Trees shade and cool us in the summer, protect us from cold winter winds, supply us with clean air to breathe, beautify our communities and provide habitat for wildlife. Selecting the trees that will survive and grow into healthy urban forests requires a thorough analysis of the planting site and a careful match of the trees to that environment.
The Recommended Trees series recognizes that Minnesota is an ecologically diverse state. For this series, the state is divided into six major ecological regions, each with characteristic soils, precipitation patterns, topography, and natural vegetation. Recommended trees for each region perform reliably in that environment, and should thrive for many years.
The following links recommend which trees should be selected for each region of Minnesota:
- Recommended Trees for Northwest and Central Minnesota: An Ecosystem Approach
- Recommended Trees for Southeast Minnesota: An Ecosystem Approach
- Recommended Trees for Southwest Minnesota: An Ecosystem Approach
- Recommended Trees for Northern Tallgrass Prairie: An Ecosystem Approach
