{"product_id":"princeton-sentry-ginkgo","title":"Princeton Sentry Ginkgo","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Indestructible Gold-Fall Shade Tree for Narrow Spaces\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrinceton Sentry Ginkgo (\u003cem\u003eGinkgo biloba\u003c\/em\u003e 'Princeton Sentry') packs all the toughness and beauty of the legendary \"living fossil\" tree into a tightly upright, narrow-pyramidal form — just 15 to 25 feet wide at 40 to 50 feet tall. That slim profile fits boulevards, tight side yards, and planting strips where a full-spread ginkgo never could. As a fruitless male clone it skips the messy, smelly seed, and like all ginkgo it's virtually pest- and disease-free, salt- and pollution-tolerant, and ignored by deer. Whether you're lining a boulevard in Minneapolis, screening a narrow lot in St. Paul, or framing an entry in Plymouth, Princeton Sentry delivers brilliant golden fall color in a space-saving package.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrinceton Sentry Ginkgo Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAttribute\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDetail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eGinkgo biloba\u003c\/em\u003e 'Princeton Sentry'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePrinceton Sentry Ginkgo, Columnar Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40–50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–25 feet — narrow pyramidal\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSlow to moderate — about 1 foot per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours) for best form and fall color\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate. Drought-tolerant once established; appreciates consistent moisture while young.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4–8 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — reliably hardy across the metro\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHighly adaptable. Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, sand, compacted urban soil, and road salt.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeciduous — fan-shaped leaves turning brilliant uniform gold, then dropping in a single dramatic fall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -30°F once established\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eExcellent — ginkgo is rarely, if ever, browsed by deer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone — this is a male, fruitless selection (no messy, smelly seed)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrinceton Sentry Ginkgo Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNarrow Boulevards and Tight Planting Strips\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe slim, upright form is the whole point: at 15–25 feet wide, Princeton Sentry fits boulevards, parking strips, and narrow side yards where a spreading shade tree would crowd the space. It pairs ginkgo's legendary urban toughness — salt, pollution, and compaction tolerance — with a footprint that works in the city.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eVertical Accents and Entry Framing\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse a single tree as a clean vertical accent, or flank a driveway or front entry with a matched pair for a formal, columnar frame. The tidy shape needs little pruning to stay handsome in tight quarters in Edina or St. Louis Park.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFall Spectacle and Winter Form\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike all ginkgo, the fan-shaped foliage turns a glowing uniform gold in fall and drops almost all at once for a brief golden carpet. The narrow, upright branching gives crisp architectural interest through winter, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Princeton Sentry Ginkgo in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGinkgo is deciduous, so you have two good planting windows in the Twin Cities:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April–May)\u003c\/strong\u003e, once the ground has thawed, is excellent — the tree gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFall (September–mid-October)\u003c\/strong\u003e also works well. Plant at least six weeks before the ground freezes so roots can settle in. Avoid mid-summer planting when transplant stress is highest, and never plant into frozen ground.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Princeton Sentry Ginkgo\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDig wide, not deep — the hole should be 2–3 times the root ball width but only as deep as the ball itself. In heavy clay, dig even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCheck drainage — if water pools in the hole, break through any clay hardpan or mound-plant slightly to keep roots out of standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBackfill with the native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't create a pure-compost \"container\" in clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSet the tree so the top of the root ball sits at or just above grade. Space trees 10–15 feet apart for a narrow boulevard row.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBuild a 3–4 inch water basin around the root zone to direct water to the roots; flatten it before winter to prevent ice damage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Young ginkgo benefits from a trunk wrap the first winter or two.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Princeton Sentry Ginkgo in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeeks 1–2: water every 1–2 days, deep and slow. Month 1–2: every 3–4 days. Month 3 through fall: every 5–7 days during active growth, less when rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages about 3 inches per month June–August). Stop watering 2–3 weeks before the ground freezes in late October so the tree can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Princeton Sentry Ginkgo is notably drought-tolerant and needs supplemental water mainly during extended dry spells (2+ weeks with no rain). Water deeply and infrequently — soaking to 6–8 inches every 7–14 days during drought — and let natural rainfall do most of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill Princeton Sentry Ginkgo survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — it's reliably hardy to about -30°F and well-proven across the Twin Cities. Give young trees a trunk wrap the first winter or two for extra insurance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow narrow does it stay?\u003c\/strong\u003e About 15–25 feet wide at maturity — markedly tighter than a standard ginkgo, which makes it the go-to ginkgo for boulevards and narrow spaces.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it make the smelly fruit ginkgos are known for?\u003c\/strong\u003e No — it's a male, fruitless selection, so there's no messy, foul-smelling seed to clean up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow fast does it grow here?\u003c\/strong\u003e Slow to moderate — about a foot per year. Ginkgo is a patient, plant-it-for-life tree that becomes essentially permanent once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMagyar Ginkgo\u003c\/strong\u003e — an upright-pyramidal fruitless ginkgo that establishes quickly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn Gold Ginkgo\u003c\/strong\u003e — a broad, symmetrical fruitless ginkgo for open lawns.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePresidential Gold Ginkgo\u003c\/strong\u003e — a vigorous, refined fruitless ginkgo with intense gold fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMountain Sentinel Aspen\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow columnar native tree for tight spaces with golden fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA single column makes a clean vertical accent with 15–20 feet of clearance, and a matched pair flanking a driveway or entry is the classic formal use. For a narrow boulevard row, space trees 10–15 feet apart on center — about 7–8 trees per 100 feet — for a tight golden colonnade each October.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePrinceton Sentry Ginkgo Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bright green fan-shaped leaves — unchanged in form for 200 million years — unfurl along the upright branches.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A crisp, narrow pyramid of leathery green fans untouched by pests, disease, salt residue, or compacted city soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e The signature event: the whole column turns brilliant, uniform gold, then drops nearly all at once into a golden carpet at its feet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Clean, upright architecture and corky gray bark hold the vertical line against the snow — and deer walk right past it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/magyar-ginkgo\"\u003eMagyar Ginkgo\u003c\/a\u003e — a faster-establishing upright ginkgo to vary a row.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/autumn-gold-ginkgo\"\u003eAutumn Gold Ginkgo\u003c\/a\u003e — the broad-crowned classic for the open part of the yard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/presidential-gold-ginkgo\"\u003ePresidential Gold Ginkgo\u003c\/a\u003e — the most intense gold where you have room for a full crown.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/mountain-sentinel-aspen\"\u003eMountain Sentinel Aspen\u003c\/a\u003e — a native columnar partner with matching golden fall color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Princeton Sentry Ginkgo Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose it if you need a deer-proof, salt-proof, pest-free vertical tree for a narrow full-sun space — boulevards, side yards, and formal frames are exactly what it was selected for. It's not a fit if you want quick results: at about a foot a year it's a patient, generational investment, and faster columns like Swedish aspen will outpace it early.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"1.75\"BB","offer_id":54260819657009,"sku":"GT-T1961","price":535.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2\"BB","offer_id":54260819689777,"sku":"GT-T1961.1","price":603.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2.5\"BB","offer_id":54260819722545,"sku":"GT-T1961.2","price":686.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/princeton-sentry-ginkgo.jpg?v=1779426687","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/princeton-sentry-ginkgo","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}