Preparing for Florida’s Storm Season

by | May 1, 2020 | Tree Care | 0 comments

 With hurricane season fast approaching, it’s time for Floridians to batten down the hatches. Don’t wait until the storms hit – it’s essential to start your hurricane preparations early. Fortunately, there are ways to get ready and make sure that your trees will survive the worst of the damage.

Plan Ahead

It’s always a good idea to plan ahead. If you do, you’ll save yourself a lot of grief when the storms arrive. Florida is hit hardest by hurricanes and other tropical storms between June and November. Before the season looms, be sure to Contact Black Eagle Tree Services to schedule trimming and pruning. Regular pruning can save your greenery and give you peace of mind.

The Impact

Hurricane-force winds devastate trees and their surroundings, knocking them over, snapping off limbs, or ripping them right out of the ground. In high-speed winds, a tree’s weaker branches are at an increased risk of snapping off and damaging your property. The more loose limbs there are on your trees, the more dangerous it can be.

The Survivors

On top of the actual conditions of the hurricane, other factors make trees more resistant to storm damage. A study from the University of Florida found that a tree’s ability to survive a hurricane can be affected by its species, age, health, and structure, as well as canopy density, soil conditions, and composition.

Groups of trees can withstand hurricane conditions better than single trees, and palm species generally hold up better than conifers and broad-leafed trees. Sabal palms, Canary Island date palms, and Manila palms are particularly resistant to hurricane-force winds.

How to Prevent Storm Damage

To prevent the worst storm damage, trees should be stripped of weak or hanging branches that pose a hazard to surrounding growth and property. These could be limbs that block traffic on the road or sidewalk, or that touch your home. Trimming the foliage can also help, as it lets wind flow through the canopy more easily. Palms don’t need to be pruned; they’re already well-adapted to wind storms. 

What is Pruning? And Why is it Good to do Before Hurricanes?

Pruning is, essentially, a haircut for your foliage. If you do have coniferous or broad-leaf trees, pruning is necessary to keep them healthy and beautiful. Routine pruning is normal and beneficial, all the more so during hurricane season. Keeping your trees cropped can help protect your home from storm damage. Moreover, there is a right and wrong way to prune trees. Proper pruning will keep your trees healthy, stable, and able to repair themselves after a storm. That’s why it’s vital to bring in professionals that know what they’re doing.

Don’t Wait Until The Clouds Roll In!

Before disaster strikes, call Black Eagle Tree Services. Our ISA Certified Arborists are the best in the greater Tampa Bay area. Proper pruning isn’t just about making your trees look great; it’s about protecting your home, your safety, and your peace of mind.

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