Almaty has proposed supplementing its urban green space regulations with international tree pruning standards. Experts say the current requirements are insufficient for proper crown formation, infohub.kz reports.

The rules on the maintenance and protection of green spaces adopted in Almaty in 2023 require tree care but contain no detailed instructions on pruning techniques or crown formation.

Why proper pruning matters

As an example, specialists point to trees on Ashimov Street in the Nauryzbai district. Mature elms there were first cut back to a height of 3–4 m and then shaped into spherical crowns.

According to urbanist Rinat Sabirov, after such pruning the trees perform their ecological function — providing shade, reducing street heating and protecting against noise — far less effectively.

Radical removal of the crown also stresses the tree. Heavily pruned crowns can produce numerous young shoots, while excessive branch density increases the load on the tree in 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.

What international standards propose

In the United States, for example, 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 a tree's growth. Lateral reduction is used, for instance, to increase the distance between the crown and buildings or power lines. In such cases, preserving as much leaf surface as possible is recommended.

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

How this could be applied in Almaty

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 heavily pruned, the proposal is to gradually restore the natural shape of the crowns, avoiding further radical removal of branches.

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