Benefits of Native Trees and Shrubs in Your Restoration

 

American Cranberry Fruit.

Forbs, grasses, sedges and rushes make up a large majority of the native plants in our restoration projects.  However, a group of plants that should not be overlooked are native trees and shrubs.  These woody plants play a vital role in ecosystem health, function, and diversity.  They provide key habitat, food, and shelter for a variety of wildlife. Trees and shrubs also act as natural windbreaks in open landscapes, and cast a canopy of shade where diverse woodland plant communities can thrive.  Additionally, these woody species have complex and sturdy root systems that do an exceptional job of holding soil in place, combating erosion, and reducing soil compaction.

 

River Bulrush tree with multiple trunks.

How does a tree differ from a shrub?

There is no accepted scientific definition to distinguish a tree from a shrub.  However, a tree usually has just one woody perennial stem referred to as the "trunk." Shrubs usually have multiple woody perennial stems similar in size that spread out from the base.  Shrubs are generally shorter than trees when healthy and mature.  It should be noted this is simply a general rule of thumb. As many of you may know, trees can have more than one stem when mature.  An example of this exception would be river birch (Betula nigra), which is known as a tree, but often has 2-3 stems equal in size making up its trunk.  On the other hand, many shrubs may have just one stem when young and first establishing themselves.
 
 

Helping to clean our air

Excess CO2 is building up in our atmosphere and contributing to climate change.  Trees work against this process.  Instead of breathing in oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide like humans and animals do; trees and shrubs can absorb significant amounts of CO2 from our atmosphere.  They remove CO2 from the air, store the carbon in tissues, and release the oxygen back into the atmosphere. It's a win-win scenario.  With climate change becoming more and more evident, there has never been a better time than now to plant a native tree or shrub in your restoration!

 

Natural way to manage our storm water

As tree roots spread out and grow deeper into our soil, they help to reduce soil compaction and allow water to be more readily absorbed into the soil.   Trees also use and intercept large volumes of water, which reduces runoff.  Less urban runoff works to improve the quality of our lakes and streams. .  After a tree dies it can be mulched which is a great way to use trees for an additional benefit. The mulch can protect soils and reduce erosion,   and will simultaneously help to suppress the growth of those pesky weeds within your restoration. 

 

Trees and shrubs support our soil

Red-osier Dogwood

Woody plants are a great way to manage soil erosion.  Many species of trees and shrubs possess sprawling root systems that can withstand harsh environments.  For example, red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea) prefers moist soils which make it a great option for a lakeshore, stream bank, or wetland edge.  It can handle the moisture and has a far-reaching root system that is great at stabilizing soils.  Additionally, this plant has attractive white flowers, bears fruit for wildlife in late summer through late fall, and shows off vibrant red stems in the middle of winter.

 

Small mammals eating bark off stems during the winter.

Benefits throughout the seasons

It is well known that here in Minnesota, we truly are a state that experiences all four seasons.  Our native trees and shrubs have evolved to tolerate seasonal change.  Along with this, a multitude of animals depend on these plants for food and cover.   In the springtime, many woody plants possess blooming flowers which provide nectar and pollen for a variety of early-season pollinators.  During the summer months, woody plants are critical habitat and food sources for many species of insects, birds and mammals. Additionally, many native pollinators, such as moths and butterflies undergo metamorphosis on our native trees and shrubs.  In fall and into winter, they provide food for a number of wildlife species that consume berries, twigs, and bark.  A variety of woody architecture provides essential cover during the frigid winter months. 

 

At Natural Shore we have a number of different native tree and shrub species, along with hundreds of Minnesota native plants available for you to get an early start on your restoration this spring. Feel free to contact our professional staff today about any questions you may have.

 

Here are selected native trees and shrubs to consider for your restoration:

 

Trees:

river birch (Betula nigra)

tamarack (Larix laricina)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

black cherry (Prunus serotina)

white oak (Quercus alba)

swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)

American mountain-ash (Sorbus americana)

 

Shrubs:

black chokecherry (Aronia melanocarpa)

pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)

winterberry (Ilex verticillata)

American plum (Prunus americana)

common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

red-berried elder (Sambucus pubens)