Trees and forestry

About Arbor Day

Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday of April and Arbor Month is celebrated throughout May. This is a time to recognize the many benefits that trees provide to our health, well-being, and environment and take action to care for and plant trees. Arbor Day 2025 is Friday, April 25. 

Planting trees for a changing climate

Minnesota’s changing climate is affecting what trees will thrive in our area. Planting a diversity of trees will make our communities more resilient to climate change. 

• Order or download a copy of the recommended trees booklet to help develop a planting plan.
• Learn more about trees and a changing climate (PDF) from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

As the climate in Minnesota shifts, it is important to plant trees that will thrive in the future. Consider trees of the following species for planting in Hennepin County:

• Bur oak
• Dutch elm resistant elm varieties
• Ginkgo
• Horse chestnut
• Kentucky coffeetree
• Northern catalpa
• Ohio buckeye
• Shagbark hickory
• Swamp white oak
• Turkish hazelnut
• Yellowwood

Be sure to plant the right tree for your planting location. Consider the mature height and spread of a tree when making your choice.

How to plant trees

Once you have a tree, it’s important to plant it correctly to ensure it stays healthy and strong for years to come. Follow these tips from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to help you plant trees. 

Printable pocket guide to planting trees (PDF) from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

How to plant a bareroot seedling

Watch this short video (2 minutes) to learn how to plant a bareroot tree seedling. 

How to plant a tree that comes in a container

Watch this short video (2 minutes) to learn how to plant a tree that comes in a container.

How to keep mature trees safe and healthy

Be aware of root zones when installing or expanding patios, decks, sidewalks, and driveways

Planning to install a patio, deck, sidewalk, or expand a driveway? Be aware of the root zones of mature trees. Remember that the roots keep your beautiful mature tree healthy and hydrated. Plan your project around the roots of the trees and avoid cutting into or paving over roots whenever possible.

Protect mature trees during construction projects

If you have a construction project coming up, incorporate protecting mature trees as part of the planning process rather than cutting them down. Careful planning can minimize negative impacts on existing trees. Learn more from the University of Minnesota on protecting trees from construction damage (PDF).

Treat some species of trees to keep them healthy

Ash trees are a common urban landscaping tree – there are more than 1 million ash trees in yards, parks and streets in Hennepin County. That’s about 15 percent of the tree canopy. All ash trees in the county that are not being treated will likely infested with emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest from Asia that kills ash trees.

If you have ash trees on your property, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to do to treat or remove them. Treatment with an insecticide is an option to preserve ash trees of high value. A mature ash tree that is healthy, at least 30 inches in circumference (or 10 inches in diameter) at chest height, and of value to the property owner may be worth saving.  If you decide to treat your ash trees, treatment should begin immediately. Learn more about emerald ash borer.

There are often ways to preserve that are threatened by disease. Whether you are treating or removing your trees, you should work with an ISA-certified arborist. These arborists are trained in proper tree care by the International Society of Arboriculture. Learn about working with an arborist (PDF) and find an ISA-certified arborist near you.

Calculate the benefits of trees near you

Calculate the benefits of trees near you using the tree benefits calculator.

To calculate the benefits, first identify the tree species. Use our neighborhood tree bingo (PDF) and tree identification guide (PDF) to help figure it out!

Then, measure the tree by wrapping a measuring tape or string around the tree about 4.5 feet off the ground (about chest height) to get the circumference. Divide the circumference by 3.14 to get the diameter.

Emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest that attacks and kills ash trees, is the biggest current threat to our tree canopy. There are over 1 million ash trees in Hennepin County, and 100 percent of them are threatened by the emerald ash borer. All ash trees in the county that aren't being treated are likely infested with emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest from Asia that kills ash trees.

If you have ash trees on your property, it's time to start thinking about what you're going to do to treat or remove them.

Learn more about the threat of emerald ash borer and options for managing ash trees.

Resources about managing ash trees from the threat of emerald ash borer

Hennepin County has several resources to learn about emerald ash borer and options for managing ash trees:

Emerald ash borer brochure (PDF, 2MB)

• English
• Large print English
• Hmong
• Somali
• Spanish

Ash tree identification card (PDF, 1MB)

• English
• Large print English
• Hmong
• Somali
• Spanish

Ash tree identification and decision guide (PDF, 2MB)

• English
• Large print English
• Hmong
• Somali
• Spanish

Funding for removals

In early 2024 Hennepin County was awarded 10 million dollars in funding from the U.S. Forest Service to remove diseased trees, plant trees, educate residents, and support businesses and workforce development. Work on this project will begin in spring 2024 and continue through January 31, 2029. Hennepin County will help homeowners with low incomes get trees removed and replaced on their properties. Applications will be accepted from residents beginning in June 2024.

