Shade Tree Commission

Shade Tree group is strictly volunteer, our compensation is in seeing the results of our work in the tree-lined streets of River Edge. We enjoy going out to meet and educate residents about trees. Yearly plantings are continued when the budget allows in order to replace trees that have been lost over the years and we work in conjunction with the town's DPW to maintain the health of the town's trees. The Commission members have completed CORE training through the NJ Community Forestry Program and, along with DPW workers, maintain continuing education through state programs yearly to keep informed on tree issues and training. We continually seek out grants to help fund our town tree program. 

River Edge has been named a Tree City USA yearly since 2000 and Growth Awards since 2004 for the excellence and dedication shown in its street-tree program. This is a nationally recognized program. In 2005, the NJ Shade Tree Federation presented the Shade Tree Commission members with it's annual
Green Communities Award.

Established by ord. #1447

All second appointments shall be for the term of 5 years.

Trees Please! Cool shade. Clean air. 

A program to encourage the planting and stewardship of trees in our community

River Edge has lost extensive canopy cover over the past ten years due to environmental changes, construction, invasive pests, and the removal of trees on private property at an increasing rate without replacements. 

When properly planted and cared for, trees can promote health, save energy, reduce rainwater runoff, and reduce overall costs to taxpayers. Trees also provide a place of community in an urban setting while increasing property values.  In an effort to restore our beneficial urban forest, we are asking residents to contribute to this cause. In addition to the town-wide street tree planting in the fall, we are educating residents about the benefits of planting trees on their property.  Click the links below for resources on how to choose the right tree for the right spot and how to properly plant and maintain trees.  

Please note: residents may only plant trees on their own property. Typically this is 10-12 feet in from the curb, on the inside of the sidewalk or you can plant in your back and side yards.  When planting trees take the mature size of tree into account. In general plant at least 10 feet from driveways, sidewalks, paths, seating areas, decks, fences, and other structures. You can always call the RESTC if you would like some more guidance on planting trees.  

• Trees Are Good: Tree Owner's Manual - this guide takes you through the steps of how to properly select, plant, and maintain the right tree for your yard.  

• Arbor Day Foundation: Benefits of Trees  

                                           Tree Identification 
                                        Trees are for the Birds Bulletin

• Trees are Good: Avoiding Tree Damage During Construction 

• Rutgers Agricultural Experiment Station: Incorporating Native Plants into your Landscape

Leave the Leaves

A program encouraging residents to mow & mulch 

leaves back into their lawn

The Shade Tree Commission, Environmental Commission, and Green Team 

invite you to 

Join the “Don’t Blow, Mulch & Mow” Challenge  

Click the link to find out more:

https://www.riveredgenj.org/departments/ShadeTreeCommission/LeaveTheLeaves

Requests
Request for tree maintenance, removal or planting should be directed in writing by letter, phone call or e-mail (see link on left side bar "STC Request Form") to the River Edge Shade Tree Commission. Emergencies should be directed to the DPW. Privately hired landscapers by residents are not permitted to work on town trees. Tree pruning and removals are done by our DPW Tree Crew throughout the year.  The Commission responds to requests via return phone call or more typically by a site visit to see the tree in question.  We will leave a door tag after a site visit letting you know we came by.  We appreciate your patience as we respond to requests - the Commission receives over 300 requests yearly and we make every attempt to respond within 30 days. 
 

• Tree Pruning Permit: This permit is for utility companies only who are doing line clearing around the wires of town trees. The permit must be submitted 3 working days before work is to commence. There is no cost for this permit. (Download permit here)

• Tree Removal Permit: This permit is for contractors or residents doing construction on their property where a town tree is concerned. We ask that you plan ahead before construction for the location of driveways and other factors that may interfere with a healthy town tree. Please remember to protect trees during construction. Do not use this form for other tree evaluation requests. There is no fee for this permit. (Download permit here)
• Sidewalks and Trees: Residents are required to obtain a sidewalk permit through the Building Department before replacing sidewalk slabs. In cases where tree roots are lifting sidewalks, please read this handout first before calling.  (Sidewalk & Trees Handout)
• Sewers & Trees: Tree roots in a sewer pipe indicate there is a leak in the pipe that needs to be fixed.  Please read this handout before calling about issues with roots in sewer pipes. (Sewers & Trees Handout) 
• Tree Construction Bond Permit: for construction projects on properties adjacent to street trees. Contact the Building Dept. for more details. 

NOTE TO RESIDENTS: When hiring a private tree care company to do maintenance or removal on your property, any business that provides tree care services for hire in the state of New Jersey shall be registered with the NJ Board of Tree Experts and have, in its employ, at least one full time Licensed Tree Expert or Licensed Tree Care Operator, depending on the services that are offered.  Click here for more information: NJ Board of Tree Experts

Meetings
The third Thursday of each month (except July and August - check the 'Current Events Calendar') at 7:00 pm.   Please contact the Shade Tree ahead if you plan to attend a meeting.  Meeting location posted on the Borough Calendar.   *2023 meetings will be on ZOOM, link posted on the Calendar. 

Planting of Street & Park Trees
2022 Fall Town planting is complete: This planting was partially funded by a state grant.  Please contact us to request a tree by clicking this link. Planting of Borough trees is funded by the Borough's Capital Budget. Businesses and residents can make donations directly to the Shade Tree Commission for planting. 

