Bordentown City Shade Tree Committee

06/08/2026

What is your favorite tree in Bordentown City? Submit your suggestion for a Landmark Tree at the Green Fair this Saturday. Look for our table. There will be a box for your suggestions. Remember, size, age, rarity of species, historic, scenic. Put your name and number, location of tree, species, reason, and a picture if you have one.

06/04/2026

We would like to announce a fun and educational way to honor our trees - The City of Bordentown Landmark Tree Program!

Bordentown is well established as an historical location with a rich history for almost 350 years. In recognition of this, the Bordentown City Shade Tree Committee would like to create a list of Landmark Trees. A tree may qualify as a Landmark Tree if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
1. It's a rare species.
2. It's very large.
3. It's very old.
4. It has a connection to an historical event or person.
5. It's noticeably abnormal.
5. It enhances the scenery.

In other words, the tree needs to be special in some way, but that “way” has a somewhat broad definition.
Certainly there are a number of special trees found on the Point Breeze property, but there are other trees within the rest of the City that may qualify as well.
The Shade Tree Committee encourages residents (and visitors as well) to submit trees to be considered for inclusion in the Landmark Tree list.

Submissions should include:
Name and phone number of person submitting (for followup questions)
The address/location of the tree - must be within Bordentown City.
The species of tree - if known. If not known, be very specific in the location and give a description. Bring a leaf to help with identification.
Reason why this tree should be considered a Landmark Tree. (see list above)
If possible, a picture of the tree.

We will be at the Green Fair on June 13th alongside the Green Team. There will be a box to collect submissions. If you cannot make the Green Fair, you may drop off your submission to City Hall, care of the Shade Tree Committee.
Help us find the special trees in our beautiful little City.

05/31/2026

Don't forget to register for our 4th annual Art Show and Sale! Aritst registration is open until June 13! Use the link below or in our stories for more information and registration.

https://fb.me/e/7ARG6mbzC

05/30/2026

This spring and last, the Shade Tree Committee and volunteers planted a good number of Serviceberry trees. They produce berries that ripen in June. If you see the dark purple berries, pluck a few and give them a taste before the birds get them all!

05/30/2026

A big thank you from the trees in front of Bordentown Square. After learning how wrapping trees in lights harms them, the owner agreed to find a different way to apply ornamental lighting.

05/16/2026

HELP!
The heat is coming this week, and the young saplings really need water. We are still in extreme drought conditions. The saplings won't make it if they aren't watered more than the once a week the City does.
Volunteers planted 46 trees between last year and this. That is a lot of oxygen and cooling potential. Help us keep the trees alive.
If you have one in your yard, new either this year or last, PLEASE give it water at least once a week. We need volunteers to adopt the 2025 and 2026 plantings that are NOT in a homeowner's yard and water them weekly unless there has been a decent rain. Below is a list of the locations of trees planted last year and this which are on public or school property. Contact Bordentown City Shade Tree Committee via Messenger or [email protected].

2025
Clara Barton Parking Lot (E. Burlington) 2 Columnar Oak
Post Office on Walnut 2 Bi-color Oak
Hilltop Park at Second Street 2 Hawthorn
Oliver Street Park Hop Hornbeam
Oliver Street Park Black Tupelo
Hilltop Park Zoo 2 White Oak
2026
Elizabeth & Lucas Sts. 2 White Oak
Elizabeth & Lucas Sts. 2 Serviceberry MS
Elizabeth & Lucas Sts. Dogwood
Clara Barton School Crosswicks Elm

05/08/2026

This is just a reminder and plea: newly planted trees need regular watering especially the first two years and especially during dry seasons. If you are a homeowner who has a new(er) tree, please water it well at least once a week, even if it is from last year. The City does send someone around to water, but that is only one time a week, and may not include last year's trees. Also, we need some volunteers to "adopt" a few trees that are in parks or on property not in front of a home. Oliver Street park and the Zoo at Hilltop were planted last year. The corner of Lucas and Elizabeth received some plants this year. Help the trees to thrive. They help us breathe.

04/25/2026

The Shade Tree Committee usually meets the third Wednesday every other month, currently at Old City Hall. HOWEVER, due to conflicts, the May meeting will be on May 13th instead of the 20th. The meeting begins at 6:30 PM.

Send a message to learn more

01/22/2026

April 18, 2026 is the date picked for this year's Arbor Day planting.

12/25/2025

This big tree fell over during the wind storm the other night. Even though the tree itself looked healthy, the roots tell the real story. They were cut by the sidewalk replacement and the curbing. There was rot in the middle, invisible from the outside, but enough that the wind was able to push it over.
Fortunately for the homeowner, it landed between the porch and the driveway. Damage to one car, and a few scratches, but otherwise minimal damage.
Our outgoing commissioner Joe Myers and our public works head Bob Errickson took quick action. The tree was removed the next morning.
Keep this in mind when you are working around tree roots. The damage to the roots may not seem serious, but this can be the result.