National Arbor Day 2027
National Arbor Day 2027 is on Friday, April 30, 2027 (in 200 days). It is observed on the last Friday of April, and it is a day for planting and caring for trees. It is not a federal holiday.
- Date
- Friday, April 30, 2027
- Countdown
- In 200 days
- Federal holiday
- No
- Date rule
- Last Friday of April
- Possible dates
- April 24 to April 30
- Next occurrence
- Friday, April 28, 2028
National Arbor Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 24, 2026 | Friday | 171 days ago |
| 2027 | April 30, 2027 | Friday | in 200 days |
| 2028 | April 28, 2028 | Friday | in 18 months |
| 2029 | April 27, 2029 | Friday | in 2 years |
| 2030 | April 26, 2030 | Friday | in 3 years |
| 2031 | April 25, 2031 | Friday | in 4 years |
| 2032 | April 30, 2032 | Friday | in 5 years |
| 2033 | April 29, 2033 | Friday | in 6 years |
| 2034 | April 28, 2034 | Friday | in 7 years |
| 2035 | April 27, 2035 | Friday | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for April 2027.
How the date of National Arbor Day is set
National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April, so the date moves between April 24 and April 30 and is always a Friday. States set their own Arbor Day dates for the best tree-planting season: Florida, for example, observes Arbor Day on the third Friday of January. In 2028 National Arbor Day is on Friday, April 28, 2028.
J. Sterling Morton and the first Arbor Day
The holiday started in Nebraska. J. Sterling Morton, a journalist and later U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, proposed a tree-planting day to the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture, and the first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, when Nebraskans planted an estimated one million trees. Nebraska made Arbor Day a legal holiday in 1885 and set it on April 22, Morton's birthday. President Richard Nixon proclaimed National Arbor Day on the last Friday in April in 1970.
Arbor Day today
The Arbor Day Foundation, founded in 1972 on the 100th anniversary of the first Arbor Day, runs the Tree City USA program, started in 1976 with the National Association of State Foresters. Schools and towns plant trees on the day, and in most places Arbor Day is not a day off.
How to plant a tree
Arbor Day is a good reminder to plant, but the best time depends on the local climate: spring and fall suit most of the country. Call 811 a few days before you dig, so that utility companies can mark underground lines. Pick a species suited to your USDA plant hardiness zone, plant it so that the root flare is visible at the soil line, and water it regularly during the first years. Foresters sum up the rule in a short phrase: right tree, right place.
Why trees matter
Trees shade houses and streets, which lowers cooling costs, and their roots hold soil in place and slow stormwater runoff. They store carbon, filter dust from the air and give shelter to birds and insects. Many towns publish lists of recommended street trees, and local forestry offices and extension services give free planting advice.
Frequently asked questions about National Arbor Day
When is National Arbor Day 2027?
National Arbor Day 2027 is on Friday, April 30, 2027.
When is National Arbor Day 2028?
National Arbor Day 2028 is on Friday, April 28, 2028.
Is Arbor Day a federal holiday?
No. National Arbor Day is an observance, and offices, banks and schools are open, including in Nebraska, where the day started.
Is Arbor Day on the same date in every state?
No. National Arbor Day is the last Friday of April, but each state chooses the date that suits its planting season, from January in Florida to May in some northern states.
Who started Arbor Day?
J. Sterling Morton of Nebraska. The first Arbor Day was held in Nebraska on April 10, 1872.