The City of Yuma hosts their 50th Arbor Day celebration at Smucker Memorial park

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY-TV) - Locals came together at Smucker Memorial Park to plant trees for their 50th-anniversary celebration of Arbor Day.

With Arbor Day around the corner, it’s never too early to plant a tree.

“You want to start towards the beginning of the calendar year to kind of get the acclimated in and obviously the right tree the right place,” Ground Maintenance for the City of Yuma and certified arborists Epsy Matlock. 

Every year the City of Yuma hosts an Arbor Day celebration adding new trees to local parks.

“It’s amazing and they are so excited you know they are absolutely excited to get their hands dirty,” Deputy Mayor for the City of Yuma Leslie McClendon. 

About 60 trees were planted by locals who came to celebrate. 

When it comes to planting trees placement is key.

“Tree planting events like today is to help the park and help provide more shade maybe it will get more people out and into the park. We are really big on sustainability and with the electricity, we are trying to make sure the trees are planted in the right place,” said Supervisor for Arizona Public Service APS Erinn Bennar. 

Arbor day is a great way to celebrate nature and appreciate the importance trees have on our environment.

“Educating them on how to plant a tree and what a tree does for the future, maybe they are future arborists in the making, letting them know that it helps us with our air we breathe as well as helping with the soil and the nutrients,” said Bennar.

The city hopes this will inspire locals to plant even more trees. 

If you didn’t make it to Yuma’s local Arbor Day celebration, it's never too late to plant a tree.

Arbor Day is on April 30th.

If you are planting a tree, APS has tips on where the best areas to plant trees from their Right Tree Right Place program—find details here.