Free northern red oak and black gum tree seedlings will be available to area residents as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign, a program that helps communities replace trees damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.
Residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at the Mother Nature Festival from 11am to 4pm on Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Lawrence Township Nature Center, 481 Drexel Avenue. The seedlings are also now available at the Planning Office in Municipal Building, at 2207 Lawrenceville Road.
The seedlings, available on a first come – first served basis, come with instructions on how to store, care for, and plant them. Residents should plant the seedlings within two days after pick-up in order to prevent the roots from drying out.
The goal of the Tree Recovery Campaign is to distribute over 500,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over the course of the next five years. 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.
Lawrence Township Mayor Dr. David Maffei said, “I am very pleased to be able to tell our Lawrence Township residents that tree seedlings will be available to anyone who has lost trees due to storms and disease. I am proud of the dedication our community shows in continuing our heritage of tree beautification in Lawrence Township.”
