Free Tree Seedlings In Ocean City April 9

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City residents will be able to pick up free tree seedlings this month as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. The campaign will help communities replace trees that were damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. It runs throughout the month of April.

Seedlings will be available on Monday, April 9, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.outside the Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Avenue) and City Hall (861 Asbury Avenue). A variety of species that can thrive in our coastal environment and climate will be available. If supplies last, seedlings will be distributed again on Tuesday, April 10, at the same times and places.

Seedlings are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and should be planted within two days of being picked up in order to prevent the roots from drying out. The Ocean City School District is also participating in the campaign with Ocean City High School, Ocean City Intermediate School and Ocean City Primary School each distributing trees on April 9. All together, Ocean City will distribute 2,000 trees to residents and students, according to city officials.

The seedlings come with instructions on how to store, care for, and plant them. The guides help residents choose the right place on a property to plant a tree, while keeping in mind the tree’s full-grown size in the future.

The campaign is a joint effort between Ocean City, the New Jersey Forest Service, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts, Sustainable Jersey, Arbor Day Foundation, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Canon, and FedEx.
The goal is to distribute over 500,000 trees to New Jersey residents over the course of five years.

For a list of all distribution locations across the state, visit www.forestry.nj.gov or www.facebook.com/newjerseyforests.

Photo credit: Shutterstock/vovan