Tree Selection & Planting
Are you planning a new landscape for your home? We'll help you select the correct trees to achieve the visual effect you want and that will also succeed in your landscape. We will then follow correct planting practices in planting your new trees. Proper planting is essential to long-term tree health.
How Do You Pick a Tree for Landscaping?
When deciding which trees to put into your garden, it’s essential to keep in mind that there are many types of trees to choose from. Some trees will produce very little fruit or nuts, and others can produce large amounts. There are also trees that flower and will attract wildlife. For large restoration projects or planting several trees in one area, consider their mature size. You will also need to think about the trees’ climate change resilience and choose a tree that is likely to thrive in your part of Minnesota. Different tree varieties have different growing soil moisture and types and have different levels of shade tolerance.
Coniferous trees keep their needles all year with the exception of tamarack. They are good trees to plant for privacy and wind breaks or shelterbelts.
Pines include native white, red, and jack. They have long needles.
Spruces, black and white, and firs. They have short needles. They are important sources of wood fiber in northern Minnesota, and are excellent choices for windbreaks or shelterbelts.
Cedars include white or red. Cedars have scaled needles. Smaller than pines and spruces, cedars can provide wildlife cover and food.
Deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall or winter. They are good trees to plant on the south side of your home to provide shade in the summer and warmth in the winter when the sun can shine through. Deciduous trees are known for their beautiful leaf color when they drop their leaves each fall.
Elms, maples, oaks, walnut, and beech, are some native trees used to provide excellent cover and food for wildlife, maple syrup, nuts, and lumber for furniture building.
Aspens, black walnut, butternut, and cherry are examples of native trees that are fast-growing and are often used for windbreaks, fiber, and biomass.
Shrubs are multi-stemmed woody plants that rarely exceed 15 feet in height. Mixing shrubs with tree plantings adds visual diversity, wildlife cover, and food.
Shrubs include native dogwoods, hazelnut, crabapple, etc. Shrubs provide excellent year-round cover and food source for wildlife.
If you aren’t sure what trees will work best for your yard, we can help you decide at Minnesota Tree Surgeons.
What Are the Functions of Trees in Landscape Design?
A benefit associated with trees is that they are solid. This can help prevent damage caused by wind and water. Heavy rainfall and flooding can cause devastating damage, but trees can help minimize such damage soaking up the water. As a part of wetlands systems, trees help reduce flooding by decreasing storm water runoff.
In addition, trees are suitable for creating a healthy landscape. Tress can also has increase the value of a home by 5 percent to 11 percent!
When Is the Best Time to Plant a Tree in Minnesota?
Although many people plan to put trees in the ground in spring, fall is the perfect time of year to plant a tree in Minnesota. Trees will focus on putting down roots rather than growing branches and leaves in the fall. If you plan on planting evergreens, they should be planted before winter freezes the ground in order to get their roots established. Deciduous trees, however, can be planted well into October.
Having a tree in your garden is an effective way to address climate change in your area. Moreover, trees produce nectar for the pollinators and, thus, maintain a healthy balance of species within your yard. Not all trees have the same amount of energy, so it’s essential to know the types of trees you will pick for your backyard to build a balanced environment. Contact us at Minnesota Tree Surgeons to get started on making your yard, a dream yard today!
