The first Arbor Day was observed in Nebraska in 1872. Almost 100 years later, Arbor Day was declared as a national observance. Although National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, not everyone observes Arbor Day, or some form of it, on that day. Many locations vary the date in accordance with the best local tree planting weather. All fifty United States, plus the District of Columbia, celebrate Arbor Day. Over 30 countries or territories also observe some form of Arbor Day.
Arbor Day Observances in the United States
states marked with a * observe the National Arbor Day date
- Alabama – the last week of February
- Alaska – the third Monday in May
- *Arizona – the last Friday in April
- California – March 7 – 14
- Colorado – the third Friday in April
- Connecticut – April 30
- *Delaware – the last Friday in April
- *District of Columbia – the last Friday in April
- Florida – the third Friday in January
- Georgia- the third Friday in February
- Hawaii – the first Friday in November
- *Idaho – the last Friday in April
- *Illinois – the last Friday in April
- *Indiana – the last Friday in April
- *Iowa – the last Friday in April
- Kansas – the last Friday in March
- Kentucky – the first Friday in April
- Louisiana – the third Friday in January
- Maine – the third week in May
- Maryland – the first Wednesday in April
- Massachusetts – April 28 – May 5
- *Michigan – the last Friday in April
- *Minnesota – the last Friday in April
- Mississippi – the second Friday in February
- Missouri – the first Friday in April
- *Montana – the last Friday in April
- *Nebraska – the last Friday in April
- Nevada – Northern – April 23; Southern – February 28
- *New Hampshire – the last Friday in April
- *New Jersey – the last Friday in April
- New Mexico – the second Friday in March
- *New York – the last Friday in April
- North Carolina – the first Friday after March 15
- North Dakota – the first Friday in May
- *Ohio – the last Friday in April
- Oklahoma – the last full week in March
- Oregon – the first full week in April
- *Pennsylvania – the last Friday in April
- *Rhode Island – the last Friday in April
- South Carolina – the first Friday in December
- *South Dakota – the last Friday in April
- Tennessee – the first Friday in March
- *Texas – the last Friday in April
- *Utah – the last Friday in April
- Vermont – the first Friday in May
- Virginia – the second Friday in April
- Washington – the second Wednesday in April
- West Virginia – the second Friday in April
- *Wisconsin – the last Friday in April
- Wyoming – the last Monday in April
Arbor Day Observances in Other Countries
- Australia – Arbor Day, June
- Australia – National Tree Day, July
- China – Tree Planting Day, March 12
- Germany – Arbor Day, April 25
- Guam – Arbor Day, second Tuesday in October
- Holland – Dutch National Tree Festival, March 22
- Iceland – Students’ Afforestation Day
- India – National Festival of Tree Planting
- Israel – New Year’s Day of Trees, 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat
- Japan – Greening Week, late April
- Jordan – Arbor Day, January 15
- Korea – Tree-Loving Week, early April
- Malta – Arbor Day, January 15
- Mexico – National Tree Day, July
- Nambia – Arbor Day, October 4
- New Zealand – Arbor Day, June 5 (also World Environmental Day)
- Northern Marianna Islands – Arbor Day, October 1
- Philippines – Arbor Day, June 25
- Puerto Rico – Arbor Day, the last Friday in September
- St. Maarten – National Day of Trees, March 22
- Scotland – Scottish Branch Arbor Day, late March
- South Africa – September 1 – 7
- Spain – Tree Festival, March 26
- Togo – Togolese Arbor Day
- Tunisia – Tree Festival Day, November 9
- United Kingdom – National Tree Week, start of planting season in November
- Virgin Islands – Arbor Day, the last Friday in September
- Western Samoa – Arbor Day, the first Friday in November
- Yemen – Arbor Day, June 5
- Yugoslavia – Reforestation Week
Resource:
www.arborday.org