Plant a Tree for Arbor Day

By Juliette Olshock

The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 10, 1872 all across Nebraska as a way to plant trees throughout the state. More than 1 million trees are estimated to have been planted that day. This spring tree planting event quickly spread to other states. On April 15, 1907, President Theodor Roosevelt issued an "Arbor Day Proclamation to the School Children of the United States" about the importance of trees and tree planting. It is unclear when Arbor Day first became a national holiday but in 1972, as a means of commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first Arbor Day, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday of April as National Arbor Day. Tree plantings and Arbor Day festivities may vary in each state based on their best tree planting dates; in Pennsylvania we still observe the last Friday in April. Arbor Day is now celebrated across the globe from Iceland to Australia. Learn more about this holiday from our friends at Tree Pittsburgh.

If you want to plant a street tree in the City of Pittsburgh, you will need a permit. Follow this helpful information in order to get the proper permission: 

Regardless of where you decide to plant your tree, the City of Pittsburgh has a very helpful schematic to guide you through.

Remember these helpful tips:

1. Select the best tree for your site. Use Phipps Sustainable Plant Finder to select the best tree for your property. 

2. Respect the root flare! 

3. No volcano mulches.

4. Water until established.

As the old proverb goes “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” So let’s get planting!!