Sapling Class, Sale will Replace Trees Lost in Sandy

The Chatham Township Environmental Commission will hold a meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday for residents who wish to replace trees destroyed in Superstorm Sandy with young saplings.

Mike Kelly of the Environmental Commission said the commission teamed up with the Morris County Soil Conservation District to buy about 400 saplings wholesale.

"The intent is to help our local residents not just replace the trees, but also educate them about what trees logically should be planted where, so we don't get the damage to the wires, the damage to the homes, the trees falling on the roads that we all saw after Hurricane Sandy," Kelly said.

The district and commission chose species for the sale that work with the weather conditions of Chatham Township. Some of the species "thrive in wet locations and others better suited for dry soils. Some will mature to tall, stately shade trees, while others will remain smaller with decorative blossoms, colorful berries and textured bark," more suitable for planting near power lines so they will not fall on top of them," Kelly said.

Arborists will be present at the meetings to help residents learn how to select the proper tree for their property and how to plant and care for the trees. All trees are about five ft. tall, bare-root saplings that can be managed by residents.

Residents who attend can order as many trees as they like at these meetings. The meetings are mandatory for people who want to order trees. The cost is between $25 to $50 per tree.

Trees will be distributed in late April. If there are trees left over, residents can come to the distribution sale to buy trees.

Investors Bank provided a grant to help purchase the saplings. The bank has a statewide program to help New Jersey residents recover from Sandy.

The commission will also hold two other meetings, one at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 and one at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 1. All meetings will take place at the Chatham Township Municipal Building.

Chatham Township has an ordinance which requires at least 16 trees per acre.