Trees and Community Forestry

Why Trees?

Everyone benefits from the silent work that trees perform around the clock:

  • Cleaner air
  • Improved water quality
  • Habitat for wildlife
  • Shade
  • Increased property values

Community Resources

Tree and Native Plant Sale- Now Open!

Tree Sale and Native Plant Sale

The City of Fridley is offering reduced-cost trees and native plants to enhance our urban ecosystem. Help our community forest become more resilient by planting a tree in your yard. Trees improve air and water quality, increase property values, lower energy bills and provide valuable wildlife habitat. Trees are available on a first come basis, there is limited availability.  Limit two trees of each species per household. Native plant kits and seed mixes are being offered in partnership with Minnesota Native Landscapes as part of our goal to be a Pollinator Friendly Fridley

Ordering is run through the City's recreation software Perfect Mind, please see information below. Purchased items will be delivered to your home September 17-18. Items are dependent on nursery availability. In the event that a tree or native plant kit becomes no longer available, you will be contacted and your purchase refunded.

Please note: You must have an account and be logged in to Perfect Mind to view the tree sale. After logging in, click the "Products" button to navigate to the tree sale. More information on the registration process is listed on this page.

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Available Trees

A link is provided with each species to learn about its habitat requirements and characteristics, additional information is available on the ordering website. There is a limit of two trees per species per household. 

Tree Species Container Size Price (Sales Tax Additional)
Alder 'Prairie Horizon' #10 $34
'Autumn Splendor' Ohio Buckeye #10 $55
Cherry 'Montmorency" #7 $36
Eastern Redbud 'Minnesota Strain'  #10 $52
Cockspur Hawthorn 'Thornless' #10 $44
Watering Bag 20 gallons $15

Available Native Plant Kits and Seed Mixes

Plant kits include six plants of six species, species depend on nursery availability. All plant kits cost $57.60 plus sales tax. Click on the name to find more product details. There is no limit for native plant kits and seed mixes. 

Seed Mix Description Price (Sales Tax Additional)

Pollinator Mix

A diverse mix for pollinators including grasses, sedges and over 25 wildflower species. For dry to mesic conditions (100 square foot seeding area).

$20

Bee Lawn Seed Mix

A short stature, pollinator-friendly and low-maintenance alternative to traditional turf. Contains non-native species that provide pollinator forage and requires less mowing, water and fertilizer (1,000 square foot seeding area).

$80

 

Plant Kit Description Price (Sales Tax Additional)
Backyard Prairie Kit An attractive mix of native prairie species for your backyard. Grows well in dry to mesic soils and full sunlight. Heights ranging 36 inches and up. $57.60
Short and Tidy Kit A mix of short-statured, well-behaved prairie species. Perfect for existing flower beds with mesic soil and full sun to partial shade. Up to 36 inches in height. $57.60
Part-Shade Kit Designed for areas with 50 percent or more shade and filtered sunlight under mature trees. $57.60
Rain Garden Kit Mesic to moist soil species. Perfect for areas of concentrated runoff and occasional inundation. $57.60
Shoreline Stabilization Kit Deep-rooted, wet-soil species to help prevent erosion along large bodies of water. $57.60
Monarch Special Kit A mix of milkweed varieties to host Monarch caterpillars and fall-blooming nectar favorites for Monarch butterflies. $57.60
 Songbird Special Kit  A mix of sturdy-stemmed, seed-producing wildflowers and grasses to provide food and habitat for your favorite Minnesota songbirds.  $57.60
Prairie Grass Kit A mix of native prairie grasses. Plant on its own or use alongside other kits to provide ground cover, a more natural prairie look and support for wildflowers. $57.60

How to Order

The Tree Sale is run through the City's Recreation Program software "Perfect Mind". To purchase a tree:

1. Visit the ordering webpage on Perfect Mind.
2. Login to your Perfect Mind account or create a new account.
3. Click on "Products"- you must be logged in to see the "Products" tab. 

Highlight of Products button on Perfect Mind

4. Select your trees, plant kits, or seed mixes- there is a limit of two trees per species per household. If you order more than two tree species your order will be refunded.
5. Purchased trees will be delivered September 17-18 to your home. More information will be provided closer to the delivery date.
6. No refunds or warranties are given. 
7. Please call 763-572-3594 or email rachel.workin@fridleymn.gov with questions. 

Tree Tips

  • It’s the law to call Gopher State One Call (651-454-0002) or submit a ticket online at least three days before digging (not including weekends or holidays). They will mark buried utility lines for your safety.
  • Large trees should be planted at least 15 feet away from nearby power lines and/or buildings.
  • Save money on energy by planting large shade trees on the west or east side of your home.
  • You will receive a brochure containing information about planting, it is also recommended that you watch this video on proper tree planting.

Community Tree Planting Program- Now Open!

The City has received grant funding from the DNR to support residents in planting trees on their own property for no cost. Participants can choose to have up to two trees delivered to their home to plant themselves in mid-September, or there is a limited number of spots to have the City's contractor plant the trees for residents who need planting assistance. Contractor planting would be in either Fall 2026 or Spring 2027. More exact dates will be provided closer to.

