Know What’s Growing in Your Yard — and What It Needs
Minnesota’s extreme climate shapes what grows here. Our trees survive scorching summers, brutal winters, and severe storms — but each species handles that stress differently. Here’s a quick guide to the trees you’re most likely to find on a southwest Twin Cities metro property, from the experts at Natures Touch Tree Care & Landscaping.
Oaks: The Metro’s Long-Lived Giants
Red oaks, white oaks, and bur oaks dominate many established neighborhoods. They’re strong, long-lived, and valuable — a mature oak can add real money to a property.
The big threat is oak wilt, which kills red oaks especially fast. Avoid pruning oaks in spring and early summer, when sap beetles can carry the fungus to fresh cuts.
Maples: Fall Color Champions
Sugar maples deliver the brilliant fall color Minnesota is known for, while silver and red maples grow fast and shade yards quickly. Silver maples, however, are prone to weak branch unions and storm breakage. Mature silver maples benefit from regular structural pruning.
Ash: A Species in Crisis
Green and white ash were planted heavily across the metro for decades — which is exactly why emerald ash borer has been so devastating here. If you have an ash tree, you face a treat-or-remove decision sooner or later. An export can help you weigh the tree’s value against ongoing treatment costs.
Elms: Survivors of a Tough Century
The American elms that once lined entire streets were decimated by Dutch elm disease, but mature survivors and disease-resistant cultivars still grace many properties. Watch for “flagging” — a single wilting branch in summer — and act fast if you see it.
Basswood, Hackberry, and Birch
- Basswood (Linden) — A native shade tree loved by pollinators, generally sturdy and low-drama
- Hackberry — Tough and adaptable, a workhorse in difficult soils
- Birch — Beautiful but shorter-lived here, and vulnerable to bronze birch borer when stressed by heat and drought
Evergreens: Spruce and Pine
Colorado blue spruce, white spruce, and white pine provide year-round screening and winter interest. Spruce in our area commonly struggle with needle diseases that thin the lower branches — proper spacing and airflow help a lot.
Cottonwood and Poplar: Fast but Fragile
These fast growers get big quickly, but their soft wood breaks in storms and their roots seek out water lines. Near homes, they often become removal candidates as they age.
The Right Care for the Right Tree
Every species on this list ages, fails, and gets sick differently. That’s why a certified export’s eye matters — what’s normal for a hackberry is a warning sign on an ash.
Wondering about a tree on your southwest metro property? Natures Touch Tree Care & Landscaping offers honest, expert-led assessments. Call 612-240-6355.
