Plant a tree and make a difference

Many types of trees can be planted into Louisiana landscapes this time of year. Pictured here, from left, are vitex, two types of Japanese magnolia, American holly, Taiwan cherry and tulip poplar. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter
Many types of trees can be planted into Louisiana landscapes this time of year. Pictured here, from left, are vitex, two types of Japanese magnolia, American holly, Taiwan cherry and tulip poplar. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter

If you’ve ever looked up the date for Arbor Day, you may have run into some conflicting information. Nationally, this holiday celebrating the importance of trees is observed on the last Friday of April. But in Louisiana, we have our own Arbor Day: the third Friday of January, which this year was Jan. 17.

Why the discrepancy? In Louisiana, January tends to be a cool, wet month, providing ideal condi…