Free Tree Seedlings To Be Available In Union County

UNION COUNTY, NJ — In an effort to bring more lush greenery to the area and to celebrate Arbor Day, residents can get five free bare root seedlings in Union County.

The New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign assists communities in the restoration of the tree canopy damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.

To date, more than 500,000 trees have been distributed around New Jersey through this program. The New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign partners with the New Jersey Forest Service and Arbor Day Foundation.

Here is a full list of tree seedling pick-up locations and dates in Union County:

• Berkeley Heights Township, April 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Columbia Middle School, 345 Plainfield Avenue #2
• Clark Township, April 30, 9 a.m. to noon, 315 Westfield Avenue (behind police station)
  at Public Works Facility
• Fanwood Borough, April 29, 4 p.m., Carriage House Park
  402 East High Street, Bound Brook (immediately after the Arbor Day tree planting)
• Garwood Borough, April 30, 10 a.m. to noon, Borough Hall Municipal Parking Lot, 403 South Ave
• Mountainside Borough, April 23, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., DPW Building, 1385 US Highway 22
• New Providence Borough, April 23, 10 a.m.to 2 p.m., Memorial Library Staff Parking Lot
  377 Elkwood Avenue
• Roselle Park Borough, April 29, 10:30 a.m., Sherman Elementary School, 375 Grant Avenue
• Scotch Plains Township, April 23, 9 to 11 a.m., Municipal Library, 1927 Bartle Avenue
• Springfield Township, April 29, 10 a.m., Veteran's Memeorial Park, Corner of Mountain Road
  and Shunpike Road

For more pickup locations visit https://nj.gov/dep/parksandfor... Skip to the last page for planting instructions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

• How big are the trees? Six inches to two foot tall bare root seedlings in a bundle of five.
• What do I need to bring? Show up at the listed location on the designated date and time. No registration or identification required. Please make sure to sign up if your municipality is requesting. Bring a mask.
• What kind of tree species will I receive? Each location may have a variety of tree species but there is no published list of species per location. Species are distributed based on what grows best in that area. Municipalities in the northern part of the state may receive persimmon or red oak trees, while towns in the south may receive virginia pine or other species adapted to this region. Seedlings that are salt tolerant are distributed to shore towns may include bayberry or beach plum, shrubs commonly found on dunes and in other coastal environments.

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