Tree Planting

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Trees are very important to our urban environment, providing benefits such as stormwater mitigation, filtering our air, increasing oxygen, shading our city (keeping our energy costs down) and increasing property values. With increasing pressure from invasive species, such as Dutch elm disease and emerald ash borer, it is vital that our urban forest be replenished and diverse.

Tree planting programs are available to help offset the costs of planting a tree for both residents and commercial properties. Click on the tabs below to learn more.

Selecting the right tree to plant

Before you plant a new tree on your property, make sure to do a little research to find the best tree for you and your property. Maturity size, shade tolerance, soil conditions and current landscaping are all important factors to consider. You may also want to consider the shape of the tree, if it flowers and what colors it may be throughout the seasons.

Tree sales for residents

Annual self-service tree sale

St. Louis Park residents can take advantage of the annual self-service tree sale to purchase trees for their property at a reduced cost. The city partners with Tree Trust, a local nonprofit, to offer this program.

Spring tree sale

The spring tree sale typically starts the beginning of March each year, with an online preview of available tree species beginning in mid-February. Trees are picked up at the Municipal Service Center, 7305 Oxford St., in early May. Residents are responsible for planting the trees on their property.

View more information, including dates and times, on Tree Trust's website.

Full-service tree sale

The city and Tree Trust also offer a full-service tree sale for residential property owners. This option is great for those who would like assistance with transporting and planting reduced-cost trees on their property. Additional discounts are available for properties located in an Environmental Justice priority area and for homes and businesses that recently lost an ash tree due to emerald ash borer (EAB).

View more information on Tree Trust’s full-service tree sale and planting program, including available trees and prices.

What is an Environmental Justice priority area?

These areas of the city have been given higher priority in efforts to alleviate the financial burden of tree planting in communities that face the compounded effects of environmental pollution and low-canopy coverage, as well as social, political and economic vulnerability. See if your property is in one of these areas by using our interactive map.

New boulevard tree request

The city plants boulevard trees in public rights of way each spring and fall. These are the trees you see that are close to the roadway, often in between the road and the sidewalk. View the Beneath the Surface publication for a visual of where boulevard trees are located and more information on right of way.

Boulevard trees are planted and maintained by the city at no cost to the adjacent property owner. Residents are encouraged to water newly planted boulevard trees next to their property; this will help the long-term health and life of the tree. See the tree care tab on the main trees page for information on watering trees.

Note: If you had a boulevard tree removed recently, it will be replaced the following year.

How to submit a request

If you would like a tree planted in the right of way adjacent to your property or would like to request a water bag for your boulevard tree, contact the natural resources division at 952.924.2562 or naturalresources@stlouisparkmn.gov.

Staff will visit your property to determine if there is appropriate space for a tree. If a tree can be planted, an appropriate species will be selected by city staff.

Shade SLP commercial tree planting program

Shade SLP Plus residential tree care program

St. Louis Park, MN