Brooklyn Borough President

BOROUGH PRESIDENT CHIPS BOROUGH HALL CHRISTMAS TREE

Photo by Amelia D’Entrone
Pictured from left to right: Green-wood Cemetery President Richard Moylan, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Botanic Garden President Judith D. Zuk and Green-wood Cemetery Vice President Nicholas Pisano.

Mulch covers graves of Brooklyn Mayors past

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz presided as Borough Hall’s giant Christmas tree was turned to mulch at Green-Wood Cemetery on Saturday. The tree was the first to be chipped at the second annual Christmas tree recycling program presented by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Green-Wood Cemetery. The tree mulch was later spread on the graves of past Brooklyn Mayors buried at the cemetery, including Seth Low, who was the only person to be Mayor of both Brooklyn and New York City. Judith D. Zuk, president of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden; Richard Moylan president of Green-Wood Cemetery; and Nicholas S. Pisano, the cemetery’s vice president and comptroller were also on hand.

“Our beautiful Christmas tree which stood majestically in front of Brooklyn Borough Hall, today will be put to another great use,” said Borough President Markowitz. “The wood chips will help preserve a little bit of Brooklyn history. ”

Participants had the chance to speak with Brooklyn Botanic Garden “Master Composters” who were on hand to answer questions about the benefits of using wood chips as mulch, including how the mulch protects the soil, helps retain soil moisture, protects against heavy rain damage, increases the survival of new trees, and reduces the growth of weeds. Additionally, the experts discussed how wood chip mulch adds a natural decorative appearance to landscaping. Free mulch was also made available to the public.