Arborist Appreciation Day is a holiday observed on June 16th. It’s a day to show appreciation to the professionals who dedicate their careers to taking care of trees and ensuring they remain healthy. They also ensure that trees are safe for people, and if necessary, they remove trees that pose a danger.

They also ensure that trees are pruned, fertilized, and properly cared for. And that’s only a few of the duties that the average arborist performs. They are specialists in arboriculture who perform a job that is very important to modern civilization. And it’s all in a day’s work!

The History of Arborist Appreciation Day

Human beings have been engaged in arboriculture since the dawn of civilization. People in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt cultivated trees not only for the beauty they brought but also to provide them with a source of fruits and nuts.

During this time, trees such as the Date Palm Tree were cultivated, as well as olive trees. Olive trees were especially popular, which is why the cultivation of this tree spread from Asia and the Middle East all the way to Northern Africa and eventually Europe.

The practice of planting and maintaining trees continued through the Middle Ages and provided the population with an ever-increasing supply of fruits and nuts. During this time, walnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds became common food staples, as did pears, plums, and apples.

During the 18th century, advanced techniques for maintaining trees began to be put into use as arboriculture knowledge improved. As of 2023, there are over 8,250 arborists in the U.S. Yes, that’s a very small percentage of the population, yet their work is vital to modern society.

Without their services, we’d be less safe, and our trees would be less healthy. They perform an important job, and that’s why Arborist Appreciation Day exists. Although we don’t know who invented this holiday, we do know that it was about time someone created a holiday to give appreciation to these tree professionals.

Observing Arborist Appreciation Day

The simplest way to observe this holiday is to give a shout-out to an arborist you know. If you don’t know any arborists personally or professionally, then a general shout-out can be given over social media using the hashtag #ArboristAppreciationDay.

This is also a good day for people to learn more about arboriculture and maybe even pursue a career in this profession. And, of course, people can use this day to check out the trees on their property and to hire the services of a licensed, bonded arborist if they need their trees maintained or removed.