Ag Minute: Arbor Day

Many people characterize farmers as the original conservationists, given that their livelihood is tied to the health of the land and good stewardship is required so farming can be passed down to future generations. The end of April brings with it several holidays focused on conservation. Since 1970, Earth Day has been celebrated on April 22nd each year. While Earth Day may be more highly publicized, Arbor Day, celebrated on the last Friday in April, has a long, rich history with ties to Illinois. Arbor Day was established in April, 1872 by Nebraska newspaper editor Julius Sterling Morton. Morton went on to serve as Secretary of Agriculture under President Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897. Julius Sterling Morton’s son Joy Sterling Morton founded the Morton Salt Company in Chicago and established the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.

The purpose of Arbor Day, which falls on April 25, 2025, is to highlight the significant benefits associated with trees and to promote tree planting. Planting trees is a long-term proposition, as trees live and grow for many decades. When planting a tree, it is important to take time to conceptualize how tall and how wide the tree will grow. There is debate as to whether the spring or the fall is a better time to plant trees. In Central Illinois, the answer is “it depends.” The most important factor for success is regular rainfall, which can occur in both seasons. Some species fare better with spring planting, while some species thrive in the fall.

Choosing to plant fruit trees in home gardens is increasing in popularity. This is one area where spring planting is preferred. The University of Illinois Extension offers a wealth of information on fruit trees. According to the U of I Extension, apples are the most popular backyard fruit in Illinois. Apple trees benefit from having two or more varieties planted in the same general area. While apples are not native to the Americas, there are currently over 2,500 varieties of apples grown in the United States. The official Illinois State fruit is the Gold Rush apple, a late season greenish-yellow variety introduced in 1994, after being developed in a collaborative disease resistant breeding program by the University of Illinois, Purdue, and Rutgers. Other varieties well-suited to the Illinois climate are Honey Crisp and Gala. China is the world’s top producer of apples, with the U.S. ranking second.  According to the USDA Economic Research Service, the U.S. produces approximately 10billion pounds of apples in a growing season. Washington is the top apple producing state, producing nearly 67% of the nation’s apples. The top three apple producing states, Washington, Michigan and New York, account for 90% of the country’s apples. 

To learn more about fruit trees for home gardens in Illinois, visit https://extension.illinois.edu/fruit-trees.