Arbor Day

Arbor Day History

Arbor Day encourages individuals and groups to plant and care for trees. Celebrated primarily to raise awareness towards the importance of trees, the day underlines the crucial role these steadfast beings play in sustaining the planet's wellbeing and supporting life. It emphasizes the need for tree planting, tree care, and environmental stewardship.

It's a tradition that dates back to 1872 when Julius Sterling Morton, a nature-loving journalist from Nebraska, proposed a tree-planting holiday to the State Board of Agriculture, which accepted his resolution. That year, over a million trees were planted in Nebraska on the inaugural Arbor Day, boosting the state's then-sparse landscape. Today, this simple yet significant observance has grown into a nationally celebrated affair, with every state in the U.S. participating.

While its roots (pun intended) are firmly established in Nebraska, Arbor Day's date varies across different states. This is due to the differences in climate and suitable tree-planting season. Arbor Day falls on the last Friday in April, but certain locations may celebrate it at a time more suited to their specific tree-planting needs. Nonetheless, wherever you are, its significance remains constant: to encourage the public to plant and nurture trees.

Facts about Arbor Day

• A single tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old.
• Newspaper editor Julius Sterling Morton started Arbor Day to help bring attention to the importance of trees.
• Since the Yellowstone Fires of 1988, the Arbor Day Foundation has partnered with the US Forest Service. Through this partnership, over 25 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted.
• The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now - Proverb

In the News and Trending for Arbor Day

Top things to do for Arbor Day

• Help save the planet by planting a tree.
• Visit a nursery and consider buying some plants.
• Organize a neighborhood beautification project.