Plymouth Replaces Trees Destroyed by Emerald Ash Borer

City employees and volunteers from a corporate sponsor worked together to put new trees in the ground at Plymouth’s Northwest Greenway.

The groups were assisted by Let’s Plant Trees, a nonprofit that, according to its website, plants native seedlings to combat climate change. 

Ash trees primarily populated the Northwest Greenway, according to Plymouth Forester Paul Buck. The invasive Emerald Ash Borer destroyed those trees.

“In 20 to 30 years, we should have a really nice, diverse forest—and fully covered,” Buck said.

A volunteer plants a seedling into the ground at the Northwest Greenway.

Buck said the volunteers planted red oak, bur oak, black walnut and sugar maple seedlings. In total, they planted 500 trees. All four of those trees are native to the region. They were grown to be planted in this part of Minnesota.

Buck said these trees, both in variety and quality, are a big upgrade.

“That increases the diversity, so if, later on, something comes through, we have more than one species here,” Buck explained. “And we don’t have another case where 40, 50 years from now we have to clean the whole forest out again because one species was overpopulated.”

Plymouth