Few vertical vegetative layers • Providenohabitat

forwildlifethatneedlayerssuchasleaflitter,herbaceousplants,shrubs,understorytrees,and treecanopies.

• Leadtosoil erosionand pollution runoff, whichcancause poorwaterquality.

StepS to creating a healthy yard

Ask yourself: How diverse is my yard?

❒ Aretheretwoormorelayers(mulch,herbaceousplants,shrubs,

understorytrees,canopytrees)?

❒ DoIhaveamixofyoung,old,andmiddle-agedtrees?

❒ Aremytreesnativetomyarea?

Learn about native trees, shrubs, and perennials

❒ Takeacommunityeducationclassaboutnativeplants

❒ Visitanarboretum

Draw up a long-term plan to transform your yard slowly over time and

add diversity

❒ Chooseplantsthatwillcreatelayers

❒ Creategroupingsofplants,shrubs,andtreesalongedges,corners,

andhard-to-mowareas

❒ Workwithneighborstocreatelargeplantgroupingsacross

propertylines

❒Staggerplantingsovermanyyearstoachieveagediversity

❒ Plantseveraldifferentnativetrees,shrubs,andherbaceousplants

❒ Incorporateless-commonnativespecies

❒ Plantspeciesthatmimicnearbynaturalecosystems

Create a healthy growing environment

❒ Planttherighttree/shrubintherightplace,consideringthe

plant’sheightandspacingneeds,alongwithsoilsandsunlight

requirements

❒ Checkyoursoilfortype,compaction,drainage,pH

❒ Properlyplantyourtreesandshrubs(nottoodeep)

❒ Maintainyourtreesandshrubseachseason

❒ Properlymulcharoundtree

❒ Avoidtreesandshrubsthathaveinsectanddiseaseproblemssuch

asash,whicharesubjecttothedeadlyemeraldashborer

Control invasive plants and pests such as buckthorn, garlic mustard,

Dutch elm disease, and oak wilt.

Welcome your neighbors and show off your yard!

A TrAdiTionAl YArdand its problems

A H

OM

EOW

NER

’S G

UID

Eto

Cre

atin

ga

Hea

lthy

Yard

Herbaceous PlantsA. Hosta

ShrubsB. Lilac

Canopy TreesC. Green ashD. Norway mapleE. Red mapleF. Colorado blue spruce

D

C

Plant List

A

F

B B

E

N

Min

neso

ta D

epar

tmen

t of N

atur

al R

esou

rces

Div

isio

n of

For

estr

y

asphalt driveway

compacted soil

fenced yard

no mulch

North

tree planted too close to home

poorly formed tree

Few tree speciesCanbewipedoutbypestssuchasbudworms,emeraldashborer,andfungithattargetonekindoftree.Wipingoutmanyyardtreesatonceincreasesmaintenancecosts.

trees planted in the wrong place and the wrong wayCanleadtoanunhealthytreeandearlydeath,whichincreasemaintenancecosts.Avoidplantingtreestoodeep,tooshallow,andnearoverheadandundergroundutilitylines.

Few native tree speciesIsexpensive.Nonnativetreesaremorecostlytomaintain;canattractnonnative,opportunisticwildlife;andaremorelikelytodriveawaybeneficialwildlife.

cement steps and sidewalks

ReSouRCeSBenefitsofTreeswww.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm

ForestLayersfiles.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/education/primer/chaptertwo.pdf

LandscapingWithNativePlantsmndnr.gov/gardens/nativeplants/index.html

MinnesotaShadeTreeAdvisoryCommitteewww.mnstac.org/

Minnesota’sNativeTreeSpecies files.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/education/primer/appendixtwo.pdf

NativeWildflowersofMinnesotawww.minnesotawildflowers.info

PlantingTreesinYourCommunityForest extension.psu.edu/ipm/resources/pestproblemsolver/forest-shade/planting/view

ResidentialTreePlantingandCare:RightTree,RightPlace,RightWay mndnr.gov/treecare/residential.html

SeasonalCareforTreesandShrubsinNorthernU.S.Climateswww.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2008/04/seasonal-care-for-trees-and-shrubs-in-northern-u-s-climates-2/

TerrestrialInvasiveSpecies—IdentificationandManagement mndnr.gov/invasives/terrestrial_id.html

TheRightTreeBrochurewww.mnpower.com/treebook/

Tree&ShrubSelection:RecommendedTreesforMinnesotabyRegion www.myminnesotawoods.umn.edu/2008/11/recommended-trees-for-minnesota-by-region/

TreeOwner’sManualfortheNortheasternandMidwesternUnitedStates na.fs.fed.us/urban/treeownersmanual/

©2012,StateofMinnesota,DepartmentofNaturalResources FO-384-12

DepartmentofNaturalResources 500LafayetteRoad St.Paul,MN55155-4040 651-296-6157(MetroArea)or1-888-MINNDNR(646-6367)(MNToll-Free) mndnr.gov

EqualopportunitytoparticipateinandbenefitfromprogramsoftheMinnesotaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesisavailabletoallindividualsregardlessofrace,color,creed,religion,nationalorigin,sex,maritalstatus,publicassistancestatus,age,sexualorientation,disability,oractivityonbehalfofalocalhumanrightscommission.DiscriminationinquiriesshouldbesenttoMinnesotaDNR,500LafayetteRoad,St.Paul,MN55155-4049;ortheEqualOpportunityOffice,DepartmentoftheInterior,Washington,DC20240.

