Minsk Mayor Explained Why Trees on Independence Avenue Were Replaced with Potted Plants

Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Uladzimir Kukharau told STB TV channel why the trees that had grown in the ground on Independence Avenue for several years had to be replaced with plants in special pots, writes Mlyn.by.

According to him, the cause of the trees' death was the overheating of their root system. On this section of the avenue, heat supply communications run underground, and the pipes are located relatively shallowly.

"They had been growing for several years, everything was normal, but there is a peculiarity: on this section of Independence Avenue, communications are laid, meaning heat supply, and the pipes are not deep underground," Kukharau explained.

As the mayor noted, the problem became particularly severe after a winter with prolonged frosts.

To maintain the necessary temperature in homes, communal services had to ensure a high temperature of the heat carrier.

"And this winter, when there were indeed frosts for two months, required maintaining a high temperature of the heat carrier to provide heating in homes. This led to the overheating of the root system of these trees, and they died," Kukharau said.

This refers to elms and ashes, which were specially selected by specialists from the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus and adapted to urban conditions.

After the plants began to die, specialists tried to restore them. For this, fertilization and other resuscitation methods were used, and specialists from the Botanical Garden and specialized scientific institutions were involved in the work. However, the trees could not be saved.

After this, the city authorities concluded that re-planting trees directly into the ground could lead to the same problem in a few years.

The roots of new plants would eventually reach the communications located under the avenue again, after which the trees could die.

"But, seeing this situation and understanding that if trees are planted again, after 4-5 years the root system will again reach the communications, we made a balanced decision that this would be incorrect. It was decided to plant trees specifically in pots. They will grow, and their root system will allow them to stay there for 15 years or more," Kukharau explained.

He clarified that the installed pots should last for approximately ten years.

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