What kind of tree(s) do I have?

Here’s a cool tool!  in 2021 the Lexington Tree Board conducted a city-wide tree inventory.  We try to do this every ten years, as requested by the Nebraska Forest Service.  The inventory helps us make smarter tree-planting choices in the future, and can also alert us of problem areas should a future tree disease appear.  Here’s the cool part: You can view the tree inventory online!  Click here to go to Nebraska’s tree inventory page.  On the right side of the screen scroll down and select Lexington.  Now you can navigate through the aerial map and zoom in or out.  Click on any colored dot to get details about the tree in that location.  Except for parks, cemeteries, schools and other public spaces, only “street trees” were counted – trees within 20 feet of the curb.  It may also be helpful to know that “DBH” stands for the Diameter [of the trunk] at Breast Height.”

Click here for the report that summarizes the 2021 Tree Inventory findings.

Recommended Trees

While other tree species may work fine here, the Lexington Tree Board recommends the following trees to be good fits for Lexington’s needs, climate, and soils: Mountain Ash, Coffeetree, Gingko (male only!), Hackberry, American Linden, Elm (Princeton, Discovery, Accolade, Frontier, Triumph, Japanese, Jefferson, New Horizons or Lacebark), Maple (Norway, Sugar or Miyabe), Orange Osage, Goldenraintree, Honeylocust (Shademaster), Linden (American or Littleleaf), Oak (Bur or Chinkapin), Japanese Pagodatree, and Walnut.

These trees are considered over-represented at this time, and recommended as lower priority: Siberian/Chinese Elm, Juniper, Honeylocust, Silver Maple, Austrian Pine.

The Tree Board strongly recommends you do NOT plant the following species because they are prone to disease and dying: Ash (except “Mountain Ash”) and Scotch Pine.  Austrian Pine may also have disease issues.

Many people prefer the male trees of some species, because the prolific seed production (sometimes associated with an unpleasant odor) of the females often turns into a cleanup nuisance.  These include Tree of Heaven, Honeylocust and Gingkos.

 
EMERALD ASH BORER

Emerald Ash Borer is an insect that has been killing ash trees nationwide.  Once it arrives in a community, all ash trees are sure to die within a few short years.  Lincoln is already removing their ash trees, and the Borer has been identified more recently in Kearney, which means it will soon hit Lexington.  Lexington’s 2021 Tree Inventory counted more than 650 ash trees in public spaces and along streets. The Lexington Tree Board strongly discourages planting new ash trees.  If you have any ash trees (except Mountain Ash – not a true ash), you may want to plant a replacement soon in anticipation of ash tree removal in a few years.