Mendham Named 'Tree City' For 10th Consecutive Year

MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham has been named a Tree City USA community for 2023 by the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of its commitment to community forestry.

This is Mendham's tenth year receiving this national honor from the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to tree planting.

The Tree City USA program requires four components: the formation of a tree board or department, the development of a tree-care ordinance, the establishment of an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and the observance or proclamation of Arbor Day.

The award has been given to over 100 New Jersey cities and towns. Some have been "Tree Cities" for decades, while others have only been for a few years or less. The Arbor Day Foundation began awarding "Tree City" status in 1976.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

According to Mendham Borough officials, the borough has planted more than 200 trees throughout the community in the last ten years, thanks to the volunteer Shade Tree Commission and the Department of Public Works.

With both Earth Day and Arbor Day fast approaching, Mendham residents can also pick up seedlings for five trees, courtesy of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

On April 22, from 9 to 11 a.m., residents will be able to pick up tree seedlings at the Rock Spring Park gazebo in Long Valley or at the Chester Library parking lot on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., as part of the New Jersey Tree Recovery Campaign.

These seedlings are offered on a first-come, first-served 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 pickup to prevent roots from drying out.

For a list of all distribution locations across the state, click here. If you have any questions, call 609-399-6111, ext. 4334.