The Best Maple Trees For Your Minnesota Yard
Maple trees are far and away the most popular shade tree in Minnesota and specifically the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. The fall colors on a maple are unrivaled compared to other trees as well as the incredible amount of shade they provide. Getting a maple tree that can grow large and tall, along with your family and home, is a very popular decision for many families. We can empathize with homeowners going to a greenhouse to pick out a baby maple tree but being intimidated by all the choices. That’s why we wrote up the best (and worst) maple trees for your Minnesota yard.
There were a few things we kept in mind when selecting the best varieties. The size of the fully grown tree matters, too small is out of the question. We wanted good fall colors (otherwise why use a maple). Lastly, we wanted trees that would be hardy enough to survive the harsh Minnesota winters.
The Best Varieties of Maple Trees for Your Yard
We will cut right to the chase. We recommend going with a Sugar Maple
‘Acer Saccharum’ or a Red Maple
‘Acer Rubrum’, these two types have the most impressive fall colors and growth form. Our first requirement was looking options that grow at least 30’ wide and 40’ tall to get a nice shade tree form in a maple. All of the options below will be around 40’ wide and 50’ tall which is perfect for shade. Narrower trees will not look as nice as stand-alone trees in the lawn. Narrow trees also will not provide the filtered shade and desirable form of a traditional shaped shade tree.
Maples Trees We Advise Against Using In A Minnesota Yard
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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.
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