Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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An ideal park is more than just a lawn and flowerbeds. It's a complex organism that lives by its own laws. Its beauty and comfort are the result of the systematic work of dozens of specialists—from strategists and managers and green builders to tree doctors and agronomists. Our article explores their daily concerns, full of subtleties and responsibilities.
With respect for heritage, with love for plants: how the Vorontsovo estate is cared for
Vorontsovsky Park For Dmitry Barinov, Deputy Director for Territorial Maintenance and Development, it's not just a place of work, but a living, constantly changing organism that requires care.
"The park is a cultural heritage site where liberties are unacceptable: everything requires a sensitive approach. There's an approved planning plan, and historically established areas must retain their character: clearings remain clearings, and plantings remain plantings. The team must not reshape the landscape, but carefully highlight its strengths. Even a landscape group planted 10 years ago, although it has grown and now looks different, remains beautiful and appropriate in its original location," explains Dmitry Barinov.
Life in the park follows a seasonal rhythm. After September, there's a brief lull until the snow falls, but autumn is also a time of special care. Perennials need to be covered, pruned, replanted, and treated for diseases, as well as the hollows of old trees. All of this, incidentally, is carried out under the supervision of agronomists.
The main landscaping work is hidden from public view and takes place in winter. During this time, everything from lawn maintenance to the installation of new park swings, benches, and trash cans is planned.
The dendrologists and gardeners also have to ensure the safety of the more than 10,000 people who visit the park daily. For example, specialists closely monitor the old-growth trees. "Even though we regularly monitor their condition, one might appear healthy on the outside, but it's rotten inside. Such a tree has to be removed, just as we do with dead wood. But all this only happens with the approval of experts from the capital." Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection “We don’t have any illegal logging,” adds Dmitry Barinov.
The heart of the Vorontsovo estate, according to our interviewee, is the oak grove with centuries-old trees, some of them around 300 years old. One of them is a special, unique 280-year-old oak tree, located near the mother-and-child room on Akademika Pilyugin Street. Its hollow is so large that the tree is literally supported by bark and a thin layer of wood, yet it has survived more than one hurricane. The team even reinforced the oak and aerated the soil—making special holes in the soil to allow air to better reach the roots. It's no surprise that in 2022, the oak grove was designated a natural monument. The team plans to create an eco-trail there.
The Hermitage Garden: How to Maintain a Style Inspired by History
U Hermitage Garden Its own style—intimate, romantic, with cozy nooks and a historical palette of plants characteristic of the late 19th century. These include lilacs, mock orange, peonies, and, of course, the rose gardens in the parterre—the Hermitage's signature feature.
Such beauty requires special care. And that's the job of Elena Ershova, head of the landscaping and improvement department at the Hermitage Garden. She not only plans and oversees the work, but also personally participates.
The mature linden trees, preserved from the garden's founding, require special care; many of them are secured with guy ropes. Particular attention should be paid to the white and black fountains, as well as the heart-shaped monument to all lovers. Next to the latter, a complex flowerbed of perennials is laid out in the shape of two intertwined hearts, supplemented annually with annuals.
In their work, the staff rely on annual plans that take into account the seasonality of plant growth and flowering, as well as necessary procedures. And, of course, they constantly monitor the situation in the garden.
"We go out into the garden almost every day, regardless of the weather, to inspect the plants for pests and diseases. Our weather has been quite unpredictable lately, and we need to spot problems early. We try to do all our work early in the morning or late in the evening so as not to disturb our guests," notes Elena Ershova.
Among the plants, she highlights not only the roses but also the old-growth trees. For example, a white-silver poplar, which is about 180 years old. Some visitors even have an interesting tradition, says Elena Ershova, of hugging it. A 250-year-old oak, in whose shade young mothers with strollers like to relax, is also a magnet.
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Digital plant passports, technological maps, and more: how Khodynka Field Park is maintained
Kristina Pirogova's background as an agronomist and landscape architect perfectly complements her work. In the park Khodynka Field She conducts green space assessments, inspections, and develops planting plans. The agronomist actively utilizes modern technologies to inventory green spaces—every tree in the park has a digital passport of sorts.
"There are a lot of trees, and programs help us keep track of their number, location, and characteristics at any time—things that are difficult to remember. Maintenance of green spaces during the growing season is strictly regulated by a process chart, which outlines all procedures, from fertilizing to pruning. This document serves as the basis for developing a specific work plan, which is then executed by contractors," explains the agronomist.
Kristina Pirogova's work is made easier by modern tools. She has a small cordless saw, which she calls a "lady saw," and electric pruning shears. In the morning, the agronomist walks the park, photographs problems, and sometimes marks dead trees on the map that need to be removed. Currently, during work hours, she documents the flower beds.
Binoculars, a magnifying glass, and a scientific eye: How Gorky Park monitors the health of every tree
Former researcher and candidate of biological sciences Galina Kornatskaya has been protecting plants for over 10 years Gorky Park from diseases and pests. The main enemies of trees, shrubs, and flowers are powdery mildew, rust, and various plant spots, as well as spider mites, aphids, and leaf-eating pests.
An experienced entophytopathologist can recognize a problem even at the earliest stages, when an inexperienced eye will notice only slight yellowing of the leaf.
"For example, if a spider mite is sucking the sap from a leaf, you can barely see light spots on its upper surface. If you turn the leaf over, you can see the webbing and the mites themselves. We treat every tree with care and fight to preserve it. But, for example, when internal wood decay caused by tinder fungi makes a tree dangerous, it must be removed. This decision is made based on an examination using a special device that shows the extent of trunk damage from the inside. I also have a binocular microscope in my kit. It helps me see parts of the plant damaged by pests and diseases. And for field inspections, I have a magnifying glass," shares Galina Kornatskaya.
Her main job, though largely unnoticed by park guests, is constant monitoring. An entophytopathologist patrols the area daily, collecting suspicious leaf samples and analyzing them. Based on her findings, preventative treatments are carried out with special products approved for use in urban areas.
This meticulous work of a plant doctor keeps the park thriving and safe. Even on a casual stroll, Galina Kornatskaya's professional eye never switches off: she inadvertently notices damage and disease on the plants.
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