In 2009, the Environmental Commission issued 72 permits to remove trees on residential properties in Englewood Cliffs, which is 16% over the previous year. Of the permits approved, 18(25%) involved new home construction. A Shade Tree Trust Fund is established in Englewood Cliffs. All permit fees and monies from fines for violations of Ordinances 2000-04 are deposited in this fund and may be used for the care and replacement of trees on Borough right-of-way and public lands in Englewood Cliffs. Because of the increasing loss of trees, replacement has become a vital means to maintain our tree stock.

Trees love mulch, but mulch cones kill trees. Yvonne Favaro, ShadeTree Commission Chairperson and I attended a CORE training session this winter sponsored by the New Jersey Community Forestry Council. Among the many things we learned from Pam Tappen, forester and training coordinator, was the harmful practice of piling cones of mulch against tree trunks. This procedure prevents healthy growth and kills trees. It is important to place the mulch six inches away from the trunk and continue mulching out towards the drip line(line below end of branches)with a maximum depth of 2-4 inches. To protect against weeds, place a woven landscape fabric, not plastic, under the mulch Every Spring, rake or remove any hard crust. Some excellent mulching materials are bark chunks, pine needles, one-year old wood chips, and leaves that were shredded and composted for at least three months.

Specialty license plates fund tree planting in New Jersey. When you purchase a special Treasure Our Trees license plate for $50.00, $39.00 of this money goes to funding tree planting projects all over the state and educating citizens to the importance of trees in maintaining a clean and healthy environment. The Red Oak, our state tree, and the Flowering Dogwood, our state flower, both in full color are printed on the plate. To order a Treasure Our Trees plate, call the DMV at 1-888-486-3339.

The Environmental Commission is committed to promoting the new growth of trees to better our environment in Englewood Cliffs.