As the hurricane season approaches each year, Florida residents switch into high gear when making storm preparations. While precautions like adding hurricane shutters and moving lawn furniture indoors are good ideas, over-pruning your palm trees can be detrimental. The “hurricane cut” has become a trend in Florida and is a standard offering for some tree-cutting companies.
Find out why a palm tree hurricane cut causes more harm than good. Then, get effective alternatives to safeguard your property and your trees’ health.
To prepare for hurricane season storms, palms in Florida are commonly trimmed back excessively. This is known colloquially as a hurricane cut. The often well-intentioned goal is to mitigate storm damage by creating a more wind-resistant tree. The idea is that by proactively removing multiple fronds, palm trees are less likely to sustain damage, and this will also reduce the risk of hurricane-propelled palm frond missiles damaging property.
No, it is never a good idea to give your palm trees a hurricane cut. Like all haircuts, there is a fine line between the perfect cut and wearing a hat for weeks after. It is the same for palms, except for these iconic Florida trees, cutting off too much foliage can be fatal. Hurricane cuts involve excessive pruning and can cause irreparable long-term damage to your trees’ health and aesthetics.
Hurricane cuts are ineffective and damaging because:
While the theory behind Florida hurricane cut palm trees makes sense at a surface level, the reality is far different. Instead of making trees stronger and setting them up for success against ferocious storm conditions, excessive pruning weakens palms.
Palm trees are valuable assets that add to the character and charm of the idyllic Florida setting. While proper pruning by professionals is necessary, removing too many healthy fronds is not. Tree services to prevent hurricane damage should only be undertaken by qualified arborists with a thorough understanding of the risk factors and tree biology.
Responsible hurricane preparation for palm trees is not a one-size-fits-all scenario like hurricane trimming. A lot depends on the tree’s health and condition and whether it has any dry fronds or fruit that could dislodge in high winds. Brown’s Tree Service offers proactive hurricane preparation services to protect your palms and your property.
Our tree services include:
Don’t fall for misconceptions and risk the health of your palm trees. Let’s bust four common hurricane cut myths:
Myth 1: Cutting off the bulk of a palm’s fronds ahead of a hurricane makes the tree more wind resistant and increases its chances of remaining upright.
Fact: Palm trees have been growing on Earth for millions of years. Several species are native to Florida and have adapted to withstand and survive hurricane conditions without intervention.
Myth 2: Hurricane cuts reduce the chance of dangerous projectiles damaging property.
Fact: Responsible pruning using the correct techniques to remove dry or diseased material reduces the chance of property damage.
Myth 3: Hurricane trimming a palm can’t do any damage, and it is better to be safe than sorry!
Fact: Healthy palm fronds do not typically detach from trees during high winds.Removing healthy fronds from a palm reduces its ability to recover and may kill it.
Myth 4: I can prune the palm trees on my property ahead of a hurricane myself.
Fact: Palm tree pruning should be left to professionals who have specialized training and safety equipment.
Brown’s Tree Service is a family-owned business with deep roots in the Florida area. We understand the dangers of hurricane season, and our professional team provides thorough storm preparation services to mitigate risks to your property and safeguard the long-term health of your palm trees. Don’t wait. Call us today to schedule a free assessment of your trees!