Visit Be Heard Hennepin to stay up to date, subscribe for updates, ask questions, and find application materials.

Spread the word

Use these resources to help spread the word about emerald ash borer and options for managing ash trees:

• Newsletter and social media posts (DOCX, 21MB)
• Spread of emerald ash borer image (GIF, 1MB)
• Decision guide for managing ash trees (JPG, 1MB) 

Hennepin County forestry is offering free monthly learning opportunities about trees and forests for residents. These sessions require no previous knowledge and are open to the public. See below for meeting topics and registration links.

Subscribe to the urban and community forestry newsletter to be notified of future training topics and when registration opens for upcoming sessions.

Download a flyer of upcoming sessions (PDF, 547 KB)  

Connect and craft in celebration of Arbor Day

Saturday, April 19 from 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Hosmer Library in Minneapolis

Join the Hennepin County Foresters to connect, create, and collaborate with community through many activities celebrating Arbor Day. The afternoon will include opportunities for zine making, puppet making, plant printing, and seed art. Materials for crafts will be provided at no cost, and participants are also invited to bring their own materials. 

Educational forestry resources will be available and forestry experts will be on-site to share in the activities and answer related questions. All are welcome, there are activities for any age group, and instruction by foresters will be available in English and Spanish. Printed educational materials are available in English (including large print), Spanish, Hmong, and Somali. Map to bus, bike, drive, or walk to Hosmer Library. 

Register to attend.

Urban fruit tree care

Two session options on Thursday, May 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 4 to 6 p.m. in Minneapolis

Learn best practices for fruit tree care from Hennepin County Foresters. Learn about growing fruit trees and shrubs in small spaces, pruning for best fruit production and/or flowering, and protecting trees from disease and damage. Get answers from the experts to questions about tree and shrub care. 

This workshop will be fully outdoors and held in Spanish and English. We will meet at the Hennepin County urban fruit orchard on the corner of 25th Avenue N and Hillside Avenue N, one block east of Penn Avenue N in Minneapolis. Map to bus, bike, drive, or walk to Hennepin County’s urban fruit orchard. 

Register to attend

Tree identification

Two session options on Monday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kylawn Park in Brooklyn Center

Learn how to identify trees using a variety of techniques! The workshop will be held fully outdoors on both paved and unpaved trails. We will meet at the parking lot closest the corner of 61st Ave N and Lee Ave N. Map to bus, bike, drive, or walk to Kylawn Park in Brooklyn Center. 

Register to attend.

Recordings and resources from past trainings

Identifying common diseases and infestations in trees webinar

Held April 2024

Brian Schwingle, the Forest Health Program Coordinator from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, educates about common diseases and infestation of trees, including emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease, and oak wilt. Watch a recording of this training.

Tree planting and selection webinar

Held May 2024

Get insight on how to select the right tree(s) for your property and learn techniques from the experts for planting bare root, containerized, and balled and burlap trees. Watch a recording of the tree planting and selection webinar. 

Tree planting and care

Recommended trees

Order or download a copy of the recommended trees booklet to help develop a planting plan for properties in Hennepin County. This is a great resource to bring with you when shopping for trees! 

Use the county's recommended tree list (XLSX) for additional details when developing a planting plan.

Terrestrial invasive species

There are many invasive plants of concern in Minnesota. Learn how to identify and prevent the spread of terrestrial invasive species. Learn more and access helpful resources about terrestrial invasive species on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.

Planting and tree care videos

Learn how to plant a seedling from a Hennepin County forester in this short video:

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has also produced helpful videos and resources for planting trees and caring for newly planted trees.

Get to know your neighborhood trees

Neighborhood tree bingo

Take a walk around your neighborhood or visit a local park and see how many of these common urban trees you can find on our Neighborhood Tree Bingo card.

• Download the bingo card as a PDF.
• Download the bingo card as a JPG.

Tree identification guides

Use these resources to help with tree identification:

• Tree identification guide (PDF) from Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota
• A beginner's guide to Minnesota trees (PDF)
• Winter tree ID guide (PDF) from the University of Wisconsin

About healthy tree canopy grants

Hennepin County has grants available to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and non-profit organizations to enhance the county’s tree canopy.

The goals of the program are to combat threats to trees from invasive insects and disease by funding tree planting, educate the public on tree care and the importance of trees, and increase the diversity and resiliency of the tree canopy.

Applications for 2025 are closed. Check back in early 2026 for the next round.

