Celebrating Earth and Arbor Day 2026

This year, Earth Day (April 22nd) and Arbor Day (April 24th) mark an action packed week of environmental holidays, and here at WeatherNation, we're taking time to celebrate our planet and the plants and animals that live on it. Join us as we dive into the wonderful world of trees, the Earth, and what we can do to celebrate it.

Planting Trees:

One of the most popular ways to celebrate Earth and Arbor Day is by planting trees, but before you start digging, there's a few things to keep in mind. We spoke with experts at Davey Tree Company to learn more about planting the right tree in the right place.

Creating a Plant and Animal Friendly Environment:

Planting native plants isn't just a fun and sustainable way to enjoy the outdoors, it helps keystone species specific to our areas thrive. Braelei Hardt, with the National Wildlife Federation has a few reminders as we head out and start planting this year.

Trees and Our Mental Health:

It may seem odd, but trees have a huge impact on our mental health. Research shows that being around trees can lower our levels of cortisol, the body's main stress hormone. Whether you go as far as practicing shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) or just spending time in your own backyard, trees can reduce anxiety, improve your mood, and make you feel more connected.

Sequoia National Park: Celebrating America's Most Iconic Trees:

As America celebrates it's 250 birthday, we're celebrating some of our nation's most iconic trees this Arbor Day. We spoke with Holly Streit with Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park to talk about these incredible trees.

Clean Water:

Rich "Raz" Gazgaitis has made it his mission to improve water quality for everyone. He sat down with Meteorologist Taban Sharifi to talk water conservation, how drought impacts our drinking water supply, and what we can do at home to improve our water quality.