Revised September 9, 2024
Learn About the Urban Forest
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.
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
Be sure to plant the right tree for your planting location. Do not plant trees in the right-of-way or under power lines. Consider the mature height and spread of a tree when making your choice. And remember—call 811 before you dig so you do not have to call 911 after!
