Because of their permanence and importance in the landscape, shade trees should be selected with great care.

Trees provide shade, help shelter us from wind, and may screen undesirable views or enhance beautiful vistas. Trees make our environment more livable.

When selecting a tree, analyze the site carefully. Some questions to answer are: How much space is available? Is the soil fertile or must it be improved? Is the site poorly drained or subject to drought? Is the soil acid or alkaline in reaction? Is there a restricted root-zone area?

There is no perfect tree. Each kind has its special environmental requirements and/or tolerances.

1. Maple--Silver and Amur
2. Hackberry which is native to North Dakota.
3. Ashes--such as Dakota Centennial, Prairie Spire and Prairie Dome
4. Honeylocusts--Imperial and Skyline varieties are seedless and thornless
5. Among oaks, Bur Oak is generally the best
6. Lindens--Greenspire and Redmond are selected varieties with good form and an improved branching structure