FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 19, 2025
When is the best time to plant a tree? If you said “20 years ago,” you likely recall that decades-old adage, and you’d be right! If you answered “today,” you’d be right as well. In Georgia, our State Arbor Day is celebrated in February, which is in the middle of planting season, when tree roots are dormant. Georgia’s Arbor Day is observed annually on the third Friday of the month, which falls on February 21 in 2025. Arbor Day at the national level is marked in April when Georgia’s trees are already leafing out and enjoying warm spring air.
The State Arbor Day celebration was held in Oxford, GA on Thursday, February 13 at Emory Oxford College. The Georgia Forestry Commission awarded commendations to Tree City USA communities from around the state for their efforts to plant and maintain tree canopy. Tree Campus USA Colleges and Universities, along with Tree Line USA Utility Companies, were also recognized. A walking tour of Oxford’s arboretum was offered as part of the day’s festivities.
Other special events marking Georgia’s Arbor Day are scheduled in numerous places statewide. Columbus, Brunswick, Statesboro, Gainesville, and Dunwoody are just a few of the municipalities planning observances.
Even if there are no special events planned in your area, there are still plenty of reasons to plant trees for their numerous benefits. Trees help us save energy by providing shade, they filter our air and water, they give homes to wildlife, and they create beautiful spaces for us to relax and appreciate. Spending time around trees has also been proven to support physical and mental health, greater learning skills in children, and improved immunity.
The Georgia Forestry Commission provides numerous resources for people who want to plant trees or have questions about existing trees. We also have a great story to tell about how Georgia’s forest industry contributes to Georgia’s economy, producing the forest products we all depend on in our daily lives.
So plant a tree and help keep our urban and rural forestry communities strong in Georgia! Together we’ll grow a better future for the next generation. Visit GaTrees.org.
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