HomeTree Services: Preparing Your Trees for Hurricane Season

As hurricane season approaches, running from June 1 to November 30, it's crucial to take the necessary steps to protect not just your home and family, but also your trees. Often overlooked, trees play a vital role in our landscape and can be significantly affected by hurricanes and tropical storms.

Why Tree Preparation Matters

Trees are vulnerable to the powerful winds and heavy rains brought by hurricanes. While there's little we can do to prepare trees for the most severe hurricanes (categories 4 and 5), we can take proactive steps to minimize damage from category 1-3 hurricanes and tropical storms.

Choosing the Right Trees

• Select Quality Trees: Opt for trees labeled “Florida Fancy” or “Florida #1.” These trees typically have a single trunk and require minimal additional training to develop a strong structure.
• Appropriate Tree Selection: Ensure the tree species is suitable for your area. Large trees need ample rooting space, with roots extending three to five times the diameter of the tree’s canopy.
• Site Consideration: Insufficient soil volume can increase the risk of trees toppling. Choose tree species that naturally remain smaller if planting in limited spaces. Always consider the mature height and width of the tree when selecting a planting site.

Pruning for Health and Strength

Proper pruning is essential for the health and longevity of your trees. Formative or structural pruning, especially during the first ten years of a tree’s life, can significantly enhance its strength.

Tips for Effective Pruning:

• Avoid Flush Cuts: Never cut a branch flush with the trunk.
• Prevent "Liontailing" and "Overlifting": Do not remove side branches from a large branch, leaving only the ones at the distant end.
• Do Not "Hat Rack" or "Top" a Tree: This practice is illegal and dangerous.
• Minimize Root Disturbance: Avoid root pruning and digging around tree roots, as this increases the likelihood of the tree falling during a storm.
• Use Correct Pruning Cuts: Utilize removal cuts (pruning a branch back to the trunk or parent branch) or reduction cuts (shortening the length of a stem by pruning back to a smaller limb).
• Limit Canopy Removal: Do not remove more than 25% of the canopy in a single pruning session.
• Palm Trees: Palms do not require hurricane pruning as they naturally adapt to wind storms. Removing fronds can be harmful.

Long-Term Tree Survival

Trees can live for over a century and withstand hurricanes and storms, but human errors like poor tree selection, incorrect planting, and improper pruning can be detrimental. For more detailed information and assistance, contact our office at 813-516-4459.

By taking these steps, you can help ensure your trees remain healthy and resilient during hurricane season.