The towns of Irmo, Lexington and Batesburg-Leesville each celebrated Arbor Day by planting trees earlier this month. Arbor Day honors the planting, care and preservation of trees. 

South Carolina is the only state that observes Arbor Day on the first Friday of December, while other states celebrate during different months. This is due to differing optimal planting seasons among U.S. states. 

The Town of Lexington planted a White Oak in Virginia Hylton Park, marking a 37-year tradition, while the Town of Irmo’s public works team planted a Coral Bark Japanese Maple at Irmo Veterans Park on Palmetto Wood Parkway. The Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District held an Arbor Day event at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School, where a Nuttall Oak was planted in honor of Corey Bedenbaugh, the 2026 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, who teaches at Batesburg-Leesville Middle School. 

According to The Nature Conservancy, trees protect and help the environment in various ways. They absorb greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, storing carbon dioxide in their wood and slowing the buildup of this gas in the atmosphere.  

Trees also remove particulate matter, a type of air pollution that poses a danger to human lungs.  

The Town of Lexington is also part of Tree City USA, which recognizes the town’s ongoing efforts to care for its tree canopy and dedication to sustaining urban forestry.  

In May 2025, the Arbor Day Foundation recognized the Town of Irmo as a Tree City USA for the 15th year in a row. 

Here's a list of when each state celebrates Arbor Day, according to the Arbor Day Foundation: 

Alabama: Last full week of February

Alaska: Third Monday in May

Arizona: Last Friday in April

Arkansas: Third Monday in March

California: March 7-14

Colorado: Third Friday in April

Connecticut: Last Friday in April

Delaware: Last Friday in April

Florida: Third Friday in January

Georgia: Third Friday in February

Hawaii: First Friday in November

Idaho: Last Friday in April

Illinois: Last Friday in April

Indiana: Last Friday in April

Iowa: Last Friday in April

Kansas: Last Friday in April

Kentucky: First Friday in April

Louisiana: Third Friday in January

Maine: Third Full Week in May

Maryland: First Wednesday in April

Massachusetts: Last Friday in April

Michigan: Last Friday in April

Minnesota: Last Friday in April

Mississippi: Second Friday in February

Missouri: First Friday in April

Montana: Last Friday in April

Nebraska: Last Friday in April

Nevada: Last Friday in April

New Hampshire: Last Friday in April

New Jersey: Last Friday in April

New Mexico: Second Friday in March

New York: Last Friday in April

North Carolina: First Friday following March 15

North Dakota: First Friday in May

Ohio: Last Friday in April

Oklahoma: Last Full Week of March

Oregon: The month of April

Pennsylvania: Last Friday in April

Rhode Island: Last Friday in April

South Dakota: Last Friday in April

Tennessee: First Friday in March

Texas: First Friday in November

Utah: Last Friday in April

Vermont: First Friday in May

Virginia: Last Friday in April

Washington: Second Wednesday in April

West Virginia: Second Friday in April

Wisconsin: Last Friday in April

Wyoming: Last Monday in April