Resources permitting, street tree planting typically occurs during the months of October & November each year. Locations receiving a tree will be notified by mail. Residents still waiting for a tree will be put on next year's planting list. Gas and water lines will be marked out beforehand. All trees have been picked at the nursery by us and plantings are supervised by the Commission.
Please Note:  We take great care to plant tree species that will not interfere with sidewalks and utility lines in the future.  They will not become a hazard. If necessary some planting locations may require planting on the inside of the sidewalk still within town right-of-way. This is to avoid future issues with utility wires, sidewalks and small planting areas. 
Residents may not plant on Borough property but are encouraged to plant trees on their own property.  We encourage residents to plant trees on their own property on the inside of the sidewalk which will give a tree room to grow without interference from utility wires.  
Benefit of Trees You May Not Know- Click here for information

Stumps
Stump removal is done yearly (resources permitting) by an outside contractor hired by the town. Topsoil and re-seeding are done after the stump is removed. Residents may remove stumps curbside at their own expense, but must call ONE CALL before to mark out utility lines. ONE CALL: 800-272-1000.   
If you received a notice to have a tree removed by the Borough, you are automatically placed on a stump removal list.  If a tree was an emergency removal (i.e. from a storm) it is a good idea to call us or email us by clicking this link so we can confirm you are on the list.  

Damage to Trees
Residents are not to place signs or other decorations on street trees. Weed wacker and lawn mower damage are the biggest killers of our town's trees. During home improvements/construction, the residents and contractors are asked to take protective precautions and to be respectful of the town's street trees. Trees should be protected from mechanical damage to the limbs and bark while soil around the base of the tree should not be continually driven over, becoming compacted. Contact the Shade Tree Commission prior to construction for further guidance.

Youth Groups
Youth groups looking for projects in town may contact us for spring mulching and other summer/fall tree projects. Arbor Day is celebrated the last week of April every year in NJ. The Shade Tree Commission works along with the Women's Club of River Edge and the elementary schools to celebrate this day. There are usually seedlings available for residents at the RE Library the weekend of Arbor Day (check the Borough Main Page for details.) 

Tree walk and Arboretum
A tree-walk arboretum located adjacent to and around the library is a work in progress by the Shade Tree Commission. Started in 1996, trees planted there have been labeled with plaques describing the type of tree and in some cases, the year planted. We have over 50 specimen trees in our Arboretum! The first and second phases of the walkway have been completed enabling residents to stroll through the Arboretum and enjoy the trees. Please contact the commission if you would like to donate a tree plaque to the arboretum. Check 'Current Events Calendar' for tree education walks held at the arboretum.  Donations for tree plantings and plaques can be made to the Shade Tree Commission.

Tree Survey
We utilize a town-wide tree GIS based inventory to identify all of River Edge's street trees. We have information about the type, size, and condition of each street tree. Results are in a computer data system which is maintained and updated by us in order to give more detailed and organized information about our tree population. To see the basic street tree types & benefits they give the community click this link: River Edge Street Tree Inventory. 

Links

• NJ Community Forestry Program
• NJ Shade Tree Federation
• NJ Board of Tree Experts
• Arbor Day Foundation

Basic Tree Care

Protecting your Trees

The bark of a tree is its defense against insects and disease. Simply, if the bark becomes damaged, a tree becomes open to disease and infection. Food and water are delivered through the tree directly under its bark, so when damage is done by Weed wackers, lawnmowers, car doors, staples or strings that are tied around a tree, food and water cannot flow and the tree will die.

Mulch Wisely

Mulching trees properly is the most important step you can take in caring for your trees. Using mulch improperly, however, can cause irreparable damage to a tree. Mulch should be 2-3 inches from the tree trunk and 2-3 inches high, creating a "doughnut" ring around the tree base. If mulch is piled directly against the tree bark, then disease, rot, unhealthy root growth, and rodent or insect injury may result. If too little mulch is applied, weeds will grow and if more mulch is applied, shallow root hairs are encouraged making the tree more susceptible to drought and temperature extremes. Newer trees in town have been fitted with a plastic Arborguard to help in preventing damage to bark. 

Water a Tree

During dry periods, you should water trees slowly and deeply once a week. Shallow watering is not good for tree survival. Do not water if there has been a heavy rainfall within a week since trees can become waterlogged from too much moisture. Make sure the soil/mulch is cultivated in tree pits (see "mulch wisely" above) so the tree can absorb the water. An mature tree in an urban area may need up to fifteen gallons of water a week during dry times. Newly planted trees in town typically get a green water bag placed on them during the summer months to help them become established. Residents are encouraged to fill the bag once a week by fitting a garden hose in the slit on the top/side of the bag located under the manufacturer's name-tag.

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RESOURCES: 

Mulching Properly  You're killing your trees with too much mulch
LTCO - NJ Licensed Tree Expert  NJ Bill LTCO
Sidewalks & Trees  Information on Tree Roots and Sidewalks
Sewers & Trees  Information on Tree Roots and Sewer Lines
Trees are for the Birds Bulletin
Incorporating Native Plants into your Landscape  
Permit for Construction adjacent to street trees  this form is to be used when there are large construction projects with a street tree adjacent to the construction site. This permit must be filled out and submitted to the Building Dept. There is a $25 permit fee.