Why plant a tree, or two, or three?

Trees are extremely beneficial to you and your property. They improve your landscape and protect your home. Proper tree selection is crucial for your tree’s longevity. That is why native plants have such a better chance of surviving. They can endure the climate’s elements. We’ve collected a variety of sources that will help you pick the right tree or shrub for your yard.

First things first: Make sure to consider the color, shape, texture, and size at maturity of any plant before making your final decision to plant it.

Here is a helpful link from the DNR that will help you pick the right tree for your site’s conditions.

Recommended deciduous trees for the Twin Cities area:

• Alder - European black

• Apricot - Manchurian

• Birch

  • Paper 

  • River

• Buckeye - Ohio

• Burning Bush

• Catalpa - Northern

• Cherry

  • Sour

  • Amur choke

  • Black

• Coffeetree

  • Kentucky

  • Espresso

  • Stately Manor

• Corktree

  • Amur

  • Sakhalin

  • Macho

  • Shademaster

  • His Majesty

• Crabapple

• Dogwood - Pagoda

• Eastern Wahoo

• Elm

  • Cathedral

  • Accolade

  • Patriot

  • New Horizon

  • Princeton

  • Valley Forge

  • Jacan Japanese

• Ginkgo

• Hackberry

• Hawthorn

  • Thornless cockspur

  • Downy

• Hickory

  • Shagbark

  • Bitternut

• Honeylocust - Thornless

• Hop Tree

• Hophornbeam

• Hornbeam - American

• Lilac - Japanese tree

• Linden

  • Littleleaf

  • Crimean

  • American

  • Redmond

• Maackia - Amur

• Magnolia - Cucumbertree

• Maple

  • Amur

  • Red

  • Freeman

  • Shantung

  • Tatarian

  • Sugar

  • Sienna Glen

• Mountain Ash - Korean

• Oak

  • White

  • Bur

  • Bicolor

  • Black

  • Red

  • Northern pin

• Pear - Ussurian

• Serviceberry

• Allegheny

• Downy

• Viburnum - Nannyberry

Information from and credit to the U of M Extension.

Recommended conifers for the Twin Cities area:

• Cedar

  • White

  • Red

• Fir

  • Balsam

  • White

  • Fraser

• Douglas-Fir

• Larch

  • American

  • European

  • Japanese

  • Siberian

• Pine

  • Eastern white

  • Jack

  • Red

  • Ponderosa

  • Scots

• Spruce

  • Black

  • Black hills

  • Norway

  • White

Want to know some characteristics of each of these trees? Click here.

Info from and credit to the U of M Extension.

Great Windbreak Trees for Minnesota

Properly placed trees can provide an array of benefits. Conifer trees can protect your home by blocking harsh winter winds. They can also reduce energy costs by properly shading your home during the summer months. Windbreaks also add some privacy to your backyard. Here are some tips on selecting windbreak plantings in Minnesota.

Shrubs to plant in Minnesota

Shrubs are a great addition to your landscape. If placed in the right spot, they can help reduce your home’s energy costs. They also help with water run off and they can produce some great color throughout the spring and summer.

Here are some superb shrubs to plant in Minnesota:

• American cranberrybush

• Arrowwood viburnum

• Azaleas and rhododendrons

• Black Chokeberry

• Burning Bush

• Bush Honeysuckle

• Common Ninebark

• Forsythia

• Japanese and Korean Barberries

• Korean Littleleaf Boxwood

• Kalm St. Johnswort

• Mockorange

• Nannyberry

• Redosier Dogwood

• Serviceberry or Juneberry

• Tartarian Dogwood

• Winterberry

More information on each shrub. 

Best Vegetables for a Garden in Minnesota

Ready to create your own garden? There are certain vegetables that do exceptionally well in Minnesota’s intense climate.

Some great vegetables to plant in Minnesota include:

• Tomatoes

• Broccoli

• Carrots

• Potatoes

• Onions

• Cauliflower

• Melon

• Squash

Check out this table on selecting vegetables by the U of M.

If you are ready to plant a tree or have any questions about them, give us a call at 651-484-2726.