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

Florida Native Christmas Trees

The holidays are upon us and for most a real Christmas tree immediately comes to mind as a must have staple. Did you know that rather then buying an out of state harvested tree, that you can obtain a Florida grown native Christmas tree? Indeed there are multiple options to either harvest your own tree from an actual Florida Christmas tree farm or purchase a potted Florida native tree to decorate and then replant in your yard. Some potential species available include: Southern Red Cedar, Longleaf Pine, Dahoon Holly, Leyland Cypress, and Slash Pine. These trees have the added benefits of being acclimated to our local environment without the problems inherent to out of state trees.  Additional information and photographs of potential Florida Christmas Tree Natives are available below:

Southern Red Cedar

Dahoon Holly

Longleaf Pine

Leyland Cypress

Slash Pine

• Christmas Tree Farms in Florida - Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (fdacs.gov)
• Florida Christmas Tree Association (flchristmastrees.com)
• Living Christmas Trees - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)

King Tides and Your Trees

(Revised for November 2021) Trees face many challenges to their continued growth and survival including pressure from overdevelopment, climate change, exotic pests/diseases, storms etc. In much of South Florida, trees face the added challenge of exposure to salt water during King Tide events, which typically occur between August and November of each year. King Tides are the highest tides of the year and can cause saltwater flooding of low-lying areas. Their occurrence corresponds to specific phases of the moon and can be exacerbated by other factors, such as storms.

Increased saltwater flooding can cause tree impacts including premature leaf drop, leaf burn, tree instability and, in some cases, complete death of the exposed tree. To combat the effects of King Tides on trees, the following are highly recommended for trees in locations vulnerable to tidal flooding:

• Planting of Florida native salt tolerant trees (i.e., Orange Geiger, Gumbo Limbo, Silver and Green Buttonwood, Southern Red Cedar);
• Utilization of planting methods such as Mounded Planting which elevates the tree's roots above grade and reduces saltwater exposure (reference image below); and
• Implementation of a tree maintenance plan that includes proper watering, pruning and fertilization to optimize tree health; and
• Flushing of the tree(s) root-ball with clean water to help remove any excess salt buildup.

Trees that are salt intolerant and/or stressed due to improper planting and maintenance are often the first to succumb to saltwater flooding events. For additional information on how to protect your trees and prepare for King Tides, please visit the following websites:

• University of Florida Salt Tolerant Plants
• Flooding and Trees  

Mounded planting which can help protect newly planted trees from flooding and future grade changes.

Some examples of Florida Native Salt Tolerant Trees

                                      

                                 Green Buttonwood                        Eastern Red Cedar

                                   Gumbo Limbo                         Silver Buttonwood

 

Orange Geiger

The Benefits of Organic Mulch for Trees in the South Florida Urban Environment

Urban trees such as those present within south Florida are often stressed by their environment. Limited root space, poor soil, and lack of nutrients are common issues. While soil/foliar testing, root zone excavation, and fertility programs are encouraged, there are simpler ways to improve overall tree health. One of the most cost-efficient and effective ways to achieve this is mulching.

Mulch is simply defined as a substance which covers soil. Mulch comes in organic (wood chips, pine straw, leaves) and inorganic forms (rubber, landscape fabric, rocks). While both forms of mulch may help to retain soil moisture, reduce weed competition, and reduce soil temperatures, organic forms of mulch have greater benefits.

The most overlooked benefit of organic mulch in the urban landscape is its ability to improve the soil it is applied to. When mulch is applied to a typical sandy South Florida soil, for example, its immediate benefits are reducing erosion, dust, and water runoff. The long-term benefits are surprisingly far-reaching. When mulch breaks down, it adds organic matter to the soil. Over time, this simple amendment can increase soil fertility, water-holding capacity, reduce bulk density, and increase beneficial microbes. Basically, this helps improve the overall quality of the soil and provides a natural buffer to sudden changes that would otherwise impact tree health.

When assessing overall tree health, soil is of upmost importance. When the soil is healthy, overall tree health is greater, and the ability of the tree to ward off pests and diseases may increase. Mulch is an accessible, affordable, and relatively easy way to contribute to long-term soil health.

In the landscape, weeds and turf grass often compete with a tree’s critical root zone for water, nutrients, space, and light. Sod also has different fertility and water requirements than most canopy trees and palms.  For these reasons, it is recommended that tree owners remove sod underneath the dripline of the tree prior to mulch application. Removing sod will also reduce excess fertilizer and water use. Organic mulch may then be applied to a depth of 2-3 inches. Take care not to bury the tree trunk or major buttress roots (this often leads to rot) and keeping the mulch at least 6-12” away from the trunk is also recommended. Depending on the specific type of mulch used and site conditions, older mulch may be raked and replaced seasonally to increase aeration. These simple adjustments can reduce maintenance and costs for the tree owner and contribute to the overall health of our urban forest. 

For additional information about the tree benefits of mulch and organic matter please click here SL273/MG454: Soils and Fertilizers for Master Gardeners: Soil Organic Matter and Organic Amendments (ufl.edu).  (Guest Post by Kirstie McCullough, ISA Certified Arborist) 

                                                How to Properly Apply Mulch

 

Photo Credit: Https://greentreedoctor.com  

Fort Lauderdale's Bicentennial Liberty Live Oak Tree (Revision)

The City of Fort Lauderdale’s Bicentennial Liberty Live Oak tree, located adjacent to the Riverwalk area within Bubier Park, is approaching 250 years and I recently uncovered a trove of information and photographs documenting the tree’s relocation, providing a unique look into the past.

Live Oak Tree: September 1976

The live oak tree was donated to the City by Judge Robert O’Toole in early 1976 at over 200 years old. It was originally located near southeast 1^st avenue and southeast 6^th street in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The tree weighed over 50 tons and had a height of 30-35 feet and an average spread of 50-feet. Its relocation was considered to be the largest successful bare-root transplant of a tree in the world at that time.

The City’s then Urban Forester, Mike Moore, coordinated the relocation and preservation of the live oak tree. It had to be root pruned and braced before transport. The project was a massive undertaking and required coordination from multiple entities including the Florida Forest Service, FPL, Eller Company, Powell Brothers and Koch Towing Company. At one point, the City’s Fire Department was also called in to help free the tree roots from coral rock after a cable snapped during transport. After five months of preparation, over 40 personnel, a flatbed truck, and river barge along with three broken 155 ton steel cables the tree was successfully relocated on September 8, 1976.

On June 27, 1978, the live oak tree was renamed the Bicentennial Live Oak Tree as part of the dedication for the Robert H. Bubier Memorial Park. It was later renamed the Bicentennial Liberty Live Oak Tree, with installation of an official plaque, at a ceremony on September 11, 2002 in remembrance of the September 11, 2001 horrific events. Disney World’s Liberty Tree served as the original inspiration for the plaque dedication and wording as authored by Doug Eagon of the Stiles Corporation.

Today the Bicentennial Liberty Live Oak Tree is still doing fairly well at almost 250 years. Significant work was done to improve the tree’s overall health and vitality after impacts from a storm in August 2017. With such a historic past, the City will continue ongoing tree management efforts to preserve the tree well into the future!

Live Oak Tree: September 1976

Bicentennial Liberty Live Oak Tree Today

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.