Virtual information meeting

Held on March 5, 2025

Watch the virtual information meeting to hear about project ideas and understand the application process. Information meeting slides (PDF, 3 MB).

Types of grants available

Different types of grants are available to affordable housing properties, cities, schools, and nonprofit organizations. See the 2025 healthy tree canopy grant flyer (PDF, 443 KB) to learn more about the difference between grant types. 

Affordable housing

Grants are for removing ash trees and planting trees on affordable housing properties.

Grants are available to new and existing affordable housing properties. Eligible applicants include owners and managers of existing affordable multifamily housing, developers of new affordable multifamily housing, and affordable housing land trusts.

Grants of a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $20,000 are available. A 25% match of the granted amount is required.

• See the grant guidelines for affordable housing properties (PDF, 398 KB) for more information.
• Application for affordable housing properties (DOCX, 50 KB)

Cities

For cities with no tree inventory or an incomplete tree inventory:

• Grants are only to complete tree inventories.
• Grants of $1,000 to $5,000 are available, and a 25% match is required.

For cities that have a completed tree inventory and a have a MN DNR certified tree inspector or an ISA-certified arborist under contract for the proposed grant project:

• Grants are to implement tree plantings, maintain newly planted trees, remove and replace ash trees, conduct outreach, develop gravel-bed nurseries and develop tree management plans.
• Grants of $10,000 to $50,000 are available, and a 25% match is required.

Review the grant guidelines for cities (PDF, 401 KB) and application for cities (DOCX, 50 KB) for more information.

Schools

Grants are for tree plantings on school properties, tree-related education, tree inventories, ash tree removals, and Arbor Day celebrations.

Eligible applicants include administrators, teachers, principals, and facility managers of existing charter, private, and public schools in Hennepin County. Grants of a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 are available. No match required.

See the grant guidelines for schools (PDF, 388 KB) and application for schools (DOCX, 50 KB) for more information.

Nonprofit organizations

Grants are for tree plantings on community properties, tree-related education, tree inventories, ash tree removals, and Arbor Day celebrations.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Hennepin County.

Grants of a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum of $10,000 are available. No match required.

See the grant guidelines for nonprofit organizations (PDF, 391 KB) and application for nonprofits (DOCX, 50 KB) for more information. 

How to apply

Applications for the 2025 round have closed.

Register in the Supplier Portal

You need to be registered to submit an application. There has been an upgrade to the Supplier Portal, so you may need to register or re-register. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit the Supplier Portal information page.

Access the RFP and apply

• Visit the Supplier Portal 
• Under Contracting opportunities, view the application materials by selecting the Healthy tree canopy grant you wish to apply for (affordable housing, cities, nonprofits, or schools).
• Submit materials through the supplier portal by 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25.

Contact us for help with your project

Hennepin County foresters are available to help you develop projects and answer any questions related to the grant and application process. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the healthy tree canopy grant manager, Leslie, at leslie.alcantarmejia@hennepin.us before applying.

Recommended tree list

Use the recommended tree list (PDF) when developing a planting plan. The list includes species of trees and notes about their suitability for planting in various locations. A do-not-plant list is also included. 

Hennepin County offers training classes and volunteer opportunities to learn about tree care, improve tree health in your community, and educate others about trees.

Tree steward classes

Tree steward classes cover the basics of tree biology, tree planting, watering, pruning, and tree health through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on, outdoor field experience. Classes are offered in partnership with the University of Minnesota and host cities.

After completing the class, volunteers have opportunities to help plant and care for trees with the county and partnering organizations.

Classes are open to the public, and no experience is needed. The University of Minnesota provides the necessary tools and safety equipment. Participants should dress appropriately for being outside. Lunch is provided.

Upcoming classes

Community volunteer tree plantings

There are no community volunteer tree plantings scheduled at this time.

Hennepin County is working to improve tree canopy resilience to climate change, pests, storms, and extreme heat events. The tree canopy in Hennepin County faces a number of threats, including development, insects and diseases, climate extremes, and poor installation and maintenance.

Hennepin County forestry is helping homeowners with low incomes get trees removed and replaced on their properties as well as learn more about tree care and benefits. This work, funded by a U.S. Forest Service grant, this work addresses a significant need identified by community members as the emerald ash borer has swept through the county.

County foresters are also collaborating with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to plant 160 trees across seven sites on state rights-of-way along interstate 94 corridor in Minneapolis during the spring of 2024. These sites present an opportunity to increase the environmental and public health benefits that come from roadside trees.

Learn more about this work, access updates, subscribe to a newsletter, and ask questions on the Urban and Community Forestry page on Be Heard Hennepin. 

