Freehold Borough Shade Tree Commission Wins Space Shuttle White Pine

Freehold Borough is one of 15 towns in the state that will receive an eastern white pine tree from the New Jersey Shade Tree Federation (NJSTF). The pines were grown from seeds that were on an April 4, 1997 space shuttle flight, according to the NJSTF.

The Freehold Borough Shade Tree Commission announced the win at its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 20.

“Although the (space) flight was cut short, the seeds traveled at 17,500 mph for a distance of 1.5 million miles,” said NJSTF Executive Director Donna Massa in a letter to the town.

The eastern white pine is being tended at the New Jersey Forest Nursery in Jackson until the Shade Tree Commission plants it on Arbor Day, which will be celebrated on Friday, Apr. 29.

While typical germination for an eastern white pine seedling is 10 to 14 days, the space shuttle seeds sprouted in half that time, according to NJSTF.

“We believe that this was the first effort to have tree seeds experience the weightlessness of space,” Massa wrote. “These trees are one of a kind.”

In addition to the eastern white pine tree planting, Freehold Borough’s Arbor Day celebration will likely include an after-school program at the Park Avenue Complex, according to Shade Tree Commissioner Christine Gregory.

Guidelines for Newly Planted Shade Trees

The organization also discussed a letter drawn up by Commissioner Joseph Haug to give to homeowners who have requested and had a shade tree planted on their property.

The letter includes instructions for the proper care of the tree to ensure its survival. Haug’s letter advises residents of the following:

1. The tree should be given a gallon of water each week from May through October unless there is over an inch of rainfall.
2. Mulch should be kept six inches from the tree trunk since it can soften tree bark and make it prone to insects, fungi and rodents.
3. Be careful not to damage the tree bark with lawn mowers or weed whackers.
4. Do not cut tree roots closer than 15 inches from the trunk.

The commission lauded Haug’s work on the letter, which will be placed in mailboxes by Freehold Borough Public Works employees after a shade tree is planted in a neighborhood.