How to Prepare Your Trees for Hurricane Season

Your garden in Florida may have gorgeous trees, but without proper care and maintenance, they may not survive hurricane season. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process for preparing trees for hurricane season, so they are more prepared to weather Florida’s storms.

Why Preparing Trees for Hurricane Season Is Important

Preparing your trees before hurricane season begins is essential to avoid unfortunate and often unnecessary side effects. If you leave your trees as they are, you increase the risk of uprooting, weak limbs snapping, and damage to property or infrastructure. Preparation is also the best way to keep your trees from falling over during a hurricane. While it’s impossible to make a tree storm-proof, you can minimize the potential for damage.

Helpful Tips for Preparing Trees for Hurricanes

Most homeowners in Florida plant deciduous trees, rather than the evergreen trees that are so popular further North. To prepare these trees for hurricane season, focus on the following:

• Prune proactively: Remove any dead or weak branches, as well as those that are throwing off the tree’s symmetry or rubbing against other items and branches.
• Remove hazards: If you notice any branches on your home’s roof or that pose a risk to structures or property, remove them to prevent storm damage.
• Balance canopies: Some tree canopies can become huge, allowing them to act like sails. If the wind lifts a tree by its canopy, it may become uprooted and cause damage to your property. Trimming larger canopies can reduce the chance of this happening.

For some aspects, like canopy judging, you may need professional arborist assistance. Professional tree services can also help you care for the tree year-round, ensuring it gets the nutrient injections, watering and general care it needs to avoid becoming a hazard during a storm.

Palm Tree Preparation for Hurricanes

Since most people plant palm trees in coastal or high-wind regions, they’re incredibly flexible. As a result, they bend and sway in the face of storms and heavy winds. To improve their chances of survival, you can:

1. Prune off dead or broken fronds to prevent them from becoming projectiles in hurricane-strength winds.
2. Keep your palm trees properly mulched with a deep layer of mulch away from the trunk.
3. Focus on overall health, including regular nutrient injections and deep watering as needed to help the tree create deep roots.

Benefits of Professional Tree Care

When you trust an established arborist with your trees, you can experience significant benefits, including:

• Better tree health: When qualified ISA-certified arborists professionally maintain trees, they can become healthier. Your trees will also have access to any treatments they need when they need them.
• Longer tree lifespans: Because trees get better care and maintenance when professionals care for them, they generally have longer lifespans.
• Improved safety: A qualified arborist can spot problems like weak limbs early, helping eliminate potential hazards before a storm hits.
• Enhanced property value: As a homeowner, investing in professional tree care can increase your property’s value and improve its curb appeal.

Invest in Professional Hurricane Season Tree Prep Today

Protect your home and family with reliable, professional tree care services from ISA-certified arborists at Brown’s Tree Service. We can work with you to provide the services and care you need, ensuring your trees are ready for hurricane season and every other season for the rest of their lives.

Contact us today and trust our skilled arborists to prep your trees using proven techniques and industry-leading equipment.