In July 2024, the county board awarded 17 Healthy Tree Canopy grants totaling about $433,923. Grant projects will take place in eight cities, on two affordable housing properties, at three schools, and through five nonprofit organizations, including congregations and neighborhood associations. More than 920 trees will be planted or treated through the grant projects.

The grants will:

• Fund the collection of data through tree inventories, which is critical to increasing and diversifying the tree canopy and starting to respond to emerald ash borer.
• Address the impacts of tree pests and pathogens by improving city forestry capacity and treating or replacing and replanting ash trees that are threatened by emerald ash borer. Grantees are required to plant at least one replacement tree for every ash tree removed.
• Educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts.
• Improve livability and reduce disparities by planting trees in neighborhoods throughout the county experiencing disproportionate amounts of economic, environmental, and health inequities.
• Protect people and increase the county’s resilience to climate change – important goals in the county’s Climate Action Plan – by increasing the benefits that trees provide. These benefits include capturing carbon, reducing air pollution, and taking up stormwater, and providing shade to counteract the urban heat island effect.

Grants awarded to cities

Grants to cities fund tree inventories, help mitigate the effects of tree pests and pathogens, increase the capacity of city forestry programs, educate residents on the benefits of trees and engage them in tree planting efforts, and improve livability by planting trees in neighborhoods that face economic, environmental, and health disparities.

Bloomington

$50,000 to create an urban forestry master management plan.

Brooklyn Park

$50,000 to update tree inventory, plant 100 trees in boulevards and parks, and conduct public outreach and education.

Eden Prairie

$44,370 to treat 431 ash trees.

Excelsior

$32,540 to preserve trees, update tree inventory, remove hazardous trees, and plant 22 trees.

Minneapolis

$50,000 to create a tree preservation ordinance.

Minnetonka

$50,000 for a smart tree inventory to update city’s tree inventory.

New Hope

$50,000 to plant 79 trees in boulevards and parks.

St. Anthony

$19,858 to remove 15 ash and replant 15 trees.

Grants awarded to affordable housing providers

Grants to affordable housing providers promote a more diverse, resilient, and equitable tree canopy by removing and replacing ash trees and planting new trees.

Boisclair Corporation

$15,830 to plant 26 trees at two affordable housing sites in New Hope and Robbinsdale

Grants awarded to nonprofit organizations and schools

Grants to nonprofit organizations and schools are used to engage communities in planting trees, remove and replace ash trees, conduct tree-related education, complete tree inventories, and hold Arbor Day celebrations.

Chelsea Mews Association

$6,711 Remove 10 ash and replant 10 trees.

Groves Learning Organization

$10,000 to plant 10 trees and conduct tree-related education at school.

Independent School District 271

$9,850 to plant 50 trees and conduct tree-related education on school property in Bloomington.

Lake Harriet Environmental Council

$4,764 to replace invasive species by planting and maintaining 55 trees around Lake Harriet in Minneapolis.

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

$10,000 to plant 23 replacement trees in Eden Prairie.

The Preserve Association

$10,000 to remove 25 ash trees and plant 45-50 replacement trees in Eden Prairie.

Special School District 1

$10,000 to plant 50 trees across 10 different school properties in Minneapolis.

Tree Trust

$10,000 to hold an educational event and plant 30 trees at a Maple Grove school.

Hennepin County plants and maintains trees on sites throughout the county in partnership with cities, libraries, community organization and schools. Planting projects include along county roadways, at county libraries and facilities, at schools and parks, and in natural areas and conservation easements.

Gravel-bed nursery

Most of the trees the county plants come from the county's gravel-bed nursery, located at the Hennepin County Adult Corrections Facility in Plymouth. The gravel-bed nursery gives the county access to hardy, diverse and cost-effective trees for use on county projects and properties.

Every spring, 1,000 young saplings of a variety of species are purchased from commercial nurseries and planted in the gravel-bed. The trees grow and develop a good root structure throughout the summer, and are ready to be transplanted in the fall.

Compared to conventional nursery trees, the gravel-bed nursery gives the county access to a wider diversity of tree species, produces trees that have a good survival rate, and allows the county to plant trees in a more cost-effective manner. The gravel-bed nursery is also helping the county proactively replace ash trees that will ultimately be infested with the emerald ash borer.

Planting projects

Trees from the gravel-bed nursery are transplanted to a variety of county projects and properties.

