Free tree seedlings will be available to Moorestown residents as part of the New Jersey Forest Service’s New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign.
From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on April 30, residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at the Moorestown Library. Seedlings, available on a first come, first served basis, come with instructions on how to store, care for and plant the trees.
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. Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after pick-up to prevent the roots from drying out.
The goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign is to distribute over 700,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the course of eight years, which was met in 2020. With natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy and the damage caused by several new invasive insects to New Jersey, our state needs more new tree seedlings than ever before.
Therefore, the campaign is moving into its ninth year. The program is a joint effort between Moorestown Township, NJ Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program, NJ Forest Service Nursery, New Jersey Soil Conservation Districts, Arbor Day Foundation, FedEx and Texpo Energy.
When properly planted and maintained, trees can be assets to a community. They improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood or business district, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
For a list of all distribution locations across the state, visit www.forestry.nj.gov or www.facebook.com/newjerseyforests.
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Logue at 856-234-4143 or email moorestowntrees@gmail.com.
