Best Trees to Plant for Arbor Day

Before I give y’all some ideas on what trees to plant for Arbor Day, I reckon it Would help if y’all know what Arbor Day is! Don’t fret, I’ll tell you.

Arbor Day was first proclaimed in the Cornhusker State of Nebraska in 1874 by Governor Robert W. Furnas. However, the day was first proposed in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton, who loved trees and believed that planting them should be normalized. Today, Arbor Day is a nationally recognized holiday where we are encouraged to celebrate trees by planting them and learning of all their benefits.

Arbor Day This Year

Arbor Day is typically celebrated on the last Friday of every April, which means this year, Arbor Day is on April 25th. Check with your local area, though, because some cities recognize Arbor Day on different days to better align with the area’s schedule. Well, now that you know what Arbor Day is, all that’s left for you to do is to decide on what tree you will plant. Don’t worry though, I’m now gonna give y’all some ideas on good trees to plant.

 Important note: I’m going to list each plant’s hardiness zones, which essentially are areas that the tree can be planted and typically grow in. America is divided into hardiness zones to help planters know what can be grown in their area. You probably don’t want oranges that were grown in Massachusetts! If you don’t know your hardiness zone, refer to this website: USDA Plant Hardiness Map

Crepe Myrtle

The first tree I want to suggest you plant is by far my favorite tree, and it’s the Crepe Myrtle. The Crepe Myrtle, often referred to as the “Lilac of the South”, is a beautiful flowering tree that starts small but can reach mature heights of 15’-25’. The tree is great in hot climates and produces beautiful, bubbly, and vibrant flowers during summer. The tree is a little bit pricey, but if you are looking to plant a tree that will strengthen the beauty of your yard, plant a Crepe Myrtle!

Flowering Dogwood

The Flowering Dogwood is a beautiful tree that produces blossoms of pink, white, or red. This tree can grow up to 20’-30’ tall and wide, making it perfect for a large front yard. It can also tolerate some shade, so you have a little more flexibility with placement. It can be grown in hardiness zones 5-9 and can usually tolerate imperfect soil. While it is a little pricier than the Crepe Myrtle, if you want a tree that will be a big part of your outdoor space and is flexible to conditions, it is worth the price!

Fruit Trees

You could also plant a tree that will bear fruit! From apple trees to orange trees, depending on your hardiness zone you can plant a tree that will bring fruit you will eventually be able to eat. Some fruit trees require more attention than others, so make sure you research what trees would thrive in your area along with the maintenance required. And bonus, a lot of fruit trees will also blossom flowers! Most fruit trees aren’t too expensive, so if you have a spot in your yard or garden, a fruit tree would be a perfect choice.

Oak Tree

Mighty oaks where little acorns grow! Oak trees are always beautiful, and they mature with very large and powerful branches. As you can probably imagine, Oaks are an investment because they have a large life span and they take a while to mature. They typically don’t flower noticeable petals, but once they mature, they are a large and mighty tree that dominates the landscape. These trees can be grown almost anywhere in the US, with hardiness zones ranging from 3-9. An Oak tree is a great tree to plant in advance, especially if you have a vast landscape.

Maple Tree

The last tree I’m going to suggest you plant is a Maple Tree. Like Oak trees, Maples can be grown almost anywhere in the US. Though Maple Trees are best known for their iconic leaf design, my favorite part about Maple Trees is their beauty in the fall. Maple Tree leaves turn into a vibrant red and orange in autumn that is simply breathtaking. Maple Trees are very low maintenance and can grow up to 60 feet high. These trees are very hardy, so if you want a tree that isn’t needy and will provide your yard with a beautiful fall finale, go Maple.

Many More!

If you don’t think any of these trees would be a good fit, plant something else! Do some research or talk to your local plant nursery to find other trees that thrive in your area. There are plenty of different trees all with unique characteristics, and you are sure to find one that will make the perfect addition to wherever you are planting. All trees are beautiful in their own ways, and there are tons of unique trees that are truly fascinating.

And if you can’t fit it into your schedule to plant a tree this year, no worries! You don’t have to plant a tree to celebrate Arbor Day. The most important part of celebrating Arbor Day is acknowledging the importance of trees and standing in admiration of their beauty and the benefits they provide. Simply walking around a garden or arboretum is a great way to celebrate this national holiday.

Be Well, Auburn.