Hurricane Season Preparation and Your Trees

(Updated for June 2022)

How should I prune my palms and trees to reduce storm damage during and or in preparation for hurricane season in South Florida? Usually the #1 question asked now that hurricane season has arrived. Note that no tree or palm is immune to storm impacts, but with proper pruning the chances of a tree or palm failure can be reduced. 

Be wary of individuals or companies recommending poor tree pruning practices, or operating without proper credentials, equipment, training and insurance. Some examples of poor pruning are shown in the illustration below. 

Poor Pruning Practices

Such practices put tree(s) under stress, compromise the structure and/or artificially raise the trees’ center of gravity during a storm. When selecting an arborist, be sure to ask for a copy of the company’s general liability insurance, current International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) credential, worker’s compensation insurance and to see the company’s Broward County Tree Trimmer License. Also ask for current work references. Quality companies should be more than happy to provide work references.  Companies that do not have insurance or are not registered as a Broward County Tree Trimmer should be actively avoided. 

It is recommended to have your trees inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist or ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist annually and, if no defects are found, pruning may be unnecessary. If your tree or palm requires pruning, proper tree pruning practices should be followed in accordance with local City code, ANSI A-300 (Part 1 latest edition) standards and good horticultural practices. It is important to note that all branches and debris should be properly disposed of after pruning because any debris left lying around can become airborne during a windstorm event.  

Proper Tree Pruning Practices

 
Palm Trimming

• Avoid removing any live fronds originating above the horizontal plane

Sabal palm trees; photo by thesix on Flickr

• Remove dead, dying, or diseased fronds
• Fruits and coconuts can also be removed 

Shade Tree Trimming 

• Pruning should emphasize branch reduction rather than removal for healthy trees
• Prune young trees every 3 to 4 years to produce strong branch structure; mature trees every 4-5 years
• Prune to produce/restore a single dominant trunk
• Remove dead, diseased, broken and cross branches
• Correct unbalanced tree canopies by pruning long branches back to lateral branches
• Remove, or reduce the weight on branches with included bark (i.e., bark trapped in the tight angle between two branches growing closely together).
  
  

  

Steps for a proper tree pruning cut

Do not attempt to prune trees or palms adjacent to overhead utility lines by yourself. Contact FPL or utilize an ISA certified arborist qualified to perform utility line clearance pruning.

It is generally too late to prune your trees once a storm is on its way, so contact an ISA Certified Arborist and or ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist well in advance of hurricane season. For additional information concerning proper palm and tree care please visit the following websites: 

https://www.treesaregood.org/treeowner/pruningyourtrees

http://www.davey.com/arborist-advice/articles/proper-tree-pruning/

https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/stormy.shtml

Hurricanes, Storms, and Your Landscape

As we are in the middle of hurricane season I am reposting an article I co-authored with my good friend Mark Torok from the Florida Forest Service (FFS) tackling the tough questions around tree care and storms.

Hurricanes, Storms, and Your Landscape

by

Mark Torok, FFS Senior Forester

Mark Williams, Treemendous Consulting Group

Living in Florida, sooner or later, given its history, your landscape is going to be exposed to high winds either from a hurricane, tornado or a storm. So what can be done to minimize wind damage in your Florida landscape?

 

For starters, have your existing trees inspected annually and/or structurally pruned by an ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certified arborist who is also licensed and insured. To find an ISA certified arborist in your area, you can use the “Arborist Search” on the ISA website at http://www.isa-arbor.com/findanarborist/arboristsearch.aspx. Having your trees inspected annually (risk assessment) and structurally pruned every 2-5 years will help the trees become more wind-resistant by eliminating or minimizing structural defects such as cross branching, decay, codominant stems, deadwood and included bark in the trees.

 

If you are thinking about redoing and or enhancing your landscape, plant more wind resistant trees. Just like people, all trees are not the same; some are more wind-resistant than others. In general, trees species that are wind resistant are also good compartmentalizers. Good compartmentalizers are tree species that can recover well from wounds and that seal them off effectively preventing the spread of decay. Even trees that are in the same family can vary on how well they compartmentalize. For example, live oak trees are very wind resistant and great compartmentalizers while laurel oaks/water oaks are very poor compartmentalizers and not very wind resistant trees.

 

Another way to make your landscape more wind tolerant is planting trees in groups. In a natural forest setting, winds normally blow over a stand of trees instead of blowing through them unlike the total exposure faced by an individual, open-grown tree. Grouping trees together in tree islands/communal plantings simulates how trees grow naturally and mimics the buffering effect of trees within a natural forest community. But remember to use minimum tree spacing requirements which are typically planting trees at least 15-20 foot on center for tree species that develop large canopy crowns. In order for a tree to develop proper taper a certain amount of wind exposure is also necessary. Some examples of Florida native tree species that are often found growing in groups include slash pine, bald cypress, live oak and sabal palm.

