Trees and shrubs

The Plant Elements of Design plant selection program will help you find plants that match the conditions of your landscaping site.

1. Go to the Plant Elements site
2. Click on Create Account
3. Enter your email address
4. Create a password
5. Click Logon
6. Respond to your account confirmation email (Sent from: Plantselection <No-reply@umn.edu>)

General planting and caring for trees and shrubs

• Planting and transplanting trees and shrubs
• Staking and guying trees

Pruning

• Clean and disinfect gardening tools and containers
• Pruning trees and shrubs
• Video: Pruning Hydrangeas: Equipment, techniques and timing (7:33)
• Video: Shrubs to prune in late winter – Part 1 (8:21)
• Video: Shrubs to prune in late winter – Part 2 (9:56)
• Video: Shrubs to prune after blooming in early spring – Part 3 (9:23)
• Video: Bud capping (2:03)

Caring for trees and shrubs

• Water wisely — conserve water and keep plants healthy
• Watering established trees and shrubs
• Watering newly planted trees and shrubs
• Video: Watering newly planted trees (3:31)
• Winter care for trees and shrubs
• The effects of deicing salts on landscapes
• Fertilizing evergreens

Managing damage

• A Practitioner's Guide to Stem Girdling Roots on Trees (2000)
• How to manage deer damage on trees and other plants
• How to manage flood damage to trees
• Protecting plants from deer
• Storm damage to landscape trees

Diseases

• Plant diseases — detailed information on tree and shrub diseases
• Non-harmful tree conditions — burls, lichens, smooth patch, sooty mold and wetwood
• Oak wilt risk status in Minnesota

Insects

• Tree and shrub insects — insects that commonly affect Minnesota trees and shrubs

Blue beech has smooth bluish-gray bark that provides multiple seasons of interest. The fluted “muscle-like” wood on the branches and trunk is a striking feature of this plant.

Red maple is highly valued as a landscape tree for its flowers and fall foliage that light up spring and autumn landscapes.

Boxelder is a hardy tree, not commonly grown for ornamental value, but it's yellow-green flowers can provide interest to spring landscapes.

Common hackberry is a popular native shade and boulevard tree that is durable and provides fruit to wildlife.

River birch is popular for its ornamental peeling bark.

Dutch elm disease-resistant elm trees

Black chokeberry provides fruit for wildlife well into the winter. It tolerates wet conditions and can be used to control erosion in very wet soils.

Redosier dogwood is native to Minnesota with colorful red or yellow winter bark.

Serviceberry, or juneberry, is a shrub or small tree native to Minnesota. This plant provides interest to the yard all year long.

Tatarian dogwood has colorful winter bark and provides a popular fruit for songbirds.

Winterberry is known for its bright red berries that last through the winter. Don't eat them, though! they are poisonous to humans and pets.

Forsythia is known for its yellow flowers that bloom in early spring.

Mockorange is grown for its fragrant white spring flowers.

Bush honeysuckle is grown for its graceful foliage and flowers that bloom spring through fall.

Lilacs come in many varieties and colors. This video (28:44) from U of M Morris gives selection, planting and growing information.

• Choosing evergreens for your landscape
• Fertilizing evergreens