Revised February 9, 2025
The region is 20 inches below normal on snowfall. Multiple years of drought, followed by heavy rains and then again drought, continue to take a toll on trees. The lack of snow cover exposes already stressed roots to extreme cold damage. The ash borer is further adding to the extreme damage to the urban forest.
A quick look around shows broken limbs, dying foliage and countless tree removals that are quickly changing the landscape. The fact is: Trees are being seriously impacted by pests and weather.
Lee Frelich of the Center for Forest Ecology at the University of Minnesotais a local expert on the subject. Kare11 interviews him quarterly. View his comments from Feb. 7, 2025.
Replacing trees in the landscape helps fight climate change and maintain our forest. But the changing climate has affected the choices in tree selection. Diversity is key, which is why Hennepin County forestry discourages the planting of some tree species.
The large number of ash trees in Shorewood being lost due to the Emerald Ash Borer has taught that we must be deliberate when making alternate choices. Hennepin County Forestry discourages the planting of many maple trees due to the abundance 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 coffee tree
- 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!
Managing the urban forest will create many challenges as we navigate disease, insects and weather changes.
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