 

Addressing any root defects that may be present before planting will also aid tree establishment and help ensure a well anchored root system.  Some additional information about tree root pruning is available at: (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/roots.shtml). Remember to plant your tree slightly above grade, install the recommended bracing system and to remove any circling, plunging and girdling roots that are present. The use of Florida Grade No. 1 (Grading Standard for Nursery trees set by FDACS) or above rated trees is also recommended as these trees are of high quality with excellent structure. Trees of this grade typically have greater vigor, establish faster and are free of structural defects commonly present on poorer quality/lower grade trees. Some additional information on proper tree planting and bracing is available at: ( http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting2.shtml).

 

 

Here are some high wind resistant native south Florida trees:

 

Gumbo limbo              Green buttonwood     Geiger tree

White stopper             Redberry stopper        Spanish stopper

Lignum vitae                Dahoon holly                Krug’s holly

Black ironwood           Bald cypress                   Pond cypress

FL silver palm              Cabbage/Sabal palm   FL thatch palm

Key thatch palm          Myrtle oak                     Live oak

Sand live oak

Here are some medium-high wind resistant native south Florida trees:

 

Pond apple                    Satinleaf                        Royal palm

Pigeon plum                  Wild tamarind             Sweetbay magnolia

Mastic tree                    Paradise tree               West Indian mahogany

 

References

Duryea, M.L. 2008. Trees and Hurricanes. Website: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/treesandhurricanes/index.shtml of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Gainesville, FL.

 

Gilman, E. 2005. Tree selection for landscapes. Website with 680 Tree Fact Sheets: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting/TreeSelectionIntroduction.htm of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Gainesville, FL.

 

Crawford, P. 2005. Florida Gardening Series, Volume 3 – Stormscaping: Landscaping to Minimize Wind Damage in Florida. Color Garden Inc. Canton, GA. 168 pp.

Can Trees Actually Protect Your Home from Hurricanes?

Trees have many benefits including providing oxygen, habitat for wildlife, shade, cooler temperatures etc.. But did you know that trees also can protect you and your property from storms and hurricanes? Groups of trees properly planted together can provide a wind break, and buffer each other from the effects of high winds. During a hurricane this can mean the difference from an intact home to one that loses its roof and sustains significant wind related damage. Trees can also prevent soil erosion from sudden rain events and floods, as their root systems help stabilize the soil profile. While we continue to recover from the effects of this year's hurricane events, keep in mind all the benefits trees provide. I have included some additional links with further details on how trees can provide protection from storm events below.

http://www.bigblogofgardening.com/how-trees-protect-your-home-by-slowing-wind-speed-soil-erosion-and-water-runoff/
https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1240

Stormwise South Florida Landscapes

http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/planting/planting-and-establishing-trees.html

Does My Tree Need to be Removed/ Why Perform an Annual Inspection?

Recent research has confirmed the importance of proper tree selection, planting depth, tree quality and adequate space for proper tree establishment. Of equal importance is an annual inspection to schedule/perform required maintenance including pruning, mulching, treatment for diseases/insect infestations and fertilizing for nutrient deficiencies. But what are some of the sudden warning signs to be aware of that may indicate your tree needs to be inspected by an ISA Certified Arborist?

• Sudden unexpected lean/shift in the root plate area. This could be due to a recent wind event, broken pipe underneath the tree or from recent root pruning due to a street and or sidewalk repair. Can be remedied in some cases with younger trees. 
• Canopy suddenly turns brown/yellow or defoliates completely (not seasonal related). Could indicate lightning strike, fungal infection, chemical spill etc. Can potentially be treated with fungicides, insecticides, soil remediation or other alternatives.
• Sudden limb/branch shedding in calm weather. Substantial loss of canopy/branches/limbs can be indicative of root zone damage and or major issues that require an immediate onsite inspection from an ISA Certified Arborist. Can potentially be addressed through structural pruning.
• Large cracks/scorch marks with bark loss. Could indicate lightning strike and or high wind events that might have compromised a tree's structural integrity. Tree may or not be salvageable depending on size of cracks and tree structural integrity. 

It's a good rule of thumb to have all your canopy trees evaluated at least annually by an ISA Certified Arborist and as part of a routine tree maintenance plan. Often the observed defects/failure events can be remedied but sometimes tree removal becomes the only/best option.

For additional information concerning tree risk assessment please visit Dr. Ed Gilman's website below:

http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/hazard-trees.shtml

Hurricanes, Storms and Your Landscape

  Here is an article I co-authored with my good friend Mark Torok from the Florida Forest Service (FFS) tackling the tough questions around tree care and storms.

