Choose the Right Trees for Your Soil
Choosing the right trees for your landscape can be difficult process. There’s a lot that goes into it: what grows well in the Midwest
, if they should be tall or short
, how they’ll balance out your yard, and how much shade you’d like. But another factor should be taken into account, too: the soil type in your yard.
Minneapolis and St. Paul are at the confluence of three ecological regions: big woods, the Anoka sand plain, and the Twin Cities highlands. This means that depending on where you live in the metro area, your soil may be drastically different than that of the soil in the next town over. It also means that the Twin Cities has just about every soil type: clayey, sandy, and loamy, as well as wet and dry and everything in between.
Continue reading for a look at some of the best trees for your soil and drainage conditions. Remember to always do your own research to be sure you’re choosing trees that will last, but this will help you get started.
Clay Soil
Clay soil is made up of very fine particles, without a lot of organic matter in it. It doesn’t drain well, and so is not great for most gardens. However, plenty of trees and shrubs thrive in clay soil.
Wet clay:
arborvitae, cottonwood, crabapple, northern catalpa, willow
Moist clay:
arborvitae, crabapple, green ash, northern catalpa, paper birch, ponderosa pine, red oak, silver maple, white spruce
Moderately dry clay:
cottonwood, crabapple, green ash, northern catalpa, silver maple
Dry clay:
Eastern red cedar, green ash
Green ash trees are fairly versatile, surviving in moist, moderately dry, and dry clay, as well as moderately dry and dry loam.
Loamy Soil
Loamy soil is made up mostly of sand and silt, with a little bit of clay. This is considered the best for gardens as it retains water but also drains easily.
Wet loam:
arborvitae, balsam fir, black ash, cottonwood, crabapple, northern catalpa, white cedar, willow
Moist loam:
arborvitae, balsam fir, black walnut, crabapple, northern catalpa, paper birch, red oak, serviceberry, silver maple, white cedar, white oak, white spruce, yellow birch
Moderately dry loam:
crabapple, green ash, northern catalpa, red oak, serviceberry, white spruce
Dry loam:
Eastern red cedar, green ash
Cottonwoods prefer wet soil of all types.
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil contains the largest particles of the three soil types, making it quite grainy. Some vegetables grow very well in sandy soil, as it drains very well.
Wet sandy:
arborvitae, cottonwood, crabapple, northern catalpa, tamarack, willow
Moist sandy:
arborvitae, black spruce, crabapple, northern catalpa, Norway (red) pine, paper birch, ponderosa pine, red oak, white pine, white spruce, yellow birch
Moderately dry sandy:
bur oak, crabapple, jack pine, northern catalpa, Norway (red) pine, red oak, yellow birch
Dry sandy:
bur oak, jack pine, juniper
Jack pines do well in sandy, moderately dry or dry soil.
For more information on the best trees for different soil types, check out the University of Minnesota’s Extension Service
and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
. Not sure what type of soil you have? There are a few tests
you can do at home. Finally, for more information on particular types of trees, visit the Minnesota DNR
or the Arbor Day Foundation
.
When it’s time to revamp your landscaping (and add trees!), give us a call at 763-568-7251 or use our quick quote system to get in touch.
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When Pergolas Don’t Last, There’s Always a Reason After nearly two decades of building outdoor spaces across Medina, I’ve seen what happens when pergolas aren’t designed for Minnesota’s conditions. You can spot them a mile away—posts that lean, beams that twist, and concrete pads that have heaved out of level after just a couple of winters. It’s not because homeowners cut corners intentionally. It’s usually because whoever built it didn’t account for what our climate really does to structures that aren’t anchored right. Medina’s heavy clay soil doesn’t drain well. It holds moisture, freezes solid, and then expands like a hydraulic press pushing on everything above it. When pergolas are set on surface-level post bases, that pressure has nowhere to go but up—and the whole thing moves. Even small shifts can cause joints to separate, wood to crack, and hardware to loosen. That’s how a $15,000 structure starts looking tired after a few years instead of standing straight for decades. The truth is, pergolas here aren’t just about shade or looks. They’re about structure, drainage, and how every piece ties into the patio beneath it. A pergola that stands tall through Minnesota winters is built on the same principles as a good foundation—it’s only as strong as what’s underneath it. If you live in Medina and want to enjoy your backyard without worrying about your investment warping or sagging, start with design that respects the environment it’s built in. That means thinking beyond lumber and stain colors. It means understanding soil movement, water management, and the importance of integrating your pergola with the patio below it.
Solutions for Properties in Minnetonka You can always tell a Minnetonka yard that’s fighting its slope. Water doesn’t lie, it finds the weak spots every time. I’ve walked plenty of properties where a backyard starts beautiful in June, but by September, the patio is heaving, the grass near the pool looks like a marsh, and the homeowner is wondering how it got so bad so fast. The truth is, when you’re dealing with rolling terrain and heavy clay soils like we have around Minnetonka, you can’t just move dirt and hope gravity behaves. You need a plan that manages water from the surface all the way down through the subsoil. This is what I’ll walk you through here. You’ll see what actually causes drainage issues on sloped properties, how poor planning leads to cracked patios and shifting pool decks, and the smart drainage systems that can stop those problems for good. Whether you live near Lake Minnetonka or up in the higher ridges closer to Deephaven or Woodland, understanding how your yard sheds water is the difference between a property that lasts and one that’s constantly under repair. The Real Challenge of Sloped Minnetonka Yards Minnetonka is known for its hills, lakefront properties, and mature trees, but all that beauty comes with a set of challenges below the surface. Most of the soil here is dense clay. It holds water like a sponge and drains slowly, which means after every heavy rain, that water looks for a way downhill. If it doesn’t have a proper outlet, it ends up collecting right where you don’t want it, like along your patio, at the base of a retaining wall, or near your pool deck. I see this every season: homeowners trying to solve slope problems with a quick regrade, a layer of rock, or a simple surface drain. Those things might help for a while, but they don’t address what’s really happening underground. Clay soil doesn’t just get wet—it becomes saturated, expanding and contracting with every freeze-thaw cycle. When that happens under a patio or wall, it doesn’t matter how well-built the surface looks. The ground will move, and that movement cracks stone, shifts pavers, and slowly tears apart everything on top. The other challenge with sloped lots is how water interacts with gravity. It accelerates downhill, gaining momentum as it goes. When it hits a flat area like a patio, the water loses speed but not volume, pooling instead of flowing. That’s why I tell clients that “flat spots” on a sloped property are both an opportunity and a responsibility. They’re the best spaces to create usable outdoor areas, but they have to be engineered to handle water movement. I’ve worked on plenty of Minnetonka yards where the backyard has a beautiful view but terrible grading. You can have a perfect slope on paper, but if it directs water toward your house or creates a bowl effect between structures, you’ll end up with soggy soil and standing puddles that never dry. The goal is to move water off and away while keeping the surface level enough for comfort and usability. It’s a fine balance, but when it’s done right, it completely transforms how a property functions.