Minneapolis City Trees Program Uses Miyawaki Method to Plant Mini-Forests

Staff with the Minneapolis City Trees program are planting 380 trees in an area about the size of six parking spaces on property owned by the First Unitarian Church in south Minneapolis.

Audacy reported that the planting takes place on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 900 Mt. Curve Ave. The initiative uses a dense planting layout designed to accelerate canopy growth and support municipal environmental targets.

Program Manager Sydney Schaaf told Audacy that the city will use the Miyawaki method, a decades-old approach to reforestation developed in Japan. That technique helps trees grow up to ten times faster than those in a conventional forest.

“The idea is that you plant lots of native trees and vegetation really closely together, so densely that you can fit like 350 trees in an area as small as six parking spaces.”

Schaaf said, according to Audacy. She added that the intense crowding forces the trees to compete for nutrients and sunlight, which accelerates vertical growth.

The city aims to expand the local tree canopy to help combat climate change. Program organizers project that the site will develop into a fully mature mini-forest in 20 to 30 years if conditions hold.

“And there is just lots of other benefits to planting trees beyond climate change as well.”

Schaaf told Audacy, noting that the mini-forests provide wildlife habitats, collect stormwater, and offer mental health benefits for the community. Residents interested in future plantings can review upcoming opportunities through the official City Trees program page maintained by the municipal government.