Bernards Giving Away Free Trees at Charter Day

While the many business and volunteer booths and tables at Charter Day are sure to include copious amounts of freebies, the item plant lovers should look for will be free trees.

The Bernards Shade Tree Commission is taking the left over trees from Ridge student Peter Vogel's Eagle Scout project and giving them away, free of charge to anyone who wants one at Charter Day on May 15 in downtown Basking Ridge.

Commission member Jack Gray assisted Vogel on the project, which had a team plant more than 200 trees along Haas Road on April 2, and said that the Township has about 80-120 trees left over that they will be giving away.

Gray said the Township bought four species of tree in 100-tree units for the scout project, including tulip poplars, sweet gums, pitch pines and willow oaks.

"For the scout project we planted about 60 to 70 of each species out of each of the four species. We planted the biggest ones for survival," Gray said. "What we're going to do now is take what's left over and pot up 20-30 of each of the biggest remaining."

The trees will be available at the Shade Tree Commission Booth, the Agricultural booth and scattered around the premises on Charter Day. Gray said that those interested in taking a tree will just have to fill out their name and address on a tag around the tree. The Shade Tree Commission will deliver the tree to residents' homes, and non-residents must take the tree away themselves.

The pitch pines are currently 8-9 inches in height; the tulip poplars 18-24 inches, sweet gums 24-30 inches and the willow oaks can be anywhere from 30-40 inches tall, according to Gray.

"They will all grow to be large trees. The tupil poplars could be thee-feet in diameter and 60-feet high two generations from now – same with the willow oak," Gray said. "They're all going to be big trees. It's not something you put right next to your house."

Gray said that all of the trees are not shade tolerant, so they should be planted where they will get plenty of sun. He also said, "You have to plant the trees to the same depth they are in the pot."

"And you do not put a mulch volcano on them, Gray said. "You plant them deep enough so that the top of the root section is level with the top of the ground and they'll do just fine.