Which trees do well in Reno and Carson City yards?

Battle Born Tree Service does not plant trees. We care for the ones already standing, so this post is a guide to the sources and to what we see on mature lots, not a planting service.

What zone are you in?

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) puts Carson City (ZIP 89701), Sparks, Dayton and Fernley in 7a, central Reno, west Carson City (89703) and Spanish Springs in 7b, and Minden, Genoa, Incline Village and Zephyr Cove in 6b. Elevation runs from about 4,000 feet in Fallon to about 7,000 at Kingsbury, so zone and wind exposure both matter.

What does Extension say about choosing a tree?

University of Nevada, Reno Extension's planting guide says to select a species that will be the right size at maturity for the spot, to look up for power lines and to call the local utility about buried lines. It says the best planting time is fall and early winter, when soils are still warm, and that summer plantings in the 90s often lose their leaves. Dig a wide hole, no deeper than the root ball, and test drainage first. Most trees do not like wet feet.

Which species hold up here?

From the Forest Service species profiles and our tree guide: honeylocust is drought resistant and somewhat salt tolerant, and thornless forms are common in towns. Single-leaf pinyon is the most drought-tolerant pine in the country and grows where precipitation is about 8 to 18 inches. Utah juniper is native to dry hillsides, though ornamental junipers next to a house are on Extension's high-hazard plant list for fire. Incense cedar tolerates our cold, but dense evergreens near the house are a fire concern. Austrian pine copes with cold and wind but is only moderately drought tolerant. Siberian elm and green ash are common on older lots; both can shed limbs as they age.

Which trees struggle?

Colorado blue spruce is a mountain tree with shallow roots, and Extension-based profiles say it struggles in dry valleys. Quaking aspen is a mountain tree, short lived in valley yards, and cutting one triggers root suckers. Weeping willow survives only beside ditches, ponds and heavily watered lawns. Silver maple and Lombardy poplar grow fast and break or die back early. See our pages on blue spruce, aspen and weeping willow.

What can Battle Born do?

We do not plant trees and cannot recommend a nursery list. We can advise on trees you already have: pruning, cabling and bracing, and removal when a tree has reached the end. A certified arborist assesses every job before work begins; Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. If you are removing a tree to replant, see planting after stump grinding. Call 775.232.8243 for a free estimate.

Where should you start?

Start with the Extension planting guide, then ask a local nursery about stock for your zone. Check the mature size against wires and the house. A tree planted too close to a building also becomes a fire and root question later; see tree roots, sidewalks and sewer lines.

Whatever you choose, plan for the next 40 years, not the first two. Mature height, spread and drop zone decide whether a tree will ever need a crane, a permit or a root barrier. Many of the large removals we see are trees that were planted too close to a house or a line decades ago, and the species profiles on our tree guide describe how each one ages here.