Spring 2008 tree sale
All species are now sold out.
Back by popular demand after its very successful inaugural year, the city of Minnetonka tree sale will help you celebrate spring and Arbor Day. In order to keep our community green and to encourage replanting of trees lost to disease, the city is pleased to offer residents a selection of ten species at below-cost prices.
Each year, the species composition offered will differ in order to encourage residents to plant a wide variety of trees. If you planted a maple last year, consider planting a hackberry this year—it provides food for birds, has a lovely vase-shaped canopy, and its yellow fall color contrasts nicely with a showy maple.
Planting a diversity of tree species makes your yard and the city’s community forest more resilient. Most forest pests are very selective, with insects and diseases tending to thrive on specific tree species, so tree diversity allows a community to recover from a forest health setback and help avoid future, wide-spread damage to tree cover.
Below you will find more information about tree species. You can also visit the Buying a Tree page to find tips on how to choose the right tree for your yard. For those without Internet access, a tree information packet will be available at Minnetonka City Hall, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., and Minnetonka Public Works, 11522 Minnetonka Blvd.
All species are now sold out: orders are no longer being accepted.
Tree pick-up instructions:
- Location: 11522 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka Public Works
- Two pick-up dates: Friday, May 2, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. and Saturday, May 3, between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m.
- We will offer some assistance loading vehicles, but please order a tree that you can realistically transport home.
- We will provide written planting and care instructions for each order.
- Unlike a retail nursery, these trees do not have a warranty.
Descriptions
You might notice that some of the trees for sale this year are not Minnesota natives. While the Minnetonka Natural Resources Division strongly encourages the use of native trees and plants, we also recognize that many of the landscapes in our community do not have “native” soils. This means that the underground system of pore-space, minerals, microorganisms and nutrients that make up soil have been removed, compacted, and altered when our houses were built. That being said, great care has been taken to choose trees that are not invasive non-natives. Additionally, species and cultivars were chosen that are resistant to the most serious pests and insects in the Minnetonka area, and are well adapted to a variety of sites.
All species are now sold out: the descriptions below are for informational purposes only.
Large shade trees
Think about planting a large shade tree for the myriad of ecological benefits it provides when it is planted in the right spot and cared for properly. These trees may start out small, but will mature into something majestic.
Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple (sold out)
- Mature height
- 50–75′
- Spread
- 50′
- Fall foliage
- Orange–red–yellow
- Summary
- Sugar maple is native to Minnesota. In its native habitat, this tree is most often found in densely-shaded maple-basswood forests, examples of which you can find at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It will do best in a moist, rich, well-drained soil. Please do not plant this tree and grow grass around it and expect it to do well—it won’t. Re-create a forest floor for this tree; incorporate compost into your soil prior to planting, use wood-based mulch around the tree after planting, and water regularly during periods of drought. This particular variety of sugar maple has been selected because it is more resistant to sun scald and frost cracks. Special features include magnificent fall color and round, dense canopy shape. Plant in full shade to full sun.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 6–8 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 55 pounds
- Price
- $30
Swamp White Oak (sold out)
- Mature height
- 50–60′
- Spread
- 40–50′
- Fall foliage
- Yellow–brown
- Summary
- Swamp white oak is native to the upper Midwest. It has a pyramidal crown when young, becoming oval and open with age. In nature it is found along streams and in swampy soils, but can also tolerate well drained soils. Special features include glossy, dark green leaves, sweet acorns and furrowed bark. Resistant to oak wilt. Plant in partial or full sun.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 3–5 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 30 pounds
- Price
- $30
Red Oak (sold out)
This tree is no longer available.
- Mature height
- 60–80′
- Spread
- 50′
- Fall foliage
- Dark red
- Summary
- Red oak is native to Minnesota, and contrary to popular belief, it is a fast growing tree. It has a pyramidal shape when young, becoming more rounded with age. It does best in a moist well drained soil, but can tolerate a variety of soils and is tolerant to road salt. Never prune red oaks between April-October to avoid oak wilt disease. Do not plant within 100′ of trees recently removed due to oak wilt. Special features include vibrant red fall color and strong branch structure. Plant in full sun to partial shade.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 5–7 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 55 pounds
- Price
- $30
River Birch ‘Heritage’ (clump) (sold out)
- Mature height
- 40–50′
- Spread
- 30–40′
- Fall foliage
- Bright yellow
- Summary
- River birch is native to the southeastern corner of Minnesota and has an oval, spreading crown. The clump variety tends to form drooping branches and does best with ample room to maintain its natural branching structure; otherwise early pruning is needed to provide clearance. As the name implies, this birch is found in nature along rivers and streams but will tolerate a variety of soils if kept mulched with wood chips and watered regularly during periods of drought. Special features include beautiful golden brown exfoliating bark and dark green shiny leaves. Plant in partial or full sun.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 3–4 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 30 pounds
- Price
- $30
Hackberry (sold out)
- Mature height
- 50–75′
- Spread
- 50′
- Fall foliage
- Yellow
- Summary
- Hackberry is native to Minnesota and develops a vase-shaped rounded crown. It has a roughly similar silhouette to an elm tree but is not susceptible to Dutch elm disease. Hackberry can do well in a variety of soil types and leafs out later than most trees in the spring. Special features include small purple berries for birds and interesting corky bark. Plant in partial or full sun.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 5–7 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 55 pounds
- Price
- $30
American Basswood ‘Frontyard Linden’ (sold out)
- Mature height
- 60–75′
- Spread
- 40′
- Fall foliage
- Yellow
- Summary
- Basswood is a native Minnesota tree; this variety was introduced by Bailey Nurseries and has a pyramidal shape when young, becoming more rounded with age. Prefers a moist but well-drained soil, but will tolerate a variety of soils if kept mulched with wood chips and watered regularly during periods of drought. This is a tree you must commit to pruning regularly when young to form solid branching structure. Special features include dense shade, symmetrical branching habit, and tiny fragrant flowers. Plant in partial sun or full sun.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 3–5 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 30 pounds
- Price
- $30
Ornamental Trees
Choose an ornamental tree if you have a small yard, need a burst of color or if you want to plant under power lines.
