Lawns and Landscaping

How can I keep my yard healthy and safe?

A beautiful neighborhood starts with healthy lawns and landscapes!

Keep the grass and weeds on your property less than eight inches tall and mowed up to the street.
Make sure noxious/harmful weeds are controlled or destroyed.
Don’t forget to mow the boulevard (the strip of grass on the other side of the sidewalk or your fence).

What if I want to have a managed natural landscape?

It must not have noxious/harmful weeds or unintended vegetation.
It must have a planned, intentional, and maintained planting of native and non-native plants.
It may have plants and grasses 8 inches or more in height. This does not include turf-grass lawns left unattended.

Plants, trees and shrubs are not allowed in boulevards if they block traffic visibility and walkways.
Tree overhangs must be trimmed up 8 feet.

What can I do with my yard waste?

Garden waste, lawn clippings, or branches with a diameter of 10inches or less may be taken to the free drop-off site in Maple Grove.
Garbage collectors can also collect your yard waste and leaves but may charge a fee. Contact your hauler for more information.
If you bag your yard waste, use either paper or certified compostable plastic bags.

What can I use for composting?

Building materials used for compost bins must be rot resistant such as treated lumber, concrete block, or fencing wire.
Many home improvement stores sell compost bins.
Compost bins must not exceed five feet in width, twelve feet in length and five feet in height.
Meat, dairy products, diseased plant materials, plastic, metal, glass, and animal feces are not allowed.
Some approved materials include: eggs shells, veggies, fruits, and yard waste.

Where can I store my firewood?

Firewood must be stacked on a paved surface or raised at least three and a half inches off the ground.
Firewood stacks must be five feet away from your neighbor’s property.
No more than two cords (4’x4’x8’) stacks of wood are allowed on a property.
Firewood cannot be stored in your front yard.

To report tall grass and noxious weeds, contact:

Pang Yang
Environmental Health
763-493-8070
Email Pang Yang

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For more information on diseased and dead trees, contact:

Aki Jacobs
City Forester
763-493-8007
Email Aki Jacobs

University of Minnesota Extension Services
612-624-4771
Visit U of M Extension Services