Best Practice Action 16.2
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Community Forests and Soils No. 16
Add city tree and plant cover that conserves topsoils and increases community health, wealth, quality of life.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 2
Adopt best practices for urban tree planting/quality; require them in private developments and/or use them in at least one development project.
- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources provides guidance for planting trees and seedlings (PDFs and videos).
- On the GreenStep model ordinances page the Model Landscape Ordinance for a Municipal Zoning Code covers key best practices for private landscaping and construction projects. One design practice Eagan requires is that sites adding 10,000 sq. ft. or more of disturbed/graded/compacted soils must assure 5% organic matter remains, typically by adding compost so the soils allow water infiltration.
- The Minnesota Stormwater Manual has design guidelines for tree quality and planting (tree trenches and tree boxes) as well as methods for assessing their ecologic performance. Note on this page, under design guidelines for soil characteristics (under bioretention soil mixes) that MnDOT compost specification 3890 (p. 715) is recommended.
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) sets nursery stock standards that result in healthy tree stock to be planted in the landscape. This is a minimum standard that stock should meet.
- City Trees: Sustainability Guidelines & Best Practices (MN Tree Trust, Bonestroo: 2007) were specifically developed to work in conjunction with and build on the MN Green Communities Criteria and the accompanying Minnesota Overlay.
- Trees grown in a gravel-bed nursery cost less and have better root systems that are more likely to survive transplanting. Learn about Hennepin County's experience.
- Appropriately placed and maintained trees can help reduce damage to structures in storms by deflecting wind, and reduce damage to trees. Actions in the weeks and years following a strong storm can help bring damaged trees back to health. See Storm damage prevention and treatment best practices (University of Florida, 2020).
- Having a storm response plan in place for your community must include the clearing of emergency routes, understanding of roles and how you as a community may work with FEMA, and where large amounts of woody debris may be stored short-term to clear needed roadways. The Forest Service has a number of resources and webinars here.
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Adopt MN DNR Planting Guidelines; develop and adopt a young tree establishment plan incorporating regular watering and young tree structural pruning; require MN Stormwater Manual tree design guidelines for city projects; require ANSI Z60.1 for plant nursery or contractor purchased tree stock; report use of compost as a soil amendment or mulch made of an organic material to mitigate soil compaction. |
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Use guidelines in at least one city development project; use a gravel-bed tree nursery; assess the performance of tree trenches and tree boxes; adopt storm response plan and prevention best practices. |
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Incorporate adopted tree planting best practices, tree preservation, or heritage tree preservation in development ordinances; show with data that 'plant once' practices are decreasing the number of dying boulevard trees that must be replanted. |
Who's doing it
Golden Valley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2011
Implementation details:
The Golden Valley Forestry Department follows industry tree and shrub planting best management practices and uses MnDOT specifications for all street reconstructions and projects such as the Highway 55 Lilac Project. Golden Valley also uses aerial photos and digital inventorying to determine where more cover or more diverse cover is needed in the City. Planting projects are monitored for success and practices are re-evaluated as needed
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Continued monitoring has generated the percent survival for the following projects:
A 2010-2012 planting project funded by a MN DNR Community Forest Bonding Grant (100 trees in 2011, 82 trees in 2012) showed an estimated 90% survival after two years.
A 2013 Met Council Environmental Services Reliever Project (47 trees) showed 89% survival.
A tree planting project in city parks in response to a 2011 tornado (funded by MCES grant and Trees for Tyrol group) (57 trees) had 86% survival.
A 2014 Tree Trust project in Brookview Park (35 trees) had 89% survival.
2014 and 2015 City Fall planting projects (14 and 50 trees respectively) each had 100% survival.
A 2010-2012 planting project funded by a MN DNR Community Forest Bonding Grant (100 trees in 2011, 82 trees in 2012) showed an estimated 90% survival after two years.
A 2013 Met Council Environmental Services Reliever Project (47 trees) showed 89% survival.
A tree planting project in city parks in response to a 2011 tornado (funded by MCES grant and Trees for Tyrol group) (57 trees) had 86% survival.
A 2014 Tree Trust project in Brookview Park (35 trees) had 89% survival.
2014 and 2015 City Fall planting projects (14 and 50 trees respectively) each had 100% survival.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Al Lundstrom (City staff) | alundstrom@goldenvalleymn.gov | (763)-593-8046
Partners:
New Prague -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2022
Implementation details:
In 2022, the City passed Ordinance #334, titled Public Tree Care, Tree Diseases and Infestations. This ordinance describes best practices, prohibits harming public trees, and discusses steps needed for tree diseases within the community.
Section 7.37 of the zoning code requires a tree to be planted with each new home constructed.
