Analysis of plant damage in the Nikitsky Botanical Gardens’ Arboretum caused by the sticking of wet snow in February 2025

Studies were conducted in the Upper and Lower Parks of the Arboretum of Nikitsky Botanical Gardens due to the accumulation of wet snow on the plantations, which fell in the period from February 16 to 17, 2025. The weather report is given according to the observations of the Nikitsky agrometeorological station.

Based on the results of the route survey of the Upper and Lower Parks curtins of the NBG’s Arboretum, a visual assessment of plantings for mechanical damage: deformation of shoots, cracks on trunks and shoots, breaking of branches and trunks. Special attention was paid to the aesthetic characteristic of plantings both individually and in landscape compositions. An assessment of restoration of damaged specimens after snow breakage was carried out.

As a result of wet snow buildup, 85 specimens of woody and shrub plants were damaged, including 72 trees and 13 shrubs. Three groves of Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens (Carrière) Rivière & C.Rivière were also damaged. Thirty-two specimens were damaged in the Upper Park and 53 in the Lower Park, not including P. viridiglaucescen groves.

The vast majority of specimens are viable, with the exception of 3 specimens affected by rot.

The damage mostly affected shoots of 2-4 orders. Shoot failures were mainly in the middle and upper third of the crown, exceptions – Cedrus deodara (Roxb. ex D.Don) G.Don, Rhaphiolepis bibas (Lour.) Galasso & Banfi and Pinus pinea L.

Considering that the quantitative composition of woody and shrubby plants of the Upper and Lower Parks of the Arboretum according to the 2015 inventory was 9202 specimens, less than 1% of the collection was affected. However, it should be taken into account that in park plantings of botanical gardens each specimen is of historical and aesthetic value.

1. Anosov E.A. Trouble trees of green spaces of cities. Methods of visual and instrumental diagnostics of emergency, Assessment of the state of plantings // Scientific notes of TSU. 2015. 6(4):637-648.

2. Krivorotov S.B., Karpun. Yu.N. Dendrology: textbook. allowance. Krasnodar: KubGAU, 2015. 36 p.

3. Zhezhkun A.N. Damage to birch stands by snow piles // "Forestry Magazine". 2003. 5:36-43.

4. Karpun Yu.N. Basics of plant introduction // Hortus botanicus. 2004. 2:17–32.

5. Kolesnikov A.I. Ornamental dendrology. Moscow: Lesnaya Promyshlennost, 1974. 175 р.

6. Nikolaev D.K., Glazunov Yu.B. Features of damage to pine and spruce stands by snow breakage // Forest Bulletin. 2010. 3:157-165.

7. Plugatar Yu.V., Koba V.P., Gerasimchuk V.N. [et al.] Features of the introduction of woody plants on the Southern Coast of Crimea and the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus // The role of botanical gardens and arboretums in the conservation, study and sustainable use of plant diversity: Proc. of the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the 85th anniversary of the Central Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus: in 2 parts (Minsk, Belarus, June 6–8, 2017). Vol. Part 1. Minsk, 2017. P. 223–228.

8. Plugatar Yu.V., Korsakova S.P., Ilnitsky O.A. Environmental monitoring of the Southern Coast of Crimea. Simferopol: PH "ARIAL", 2015. 164 p.

9. Nykänen, M.L., Peltola H., Quine C.P., Kellomäki S. & Broadgate M. Factors affecting snow damage of trees with particular reference to European conditions // Silva Fennica. 1997. 31(2): 193-213.

10. Niklas K.J., Spatz H.-C. Worldwide correlations of mechanical properties and green wood density // American Journal of Botany. 2010. Vol. 97. Iss. 10. P. 1587–1594. DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1000150

11. The World Flora Online [Электронный ресурс]. Режим доступа: https://www.worldfloraonline.org/.