Revised March 8, 2024
Note: This content has been archived and may no longer be accurate or relevent
Planting Deciduous Trees for a Changing Local Climate Approx 3 minute read
Adding trees to your landscape is a great way to help fight climate change. But the already changing climate has affected the choices you make in local tree selection. Diversity is key, which is why Hennepin County forestry discourages the planting of some tree species.
If the large number of ash trees in Shorewood that will likely be lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer has taught us anything, it is that we must be educated on our tree choices. Hennepin County forestry currently discourages the planting of many maple trees due to the abundance of the tree present in the current landscape. The silver maple, a native Minnesota tree, is the exception, but according to Daniel Wattenhofer, a forester at Hennepin County, the silver maple is not a great landscape tree and may not be the appropriate choice for residential yards.
Deciduous trees recommended by Hennepin County include:
- Bur oak
- Dutch elm resistant elm varieties
- Ginkgo
- Horse chestnut
- Kentucky coffeetree
- Northern catalpa
- Ohio buckeye
- Shagbark hickory
- Swamp white oak
- Turkish hazelnut
- Yellowwood
What you can do:
- Be thoughtful: Plant the right tree for your property size, sun exposure and other factors of its microclimate.
- Do not plant trees in the right-of-way, on adjoining property lines, or under power lines. Ord, Section 1021.03, Subd 2 g. (4)(b)(i)
- Know the right tree from the University of Minnesota, for your space.
- Anticipate how the canopy will affect your neighbors as well as your own structures.
- Call 811 before you dig so you do not have to call 911 after!
