Free Tree Seedlings In North Caldwell, Roseland For 2019

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Free tree seedlings will be available at events in North Caldwell and Roseland on Saturday, April 13 as part of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) annual giveaway.

According to DEP officials, the agency’s Division of Parks and Forestry will provide 60,000 free tree seedlings to residents through the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, an ongoing effort of the New Jersey Forest Service, the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation and other partners.

Residents are eligible to receive bundles of five free seedlings at any of 118 distribution sites. This year, events are scheduled to take place on April 13 at:

• North Caldwell - 11 a.m. at Borough Hall, 141 Gould Ave.
• Roseland - noon to 4 p.m. at 19 Harrison Ave. at Borough Hall Auditorium

Proof of residency is not required, DEP officials stated. For more information on these programs, call (732) 928-0029 or visit www.forestnursery.nj.gov. To find additional seedling distribution dates and locations for 2019, click here.

“Trees provide many benefits beyond beautifying our communities,” DEP Commissioner Catherine McCabe said. “Trees clean our air, fight climate change, provide habitat for wildlife, offer shade and improve the health of our environment.”

The free tree seedlings program launched after Superstorm Sandy destroyed and damaged trees across the state in 2012. Since then, the program has made more than 500,000 trees available to residents, DEP officials stated.

The DEP offered the following tips to help new seedlings thrive:

• Plant seedlings promptly to ensure they take root and thrive.
• Consider the location of where seedlings are planted and the size of trees when fully grown. Avoid planting seedlings near overhead utility lines and structures.
• Moisten roots before planting.
• Dig a hole two to three times larger than the roots when spread apart. Do not plant roots too deep or too shallow.
• Add loose soil gently, then add more soil and pack down firmly. Add water to firm the soil if necessary.
• Place wood-chip mulch around the base of the seedling.
• Water the seedling regularly but do not over-water, which can cause roots to rot.

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