This program is only available to residents in the DNR’s Priority Tree Planting Area. You can search if you qualify by typing your address in the Property + Zoning map and scrolling to the bottom of the pop-up window.  

All trees will be 10-gallon containerized trees and come with a watering bag. Participants in the program will be the owners of the tree and responsible for all maintenance. Sign up online or by calling 763-572-3594. 

Boulevard Tree Planting Program

The 2026 Boulevard Trees is now full. Residents who live in the DNR Priority Planting Area(PDF, 329KB)  are still eligible to request trees through the Community Planting Program. To receive early notification for available boulevard trees next year, please add your name to the waitlist

 

Income-Qualified Ash Tree Removal Program

The current round of applications for the Income-Qualified Ash Tree Removal and Replacement Program is closed. The City is expecting to receive additional funding from the DNR to support the program this fall. This program is only available to residents in the DNR’s Priority Tree Planting Area. You can search if you qualify by typing your address in the Property + Zoning map and scrolling to the bottom of the pop-up window. Income qualifications to participate in the program (based on 2025 Annual gross Income) are :

Household Size Annual Income
 1  $ 72,950
 2  $ 83,400
 3  $ 93,800
 4  $ 104,200
 5  $ 112,550
 6+  Call 763-572-3594

 

Please fill out the online form to be placed on the waitlist or call 763-572-3594. Some trees may not be considered due to access challenges. 

 

Emerald Ash Borer

Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect pest that aggressively spreads and kills green ash trees. EAB was confirmed in Fridley in 2019, and since then outbreaks have been confirmed throughout the city. The larvae of EAB tunnel under tree bark, which interrupts the flow of water through the tree. Once symptoms are present, the ash tree typically dies within one to three years. If you have an ash tree on your property, act now to treat or remove it before the tree becomes a safety hazard. The City is offering an income-qualified ash tree removal and replacement program for a limited time, please see information about the program within the "Income-Qualified Ash Tree Removal Program" section.

Learn more about how EAB kills ash trees(PDF, 920KB)

Ash Tree ID

Ash trees are one of the most common shade trees in Fridley. An estimated 30% of the City's publicly owned trees are ash with thousands more located on private property. To tell if you have an ash tree, look for:

  • Diamond- patterned bark on mature trees
  • Leaves and branches that are opposite each other
  • Leaves comprised of small leaflets

What to Do About EAB?

If you have an ash tree in your yard, assume that it will become infested with EAB and die without intervention. Due to the ubiquity of ash trees throughout the city, the impact of EAB in Fridley will be devastating without resident help. If you have an ash tree, you may choose to:

  1. Treat your ash tree.
  2. Remove (and replace) your ash tree.

Due to the shade, air quality, and water quality benefits provided by mature trees, the City recommends treating ash trees that are:

  • Over 10 inches diameter
  • In a good location
  • Not exhibiting advanced EAB symptoms (>30% canopy loss)

Although trees must be treated every 2-3 years, it is usually more cost efficient to treat the tree long-term than remove it.

Treating Your Ash Tree

You can protect your tree against EAB infestation using chemical treatment. Chemical treatment must be reapplied every two to three years. Do not wait until the tree is exhibiting symptoms of EAB to start treatment as the damage may be irreparable and the tree too far gone. Treat the tree using a systemic chemical injected by a Fridley-licensed tree company. Some chemicals used to treat EAB can be harmful to beneficial insects such as pollinators if applied improperly. Systemic injections are the most effective form of treatment and are the least likely to adversely impact pollinators. Avoid using treatments that are applied as soil drenches, which can leach into water or drift to pollinator habitat. The City will be contracting with Birch Tree Care to treat high-quality ash trees in City-owned parks and right-of-ways between 2024-2026. As part of this program, Birch Tree Care will be extending a bulk treatment price to Fridley residents of $6 per inch based on the trees diameter at breast height. Learn more about Birch Tree Care's Bulk Treatment Program.

Tree Planting and Care

Tree Planting

Consider your site's availability of sunlight and soil type when selecting a tree. Other recommendations include:

Planting the tree correctly and watering it consistently will help ensure its survival.

Tree Tips

  • It’s the law to call Gopher State One Call (651-454-0002) at least three days before digging. They will mark buried utility lines for your safety.
    Plant trees at least fifteen feet away from underground and overhead utilities
  • Save money on energy by planting large shade trees on the west or east side of your home.
  • Large trees should be planted at least 15 feet away from nearby power lines and/or buildings.

Report a Hazardous Tree

Fridley City Code requires the removal of trees that are diseased or that have a structural condition that poses a safety risk. If you notice a damaged or diseased street or park tree or are concerned about a tree on private property with a structural defect, please fill out an online Tree Concern Report or contact Fridley Public Works at 763-572-3566.

Hiring a Tree Company

If you plan to prune or remove a tree, hire a reliable, insured, arborist/tree service company that is licensed with the City of Fridley. Anyone offering tree services in Fridley must go complete a police background check and obtain a City-issued Tree Management license.

Find a list of currently licensed tree management companies