Free tree seedlings will be available to Ocean City residents on April 1 as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign. This program helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, April 1, residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at City Hall (861 Asbury Avenue), the Ocean City Community Center (1735 Simpson Avenue) or the 46th Street Welcome Center (46th Street and West Avenue).Seedlings, available on a first-come, first-served basis, also 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. Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after pick-up in order to prevent the roots from drying out.
The Ocean City School District also will distribute seedlings to students on Monday.The goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign is to distribute 600,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the course of six years. It 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.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.
