Traditionally, at the end of winter, just before the growth season begins, specialists from the Municipal Enterprise «Miskzelentrest» conduct formative pruning of grafted weeping trees, including Japanese sophora, mulberry, and ash trees. This is a necessary annual procedure for these types of trees.
The sophoras that adorn the Theater Square were planted on September 25, 1895, and this year they will celebrate their 130th anniversary. These Japanese sophoras are classified as local state botanical monuments of nature.
Since early February, gardeners have begun rejuvenating pruning of sophoras throughout the city, using hand pruners. The weeping crown shape of the Japanese sophora is not natural and is artificially created by the gardeners, which is why regular trimming of this plant is essential. This year, at the sites serviced by the KP «Miskzelentrest» (including the City Garden, Theater Square, T.G. Shevchenko Park, and others), it is planned to conduct formative pruning of 463 weeping trees.
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The Japanese sophora is a deciduous tree that can reach heights of 20-30 meters in its native habitat (Japan, China, Korea), but in temperate latitudes, it typically grows no taller than 10-12 meters. It features a rounded crown and a robust root system. This species of tree is known for its longevity, capable of living 500 years or more. In Odessa, sophoras began to be used for landscaping in the 1820s.
