and excessive branch density increases the load on the tree during strong winds.

Another common practice is excessive crown raising, when most of the foliage remains only in the upper part of the tree. This reduces the leaf surface area and can increase the risk of branch damage.

International Standards

For example, in the US, tree pruning requirements are set out in the ANSI A300 standard. The European Tree Pruning Standard provides for several types of intervention.

Formative pruning is used mainly in the early stages of tree growth. Lateral reduction is used, for example, to increase the distance between the crown and buildings or power lines. At the same time, it is recommended to preserve the leaf surface as much as possible.

Geometric crown formation also has limitations and is primarily applied to young trees, whereas for mature plants it is preferable to preserve their natural shape.

Specialists believe international norms need to be adapted to Almaty's climate and urban environment. Trees here play an important role in protecting streets from heat, noise and air pollution.

For areas where trees have already been subjected to severe pruning, it is proposed to gradually restore the natural shape of crowns, avoiding new radical removal of branches.

Earlier, Kursiv reported which trees cause smog in hot weather, as discovered by scientists in China.