How To Get Free Tree Seedlings Around Madison

MADISON, NJ — Looking to add some greenery to your property? Madison Borough residents can get free tree seedlings this week. Here's how.

From 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 22, residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at the Chatham Township Municipal Building, or at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum on April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign.

These seedlings are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, so get there early.

And don't be concerned if you don't have a green thumb. The seedlings come with instructions for storing, caring for, and planting the trees. The guides will assist residents in determining the best location on their property to plant a tree while keeping its full-grown size in mind.

Trees should be planted within two days of pick-up to prevent roots from drying out.

The Tree Recovery Campaign's goal of distributing over 700,000 tree seedlings to New Jersey residents over an eight-year period was met in 2020. However, trees are more important than ever because of natural disasters and invasive species that harm and destroy them.

Aside from looking nice, trees 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, click here. If you have any questions, call 609-399-6111, ext. 4334.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How big are the trees?

Six inches to two-foot tall bare root seedlings in a bundle of five.

What do I need to bring?

Show up at the listed location on the designated date and time. No registration or identification required. Please make sure sign up if your municipality is requesting.

What if my town isn't listed?

Pick up trees at any pick up location—you DO NOT need to be a resident of that town.

Where can I get more than five seedlings?

Visit www.forestnursery.nj.gov to view our Nursery Catalog.

What kind of tree species will I receive?

Each location may have a variety of tree species but there is no published list of species per location. Species are distributed based on what grows best in that area. Municipalities in the northern part of the state may receive persimmon or red oak trees, while towns in the south may receive virginia pine or other species adapted to this region. Seedlings that are salt tolerant are distributed to shore towns may include bayberry or beach plum, shrubs commonly found on dunes and in other coastal environments.

I have a question about a specific town's event.

Each event is run by the municipality—contact the municipal office with any questions. We are not responsible for any changes to time or place of event. We try to keep the information as up to date as possible.

Why is my town or county not listed and how can I get my town on the list?

Every municipality in New Jersey was contacted in December to apply for free trees — all trees have been allocated to those who applied. If no towns are listed for a county, then no towns in that county applied. However, you can pick up tree seedlings at any of the locations listed.

A previous version of this article included the wrong date for seedling pickup. From 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 22, residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at the Chatham Township Municipal Building, or at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum on April 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.