Selecting trees by location

Some locations cannot support all types of trees and careful tree selection can help improve the overall landscaping and aesthetics of your yard. Check this list before you purchase a new tree! You can find more tips on the Tree Selection and Planting page.

Along roads and driveways

Use caution when planting trees and large shrubs near roads and driveways to maintain sightlines and public safety.

Avoid planting within 25′ of an intersection.
Ensure any shrubs planted in the shaded triangle area have a maximum height of 2½ feet.
Plan for the mature size of the tree and avoid planting next to street signs, lights or future conflicts such as electrical boxes.
Consider using spray paint to mark the mature canopy size on the grass in order to help you visualize the space your new tree will need.
Refrain from planting conifers within 20 feet of the road edges.
Most conifers maintain their lower branches throughout the life of the tree. The branches can block lines of sight for cars and pedestrians. Once branches block sightlines they may be required for removal, which can reduce the health and symmetry of your tree.
Deciduous trees should be planted at least 15 feet away from the road edge.
Deciduous trees can be pruned to raise the canopy, minimizing sightline problems without damage to the tree’s health.
  • American Linden/Basswood
  • Bur Oak
  • Ginkgo
  • Hackberry
  • Honeylocust
  • Kentucky Coffee Tree
  • Maples-Red, Freeman, Sugar (no Norway)
  • Northern Catalpa
  • Northern Red Oak
  • Swamp White Oak

Wet or seasonally flooded

Does your yard have a wetland edge, poor drainage or standing water at times? These trees can tolerate poorly drained sites.

  • Alder
  • American Elm -disease resistant
  • Black spruce
  • Cottonwood (seedless)
  • Hackberry
  • Northern White Cedar
  • Red Maple
  • River Birch
  • Swamp White Oak
  • Tamarack
  • Willow

Clay or compacted soils

Soil composed of clay or soils that have been compacted due to human activity can be difficult for some trees to handle. The trees listed below can tolerate compacted and clay soils.

  • Balsam Fir
  • Black Spruce
  • Cottonwood
  • Crabapple
  • Ginkgo
  • Hackberry
  • Honeylocust
  • Northern White Cedar
  • Red Maple
  • River Birch
  • Silver Maple
  • Swamp White Oak
  • Tamarack (Larch)
  • Willow

Areas exposed to de-icing salt

Salt helps prevent slick road ways, but it can cause serious problems for trees. Trees within 60 feet of high use roadways are at risk for salt damage—both from the salt spray and accumulation in the soil. Listed are salt tolerant trees, but keep in mind that no tree is 100% tolerant of salt.

  • Black Locust
  • Black Spruce
  • Ginkgo
  • Honeylocust
  • Jack Pine
  • Ohio Buckeye
  • Red Oak
  • Silver Maple
  • Tamarack

Near your home or a in a small yard space

Make sure to plan for the mature size of the tree’s canopy, trunk and roots. In order to protect the structure of your home, it is generally a good idea to select a shrub or tree that will maintain a smaller stature. Listed below are some good options for Minnetonka residents with limited yard space.

  • Alder
  • American Hazel
  • American Plum
  • Blue Beech
  • Choke or Pin Cherry
  • Crabapple
  • Dogwood; Grey, Pagoda and Red-Osier
  • Hawthorn
  • High Bush Cranberry
  • Ironwood
  • Japanese Tree Lilac, Lilac shrubs
  • Nannyberry
  • Ninebark
  • Redbud
  • Serviceberry

Utility Lines

Most of the small stature trees listed above are acceptable trees to plant near utility lines.
Their smaller mature size keeps them away from the wires and reduces the chance of the tree having to be severely pruned or removed. Check Xcel Energy’s website for specific planting placement at www.mnpower.com/treebook/.
Never plant coniferous/evergreen trees under utility lines. Evergreen trees have a growth form of a triangular shape, so when they are in conflict with a utility line, the tree will usually be topped.
Topping is not a recommended pruning practice, but the safety and reliability of the power line takes precedence over tree health and aesthetics.
Always get your underground utilities marked before you start to dig.
Call Gopher State One Call at 651.454.0002 or at least 2 business days before you plan to dig.

Sources

  • Recommended Trees: An Ecosystem Approach
  • The Right Tree Handbook
  • Tough Trees and Shrubs for Tough Sites
  • Trees and Shrubs for Clay Soils, UMN Extension