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(609) 883-2900 
2 Jake Garzio Drive
Ewing, NJ 08628

Trees

Trees in Ewing Township

Ewing Township recognizes that the protection of trees within the Township is not only desirable, but also essential to the present and future health, safety and welfare of all its citizens. Trees are valuable contributors to not only the Township's environment and beauty, but the local economy as well. 

Their numerous environmental / ecological values include air cleansing, carbon sequestration, reduction in storm water runoff, soil stabilization, erosion prevention, and providing habitat for wildlife.  They also bring us financial benefits such as raising property values and reducing energy costs. 

Ewing’s public tree resource is varied; in species, age and planting locations relative to the public Right-of-Way (ROW). Silver maple, London planetree, Norway maple, Green ash, Honey locust, Callery pear, and Red maple dominate the list of the species planted.

Ewing’s street tree resource is essentially privately owned as much of the trees were planted by the residential builders on the inside of the sidewalk and are on private property. The street trees are generally well tended and are in generally good health.

As a result of Ewing’s street tree resource being located predominantly on private land, it allows the Township to concentrates on the care and maintenance of trees on park lands. Ewing’s park trees are in need of some maintenance so they may continue to provide the long term benefits to the community. 

In 2012 Ewing also suffered unprecedented damage to the tree canopy in its public parks as a result of the late July microburst and Hurricane Sandy.  We have also suffered significant damage to the Ash trees in our canopy due to the onset of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) beginning approximately in 2015.  (See Rutgers Rapid Ash Survey Report provided to the township near the beginning of EAB onset for guidance with the future decisions concerning our ash tree population as the effects of emerald ash borer impacted our area.)

Our tree canopy coverage was last calculated at 27.4%, substantially below the state average of 40% and our goal is to repair the canopy so that we approach the statewide average. 

Tree/sidewalk conflicts, narrow planting strips, vehicle damage to low branches and trunks, excessive mulch and improper planting depth, girdling roots (mainly on the Maple species) and drought stress were also notable problems that need to be addressed in the future.

Stewardship

The Ewing Township Department of Public Works Division of Trees maintains and inspects all township owned trees located on Ewing Township property including parks and open space. The Tree Division also inspects and prunes trees located within the municipal road right of way (ROW) to improve traffic visibility and public safety. All trees located on private property are the responsibility of the property owner, including trees located within most easements and right of ways.

The Division of Trees is also responsible for insuring that DPW employees (and Green Team and Environmental Commission volunteers) meet the New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry Program’s CORE training requirements and earn the required eight or more continuing education units (CEUs)  annually.  FYI, CORE Training is an introduction to urban and community forestry in New Jersey covering the basics from science, the law, management, and funding of trees and community forest programs throughout the state.

Public Utility Trimming in the ROW

Ewing receives gas and electric service from Public Service Electric & Gas Co.  As per a NJ Board of Public Utilities mandate, they proactively trim trees interfering with and growing in close proximity to overhead lines, every four years to prevent future outages.

Tree Management, Accreditation, and Ordinances

Ewing Township has a formal shade tree maintenance program in place to help ensure healthy and vibrant trees along our streets and in our parks and our neighborhoods. This program is supported by the following documents:

Tree Removal and Replacement Ordinance

Ewing has a tree ordinance adopted by Township Council in November of 2020, Ordinance 20-18.  The purpose of the ordinance is to protect the township tree canopy and regulate the indiscriminate and excessive cutting of trees within the township.  This document gives the Public Works Department has the authority to manage street trees and those in Ewing parks and open spaces, recommend the list of street tree species that can be planted, and to regulate other arbor work.

There are a number of exceptions to tree removal requirements including occupied private single-family dwellings on one acre or less.  No more than four trees can be removed within a given twelve-month period.  This does not include street trees and/or shade trees planted along a street edge or dying, dead, or diseased trees that are hazardous, or invasive tree species. (See §425-3 Applicability for the full list of exceptions)

The complete tree regulations in Chapter 425 (Tree Removal and Replacement) of the Township of Ewing Revised General Ordinance can be accessed “here.”

Ewing’s Community Forestry Management Plan

A Community Forestry Management Plan (CFMP) is a guide to achieving and maintaining a safe, healthy, and beneficial community forest.  The CFMP reflects a proactive approach to tree/forest management with aims of lowering tree hazard problems, decreasing tree maintenance and removal costs, and increasing tree benefits for the community.  The plans cover a five-year period.  Guidelines for CFMPs were reissued by the NJ DEP Urban & Community Forestry Program in January of 2024 and deadlines for meeting the new guidelines were extended.

Ewing’s most recent CFMP, Community Forestry Master Plan 2017 – 2021: An Action Plan for Community Forestry, was published in 2017.  It was a Ewing Environmental Commission (EEC) effort, in cooperation with the New Jersey Forest Service. Its stated mission is to “to work continuously to improve the public tree resource by acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a safe, beneficial and sustainable community forest, and then implement them.”  The plan is good thru December 2026, and the Environmental Commission and Green Team are making plans for the next update.

NJUCF accreditation

The New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry Program accredits municipal and county governments that have management plans for trees and forests, training and education, and that submit annual reports.  Ewing was most recently accredited in 2023 after a brief hiatus due to staffing and volunteer training and is on track to reaccredit in 2024.  Our current CFMP is good thru December 2026.