The Garden State

The Garden State. Eastern Deciduous Forest. , When Europeans first came to the eastern shores of North America they encountered a vast, virgin forest that seemingly stretched westward forever. First viewed as barriers and places for hiding, the trees soon became cabins, gunstocks and cradles, wagon wheels, and eventually newsprint and prefabrications – and economic and recreational treasure., One of the major forest classifications is called the Eastern Deciduous forest – the type to which the forests of New Jersey belong. Deciduous trees shed their leaves every year during the harshness of winter. Forty-two percent of the Garden State’s vegetation is forest trees. New Jersey’s forests sustain an abundance of wildlife and plants – giving credit to its well deserved nickname., < Sidebar : > , Forest Composition , Ever wonder why some trees will grow in one place but not in another? Look below the forest canopy to discover one reason. New Jersey, for example, is divided into five physiographic regions, each with its own unique topography and soils. Topography, moisture, and soil are some of the factors that help determine the types of trees that grow in each region. The sandy soils of the inner and outer coastal plains provide nutrients for vegetation different from those found in the higher, rocky soils of the piedmont and highlands. What other factors and conditions might determine the types of trees growing here?