Anoka Sand Plain
Plant Material Site

Background

The Anoka Sand Plain comprises a large area of east central Minnesota.  As the name implies, the Anoka Sand Plain is dominated by mostly sandy soils, which have a low water holding capacity.  The soil and climate conditions within the Anoka Sand Plain present unique obstacles to the establishment of grasses and trees.  With that in mind, the Anoka Sand Plain Evaluation and Demonstration Project was started in 1995.

Long Term Project Objective Goals

• Conduct evaluation studies to determine the adaptation and performance of selected plant materials for conservation purposes.
• Develop and release improved plant materials for public use.
• Demonstrate and promote proper planting, spacing, and management techniques.
• Promote proper plant selection for specific conservation objectives, through field days and self-guided tours.
• Demonstrate the use of internal field windbreaks under center-pivot irrigation.

Evaluation Results

More than 100 species or accession of trees and shrubs are being evaluated.  Some of the species that have done surprisingly well on the sandy site include:

Species	Increase in Vertical Growth	Increase in Canopy Spread
Redosier Dogwood Cotoneaster Crab Apple Amur Chokecherry Silver Maple	30" to 72" 20" to 60" 30" to 77" 48" to 120" 36" to over 20'	20" to 70" 15" to 48" 20" to 60" 25" to 80" 14" to over 10'

Many other species also have shown a remarkable adaption to the soils and climate found on the site.  Contact our office for a full listing of the species planted and the results of the field evaluations for 1996-2008.

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The Following Agencies have been instrumental in the development of the Anoka Sand Plain Plant Materials Evaluation and Demonstration Project:

• Anoka Sand Plain Assn. of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
• USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
• USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center, Bismarck, ND
• Sherburne County Tree Board
• Central Minnesota Irrigator's Association
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
• Minnesota Extension Service
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
• Sherburne County Sentence to Serve Programs

The following companies have graciously donated materials to the project:

• Kozar International, Inc. (fabric tree mats)
  PO Box 113
  Prinsburg, MN  56281
  (800) 456-9161
  
• Prairie Restorations, Inc. (prairie seed)
  PO Box 327
  Princeton, MN  55371
  (612) 389-4342
  
• Cold Spring Creamery Assn. (grass seed)
  PO Box 423
  Cold Spring, MN  56320
  (320) 685-8651
  
• T.E.C. (tree planting stock)
  PO Box 539
  Osseo, MN  55369
  
• Snowy Pines Reforestation (cardboard treemats)
  Route 3, Box 95
  Browerville, MN  56438
  (320) 459-6317

 

 

 

 

"Evaluate and demonstrate the uses of native and introduced species of trees, shrubs, and grasses for wind erosion control, energy conservation, sediment control, and wildlife habitat improvement."