Examples of planting projects that the county has or is working on include:

• Arbor Day plantings at various locations
• Community locations, including along the Midtown Greenway, at schools and in parks
• Hennepin County facilities and libraries
• Restoration projects in natural areas and conservation easements
• Transportation and transit corridors

Independence conservation easement planting project

Check out this video of our tree planting project at a conservation easement in Independence. We planted 15,000 seedling trees to protect habitat and enhance our tree canopy. This is one of the many projects we’re doing to act boldly on climate change. We have committed to planting 1 million trees by 2030 and acquiring 6,000 acres of conservation easements by 2040. 

Learn more about conservation easements.

Assistance available

Cities and government organizations

Fill out the planting assistance form to express interest in a potential partnership to plant trees on city owned or managed lands that need forest improvement work, reforestation work, or afforestation work. The form can be filled out whether the project is just in planning stages or already underway. Hennepin county can provide assistance in the form of trees and planting labor, with some limited capacity for assistance with site prep.

Planting project and gravel-bed nursery assistance

If you are looking for assistance with a planting project or are interested in installing a gravel-bed nursery, contact Jack Lucas at jack.lucas@hennepin.us or 651-724-5818.

Community Forestry Strategic Plan

The Hennepin County Community Forestry Strategic Plan (PDF) defines goals and objectives that the county’s forestry program will pursue from 2020 to 2025 to protect the county’s tree canopy and increase the benefits that trees provide.

The plan includes more than 50 strategies to achieve the following goals:

• Plant, diversify, and maintain trees throughout Hennepin County
• Increase the resiliency of Hennepin County’s community forest
• Build organizational capacity to support, value, and maintain trees
• Educate and engage residents to become stewards of the community forest

Together, the strategies outlined in this plan will build stronger internal and external partnerships, get more people involved in caring for trees, and increase awareness of the values of trees. They will also establish effective forestry policies, better prepare communities for current and future threats to trees, ensure trees are used to reduce disparities and respond to climate change, and capture success stories that inspire further action. Pursuing all these strategies will create a healthier and more resilient community forest and ensure more equitable opportunities for communities to experience the benefits that trees provide.

Developing the plan

The strategic plan was developed using a participatory planning process that incorporated feedback from both internal and external partners.

Through a series of workshops, county staff developed a vision for the future of the forestry program, recognized potential barriers, identified strategies, and drafted goals.

A meeting with external partners was held to gather feedback on the draft goals and strategies. The meeting had 40 participants representing forestry and public works programs in Hennepin County cities, past recipients of Heathy Tree Canopy grants, state and regional governmental agencies involved in natural resource management, the University of Minnesota, and local nonprofits involved in green space management and education. Key insights from those meetings were incorporated into the plan.

Implementing the plan

Hennepin County foresters are beginning to implement strategies identified in the plan as they carry out their 2021 work plan. The plan will be submitted to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners for formal adoption along with the updated Natural Resources Strategic Plan later this year.

Hennepin County foresters are interested in discussing partnership opportunities that help meet the goals of the strategic plan or hearing any additional ideas you have. Connect with them by emailing trees@hennepin.us.

Community forestry progress report: 2024

Creating a community forestry program in the Environment and Energy Department was part of the county’s expanded role in natural resource conservation. The forestry program focuses on protecting the county’s tree canopy to increase the benefits that trees provide. Trees improve air quality by absorbing fine particulate matter and other pollutants and protect water by slowing down and infiltrating stormwater runoff. They also provide shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, lower stress, and increase property values.

Aspects of the county’s forestry program include growing healthy trees, partnering in large-scale planting events, managing threats to the tree canopy, raising awareness about tree pests and disease, educating the public on the benefits of trees and supporting partners through the Healthy Tree Canopy Grant program. 

Hennepin County foresters were busy throughout 2024. Some highlights of the work that was accomplished include:

• Planted 1,956 gravel bed trees and shrubs throughout the county.
• Planted 30,345 seedlings. 
• Removed 115 trees on private property of homeowners with low incomes.
• Held a tree sale where residents purchased nearly 8,350 seedlings.
• Funded 17 Healthy Tree Canopy grant projects totaling $433,923. The grants include thirteen cities, two affordable housing providers, and ten schools and nonprofits. More than 920 trees will be planted or treated through grant projects.
• Planted 72 different species of trees to maximize tree canopy diversity and resilience. 

Learn more in the 2024 Community forestry annual report (PDF, 2,800KB)

Additional reports

• 2023 Community forestry annual report (PDF, 4,800KB)

Tree waste is a valuable resource that can be recycled into compost. It is illegal to put this kind of waste in your household garbage.

Leaves can be composted in your backyard or brought to a yard waste site.

Branches, logs and stumps should be brought to a yard waste site. See a listing of yard waste sites in Hennepin County.