Section 7.37 of the zoning code requires a tree to be planted with each new home constructed.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Joshua Tetzlaff (City Staff) | jtetzlaff@ci.new-prague.mn.us | 952.758.4401
Partners:
Savage -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2004
Implementation details:
The City adopted an Urban Forest & Shade Tree Management Comprehensive Manual. The best practices are also codified in Savage City Code Ch. 102.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
The program promotes incentives for the preservation of trees.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://www.cityofsavage.com/home/showdocument?id=280
For more information contact:
Jon Allen (City Staff) | jallen@cityofsavage.com | 9522243441
Partners:
Stillwater -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 1990
Implementation details:
Section 31-522 of city code lays out regulations to protect trees on slopes and requires a tree protection plan must be submitted for concept PUD or preliminary subdivision plan review, or be included with submission of a grading plan if not a part of a subdivision or PUD.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://library.municode.com/mn/stillwater/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CH31ZOOR_ARTVPEST_DIV4CORELLDI_S31-522TRFOPR
For more information contact:
Bill Turnblad (City staff) | bturnblad@ci.stillwater.mn.us | 651-430-8821
Partners:
Bloomington -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
On public projects Bloomington’s engineering division uses MN DOT standards to develop specifications to ensure proper soil composition and plant installation. Guidelines for tree and shrub planting on private development projects are in Chapter 19 section 52 of the City Code. Bloomington City staff maintains a gravel bed nursery with a diverse mix of 15 tree species. This system allows staff to plant trees during optimal seasons and encourages extensive root growth that leads to successful establishment and long term survival. The diversity is intended to add resilience to the urban forest and reduce the impact of future invasive pests.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Steve Gurney (City staff) | sgurney@BloomingtonMN.gov | 952-563-4606
Partners:
La Crescent -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2014
Implementation details:
On page 153 of the zoning ordinances for the City of La Crescent, it outlines substantial best practices for tree planting, maintenance, and preservation. We also have a tree board which has been working on our Tree City USA recognition. Being the Apple Capital of MN we have a commitment to trees and preserving them for future generations.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://www.cityoflacrescent-mn.gov/wp-content/uploads/Zoning-Ordinance-Book-PDF.pdf
For more information contact:
Shawn Wetterlin (City staff) | SWetterlin@cityoflacrescent-mn.gov | 507-895-4409
Partners:
Robbinsdale -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
Completed. The City plants bareroot trees using an in-house Missouri Gravelbed Nursery system and follows MnDOT Landscape Specialist recommendations for quality, selection and planting guidelines.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Partners:
Saint James -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2016
Implementation details:
The City of St. James purchases bare root trees from a nursery and starts them off in a gravel rock bed. In the fall we transfer them from the gravel rock bed to the city boulevards. The City follows industry tree and shrub planting best management practices and uses MnDOT specifications for all street reconstructions and projects. Boulevard trees in St. James are planted, pruned, and maintained by the Street/Park Department. The Ci also removed dead trees or trees with diseases and infestations for public safety and replants them with MN native trees. The City purchases 50-100 bare root trees a year to replace the trees that have been removed. The City is working on implementing tree diversification project in response to EAB.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Brianna Sanders (City Staff) | brianna.sanders@ci.stjames.mn.us | 507-375-1289
Partners:
Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Saint Paul uses a number of strategies to fund annual tree planting, including a regular annual CIB Citywide tree planting budget of over $300,000; an Emerald Ash Borer Management Program that replants a minumum 1:1 for every ash tree removed; replanting as a part of public works and other parks reconstruction projects; thousands of smaller seedlings/sapplings planted as part of park restoration projects; and annual outreach partnership planting projects--some on private property--using innovative gravel bed tree stock. Best planting practices are used in all cases, for example, from the use of tree growth tubes in planting sapplings for restoration projects, to the construction of the Central Corridor Light Rail Green Line where 1000 new trees were planted in an innovative tree trench using C.U. Structural Soil that doubles as storm water quality/infiltration green infrastructure.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
Saint Peter -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 1990
Implementation details:
The city of Saint Peter adopted a regulation through the council which identifies what trees and where they can be planted in the community. Trees are planted along boulevards in Saint Peter and are pruned, maintained and can be removed as may be necessary to ensure public safety, public access, or to enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.saintpetermn.gov/environmental-servicesrefuse
For more information contact:
Todd Prafke (City Staff) | barbaral@saintpetermn.gov | 507-934-0663
Partners:
Albert Lea -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Albert Lea Forestry Department follows industry best management practices.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Jerry Gabrielatos (City staff) | jgabrielatos@ci.albertlea.mn.us | 507-377-4316
Partners:
Fergus Falls -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Fergus Falls has both a Dutch Elm and an Emerald Ash Borer program to monitor and remove effective and diseased trees. We annually plant 180 – 200 boulevard trees to replace affected areas.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Len Taylor (City staff) | len.taylor@ci.fergus-falls.mn.us | 218-332-5418
Partners:
Hutchinson -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
The city of Hutchinson adopted policies that outlines what trees and where they can be planted in the community. Boulevard trees in Hutchinson are planted, pruned, maintained, and can be removed as necessary to ensure public safety or public access. The city follows industry tree and shrub planting best management practices and uses MNDOT specifications for all street reconstructions and projects. The city has also implementing tree diversification project in response to EAB.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Donovan Schuette (City staff) | dschuette@ci.hutchinson.mn.us | 320-583-8982
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Valerie McClannahan, Community Forestry Coordinator, MN Department of Natural Resources: 651-259-5283, valerie.mcclannahan@state.mn.us, www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/urban