Hurricanes, Storms, and Your Landscape

by

Mark Torok, FFS Senior Forester

Mark Williams, Treemendous Consulting Group

Living in Florida, sooner or later, given its history, your landscape is going to be exposed to high winds either from a hurricane, tornado or a storm. So, what can be done to minimize wind damage in your Florida landscape?

 

For starters, have your existing trees inspected annually and/or structurally pruned by an ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certified arborist who is also licensed and insured. To find an ISA certified arborist in your area, you can use the “Arborist Search” on the ISA website at http://www.isa-arbor.com/findanarborist/arboristsearch.aspx. Having your trees inspected annually (risk assessment) and structurally pruned every 2-5 years will help the trees become more wind-resistant by eliminating or minimizing structural defects such as cross branching, decay, codominant stems, deadwood and included bark in the trees.

 

If you are thinking about redoing and or enhancing your landscape, plant more wind resistant trees. Just like people, all trees are not the same; some are more wind-resistant than others. In general, trees species that are wind resistant are also good compartmentalizers. Good compartmentalizers are tree species that can recover well from wounds and that seal them off effectively preventing the spread of decay. Even trees that are in the same family can vary on how well they compartmentalize. For example, live oak trees are very wind resistant and great compartmentalizers while laurel oaks/water oaks are very poor compartmentalizers and not very wind resistant trees.

 

Another way to make your landscape more wind tolerant is planting trees in groups. In a natural forest setting, winds normally blow over a stand of trees instead of blowing through them unlike the total exposure faced by an individual, open-grown tree. Grouping trees together in tree islands/communal plantings simulates how trees grow naturally and mimics the buffering effect of trees within a natural forest community. But remember to use minimum tree spacing requirements which are typically planting trees at least 15-20 foot on center for tree species that develop large canopy crowns. In order for a tree to develop proper taper a certain amount of wind exposure is also necessary. Some examples of Florida native tree species that are often found growing in groups include slash pine, bald cypress, live oak and sabal palm.

 

Addressing any root defects that may be present before planting will also aid tree establishment and help ensure a well anchored root system.  Some additional information about tree root pruning is available at: (http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/roots.shtml). Remember to plant your tree slightly above grade, install the recommended bracing system and to remove any circling, plunging and girdling roots that are present. The use of Florida Grade No. 1 (Grading Standard for Nursery trees set by FDACS) or above rated trees is also recommended as these trees are of high quality with excellent structure. Trees of this grade typically have greater vigor, establish faster and are free of structural defects commonly present on poorer quality/lower grade trees. Some additional information on proper tree planting and bracing is available at: ( http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting2.shtml).

 

 

Here are some high wind resistant native south Florida trees:

 

Gumbo limbo              Green buttonwood     Geiger tree

White stopper             Redberry stopper        Spanish stopper

Lignum vitae                Dahoon holly                Krug’s holly

Black ironwood           Bald cypress                   Pond cypress

FL silver palm              Cabbage/Sabal palm   FL thatch palm

Key thatch palm          Myrtle oak                     Live oak

Sand live oak

Here are some medium-high wind resistant native south Florida trees:

 

Pond apple                    Satinleaf                        Royal palm

Pigeon plum                  Wild tamarind             Sweetbay magnolia

Mastic tree                    Paradise tree               West Indian mahogany

 

References

Duryea, M.L. 2008. Trees and Hurricanes. Website: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/treesandhurricanes/index.shtml of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Gainesville, FL.

 

Gilman, E. 2005. Tree selection for landscapes. Website with 680 Tree Fact Sheets: http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting/TreeSelectionIntroduction.htm of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service. Gainesville, FL.

 

Crawford, P. 2005. Florida Gardening Series, Volume 3 – Stormscaping: Landscaping to Minimize Wind Damage in Florida. Color Garden Inc. Canton, GA. 168 pp.

How to Prevent Tree Damage from Storms

Preventing damage to mature tree canopy due to storms starts with ensuring that proper tree pruning has been scheduled and completed by an ISA Certified Arborist and or company. Removal of existing hazards (cross branching, hanging limbs, deadwood etc.) and establishing a central leader when applicable should be the main priorities. Normally canopy trees should be inspected at least annually for the presence of any hazardous defects. "Hurricane" trimming of trees is not necessary every year and can actually be harmful be removing much more canopy then is necessary weakening your trees. The rule of thumb for scheduling structural pruning is once yearly for trees that are 1-7 years of age, every 1-2 years for trees 7-14 years of age and 3+ years for trees 14 years and older. For trees that have been storm damaged tree evaluation for hazard abatement is a must. Only utilize a trained ISA Certified Arborist and or company to perform this type of pruning.

For some additional tips on structural pruning for trees please see the following references:

Pruning Young Trees, Restoration Pruning, Mature Tree Pruning