Thisdocumentisavailableinalternativeformatstoindividualswithdisabilities.

Printedonrecycledpapercontaining 30percentpost-consumerfiber.

ProjectManager:JenniferTeegarden GraphicArtist:AmyBeyer

Compacted soils • Providenospaceforwater,oxygen,

nutrients,androomforrootstogrow,whichdecreasesatree’shealth.

• Increaserunoffandfloodingpotentialbecausewatercan’tinfiltratethesoil.

uninteresting view from deck

leaning tree

Ground covered mostly by lawn • Isexpensive.Mulchnaturallyfertilizes

soils.Nomulchmeansthatthesoilisexposedtoerosion,lessabletoholdmoistureandnutrients,andneedsmorewaterandfertilizer.Mulchalsoprotectstreerootsfromdamage.

• Islessvisuallyinterestinganddoesnotprovidefoodandshelterforwildlife.

trees all the same age Diearoundthesametimeandleavebiggaps.Removingandreplacingtreesallatoncemaybecostly.

Collectpollutants,increaserunoff,andraisethepotentialforfloodingbypreventingwaterfrominfiltratingsoils,whichleadstopoorwaterquality.

Impervious surfaces such as

asphalt and concrete

120'

90'

I

I

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F

BA

DC

C

K

L

T

N

H

W

S

Y

Z

U

V

R

Q Q

Herbaceous PlantsA. Prairie dropseedB. Little bluestemC. Purple coneflower D. Rough blazing star E. Wild geraniumF. Jacob’s ladderG. BloodrootH. Wild gingerI. Cardinal flowerJ. Swamp milkweed

Low ShrubsK. Wild red raspberryL. Sweet lowbush blueberryM. Snowberry N. Low serviceberryO. Black chokeberry

High ShrubsP. American hazelQ. LilacsR. NannyberryS. Red-osier dogwood T. American highbush cranberry U. Ninebark

Understory TreesV. Northern white cedarW. Blue beech

Canopy TreesX. Red maple Y. White oakZ. White spruce

M

P

G

N

Plant List

X

OJ

Multiple vegetative layers (canopy, understory, shrubs, herbaceous plants, and leaf litter)

• Savemoney.Keepingleavesmeans nocostlytripstothecompostsite,free fertilizerforyou,andlesswateruse.

• Savemoney.Layersprovidecoolingshadeandprotectionfromwindandsnowtobuildings androads.

• Cleanwater.Layersinterceptrainfallandpreventrainandpollutantsfromenteringstormsewersandwatertreatmentplants.

Young, old, and “middle-aged” trees • Aremoreresilient.Treesindifferentstagesof

lifeblossom,seed,anddieindifferentyears,notallatonce.

• Createmultiplevegetativelayersthatarehabitatforadiversityofbeneficialwildlife.

• Provideamorevisuallyinteresting landscape.

A HEALTHY YArdand its benefits

Interesting natural features such as stumps, logs, and tall perennialsAttractbeneficialwildlife,happychildren,andappreciativeonlookers!

Mulch to protect the soilSavesmoney.Mulch—whetherwoodchipsorleaveschoppedwiththelawnmower—helpscoolsoilandroots,retainsmoisture,andpreventserosionfromraindropimpactandsedimentsfromenteringwatersystems.

driveway made of permeable pavers

mulch around all plantings and trees

window-height bird feeders

gutter wateringsystem sloped away from house

compost area

North

deck with a view

prairie/butterfly garden

landscaping with natural elements

fenced fruit and vegetable garden

Arbor Month May 2012mndnr.gov/arbormonth

permeable surfacesReducerainwaterrunoffandtrappollutants.

property valueAyardwithwell-maintainedmaturetreesandnativeplantscanincreasetheproperty’svaluebyupto20percent.

rain gardens, which “catch” draining water, require digging out compacted soils and amending with compost

A variety of native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants

• Savesmoney.Nativeplantsneedlesswaterandmaintenancewhenadaptedtolocalconditionsandrainfall.

• Isresilient.Avarietyofnativeplantsprotectsagainst

90'

120'

permeable driveway pavers

large-scaledevastationfromtreepestssuchasemeraldashborer.

• Provideshabitatforbeneficialwildlifesuchassongbirds,butterflies,andmosquito-eatingbats,frogs,andtoads.