- Home
- Departments
- Environmental Services
- Forestry / Natural Resources
Forestry / Natural Resources
The City of Lino Lakes is fortunate to be home to an abundance of natural resources. These resources are regarded as an amenity to residents and essential to the attraction, aesthetics, and quality of life offered by the community. The abundant wetlands and lakes, forested uplands, restored prairie areas, and other natural areas support a wide diversity of wildlife and plant communities. The City of Lino Lakes is committed to the preservation and effective management of these resources as the city grows.
Landscaping
Looking for the city's guidelines for landscaping? Questions about your boulevard tree? Problems with Buckthorn? The city has answers to your landscaping questions.
The City plants boulevard trees in all new residential developments. A diversity of trees is selected to avoid problems with insects and disease. Trees help shade streets to create cooler neighborhoods and create a visual softening of the landscape as you drive down the street.
Previously used for landscaping purposes, Buckthorn is an extremely invasive plant found throughout the city. Find more information, including how to remove this problem plant, by visiting this informative site offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
Developers and contractors working in the city can find landscape guidelines and technical requirements designed to encourage plant longevity, minimize maintenance, and mitigate conflicts with other site features.
Rare Plant Communities
Large areas of Lino Lakes are covered by the Anoka Sand Plain. The sandplain is a large sand deposit from the last glacial period. Due to their unique characteristics, many wetland areas and the surrounding upland within the sandplain create a natural environment conducive to hosting rare plant communities. Lino Lakes is fortunate to be home to many of these areas. The City attempts to preserve and restore these rare plant areas.
Tree Disease
Some species of trees are prone to disease from insects or invasive species. Residents may experience problems with Oak Wilt, Dutch Elm Disease, and in the future, Emerald Ash Borer. The City offers tips to care for ailing trees. If you are concerned about insects or fungi problems with your tree, please contact the City’s Environmental Coordinator.
Dutch Elm Disease is caused by an aggressive fungus that is transmitted by two species of bark beetles or by root grafting. The fungus can kill the tree within weeks of the initial infection. The recommended control method is to remove the tree and have it chipped, burned, or landfilled.
The Emerald Ash Borer is a recently introduced, highly aggressive, insect that kills Ash trees. If you notice your Ash tree declining, or woodpeckers feeding on your Ash tree, Emerald Ash Borer may be the culprit.
The Japanese Beetle is another recently introduced, highly aggressive pest, that will defoliate your tree and overwinter in your lawn. During its grub stage, the beetle larvae will feed on the roots of your grass plants and can cause extensive damage to your lawn.
Oak Wilt is an aggressive fungal disease that kills Oak trees. The Oak Wilt fungi plug the cells in the tree wood, thereby causing the tree to die. Once in the tree, the fungi will go from tree to tree of common species by root grafting. A highly recommended method of control is to separate the roots by mechanical trenching. Adjacent trees can also be treated with a fungicide.
Don't prune or accidentally wound your oak trees in April, May or June. If you expose the wood on an oak tree during these months you should immediately paint the wound. If a severe wind storm comes through and removes branches from your tree, call the City at 651-982-2465 for advice on saving your tree from Oak Wilt.
-
Andrew Nelson
Environmental CoordinatorPhone: 651-982-2465