Did you know the state tree of North Carolina is the longleaf pine? National Arbor Day takes place on April 25, 2014, but North Carolina’s state celebration of Arbor Day is on March 21. This is the perfect time to plant the longleaf pine, as well as other trees and shrubs that thrive in North Carolina. Founded over 135 years ago, National Arbor Day is dedicated to planting and celebrating trees across the United States. Trees add beauty and value to our landscapes, and provide many environmental benefits. They help clean the air by absorbing pollutants, provide oxygen that we breathe, absorb rain water and snowmelt, prevent erosion and more!
Viewer Tip: You can celebrate North Carolina Arbor Day in more ways than one!
- Learn about trees in your area and take a hike with friends and family to see how many you can identify.
- Volunteer with a local tree-planting organization to plant trees in your community.
- Plant a tree at home. After picking one out from the many different species of trees that can grow in North Carolina, consider the location of the tree before planting it. Add deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves in the fall) on the south and west sides of your home to provide shade during the summer, reducing cooling costs. Plant evergreen trees along the north and west sides of your home to block chilly winds.
Image: Where to Plant
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Image: Benefits of Trees
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(Sources: Arbor Day Foundation. “Benefits of Trees.” http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm; PATrees.org, “Trees and Forests Reduce the Impacts of Stormwater,” http://www.patrees.org/trees-reduce-stormwater; NC State University Cooperative Extension, “Ten Most Common Trees,” http://swain.ces.ncsu.edu/2009/08/ten-most-common-trees/; Arbor Day Foundation, “North Carolina,” https://www.arborday.org/states/state.cfm?state=NC; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, “Native Plant Database,” http://www.wildflower.org/plants/)
