grew. Many of the trees were seriously damaged or smothered as a result. When lost through disease, damage or neglect, a full-grown tree can take decades to replace. To combat this situation, the Shade Tree Commission has undertaken a restoration of the Arboretum. Restoration of the Arboretum has been successful due to the collaboration among the Township Committeemen, the Township Administrator, the Department of Public Works, and the Shade Tree Commission. The Township Committee has given maintenance of the arboretum to the Shade Tree Commission with the willing help of the Department of Public Works. Many volunteer hours have resulted in the removal of masses of invasive vines. The Department of Public Works has removed more than half a dozen dead or dying trees and pruned out dead limbs resulting from storm damage and age. The original schematic map was updated in 2015 with the help of Richard Obal, former Monmouth County Agricultural Agent and member of the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission. The information was transferred to and overlaid onto a satellite image of the Town Hall area and with the help of Brookdale Community College, in the person of Eric Anderson a Brookdale Community College faculty member and cartography expert. The result is the map, which is now on display in the public library. The Shade Tree Commission has developed a long-range plan for maintaining the health and development of the Arboretum. We have a much healthier and vibrant group of trees and a vastly improved experience for anyone walking among the trees in the Town Hall area. Of course, maintenance of the requires ongoing watering, pruning, removal of invasive vines, and wrapping of tree trunks to help prevent deer damage. At present, this work is carried out by volunteers in collaboration with the township Department of Public Works. More volunteers would certainly allow us to further enhance the health and appearance of the trees. Work sessions are usually published on the township website or in the minutes of the Shade Tree Commission meetings. From May through September, these sessions are usually scheduled early in the day (i.e. 7 am to 10 am) in order to be finished before the heat of the day. Volunteers are always welcome! For volunteer information, please contact Gordon Boak of the Colts Neck Shade Tree Commission.
grew. Many of the trees were seriously damaged or smothered as a result. When lost through disease, damage or neglect, a full-grown tree can take decades to replace. To combat this situation, the Shade Tree Commission has undertaken a restoration of the Arboretum. Restoration of the Arboretum has been successful due to the collaboration among the Township Committeemen, the Township Administrator, the Department of Public Works, and the Shade Tree Commission. The Township Committee has given maintenance of the arboretum to the Shade Tree Commission with the willing help of the Department of Public Works. Many volunteer hours have resulted in the removal of masses of invasive vines. The Department of Public Works has removed more than half a dozen dead or dying trees and pruned out dead limbs resulting from storm damage and age. The original schematic map was updated in 2015 with the help of Richard Obal, former Monmouth County Agricultural Agent and member of the Monmouth County Shade Tree Commission. The information was transferred to and overlaid onto a satellite image of the Town Hall area and with the help of Brookdale Community College, in the person of Eric Anderson a Brookdale Community College faculty member and cartography expert. The result is the map, which is now on display in the public library. The Shade Tree Commission has developed a long-range plan for maintaining the health and development of the Arboretum. We have a much healthier and vibrant group of trees and a vastly improved experience for anyone walking among the trees in the Town Hall area. Of course, maintenance of the requires ongoing watering, pruning, removal of invasive vines, and wrapping of tree trunks to help prevent deer damage. At present, this work is carried out by volunteers in collaboration with the township Department of Public Works. More volunteers would certainly allow us to further enhance the health and appearance of the trees. Work sessions are usually published on the township website or in the minutes of the Shade Tree Commission meetings. From May through September, these sessions are usually scheduled early in the day (i.e. 7 am to 10 am) in order to be finished before the heat of the day. Volunteers are always welcome! For volunteer information, please contact Gordon Boak of the Colts Neck Shade Tree Commission.
Colts-Neck-Town-Hall-Arboretum-2015.docx