Redbud (Minnesota strain) (sold out)
This tree is no longer available.
- Mature height
- 20–30′
- Spread
- 20–25′
- Fall foliage
- Brilliant yellow
- Summary
- Redbud’s native range is in the eastern U.S. Historically, when redbud was planted in Minnesota it was only marginally hardy due to our cold winters. The recent introduction of a Minnesota strain is an exciting chance to find more success growing redbud. This strain is grown from seed collected at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It can tolerate a variety of soils if kept mulched with wood chips and watered regularly during periods of drought. Special features include showy pink-purple flowers appearing before leaves, and bright yellow fall color. We hope you are as excited about this tree as the multiple residents who called after noticing the pink flowers emerge last spring on young trees as they drove along Minnetonka Boulevard. You can see these redbuds flower in front of Minnetonka city hall just before leaf emergence in early May. Plant in sun or part shade for best flower development.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 3–4 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 30 pounds
- Price
- $30
Japanese Tree Lilac (clump) (sold out)
- Mature height
- 25′
- Spread
- 15′
- Fall foliage
- Insignificant
- Summary
- Japanese Tree Lilac is not native to North America but is well adapted to the climate in Minnesota. It is a small ornamental tree with a compact, oval crown, able to tolerate some of the worst soils. Special features include large crème-colored flowers in July, and glossy golden bark. Plant in full sun for best flower development.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 4–6 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 55 pounds
- Price
- $30
Large shrub/small trees
(suitable for habitat restoration)
Try a tall native shrub; they are excellent replacements for buckthorn. They are also suitable for planting under power lines.
Serviceberry ‘Autumn Brilliance’ (clump) (sold out)
- Mature height
- 20–25′
- Spread
- 15′
- Fall foliage
- Red-orange
- Summary
- Serviceberry is native to Minnesota, and is sometimes called Juneberry. This densely branched large shrub will provide privacy screening and will recreate an understory in wooded areas recently cleared of buckthorn. While once prevalent in Minnetonka, this plant is now rare. It can tolerate a variety of soils if kept mulched with wood chips and watered regularly during periods of drought. The fruit is rapidly consumed by birds including robins, catbirds, and brown thrashers. Special features include white flowers in spring, edible fruit (for birds and humans), and vibrant fall color. Serviceberry will grow slowly in full shade; alternatively, plant in full to partial sun for best growth and flower development.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 4–5 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 40 pounds
- Price
- $30
Nannyberry (sold out)
- Mature height
- 20′
- Spread
- 6–10′
- Fall foliage
- Purple-red
- Summary
- Nannyberry is native to Minnesota, and is sometimes called Viburnum. It is a large upright vase-shaped shrub which is thicket-forming. Over time, it will send up suckers which will turn into new shrubs which provide good privacy screening, and will recreate an understory in wooded areas recently cleared of buckthorn. It does best in a moist well drained soil, but can tolerate a variety of soils if kept mulched with wood chips and watered regularly during periods of drought. It provides good cover for rabbits and birds in the winter, and the fruit is rapidly consumed by birds including cedar wax wings and brown thrashers. Special features include white flowers in spring, habitat value, and intense fall color. While nannyberry will grow slowly in full shade, plant in full to part sun for best growth and flower development, and to avoid powdery mildew.
- Photos and more information
- Stock type
- Container
- Height at time of purchase
- 4–5 feet
- Weight at time of purchase
- 40 pounds
- Price
- $30
Supplies
Plastic Tree Guards
- Summary
- Plastic tree guards will protect trunks from deer, rodent and lawn mower damage.
- Height
- 3–5 feet tall with a 2–3″ diameter.
- Price
- $3
